After hearing the story of Keilname County, Cesar and Aleric got back to work on the chariot, and the chariot's wheels began turning again.
Meanwhile, Severina, Nocturna, and Zyrene took their daughters and left for the Shadow World because both Severucia and Noctalia were eager to meet their other mothers as soon as possible—and Lucifer didn't stop them.
Now only four people remained in the chariot… Cesar and Aleric, who were driving it, and the ones sitting inside… Lucifer and his wife Veronica.
After some silence and some thinking, Veronica asked Lucifer,
"Luci… how old would this story be?"
Lucifer answered her question very calmly…
"Roughly, you could say around 1900 years old—if we look at it by today's calendar."
Hearing Lucifer's reply, Veronica asked again…
"If this story is so old… then how do you know so much about it in such detail?"
"I don't think anyone would remember a story that ancient even today… and I also feel like even the people of Keilname County themselves probably don't know much about it anymore… So how do you know all this?"
As soon as Veronica's questions reached Lucifer's ears, he gave her a light, teasing smile and said,
"Your Highness… why don't you think about it yourself for a moment?"
Saying this, Lucifer placed his head in Veronica's lap and comfortably lay down on the very seat she was sitting on.
For a while he kept gazing at Veronica's beautiful face, which at that moment was filled with a lot of confusion. Then his eyes moved to her curly black hair, azure eyes, fair complexion, and pink lips… and then, startling her, he said something that made Veronica's heartbeat quicken even more.
Lucifer said…
"Veronica… do you know, you look incredibly beautiful today. I'm really lucky, Veronica, that you chose me that day."
After saying this, Lucifer raised one hand, caressed her cheek, and said…
"Have you figured it out yet, Veronica… how I know the story of Keilname?"
Hearing Lucifer's question, Veronica replied…
"No, Lucifer…
I don't know how you know this story. You tell me yourself."
At her response, Lucifer laughed and said…
"Veronica, my wife… how much do you really know about this Lucifer of yours?"
At Lucifer's question, Veronica looked down at him (with his head still in her lap) and asked…
"What do you mean?"
Lucifer said…
"I mean… how much do you actually know about me?"
Veronica replied…
"Not much… some things I've only recently come to know… and some from Mother Mia and Aunt Ruby, and some from Sister Amelia and Sister Westeria—like your name, your habits, your character, your love, your anger, and a bit about your past."
Hearing Veronica's words, Lucifer asked…
"My past."
"Veronica, if there's anyone in the entire Velmora house who can tell you about my past, it's only my 'dear Wess' and Allen… no one else."
"And I won't tell anyone about my past either."
"Veronica, it's better if you don't know about my past… It's not a story fit for human ears or understanding. Your innocent heart wouldn't be able to bear the pain of it."
Hearing Lucifer's words, Veronica thought to herself…
'No, Lucifer… don't say such things about yourself… Not fit for human ears? The ones who inflicted living hell on you weren't humans—they were monsters wearing human skin like Christopher and Derek.'
But Lucifer interrupted her thoughts and said again…
"Veronica… knowing the past can tell you some things connected to a person… but knowing the past doesn't mean you truly know the person."
"I'm currently 18 years and about 7 months old, Veronica, but I've spent 16 years of my life with Wess. She's taken care of me since childhood… but if I say she knows everything about me… that would be a complete lie."
"She only knows as much as I've allowed her to know… Actually, even I don't fully know myself… Sometimes it feels like someone has forcibly locked away my memories… Some memories come to my mind, but the moment I try to focus on them… they vanish."
Hearing this, Veronica said…
"So that means even Westeria doesn't know everything about you?"
Lucifer replied…
"No… But when it comes to you, or Westeria… or anyone in my family… I know every single detail about all of them."
At Lucifer's words, Veronica smiled a little and said…
"If you're done storytelling, shall we get back to the topic—how do you know the history of Keilname County?"
"Or should I just assume… that you were making up a story, Lucifer?"
Hearing this, Lucifer said…
"I'm telling the truth, Veronica. The story of Keilname County is not my fictional tale—it really happened… and it's also true, Veronica, that I know everything about you."
Hearing this, Veronica said…
"Really, darling? Then tell me everything you know about me."
Lucifer replied…
"There's a lot to tell, honey… things you've never told anyone… Let's start with your birthday."
Lucifer looked at Veronica again and continued…
"So my wife… Veronica… was born between the 21st bell and the 22nd bell at night.
The date was… the 89th day of the month Virelion… and the day was Astryn… meaning the day of fate, choice, and destiny."
"The Veronica who is my wife comes from the Royal Family of Nephris Kingdom… that is, the Nyalsia family.
Her father's name was Kenryu Nyalsia and her mother's name was… Brenda Nyalsia.
Though Brenda was not his main wife—she was his 45th concubine.
Kenryu Nyalsia's main wife was named Xiola Bareheart, and he had a total of 86 concubines."
"When my wife Veronica grew up… around 3 years old… she met Jasper, and from then on they became good friends… Time passed, and when Veronica turned 12… she had sex with Jasper for the first time… and lost her virginity that very day…"
"Time moved forward slowly… Jasper started liking Veronica… and Veronica started liking him too… but 2 years later… King Kenryu Nyalsia gave Veronica's hand to Prince Ignis of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom… and that same day, Jasper also joined the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom as Veronica's servant."
"But the love that was blossoming got interrupted because of Ignis's interference… yet Veronica never rejected Jasper's friendship, and Jasper promised her that wherever she would be, he would stay by her side… For Veronica, Jasper's friendship was far better than love in many ways."
"More time passed… When Ignis turned 27, he became the new king… but since the kingdom followed a matriarchal system… a new queen was also needed… So my wife Veronica, who was about 24 years old at the time, was promoted to main queen… Where, in the name of some ceremony or ritual, King Ignis's father Peter, along with his 6-7 friends and guards, spent a full 10 days having sex with Veronica and impregnated her."
"So as soon as my Veronica became queen, she also became a mother… and the first child born was a girl… named Daisy."
"But King Ignis's father Peter had taken a liking to my Veronica, so he kept having sex with her from time to time.
And 2 years later, one day while Peter was enjoying himself having sex with Veronica along with 4 other people… Veronica became pregnant again… This time she had a son, named Tristian… And 2 years after that, one day while having sex with both Ignis and Jasper, Veronica became pregnant again… and this time it was another daughter, named Trainy."
After saying all this, Lucifer asked…
"So Veronica, was that enough… or should I continue the story—how, after another 26 years or so, you broke all ties with Ignis and the royal family… and became the wife of Lucifer Velmora?"
Lucifer asked this… but Veronica… her senses had completely left her.
Okay, the time spent with Ignis and Jasper could somehow be explained as known… but until today, Veronica had never told anyone the true information about her birthday—not even her beloved son Tristian… So how did Lucifer know this?
Thinking about it over and over, her mind was spinning.