Excuses could be made. Excuses like not being able to have a first night because she had a child. However, those were excuses with too short a shelf life. Since she was getting married, Liene had to have a child as soon as possible. The biological father would of course be Black, but regardless, the child would inherit the Arsak family name as promised and become the next ruler. It was the best ending for Liene. It was a marriage that resulted from a forced proposal, but she was able to protect everything without losing anything... From her perspective.
But that man is not like that. Black will live without knowing that his child is his. Liene heart became heavy for another reason. Under the pretense of having to protect Nauk, was it okay for her to do something like that?...
Madam Flambard opened the bedroom door with trembling hands.
“Please come in.”
Black came in after a short delay. His blue gaze was directed straight at Liene, and she almost bit her tongue.
“What happened?”
Those blue eyes strangely seemed to see through everything. That's why she always became more nervous than necessary in front of him...
“Nothing. Why do you ask?”
“Because you called me.”
"Yes?"
Liene blinked, not understanding the question at first.
“Didn’t you mean that something came up that I needed to do?”
"Ah..."
A little bit of relief. It seemed like the matter hadn't been conveyed. Liene let go of the hem of her skirt that she had been holding tightly without realizing it and continued speaking calmly.
“While I was having your clothes fixed, I realized there were some places I hadn’t measured. I was wondering if I could come back and see you again when the time comes.”
“Measure... was that all?”
"Yes."
Blue eyes blinked slowly. Liene noticed Black's slight frown. Was he annoyed? Was she making people go back and forth over something so unimportant? Was that it?
“...”
But that didn't seem to be the case. She couldn't tell exactly why, but he didn't seem angry with her.
“Then please try again.”
Black strode towards Liene and spread his arms.
“No, this time...”
This time, Madw. Flambard will be the one to measure.
“Like I said, I thought something had come up that I needed to do.”
Swish.
“Then let go of my head. I will measure your measurements.”
“Just a little more.”
But instead of letting go of his hair, Black grabbed Liene's hand with his other hand.
“Why are you doing this?”
Liene asked in a very small voice, conscious of Madame Flambard.
“I didn’t know either, but I guess I was surprised. Surprised... No, maybe I was worried. Anyway, I don’t feel so good.”
“Are you worried?”
When Liene asked, Black put a little strength into his hand. It didn't hurt, but it was strong enough.
“I was just receiving reports that an illegitimate child of the Klinefelter family had entered the palace. At the same time, word came that the Princess was looking for me. So I thought that maybe there was something I needed to do.”
...Thud!
“Is the only reason you called me here to take measurements?”
“Princess. What are you thinking about?”
Madam Flambard broke Liene's thoughts.
“Oh, wait a minute...”
“How could I refuse the first night?”
Liene couldn't figure that out.
“I don’t know. What should I say?”
If she postponed the first night, it would be until the end of the month. Until then, she needed a reason not to bring Black into her bed.
“Just think about it for a moment...”
Knock, knock!
Madam Flambard broke Liene's thoughts.
“Oh, wait a minute...”
“How could I refuse the first night?”
Liene couldn't figure that out.
“I don’t know. What should I say?”
If she postponed the first night, it would be until the end of the month. Until then, she needed a reason not to bring Black into her bed.
“Just think about it for a moment...”
Knock, knock!
A knock on the door cut off Liene's words.
“I think he’s here.”
Madqm Flambard rose to her feet.
“I’ll open the door and come over. Princess, first, please fix your expression.”
Liene touched her face as she watched Madam Flambard's back as she hurried towards the door. But there was no need for that.
“Yes, I’ll open the door for you... Oh my!”
Madam Flambard let out a strange scream as she opened the door.
"Ma'am?"
Liene, who had been standing up in surprise, froze like a statue when she discovered the reason for Madwm's scream. It wasn't Black.
“I just heard something.”
It was Lafitte. A man who should never have been seen in the castle of Nauk was here. Lafitte pushed past the bewildered Madame Flambard and slammed the door shut.
“I heard the Princess is pregnant with my child... Is that true?”
Madqm Flambard rose to her feet.
“I’ll open the door and come over. Princess, first, please fix your expression.”
Liene touched her face as she watched Madam Flambard's back as she hurried towards the door. But there was no need for that.
“Yes, I’ll open the door for you... Oh my!”
