“Ugh...”
The pain did not go away easily. Linden Klinefelter, who had broken both wrists, lay face down, unable to get up, just groaning.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
Lafitte tried to approach him somehow and started talking to him.
“You need to get treatment soon...”
“Speak sense! Those beasts wouldn’t do such a thing!”
Linden Klinefelter screamed. This wasn't just a fit of anger. He was furious at his nephew for not doing anything while he was being treated like this.
“You...Ha, that’s enough.”
The eldest son was weak. It must have been because the previous head of the family and his biological father, Linden Kleinfelter, had raised the young son alone after his older brother died. In the past, he had thought that his face was pretty. All he had to do was to melt Arsak's daughter and gain the right to rule. Now that the right to rule was in the hands of an unfamiliar beast, he felt regretful enough to strike the ground.
“What happened?”
Lafitte stood up and did not back down.
“I’m telling you not to worry about it.”
“...We have to sprinkle poison on the food.”
He knew that Liene Arsak looked like a very sweet prey to the beast's eyes. Then he had to ruin Liene. Linden Kleinfelter's eyes started rolling so fast that it sounded like a noise.
“Welcome, Sir Arland.”
Convening the council was not an easy task. Above all, the absence of Masilou had played a big role. The small paperwork had long been Masilou's job, but he was now in a dungeon. Even though she was short on help, Liene also thought that she should change her advisor. It was just pathetic that she had not known that Masilou was so close to the Kleinfelter family. She was now planning to gradually erase the shadow of Kleinfelter from the royal family.
“Thank you for calling.”
The Arland were a family that did not belong to the Great Council. They were weak and did not have many members. Someone like that couldn't be appointed as a royal advisor, but Liene was desperate. She did not want to be dragged around by the name Kleinfelter any longer.
“There is currently a temporary vacancy in the position of Royal Advisor. I cannot reveal the full details yet, but I would like you to fill the vacancy for the time being.”
“It is an honor, Princess.”
Liene smiled faintly. It was the first time in a while that a noble did not call her Arsak's daughter. Although she was sad that Imshe had to be grateful for that, she didn't feel bad about it.
“God bless you for willingly following the will of the monarch. Then I will tell you what to do. As the ruler of Nauk, I intend to call a council. You will take charge of that.”
“The National Assembly... you say?”
Arland looked puzzled. The lowly nobles of the poor kingdom had a simple demeanor as well as a simple manner. They were completely different from the nobles Liene had dealt with up until now.
“That was... wasn’t it 14 years ago when it was last held? As far as I know, it hasn’t been called up since then.”
The Treaty of Liseberg was signed at the Great Council fourteen years ago. In other words, the convocation of a new Great Council meant just as much upheaval as that time.
“Yes. There are two items on the agenda. One is the election of the High Priest, and the other is the trial. The one on trial Linden Kleinfelter.”
"Yes?"
The word "trial of Linden Klinefelter" startled Arland more than the word "congress."
“A, the trial of the Speaker...?”
“The charge is an assault on the royal family. That should be enough to be included in the official letter sent to the six families. The date should be as soon as possible.”
“Royal injury... Ah, I understand.”
Every time a word came out of Liene’s mouth, Arland couldn’t hide his shock. After the story was over, he pulled down his sleeve and wiped away the cold sweat.
“First, I would like you to calculate the necessary expenses. I would like you to use the royal office. I grant you permission to enter.”
“It is an honor.”
Arland, who had tried to regain his senses, bowed and stepped aside. Since he had been entrusted with a small task, Liene had to make other preparations. First, she had to find a new high priest.
“If we leave it up to the council, we’ll end up just picking out another Kleinfelter errand boy. We have to pick one out in advance.”
Liene came out to the synagogue for the first time in a while to greet Arland. Liene, who was sitting on an absurdly large throne, leaned against the armrest and rested her chin on it.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know much about priests... so I don’t know where to start.”
A slight wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows as she was deep in thought.
