ASP - Chapter 21 < Requiem (1) >

As Liene finished preparing to attend the funeral and headed out, Black had already prepared his horse.

"Ah..."

Liene stopped walking for a moment when she noticed him. He was dressed in black from head to toe as if he was planning to accompany them to the funeral. The Tiwakans standing behind him were the same. Looking at the black armor, black cloak, and black flag, it seemed that she could understand why they were called the bastards abandoned by the god of death. 

Liene frowned involuntarily as she met Black’s eyes... That man, black suits him so well. It was such a useless and inappropriate thought before going to a funeral, but she couldn’t stop thinking about it. He must have been wearing black armor when she first saw him, so why didn’t she recognize him then?

“Are you here?”

As Liene stood there, still walking, Black approached her first. His eyes scanned the nape of her neck and the base of her shoulders.

“Your clothes have changed.”

“Yes. Madam Flambard fixed it for me.”

“... Is it better?”

Black muttered to himself for a moment. Liene had no idea that he also thought that Black was too good for her. In the meantime, a mercenary came leading Black’s horse. It was a very large black horse. Even at first glance, she could tell that it was Black’s horse.

“Get in.”

Black reached out to Liene.

“Shall I ride this horse?”

“We will ride together.”

Liene shook her head slightly.

“I too... I also have something to say.”

It was too much to ask him to ride the same horse. Liene remembered too clearly what had happened the day she had ridden with him. At this point, when she had to be on high alert, it was not good to invite a situation where something similar might happen again.

“I will ride separately.”

“No.”

The answer was decisive.

“You never know where the arrows might come from. If we split up, we’ll have to wait longer to respond.”

“...”

The culprit who shot the arrow has not yet been officially identified. In fact, it was Lafitte, and it was impossible to say that he would not shoot an arrow at her.

"...Then."

Liene nodded reluctantly.

“I’ll put you on a horse.”

Instead of asking for a hand, Black simply lifted Liene up onto the horse. It was unbelievable how light her body was. He hurt his shoulder. It must not have healed yet. The more she got to know him, the more she felt like she didn’t know anything.

“Let’s go.”

He gently placed Liene on the horse and then mounted it. His movements were so light that mounting a horse seemed like the easiest thing in the world. This man was so strange.

 The sound of the horse’s hooves was dizzying. This man, no matter what he did, would never look foolish. He seemed like he could do anything skillfully and effortlessly. Whether it was putting her on a horse, riding a horse, or anything else.

“...”

If she thought about it any longer, she would remember how skillfully he had explored her lips, so Liene forced herself to stop thinking. 

Don’t forget. Don’t let your guard down. Diverse. 

As the horse picked up speed, the sound of its hooves became even louder. In the meantime, the man’s arms that were wrapped around her and holding the reins felt so strong that she felt dizzy.

*** 

The temple was located on top of the hill of Filion, north across from the city of Nauk. The temple bells were already ringing, gloomy and mournful, announcing the funeral.

“Wait a minute.”

Black said as he stopped his horse at the foot of the stairs leading to the temple. Why? But when she asked, he jumped down from his horse first and extended his hand to Liene.

“You can come down now.”

Liene swallowed dry saliva as she saw the large hand reaching out to her. Why on earth is this man acting so affectionately? If his goal is revenge, then he doesn't have to be affectionate. Why on earth is he acting like this? Why to her.

“...”

Liene finally grabbed the man’s hand without being able to say thank you. But the hand was just the beginning. Black, who had pulled Liene’s hand, wrapped his arms around her waist as her body tilted. Her two feet lightly touched the ground. At this rate, she felt like she would forget how to get on and off a horse.

“Do I have to walk up all the stairs?”

“Yes. Because it is a temple.”

It was part of the worship of the gods. The rulers of Nauk were no exception. However, the difficult path to the temple was also a reason for people to keep moving away from the temple. Those who were sick or tired were in fact unable to dare climb the steep stairs. Even the young Liene would sometimes get cramps in her legs after visiting the temple once.

“Then let’s go.”

Liene started to climb the stairs ahead. Black followed behind without saying a word. But that moment was short-lived. Just as they began to climb the steep stairs, white shadows appeared from above, coming down. They were priests. The priests, who insisted on wearing white clothes no matter what stood in sharp contrast to Liene and her party, who were now dressed in mourning clothes.

“Why do priests...

Liene frowned unconsciously. She had a bad feeling. Going down the stairs was as much a chore as going up, so the priests didn’t move around carelessly unless absolutely necessary.

“Tell the daughter of Arsak the word of the High Priest!”

It was not a premonition, but a reality. The priests who came down the stairs shouted at Liene.

“By the will of the great guardian deity and high priest of Nauk, I hereby forbid you from attending this funeral!”

“...?”

At first, she thought she misheard because the distance was far.

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“As long as you associate with those who defy the will of God, the daughter of Arsak cannot set foot in the temple. This is the message from the high priest.”

“Are you talking about my fiancé who goes against God’s will?”

“Yes.”

“...”

This was not a message from the High Priest. It was from Linden Kleinfelter. He seemed determined to isolate Liene from Nauk. Liene spoke firmly.

“I can’t accept this. Open the way.”

“We only follow the words of the high priest.”

“I am the lord of Nauk.”

