...Line couldn’t tell how time passed. When their lips finally parted, Liene was panting. Her lips were all wet and shiny. The man’s lips were wet and shiny, so her lips would be the same.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Black muttered, keeping his distance just enough to move his lips and speak.
“I don’t feel bad. Including those clothes.”
The arm that had been injured was wrapped tightly around Liene's waist. Liene felt a dizzying sense of danger and a rock-solid sense of stability at the same time.
“I think you can stop now.”
Liene pushed Black's shoulder. She wanted to be calm, but it was really hard to do so in front of the man. If her legs lost any strength, she felt like she would collapse onto the man's thigh.
“I’ll go...”
Liene interrupted him mid-sentence. It was because she saw Black frowning.
“Oh, no.”
She happened to be pushing his injured shoulder with her hand. Liene hurriedly pulled her hand away.
“I’m so nervous... Are you okay?”
"It's okay."
Contrary to his plain answer, his eyebrows furrowed even further.
“It’s not okay.”
Liene slowly caressed the wound she had just pushed hard against. There was no blood seeping out through the bandage. The wound didn't appear to have split open or anything.
“Please show signs of pain next time.”
“I didn’t know I was sick... I was so flustered.”
The lips that spoke like that were red and hot like yesterday. Although she couldn't figure out why, Liene thought that it suited the man better. That man looked better when he was hot. She wished she was hot like that when she saw herself...
“I’m already prepared.”
That was the problem. The fact that, despite her determination, the man wasn't that terrible. The most ridiculous thing about this ridiculous marriage was herself.
“By the way, the cloak is late. What happened to Madam Flambard?”
Liene tried to change the subject. As if on cue, Madame Flambard knocked and came in.
“I brought you a cloak, Princess..."
The woman who had just entered the room frowned deeply at the sight of Liene in front of the mirror.
“Princess? Are you sure that’s what you’re wearing as mourning clothes?”
"Yes?"
Liene looked at her clothes in confusion.
“Yes. This is the only mourning dress I have. You know that, ma’am.”
“Oh my God... These were those clothes?”
Madam Flambard shook her head.
“When was the last time you wore these clothes? Has it been five years? My goodness... How could you change so much? Well, I guess it can’t be helped since you’ve grown up so much.”
This was already the third time she had pointed it out. Liene felt grateful to Werose, who had never shown any interest in her clothes.
“It didn’t grow that much. I don’t think it’s ugly...”
“It’s ugly! It’s the opposite, that’s the problem!”
"Yes?"
It was another moment of bewilderment.
“You object?”
“Doesn’t black suit you so well, Princess? At that time, you were still young, so I thought you were a bit too pretty and let it go, but now I can’t call this mourning attire. The flesh has sagged, revealing your shoulders and chest. It looks like something you would wear on your wedding night. Did Lord Werose just watch this from the side?”
Suddenly, the arrow came back at him and Werose shook his head in confusion.
“I, that... The Princess is so beautiful, so I thought that was it...”
“Tsk tsk. Well, what does that gentleman know?”
Madam Flambard shook her head and stopped Liene.
“Anyway, those clothes are not suitable for mourning at all, so please wear something else, Princess. I am so worried about what those barbarians might think when they see this sight. That chieftain is already looking at you as if he’s going to swallow you in one gulp.”
“...”
Liene's complexion strangely turned pale. Madame Flambard did not miss it.
“You already wore it and came back?”
That's right.
“...That, the flesh isn’t showing.”
“Yes, but the line is visible. I think that’s more of a problem.”
“...”
Liene shut her mouth at that point. She remembered Black looking at her and saying that he was bothered by the clothes. Fermos openly asked if she had to keep wearing them. That was... that was what he meant.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Black muttered, keeping his distance just enough to move his lips and speak.
“I don’t feel bad. Including those clothes.”
The arm that had been injured was wrapped tightly around Liene's waist. Liene felt a dizzying sense of danger and a rock-solid sense of stability at the same time.
“I think you can stop now.”
Liene pushed Black's shoulder. She wanted to be calm, but it was really hard to do so in front of the man. If her legs lost any strength, she felt like she would collapse onto the man's thigh.
“I’ll go...”
Liene interrupted him mid-sentence. It was because she saw Black frowning.
“Oh, no.”
She happened to be pushing his injured shoulder with her hand. Liene hurriedly pulled her hand away.
“I’m so nervous... Are you okay?”
"It's okay."
Contrary to his plain answer, his eyebrows furrowed even further.
“It’s not okay.”
Liene slowly caressed the wound she had just pushed hard against. There was no blood seeping out through the bandage. The wound didn't appear to have split open or anything.
“Please show signs of pain next time.”
“I didn’t know I was sick... I was so flustered.”
