“Hmm... It’s better than I expected.”
This was the comment of Madam Flambard, who opened the wooden trunk covered with faded dust.
“Yes, I think so too.”
The place where Liene brought Madame Flambard was the royal storehouse. Among them was a trunk containing the clothes worn by her father. She had sold most of the valuable trinkets, but there were still some things left untouched. Her father's wedding dress was one of them.
“The embroidery is still intact.”
Liene ran her fingertips over the robe that still retained its former wealth.
“Do you have any business with me?”
Black asked Liene. Liene hadn't realized that she had been staring at Black until then.
“...Oh, yes. Let’s discuss wedding attire for a moment.”
Black nodded to Liene once and then spoke to his subordinates.
“Leave.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It wasn't necessary, but Black insisted on sending people out. Liene didn't realize that it was a consideration for her, who was still uncomfortable with Tiwakan's mercenaries. The two of them were left alone... What bothered her more was the fact that they were left alone in this room again. This room was somehow a place where she had to keep kissing him.
“Speak.”
Black pointed to an empty chair in front of the bed. Liene sat down and faced him. Black wasn’t lying on the bed, but sitting on it, and he had his shirt half-dressed, perhaps to show off his wounds. Surely he wasn’t doing this on purpose. He knew how he looked to her... Surely not. No matter what, it was too much.
Even if she wanted to, there was nothing she could do. The treasury was literally empty. After the funeral tomorrow, Liene was going to become that much poorer.
“Instead of building something new, I would like you to wear the coronation ceremonial attire of the former King.”
“...”
There was a brief, strange silence after those words.
“If by any chance you disagree...”
“That won’t happen.”
Black nodded slightly, making it seem as if the silence had been an illusion.
“Then please let me measure it.”
“...Are you talking about now?”
"Yes."
Liene took out the thread she had borrowed from Madame Flambard. It was an old leather cord with notches that had been used to make many royal garments.
“Let’s measure your upper body first. Please spread your arms out to your sides.”
“...”
Black looked at Liene for a moment and then obediently opened his arms. Liene approached him as he sat on the edge of the bed and carefully measured him. She measured his wrist circumference, then from his wrist to his elbow, and then from his elbow to his shoulder. After measuring his shoulder, she had to measure his neck circumference.
“You can put your arms down now.”
“...”
Black lowered his arms, and Liene wrapped the measuring tape around his neck. And then Liene realized why he had been silent the whole time... Too close.
...I don’t know.
“Please stay still as much as possible.”
Liene bit her lips once and then raised her sword again. If she can't help but tremble no matter what she does, it would be better to just get it over with quickly.
“Don’t move. I’ll do it as fast as I can.”
“...”
Black let out a low gasp, then stood up and raised his arms. Liene spread her arms and wrapped them around his chest, determined to get rid of him. She knew that he was hugging her with his arms wide open. She knows. But what’s wrong with that? It couldn’t be helped. This kind of thing will happen again. She can’t be swayed every time. She has to get used to this man quickly.
This was the comment of Madam Flambard, who opened the wooden trunk covered with faded dust.
“Yes, I think so too.”
The place where Liene brought Madame Flambard was the royal storehouse. Among them was a trunk containing the clothes worn by her father. She had sold most of the valuable trinkets, but there were still some things left untouched. Her father's wedding dress was one of them.
“The embroidery is still intact.”
Liene ran her fingertips over the robe that still retained its former wealth.
“But how did these clothes survive? Weren’t most of the former King’s belongings organized?”
Madam Flambard made up a story that she had sold it because she had no money.
“I felt bad about this dress. It was so well-made, but it also had some good memories attached to it... Oh, wait a minute?”
Liene tilted her head in confusion as she spoke. She thought that this was definitely her father's wedding dress. But how come she still remembers her father wearing this dress? Liene asked Madame Flambard with a confused look on her face.
“Isn’t this... a wedding dress?”
“It looks similar, but I remember His Majesty wearing it on a different day.”
“When?”
“Perhaps it was a coronation. Such magnificent attire is only worn on very special occasions.”
“Coronation... So, did my father have a coronation after I was born?”
“That’s right.”
“Ah, so that’s why.”
So maybe she left it unconsciously. Liene touched the fabric again, which was still beautiful even now. The intricate silver embroidery still sparkled dazzlingly.
“The button decoration is also the same.”
The buttons made by crossing pearls and rubies were still intact. Liene felt lucky that she had forgotten that this dress was still there. A dress like this would be perfect for a wedding dress.
“I think you just need to adjust it a little to fit the size.”
“If you wash it and iron it cleanly, it will look like new.”
