For a moment, her head felt like it was going to go blank, but fortunately, her hands moved on their own. Liene quickly grabbed a towel that was placed nearby and covered her bare body, then said.
“Wh, what, are you doing...”
Unlike her hands, her mouth didn't move properly.
“Why, why is it like this... The lock was lowered...”
Only then did Black look away and slowly open his mouth.
"...somehow."
“...?”
“I thought it wouldn't open, but it was because of the lock.”
“…”
So, he didn't open it on purpose, but he didn't know it was locked. Liene felt a little relieved by those words. Black hadn't planned to throw away his previous politeness and act recklessly today. Looking at him, he also thought he wanted to wash up. Black was covered in dirt and blood from the accident.
“Well, then please leave now. I'm done washing up, so I'll empty the bathroom right away.”
"Are you hurt?"
"...Yes?"
Black stood there as if he couldn't hear what Liene was saying and asking.
“On the arms and sides.”
"Ah..."
Liene spoke again, twisting her posture to hide her body.
“Yes. Please leave...”
“When did you get hurt? When the cart overturned?”
Not then. When the cart overturned and the wooden barrels spilled, Black pushed her first, so nothing hit her body.
“No. It seemed like that when I got in the carriage. And stop staring. Even if you're my fiancé, it's rude.”
"Ah..."
Black turned his head belatedly.
“Excuse me.”
He turned away, avoiding eye contact. He muttered softly as he turned around to go back out through the unlocked door.
"Then... it's not true."
"Yes?"
Perhaps because of the distance, Liene couldn't hear those words properly.
“What did you say?”
“It's nothing. Don't worry about it.”
Black went out the door without turning his head again.
“...”
Liene looked at Black, who was lying down and looking at her with eyes that said she couldn't believe it.
“You were hurt. Isn’t that why you lost consciousness?”
“It’s okay now that I'm awake.”
“...”
Why did I think of all the wounds on his body at that moment?
Liene let go of Black's head. Black slowly stood up from the floor. He frowned once but stood on two legs as usual.
“Will you be there?”
Black asked as he headed towards the bathroom, meaning he would take off his clothes before entering.
"...No."
Liene shook her head once and stood up.
“Follow me.”
“...?”
While Black was wondering, Liene crossed over to him and went into the bathroom.
“Take off your clothes. Just like you normally would when you wash.”
“...”
Black looked at Liene. His lips parted slightly as if he was a little taken aback.
“I’ll help you wash up. I can’t leave someone alone who might collapse again.”
"It's okay."
“I don’t think so. Take it off.”
“I was just a little hurt.”
“That’s why.”
“...”
Black stopped talking and frowned.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. It’s because you’re a patient.”
“Not to that extent.”
“I should be the one asking why you’re doing this. It’s not the first time I’ve offered to help you with your wounds. Why can’t I do it today?”
The wrinkles between his eyebrows, which had been slightly furrowed, became deeper.
“No, that’s not it... If you’re saying this because I tied Klinefelter’s neck, then that’s fine. Isn’t that a different price for the Princess to pay?”
"That..."
At those words, Liene's face turned pale. But only for a moment. Liene regained her composure.
“It doesn’t matter what the price is. Lord Tiwakan is injured, and sadly you don’t seem interested in tending to your own wounds, so I’m offering to take your place.”
“Why would the Princess do that instead?”
“Because you're my fiancé.”
“...”
Liene saw one of Black's eyebrows furrow. She couldn't tell exactly what it meant, but it was clear that it wasn't pleasant. She would do the same if she were that guy. After what he went through today.
“...I know it may sound funny for me to say this, but I have always thought the same thing since the wedding vows were exchanged. I have never been unfaithful to my fiancé, either mentally or physically. And as long as my name is Arsak, I will never do so again.”
“If I'm not good enough, call someone else, please.”
“…”
Black stood there, brushing his dirty hair back. When he removed his hand and revealed his face, his expression was slightly different.
