The wind blew. At that moment, when Lafitte was standing precariously on the window sill, even the wind seemed like a distant threat. Mixed with the wind, a more dangerous whisper could be heard. Liene was speaking.
“Why is your hand hurt?”
The way back from the temple to the castle was similar to the way there. Only, Liene had a gloomy expression and was out of energy the whole time. People who happened to meet her on the road looked puzzled, not understanding why Liene was riding a horse to the castle at this hour of the funeral. It was impossible to tell them that she couldn't handle Linden Kleinfelter's trickery.
“...Yes? Oh, it’s nothing. I was just looking away for a moment while holding the scissors.”
Liene, who was full of thoughts, answered a beat late. Black’s gaze was fixed on her fingernails. Liene, who had forgotten that she was injured until he spoke, felt embarrassed and clenched her hands.
“It’s okay now.”
He must have a keen eye for detail to notice a wound that she had completely forgotten about after spraying the styptic.
“I guess you need to change scissors.”
Liene smiled briefly at Black's words without realizing it. There was no way she could afford to change something like nail scissors. It would have been much faster to just tell Madame Flambard to sharpen the blade a little less sharply.
“It was just a small mistake, so there’s no need to worry about it. Just be careful.”
Liene grabbed Black's hand and pulled it away. It was very difficult to keep her guard up while her skin was touching him.
“Well then, I’ll go in now. Thank you for the ride.”
Liene tried not to make eye contact and walked towards the castle. But Black was faster. She clearly started walking with him behind her, but strangely enough, he was right in front of her.
“...?”
It seemed that when a man made up his mind to move quickly, he became more agile than anyone else.
“Do you have anything to say?”
"Yes."
"Please speak."
Pale blue eyes rushed ahead of the words.
“Is it a big deal that you can’t attend the funeral?”
“...Maybe.”
Liene didn't realize that she had been wearing a worried expression the whole time, but Black didn't miss it.
“I’ve never done anything like this before, so I don’t know exactly what the outcome will be, but I don’t think it will be good. Linden Klinefelter...”
Liene hesitated for a moment, unsure whether it was right to speak to an outsider and make a person from Nauk seem like an enemy.
“...Because he's not the type of person to just forget what he doesn’t have.”
“Then I will take care of the funeral issue.”
"Yes?"
Liene's green eyes opened wide with a snap. How? ...No, why?
“You can change one of the two. The date or the place.”
“That may be so...No, but if Tiwakan comes out...”
It meant using force. It was never a good option in this situation. Black noticed Liene's concern.
“I wasn’t talking about solving it with a knife.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll figure it out. By tomorrow.”
“...”
Can I trust what this guy says? Why on earth?
“Oh, Princess?”
In the royal office was Masilou. He was sitting at his desk, writing something diligently. When he saw Liene, he was startled and dropped his pen.
“What’s wrong, Sir?”
“Weren’t you attending the funeral?”
So, that meant that he had come to the office even though he knew she was away. Liene looked at something that Masilou had been writing.
“Oh, that’s... I thought I’d need it soon... I was making a knight’s certificate.”
“Is this a letter of appointment?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
As he spoke, Masilou continued to avoid eye contact. It was clear that he was doing something dishonest.
“Is there an appointment ceremony that I don’t know about?”
“That’s... Sir Klinefelter asked me to....”
“...”
I knew it. If it weren't for Klinefelter, no one would act this way.
“Give it here.”
When Liene reached out her hand, Masilou shook his head in confusion.
“I was planning on showing it to you once it was finished, of course. The Princess will need to sign it...”
“Yes, I will look at it now.”
“No, that’s... there’s no need to do that...”
“Surely not?”
“...”
“I dropped the pen anyway, so the ink would have smudged. I’d probably just throw it away, so just show it to me.”
Masilou, who had been biting his lips tightly, finally quietly handed over the letter of appointment he had been writing.
"...Ha."
Liene sighed after reading just two lines of the letter of appointment.
“Lopez Klinefelter. Is that his new name?”
"Princess!"
Masilou looked around in surprise.
“What would you do if someone heard you?”
"Ha..."
Liene sighed as if to ask if Tiwakan could possibly not know that Lafitte was alive.
“Say no to this.”
"Princess."
Mashilou, who had been flustered until just now, became serious at those words.
“Don’t you know that’s not right?”
“You’re talking about a knighthood, but this is asking for an illegitimate child to be recognized as a noble now. Where is this case? Lord Kleinfelter thinks the royal family is ridiculous.”
“...It would be bad if you refused, Princess.”
Masilou gave advice again.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t even set foot in a funeral? If Lord Klinefelter had set his mind to it, wouldn’t he have done something worse?”
Unfortunately, she knew it all too well. Liene twisted her lips.
“What would be worse?”
"Princess."
