Black said something similar. He said he knew it was an engagement, but it could have just been something his father said.
“If that were the case, it wouldn’t even be recorded in the royal records, right?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I’ll have to look it up just in case.”
Liene turned around in a hurry. If it was a royal record, it would be somewhere in the office. Please. Let there be something left.
“Princess. Where are you going? By the way, why are you suddenly bringing up the subject of engagement? Stop talking about that guy.”
“I heard he was engaged to be married to me.”
"Yes?"
Madam Flambard blinked as if she didn't understand at all.
“Who said that? Even Lord Klinefelter wasn’t engaged to be married.”
“This is Lord Tiwakan.”
"Yes?"
Mada. Flambard, who had been asking in surprise, covered her mouth in surprise at the sound of my voice.
“Uh, when... that... twenty years ago?”
“I’m not sure. It was so long ago. But he said he remembered it that way. That’s why he proposed to me.”
“So, then... So, does that mean he’s one of Nauk’s people?”
“Yes. He said he left Nauk after his blood relatives were killed.”
“Such a strange thing...”
Liene swept her hair back with a distorted face.
“He said he forgot everything because it happened in the past. He said that was the only reason he proposed to me. But... I keep...”
Liene cut off her words and took a deep breath.
“I’m starting to think... in a bad way. Could it be that the one who killed that man’s blood relative... was the previous King? Is that why the old man said I would bleed because of Lord Tiwakan?”
“What are you talking about, Princess?”
Madam Flambard shook her head vigorously, saying that it was a terrible thing to even hear.
“The former King was a very good man. He was wise, thoughtful, and generous. How could such a man kill someone...? It’s an absurd thought.”
“Then why did the old man say something like that?”
"That..."
Liene, in a state of confusion, hunched her shoulders painfully. Madame Flambard looked at her with pity and tried to comfort Liene.
“Princess. Let’s think about it this way. No one knows who that old man is, right? We don’t even know if he’s in his right mind or not. If he beats the servant who brought him food, he might definitely be out of his mind. How could someone like that know something that neither you nor I know? Don’t you think so?”
“I wonder... But the old man is old. He may have experienced and remembered things that Madam or I don’t know about.”
“So who on earth is that old man to do that?”
“...”
What the Madam said was not wrong. Her priorities were wrong. Before she could say anything, she had to know who the old man really was.
“That servant will know the old man’s identity.”
“Are you talking about the brother who was beaten with a cane? If he says he needs to be beaten more, he must have some untold story. But didn’t that brother run away? ...By the way, why is Tiwakan torturing one of him?”
“I’m not trying to make his life miserable. I’m not sure, but I’m chasing after that cult member because I think he might be the one who killed the high priest.”
“Huh? No, is that true?”
The astonished woman folded her hands for a moment and looked for God.
“How can someone like that... look so innocent and kind. Could it be that Tiwakan catches living people?”
“No, that’s not it. There was a clue. But did you see his face?”
“It just so happened. As you can see, Princess, that servant covers his face when he walks around. But the old man beat him so hard that his hood came off.”
He said that the priest, who looked so kind, looked sad instead. He also said that there were wounds on the back of his hands.
“Did you pray again...”
“What kind of prayer is that?”
“I heard there is a prayer called the prayer of atonement. I heard it is a prayer that you say while whipping yourself.”
“Oh my goodness... Even the god who hears such a prayer will not be pleased.”
“I think the same. What on earth was that priest trying to atone for?”
“He may have committed many sins... So he may not be a good person."
If it was true that the high priest had been killed by his brother Klima, and the old man was beating him because he knew it. If Klima was beating as a sign of atonement, it might be closer to the idea that the old man was not crazy and was just talking nonsense. Somehow, she had a feeling that the old man knew more than he was letting on.
“I wonder where Tiwakan took the old man. I guess I should ask him about it.”
“That’s true, but... If he took him away on purpose, would he have been so quick to tell his whereabouts? He’d most likely hide him and makeup excuses here and there.”
“I guess so... In that case, I should at least find out about that clan.”
“That seems right. Then shall I go to the temple?”
“No. It’s already late at night. Let’s go together tomorrow.”
“Do you have time?”
“Even if there isn’t one, we have to create one. The new advisor just happened to come in, so it helped ease the workload a bit.”
Liene held Madam Flambard's hand tightly.
“Thank you for your hard work, Madam. You are the only person I can trust completely.”
“It is truly an honorable thing to hear, Princess.”
