It wasn’t like that, it was like that.
There were things that Fermos had told him in detail without changing a single word, but Black could easily draw what had happened in the office. To say that it was rough was an understatement. Liene inherited the crown when she was nineteen, just becoming an adult. To the noble elders including Kleinfelter, the nineteen-year-old Princess was nothing but easy prey. She must have been constantly getting her ass kicked by those wild dogs who only cared about their own interests while shedding tears to protect this ruined kingdom.
That’s why her shoulders which looked weak were actually strong. That’s why Black never seen her eyes that seemed always wet actually shed tears.
The moment he realized that something inside his heart burst open. Through that gap, a woman named Liene Arsak flowed in without stopping for a moment. Lafitte! Kleinfelter was finished. Liene was smart. She had probably calculated what it would be like to be married into the Kleinfelter family. Whether she gave her heart or had children, Liene had absolutely no intention of being with him. So that was the end of it. She had never been unfaithful, and she had no intention of being.
Liene Arsak's fiancé was him. Black gently pressed Liene's forehead, making her lie down completely on the pillow.
“Even if the Princess is okay, the child won’t be.”
“A child? Why is the child suddenly... Ah.”
Liene's expression hardened as if she was embarrassed.
“It won’t hurt to be careful, so take a rest for now. Your complexion is unusual.”
At those words, her pupils shook busily. He was like that too, but Liene didn't really realize that she was pregnant. He thought it might be because it wasn't the time when her body would be in great discomfort. That wasn't bad. Liene would be with him the entire time she was pregnant. The fact that the child's biological father was another man would have no place to go in the future.
“Did you say there were no doctors in the palace?”
“No. I don’t need it often.”
He's never seen a royal family without a doctor. Black held back his words, so he lifted Liene's hand and bit the tip of her finger.
“Huh... Why are you like that?”
“Are you sick?”
“No, that’s not true... I’m just curious as to why.”
Actually, there was no reason. From some point on, whenever he saw Liene, he wanted to touch her. It didn't matter if it was lips or hands. If he needed a reason for every moment, it would be too complicated.
“Because it’s pretty.”
"...Yes?"
So he decided to put it that way. Liene was beautiful at every moment, so that would probably be closest to the correct answer.
“Then I will call Fermos.”
“No. There’s no need for anyone to come... But that person, was he a doctor?”
“He has a lot of medical knowledge, so he is better than most doctors.”
“Is that so?”
“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
“No, please don’t do that.”
Liene quickly grabbed Black, who was about to get up. Even with such a trivial matter, Black's emotions became complicated. A sense of relief, a sense of fulfillment, and a more intense desire surged up at the same time, mixing together in a dizzying manner. If he had to choose the clearest one among them, it was the urge to hug and kiss her tightly.
“That, Sir Fermos... even though he’s similar to a doctor, he’s a man... and it makes me uncomfortable.”
Looking at her embarrassed face, Black thought there might be another reason. However, he didn't want to embarrass her by asking questions. The more embarrassing things became, the slower Liene would open up to him.
“Wasn’t the doctor who confirmed that you were pregnant a man?”
“Doctor... Ahem, the doctor is a man, but his wife usually takes care of me.”
“Then I will call her.”
“Shr is not in the castle right now.”
“When will she come back?”
“That... I don’t know how long it will take. She might not be back today.”
“Is it something she shouldn’t bring?”
"That is..."
Liene frowned and hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if she had made up her mind. Liene tapped the seat next to her with her hand, signaling for him to sit back down. It was a signal that the conversation might be long.
“I asked you to do something.”
“Did she go far?”
“No. That’s not it... I asked you to meet someone in my place because there was something I absolutely had to know. But I think it’s no longer necessary.”
“Do you want to tell me why it is no longer needed?”
“Yes. Because it’s something I don’t have to hide anymore.”
Black saw Liene's expression change slightly. She seemed a little more relaxed and relieved.
“I met someone on the street the other day who knew Lord Tiwakan.”
“Even if the Princess is okay, the child won’t be.”
“A child? Why is the child suddenly... Ah.”
Liene's expression hardened as if she was embarrassed.
“It won’t hurt to be careful, so take a rest for now. Your complexion is unusual.”
At those words, her pupils shook busily. He was like that too, but Liene didn't really realize that she was pregnant. He thought it might be because it wasn't the time when her body would be in great discomfort. That wasn't bad. Liene would be with him the entire time she was pregnant. The fact that the child's biological father was another man would have no place to go in the future.
“Did you say there were no doctors in the palace?”
“No. I don’t need it often.”
He's never seen a royal family without a doctor. Black held back his words, so he lifted Liene's hand and bit the tip of her finger.
“Huh... Why are you like that?”
“Are you sick?”
“No, that’s not true... I’m just curious as to why.”
Actually, there was no reason. From some point on, whenever he saw Liene, he wanted to touch her. It didn't matter if it was lips or hands. If he needed a reason for every moment, it would be too complicated.
“Because it’s pretty.”
"...Yes?"
So he decided to put it that way. Liene was beautiful at every moment, so that would probably be closest to the correct answer.