“Did you mention anything specific? What kind of revenge would he take if I didn’t accept his illegitimate child as a member of the family?”
"Please go somewhere else."
He couldn't watch the room. Instead, he strained his ears and listened to Liene's voice.
"To the next room."
It was not a word spoken to a barbarian but to him. She will risk his life to take the barbarian to the next room, and he can escape safely. At that moment, he knew that her love was not over yet. Liene had simply surrendered to force. The noble daughter of Arsak could not say that she loved another man because of her noble nature, even though the engagement was as good as stolen. Therefore, she had to take it back.
“You’re blind. Worse than before.”
Linden Kleinfelter spoke to his nephew. Lafitte shook his head, looking back at his uncle.
“It’s not that I was blind, it’s that my eyes have now opened.”
He didn't know it until then. He thought that Liene, who never allowed him to sleep with her, didn't love him that much. He always thought that he was the one who loved her more. Now he knows. He won't doubt it again.
“Please keep this in mind, Uncle. Under no circumstances should you lay a hand on Princess Liene.”
"What?"
“Such a person will never attain the rule of Nauk.”
Linden Klinefelter pursed his lips.
“You’re saying such things in this situation. What if the Princess really does marry a savage? Then wouldn’t our family end up like a dog chasing a chicken?”
“I won’t make that happen.”
Lafitte showed his firm resolve.
“I will definitely get her back before then.”
“...”
Linden Kleinfelter clicked his tongue once but said nothing else. But it didn't matter to Lafitte. What other people said didn't matter at all. Liene's wedding was only ten days away. He had to find a way before then.
He couldn't watch the room. Instead, he strained his ears and listened to Liene's voice.
"To the next room."
It was not a word spoken to a barbarian but to him. She will risk his life to take the barbarian to the next room, and he can escape safely. At that moment, he knew that her love was not over yet. Liene had simply surrendered to force. The noble daughter of Arsak could not say that she loved another man because of her noble nature, even though the engagement was as good as stolen. Therefore, she had to take it back.
“You’re blind. Worse than before.”
Linden Kleinfelter spoke to his nephew. Lafitte shook his head, looking back at his uncle.
“It’s not that I was blind, it’s that my eyes have now opened.”
He didn't know it until then. He thought that Liene, who never allowed him to sleep with her, didn't love him that much. He always thought that he was the one who loved her more. Now he knows. He won't doubt it again.
“Please keep this in mind, Uncle. Under no circumstances should you lay a hand on Princess Liene.”
"What?"
“Such a person will never attain the rule of Nauk.”
Linden Klinefelter pursed his lips.
“You’re saying such things in this situation. What if the Princess really does marry a savage? Then wouldn’t our family end up like a dog chasing a chicken?”
“I won’t make that happen.”
Lafitte showed his firm resolve.
“I will definitely get her back before then.”
“...”
Linden Kleinfelter clicked his tongue once but said nothing else. But it didn't matter to Lafitte. What other people said didn't matter at all. Liene's wedding was only ten days away. He had to find a way before then.
***
“Why is your hand hurt?”
The way back from the temple to the castle was similar to the way there. Only, Liene had a gloomy expression and was out of energy the whole time. People who happened to meet her on the road looked puzzled, not understanding why Liene was riding a horse to the castle at this hour of the funeral. It was impossible to tell them that she couldn't handle Linden Kleinfelter's trickery.
“...Yes? Oh, it’s nothing. I was just looking away for a moment while holding the scissors.”
Liene, who was full of thoughts, answered a beat late. Black’s gaze was fixed on her fingernails. Liene, who had forgotten that she was injured until he spoke, felt embarrassed and clenched her hands.
“It’s okay now.”
He must have a keen eye for detail to notice a wound that she had completely forgotten about after spraying the styptic.
“I guess you need to change scissors.”
Liene smiled briefly at Black's words without realizing it. There was no way she could afford to change something like nail scissors. It would have been much faster to just tell Madame Flambard to sharpen the blade a little less sharply.
“It was just a small mistake, so there’s no need to worry about it. Just be careful.”
Liene grabbed Black's hand and pulled it away. It was very difficult to keep her guard up while her skin was touching him.
“Well then, I’ll go in now. Thank you for the ride.”
Liene tried not to make eye contact and walked towards the castle. But Black was faster. She clearly started walking with him behind her, but strangely enough, he was right in front of her.
“...?”
It seemed that when a man made up his mind to move quickly, he became more agile than anyone else.
“Do you have anything to say?”
"Yes."
"Please speak."
Pale blue eyes rushed ahead of the words.
“Is it a big deal that you can’t attend the funeral?”
“...Maybe.”
Liene didn't realize that she had been wearing a worried expression the whole time, but Black didn't miss it.