“Should I go to the temple now? That man might still be there. It would be nice to go and meet him...”
“Why do you think it would be good?”
Liene raised her head in surprise at the sudden question.
“...Huh!”
Then I almost hit my head on the chin. Before I knew it, Black was approaching from behind the throne.
"Why...!"
Liene was so shocked that she couldn't even form a proper sentence and could only utter a single word.
“I didn’t go to the temple.”
Black stroked Liene's cheek with a leisurely expression as if he had expected this reaction.
“Why... why?”
“Because I thought of something.”
“What’s the matter? For me?”
“No. In the basement.”
“Basement... Ah, to Klinefelter.”
A shadow fell over Liene's face for a moment.
“What... was your business?”
“I went to pay this back.”
"Yes?"
Liene still looked surprised as she watched Black raise his right hand.
“I think I should do that much. As your fiancé.”
“So... you made him bruise?”
“I tried to do that, but the frame was weaker than I thought. It broke.”
“Oh my...”
Liene, who was quivering in embarrassment, soon started to laugh without any reason.
“That guy must have never experienced anything like that before. I can only imagine how he would react.”
“Aren’t you going to scold me?”
“What can I do with his weak bones?”
Black put his lips to the bruise on her right hand. A tingling sensation spread from her wrist. She thought something was wrong. Now, when she looked at a bruise, she didn't think of the pain, but of something else.
“Then one more thing. Actually, I made a bit of a mistake.”
“Lord Tiwakan made a mistake? I don’t believe it.”
“It was a real mistake. After breaking it, I realized it was his left hand, not his right..."
“...So?”
“I even broke his right hand.”
"Aha……."
Liene made a strange expression, neither smiling nor frowning.
“Then both hands...”
“Coincidentally.”
“I'm sorry you made a mistake.”
“Yes, by mistake.”
“You don’t usually make mistakes, do you?”
“When you have to, you have to do it.”
“What is that...”
Liene bit her lip hard to keep herself from bursting out laughing. There is no time to make a mistake. She meant he did it on purpose. Actually, he shouldn't have. It's the General Assembly soon. If Linden Kleinfelter broke his hand, there would be chaos. But why...
“I should have done it earlier.”
Black muttered, sliding his lips down the inside of his wrist.
“No, why are you saying that...”
“If I had known the Princess would like it this much, I would have done it sooner.”
“That... huff.”
Liene couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Black kissed Liene's palm and waited quietly until Liene stopped laughing.
“Then... that won’t work.”
Her stomach hurt so much that she started to cry a little.
Black wiped away the tears with his other hand.
“I’ll be careful next time.”
Even if he says so, he will make mistakes at any time. When the moment comes when he must make mistakes.
“There’s a trial coming up soon. The royal family will have to confess to their scoundrel-like behavior in front of the elders.”
“Then is it difficult?”
“Maybe.”
“...Then I guess it was a waste of time.”
Black let out a small sigh.
“Not necessarily. But you must treat him. It’s a matter of courtesy between nobles.”
The one who was weakened by Black's reaction was Liene. Liene quickly grabbed Black's collar with the hand that was not being held.
“But thank you.”
“Even if it’s difficult, you say?”
“It’s the first time anyone has ever done something like that for me.”
It wasn’t what she meant to do, but her voice was shaking slightly when she finished speaking.
The pain did not go away easily. Linden Klinefelter, who had broken both wrists, lay face down, unable to get up, just groaning.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
Lafitte tried to approach him somehow and started talking to him.
“You need to get treatment soon...”
“Speak sense! Those beasts wouldn’t do such a thing!”
Linden Klinefelter screamed. This wasn't just a fit of anger. He was furious at his nephew for not doing anything while he was being treated like this.
“You...Ha, that’s enough.”
The eldest son was weak. It must have been because the previous head of the family and his biological father, Linden Kleinfelter, had raised the young son alone after his older brother died. In the past, he had thought that his face was pretty. All he had to do was to melt Arsak's daughter and gain the right to rule. Now that the right to rule was in the hands of an unfamiliar beast, he felt regretful enough to strike the ground.
