"... Yes?"
The pale pupils scanned the nape of her neck and below. Following Black’s gaze, Liene unconsciously lowered her head, her cheeks heating up. The clothes were loose, but... she knew they didn’t fit her body very well. Still, she didn’t think he should be so blatant about it. He didn’t seem like the type of person who would care about other people’s clothes.
The pale pupils scanned the nape of her neck and below. Following Black’s gaze, Liene unconsciously lowered her head, her cheeks heating up. The clothes were loose, but... she knew they didn’t fit her body very well. Still, she didn’t think he should be so blatant about it. He didn’t seem like the type of person who would care about other people’s clothes.
Liene tilted her head in confusion. Why would he do that?
He wasn’t even wearing a proper top. Black was the one who was dressing in a way that made others care. Perhaps it was because of his shoulder injury, but he had his shirt draped over only one arm and wasn’t even tied up.
“Please understand that the clothes don’t fit well. It’s been a while since I’ve worn mourning clothes, so the size has probably changed. As you know, the funeral is coming up soon, so I don’t have time to make new mourning clothes.”
Liene grabbed the tray once more, trying not to look at Black's bare skin.
“Shall we go in now? Your arm is probably still sore, so I’ll help you eat.”
“...”
Black quirked his eyebrows for a moment but soon gave in coolly.
"Come in."
"Yes."
Liene entered the bedroom alongside Black, neither carrying a tray nor giving it away completely, looking somewhat indifferent.
She always felt this way, but the man's eyes were so clear. It wasn't easy to lie to those eyes.
“So, are you done with the breakup?”
Even now, he seemed to be looking into Liene’s lies with an absurd clarity. Liene swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
"Yes..."
“That’s fortunate.”
The voice that spoke like that was dry, without a trace of emotion.
“Then, now all we have to do is wait for the Princess to keep your promise.”
“...”
Black slowly reached out and stroked Liene's cheek. As slow as it was gentle, the soft hairs on her skin seemed to stand up.
“I hope it happens as soon as possible... When do you think it will happen?”
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“Please understand that the clothes don’t fit well. It’s been a while since I’ve worn mourning clothes, so the size has probably changed. As you know, the funeral is coming up soon, so I don’t have time to make new mourning clothes.”
Liene grabbed the tray once more, trying not to look at Black's bare skin.
“Shall we go in now? Your arm is probably still sore, so I’ll help you eat.”
“...”
Black quirked his eyebrows for a moment but soon gave in coolly.
"Come in."
"Yes."
Liene entered the bedroom alongside Black, neither carrying a tray nor giving it away completely, looking somewhat indifferent.
***
“No, Princess! Is that all you have to wear?”
Black wasn't alone. Fermos and his subordinates had already come and were serving him breakfast. He wasn't a noble, so she wondered if it was right to call him a servant, but that was what she saw. The subordinates brought in water to wash and clothes to change into. Fermos, who noticed them entering side by side as if they were sharing a tray, suddenly stood up from where he was sitting. Looking at that, she wondered for a moment why the man with the injured shoulder had opened the door himself, leaving his subordinates behind.
“I know this is rude, but I have no choice but to ask. Did you really have to wear that? Yes?”
After Black, Fermos also pointed out my uniform, so Liene felt slightly hurt.
Black wasn't alone. Fermos and his subordinates had already come and were serving him breakfast. He wasn't a noble, so she wondered if it was right to call him a servant, but that was what she saw. The subordinates brought in water to wash and clothes to change into. Fermos, who noticed them entering side by side as if they were sharing a tray, suddenly stood up from where he was sitting. Looking at that, she wondered for a moment why the man with the injured shoulder had opened the door himself, leaving his subordinates behind.
“I know this is rude, but I have no choice but to ask. Did you really have to wear that? Yes?”
After Black, Fermos also pointed out my uniform, so Liene felt slightly hurt.
...Is it that ugly? But it’s too rude to point it out so openly.
Liene spoke with her forehead slightly hardened without realizing it.
“It is a mourning garment. In Nauk, black is worn until the funeral is over.”
“Huh? And today isn’t enough. You have to wear that outfit for three days straight?”
Fermos spoke again, pushing up his monocle. It seemed strange that he would do something like that over something as big as his clothes.
“Is there something wrong with my uniform?”
“It is a mourning garment. In Nauk, black is worn until the funeral is over.”
“Huh? And today isn’t enough. You have to wear that outfit for three days straight?”
Fermos spoke again, pushing up his monocle. It seemed strange that he would do something like that over something as big as his clothes.
“Is there something wrong with my uniform?”
“Well...”
Fermos couldn't finish speaking and looked at Black's expression.