“Then I will call Fermos.”
“No. There’s no need for anyone to come... But that person, was he a doctor?”
“He has a lot of medical knowledge, so he is better than most doctors.”
“Is that so?”
“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
“No, please don’t do that.”
Liene quickly grabbed Black, who was about to get up. Even with such a trivial matter, Black's emotions became complicated. A sense of relief, a sense of fulfillment, and a more intense desire surged up at the same time, mixing together in a dizzying manner. If he had to choose the clearest one among them, it was the urge to hug and kiss her tightly.
“That, Sir Fermos... even though he’s similar to a doctor, he’s a man... and it makes me uncomfortable.”
Looking at her embarrassed face, Black thought there might be another reason. However, he didn't want to embarrass her by asking questions. The more embarrassing things became, the slower Liene would open up to him.
“Wasn’t the doctor who confirmed that you were pregnant a man?”
“Doctor... Ahem, the doctor is a man, but his wife usually takes care of me.”
“Then I will call her.”
“Shr is not in the castle right now.”
“When will she come back?”
“That... I don’t know how long it will take. She might not be back today.”
“Is it something she shouldn’t bring?”
"That is..."
Liene frowned and hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if she had made up her mind. Liene tapped the seat next to her with her hand, signaling for him to sit back down. It was a signal that the conversation might be long.
“I asked you to do something.”
“Did she go far?”
“No. That’s not it... I asked you to meet someone in my place because there was something I absolutely had to know. But I think it’s no longer necessary.”
“Do you want to tell me why it is no longer needed?”
“Yes. Because it’s something I don’t have to hide anymore.”
Black saw Liene's expression change slightly. She seemed a little more relaxed and relieved.
“I met someone on the street the other day who knew Lord Tiwakan.”
***
The time she spent telling the story of meeting the old beggar in front of the temple was not very long. However, after that short time, her heart felt incredibly light.
“...I was about to hear the story when Lord Tiwakan came to greet me. At that time, I didn’t say anything because I thought it would be bad if his identity was revealed.”
Her expression seemed a bit funny now. She would be smiling the whole time while talking about how she had been lying to him. She guessed the fact that her heart felt lighter meant that the corners of her mouth felt lighter too.
“Did the old man hear the rumor somewhere? ...Maybe he remembers Lord Tiwakan. He must have seen you when you lived in Nauk.”
“That’s not it.”
Black must have noticed that the corners of her mouth were moving because he reached out and touched the corners of her lips.
It seemed like those little things were what was binding him and her into a real engagement.
“My face won’t be the same as it was twenty years ago.”
“Is that so?”
“I was young then. I was much smaller than I am now.”
“Um... Maybe not. If it were me, I would remember.”
Liene tried to picture Black's younger self in her head. Even though it was hard to recall what he looked like, she felt she would definitely recognize him.
“Because eye color doesn’t change.”
“Even if I have unusual eyes, I’m not the only one who has them.”
“I wonder..."
Liene had never seen eyes as pale as Black's before. But that might be because she had never been outside of Nauk before.
“Anyway, I should tell Madam Flambard to come back. She might be suffering for nothing.”
“I will send someone over there.”
"Thank you."
When Liene closed her eyes slightly and smiled, Black suddenly tilted his head.
“Still, there is still time until Madam returns, so it would be good for Fermos to come.”
The problem was back on track. Liene struggled to hide her embarrassment as she faced Black from a suspiciously close distance.
“No, really...I’m really okay. I don’t need a doctor.”
“...I was about to hear the story when Lord Tiwakan came to greet me. At that time, I didn’t say anything because I thought it would be bad if his identity was revealed.”
Her expression seemed a bit funny now. She would be smiling the whole time while talking about how she had been lying to him. She guessed the fact that her heart felt lighter meant that the corners of her mouth felt lighter too.
“Did the old man hear the rumor somewhere? ...Maybe he remembers Lord Tiwakan. He must have seen you when you lived in Nauk.”
“That’s not it.”
Black must have noticed that the corners of her mouth were moving because he reached out and touched the corners of her lips.
It seemed like those little things were what was binding him and her into a real engagement.
“My face won’t be the same as it was twenty years ago.”
“Is that so?”
“I was young then. I was much smaller than I am now.”
“Um... Maybe not. If it were me, I would remember.”
Liene tried to picture Black's younger self in her head. Even though it was hard to recall what he looked like, she felt she would definitely recognize him.
“Because eye color doesn’t change.”
“Even if I have unusual eyes, I’m not the only one who has them.”
“I wonder..."
Liene had never seen eyes as pale as Black's before. But that might be because she had never been outside of Nauk before.
“Anyway, I should tell Madam Flambard to come back. She might be suffering for nothing.”
“I will send someone over there.”
"Thank you."
When Liene closed her eyes slightly and smiled, Black suddenly tilted his head.
“Still, there is still time until Madam returns, so it would be good for Fermos to come.”
The problem was back on track. Liene struggled to hide her embarrassment as she faced Black from a suspiciously close distance.
“No, really...I’m really okay. I don’t need a doctor.”
