Chapter 18

Maynus often thought that once Veloce and Delerone left, all this confusion would subside, and things would return to how they were before.

“Was that arrogance on my part?”

Maynus stared at Delerone with a spellbound expression. In truth, she usually spent her time with her nanny or with Veloce, and being so young, she hadn’t yet been taken outside. On top of that, because she had been driven into the cold so soon after birth, the resident physician at the Jeremias Mansion had advised extreme caution. No one could tell what germs a newborn might have been exposed to… there was no one more fragile than a just-born baby.

So it had been a long time since Maynus had seen Delerone.

The weather had warmed, and lunch had been arranged in the greenhouse. To his surprise, Veloce had brought Delerone along. From the moment Veloce stepped into the greenhouse holding Delerone in her arms, Maynus hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the child.

“Do babies… usually grow this fast? She seems much bigger than before.”

Maynus murmured as if in awe.

“Isn’t it amazing? I feel the same. She seems bigger today than yesterday. She’s growing more each day.”

Veloce eagerly agreed with him.

“When I named her… she looked so much smaller than my arm…”

“Oh, Maynus. I told you, babies change day by day. Do you want to hold her?”

“No, thank you!”

Maynus quickly shook his head. Embarrassed by how strongly he had refused, he scratched his cheek and gave a small cough.

Looking at Delerone nestled in Veloce’s arms, he added awkwardly, “I might break her.”

“Sorry?”

Veloce tilted her head, not hearing him properly. Maynus cleared his throat louder and spoke again.

“Delerone is so small. And I am large and strong. What if I hurt her by accident?”

“Oh, come now. A baby isn’t made of fragile glass.”

Veloce laughed.

“Kyahh!”

As if to prove the point, Delerone let out a strong squeal. She kicked her legs, and Veloce gently placed her in Maynus’s arms. Caught off guard, Maynus held her, stars glimmering in his eyes.

“Heavier than you expected?”

“…Feels lighter than a feather.”

“She’ll get heavier before you know it. If you hold her again in a week, you’ll be shocked. When she was just born, she felt like she had no weight at all.”

Veloce pulled back the blanket covering Delerone to let her face feel the air, then kissed her plump cheek as she blinked her round eyes.

“She’s truly… adorable.”

A soft warmth bloomed in his chest. Maynus exhaled as if he were afraid even his breath might startle the child. He breathed in again, quietly.

How could the Artemio Count have cast out such a tiny baby?

She was a life so deserving of protection… so full of love.

“…The Artemio Count will be punished by the heavens.”

Maynus spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll help you, Veloce.”

Maynus looked at her with a clarity that startled her. Veloce’s eyes widened as she stared back. His image filled her expanded pupils.

“Maynus…!”

Her lips trembled slightly.

***

 Why is he so kind?

And he was even cute. Holding Delerone with flushed cheeks… he could easily steal any woman’s heart.

No, wait. That wasn’t the point.

He even said he’d help bring justice to the Artemio family?

Suddenly, she worried for Maynus. Had she written him too much like a push-over? That was never the plan.

“Thank you, Maynus. I’ll definitely repay this kindness someday.”

Maynus nodded solemnly. She figured she needed to look into this more seriously. What if Maynus ended up being taken advantage of because of his generosity? Not everyone in the world was kind or moral.

Why do I keep having things to be grateful for?

“You’ll soon receive a summons from His Majesty the Emperor, Veloce.”

“Oh…”

Right. That was happening.

Wow. Meeting the Emperor… this was like meeting a president. Truly an honor for her family. She was stunned.

“Her Majesty the Empress will be present as well.”

Maynus continued, his tone serious.

“In fact, Her Majesty comes from a family historically opposed to the Artemios… you probably already knew that.”

…She didn’t.

Had that been in the story settings? She honestly couldn’t remember. Veloce gave an awkward smile, but Maynus continued without pause.

“The Empress’s family, the Count Carmans, are involved in the same line of commerce as the Artemios. However, the Artemios repeatedly undermined the Carmans, using the Saintess as leverage to snatch away exclusive contracts.”

Wow. She had never known any of that. These kinds of details were never shown directly in the story. It felt like something out of the Joseon dynasty… a power struggle between noble families.

“If you speak against Artemio in front of the Empress, she’ll likely be pleased. And she already has a favorable opinion of you, since you left the Artemio household.”

“I see.”

“You should petition Her Majesty directly.”

That’s when Maynus clarified why he brought it up because when it came to dealing with Artemio, going through the Empress, not the Emperor, was the smarter move. The current Emperor and Empress had a loving relationship, with no concubines.

The seven-year-old Crown Prince was growing well, and the imperial twins, a prince and princess, were healthy. So no one in the Empire could challenge the Empress’s authority. And yet, the Artemios had dared to cross her.

Tsk tsk.

They were digging their own graves.

Now it made sense why Artemio had so desperately tried to cling to her after casting her out. And the more she heard, the clearer it became that Artemio would never let her go… as long as she remained at Jeremias.

“Got it. Then once I recover my divine healing powers, I’ll tell them that I intend to support the Carman family, not the Artemios. That should do, right?”

Maynus nodded.

“They’ll understand what that means. Also, Marten looked into it separately and discovered that Sir Alexander and Lady Ellice left behind an inheritance. Artemio has been keeping it hidden, but without legal rights, they can’t access it.”

“Oh! So there really was something!”

She hadn’t even considered that. Ellice had left something behind! Of course Alexand had received honors and rewards from the Emperor after his heroics.

“I’ll help you recover that, Veloce. Please register me as Delerone’s legal guardian.”

Maynus’s handsome face somehow looked even more refined. And the cufflinks she had given him stood out so clearly against his shirt. He really was the complete package.

Too good to give away…

“That way, you’ll be able to recover Delerone’s rightful inheritance, correct?”

“Exactly. I’ll convert it into its highest value and transfer it to your name.”

“…Thank you, Maynus.”

He smiled as if it was nothing.

Even if she had no money, Ellice, once a Saintess and healer, wouldn’t have been the same. If that inheritance could be recovered, it would be a godsend. Raising a child was expensive, after all.

From Veloce’s perspective, who never wanted Delerone to lack anything, it was the best possible news. And she’d make sure to save a portion for Delerone to use when she grew up.

She didn’t know how much the inheritance was worth…

But people said good deeds were rewarded.

It was like light seeping through a dark sky. Like sunshine in a mouse hole.

Dear God, thank you!!

***

Count Artemio ground his teeth.

The imperial decree from the Emperor had driven him to fury. He slammed his fist on the desk and swept everything from its surface to the floor.

The crashing of shattered items echoed through his office.

“My Lord…!”

“That ungrateful little wench is going to take everything! Giving her full authority over the National Healing Center… what kind of nonsense is this? I prepared everything, and now she gets to feast on my banquet?!”

Count Artemio stomped his feet. His aide could only sigh deeply at his tantrum. He wanted to quit right then and there but he couldn’t, and it made him bitter.

He had siblings to care for, and they were holding him back.

Count Artemio hurled the crumpled decree at the silent aide.

“Figure out how to fix this right now!!”