Madam Flambard let out a strange scream as she opened the door.
"Ma'am?"
Liene, who had been standing up in surprise, froze like a statue when she discovered the reason for Madwm's scream. It wasn't Black.
“I just heard something.”
It was Lafitte. A man who should never have been seen in the castle of Nauk was here. Lafitte pushed past the bewildered Madame Flambard and slammed the door shut.
“I heard the Princess is pregnant with my child... Is that true?”
***
Of course not. It was something that Lafitte knew better than anyone else.
“Get out now.”
Liene raised her arm and pointed to the door.
“I don’t know what you were thinking. Didn’t you have any idea that Tiwakan would be watching you all the way here? Go back.”
“I can’t go back until I hear the answer.”
The rest of her body was so shocked that her back was pulled. Liene stomped her foot.
“What nonsense are you talking about! You, who know the truth better than anyone else!”
“I don’t know! How could I know! I’ve been away from you for over two weeks!”
The color drained from Liene's face.
“What are you saying... What are you saying now?”
“The Princess has never allowed me to sleep with you. So what does it mean that you are pregnant with my child?”
"This..."
Liene bit her lips tightly, feeling as if she was going to say something very harsh that she had never said before.
“Are you really... saying something like that? To me?”
“I must hear the explanation from the Princess’s own mouth. What on earth is the child saying?”
It didn't occur to her that he was asking because he really didn't know. Lafitte Kleinfelter couldn't be that stupid. If so, he wanted to confirm. That Liene had lied to reject Tiwakan's proposal. That she had been so desperate to reject the proposal.
“Did you tell that savage that you had my child?”
Lafitte's voice became somehow sorrowful.
“Did I say I’m your man? Did I say I’m the one you belong to and that I’m the father of your future child?”
“...”
Liene felt dizzy. She felt as if the lies she had told to reject the proposal were twisting her and transforming her into an unfathomable monster.
“You always told me you were mine. To that savage.”
“That’s... not true.”
Liene took a step back to avoid Lafitte, who was coming closer as if he was going to hug her. Lafitte immediately followed suit.
“Why not?”
“I just said that to avoid a proposal. I thought he would reject it if I told him I had a child.”
“So isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different.”
Liene did not say that she was rejecting Black's proposal because she loved Lafitte to death. It was just Lafitte's illusion.
“It’s no different. Any man would think that way.”
“It’s different. I...”
Liene stopped talking. She had too much to say. Thinking back, the situation was unbearable. Lafitte was acting as if Liene had forgotten all about what he had done at home. How could that be?
“Get out now.”
Liene raised her arm and pointed to the door.
“I don’t know what you were thinking. Didn’t you have any idea that Tiwakan would be watching you all the way here? Go back.”
“I can’t go back until I hear the answer.”
The rest of her body was so shocked that her back was pulled. Liene stomped her foot.
“What nonsense are you talking about! You, who know the truth better than anyone else!”
“I don’t know! How could I know! I’ve been away from you for over two weeks!”
The color drained from Liene's face.
“What are you saying... What are you saying now?”
“The Princess has never allowed me to sleep with you. So what does it mean that you are pregnant with my child?”
"This..."
Liene bit her lips tightly, feeling as if she was going to say something very harsh that she had never said before.
“Are you really... saying something like that? To me?”
“I must hear the explanation from the Princess’s own mouth. What on earth is the child saying?”
It didn't occur to her that he was asking because he really didn't know. Lafitte Kleinfelter couldn't be that stupid. If so, he wanted to confirm. That Liene had lied to reject Tiwakan's proposal. That she had been so desperate to reject the proposal.
“Did you tell that savage that you had my child?”
Lafitte's voice became somehow sorrowful.
“Did I say I’m your man? Did I say I’m the one you belong to and that I’m the father of your future child?”
“...”
Liene felt dizzy. She felt as if the lies she had told to reject the proposal were twisting her and transforming her into an unfathomable monster.
“You always told me you were mine. To that savage.”
“That’s... not true.”
Liene took a step back to avoid Lafitte, who was coming closer as if he was going to hug her. Lafitte immediately followed suit.
“Why not?”
“I just said that to avoid a proposal. I thought he would reject it if I told him I had a child.”
“So isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different.”
Liene did not say that she was rejecting Black's proposal because she loved Lafitte to death. It was just Lafitte's illusion.