“I take everything off when I wash.”
At those words, Liene's cheeks turned slightly red.
“How much should I leave?”
He decided to leave only the bare minimum. Black entered the bathroom where Liene was waiting, wearing only underwear that went up to her knees.
Black groaned softly and rolled his shoulders. Liene was taken back and quickly pulled her hand away.
“I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were still hurt”
“It doesn't hurt.”
"...? Then..."
“Because it's soft.”
“…”
It's soft, so why would you avoid it? ...Ah, you guess it tickles.
It was the moment when Liene placed a wet towel on his collarbone. Black tilted his head back to avoid Liene's touch. The hand holding the towel was left in the empty space, awkwardly frozen.
“Then you'll really want to get paid for today's work.”
“That's... Ah.”
Liene understood Black's words a little late. She did not interpret what she heard with her ears but recognized it with her eyes. Black's eyes were even more fiery than when he had been shot by the arrow and was feverish. She couldn't figure out what it meant.
“That's... that's not true.”
The moment her mouth went dry, her voice cracked and leaked out. Liene put her hand over her mouth and coughed for no reason. Black stared at what Liene was doing without blinking.
“What do you mean it's not?”
“Lord Tiwakan is not the type of person to force such a terrible thing.”
For a moment, the corners of Black's mouth twitched.
"Is it terrible to sleep with me?"
“No, that's not what I meant... I was just saying that you're not the type of person to force me into something when I'm not ready.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“Because you've always been that way to me. I know you've always been polite to me.”
Black laughed bitterly.
“Even if I was polite... sleeping together is a different matter.”
“No. It's the same thing. The fact that Lord Tiwakan is being polite to me, who has no power to refuse a proposal, means that you are considerate and caring for me. There's no way that someone like that would force me to do something I don't want to do.”
“…”
The bitter smile deepened. After the laughter died down, Black looked at Liene and said this.
“I'm confused.”
“Wh, what, are you doing...”
Unlike her hands, her mouth didn't move properly.
“Why, why is it like this... The lock was lowered...”
Only then did Black look away and slowly open his mouth.
"...somehow."
“...?”
“I thought it wouldn't open, but it was because of the lock.”
“…”
So, he didn't open it on purpose, but he didn't know it was locked. Liene felt a little relieved by those words. Black hadn't planned to throw away his previous politeness and act recklessly today. Looking at him, he also thought he wanted to wash up. Black was covered in dirt and blood from the accident.
“Well, then please leave now. I'm done washing up, so I'll empty the bathroom right away.”
"Are you hurt?"
"...Yes?"
Black stood there as if he couldn't hear what Liene was saying and asking.
“On the arms and sides.”
"Ah..."
Liene spoke again, twisting her posture to hide her body.
“Yes. Please leave...”
“When did you get hurt? When the cart overturned?”
Not then. When the cart overturned and the wooden barrels spilled, Black pushed her first, so nothing hit her body.
“No. It seemed like that when I got in the carriage. And stop staring. Even if you're my fiancé, it's rude.”
"Ah..."
Black turned his head belatedly.
“Excuse me.”
He turned away, avoiding eye contact. He muttered softly as he turned around to go back out through the unlocked door.
"Then... it's not true."
"Yes?"
Perhaps because of the distance, Liene couldn't hear those words properly.
“What did you say?”
“It's nothing. Don't worry about it.”
Black went out the door without turning his head again.
Knock.
Unlike when it opened, it made almost no sound when it closed.
"Ha..."
Liene finally exhaled.
“What is all this?”
The broken padlock was lying on the uselessly wide bathroom floor. It wasn’t as big as the padlock that closed the castle gate, but the bathroom padlock was also quite heavy and solid. It was strange that Black had pushed it out with force just because the door wouldn’t open properly. She realized anew how different he and her were. No matter what he did, if he forced her to do it with force, she couldn’t refuse.
“...But he left.”
