If it hadn’t been for Linden Kleinfelter, it might have been a pretty good time. The food would have been delicious, and she would have looked good in her favorite dress. Black might have said she was so pretty this time...
Liene swallowed the lump of emotions that had hardened and hardened, then said.
“You heard what happened. Who was hiding in the royal office just now? I was told that Lord Tiwakan had to be killed.”
“I also heard that you didn’t give permission.”
Saying something like "That's enough" could not be the correct answer.
“That’s not all. Lord Tiwakan plans to kill me once you have Nauk.”
“I heard that story too and was dumbfounded.”
“Does that mean no?”
“I think I said this before, but if I wanted to have Nauk, there would have been quicker ways than proposing.”
“Then what about revenge?”
“Did you say revenge?”
“I heard that Lord Tiwakan is seeking revenge. Someone in Nauk killed Lord Tiwakan’s blood relative.”
“...”
Black's brow furrowed at those words. Her heart seemed to be distorted as she watched. He doesn't say no. She guessed that was true.
“That’s why it’s weird. This kind of thing.”
Liene pushed Black's hand away, muttering words so soft they were barely audible.
“Let go. I’ll be going now.”
But Black was not pushed out.
“It’s not strange. To me.”
“...Why?”
Still holding Liene's wrist carefully, he reached out with his other hand and swept her tangled hair behind her ear.
His gestures were also careful, like a butterfly.
“Everything the Princess said came from another human’s mouth, and I have no interest in other humans.”
“...”
“Do you have a lot of debt?”
“...?”
“Have you ever given in to unreasonable demands because of debt?”
“...”
Liene didn't open her mouth, but the answer was completely revealed in her expression.
“How long has this been going on?”
“...Stop asking questions like this.”
It would sound too petty for a ruler of a country to use debt as an excuse. Besides, Liene didn’t like him knowing about her poverty. He must have noticed it before, but it was different from what he showed in front of her. Black grabbed Liene’s cheek as she tried to turn her head. He was different from last night. The affectionate yet coercive feeling had changed. The hand that grabbed her cheek was firm, but it felt like he was feeling sorry rather than forcing her.
“Answer me.”
"...No, I do not want."
“Why don’t you like it?”
...I’m embarrassed. Because it seems like you’re saying that I’m such a pathetic and weak person.
“I won’t answer. You didn’t answer my question about whether Lord Tiwakan really seeks revenge.”
For some reason, Black swiped her cheek with his thumb and smiled bashfully.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Don’t laugh... They said rumors were going around the continent. Everyone except Nauk knew about it.”
“It’s strange. Who knows something that I don’t even know?”
“...You don’t know?”
“It is true that my blood relative died. He died on this earth. A long time ago.”
"However..."
The expression on his face as he spoke of his blood relative's death was too calm. It was the kind of expression that a person who had sharpened his sword to seek revenge should not make.
“I was a child at the time, and I was angry at the death of my blood relative, but I forgot about it as I grew up. It was more important for me to survive. The reason I proposed to the Princess was because I didn’t want to lose you to someone else, as I said back then.”
The answer was too plain, which only confused Liene.
“Then revenge... is it just a rumor?”
“I didn’t even know there was such a rumor.”
“How could that be... No, and that doesn’t make sense. Lord Tiwakan has never had any connection with me before, so why are you saying that I'm being taken away?”
“Do you think so?”
“That’s... not true?”
“I lived here until I lost my blood relatives. The Princess may not know me, but I do not.”
“Oh, how... could that be...”
Something is just so weird.
“If it was a long time ago... when was that?"
“About twenty years.”
“Twenty years?”
It was understandable that she had no memory. At that time, Liene must have been only five or six years old.
“Did I know Lord Tiwakan back then?”
“Probably not. I think you were too young for that.”
“Then how did Lord Tiwakan know me?”
“I only knew the name.”
"Yes?"
“My father wanted a betrothal. To the Arsak family.”
"Ah..."
Liene's eyes widened. It was something she had no idea about. Her father, the former King of Nauk, had never once spoken of the engagement she had had as a child.