The lips that spoke like that were red and hot like yesterday. Although she couldn't figure out why, Liene thought that it suited the man better. That man looked better when he was hot. She wished she was hot like that when she saw herself...
What on earth are you talking about? Liene turned her head away, scared of her own thoughts.
“I’m going to go now.”
There was work to be done. He had to be stopped before her lover's return escalated into a hopeless war.
“Since you don’t seem to be sick, I don’t think you will need my help with eating either.”
For a moment, Black's expression distorted amusingly. Liene, who was turning her head away, didn't see it.
“I wish you a speedy recovery, Lord Tiwackn.”
Liene left Black’s side without waiting for a greeting. Only after closing the bedroom door did she realize that she had forgotten to bring the old bandages and medicine, but it was already too late...
“I’m going to go now.”
There was work to be done. He had to be stopped before her lover's return escalated into a hopeless war.
“Since you don’t seem to be sick, I don’t think you will need my help with eating either.”
For a moment, Black's expression distorted amusingly. Liene, who was turning her head away, didn't see it.
“I wish you a speedy recovery, Lord Tiwackn.”
Liene left Black’s side without waiting for a greeting. Only after closing the bedroom door did she realize that she had forgotten to bring the old bandages and medicine, but it was already too late...
It was too late. It was too late to go back. She had already realized that a lover and a man were different. She wanted to let go of her lover’s tricks as soon as possible. Liene ended up soothing the man’s wounds, which he said didn’t hurt, with her own words.
The man was already her fiancé. Liene couldn’t escape this fact on her own.
***
There were many excuses for visiting the Kleinfelter family. First of all, Linden Kleinfelter, who acted as the head of the family to the public, was the Grand Master of Nauk, and Liene could come up with dozens of other reasons why she had to meet him. Above all, she had to deliver the news of his death. Her lover was also the commander of the Knights of Arsak, so she had a duty to personally convey her condolences.
“Still, I disagree, Princess.”
Werose spoke in a low voice to Liene, who was preparing to go out.
“Visiting at this time? It’s like giving them cause for suspicion.”
“If that’s the case, don’t worry about it.”
Liene turned around in front of the mirror. The only preparation she had to do was add a flower decoration to her hair to symbolize mourning. She only had to put on a black cloak over her mourning clothes. Madame Flambard was bringing the cloak now.
“Because they already know that the man is not dead.”
“Huh? What is that... Really? No, how did they know that?”
“They had a feeling that it was. I think they checked something before returning the body.”
The man's warning was actually quite noble.
“Why is it that they don’t know the face of Lord Klinefelter?”
“Well... I’m not sure about that, but wouldn’t there have been any marks on the body?”
“What’s the mark on the body... Oh, no.”
Suddenly, Werose's complexion faded.
“Do you think he recognized the decoration on the helmet?”
“Huh? A decoration?”
“The corpse wearing Lord Kleinfelter’s helmet. He would have been wearing plain armor. Lord Kleinfelter is the only one in the Knights of Arsak who wears decorated armor.”
“That’s quite possible.”
They were savages, but their eyesight was frighteningly sharp. Furthermore, their leader and his right-hand man were all very intelligent. It wasn’t for nothing that Tiwakan had been roaming the continent as an undefeated mercenary for ten years.
“Yes... Now that I think about it, I was careful with my words when I showed him his sword. I just hinted at it and didn’t say anything directly. I think they knew even then that it wasn’t the commander of the Arsa Knights who died.”
Liene wondered if the fact that he came with blood on his face was not because he was a rude savage, but rather because he had done so on purpose.
“Then... Just how far along are they in their calculations?...”
“It will go beyond our imagination. Lying is useless.”
Being late meant that too. Tiwakan had already entered the castle as a betrothed. They were no longer Tiwakan, but the Guardians of Arsak.
“Princess. Then, the reason you are visiting the Kleinfelter family is...”
“I was going to tell you to run away.”
Liene said with a bitter face.
“Are you, Princess, giving up Lord Kleinfelter and his family?”
“That’s the way he lives. Tiwakan has been strangely generous so far, but he’s not worth letting live. And he shot an arrow.”
“I’m not sure about that yet, Princess.”
“What does that matter? What matters is that someone tried to kill the Tiwakan chief. He is the only one responsible.”
“The Klinefelter family won’t let that happen.”
“Yes, I suppose so. I’m trying to avoid that. Do you want the Kleinfelters to fight the Tiwakans? A fight so hopeless?”
“Umm...”
Werose must have calculated as well. Kleinfelter and Tiwakan were not compatible. Considering that Tiwakan had the absolute upper hand, Liene's decision was wise.
“But, Princess, if you do that, you will never be able to escape from that barbarian’s hands. Are you fully aware of that?”