When she told him not to look, he didn't, and when she told him to leave, he left without saying a word. Liene thought it was a man named Black.
“That man... won’t do anything I don’t like. That’s the kind of person he is.”
For now, that was all she could believe.
"Ha..."
Liene finally exhaled.
“What is all this?”
The broken padlock was lying on the uselessly wide bathroom floor. It wasn’t as big as the padlock that closed the castle gate, but the bathroom padlock was also quite heavy and solid. It was strange that Black had pushed it out with force just because the door wouldn’t open properly. She realized anew how different he and her were. No matter what he did, if he forced her to do it with force, she couldn’t refuse.
“...But he left.”
When she told him not to look, he didn't, and when she told him to leave, he left without saying a word. Liene thought it was a man named Black.
“That man... won’t do anything I don’t like. That’s the kind of person he is.”
For now, that was all she could believe.
***
When Black came in, he was almost done washing up. Liene quickly dried herself off, left the bathroom, and put on the clothes Madam Flambard had brought. Then she went back into the bathroom, emptied the water bowl she had used, and filled it with new water. It seemed too crude to ask an injured person to fill the water themselves.
Bang bang.
Liene finished what she had to do, opened the door on the other side of the bathroom, went out, and knocked on Black’s bedroom door.
“You may use the bathroom now.”
There was no response from inside.
“...Lord Tiwakan?”
Liene tilted her head and turned around. She thought he had left the room for a moment. Then she went back and opened the bedroom door. For some reason, he didn’t seem to have left the room.
“You may use the bathroom now.”
There was no response from inside.
“...Lord Tiwakan?”
Liene tilted her head and turned around. She thought he had left the room for a moment. Then she went back and opened the bedroom door. For some reason, he didn’t seem to have left the room.
Knock!
“...Lord Tiwakan!”
As she opened the door, she saw Black lying on the floor. Liene, who was turning blue, ran towards Black.
“Lord Tiwakan! Come to your senses!”
Liene grabbed his head in a panic and patted his cheek, and his eyelids fluttered.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
"...Ah."
For someone who had been lying down, the words flowed out quite clearly. His blue eyes slowly came back into focus.
“What's going on?”
He looked over at Liene, who was sitting on the floor, his head on her lap, his face in her hands. He seemed completely oblivious to what had happened.
“There was no answer... Haa, when I came in, you were collapsed on the floor.”
Liene was still out of breath from shock.
“...Looks like I dozed off.”
“Yes? On the floor?”
“Sometimes when I bleed.”
“...Lord Tiwakan!”
As she opened the door, she saw Black lying on the floor. Liene, who was turning blue, ran towards Black.
“Lord Tiwakan! Come to your senses!”
Liene grabbed his head in a panic and patted his cheek, and his eyelids fluttered.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
"...Ah."
For someone who had been lying down, the words flowed out quite clearly. His blue eyes slowly came back into focus.
“What's going on?”
He looked over at Liene, who was sitting on the floor, his head on her lap, his face in her hands. He seemed completely oblivious to what had happened.
“There was no answer... Haa, when I came in, you were collapsed on the floor.”
Liene was still out of breath from shock.
“...Looks like I dozed off.”
“Yes? On the floor?”
“Sometimes when I bleed.”
“...”
Liene looked at Black, who was lying down and looking at her with eyes that said she couldn't believe it.
“You were hurt. Isn’t that why you lost consciousness?”
“It’s okay now that I'm awake.”
“...”
Why did I think of all the wounds on his body at that moment?
This guy doesn't seem to know that he's hurt. He doesn't even know that he's in pain. He doesn't take care of himself even when he's hurt. Then why does he look at other people who are hurt like that?
“Get up.”
“Get up.”
Liene let go of Black's head. Black slowly stood up from the floor. He frowned once but stood on two legs as usual.
“Will you be there?”
Black asked as he headed towards the bathroom, meaning he would take off his clothes before entering.
"...No."
Liene shook her head once and stood up.
“Follow me.”