Fortunately, Madam Flambard was positive about fixing the clothes. Liene spoke to her with a somewhat apologetic yet grateful heart.
“I thought you would be angry, Madam”
“Me?”
“Yes. You’re giving your precious clothes to someone who doesn’t suit you.”
“Well, it’s something that will hurt your mouth if you say it twice.”
Madam Flambard looked strangely bitter.
“But... Even if I say that it won’t work out, the wedding will still happen. Still, it’s the Princess’s wedding, so we have to do what needs to be done. Rather than seeing those savages who don’t know anything about etiquette dress the groom in whatever they want, this is better. Even if I’m a savage on the inside, I have to make the outside look like a Princess.”
Liene smiled and rested her head on Madame Flambard's shoulder.
“Hearing that makes me feel like crying.”
“Huh? Did I say something wrong, Princess?”
“No, I just like hearing it.”
“Oh my, what the hell. What did I say... You too, Princess.”
Mada. Flambard blushed awkwardly. Liene could tell from her words how much she cared for her.
“Maybe he’s not such a bad person after all.”
Madam Flambard, who was quietly combing Liene's hair with her fingers, just listened to the story.
“Of course, it started out really badly. I know that, but... I just think about it sometimes. It’s not that bad when you actually meet someone.”
Rather, the person she thought washery lover became more like her. She really thought the person had changed.
“If I seem to be hurt, he cares....”
She will probably never forget what that guy did to her mouth today, trying to find a wound.
“It might sound rude, but it’s not really.”
So Liene doesn't really hate it. She doesn't think it's supposed to be like that, but it keeps happening.
“Today... thank you so much for coming to pick me up...”
Liene quietly swallowed her surging emotions. Mada. Flambard was the closest person to her, but she didn’t want her to know what had happened that day. If she did, the kind and gentle lady would be even more shocked than she was.
“...I feel relieved.”
“I see. Then he can wear those clothes.”
Madam Flambard patted Liene's shoulder affectionately.
“And actually, he doesn’t seem like such a bad guy. The problem is his substance.”
Those words made Liene laugh out loud.
“Does that mean he’s handsome?”
Madame Flambard never said anything like that to Lafitte Kleinfelter.
“Why are you asking again? It’s just like that. Is there a law that says all barbarians can’t be nice to look at?”
...Well, he is handsome. When Liene first saw him, shr didn’t want to believe it.
“Those clothes will suit him well.”
“Yes... I think so too.”
Liene and Madame Flambard looked at each other and smiled.
“Then I will find out the measure.”
“Then I will fix those clothes as I fix the Princess’s mourning clothes.”
“Come with me. I want to help too.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Liene went to find Black to measure his clothes.
Madam Flambard made up a story that she had sold it because she had no money.
“I felt bad about this dress. It was so well-made, but it also had some good memories attached to it... Oh, wait a minute?”
Liene tilted her head in confusion as she spoke. She thought that this was definitely her father's wedding dress. But how come she still remembers her father wearing this dress? Liene asked Madame Flambard with a confused look on her face.
“Isn’t this... a wedding dress?”
“It looks similar, but I remember His Majesty wearing it on a different day.”
“When?”
“Perhaps it was a coronation. Such magnificent attire is only worn on very special occasions.”
“Coronation... So, did my father have a coronation after I was born?”
“That’s right.”
“Ah, so that’s why.”
So maybe she left it unconsciously. Liene touched the fabric again, which was still beautiful even now. The intricate silver embroidery still sparkled dazzlingly.
“The button decoration is also the same.”
The buttons made by crossing pearls and rubies were still intact. Liene felt lucky that she had forgotten that this dress was still there. A dress like this would be perfect for a wedding dress.
“I think you just need to adjust it a little to fit the size.”
“If you wash it and iron it cleanly, it will look like new.”
Fortunately, Madam Flambard was positive about fixing the clothes. Liene spoke to her with a somewhat apologetic yet grateful heart.
“I thought you would be angry, Madam”
“Me?”
“Yes. You’re giving your precious clothes to someone who doesn’t suit you.”
“Well, it’s something that will hurt your mouth if you say it twice.”
Madam Flambard looked strangely bitter.
“But... Even if I say that it won’t work out, the wedding will still happen. Still, it’s the Princess’s wedding, so we have to do what needs to be done. Rather than seeing those savages who don’t know anything about etiquette dress the groom in whatever they want, this is better. Even if I’m a savage on the inside, I have to make the outside look like a Princess.”
Liene smiled and rested her head on Madame Flambard's shoulder.
“Hearing that makes me feel like crying.”
“Huh? Did I say something wrong, Princess?”
“No, I just like hearing it.”
“Oh my, what the hell. What did I say... You too, Princess.”