“Yes, I know.”
“But think again. Once you let Sir Klinefelter go, there is really no turning back.”
“There is no way to turn back.”
Liene said firmly.
“Your Excellency knows this as well.”
“Yes, I know. But Princess... The person you are marrying is the barbarian.”
“Still, I disagree, Princess.”
Werose spoke in a low voice to Liene, who was preparing to go out.
“Visiting at this time? It’s like giving them cause for suspicion.”
“If that’s the case, don’t worry about it.”
Liene turned around in front of the mirror. The only preparation she had to do was add a flower decoration to her hair to symbolize mourning. She only had to put on a black cloak over her mourning clothes. Madame Flambard was bringing the cloak now.
“Because they already know that the man is not dead.”
“Huh? What is that... Really? No, how did they know that?”
“They had a feeling that it was. I think they checked something before returning the body.”
The man's warning was actually quite noble.
“Why is it that they don’t know the face of Lord Klinefelter?”
“Well... I’m not sure about that, but wouldn’t there have been any marks on the body?”
“What’s the mark on the body... Oh, no.”
Suddenly, Werose's complexion faded.
“Do you think he recognized the decoration on the helmet?”
“Huh? A decoration?”
“The corpse wearing Lord Kleinfelter’s helmet. He would have been wearing plain armor. Lord Kleinfelter is the only one in the Knights of Arsak who wears decorated armor.”
“That’s quite possible.”
They were savages, but their eyesight was frighteningly sharp. Furthermore, their leader and his right-hand man were all very intelligent. It wasn’t for nothing that Tiwakan had been roaming the continent as an undefeated mercenary for ten years.
“Yes... Now that I think about it, I was careful with my words when I showed him his sword. I just hinted at it and didn’t say anything directly. I think they knew even then that it wasn’t the commander of the Arsa Knights who died.”
Liene wondered if the fact that he came with blood on his face was not because he was a rude savage, but rather because he had done so on purpose.
“Then... Just how far along are they in their calculations?...”
“It will go beyond our imagination. Lying is useless.”
Being late meant that too. Tiwakan had already entered the castle as a betrothed. They were no longer Tiwakan, but the Guardians of Arsak.
“Princess. Then, the reason you are visiting the Kleinfelter family is...”
“I was going to tell you to run away.”
Liene said with a bitter face.
“Are you, Princess, giving up Lord Kleinfelter and his family?”
“That’s the way he lives. Tiwakan has been strangely generous so far, but he’s not worth letting live. And he shot an arrow.”
“I’m not sure about that yet, Princess.”
“What does that matter? What matters is that someone tried to kill the Tiwakan chief. He is the only one responsible.”
“The Klinefelter family won’t let that happen.”
“Yes, I suppose so. I’m trying to avoid that. Do you want the Kleinfelters to fight the Tiwakans? A fight so hopeless?”
“Umm...”
Werose must have calculated as well. Kleinfelter and Tiwakan were not compatible. Considering that Tiwakan had the absolute upper hand, Liene's decision was wise.
“But, Princess, if you do that, you will never be able to escape from that barbarian’s hands. Are you fully aware of that?”
“Yes, I know.”
“But think again. Once you let Sir Klinefelter go, there is really no turning back.”
“There is no way to turn back.”
Liene said firmly.
“Your Excellency knows this as well.”
“Yes, I know. But Princess... The person you are marrying is the barbarian.”
“I’m already prepared.”
That was the problem. The fact that, despite her determination, the man wasn't that terrible. The most ridiculous thing about this ridiculous marriage was herself.
“By the way, the cloak is late. What happened to Madam Flambard?”
Liene tried to change the subject. As if on cue, Madame Flambard knocked and came in.
“I brought you a cloak, Princess..."
The woman who had just entered the room frowned deeply at the sight of Liene in front of the mirror.
“Princess? Are you sure that’s what you’re wearing as mourning clothes?”
"Yes?"
Liene looked at her clothes in confusion.
“Yes. This is the only mourning dress I have. You know that, ma’am.”
“Oh my God... These were those clothes?”
Madam Flambard shook her head.
“When was the last time you wore these clothes? Has it been five years? My goodness... How could you change so much? Well, I guess it can’t be helped since you’ve grown up so much.”
This was already the third time she had pointed it out. Liene felt grateful to Werose, who had never shown any interest in her clothes.
“It didn’t grow that much. I don’t think it’s ugly...”
“It’s ugly! It’s the opposite, that’s the problem!”
"Yes?"
It was another moment of bewilderment.
“You object?”
“Doesn’t black suit you so well, Princess? At that time, you were still young, so I thought you were a bit too pretty and let it go, but now I can’t call this mourning attire. The flesh has sagged, revealing your shoulders and chest. It looks like something you would wear on your wedding night. Did Lord Werose just watch this from the side?”