“...?”
While Black was wondering, Liene crossed over to him and went into the bathroom.
***
“Take off your clothes. Just like you normally would when you wash.”
“...”
Black looked at Liene. His lips parted slightly as if he was a little taken aback.
“I’ll help you wash up. I can’t leave someone alone who might collapse again.”
"It's okay."
“I don’t think so. Take it off.”
“I was just a little hurt.”
“That’s why.”
“...”
Black stopped talking and frowned.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. It’s because you’re a patient.”
“Not to that extent.”
“I should be the one asking why you’re doing this. It’s not the first time I’ve offered to help you with your wounds. Why can’t I do it today?”
The wrinkles between his eyebrows, which had been slightly furrowed, became deeper.
“No, that’s not it... If you’re saying this because I tied Klinefelter’s neck, then that’s fine. Isn’t that a different price for the Princess to pay?”
"That..."
At those words, Liene's face turned pale. But only for a moment. Liene regained her composure.
“It doesn’t matter what the price is. Lord Tiwakan is injured, and sadly you don’t seem interested in tending to your own wounds, so I’m offering to take your place.”
“Why would the Princess do that instead?”
“Because you're my fiancé.”
“...”
Liene saw one of Black's eyebrows furrow. She couldn't tell exactly what it meant, but it was clear that it wasn't pleasant. She would do the same if she were that guy. After what he went through today.
“...I know it may sound funny for me to say this, but I have always thought the same thing since the wedding vows were exchanged. I have never been unfaithful to my fiancé, either mentally or physically. And as long as my name is Arsak, I will never do so again.”
He couldn't help but disbelieve her. That was his heart, not hers. But she didn't want to leave the hurt person alone just because he misunderstood her.
“If I'm not good enough, call someone else, please.”
“…”
Black stood there, brushing his dirty hair back. When he removed his hand and revealed his face, his expression was slightly different.
“I take everything off when I wash.”
At those words, Liene's cheeks turned slightly red.
“How much should I leave?”
He decided to leave only the bare minimum. Black entered the bathroom where Liene was waiting, wearing only underwear that went up to her knees.
***
Liene almost screamed. It was hard to believe that Black was standing there with a calm face. If she had been injured like this, she would have just laid down in bed and groaned.
“There's no place that doesn't hurt.”
Liene sighed as she looked at the swollen and burst skin here and there. It was fortunate that her back was turned so no one could see her expression.
“It's not that uncomfortable unless you hurt your bones...”
Black trailed off as if making an excuse. In fact, he had never made excuses in his life, and so he didn't even realize that he was making excuses. He just thought it was strange that something that would normally be obvious sounded awkward in front of Liene.
“Still, it healed quickly here. I think it's already completely better.”
Liene, who had carefully wiped away the bloodstains and dirt, spoke while carefully wiping the area around her shoulder where an arrow had been embedded a while ago.
“...Ugh.”
“There's no place that doesn't hurt.”
Liene sighed as she looked at the swollen and burst skin here and there. It was fortunate that her back was turned so no one could see her expression.
“It's not that uncomfortable unless you hurt your bones...”
Black trailed off as if making an excuse. In fact, he had never made excuses in his life, and so he didn't even realize that he was making excuses. He just thought it was strange that something that would normally be obvious sounded awkward in front of Liene.
“Still, it healed quickly here. I think it's already completely better.”
Liene, who had carefully wiped away the bloodstains and dirt, spoke while carefully wiping the area around her shoulder where an arrow had been embedded a while ago.
“...Ugh.”
Black groaned softly and rolled his shoulders. Liene was taken back and quickly pulled her hand away.
“I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were still hurt”
“It doesn't hurt.”
"...? Then..."
“Because it's soft.”
“…”
It's soft, so why would you avoid it? ...Ah, you guess it tickles.
Liene, who understood Black's reaction like that, nodded to herself. The wound has healed, but the scar is still there, so it might tickle. She has to be careful.