Mada. Flambard blushed awkwardly. Liene could tell from her words how much she cared for her.
“Maybe he’s not such a bad person after all.”
Madam Flambard, who was quietly combing Liene's hair with her fingers, just listened to the story.
“Of course, it started out really badly. I know that, but... I just think about it sometimes. It’s not that bad when you actually meet someone.”
Rather, the person she thought washery lover became more like her. She really thought the person had changed.
“If I seem to be hurt, he cares....”
She will probably never forget what that guy did to her mouth today, trying to find a wound.
“It might sound rude, but it’s not really.”
So Liene doesn't really hate it. She doesn't think it's supposed to be like that, but it keeps happening.
“Today... thank you so much for coming to pick me up...”
Liene quietly swallowed her surging emotions. Mada. Flambard was the closest person to her, but she didn’t want her to know what had happened that day. If she did, the kind and gentle lady would be even more shocked than she was.
“...I feel relieved.”
“I see. Then he can wear those clothes.”
Madam Flambard patted Liene's shoulder affectionately.
“And actually, he doesn’t seem like such a bad guy. The problem is his substance.”
Those words made Liene laugh out loud.
“Does that mean he’s handsome?”
Madame Flambard never said anything like that to Lafitte Kleinfelter.
“Why are you asking again? It’s just like that. Is there a law that says all barbarians can’t be nice to look at?”
...Well, he is handsome. When Liene first saw him, shr didn’t want to believe it.
“Those clothes will suit him well.”
“Yes... I think so too.”
Liene and Madame Flambard looked at each other and smiled.
“Then I will find out the measure.”
“Then I will fix those clothes as I fix the Princess’s mourning clothes.”
“Come with me. I want to help too.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Liene went to find Black to measure his clothes.
***
At that time, Black was in the room where he was staying with his subordinates. There weren’t many people with him. There were about three or four of them, but since they were all large, the room felt cramped. Even among those big guys, Black stood out. He was the tallest, and strangely enough, he didn’t look huge like the others; he looked slim and slender. Was it because he looked different...
Liene thought of what Madame Flambard had said about how he was nice to look at. Because he was different from other people. Because he was the only one like that... Fascinating.
“Do you have any business with me?”
Black asked Liene. Liene hadn't realized that she had been staring at Black until then.
“...Oh, yes. Let’s discuss wedding attire for a moment.”
Black nodded to Liene once and then spoke to his subordinates.
“Leave.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It wasn't necessary, but Black insisted on sending people out. Liene didn't realize that it was a consideration for her, who was still uncomfortable with Tiwakan's mercenaries. The two of them were left alone... What bothered her more was the fact that they were left alone in this room again. This room was somehow a place where she had to keep kissing him.
“Speak.”
Black pointed to an empty chair in front of the bed. Liene sat down and faced him. Black wasn’t lying on the bed, but sitting on it, and he had his shirt half-dressed, perhaps to show off his wounds. Surely he wasn’t doing this on purpose. He knew how he looked to her... Surely not. No matter what, it was too much.
Liene shook her head to dispel the inappropriate thoughts and spoke.
“I will prepare the wedding attire for Lord Tiwakan. It may not be enough to call it a gift, but it is the greatest gesture I can show you at the moment.”
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“It's not a lot.”
“I will prepare the wedding attire for Lord Tiwakan. It may not be enough to call it a gift, but it is the greatest gesture I can show you at the moment.”
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“It's not a lot.”
Even if she wanted to, there was nothing she could do. The treasury was literally empty. After the funeral tomorrow, Liene was going to become that much poorer.
“Instead of building something new, I would like you to wear the coronation ceremonial attire of the former King.”
“...”
There was a brief, strange silence after those words.
“If by any chance you disagree...”
“That won’t happen.”
Black nodded slightly, making it seem as if the silence had been an illusion.
“Then please let me measure it.”
“...Are you talking about now?”
"Yes."
Liene took out the thread she had borrowed from Madame Flambard. It was an old leather cord with notches that had been used to make many royal garments.
“Let’s measure your upper body first. Please spread your arms out to your sides.”
“...”
Black looked at Liene for a moment and then obediently opened his arms. Liene approached him as he sat on the edge of the bed and carefully measured him. She measured his wrist circumference, then from his wrist to his elbow, and then from his elbow to his shoulder. After measuring his shoulder, she had to measure his neck circumference.
“You can put your arms down now.”
“...”
Black lowered his arms, and Liene wrapped the measuring tape around his neck. And then Liene realized why he had been silent the whole time... Too close.