“My lord...”
It didn’t seem okay. The reason why he was watching Black’s expression was clear. Unfortunately, Princess Liene in black stood out too much. Even to Fermos, she was too pretty, but he was very worried about how Black would see her. If Princess Liene had simply been a beauty, he wouldn’t have worried so much. However, since she was connected to Black’s past, he couldn’t just ignore it. That woman was special. To Black.
Fermos couldn't finish speaking and looked at Black's expression.
“My lord...”
It didn’t seem okay. The reason why he was watching Black’s expression was clear. Unfortunately, Princess Liene in black stood out too much. Even to Fermos, she was too pretty, but he was very worried about how Black would see her. If Princess Liene had simply been a beauty, he wouldn’t have worried so much. However, since she was connected to Black’s past, he couldn’t just ignore it. That woman was special. To Black.
The problem was that he didn’t know what that meant. Maybe even Black didn’t know. One thing was certain: he didn’t want to see his master being swayed by a woman and losing his mind. If that woman was the Princess of a kingdom that was falling apart without a solution, there was no need to say anything more.
“Shut up.”
But maybe it was too late. Black looked at Fermos over Liene's head. The way his eyes seemed to be gleaming meant that Black was in a bad mood.
“If it’s about clothes, don’t look at it. Get out or close your eyes.”
“No... no. I was rude. I apologize, Princess.”
The clever Fermos quickly retreated at this point. However, the worry in his heart did not easily subside. It couldn’t be... The knight commander of the Arsak family was still alive. Princess Liene knew that. At this point, it was not good for Black to be generous to Liene.
“Shut up.”
But maybe it was too late. Black looked at Fermos over Liene's head. The way his eyes seemed to be gleaming meant that Black was in a bad mood.
“If it’s about clothes, don’t look at it. Get out or close your eyes.”
“No... no. I was rude. I apologize, Princess.”
The clever Fermos quickly retreated at this point. However, the worry in his heart did not easily subside. It couldn’t be... The knight commander of the Arsak family was still alive. Princess Liene knew that. At this point, it was not good for Black to be generous to Liene.
“I hope the funeral is over as quickly as possible.”
Black said as Fermos muttered uncertainly.
"Get out."
It seemed like he was annoyed by the constant nagging.
“...No, that can’t be... Yes, I understand.”
Fermos was about to say that he couldn't leave the two alone, but he held back and lowered his head. If he were to act like this, his lord wouldn't know why.
Black said as Fermos muttered uncertainly.
"Get out."
It seemed like he was annoyed by the constant nagging.
“...No, that can’t be... Yes, I understand.”
Fermos was about to say that he couldn't leave the two alone, but he held back and lowered his head. If he were to act like this, his lord wouldn't know why.
Haa... What should I do?
There was nothing he could do. As his lord had said, he needed to find out what Princess Liene was thinking. As soon as possible.
“Please take good care of my lord, Princess.”
“Please take good care of my lord, Princess.”
Fermos, who was less oblivious, led the mercenaries outside.
***
The two of them were left alone. Coincidentally, it was the same place where they had kissed each other like a fever yesterday. If it weren’t for Fermos, Liene would have been very embarrassed by now, recalling yesterday’s memories...
Are these clothes that weird? But fortunately, her mind was busy with other things.
With two people talking about clothes in a row, she really did feel like her own clothes were very strange, and she was very nervous.
Should I gain some weight?
When her mind reached that point, Liene was startled.
...Are you crazy. Why are you so fat? Do you want to look good for this man?
“What are you thinking about?”
Black's voice suddenly pierced her eardrums, breaking her thoughts.
“...Nothing.”
Liene pushed out thoughts that she couldn't understand from her head. The thought of wanting to look clean to the man was strange. The man was the one who had broken Nauk's peace. Even if it was a peace that would soon be torn apart.
“Would you like to eat first? Or should I take care of your wounds first?”
“It doesn’t matter, but if I had to choose, I’d like to change the bandages first.”
“Yes, then.”
Before Liene could ask, Black took off the shirt he had taken off himself. Even looking at it again, it was a body that was dizzying. Usually, looking at scars on the skin would make you think of pain or a story. But the man’s scars were more dizzying than anything else.
“What are you thinking about?”
Black's voice suddenly pierced her eardrums, breaking her thoughts.
“...Nothing.”
Liene pushed out thoughts that she couldn't understand from her head. The thought of wanting to look clean to the man was strange. The man was the one who had broken Nauk's peace. Even if it was a peace that would soon be torn apart.
“Would you like to eat first? Or should I take care of your wounds first?”
“It doesn’t matter, but if I had to choose, I’d like to change the bandages first.”