“Are we officially engaged...?”
“I know that’s not the case. If it was, there would be some evidence left behind.”
It meant that there was nothing but memories.
“Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?”
“Because it wasn’t that important.”
“Why, it doesn’t matter. That’s why you proposed to me.”
“It was an engagement that was only talked about when I was young. It may have been my father’s decision alone. I am the only one who remembers it.”
So even if he had said it, she would not have believed it or taken it seriously. It was something that had nothing to do with whether she had a lover or not. If a man proposed to her for that reason, Liene would have laughed it off first or considered it an unpleasant joke.
“...You should have done it anyway.”
But that was when it wasn't Black. Liene reached out and grabbed the hem of Black's clothes.
“If that were the case, I would...”
She had never doubted, wavered, or felt anxious before. He had a reason for proposing to her. Now, she felt she could believe it.
"I...."
“The Princess.”
If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have had to make up difficult lies every time.
"I..."
“I'm listening.”
I wish I had been honest from the beginning.
“I... a little faster..."
That was all she could say with her mouth. Liene couldn't finish her words and closed her mouth there. Black didn't force her to keep talking. Instead, he said something else. The hand that was rubbing her cheek was so affectionate that it felt like her body was melting.
“The Princess thought of me as that kind of person. I proposed to you to take Nauk away from you, and I planned to kill you someday, and on top of that, I even tried to get revenge.”
“...I didn’t necessarily believe that...”
“But I had no intention of delaying the marriage, and I had no intention of killing you before that.”
“I said I didn’t believe it...”
“When I said I was hurt, you took off my clothes and cleaned them. When I said I was sleeping next to you, instead of kicking me out, you took out a blanket and covered me.”
“That’s because... there was an engagement...”
The affectionate gestures stopped. Black leaned down and brought his face closer. It was a distance where she couldn’t look away unless she closed her eyes.
“Do you like it? Even a little.”
Liene's eyes widened and she swallowed hard at the sudden question.
“If it seems like there’s something good about it, then just say so.”
“...”
“You can just nod your head.”
“...”
Liene slowly shook her head, looking into Black's eyes that were as clear and cold as water. Black watched the whole thing without blinking even once as Liene nodded her head up and down once.
“I understand that is the case.”
Contrary to the plain words flowing out, Black was smiling with his lips stretched out to the corners.
“Even if you tell me something else later, I won’t listen.”
“...”
Although she wanted to say something, Liene could not open her mouth. As if he were speaking, she kept tightening her grip on the hem of Black’s clothes.
“I told you it’s okay.”
Liene was pushed into bed. It seemed like it was her first time lying down in bed again, even though she had only just woken up.
“It’s just a bruise on my wrist. That’s all.”
Liene continued to shake her head while lying on the bed. Black sat on the edge of the bed and watched Liene. Every time Liene shook her head, he shook his head too.
“You may not know it now, but it could become difficult later.”
“Where is that? I told you it was nothing serious. Klinefelter is usually like that...”
“Are you saying that this has happened often before?”
Black interrupted Liene.
“His personality is like that...”
“It’s not the first time this has happened, and I’m used to it, so it’s okay.”
"That is..."
If I had to say something, why does this guy's expression look so bad?
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...Yes, it would have been really good.
Liene chewed the food, cutting off a small piece of grilled meat and putting a piece in her mouth. It must have been a great dish, but it didn’t taste good at all. But she guessed it couldn’t be good.
That man and her. They were so intertwined. It seemed like she was gradually getting sick of not being able to taste anything.
“...”
Liene can't eat anymore. It was the moment when Liene, who had been forcing herself to put the food in her mouth and chew it, put down her fork.
“...”
Liene can't eat anymore. It was the moment when Liene, who had been forcing herself to put the food in her mouth and chew it, put down her fork.
Boom!
The restaurant door opened wide and hurried footsteps came in. It was Black.
“...? How did you come...?”
Liene, who had not expected him to come, turned her head back. She blinked blankly. Black came over and turned the chair Liene was sitting on around. The movement was rough.
“Why are you here?”