“There is no lord over priests but God.”

“How could that be...”

Her fingertips were stiff with shock and anger. This couldn't be happening. No matter how much the High Priest sided with Linden Kleinfelter, who was filling his pockets, he couldn't openly defy the ruler of Nauk.

“Then call the high priest. Tell him to speak to me directly.”

“The high priest is presiding over the funeral.”

“I told them to postpone it.”

“That’s... but they said there was a way!”

When Liene spoke strongly, the priest, who had been hesitating for a moment, quickly changed his words.

“If the daughter of Arsak abandons those who have abandoned God, then he will forgive all your mistakes and accept you as children of God once again.”

This was the main point. He was telling her to break off the engagement with Tiwakan and listen to him. Liene's ears turned red. She was angry.

“Was the engagement broken off just because of his words? Did the high priest really think so?”

No fool would do that. The troops that had been besieging the castle for two weeks to get her to accept the proposal would have been reduced to a handful in the meantime. There was no way Linden Kleinfelter didn’t know that. So this was a move to turn everyone in Nauk away from Liene. When Liene finally turned away from the temple, rumors would spread. Even though the god had given her a choice, the Princess of Nauk had been seduced by that savagery and had abandoned the god along with her. So she could no longer rule Nauk. He had to take away the right to rule. That was the god’s will.

“He told me to tell you so.”

“Tell him to come out and speak for himself! Don’t hide in the temple like a coward!”

When Liene could no longer bear it any longer and raised her voice, the priests glared.

“Arsac’s daughter, be pious before God! God will not allow such insolence!”

“Who was the first to be rude...!”

She was speechless. She couldn’t accept this. Liene released the fist she had been clenching and grabbed the hem of her skirt instead.

“Yes. Then I’ll go and see you in person. I’ll see if you say the same thing in front of me.”

"For a moment."

But Black's soft voice stopped Liene.

“I think it would be better not to go.”

“Yes...?...Why?”

Black looked beyond the priests with sharpened eyes.

“They aren’t stupid.”

"That is..."

Liene bit her lips for a moment. That was right. No matter how stupid the high priest was, he couldn’t have acted like that. Above all, the temple had no force to stand up to Tiwakan’s forces. If Tiwakan wanted to climb these stairs, there was no way for them to stop him. And yet, he was blatantly committing all sorts of rude acts. Only a fool would do such things.

“It seems like they’re trying to provoke me.”

"Why..."

“Maybe they want us to come up.”

There was talk that something was being planned up there.

“But I can’t attend the funeral. They’ll find fault with that too.”

“Let’s take it one step at a time. It’s better not to go up there unless you’re sure what’s up there.”

“...”

Black was right. He wasn't talking about the political situation caused by the Kleinfelter family. He was making a tactical decision as the leader of an undefeated mercenary band.

“It would be wise to follow Lord Tiwakan for now... I understand.”

Liene sighed as she spoke. As she turned to go down the stairs, Liene looked back up the hill. She saw the priests whispering among themselves in confusion. This man was right. He had set a trap and provoked them. Her anger surged again. Linden Kleinfelter seemed determined to blatantly disregard Liene’s sovereignty. This was tantamount to declaring war. 

So what should I do now? 

When Tiwakan had surrounded the castle, the enemy had been clear. Tiwakan had been Nauk’s enemy. But now, she couldn’t tell who her real enemy was.

“Watch your step.”

Complicated thoughts became protruding stones. When Liene almost lost her footing, Black quickly picked her up.

“Ah... I’m embarrassed. I looked away while going down the stairs.”

“I saw it, so it’s okay.”

“...”

Is this man an enemy or not? 

Liene wanted to know. What is this man who watches her so carefully every time, so that she doesn’t fall or get hurt? Is revenge originally this affectionate? 

Such ridiculous thoughts even came to her mind. 

***

“This can’t be happening...!”

Linden Klinefelter, leaning over the railing in front of the temple and looking down, twisted his lips in annoyance.

“You mean you smelled something? You’re as cunning as a snake.”

Speaking next to him was Lafitte Kleinfelter.

“...It’s fortunate. If Princess Liene had died, Kleinfelter would have been the one to be driven out of Nauk.”

Lafitte, or rather Lopez Kleinfelter as he was now called, looked somewhere with a firm look. There was a large rock, precariously tied to it. It was an odd object to be in the forecourt of a temple. A rock like that should have been tied to a catapult.

“...”

Linden Klinefelter looked at his nephew, who shrugged his shoulders and muttered these words.

“Are you serious? You missed this great opportunity to kill the leader of the barbarians in one breath?”

If the provocation succeeded and Tiwakan climbed the stairs by force, then he planned to roll the boulder down. If that had happened, everyone would have been crushed to death under the boulder, or they would have crashed down the steep hill and died. Of course, the priest or Princess Liene might have died in the process. But Linden Kleinfelter didn't care.

“Admit it. Princess Liene is loved in Nauk. You cannot kill her so carelessly.”

“Tsk... You look like a loser. Do you still have feelings for that lewd woman?

“Watch what you say, uncle.”

The eldest son, who had been given a new name, Lopez, opened his eyes. Blue anger made his eyes look like blades.

“No one can say that about Princess Liene in front of me. If only they knew what she did to save me.”

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