“Yes, then.”
Before Liene could ask, Black took off the shirt he had taken off himself. Even looking at it again, it was a body that was dizzying. Usually, looking at scars on the skin would make you think of pain or a story. But the man’s scars were more dizzying than anything else.
...It was because of his face. That was because the man looked like that. That face made everything look like decoration. The strange color of his eyes looked more like an animal than a person, the expressionless face like a statue, and the intimidating physique all just became something nice to look at when added to that face.
“I’ll take off the bandage... Oh, but?”
It was the moment when she swallowed down useless things like thoughts and trembling and touched Black's bandage. Liene thought that the bandage was so clean. It was as if it had been newly applied.
"But?"
Black looked at Liene and followed her words.
“I don’t think you need to go. Did you apply any medicine...”
“I’ll change it anyway.”
Black quickly cut off Liene.
“Unless you can’t stand being touched by me again.”
"...Then."
Again, the word sounded strange, but Liene silently took off the bandage. Thinking back, she didn’t hate the man. Just now, when the man had closed his eyes and told his subordinate to leave, she had the illusion that the man was taking her side. If that was really the case. Did that mean that the man hadn’t forgotten the promise he made yesterday? Did it mean that he hadn’t forgotten and was planning to keep it faithfully?
“I’ll take off the bandage... Oh, but?”
It was the moment when she swallowed down useless things like thoughts and trembling and touched Black's bandage. Liene thought that the bandage was so clean. It was as if it had been newly applied.
"But?"
Black looked at Liene and followed her words.
“I don’t think you need to go. Did you apply any medicine...”
“I’ll change it anyway.”
Black quickly cut off Liene.
“Unless you can’t stand being touched by me again.”
"...Then."
Again, the word sounded strange, but Liene silently took off the bandage. Thinking back, she didn’t hate the man. Just now, when the man had closed his eyes and told his subordinate to leave, she had the illusion that the man was taking her side. If that was really the case. Did that mean that the man hadn’t forgotten the promise he made yesterday? Did it mean that he hadn’t forgotten and was planning to keep it faithfully?
Then me. Should I do the same? Is that okay...
Liene wordlessly took off the bandage and took it off. There was also new medicine applied to the wound. As expected, he had changed the bandage this morning.
...It was strange. The man who insisted on changing the bandage, and herself who changed it even though she knew it didn’t need to, were both strange.
“I don’t think they should be mixed, so I won’t apply the medicine separately.”
The wound seemed to heal quickly. That was fortunate. Liene covered it with a new bandage and carefully wrapped it over the wound. Suddenly, she remembered that her lover had been hurt in a similar place once.
“I don’t think they should be mixed, so I won’t apply the medicine separately.”
The wound seemed to heal quickly. That was fortunate. Liene covered it with a new bandage and carefully wrapped it over the wound. Suddenly, she remembered that her lover had been hurt in a similar place once.
What was it like then... Did I take care of the wound then?
Oh, right. She applied the medicine and Madame Flambard bandaged it. The lover held Liene’s hand tightly the whole time and rubbed his forehead against the hem of her clothes. She thought that he looked very childish. In fact, the wound didn’t seem that big, but she thought he was joking. She was more concerned about the fact that her lover kept trying to hold her hand than the fact that he was in pain.
How long are you going to hold me back?
She has a lot of work to do. How many times did she have to hold back the words, “Please let me go.”
“...Did you check it carefully?”
Liene missed Black's voice as she was lost in thought for a moment.
“...Yes? What did you say?”
“I asked if the body had been properly identified.”
Unlike his lover, Black didn't joke around. But one thing was the same. Just as his lover held Liene by the hand, Black also tied Liene up with his gaze. And Liene felt a completely different feeling than before. She didn't have time to think about when she would let go. She just felt the sensation of being tightly tied up.
“Ah, I see... you heard. Yes, I went to the chapel. I think it would be right to say goodbye properly.”
“...Did you check it carefully?”
Liene missed Black's voice as she was lost in thought for a moment.
“...Yes? What did you say?”
“I asked if the body had been properly identified.”
Unlike his lover, Black didn't joke around. But one thing was the same. Just as his lover held Liene by the hand, Black also tied Liene up with his gaze. And Liene felt a completely different feeling than before. She didn't have time to think about when she would let go. She just felt the sensation of being tightly tied up.
“Ah, I see... you heard. Yes, I went to the chapel. I think it would be right to say goodbye properly.”
She always felt this way, but the man's eyes were so clear. It wasn't easy to lie to those eyes.
“So, are you done with the breakup?”
Even now, he seemed to be looking into Liene’s lies with an absurd clarity. Liene swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
"Yes..."
