At first, he thought he misheard.
“Oh, then the child... No, wait. Yes? What do you want?”
“The Princess of Nauk.”
Fermos raised his monocle.
“You want a woman, my lord? And a woman you have never seen before? What is the reason?”
“...”
The Tiwakan chieftain chose silence instead of answering. He was usually a quiet man. He had no name and no roots. No one knew anything about his life before he joined the Tiwakan mercenary group. Even Fermos could only vaguely guess. Instead of his name, the word he was called was Black. There was no other name that suited him better.
“My lord, think about the future. What will happen when the child is born? Will the child grow up to be healthy if he finds out that he is the offspring of the Knight Commander? The moment he starts talking, the first thing he will say will be revenge. He will call hia mother a traitor.”
Fermos thought that Black could not have been unaware of this point even as he talked so earnestly. That was why he wondered what was on his mind. He could understand that he wanted Nauk. In fact, he did not know why he wanted this barren and poor land, but if Black wanted it, he had enough reason to follow it.
.To them, Black was not the illegitimate child of the god of war. He was just a god. In the ten-year battlefield, Black had saved them from the god of death. That was enough reason to be their only god. But now, Black seemed to want Nauk’s Princess more than Nauk. That was incomprehensible. Black could not have fallen in love with a woman he had just met face to face for the first time today. The Princess of Nauk was a rare beauty, but her pretty face alone was not enough to sway a man like Black. There had to be some other reason.
“I don't care about the kid.”
“I don't care about the kid.”
When Black's mouth opened again, a color came to Fermos' face. He did not dare to bother his lord, but he was curious and was about to turn around.
“Why is that so?”
“The child born to the Princess of Nauk will be mine, no matter who it is. At this point, when marriage is nothing more than a plunder, I did not expect anything like chastity. Even if there was a person who gave their heart to me, it is not something I can force. I have no intention of doing so.”
“...”
Fermos rolled his eyes with a slightly bewildered expression. His lord’s words sounded more innocent than he had thought, and he felt strange.
“Oh, by any chance... do you want to gain the sincerity of the Princess of Nauk, not just Nauk’s affection?”
"Sincerity?"
Black raised one eyebrow. That was enough of an answer. Black was not in love with the Princess of Nauk. He was not particularly generous to her, nor did he crave her affection. So what was the reason?
“I just want to have it because I have to have it.”
“So why Nauk of all people.. .”
“Because it was originally mine.”
"Yes?"
Fermos was so flustered that he almost dropped his glasses.
“Is Nauk... then that's...”
“If the Princess gets married, it will be more complicated to get her back. I want to get her before then. I haven’t thought about anything after that. If there’s anything you need to know, I’ll tell you, so don’t ask any more questions.”
Fermos intuitively realized that Nauk was a part of Black's past that remained a dark secret.
“I see.”
If that was the case, it was not something he could dare to say anything about.
“I will follow your wishes.”
If God willed it, it had to happen.
***
The dawn light that stabbed her eyes was harsh. Liene headed to the window, soothing her eyes that had not been able to sleep all night.
“...Goodbye.”
Leaning her forehead against the cold window sill all night, the chill seemed to reach her toes. Liene softly recited her farewell to her lover. Tears gathered like fog in her deep, vivid green eyes, but they never flowed down.
You shouldn’t cry. It drains too much of your energy.
Liene muttered to herself as if to console herself. Goodbye.
I hope you meet someone in the land of death who can love you only.
She was a coward in the end. She didn’t even dare to call her lover her lover. Making the Knight Commander of the House of Arsak her lover was a compromise, a deal. She didn’t have the power to fully preserve this kingdom, and her lover’s family had that power. Their relationship was no different from the one forced upon her by her lover’s family, who wanted the right to rule Nauk, but her lover always said that his love was true. He said he would wait until Liene could trust him. Maybe that love would have conquered her someday.
The death of her lover brought a sense of loss that was as cold as dawn. Only then did Liene realize that there was one less person who would truly protect her. Even at this moment, she was calculating the damage that his death would cause to Nauk, and how selfish and cold-hearted of a lover she had been.
“...I’m using that person even after he dies.”
“...I’m using that person even after he dies.”
Liene put her hand on her stomach. The story of having a child was a lie. She had never allowed her lover to do anything other than kiss. Every time they kissed, her lover looked at her as if he were burning with thirst. To Liene, that thirst often overlapped with the Kleinfelter family’s ambition for power. If she had really had her lover’s child, she would not have been able to accept it herself.
“It’s okay. The child...”
There had to be some way to deceive him. Saying that she had a miscarriage at the right time, or actually having a baby. Just thinking about such a lie made her shiver.
Protecting this small castle was too much for me. Could I really deceive him?
This time, her thoughts turned to the contradictory man. The ferocious presence made people tremble with fear just by looking at him. But the duplicity that left a careful kiss on his wounded palm.