"... Yes?"
So she thought he must be upset after hearing about today's news. Well, it would be strange not to be upset. Black had learned that Liene had once again intervened in Lafitte Kleinfelter's affairs, had bargained with the Kleinfelters for his release, and had even instigated his death. Even if she had never intended to do so, she couldn't help but think the same way he did. This relationship couldn't be good. He couldn't trust her again.
“I asked why you were here. Why here of all places? As if nothing had happened.”
“That’s... I didn’t want to break my promise.”
Maybe this won't happen again.
“Did you think I would do anything for you to break your dinner promise?”
“No. That’s not what I meant...”
“Are you still afraid of me?”
It was something she had heard a few times before. Black had asked the same question in a completely different situation. Now it seemed as if the question had a different meaning.
“No, that’s not true.”
“But why are you here? As if something big is going to happen if you don’t keep your promise.”
“I protected it because I wanted to protect it. But I didn’t expect Lord Tiwakan to protect his position either. I just wanted to be there, even if it was just by myself.”
“Why are you here?”
That made it even stranger.
“So where else should I be besides here?”
“So, it’s not a place like this...”
Black interrupted and suddenly grabbed Liene's arm.
“Shouldn’t you be lying down?”
“Yes? Why?”
“Because you got hurt.”
A finger-shaped bruise was clearly visible on her wrist. It was also swollen.
“It’s nothing.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It hurts, but not that much....”
Black's lips stopped moving as he ran his fingers over the bruise. Black spoke without taking his hand off.
“It hurts.”
“...”
To this extent, it would mean that it is true that it hurts, but if you remove the subject, it becomes a statement that makes it unclear who is hurting.
“But it’s not like it hurts enough to warrant lying down.”
“I’m not just talking about the wrist.”
“Um... If you’re asking if I’m hurt anywhere else, then no. I’m really fine.”
“It was a difficult thing for the Princess to go through alone.”
“It’s okay...”
“There’s no way you can keep promises or anything with a straight face.”
“...”
So she was speechless. She felt a hot lump rising in her throat. It was so sudden that she didn't even understand why he was reacting like this. She just knew one thing. Black was worried about her right now. That was it.
"... Aren’t you, uh?”
Liene opened her mouth. Her voice was rough and lumpy.
“I misheard.”
“Isn’t it strange?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s good that Lord Tiwakan is worried about me. I’m glad you're worried about me.”
“...Why is that strange?”
“...? How did you come...?”
Liene, who had not expected him to come, turned her head back. She blinked blankly. Black came over and turned the chair Liene was sitting on around. The movement was rough.
“Why are you here?”
"... Yes?"
So she thought he must be upset after hearing about today's news. Well, it would be strange not to be upset. Black had learned that Liene had once again intervened in Lafitte Kleinfelter's affairs, had bargained with the Kleinfelters for his release, and had even instigated his death. Even if she had never intended to do so, she couldn't help but think the same way he did. This relationship couldn't be good. He couldn't trust her again.
“I asked why you were here. Why here of all places? As if nothing had happened.”
“That’s... I didn’t want to break my promise.”
Maybe this won't happen again.
“Did you think I would do anything for you to break your dinner promise?”
“No. That’s not what I meant...”
“Are you still afraid of me?”
It was something she had heard a few times before. Black had asked the same question in a completely different situation. Now it seemed as if the question had a different meaning.
“No, that’s not true.”
“But why are you here? As if something big is going to happen if you don’t keep your promise.”
“I protected it because I wanted to protect it. But I didn’t expect Lord Tiwakan to protect his position either. I just wanted to be there, even if it was just by myself.”
“Why are you here?”
That made it even stranger.
“So where else should I be besides here?”
“So, it’s not a place like this...”
Black interrupted and suddenly grabbed Liene's arm.
“Shouldn’t you be lying down?”
“Yes? Why?”
“Because you got hurt.”
A finger-shaped bruise was clearly visible on her wrist. It was also swollen.
“It’s nothing.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It hurts, but not that much....”
Black's lips stopped moving as he ran his fingers over the bruise. Black spoke without taking his hand off.