She had to wrap the measuring tape around his neck to measure his neck, and that meant standing right up against him. He was sitting, and she was slightly bent over, needless to say. This was the position she had taken when she had kissed him first. When she realized that, her eyes were fixed on Black’s lips. They were so close. It felt like they would touch at any moment.
Ah... I should have asked Mada. to measure them.
Her hands, which had moved without a problem when she had measured his arms, froze when they touched her neck, and couldn’t move as she wanted. She didn’t know this... would happen like this.
Black opened his mouth. The soft voice immediately warmed his ears.
“I’m a little confused right now.”
"Which..."
“Is this part of our promise?”
"Yes?"
Liene slowly raised her head. The measuring tape was still wrapped around Black’s neck, and Liene’s hand was pressing the part where the marks at the end overlapped.
“You promised that you would want me too, Princess. I am asking if now is the sign.”
“No, I...”
Liene couldn't open her mouth because she was so embarrassed that she couldn't even speak. She didn't do it on purpose. She really did it to fix his clothes...
“Isn’t it?”
“That’s... not what I was thinking...”
“Isn’t that so?”
Not at all. At least not at the beginning.
"...Yes."
Instead of saying anything in response, Black stroked Liene's knuckles around his neck.
“I didn’t mean to keep my promise, I just wanted to give you clothes... Yes, I understand.”
The hand that had been touching her hand disappeared. It was a moment that made her want to sigh for some reason.
“Please finish it.”
“...”
Liene swallowed a sigh and read the markings on the tape measure.
“Everything is done here.”
She thought the neck would be the most difficult part. But when she realized that the chest measurement was next, she realized that this was just the beginning.
“Raise your arms again...”
When Liene, who was lowering her body while holding the knife, suddenly stopped talking, Black asked back.
“Is it time to measure your chest now?”
I see.
“That’s why things got more difficult.”
He know everything.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I’m a little confused right now.”
"Which..."
“Is this part of our promise?”
"Yes?"
Liene slowly raised her head. The measuring tape was still wrapped around Black’s neck, and Liene’s hand was pressing the part where the marks at the end overlapped.
“You promised that you would want me too, Princess. I am asking if now is the sign.”
“No, I...”
Liene couldn't open her mouth because she was so embarrassed that she couldn't even speak. She didn't do it on purpose. She really did it to fix his clothes...
“Isn’t it?”
“That’s... not what I was thinking...”
“Isn’t that so?”
Not at all. At least not at the beginning.
"...Yes."
Instead of saying anything in response, Black stroked Liene's knuckles around his neck.
“I didn’t mean to keep my promise, I just wanted to give you clothes... Yes, I understand.”
The hand that had been touching her hand disappeared. It was a moment that made her want to sigh for some reason.
“Please finish it.”
“...”
Liene swallowed a sigh and read the markings on the tape measure.
“Everything is done here.”
She thought the neck would be the most difficult part. But when she realized that the chest measurement was next, she realized that this was just the beginning.
“Raise your arms again...”
When Liene, who was lowering her body while holding the knife, suddenly stopped talking, Black asked back.
“Is it time to measure your chest now?”
I see.
“That’s why things got more difficult.”
He know everything.
“What do you want me to do?”
...I don’t know.
Even if he just kept his mouth shut like a tree and stayed still, she didn’t think she could comfortably measure his size. No matter what he did, it would be uncomfortable. No matter what he did, she would be nervous, and no matter what she did, she would be like this... trembling. Because he was a man.
“Please stay still as much as possible.”
Liene bit her lips once and then raised her sword again. If she can't help but tremble no matter what she does, it would be better to just get it over with quickly.
“Don’t move. I’ll do it as fast as I can.”
“...”
Black let out a low gasp, then stood up and raised his arms. Liene spread her arms and wrapped them around his chest, determined to get rid of him. She knew that he was hugging her with his arms wide open. She knows. But what’s wrong with that? It couldn’t be helped. This kind of thing will happen again. She can’t be swayed every time. She has to get used to this man quickly.
Liene forcibly took her eyes off Black and checked the scale.
“Now I will measure your waist.”
Black suddenly grabbed the hand that was quickly falling after finishing its work.
“Can’t we take it slow?”
"Yes...?"
Liene raised her head without realizing it and looked at him.
“I don’t really like to stay still.”
What are you talking about, you man...
“Now I will measure your waist.”
Black suddenly grabbed the hand that was quickly falling after finishing its work.
“Can’t we take it slow?”
"Yes...?"
Liene raised her head without realizing it and looked at him.
“I don’t really like to stay still.”
What are you talking about, you man...
Black slowly stroked his hair as he pulled Liene’s hand back to his chest.
“Do you not like it when I move?”
“...”
“Do you not like it when I move?”
“...”
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