“I’ve never done anything like this before, so I don’t know exactly what the outcome will be, but I don’t think it will be good. Linden Klinefelter...”
Liene hesitated for a moment, unsure whether it was right to speak to an outsider and make a person from Nauk seem like an enemy.
“...Because he's not the type of person to just forget what he doesn’t have.”
“Then I will take care of the funeral issue.”
"Yes?"
Liene's green eyes opened wide with a snap. How? ...No, why?
“You can change one of the two. The date or the place.”
“That may be so...No, but if Tiwakan comes out...”
It meant using force. It was never a good option in this situation. Black noticed Liene's concern.
“I wasn’t talking about solving it with a knife.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll figure it out. By tomorrow.”
“...”
Can I trust what this guy says? Why on earth?
He said he had another agenda. Everyone said he was out for revenge. Why does he act like he cares about her and wants to do anything for her? Why.
“Why?”
Finally, Liene couldn't hold it in any longer and asked.
“What does that mean?”
“I asked why Lord Tiwakan was concerned about the funeral.”
“Is this something I shouldn’t worry about?”
“This funeral...”
It's because of you. This is the place where you bury those you killed.
“I am now the Princess’s fiancé.”
“Lord Tiwakan.”
“The Princess’s work is my work. It is also my job to ensure that the Princess is safe.”
“...”
I'm confused. I really don't know. What is this guy trying to do with me?
"Is that all?”
“Do you think I’m saying this for another reason?”
Because that's what other people say.
“Is it right for you to do this simply because it is your duty as a fiancée, without any other reason?”
“Why is that...”
Black rolled his tongue around in his mouth for a moment at those words, then slowly frowned.
“I guess I’m that close to the Princess.”
She couldn't deny it. After hearing Werose's message, her suspicions grew every day. It seemed as if there was another intention hidden in every word and action he made.
“Would it be easier to accept if there was a reason?”
“Lord Tiwakan...”
Black cut off Liene's words and straightened his frowning eyes.
“Then consider that there is another ulterior motive. I want to be paid by the Princess for solving the funeral problem.”
“What... price do you want?”
“What will you give me?”
Well... Liene made a bitter expression. Regardless of what Black wanted, there was nothing she could do for him right now.
“Despite my desire to pay a price, what I can offer Lord Tiwakan is not much. That is the state of Nauk.”
“Then I will take what you have to offer. Please change rooms.”
“If you say room... you mean the bedroom I’m using right now?”
“I will use the room next to the Princess. As your fiancé.”
“..."
At those words, Liene's complexion changed slightly. The room Liene was currently using was the bedroom where the rulers of Nauk had slept for generations. The room was not directly connected to the hallway but was entered through another bedroom. Between the bedrooms were bathrooms and toilets. In effect, the two rooms were one. The room that was now empty was naturally used by the ruler's spouse.
"That..."
“Are you in trouble?”
“...”
It was obvious. It was like using a room. Whatever she did, whoever she met, this man would know everything.
“This is the room you will naturally use after you get married. For now...”
“If I wait until the wedding, it’s not worth it.”
“...”
“Do you permit me?”
Liene closed her eyes briefly and opened them... Yes, if that’s how it is. There was a reason the two rooms were made to look like one. It was originally designed to prevent the ruler’s wife from committing any wrongdoing. If the man could see her, she could also see his every move. She will also see what he is really trying to do.
"Yes."
Liene nodded.
“So if you can really solve the funeral problem, then yes. But please keep in mind, that there should be no killing. I don’t want any more bloodshed in Nauk.”
“I guess we’ll be moving rooms tomorrow.”
Black took Liene's hand. She thought he was just trying to show respect by touching the back of her hand, but his lips were touching the injured fingertips.
“See you tomorrow.”
When something touched the wound, a tingling sensation was felt for a moment. Black spoke to Liene, who instinctively withdrew her hand.
“Save your hands.”
“...”
"Then."
Black, who had greeted her with a nod, let go of her hand and turned around. What is he going to do...?
“Why?”
Finally, Liene couldn't hold it in any longer and asked.
“What does that mean?”
“I asked why Lord Tiwakan was concerned about the funeral.”
“Is this something I shouldn’t worry about?”
“This funeral...”
It's because of you. This is the place where you bury those you killed.
“I am now the Princess’s fiancé.”
“Lord Tiwakan.”
“The Princess’s work is my work. It is also my job to ensure that the Princess is safe.”
“...”
I'm confused. I really don't know. What is this guy trying to do with me?
"Is that all?”
“Do you think I’m saying this for another reason?”
Because that's what other people say.
“Is it right for you to do this simply because it is your duty as a fiancée, without any other reason?”
“Why is that...”
Black rolled his tongue around in his mouth for a moment at those words, then slowly frowned.
“I guess I’m that close to the Princess.”