“It hurts.”
“...”
To this extent, it would mean that it is true that it hurts, but if you remove the subject, it becomes a statement that makes it unclear who is hurting.
“But it’s not like it hurts enough to warrant lying down.”
“I’m not just talking about the wrist.”
“Um... If you’re asking if I’m hurt anywhere else, then no. I’m really fine.”
“It was a difficult thing for the Princess to go through alone.”
“It’s okay...”
“There’s no way you can keep promises or anything with a straight face.”
“...”
So she was speechless. She felt a hot lump rising in her throat. It was so sudden that she didn't even understand why he was reacting like this. She just knew one thing. Black was worried about her right now. That was it.
"... Aren’t you, uh?”
Liene opened her mouth. Her voice was rough and lumpy.
“I misheard.”
“Isn’t it strange?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s good that Lord Tiwakan is worried about me. I’m glad you're worried about me.”
“...Why is that strange?”
Liene swallowed the lump of emotions that had hardened and hardened, then said.
“You heard what happened. Who was hiding in the royal office just now? I was told that Lord Tiwakan had to be killed.”
“I also heard that you didn’t give permission.”
Saying something like "That's enough" could not be the correct answer.
“That’s not all. Lord Tiwakan plans to kill me once you have Nauk.”
“I heard that story too and was dumbfounded.”
“Does that mean no?”
“I think I said this before, but if I wanted to have Nauk, there would have been quicker ways than proposing.”
“Then what about revenge?”
“Did you say revenge?”
“I heard that Lord Tiwakan is seeking revenge. Someone in Nauk killed Lord Tiwakan’s blood relative.”
“...”
Black's brow furrowed at those words. Her heart seemed to be distorted as she watched. He doesn't say no. She guessed that was true.
“That’s why it’s weird. This kind of thing.”
Liene pushed Black's hand away, muttering words so soft they were barely audible.
“Let go. I’ll be going now.”
But Black was not pushed out.
“It’s not strange. To me.”
“...Why?”
Still holding Liene's wrist carefully, he reached out with his other hand and swept her tangled hair behind her ear.
His gestures were also careful, like a butterfly.
“Everything the Princess said came from another human’s mouth, and I have no interest in other humans.”
“...”
“Do you have a lot of debt?”
“...?”
“Have you ever given in to unreasonable demands because of debt?”
“...”
Liene didn't open her mouth, but the answer was completely revealed in her expression.
“How long has this been going on?”
“...Stop asking questions like this.”
It would sound too petty for a ruler of a country to use debt as an excuse. Besides, Liene didn’t like him knowing about her poverty. He must have noticed it before, but it was different from what he showed in front of her. Black grabbed Liene’s cheek as she tried to turn her head. He was different from last night. The affectionate yet coercive feeling had changed. The hand that grabbed her cheek was firm, but it felt like he was feeling sorry rather than forcing her.
“Answer me.”
"...No, I do not want."
“Why don’t you like it?”
...I’m embarrassed. Because it seems like you’re saying that I’m such a pathetic and weak person.
“I won’t answer. You didn’t answer my question about whether Lord Tiwakan really seeks revenge.”
For some reason, Black swiped her cheek with his thumb and smiled bashfully.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Don’t laugh... They said rumors were going around the continent. Everyone except Nauk knew about it.”
“It’s strange. Who knows something that I don’t even know?”
“...You don’t know?”
“It is true that my blood relative died. He died on this earth. A long time ago.”
"However..."
The expression on his face as he spoke of his blood relative's death was too calm. It was the kind of expression that a person who had sharpened his sword to seek revenge should not make.
“I was a child at the time, and I was angry at the death of my blood relative, but I forgot about it as I grew up. It was more important for me to survive. The reason I proposed to the Princess was because I didn’t want to lose you to someone else, as I said back then.”
The answer was too plain, which only confused Liene.
“Then revenge... is it just a rumor?”
“I didn’t even know there was such a rumor.”
“How could that be... No, and that doesn’t make sense. Lord Tiwakan has never had any connection with me before, so why are you saying that I'm being taken away?”