“What happened?”
Lafitte stood up and did not back down.
“I’m telling you not to worry about it.”
“What do you mean, don’t worry about it? My uncle’s hand?”
“...! You idiot! Lower your voice! What if someone hears you?!”
“He probably already knows who I am.”
“But that won’t do! I have to keep it a secret unless he comes forward and reveals it!”
“For what?”
"What?"
“What is it for? Now, why?”
“What is that...”
“Isn’t this the end for Klinefelter? Is there anything left to protect?”
“This, this pathetic guy!”
Linden Klinefelter couldn't stand it any longer and jumped up. No, he tried to get up by using his broken wrist to support himself but fell back down. Frustrated, Lafitte just stood there and watched his uncle do this.
“That can’t be... That can’t be. Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t give up nonsense. Act as if you were called Klinefelter!”
“That name has no power now.”
“Who said that!”
Linden Klinefelter, who had been screaming, looked around and lowered his voice. Outside, Tiwakan must be listening in this direction. Otherwise, he would not have been so kind as to put his nephew in the same room.
“The other families will not stand by and watch. The Great Council will be convened soon. There will be no human being who will take Arsak’s side there.”
“Tiwakan will make it so. The Kleinfelters were afraid and cooperated, so Tiwakan will bow down.”
“We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“What do you plan to do here?”
“Anything!”
Linden Klinefelter gritted his teeth.
“Yeah... The problem is Tiwakan. I don’t know how she tamed the beast like that..."
Linden Klinefelter's eyes widened as he thought about something.
“I have to break it up.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
It was so quiet, almost a whisper, that Lafitte couldn't hear what he said.
“What I’m saying is that we need to separate the two. We need to turn the gentle dog back into a beast.”
“How could that be possible? While I’m trapped here.”
“You can. You must.”
Once he got out of there, Linden Kleinfelter had no doubt about that. The Treaty of Liseberg was absolute. The six families that made the Treaty of Liseberg were the pillars and roof of Nauk. If Liene wanted to remain the ruler of Nauk, she could never offend those six families. Because they were hiding the secrets of the Arsak family. The bloody past.
“I will leave here as soon as the National Assembly convenes. Until then, you must be strong. Do you understand?”
“...”
Lafitte did not answer as if he did not believe his words.
“Tsk.”
Linden Kleinfelter clicked his tongue. Liene could not resist the name Kleinfelter in the first place. It was just that a beast that had rolled in from somewhere was now interfering with the game. So he had to chase it away. It was impossible to chase it away by force, so he had to make the beast leave on its own. And then...
“...! You idiot! Lower your voice! What if someone hears you?!”
“He probably already knows who I am.”
“But that won’t do! I have to keep it a secret unless he comes forward and reveals it!”
“For what?”
"What?"
“What is it for? Now, why?”
“What is that...”
“Isn’t this the end for Klinefelter? Is there anything left to protect?”
“This, this pathetic guy!”
Linden Klinefelter couldn't stand it any longer and jumped up. No, he tried to get up by using his broken wrist to support himself but fell back down. Frustrated, Lafitte just stood there and watched his uncle do this.
“That can’t be... That can’t be. Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t give up nonsense. Act as if you were called Klinefelter!”
“That name has no power now.”
“Who said that!”
Linden Klinefelter, who had been screaming, looked around and lowered his voice. Outside, Tiwakan must be listening in this direction. Otherwise, he would not have been so kind as to put his nephew in the same room.
“The other families will not stand by and watch. The Great Council will be convened soon. There will be no human being who will take Arsak’s side there.”
“Tiwakan will make it so. The Kleinfelters were afraid and cooperated, so Tiwakan will bow down.”
“We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“What do you plan to do here?”
“Anything!”
Linden Klinefelter gritted his teeth.
“Yeah... The problem is Tiwakan. I don’t know how she tamed the beast like that..."