Madam Flambard gently stroked his tangled hair with her hand, showing great affection.
“Then let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Liene and Madam Flambard left the audience room and went back to their respective bedrooms. Fortunately, they didn't run into anyone on their way back. The Tiwakans seemed to be busy chasing their vassal Klima outside.
“If that were the case, it wouldn’t even be recorded in the royal records, right?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I’ll have to look it up just in case.”
Liene turned around in a hurry. If it was a royal record, it would be somewhere in the office. Please. Let there be something left.
“Princess. Where are you going? By the way, why are you suddenly bringing up the subject of engagement? Stop talking about that guy.”
“I heard he was engaged to be married to me.”
"Yes?"
Madam Flambard blinked as if she didn't understand at all.
“Who said that? Even Lord Klinefelter wasn’t engaged to be married.”
“This is Lord Tiwakan.”
"Yes?"
Mada. Flambard, who had been asking in surprise, covered her mouth in surprise at the sound of my voice.
“Uh, when... that... twenty years ago?”
“I’m not sure. It was so long ago. But he said he remembered it that way. That’s why he proposed to me.”
“So, then... So, does that mean he’s one of Nauk’s people?”
“Yes. He said he left Nauk after his blood relatives were killed.”
“Such a strange thing...”
Liene swept her hair back with a distorted face.
“He said he forgot everything because it happened in the past. He said that was the only reason he proposed to me. But... I keep...”
Liene cut off her words and took a deep breath.
“I’m starting to think... in a bad way. Could it be that the one who killed that man’s blood relative... was the previous King? Is that why the old man said I would bleed because of Lord Tiwakan?”
“What are you talking about, Princess?”
Madam Flambard shook her head vigorously, saying that it was a terrible thing to even hear.
“The former King was a very good man. He was wise, thoughtful, and generous. How could such a man kill someone...? It’s an absurd thought.”
“Then why did the old man say something like that?”
"That..."
Liene, in a state of confusion, hunched her shoulders painfully. Madame Flambard looked at her with pity and tried to comfort Liene.
“Princess. Let’s think about it this way. No one knows who that old man is, right? We don’t even know if he’s in his right mind or not. If he beats the servant who brought him food, he might definitely be out of his mind. How could someone like that know something that neither you nor I know? Don’t you think so?”
“I wonder... But the old man is old. He may have experienced and remembered things that Madam or I don’t know about.”
“So who on earth is that old man to do that?”
“...”
What the Madam said was not wrong. Her priorities were wrong. Before she could say anything, she had to know who the old man really was.
“That servant will know the old man’s identity.”
“Are you talking about the brother who was beaten with a cane? If he says he needs to be beaten more, he must have some untold story. But didn’t that brother run away? ...By the way, why is Tiwakan torturing one of him?”
“I’m not trying to make his life miserable. I’m not sure, but I’m chasing after that cult member because I think he might be the one who killed the high priest.”
“Huh? No, is that true?”
The astonished woman folded her hands for a moment and looked for God.
“How can someone like that... look so innocent and kind. Could it be that Tiwakan catches living people?”
“No, that’s not it. There was a clue. But did you see his face?”
“It just so happened. As you can see, Princess, that servant covers his face when he walks around. But the old man beat him so hard that his hood came off.”
He said that the priest, who looked so kind, looked sad instead. He also said that there were wounds on the back of his hands.
“Did you pray again...”
“What kind of prayer is that?”
“I heard there is a prayer called the prayer of atonement. I heard it is a prayer that you say while whipping yourself.”
“Oh my goodness... Even the god who hears such a prayer will not be pleased.”
“I think the same. What on earth was that priest trying to atone for?”
“He may have committed many sins... So he may not be a good person."
If it was true that the high priest had been killed by his brother Klima, and the old man was beating him because he knew it. If Klima was beating as a sign of atonement, it might be closer to the idea that the old man was not crazy and was just talking nonsense. Somehow, she had a feeling that the old man knew more than he was letting on.
“I wonder where Tiwakan took the old man. I guess I should ask him about it.”
“That’s true, but... If he took him away on purpose, would he have been so quick to tell his whereabouts? He’d most likely hide him and makeup excuses here and there.”
“I guess so... In that case, I should at least find out about that clan.”
“That seems right. Then shall I go to the temple?”
“No. It’s already late at night. Let’s go together tomorrow.”
“Do you have time?”
“Even if there isn’t one, we have to create one. The new advisor just happened to come in, so it helped ease the workload a bit.”