“Do you think so?”
“That’s... not true?”
“I lived here until I lost my blood relatives. The Princess may not know me, but I do not.”
“Oh, how... could that be...”
Something is just so weird.
“If it was a long time ago... when was that?"
“About twenty years.”
“Twenty years?”
It was understandable that she had no memory. At that time, Liene must have been only five or six years old.
“Did I know Lord Tiwakan back then?”
“Probably not. I think you were too young for that.”
“Then how did Lord Tiwakan know me?”
“I only knew the name.”
"Yes?"
“My father wanted a betrothal. To the Arsak family.”
"Ah..."
Liene's eyes widened. It was something she had no idea about. Her father, the former King of Nauk, had never once spoken of the engagement she had had as a child.
“Are we officially engaged...?”
“I know that’s not the case. If it was, there would be some evidence left behind.”
It meant that there was nothing but memories.
“Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?”
“Because it wasn’t that important.”
“Why, it doesn’t matter. That’s why you proposed to me.”
“It was an engagement that was only talked about when I was young. It may have been my father’s decision alone. I am the only one who remembers it.”
So even if he had said it, she would not have believed it or taken it seriously. It was something that had nothing to do with whether she had a lover or not. If a man proposed to her for that reason, Liene would have laughed it off first or considered it an unpleasant joke.
“...You should have done it anyway.”
But that was when it wasn't Black. Liene reached out and grabbed the hem of Black's clothes.
“If that were the case, I would...”
She had never doubted, wavered, or felt anxious before. He had a reason for proposing to her. Now, she felt she could believe it.
"I...."
“The Princess.”
If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have had to make up difficult lies every time.
"I..."
“I'm listening.”
I wish I had been honest from the beginning.
“I... a little faster..."
That was all she could say with her mouth. Liene couldn't finish her words and closed her mouth there. Black didn't force her to keep talking. Instead, he said something else. The hand that was rubbing her cheek was so affectionate that it felt like her body was melting.
“The Princess thought of me as that kind of person. I proposed to you to take Nauk away from you, and I planned to kill you someday, and on top of that, I even tried to get revenge.”
“...I didn’t necessarily believe that...”
“But I had no intention of delaying the marriage, and I had no intention of killing you before that.”
“I said I didn’t believe it...”
“When I said I was hurt, you took off my clothes and cleaned them. When I said I was sleeping next to you, instead of kicking me out, you took out a blanket and covered me.”
“That’s because... there was an engagement...”
The affectionate gestures stopped. Black leaned down and brought his face closer. It was a distance where she couldn’t look away unless she closed her eyes.
“Do you like it? Even a little.”
Liene's eyes widened and she swallowed hard at the sudden question.
“If it seems like there’s something good about it, then just say so.”
“...”
“You can just nod your head.”
“...”
Liene slowly shook her head, looking into Black's eyes that were as clear and cold as water. Black watched the whole thing without blinking even once as Liene nodded her head up and down once.
“I understand that is the case.”
Contrary to the plain words flowing out, Black was smiling with his lips stretched out to the corners.
“Even if you tell me something else later, I won’t listen.”
“...”
Although she wanted to say something, Liene could not open her mouth. As if he were speaking, she kept tightening her grip on the hem of Black’s clothes.
If you had, I would have liked it sooner. That was what Liene could not say.
***
“I told you it’s okay.”
Liene was pushed into bed. It seemed like it was her first time lying down in bed again, even though she had only just woken up.
“It’s just a bruise on my wrist. That’s all.”
Liene continued to shake her head while lying on the bed. Black sat on the edge of the bed and watched Liene. Every time Liene shook her head, he shook his head too.
“You may not know it now, but it could become difficult later.”
“Where is that? I told you it was nothing serious. Klinefelter is usually like that...”
“Are you saying that this has happened often before?”
Black interrupted Liene.
“His personality is like that...”
“It’s not the first time this has happened, and I’m used to it, so it’s okay.”
"That is..."
If I had to say something, why does this guy's expression look so bad?
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