Linden Klinefelter's eyes widened as he thought about something.
“I have to break it up.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
It was so quiet, almost a whisper, that Lafitte couldn't hear what he said.
“What I’m saying is that we need to separate the two. We need to turn the gentle dog back into a beast.”
“How could that be possible? While I’m trapped here.”
“You can. You must.”
Once he got out of there, Linden Kleinfelter had no doubt about that. The Treaty of Liseberg was absolute. The six families that made the Treaty of Liseberg were the pillars and roof of Nauk. If Liene wanted to remain the ruler of Nauk, she could never offend those six families. Because they were hiding the secrets of the Arsak family. The bloody past.
“I will leave here as soon as the National Assembly convenes. Until then, you must be strong. Do you understand?”
“...”
Lafitte did not answer as if he did not believe his words.
“Tsk.”
Linden Kleinfelter clicked his tongue. Liene could not resist the name Kleinfelter in the first place. It was just that a beast that had rolled in from somewhere was now interfering with the game. So he had to chase it away. It was impossible to chase it away by force, so he had to make the beast leave on its own. And then...
“...We have to sprinkle poison on the food.”
He knew that Liene Arsak looked like a very sweet prey to the beast's eyes. Then he had to ruin Liene. Linden Kleinfelter's eyes started rolling so fast that it sounded like a noise.
***
“Welcome, Sir Arland.”
Convening the council was not an easy task. Above all, the absence of Masilou had played a big role. The small paperwork had long been Masilou's job, but he was now in a dungeon. Even though she was short on help, Liene also thought that she should change her advisor. It was just pathetic that she had not known that Masilou was so close to the Kleinfelter family. She was now planning to gradually erase the shadow of Kleinfelter from the royal family.
“Thank you for calling.”
The Arland were a family that did not belong to the Great Council. They were weak and did not have many members. Someone like that couldn't be appointed as a royal advisor, but Liene was desperate. She did not want to be dragged around by the name Kleinfelter any longer.
“There is currently a temporary vacancy in the position of Royal Advisor. I cannot reveal the full details yet, but I would like you to fill the vacancy for the time being.”
“It is an honor, Princess.”
Liene smiled faintly. It was the first time in a while that a noble did not call her Arsak's daughter. Although she was sad that Imshe had to be grateful for that, she didn't feel bad about it.
“God bless you for willingly following the will of the monarch. Then I will tell you what to do. As the ruler of Nauk, I intend to call a council. You will take charge of that.”
“The National Assembly... you say?”
Arland looked puzzled. The lowly nobles of the poor kingdom had a simple demeanor as well as a simple manner. They were completely different from the nobles Liene had dealt with up until now.
“That was... wasn’t it 14 years ago when it was last held? As far as I know, it hasn’t been called up since then.”
The Treaty of Liseberg was signed at the Great Council fourteen years ago. In other words, the convocation of a new Great Council meant just as much upheaval as that time.
“Yes. There are two items on the agenda. One is the election of the High Priest, and the other is the trial. The one on trial Linden Kleinfelter.”
"Yes?"
The word "trial of Linden Klinefelter" startled Arland more than the word "congress."
“A, the trial of the Speaker...?”
“The charge is an assault on the royal family. That should be enough to be included in the official letter sent to the six families. The date should be as soon as possible.”
“Royal injury... Ah, I understand.”
Every time a word came out of Liene’s mouth, Arland couldn’t hide his shock. After the story was over, he pulled down his sleeve and wiped away the cold sweat.
“First, I would like you to calculate the necessary expenses. I would like you to use the royal office. I grant you permission to enter.”
“It is an honor.”
Arland, who had tried to regain his senses, bowed and stepped aside. Since he had been entrusted with a small task, Liene had to make other preparations. First, she had to find a new high priest.
“If we leave it up to the council, we’ll end up just picking out another Kleinfelter errand boy. We have to pick one out in advance.”