Liene held Madam Flambard's hand tightly.
“Thank you for your hard work, Madam. You are the only person I can trust completely.”
“It is truly an honorable thing to hear, Princess.”
Madam Flambard gently stroked his tangled hair with her hand, showing great affection.
“Then let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Liene and Madam Flambard left the audience room and went back to their respective bedrooms. Fortunately, they didn't run into anyone on their way back. The Tiwakans seemed to be busy chasing their vassal Klima outside.
***
Thump. It was the moment I grabbed the doorknob.
“Where have you been?”
As if it had been waiting, the door was pulled from the inside. Liene, startled, let go of her hand. The face that appeared as the door opened was Black.
“...I just dropped Madam Flambard off for a bit.”
After swallowing once, a surprisingly smooth voice came out. Liene knew how futile it was to lie in front of Black. Maybe he had noticed someone coming from the bathroom.
“I told you I sent her on an errand. She met Sir Fermos there. She was sullen because she couldn’t finish the work I had asked her to do, so I escorted her to her room. I also informed her that it was no longer necessary to do so.”
“I see.”
Black nodded at that point as if there was nothing to worry about. Then he held out his hand.
“Aren’t you going to come in?”
"Ah..."
Liene stared at Black's outstretched hand for a moment and then took it. His hand was still the same. It was so warm that it almost felt hot, and it was so big that it seemed like it could hold anything. Even after entering the room, Black did not let go of his hand. Liene said jokingly as she passed the bed in the middle of the bedroom.
“Are you sure you’re going to carry me from room to room?”
"No."
Liene's room was accessible by passing through Black's room. Across from the bed were two doors, one leading to the bathroom, and the other leading to a small room between the bedrooms. This small room was once called the King's Gallery. It was small, but it was filled with exotic and expensive ornaments and paintings for the ruler and his consort. It had long been empty. Liene sometimes forgot what this room was used for. Black said as he opened the door to the King's Gallery.
“We will go together.”
"...Yes?"
“I want to sleep with you again today. Like yesterday.”
“...”
It was that feeling again. The feeling of the bottom of her chest tightening endlessly. Whenever she felt this sensation, Liene felt a little miserable. Her throat was dry, so she kept swallowing.
“I thought I had gotten a little better in the meantime... Didn’t I?”
“...”
Yes, that's right. Even though Madam Flambard said that Liene didn't hate him at all. That's why her suspicions were more painful. Even now, she has to make excuses for what he said. Even if it's true that the former King harmed his family, that he lost his home at a young age and had to wander in a foreign land, and that it's all a sin that is passed down through the Arsak bloodline. But he might have just wanted to forget the past and propose to her. After all, it's been twenty years since he was a child who didn't know anything. If he tells her to apologize to him for what the former King did, she'll do it. Because she likes him this much. So... He might feel the same way. He might.
“I’m a little worried.”
But Liene couldn't say what she really thought. That was something she could only say if she was the daughter of an ordinary family and not the ruler of Nauk.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you didn’t have much experience.”
"...Yes?"
“That means it’s awkward.”
“...”
“I’m a bit worried about that kind of person.”
“...”
In fact, it was the opposite. She was worried that he would be too skilled compared to her obvious ineptitude and that she would unconsciously keep imagining things from the past. But Liene couldn't say that. She couldn't say that she wasn't pregnant yet.
“...This is a bit ridiculous.”
Black's cheeks seemed stiff at first, but soon his expression changed and he smiled lightly.
“How far were you thinking?”
“What?”
“What did you plan on doing with me? When you said you’d sleep in the same bed.”
“....”
Liene, who was at a loss for an answer, simply kept her mouth shut, but a blush appeared on her cheeks as if in response.
“What’s the point of being in trouble if I’m clumsy?”
“...Anyway, I think that’s the answer. That’s all for now.”
Liene opened the bedroom door as if she was running away.
“Where have you been?”
As if it had been waiting, the door was pulled from the inside. Liene, startled, let go of her hand. The face that appeared as the door opened was Black.
“...I just dropped Madam Flambard off for a bit.”
After swallowing once, a surprisingly smooth voice came out. Liene knew how futile it was to lie in front of Black. Maybe he had noticed someone coming from the bathroom.
“I told you I sent her on an errand. She met Sir Fermos there. She was sullen because she couldn’t finish the work I had asked her to do, so I escorted her to her room. I also informed her that it was no longer necessary to do so.”
“I see.”
Black nodded at that point as if there was nothing to worry about. Then he held out his hand.
