It was fortunate that there was still water in the bathroom. Liene soaked a towel in water and wiped the wound. The candle, which had only a few wicks left, swung dangerously, but her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and she could see things nearby.
“You must have been in pain.”
It wasn't a small wound. His hand was large, so it didn't look that serious, but if the same wound had been on the back of her hand, it would have felt different.
“I didn’t really know.”
“How can you not know about these wounds?”
“I’ll do it quickly.”
Liene picked a spot that wasn't dirty and started wiping her face... She guessed she should have just wiped his face. Maybe it would have been better to tell him to step back a little. Or maybe the candlelight was just too bright. This guy... looks so good. So... handsome.
“Please close your eyes.”
He must be looking at her as she is looking at him so closely. Even if that was not the case, it was burdensome to watch her from this distance with eyes that were so soft and like shards of ice. Black did not seem to blink even once.
“Why?”
“It’s so... close.”
“Even if you’re not close, what you see is the same.”
No, it will never be the same. Nothing will be hidden from him on this street. Every moment of surprise or admiration she feels when she sees him will be revealed.
“But please wrap it up.”
Black muttered slowly.
“...I don’t like it.”
"Yes?"
“I won’t touch you ”
“...”
What are you being so stubborn about all of a sudden? Liene doesn’t even notice water getting into his eyes. Liene pursed her lips as if she could see them, and rubbed the towel roughly.
Only then did Liene come to her senses and slightly turn her head to face the high priest again. Her expression was so calm that the high priest could not find fault with her.
“So? Tell me what you want.”
The high priest probably meant to say that the temple could not afford to pay for the cost of repairing the stairs.
“We must offer sacrifices to ensure that this never happens again. And we must punish Tiwakan for his impiety.”
“How?”
What nonsense. Who on earth would do that?
“You must have been in pain.”
It wasn't a small wound. His hand was large, so it didn't look that serious, but if the same wound had been on the back of her hand, it would have felt different.
“I didn’t really know.”
“How can you not know about these wounds?”
“...I might have been in a hurry.”
It felt strange to hear this man say that he was impatient. This man is like a big rock or tree. No matter how much wind and rain blows, he seems like he would stand in his place without any problems. It seems like nothing could make this man impatient.
“It would be better to apply Tiwakan’s ointment. That medicine seems to work better.”
Liene, who had carefully wiped away the dirt and scabs from the wound, hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Would you like to wipe your face too?”
As his hands became cleaner, his face started to look dirtier.
"...Yes."
For a while now, Black has been taking a deep breath before opening his mouth.
“Then come a little closer.”
The face was farther away than the hand. Black strode closer and pushed his face in.
“This is too...”
...Close. As Liene muttered softly, Black sat down on his knees on the bathroom floor.
“Is this okay?”
It felt strange to hear this man say that he was impatient. This man is like a big rock or tree. No matter how much wind and rain blows, he seems like he would stand in his place without any problems. It seems like nothing could make this man impatient.
“It would be better to apply Tiwakan’s ointment. That medicine seems to work better.”
Liene, who had carefully wiped away the dirt and scabs from the wound, hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Would you like to wipe your face too?”
As his hands became cleaner, his face started to look dirtier.
"...Yes."
For a while now, Black has been taking a deep breath before opening his mouth.
“Then come a little closer.”
The face was farther away than the hand. Black strode closer and pushed his face in.
“This is too...”
...Close. As Liene muttered softly, Black sat down on his knees on the bathroom floor.
“Is this okay?”
It was still close.
“I’ll do it quickly.”
Liene picked a spot that wasn't dirty and started wiping her face... She guessed she should have just wiped his face. Maybe it would have been better to tell him to step back a little. Or maybe the candlelight was just too bright. This guy... looks so good. So... handsome.
“Please close your eyes.”
He must be looking at her as she is looking at him so closely. Even if that was not the case, it was burdensome to watch her from this distance with eyes that were so soft and like shards of ice. Black did not seem to blink even once.
“Why?”
“It’s so... close.”
“Even if you’re not close, what you see is the same.”
No, it will never be the same. Nothing will be hidden from him on this street. Every moment of surprise or admiration she feels when she sees him will be revealed.
“But please wrap it up.”
Black muttered slowly.
“...I don’t like it.”
"Yes?"
“I won’t touch you ”
“...”
What are you being so stubborn about all of a sudden? Liene doesn’t even notice water getting into his eyes. Liene pursed her lips as if she could see them, and rubbed the towel roughly.
Thump.
"Ah...!"
Then, she was startled. The skin on his forehead that had been covered by his hair was suddenly scratched and drops of blood fell out.
“You’re hurt here too!”