“It’s no different. Any man would think that way.”
“It’s different. I...”
Liene stopped talking. She had too much to say. Thinking back, the situation was unbearable. Lafitte was acting as if Liene had forgotten all about what he had done at home. How could that be?
Her bite marks were still on his palm. What he had done was too much. He had ignored the fact that Nauk’s rulership belonged to Liene and that he had to obey and be loyal to her. He was also a Kleinfelter. He was undeniably a member of that household.
Liene laughed in vain, feeling so foolish for believing that he alone would be different.
“I will marry Lord Tiwakan. And I will bear a child. That child will inherit the Arsak family name and become the ruler of Nauk. That is the path I have chosen to protect Nauk.”
“But didn’t you lie and say you were already pregnant with my child? Do you think that savage would leave another man’s child unharmed?”
“It will be so. Because he promised.”
“That is too naive. Didn’t I tell you? That savage dreams of revenge in Nauk. Whoever it is, he came here to shed blood.”
“Don’t insist on unconfirmed rumors as if they were true. I don’t believe it. If you didn’t intend to acknowledge the child, you wouldn’t have suggested writing a pledge in the first place.”
“What good is an oath to barbarians? They can just tear it up at any time.”
“Yes. So you probably didn’t use it at all. Why are you making a fuss about something that you could just tear up and throw away?”
“Then the Princess will accept the proposal.”
"No."
Liene twisted her lips into a smile. It was a fresh self-mockery.
“All he had to do was break down the gate. He could have killed all of Nauk’s guards and dragged me to the altar. There would have been no need for a written oath, and my name would have been Tiwakan’s bride.”
"Liene...”
Lafitte's face was distorted horribly. Facing him, Liene spoke without the slightest hint of guilt.
“If you understand, then go. If you have any loyalty left to the House of Nauk and Arsak, then follow my command to leave this land. You are no longer my lover, and I am your master.”
“How could that be...”
There was a moment when Lafitte could not continue speaking and clenched his teeth.
"Princess!"
Madam Flambard's urgent voice flew between them.
“Oh no! He’s coming!”
“What did you say?”
Liene felt like she could hear the sound of her heart dropping.
“I will marry Lord Tiwakan. And I will bear a child. That child will inherit the Arsak family name and become the ruler of Nauk. That is the path I have chosen to protect Nauk.”
“But didn’t you lie and say you were already pregnant with my child? Do you think that savage would leave another man’s child unharmed?”
“It will be so. Because he promised.”
“That is too naive. Didn’t I tell you? That savage dreams of revenge in Nauk. Whoever it is, he came here to shed blood.”
“Don’t insist on unconfirmed rumors as if they were true. I don’t believe it. If you didn’t intend to acknowledge the child, you wouldn’t have suggested writing a pledge in the first place.”
“What good is an oath to barbarians? They can just tear it up at any time.”
“Yes. So you probably didn’t use it at all. Why are you making a fuss about something that you could just tear up and throw away?”
“Then the Princess will accept the proposal.”
"No."
Liene twisted her lips into a smile. It was a fresh self-mockery.
“All he had to do was break down the gate. He could have killed all of Nauk’s guards and dragged me to the altar. There would have been no need for a written oath, and my name would have been Tiwakan’s bride.”
"Liene...”
Lafitte's face was distorted horribly. Facing him, Liene spoke without the slightest hint of guilt.
“If you understand, then go. If you have any loyalty left to the House of Nauk and Arsak, then follow my command to leave this land. You are no longer my lover, and I am your master.”
“How could that be...”
There was a moment when Lafitte could not continue speaking and clenched his teeth.
"Princess!"
Madam Flambard's urgent voice flew between them.
“Oh no! He’s coming!”
“What did you say?”
Liene felt like she could hear the sound of her heart dropping.
***
Liene let Lafitte out the large window. There was a railing just big enough to stand on outside the window. He had to hide there so as not to be caught. There was no other way. It was too late to run away. Liene closed the window again and silenced Lafitte, who was trying to say something.
“Don’t make any noise and stay still. If you get caught, I can’t do anything.”
Clank!
“Don’t make any noise and stay still. If you get caught, I can’t do anything.”
Clank!
As soon as the window closed, Madam. Flambard raised her voice and announced.
“Princess! Lord Tiwakan has arrived.”