“That’s fortunate.”
The voice that spoke like that was dry, without a trace of emotion.
“Then, now all we have to do is wait for the Princess to keep your promise.”
“...”
Black slowly reached out and stroked Liene's cheek. As slow as it was gentle, the soft hairs on her skin seemed to stand up.
“I hope it happens as soon as possible... When do you think it will happen?”
***
This is... not courtship. The man had already lost his fever. Although his body temperature was already high, his hands were not as hot as yesterday. His eyes were the same. They were not the eyes that looked hazy and excited from the fever. The man’s eyes were as cold and clear as water.
“I hate things that are unclear.”
It sounded like he didn't want anything impure. It sounded like he had no intention of watching any doubts, conflicts, or dangerous balances.
“I hate things that are unclear.”
It sounded like he didn't want anything impure. It sounded like he had no intention of watching any doubts, conflicts, or dangerous balances.
Following Black's hand, Liene's expression gradually hardened... What did that Fermos say?
Are you saying that he was the Princess's lover?
She definitely said that. Looking back now, Liene can see that there was a hint of hesitation in saying those words.
"If you mean it sincerely, I truly appreciate your kind words."
It was strange that he had to put the word sincerity in front. It was as if he knew that it wasn't sincere. He knows. That corpse wasn't the commander of the Arsak Knights.
She definitely said that. Looking back now, Liene can see that there was a hint of hesitation in saying those words.
"If you mean it sincerely, I truly appreciate your kind words."
It was strange that he had to put the word sincerity in front. It was as if he knew that it wasn't sincere. He knows. That corpse wasn't the commander of the Arsak Knights.
Black moved his hand without being rude and caressed the skin.
“And I’m no good at waiting either.”
“...”
“I hope you didn’t keep me waiting too long.”
What Black was doing was a warning. He knew the breakup was fake, so he told her to make it real.
"I am..."
Nervousness made Liene eyelashes flutter. It was too hard to continue lying in front of someone who knew all about her lies...But she couldn’t do it. If she made a mistake, it would be revealed that he wasn’t dead but was hiding somewhere in Nauk. Then the Kleinfelter family would be desperate to protect their eldest son, and Tiwakan would gladly swing his sword to kill him. No one knew how many people would die from that sword.
“I’m trying hard.”
Liene placed her hand on Black's hand that was holding her cheek. Black looked at their overlapping hands without saying anything.
“I also hate ambiguity.”
A knot had to be tied. Liene hung the lover and the lover’s family, and the Tiwakan and their chief on the scale. The weights that seemed tight tilted unexpectedly easily to one side. The Kleinfelter family could not fight against the Tiwakan. Choosing the lover meant that she would also be fighting a losing battle. This couldn’t be happening. If Ilshe lost, it would mean the end of Nauk. This was the hand she had to hold. She put strength into the hand that overlapped Black.
“I will forget the past.”
Liene raised her body while crossing her hands. Black, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, looked upwards following Liene’s movements. Liene looked at the lips raised towards her.
“As promised.”
Liene closed her eyes and lowered her head. Their lips met immediately. Liene wrapped her arms around his head and sucked the lips that met hers, just like Black had done yesterday.
“And I’m no good at waiting either.”
“...”
“I hope you didn’t keep me waiting too long.”
What Black was doing was a warning. He knew the breakup was fake, so he told her to make it real.
"I am..."
Nervousness made Liene eyelashes flutter. It was too hard to continue lying in front of someone who knew all about her lies...But she couldn’t do it. If she made a mistake, it would be revealed that he wasn’t dead but was hiding somewhere in Nauk. Then the Kleinfelter family would be desperate to protect their eldest son, and Tiwakan would gladly swing his sword to kill him. No one knew how many people would die from that sword.
“I’m trying hard.”
Liene placed her hand on Black's hand that was holding her cheek. Black looked at their overlapping hands without saying anything.
“I also hate ambiguity.”
A knot had to be tied. Liene hung the lover and the lover’s family, and the Tiwakan and their chief on the scale. The weights that seemed tight tilted unexpectedly easily to one side. The Kleinfelter family could not fight against the Tiwakan. Choosing the lover meant that she would also be fighting a losing battle. This couldn’t be happening. If Ilshe lost, it would mean the end of Nauk. This was the hand she had to hold. She put strength into the hand that overlapped Black.
“I will forget the past.”
Liene raised her body while crossing her hands. Black, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, looked upwards following Liene’s movements. Liene looked at the lips raised towards her.
“As promised.”
Liene closed her eyes and lowered her head. Their lips met immediately. Liene wrapped her arms around his head and sucked the lips that met hers, just like Black had done yesterday.
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