Liene was surprised and tore at his hair. She thought there was mud on that side, but it was torn. It was worse on this side than on the back of his hand.
“You didn’t even know this?”
“I knew that. I thought it was okay since the bleeding had stopped.”
If Liene hadn't rubbed it roughly with a towel, there wouldn't have been any new bleeding.
“...”
Now that she thinks about it, it was her fault. Liene's hand stopped moving in regret.
“I did something wrong.”
“No way.”
Black grabbed Riene's hand as it was going down and placed it on his face.
“Keep going. It won’t hurt.”
...There’s no way it wouldn’t hurt.
“I think I need to wash this with water. Let go of my hand.”
“Will you still clean it for me?”
Seriously, why are you doing this? You can wash yourself with water...
"Ah...!"
Then, she was startled. The skin on his forehead that had been covered by his hair was suddenly scratched and drops of blood fell out.
“You’re hurt here too!”
Liene was surprised and tore at his hair. She thought there was mud on that side, but it was torn. It was worse on this side than on the back of his hand.
“You didn’t even know this?”
“I knew that. I thought it was okay since the bleeding had stopped.”
If Liene hadn't rubbed it roughly with a towel, there wouldn't have been any new bleeding.
“...”
Now that she thinks about it, it was her fault. Liene's hand stopped moving in regret.
“I did something wrong.”
“No way.”
Black grabbed Riene's hand as it was going down and placed it on his face.
“Keep going. It won’t hurt.”
...There’s no way it wouldn’t hurt.
“I think I need to wash this with water. Let go of my hand.”
“Will you still clean it for me?”
Seriously, why are you doing this? You can wash yourself with water...
Oh, his hand is hurt. It didn’t seem right to even ask him to touch the water with that hand. Liene nodded slightly.
“Yes. If you let go of my hand.”
“....”
Slowly, her hands became free. Liene put down the towel and dragged Black towards the water bowl holder.
“You have to close your eyes.”
Black meekly lowered his head toward the water bowl. When she poured water on the bleeding area, she saw the blood spreading.
“Yes. If you let go of my hand.”
“....”
Slowly, her hands became free. Liene put down the towel and dragged Black towards the water bowl holder.
“You have to close your eyes.”
Black meekly lowered his head toward the water bowl. When she poured water on the bleeding area, she saw the blood spreading.
You were badly hurt. Why on earth did you just leave this wound like that? Why didn’t you come to me and treat it first?
Her hands became more cautious. The sound of the splashing water and the occasional exhalation of breath strangely blended into the flickering candlelight.
“I think it’s almost done. Just a little more here...”
The inside of his forehead was dark and hard to see. At that moment, when she wished it were just a little brighter, the candles brightened as if it were a lie.
“Yes, okay... Ah.”
But the light was only for a moment. The next moment, the candle suddenly went out, and the smell of the burnt wick lingered in her nostrils before disappearing. It seemed like the last wick had burned brightly before going out.
“The lights are out.”
“That’s good.”
The space where darkness embraced everything changed strangely. Sound was replaced with sensation, tickling the skin. Black's low voice, gently resonating in the eardrums, was like a wave soaking the ankles.
“What... is that a good thing?”
“After everything was washed, the lights went out.”
“...?”
“You told me that I could touch it after washing it.”
“That’s... I want to ask why you’re doing that.”
“It’s too trivial to talk about.”
Swish.
“I think it’s almost done. Just a little more here...”
The inside of his forehead was dark and hard to see. At that moment, when she wished it were just a little brighter, the candles brightened as if it were a lie.
“Yes, okay... Ah.”
But the light was only for a moment. The next moment, the candle suddenly went out, and the smell of the burnt wick lingered in her nostrils before disappearing. It seemed like the last wick had burned brightly before going out.
“The lights are out.”
“That’s good.”
The space where darkness embraced everything changed strangely. Sound was replaced with sensation, tickling the skin. Black's low voice, gently resonating in the eardrums, was like a wave soaking the ankles.
“What... is that a good thing?”
“After everything was washed, the lights went out.”
“...?”
“You told me that I could touch it after washing it.”
“That’s... I want to ask why you’re doing that.”
“It’s too trivial to talk about.”
Swish.
The sound of Black lifting his arm brushed her skin. Before his hand could even touch her, Liene inhaled.
Swish.
In this darkness, she would have had to grope around for a while, but Black wrapped his arms around Liene’s waist in one breath. Since he was sitting on his knees, his hair rustled against her chest. Not knowing where to put her hands, Liene panicked and placed her hands on Black’s head. It wasn’t the first time she had been hugged by him, but now she felt even more embarrassed and unfamiliar... It’s because it’s dark. People start to become a little strange when they’re in the dark.