She couldn't deny it. After hearing Werose's message, her suspicions grew every day. It seemed as if there was another intention hidden in every word and action he made.
“Would it be easier to accept if there was a reason?”
“Lord Tiwakan...”
Black cut off Liene's words and straightened his frowning eyes.
“Then consider that there is another ulterior motive. I want to be paid by the Princess for solving the funeral problem.”
“What... price do you want?”
“What will you give me?”
Well... Liene made a bitter expression. Regardless of what Black wanted, there was nothing she could do for him right now.
“Despite my desire to pay a price, what I can offer Lord Tiwakan is not much. That is the state of Nauk.”
“Then I will take what you have to offer. Please change rooms.”
“If you say room... you mean the bedroom I’m using right now?”
“I will use the room next to the Princess. As your fiancé.”
“..."
At those words, Liene's complexion changed slightly. The room Liene was currently using was the bedroom where the rulers of Nauk had slept for generations. The room was not directly connected to the hallway but was entered through another bedroom. Between the bedrooms were bathrooms and toilets. In effect, the two rooms were one. The room that was now empty was naturally used by the ruler's spouse.
"That..."
“Are you in trouble?”
“...”
It was obvious. It was like using a room. Whatever she did, whoever she met, this man would know everything.
“This is the room you will naturally use after you get married. For now...”
“If I wait until the wedding, it’s not worth it.”
“...”
“Do you permit me?”
Liene closed her eyes briefly and opened them... Yes, if that’s how it is. There was a reason the two rooms were made to look like one. It was originally designed to prevent the ruler’s wife from committing any wrongdoing. If the man could see her, she could also see his every move. She will also see what he is really trying to do.
"Yes."
Liene nodded.
“So if you can really solve the funeral problem, then yes. But please keep in mind, that there should be no killing. I don’t want any more bloodshed in Nauk.”
“I guess we’ll be moving rooms tomorrow.”
Black took Liene's hand. She thought he was just trying to show respect by touching the back of her hand, but his lips were touching the injured fingertips.
“See you tomorrow.”
When something touched the wound, a tingling sensation was felt for a moment. Black spoke to Liene, who instinctively withdrew her hand.
“Save your hands.”
“...”
"Then."
Black, who had greeted her with a nod, let go of her hand and turned around. What is he going to do...?
Liene stood there blankly for a moment, watching Black’s back as he walked away. Did I do something wrong? Could I leave Nauk’s work to that man?
However, she couldn’t deny the feeling of anticipation. She didn’t think Black would fail at anything.
***
“Oh, Princess?”
In the royal office was Masilou. He was sitting at his desk, writing something diligently. When he saw Liene, he was startled and dropped his pen.
“What’s wrong, Sir?”
“Weren’t you attending the funeral?”
So, that meant that he had come to the office even though he knew she was away. Liene looked at something that Masilou had been writing.
“I've been kicked out of the Klinefelter family for being too powerful, and I haven't even set foot in the temple, so what are you doing now?”
“Is this a letter of appointment?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
As he spoke, Masilou continued to avoid eye contact. It was clear that he was doing something dishonest.
“Is there an appointment ceremony that I don’t know about?”
“That’s... Sir Klinefelter asked me to....”
“...”
I knew it. If it weren't for Klinefelter, no one would act this way.
“Give it here.”
When Liene reached out her hand, Masilou shook his head in confusion.
“I was planning on showing it to you once it was finished, of course. The Princess will need to sign it...”
“Yes, I will look at it now.”
“No, that’s... there’s no need to do that...”
“Surely not?”
“...”
“I dropped the pen anyway, so the ink would have smudged. I’d probably just throw it away, so just show it to me.”
Masilou, who had been biting his lips tightly, finally quietly handed over the letter of appointment he had been writing.
"...Ha."
Liene sighed after reading just two lines of the letter of appointment.
“Lopez Klinefelter. Is that his new name?”
"Princess!"
Masilou looked around in surprise.
“What would you do if someone heard you?”
"Ha..."
Liene sighed as if to ask if Tiwakan could possibly not know that Lafitte was alive.
“Say no to this.”
"Princess."
Mashilou, who had been flustered until just now, became serious at those words.
“Don’t you know that’s not right?”
“You’re talking about a knighthood, but this is asking for an illegitimate child to be recognized as a noble now. Where is this case? Lord Kleinfelter thinks the royal family is ridiculous.”
It wasn't just funny, it was an eyesore that needed to go.
Masilou gave advice again.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t even set foot in a funeral? If Lord Klinefelter had set his mind to it, wouldn’t he have done something worse?”
Unfortunately, she knew it all too well. Liene twisted her lips.
“What would be worse?”
"Princess."
“Did you mention anything specific? What kind of revenge would he take if I didn’t accept his illegitimate child as a member of the family?”
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