“There are so many wounds on your back, how were you going to wash it?”
Liene was soaking a towel in water and gently wiping it off, thinking that it would hurt too much to just sprinkle water on it. No matter how much he thought about it, it was ridiculous that he would think of washing himself with this body.
“I didn't think much of it. I probably just poured water on it.”
"Ha..."
“There are so many wounds on your back, how were you going to wash it?”
Liene was soaking a towel in water and gently wiping it off, thinking that it would hurt too much to just sprinkle water on it. No matter how much he thought about it, it was ridiculous that he would think of washing himself with this body.
“I didn't think much of it. I probably just poured water on it.”
"Ha..."
It was as I suspected: he was insensitive to his pain.
...I'm not. He looks so sick, it's so hard to touch him.
“It's almost done. Just hold on a little longer.”
“It's okay. You don't have to rush to finish.”
“I'm not okay.”
If she looked at the wound any longer, she didn't think she would be able to sleep at night. It felt like she was getting sick as well as the pain it caused.
“The back is done. The remaining parts are probably within reach...”
It took some courage to say the following.
“It's okay. You don't have to rush to finish.”
“I'm not okay.”
If she looked at the wound any longer, she didn't think she would be able to sleep at night. It felt like she was getting sick as well as the pain it caused.
“The back is done. The remaining parts are probably within reach...”
It took some courage to say the following.
“Still, I wish I had done it.”
Black turned his head and looked at Liene.
“Because I'm your fiancé too?”
“No. Lord Tiwakan won't take proper care of your wounds.”
“…”
For some reason, Black kept his mouth shut and just looked at Liene. She wondered if her neck would hurt if she kept her head turned like that.
"Then I guess it's okay."
So Liene moved on her own. Black, who was sitting on the bathroom chair, seemed to be cramped in the space and was at about the same eye level as her. When their eyes met, she felt embarrassed again. Did she say she was doing it for nothing? She can't be calm when she sees her face like this.
“...It's not okay.”
Black turned his head and looked at Liene.
“Because I'm your fiancé too?”
“No. Lord Tiwakan won't take proper care of your wounds.”
“…”
For some reason, Black kept his mouth shut and just looked at Liene. She wondered if her neck would hurt if she kept her head turned like that.
"Then I guess it's okay."
So Liene moved on her own. Black, who was sitting on the bathroom chair, seemed to be cramped in the space and was at about the same eye level as her. When their eyes met, she felt embarrassed again. Did she say she was doing it for nothing? She can't be calm when she sees her face like this.
“...It's not okay.”
It was the moment when Liene placed a wet towel on his collarbone. Black tilted his head back to avoid Liene's touch. The hand holding the towel was left in the empty space, awkwardly frozen.
“Then you'll really want to get paid for today's work.”
“That's... Ah.”
Liene understood Black's words a little late. She did not interpret what she heard with her ears but recognized it with her eyes. Black's eyes were even more fiery than when he had been shot by the arrow and was feverish. She couldn't figure out what it meant.
“That's... that's not true.”
The moment her mouth went dry, her voice cracked and leaked out. Liene put her hand over her mouth and coughed for no reason. Black stared at what Liene was doing without blinking.
“What do you mean it's not?”
“Lord Tiwakan is not the type of person to force such a terrible thing.”
For a moment, the corners of Black's mouth twitched.
"Is it terrible to sleep with me?"
“No, that's not what I meant... I was just saying that you're not the type of person to force me into something when I'm not ready.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“Because you've always been that way to me. I know you've always been polite to me.”
Black laughed bitterly.
“Even if I was polite... sleeping together is a different matter.”
“No. It's the same thing. The fact that Lord Tiwakan is being polite to me, who has no power to refuse a proposal, means that you are considerate and caring for me. There's no way that someone like that would force me to do something I don't want to do.”
“…”
The bitter smile deepened. After the laughter died down, Black looked at Liene and said this.
“I'm confused.”
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