“Still... there must be a reason.”
“A rock is falling on my head..."
Black continued speaking slowly while holding Liene in his arms.
“I just had a thought. I thought it would be nice to touch the Princess.”
“It seems like a bit of a strange... reason.”
“I feel the same way. It’s the first time I’ve felt that way when I got hurt.”
“...”
The sight of rocks falling from the cliff came to mind. It was strange that the thought that Black had in mind at that dizzying moment was her. Why did he do that? He didn't say anything, but it must have been a situation where he could have lost his life. Liene didn't understand it, but if that was the reason, she wanted to give permission.
“It must have been dangerous.”
Before she knew it, her fingers were carefully playing with Black's hair.
“...There were no serious injuries.”
“Still.”
The two stayed in the same position for a while in the darkness. The only sound that could be heard was the faint rustling of Liene’s fingers as they stroked Black’s hair. It was softer than it looked. Liene realized belatedly that she was stroking Black’s hair, but she didn’t stop her hands.
“Still... there must be a reason.”
“A rock is falling on my head..."
Black continued speaking slowly while holding Liene in his arms.
“I just had a thought. I thought it would be nice to touch the Princess.”
“It seems like a bit of a strange... reason.”
“I feel the same way. It’s the first time I’ve felt that way when I got hurt.”
“...”
The sight of rocks falling from the cliff came to mind. It was strange that the thought that Black had in mind at that dizzying moment was her. Why did he do that? He didn't say anything, but it must have been a situation where he could have lost his life. Liene didn't understand it, but if that was the reason, she wanted to give permission.
“It must have been dangerous.”
Before she knew it, her fingers were carefully playing with Black's hair.
“...There were no serious injuries.”
“Still.”
The two stayed in the same position for a while in the darkness. The only sound that could be heard was the faint rustling of Liene’s fingers as they stroked Black’s hair. It was softer than it looked. Liene realized belatedly that she was stroking Black’s hair, but she didn’t stop her hands.
She thought he was tough. This man is not like he seems. Today was no exception. She never dreamed that he would take such a risk and do something for her. In fact, she wonders if other things are like that.
When you experience it, it might be different from what you think. Everyone says that this man’s purpose is revenge, but maybe that’s not true.
“It’s different from what I thought.”
At that moment, Black said something very similar to what she said. For a moment, Liene hand stopped.
“What’s different?”
“The Princess.”
“How?”
“If you asked if you could touch me, you knew how to just stand still and bear it.”
"However..."
“I didn’t know you would touch me.”
“...”
“I didn’t know it would make me this happy.”
Black, who had stopped Liene with those words, slowly got up and faced Liene.
“It’s a good thing I got hurt.”
“...”
Liene held her breath and watched as he brought the hand that had been caressing his hair just a moment ago to his mouth and gently stroked it with his lips.
“It’s different from what I thought.”
At that moment, Black said something very similar to what she said. For a moment, Liene hand stopped.
“What’s different?”
“The Princess.”
“How?”
“If you asked if you could touch me, you knew how to just stand still and bear it.”
"However..."
“I didn’t know you would touch me.”
“...”
“I didn’t know it would make me this happy.”
Black, who had stopped Liene with those words, slowly got up and faced Liene.
“It’s a good thing I got hurt.”
“...”
Liene held her breath and watched as he brought the hand that had been caressing his hair just a moment ago to his mouth and gently stroked it with his lips.
***
It was as expected. The high priest came running into the castle with an ashen complexion. He said that the stairs leading down from the temple were broken, so he had tied himself up with a rope and came down from above. She heard that he had thrown up several times on the way down, and that must have been why he looked so mortally ill.
“It’s all his fault!”
The high priest shouted. Liene quietly furrowed her eyebrows and suppressed her anger. The temple was a place that was quicker and more sensitive to rumors than any other place. The temple stairs collapsed, and the rumor was that the god was angry because the temple prohibited Liene from attending the funeral. The high priest shouting so loudly now was actually trembling because of the rumor.
“It is understandable that such an unclean and profane being like Tiwakan should tread upon this land!”
Liene, sitting at the head of the audience room, frowned and suppressed her anger.
“I heard that wasn’t the reason.”
“Yes? No, Princess. Are you denying the word of God now?”
“I’m just saying what I heard. The reason God is angry is because I didn’t attend the funeral. It was you who refused to let me attend. Then isn’t the high priest responsible for God’s wrath?”
“Who dares say such a thing! Who dares tell such a lie to God...!”
“If God were angry because of Tiwakan, God would have punished Tiwakan. But what was destroyed was the staircase of God. Isn’t that the proof that God is showing us?”
