I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 180
Did you get hooked and started binge reading too fast? IJWTAD has advance chapters now available on ko-fi! Check it out!
‘So it was just baseless worry after all.’
Veronica folded her arms and stared at Yeshion.
“So, what did you find out?”
“……That Saintess Rosaline… isn’t a woman.”
“Proof?”
As Yeshion turned his body as if to say follow me, Veronica trailed behind.
Even though he was guiding her, his body shook uncontrollably, his teeth chattering with fear. In his mind, he kept telling himself there was no reason to fear this woman, but the terror etched deep into his body responded instinctively.
Even then, Veronica continued to study Yeshion’s every move.
Was his gait strange? The slight movement of his lips. The blinking of his eyes. The trembling of his body. Whether he looked toward anything specific. It was a habit she’d picked up after serving the Empress for so long.
‘Something’s off, no matter how I think about it.’
The usual Yeshion would’ve kept his mouth shut even if he’d discovered something.
He would’ve waited until the next gathering and made some excuse about not having found any real evidence.
‘It’s possible he betrayed us just to survive…’
But the way he now moved with such confidence, claiming to have proof, felt suspicious.
It was just as Yeshion reached for the doorknob.
“Wait.”
Veronica’s voice halted Yeshion’s movement.
The sharp sound of heels echoed as she walked up to stand right beside him. Veronica silently studied his face.
Pale skin. Trembling fingertips. A fearful expression, as though bracing to be hit again. Nothing out of the ordinary for him, yet somehow, something felt wrong.
“W-Why… what is it?”
Yeshion asked in a wavering voice, unable to meet her eyes. The cheek she’d slapped earlier had started to swell, already bruising blue. Maybe that’s why he spoke more stiffly than usual.
Even though his voice trembled, even though his eyes shook…
‘Well. After being beaten like that, it’s not like he’d dare try anything foolish.’
Veronica stepped back and folded her arms.
Someone consumed by fear was unlikely to try anything foolish. Especially someone like Yeshion who was beaten down, with every shred of hope crushed.
It must’ve been a long time now since every attempt to escape just felt like sinking deeper into a swamp. By now, he probably didn’t even know anymore whether his own judgments were right or wrong.
‘If that’s the case… then I can understand why he’s so quick to betray the Saintess.’
After all, it was Veronica herself who made him that way.
Something still felt unsettling, but it didn’t matter. Yeshion was already in the palm of Veronica’s hand.
She toyed with the dagger hidden at her waist and slowly blinked. Even if something did happen, she could take care of Yeshion and a couple of paladins too before slipping away with ease.
Once she was sure, Veronica spoke.
“Explain what you’ve done.”
“…I drugged the Saintess’s food.”
“You drugged it?”
“…Yes. I used a sleep-inducing drug, and while she was asleep, I confirmed… that she’s not a woman.”
The entire time he spoke, Yeshion stared only at the tips of his shoes. He was afraid that if their eyes met, she’d see through the lie.
“Hm…”
Veronica narrowed her eyes at him again. But then, she let out a quiet laugh and gave his back a firm slap.
“Just picturing a trembling little brat peeking under the covers makes me laugh.”
“……”
“Open the door. I’ll need to see for myself.”
Veronica sneered as she spoke.
If it was confirmed that the Saint wasn’t a woman, she could bring down that arrogant Archpriest. Then, using the temple as a pretext, they could draw in other nobles who refused to side with the Empress.
It would be the start of sweeping away everything that stood in her path.
Heart racing, Veronica stepped into the room Yeshion opened. Inside, it was silent, only the Saintess’s steady breathing could be heard from the bed.
Finally reassured, Veronica walked straight to the bedside. Just as she reached for the blanket covering Rosaline, ready to pull it back—
“Hello, Veronica.”
Rosaline opened his eyes wide and smiled sweetly.
In that instant, a heavy force slammed down on Veronica’s shoulders.
“……Urgh!”
With a stifled groan, her knees buckled, and she looked up at Rosaline, just as he drew back his fist and slammed it straight into her face.
“How dare you hit my friend?”