Liene came out to the synagogue for the first time in a while to greet Arland. Liene, who was sitting on an absurdly large throne, leaned against the armrest and rested her chin on it.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know much about priests... so I don’t know where to start.”
A slight wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows as she was deep in thought.
“Should I go to the temple now? That man might still be there. It would be nice to go and meet him...”
“Why do you think it would be good?”
Liene raised her head in surprise at the sudden question.
“...Huh!”
Then I almost hit my head on the chin. Before I knew it, Black was approaching from behind the throne.
"Why...!"
Liene was so shocked that she couldn't even form a proper sentence and could only utter a single word.
“I didn’t go to the temple.”
Black stroked Liene's cheek with a leisurely expression as if he had expected this reaction.
“Why... why?”
“Because I thought of something.”
“What’s the matter? For me?”
“No. In the basement.”
“Basement... Ah, to Klinefelter.”
A shadow fell over Liene's face for a moment.
“What... was your business?”
“I went to pay this back.”
"Yes?"
Liene still looked surprised as she watched Black raise his right hand.
“I think I should do that much. As your fiancé.”
“So... you made him bruise?”
“I tried to do that, but the frame was weaker than I thought. It broke.”
“Oh my...”
Liene, who was quivering in embarrassment, soon started to laugh without any reason.
“That guy must have never experienced anything like that before. I can only imagine how he would react.”
“Aren’t you going to scold me?”
“What can I do with his weak bones?”
Black put his lips to the bruise on her right hand. A tingling sensation spread from her wrist. She thought something was wrong. Now, when she looked at a bruise, she didn't think of the pain, but of something else.
“Then one more thing. Actually, I made a bit of a mistake.”
“Lord Tiwakan made a mistake? I don’t believe it.”
“It was a real mistake. After breaking it, I realized it was his left hand, not his right..."
“...So?”
“I even broke his right hand.”
"Aha……."
Liene made a strange expression, neither smiling nor frowning.
“Then both hands...”
“Coincidentally.”
“I'm sorry you made a mistake.”
“Yes, by mistake.”
“You don’t usually make mistakes, do you?”
“When you have to, you have to do it.”
“What is that...”
Liene bit her lip hard to keep herself from bursting out laughing. There is no time to make a mistake. She meant he did it on purpose. Actually, he shouldn't have. It's the General Assembly soon. If Linden Kleinfelter broke his hand, there would be chaos. But why...
“I should have done it earlier.”
Black muttered, sliding his lips down the inside of his wrist.
“No, why are you saying that...”
“If I had known the Princess would like it this much, I would have done it sooner.”
“That... huff.”
Liene couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Black kissed Liene's palm and waited quietly until Liene stopped laughing.
“Then... that won’t work.”
Her stomach hurt so much that she started to cry a little.
Black wiped away the tears with his other hand.
“I’ll be careful next time.”
Even if he says so, he will make mistakes at any time. When the moment comes when he must make mistakes.
“There’s a trial coming up soon. The royal family will have to confess to their scoundrel-like behavior in front of the elders.”
“Then is it difficult?”
“Maybe.”
“...Then I guess it was a waste of time.”
Black let out a small sigh.
“Not necessarily. But you must treat him. It’s a matter of courtesy between nobles.”
The one who was weakened by Black's reaction was Liene. Liene quickly grabbed Black's collar with the hand that was not being held.
“But thank you.”
“Even if it’s difficult, you say?”
“It’s the first time anyone has ever done something like that for me.”
It wasn’t what she meant to do, but her voice was shaking slightly when she finished speaking.
Liene gasped. It had been so long since she had felt this sensation. Someone is angry and protecting her for her. Since inheriting the crown, Liene had nowhere to hide. Nowhere to lean on, no place to feel at ease, no place to joke around. There were only things she had to bear. Black was the first. No matter how heavy the burden was, it seemed like Black would accept it all without a hitch...
No, it wasn’t like he would accept it, he really would. Liene slowly moved the hand that was holding her collar and stroked the skin at her fingertips.
What should I do?
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