“...”
Liene suddenly took her hand away and opened her palm. There was a red scar along the shape of her fingernail. The scar looked just like a man’s lip print, and her hand trembled. She thought that she would never be able to understand that contradiction for the rest of her life.
"Ha..."
Liene finally turned around with a small sigh. It was time to start another day. A long and painful day where she had to somehow piece together the kingdom that was falling apart little by little each day.
“...”
Liene suddenly took her hand away and opened her palm. There was a red scar along the shape of her fingernail. The scar looked just like a man’s lip print, and her hand trembled. She thought that she would never be able to understand that contradiction for the rest of her life.
"Ha..."
Liene finally turned around with a small sigh. It was time to start another day. A long and painful day where she had to somehow piece together the kingdom that was falling apart little by little each day.
***
“...So, I secured three months’ worth of income. Of course, this is the result of minimizing expenses as much as possible.”
Early in the morning, Masilou visited the King's office. After the previous King passed away, the office had been taken over by Liene, but there was not much difference compared to then. The income was decreasing year by year. Nauk, which had been richer than any other kingdom in the South, was now the poorest country in the South. This was due to the drought that had continued for 20 years. It was said that this year, fortunately, it rained a lot, so they managed to secure some tax revenue. If it weren't for Tiwakan, Liene might have been able to eat three meals a day at least this year.
"Thank god."
Liene carefully examined the documents that Masilou had handed her, filled with numbers.
“It was a good thing you accepted Lord Tiwakan’s proposal so quickly. Otherwise, this number would have been even more dire.”
Liene's lighthearted, self-deprecating joke made Masilou turn serious.
“Still, it was hasty of you to accept the proposal. You should have at least consulted with the Kleinfelter family...”
“When Tiwakan returns the body to me, I will discuss the funeral arrangements with you. Please convey my deepest sorrow and condolences on behalf of the Lord.”
Early in the morning, Masilou visited the King's office. After the previous King passed away, the office had been taken over by Liene, but there was not much difference compared to then. The income was decreasing year by year. Nauk, which had been richer than any other kingdom in the South, was now the poorest country in the South. This was due to the drought that had continued for 20 years. It was said that this year, fortunately, it rained a lot, so they managed to secure some tax revenue. If it weren't for Tiwakan, Liene might have been able to eat three meals a day at least this year.
"Thank god."
Liene carefully examined the documents that Masilou had handed her, filled with numbers.
“It was a good thing you accepted Lord Tiwakan’s proposal so quickly. Otherwise, this number would have been even more dire.”
Liene's lighthearted, self-deprecating joke made Masilou turn serious.
“Still, it was hasty of you to accept the proposal. You should have at least consulted with the Kleinfelter family...”
“When Tiwakan returns the body to me, I will discuss the funeral arrangements with you. Please convey my deepest sorrow and condolences on behalf of the Lord.”
Masilou pursed his lips as if he was displeased.
“There should also be a period of official mourning in the royal family, after all, the eldest son of the Kleinfelter family has died.”
He still felt resentful that Liene had accepted Tiwakan's proposal. If Tiwakan had not presented his lover's sword as evidence, a civil war might have broken out.
“Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to my new fiancée? Just tell them I’ll talk to Tiwakan first.”
“If you talk about manners to those savages... the Speaker will not remain silent.”
The corners of Masilou’s eyebrows drooped. His chin was swept with displeasure. The Speaker of the Noble Council was the uncle of his dead lover. The position of the Speaker was one of the positions that the Kleinfelter family had been guaranteed for generations. The Speaker was given the sacred duty of checking and supporting the royal family, but the Speaker of Nauk had been performing only that duty for years. Now, it might not be checking but treason. The Speaker had no doubt that his nephew would become the commander of the Guardians of the Arsak family and become the co-ruler of Nauk. With his nephew dead, Liene was engaged to another man, and he would have been furious, unable to accept this situation. This was one of the reasons why she could never accept her lover’s sincerity. If he had married Liene and his lover had become the co-ruler of Nauk, the Speaker would have carried him on his back and stripped this small kingdom from the ground up.
“Shouldn’t you be the one to talk about that yourself? Courtesy isn’t something that should be shown only to barbarians, Princess. It’s the Kleinfelter family that deserves the courtesy they deserve.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m so busy with state affairs and engagement preparations that I don’t have time to personally deliver the news of his death, so please understand. If that’s too bad, why don’t you just stick to your original duties that you gave up on a few years ago?”
Masilou blushed bright red. It wasn't a good thing.
“Princess. We cannot neglect the family just because Lord Kleinfelter is dead. There will be a great price to pay. They are a family that has shared the history of Nauk since the time of the previous King.”
“I don’t know that.”
Liene smiled bitterly with a face stained with fatigue.