“...!”
The High Priest opened his mouth wide, speechless. It seemed that he had not expected Liene to act like this...
“It’s all his fault!”
The high priest shouted. Liene quietly furrowed her eyebrows and suppressed her anger. The temple was a place that was quicker and more sensitive to rumors than any other place. The temple stairs collapsed, and the rumor was that the god was angry because the temple prohibited Liene from attending the funeral. The high priest shouting so loudly now was actually trembling because of the rumor.
“It is understandable that such an unclean and profane being like Tiwakan should tread upon this land!”
Liene, sitting at the head of the audience room, frowned and suppressed her anger.
“I heard that wasn’t the reason.”
“Yes? No, Princess. Are you denying the word of God now?”
“I’m just saying what I heard. The reason God is angry is because I didn’t attend the funeral. It was you who refused to let me attend. Then isn’t the high priest responsible for God’s wrath?”
“Who dares say such a thing! Who dares tell such a lie to God...!”
“If God were angry because of Tiwakan, God would have punished Tiwakan. But what was destroyed was the staircase of God. Isn’t that the proof that God is showing us?”
“...!”
The High Priest opened his mouth wide, speechless. It seemed that he had not expected Liene to act like this...
He is not a smart person. Liene thought as she looked at the High Priest’s jaw, which seemed ready to fall off at any moment. If he was going to bite Tiwakan, he should have brought at least some evidence. Black had expected this and had taken the risk of climbing the cliff. It made her realize once again how bold and clever he was.
“No, never.”
The high priest then forcefully uttered a denial.
“Why is God angry with his good children? Why does he spare those unclean seeds? Isn’t he?”
The afterword was what was said to the priests who brought him.
“Yes.”
The priests rushed to the high priest's aid.
“You must not be swayed by base rumors, Princess. God greatly disapproves of such rash actions.”
"You're right."
Liene shook her head as if she was tired and looked at them.
"Ha..."
It wasn't that she wasn't, but she was a little tired this morning. It was because she slept too late last night. She spent too long in that dark bathroom. Black got up and hugged Liene again. Unlike when they were sitting, it was a hug where their bodies were completely buried. At first, she thought it was suffocating. But that was only for a moment. Later, she felt that the tightly wrapped arms were just for her. It was comfortable and secure, and she felt like nothing would happen. The two of them let go of each other almost at dawn. Liene was surprised at how quickly time passed and was surprised again at how they never got bored just holding each other without doing anything.
“No, never.”
The high priest then forcefully uttered a denial.
“Why is God angry with his good children? Why does he spare those unclean seeds? Isn’t he?”
The afterword was what was said to the priests who brought him.
“Yes.”
The priests rushed to the high priest's aid.
“You must not be swayed by base rumors, Princess. God greatly disapproves of such rash actions.”
"You're right."
Liene shook her head as if she was tired and looked at them.
"Ha..."
It wasn't that she wasn't, but she was a little tired this morning. It was because she slept too late last night. She spent too long in that dark bathroom. Black got up and hugged Liene again. Unlike when they were sitting, it was a hug where their bodies were completely buried. At first, she thought it was suffocating. But that was only for a moment. Later, she felt that the tightly wrapped arms were just for her. It was comfortable and secure, and she felt like nothing would happen. The two of them let go of each other almost at dawn. Liene was surprised at how quickly time passed and was surprised again at how they never got bored just holding each other without doing anything.
Why on earth was that?
It was like that most of the time when she was with that man. She didn't know how time passed. He was the first person like that...
“...So God... and also... He said that such a thing would never happen again... Princess? Princess!”
While Liene was lost in thought for a moment, the high priest, who had been speaking passionately on his own, raised his voice.
“...Please speak.”
“...So God... and also... He said that such a thing would never happen again... Princess? Princess!”
While Liene was lost in thought for a moment, the high priest, who had been speaking passionately on his own, raised his voice.
“...Please speak.”
Only then did Liene come to her senses and slightly turn her head to face the high priest again. Her expression was so calm that the high priest could not find fault with her.
“So? Tell me what you want.”
The high priest probably meant to say that the temple could not afford to pay for the cost of repairing the stairs.
“We must offer sacrifices to ensure that this never happens again. And we must punish Tiwakan for his impiety.”
“How?”
What nonsense. Who on earth would do that?
The temple and Kleinfelter all stood back and only talked to Liene. It was just so frustrating. They had no intention of acknowledging Liene’s circumstances in the first place. As always, Liene was the only one who could build this precarious kingdom. The high priest confidently spouted nonsense at Liene.
“Postpone your marriage.”
“Postpone your marriage.”
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