Whoosh!
“Princess! Lord Tiwakan has arrived.”
Whoosh!
Liene turned around in front of the window in a hurry. Her heart was pounding. Liene forced herself to calm down.
“Please come inside.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“Please come inside.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Madam Flambard opened the bedroom door with trembling hands.
“Please come in.”
Black came in after a short delay. His blue gaze was directed straight at Liene, and she almost bit her tongue.
“What happened?”
Those blue eyes strangely seemed to see through everything. That's why she always became more nervous than necessary in front of him...
Calm down. He couldn't have seen it. It's okay. He doesn't know who's hiding here.
“Nothing. Why do you ask?”
“Because you called me.”
"Yes?"
Liene blinked, not understanding the question at first.
“Didn’t you mean that something came up that I needed to do?”
"Ah..."
A little bit of relief. It seemed like the matter hadn't been conveyed. Liene let go of the hem of her skirt that she had been holding tightly without realizing it and continued speaking calmly.
“While I was having your clothes fixed, I realized there were some places I hadn’t measured. I was wondering if I could come back and see you again when the time comes.”
“Measure... was that all?”
"Yes."
Blue eyes blinked slowly. Liene noticed Black's slight frown. Was he annoyed? Was she making people go back and forth over something so unimportant? Was that it?
“...”
But that didn't seem to be the case. She couldn't tell exactly why, but he didn't seem angry with her.
“Then please try again.”
Black strode towards Liene and spread his arms.
“No, this time...”
This time, Madw. Flambard will be the one to measure.
Please go in front of her, not me.
That’s what she should have said. But Liene just looked at Black, who had come close and licked her lips...
The smell of sweat. She could tell as he got closer. He smelled of sweat. It seemed as if the tip of his forehead was damp. It must have been because he was sweating. Suddenly, she felt strange.
“You... did you come running?”
Liene asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Why..."
“You... did you come running?”
Liene asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Why..."
“Like I said, I thought something had come up that I needed to do.”
Swish.
That was the sound of Black lifting his hand and running a handful of Liene's hair through his fingers. The square sound coming from her ear was soft and ticklish.
This is... strange. Liene muttered to herself. This is like saying that he came running sweating because she called him.
This is strange. It's as if this man is calling me... So me...
“It is something that requires Lord Tiwakan.”
Liene didn't know that her cheeks were turning a soft pink. She didn't know that her voice was becoming softer when she called Black.
“If you don’t measure the size, you can’t alter the clothes.”
“If I had known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have rushed like this. You might think I smell like sweat.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Rather, isn't it the opposite?
“It is something that requires Lord Tiwakan.”
Liene didn't know that her cheeks were turning a soft pink. She didn't know that her voice was becoming softer when she called Black.
“If you don’t measure the size, you can’t alter the clothes.”
“If I had known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have rushed like this. You might think I smell like sweat.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Rather, isn't it the opposite?
Although it was the smell of sweat, it felt like the body odor had become stronger. The smell of raw flesh wafted to the tip of her nose, but it wasn't disgusting, for some reason the back of her neck felt hot...
She should get away. She feels like Madam Flambard will find out if she keeps doing this. Liene lightly placed her hand on Black's chest and pretended to squeeze it. Of course, there was no strength in her fingertips at all.
“Then let go of my head. I will measure your measurements.”
“Just a little more.”
But instead of letting go of his hair, Black grabbed Liene's hand with his other hand.
“Why are you doing this?”
Liene asked in a very small voice, conscious of Madame Flambard.
“I didn’t know either, but I guess I was surprised. Surprised... No, maybe I was worried. Anyway, I don’t feel so good.”
“Are you worried?”
When Liene asked, Black put a little strength into his hand. It didn't hurt, but it was strong enough.
“I was just receiving reports that an illegitimate child of the Klinefelter family had entered the palace. At the same time, word came that the Princess was looking for me. So I thought that maybe there was something I needed to do.”
...Thud!
Her heart thumped, and she heard the sound of it falling on its own. He knew it...
Goosebumps ran down her spine. Black stared at Liene's face, which was turning pale without a sound, and wrapped his fingers around her luscious golden-brown hair. Now, the movement no longer felt like a soft, tickling greeting. It was a firm bond.
You can’t leave me as you wish.
“Is the only reason you called me here to take measurements?”
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