“As you know, I also did my best to avoid Tiwakan’s proposal. That’s why a hundred people have died. What more do you want me to do? Should I sacrifice more people to save the face of the Kleinfelter family?”
“...I’ll just go ahead and try.”
Masilou stepped back, having run out of things to say. Liene didn’t even glance at him as he turned around and left.
He still felt resentful that Liene had accepted Tiwakan's proposal. If Tiwakan had not presented his lover's sword as evidence, a civil war might have broken out.
“Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to my new fiancée? Just tell them I’ll talk to Tiwakan first.”
“If you talk about manners to those savages... the Speaker will not remain silent.”
The corners of Masilou’s eyebrows drooped. His chin was swept with displeasure. The Speaker of the Noble Council was the uncle of his dead lover. The position of the Speaker was one of the positions that the Kleinfelter family had been guaranteed for generations. The Speaker was given the sacred duty of checking and supporting the royal family, but the Speaker of Nauk had been performing only that duty for years. Now, it might not be checking but treason. The Speaker had no doubt that his nephew would become the commander of the Guardians of the Arsak family and become the co-ruler of Nauk. With his nephew dead, Liene was engaged to another man, and he would have been furious, unable to accept this situation. This was one of the reasons why she could never accept her lover’s sincerity. If he had married Liene and his lover had become the co-ruler of Nauk, the Speaker would have carried him on his back and stripped this small kingdom from the ground up.
“Shouldn’t you be the one to talk about that yourself? Courtesy isn’t something that should be shown only to barbarians, Princess. It’s the Kleinfelter family that deserves the courtesy they deserve.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m so busy with state affairs and engagement preparations that I don’t have time to personally deliver the news of his death, so please understand. If that’s too bad, why don’t you just stick to your original duties that you gave up on a few years ago?”
Masilou blushed bright red. It wasn't a good thing.
“Princess. We cannot neglect the family just because Lord Kleinfelter is dead. There will be a great price to pay. They are a family that has shared the history of Nauk since the time of the previous King.”
“I don’t know that.”
Liene smiled bitterly with a face stained with fatigue.
“As you know, I also did my best to avoid Tiwakan’s proposal. That’s why a hundred people have died. What more do you want me to do? Should I sacrifice more people to save the face of the Kleinfelter family?”
“...I’ll just go ahead and try.”
Masilou stepped back, having run out of things to say. Liene didn’t even glance at him as he turned around and left.
Boom!
The office door closed with a heavy sound.
“Even memorials have to be fought like this.”
Liene sighed softly.
“Even memorials have to be fought like this.”
Liene sighed softly.
Just how terrible a lover was I...
“I guess I should change my clothes.”
At least she felt like she should wear mourning clothes. To greet the corpse of a lover she never loved.
At least she felt like she should wear mourning clothes. To greet the corpse of a lover she never loved.
***
“...What did you say?”
But she couldn't wear the black dress.
“Lord Werose has sent word to you urgently. The barbarian chieftain himself has arrived with the body. You will need to change your clothes, Princess.”
"Ha..."
The thought of meeting those beastly, sharp eyes again made her heart clench.
“I guess I can’t help it. Please give me some other clothes. Something to show my welcome.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Madame Flambard, Liene's nanny and now Nauk's chief maid, sighed deeply.
“You don’t have to welcome the barbarians, Princess. Don’t be too kind to them.”
Mrs. Flambard's face was a mixture of pity and anger as she chose the most extravagant of her few outfits.
“Don’t look too pretty. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“It’s too late for that. Now that I’ve accepted his proposal, we’re officially engaged. To treat him badly is to treat me badly.”
“But... But isn’t that savage the one who killed the Princess’s lover?”
Liene stopped the nanny who was about to burst into tears as if she were doing it for her.
“Mrs. Flambard.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“He is dead, and I am his fiancée. To mention him now would be disrespectful to me and my fiance.”
“How could..."
“Please change my clothes quickly. It will look bad if I am late.”
“...”
Mrs. Flambard nodded, unable to answer. Her hands were as gentle as usual as she changed her clothes, but her fingertips trembled occasionally.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
As Mrs. Flambard began to tighten the strings of her petticoat, an idea occurred to her.
“Speak, Princess.”
“It’s still a secret from everyone, but I’m pregnant.”
Liene stopped the nanny who was about to burst into tears as if she were doing it for her.
“Mrs. Flambard.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“He is dead, and I am his fiancée. To mention him now would be disrespectful to me and my fiance.”
“How could..."
“Please change my clothes quickly. It will look bad if I am late.”
“...”
Mrs. Flambard nodded, unable to answer. Her hands were as gentle as usual as she changed her clothes, but her fingertips trembled occasionally.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
As Mrs. Flambard began to tighten the strings of her petticoat, an idea occurred to her.
“Speak, Princess.”
“It’s still a secret from everyone, but I’m pregnant.”
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