Suddenly, the arrow came back at him and Werose shook his head in confusion.
“I, that... The Princess is so beautiful, so I thought that was it...”
“Tsk tsk. Well, what does that gentleman know?”
Madam Flambard shook her head and stopped Liene.
“Anyway, those clothes are not suitable for mourning at all, so please wear something else, Princess. I am so worried about what those barbarians might think when they see this sight. That chieftain is already looking at you as if he’s going to swallow you in one gulp.”
“...”
Liene's complexion strangely turned pale. Madame Flambard did not miss it.
“You already wore it and came back?”
That's right.
“...That, the flesh isn’t showing.”
“Yes, but the line is visible. I think that’s more of a problem.”
“...”
Liene shut her mouth at that point. She remembered Black looking at her and saying that he was bothered by the clothes. Fermos openly asked if she had to keep wearing them. That was... that was what he meant.
The fact that it looked like something you’d wear on your wedding night was the politest thing Madam Flambard had said. If she had been more honest, it would have been much more blatant...Oh my. What if they thought she wore it on purpose?
Liene couldn’t stop thinking about it, even though she knew it was going too far. She was the one... kissing him. It’s not like she would wear something seductive on purpose and act like that... right?
***
Liene took off her mourning clothes that didn’t look like mourning clothes. Madam Flambard had arranged for her to have them altered. Since she only had one mourning dress, Liene wore the darkest color possible, put on a cloak over it, and set off for Kleinfelter Street. Even though it was a Princess’s procession, it was simple. As always, the escort was only Werose.
“It seems like people from Tiwakan are everywhere.”
Liene looked around the street from her horse and spoke softly. Werose nodded.
“We are still searching for the culprit who shot the arrow.”
“...For that reason, Tiwakan will go around every nook and cranny to find out all the ways of Nauk.”
“Yes.”
Liene laughed bitterly.
“At this point, I think it’s safe to say that the arrow shot was intentional. Tiwakan took everything from Nauk too easily because of that.”
“If it had been successful, it would have been different.”
The smile disappeared from Liene's bitter smile.
“Yes. Everyone in Nauk would have died. In the name of revenge.”
“...”
Werose, who knew that what she said was not wrong, lowered his head instead of answering. Gray hair was visible on the side of Werose's forehead.
“It’s fortunate that the leader of Tiwakan didn’t die. He chose the gentler approach of proposing marriage instead of trying to take Nauk by force.”
“Princess, that sounds too... friendly to them.”
“That’s right. Forty days, or rather, one day less. After that, the chieftain of Tiwakan will become the co-ruler of Nauk.”
I knew it. But even if I knew it in my head, it was a fact that I would never be able to get used to, Werose thought.
“They all came.”
The Kleinfelter family's mansion revealed its entrance. It was not as tall as Nauk Castle, but it was much more spacious and luxurious in terms of area. The number of workers was also incomparable to that of Nauk Castle.
“It seems like people from Tiwakan are everywhere.”
Liene looked around the street from her horse and spoke softly. Werose nodded.
“We are still searching for the culprit who shot the arrow.”
“...For that reason, Tiwakan will go around every nook and cranny to find out all the ways of Nauk.”
“Yes.”
Liene laughed bitterly.
“At this point, I think it’s safe to say that the arrow shot was intentional. Tiwakan took everything from Nauk too easily because of that.”
“If it had been successful, it would have been different.”
The smile disappeared from Liene's bitter smile.
“Yes. Everyone in Nauk would have died. In the name of revenge.”
“...”
Werose, who knew that what she said was not wrong, lowered his head instead of answering. Gray hair was visible on the side of Werose's forehead.
“It’s fortunate that the leader of Tiwakan didn’t die. He chose the gentler approach of proposing marriage instead of trying to take Nauk by force.”
“Princess, that sounds too... friendly to them.”
“That’s right. Forty days, or rather, one day less. After that, the chieftain of Tiwakan will become the co-ruler of Nauk.”
I knew it. But even if I knew it in my head, it was a fact that I would never be able to get used to, Werose thought.
“They all came.”
The Kleinfelter family's mansion revealed its entrance. It was not as tall as Nauk Castle, but it was much more spacious and luxurious in terms of area. The number of workers was also incomparable to that of Nauk Castle.
Bang, bang!
“Open the door! Princess Liene of the Arsak family has arrived!”
Werose knocked on the door to announce her arrival. After a long and tedious moment, the workers came out and opened the door.
“Open the door! Princess Liene of the Arsak family has arrived!”
Werose knocked on the door to announce her arrival. After a long and tedious moment, the workers came out and opened the door.
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