“Really?”
When the real doctor came, that was when things would get serious. She would have to say that too. That she wasn't pregnant. But that... In a little while. If she keeps going like this, it seems like she is confessing her lies endlessly. So just a little while. A little while later.
“Yes. Lord Tiwakan, you are worrying for nothing... Ahem, you are worrying for nothing. I am the same as usual.”
“That’s not true. Don’t say it’s the same.”
Black placed Liene's wrist, which was covered in bruises, on top of his hand.
“...Except for that.”
“Then I believe there is no problem. So can I kiss you?”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
Black muttered as he watched Liene ask back incredulously.
“Is this sudden? Not for me.”
“...You were treating me like a patient just a moment ago.”
“I’m asking because you’re a patient.”
“...”
“I don’t want to make a sick person suffer more just because of my greed.”
That meant he treasured Liene very much.
“I... but I hope you don’t ask.”
Liene swallowed briefly. It seemed like it was okay to say something like that now that she knew what she meant to Black.
“Do you hate it?”
No.
"Yes."
The moment Liene heard the answer, she gently touched the corner of Black's mouth with her fingertips, as he froze.
“I don’t like having to ask about everything every time I do something.”
“...”
Black only moved his eyes and stared at Liene's finger touching his lips. As he looked at it, strangely, his mouth became dry.
“...What I just said might be a mistake.”
After a while, Black slowly opened his mouth. Every time he spoke, the movement of his lips was transmitted to her fingertips.
“I don’t think so... I think so.”
“Even if you tell me something else later, I won’t listen.”
“But I wouldn’t call it a mistake.”
"Then."
Suddenly, lips came closer and parted Liene’s lower lip. Black’s upper lip entered her mouth. Her body shook at the new sensation she had never experienced before...
It might have been a mistake. This man is too good at kissing. It wasn’t as passionate as the morning, but the kiss now was persistent. It dug into every nook and cranny, making her taste it until she was sick of it. Her two arms unconsciously wrapped around Black’s shoulders. When Black pulled her waist and pressed their bodies together, her golden eyelashes fluttered.
“...”
“...”
Their lips parted for a moment. Black supported Liene’s back with one hand and slowly tilted his upper body. Liene lay down on the bed, and Black was on top of her, looking down at her.
“Good. This face right now.”
Black's thumb rubbed her wet lips. The sensation was like a different kind of kiss. Liene closed her eyes, not knowing what to do.
“In this position... doesn’t it usually look ugly?”
“The Princess seems to have come from a country without mirrors.”
She felt embarrassed for no reason, wondering if he was pointing out that there weren't many mirrors in the palace. The large and fancy mirrors that were valuable were sold off diligently.
“What does that... mean?”
“I say this because it seems like you’ve never seen my face before.”
“Then that is...”
Does that mean I'm pretty? Does that mean I look really good in this guy's eyes? Just like this guy does in my eyes.
“I wish there was a room where time doesn’t pass. I could lock the Princess up and be alone with you.”
Black slowly removed his thumb. The chilling words of confinement sounded different when he said them slowly, his eyes burning. It felt like a hot wind brushing across her skin.
“There may not be such a place... but I’ll let you know if I find it.”
Black laughed softly as if letting out the breath he had been holding in.
“I can’t let my guard down.”
“What...”
“A person called Princess.”
He lowered his head. Their lips were almost touching. Liene closed her eyes reflexively. It was a mistake. They were already in a room where time did not pass. It was a place where it didn’t matter whether it was day or night, here or there...
No, it wasn’t a mistake. And Liene realized that she might really like that kind of room. She had entered by mistake, but it was fortunate that she had made a mistake. So it couldn’t be called a mistake.
“I don’t have the confidence to stop here...”
Black stopped brushing his lips against hers and whispered softly.
“Do I not have to ask this either?”
She thought her breath caught in my throat at those words. And at the same time, there was a knock, a very careful knock.
“I will, my lord... and the Princess.”
It was Fermos.
“Can I come in?”
“I don’t have the confidence to stop here...”
Black stopped brushing his lips against hers and whispered softly.
“Do I not have to ask this either?”
She thought her breath caught in my throat at those words. And at the same time, there was a knock, a very careful knock.
“I will, my lord... and the Princess.”
It was Fermos.
“Can I come in?”
***
Like e couldn't refuse. Black's words that he didn't have the confidence to stop were too strong. Liene didn't know how to respond, so she used Fermos, who happened to knock on the door, as an excuse. She was the one who had said there was no need to call him earlier, but now it didn't matter.
“I had a lot to ask you anyway. What happened to Lord Klinefelter?”
She brought Black into the room to stop him, but it was actually necessary. The fact that Linden Kleinfelter was in prison was a really big deal for Nauk. It wasn't enough to put him in prison. The really important work was just beginning.
“I had a lot to ask you anyway. What happened to Lord Klinefelter?”
She brought Black into the room to stop him, but it was actually necessary. The fact that Linden Kleinfelter was in prison was a really big deal for Nauk. It wasn't enough to put him in prison. The really important work was just beginning.
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