“Aren’t you going to come in?”
"Ah..."
Liene stared at Black's outstretched hand for a moment and then took it. His hand was still the same. It was so warm that it almost felt hot, and it was so big that it seemed like it could hold anything. Even after entering the room, Black did not let go of his hand. Liene said jokingly as she passed the bed in the middle of the bedroom.
“Are you sure you’re going to carry me from room to room?”
"No."
Liene's room was accessible by passing through Black's room. Across from the bed were two doors, one leading to the bathroom, and the other leading to a small room between the bedrooms. This small room was once called the King's Gallery. It was small, but it was filled with exotic and expensive ornaments and paintings for the ruler and his consort. It had long been empty. Liene sometimes forgot what this room was used for. Black said as he opened the door to the King's Gallery.
“We will go together.”
"...Yes?"
“I want to sleep with you again today. Like yesterday.”
“...”
It was that feeling again. The feeling of the bottom of her chest tightening endlessly. Whenever she felt this sensation, Liene felt a little miserable. Her throat was dry, so she kept swallowing.
“I thought I had gotten a little better in the meantime... Didn’t I?”
“...”
Yes, that's right. Even though Madam Flambard said that Liene didn't hate him at all. That's why her suspicions were more painful. Even now, she has to make excuses for what he said. Even if it's true that the former King harmed his family, that he lost his home at a young age and had to wander in a foreign land, and that it's all a sin that is passed down through the Arsak bloodline. But he might have just wanted to forget the past and propose to her. After all, it's been twenty years since he was a child who didn't know anything. If he tells her to apologize to him for what the former King did, she'll do it. Because she likes him this much. So... He might feel the same way. He might.
“I’m a little worried.”
But Liene couldn't say what she really thought. That was something she could only say if she was the daughter of an ordinary family and not the ruler of Nauk.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you didn’t have much experience.”
"...Yes?"
“That means it’s awkward.”
“...”
“I’m a bit worried about that kind of person.”
“...”
In fact, it was the opposite. She was worried that he would be too skilled compared to her obvious ineptitude and that she would unconsciously keep imagining things from the past. But Liene couldn't say that. She couldn't say that she wasn't pregnant yet.
“...This is a bit ridiculous.”
Black's cheeks seemed stiff at first, but soon his expression changed and he smiled lightly.
“How far were you thinking?”
“What?”
“What did you plan on doing with me? When you said you’d sleep in the same bed.”
“....”
Liene, who was at a loss for an answer, simply kept her mouth shut, but a blush appeared on her cheeks as if in response.
“What’s the point of being in trouble if I’m clumsy?”
“...Anyway, I think that’s the answer. That’s all for now.”
Liene opened the bedroom door as if she was running away.
Bam!
But it closed again. It was because Black had pulled the door back from behind him. As a result, Liene was trapped between the closed door and Black.
“How good do I have to be you to be satisfied?”
Black lowered his head to the back of Liene's neck, who was trapped in his arms, and whispered softly.
“What do you have to do to be considered proficient?”
“It’s just... that’s... not right now...”
“That’s strange. Wasn’t it clearly meant to be done now?”
Swish, Black's arms wrapped around her waist. At the same time, his lips brushed back the hair covering the back of her neck. His lips slowly slid over the exposed pale skin.
The hand that wasn't holding her waist stroked her hair, tickled her earlobe, and ran down her neckline.
“No... It wasn’t..."
“No, I was talking about today.”
The fingers that had been sweeping her neck stopped at the edge of her pajamas. The tips of his fingers lifted the thin fabric, almost reaching inside, almost trying to enter. Liene bit her lips hard, almost letting out a sound.
“Fortunately, I don’t think I’m clumsy enough to dislike the Princess. Judging by your reaction.”
The fingers that fell out of her pajamas entered her lips again. Black slowly spread her tightly shut lips with his fingers.
“This will cause wounds. I told you this afternoon. I will not let any wounds occur except the ones I create.”
"That..."
Her body kept shaking so much that she couldn't speak properly.
“I won’t do that again. I promise.”
Black, who had parted her lips, grabbed Liene's chin and pulled her closer. He gently rubbed the lips where the bite marks remained. It was dirty and hot enough to melt. If he kept going like this, even her thoughts would disappear. Why was he so dirty, why did he do this, what on earth was he planning...
“How good do I have to be you to be satisfied?”
Black lowered his head to the back of Liene's neck, who was trapped in his arms, and whispered softly.
“What do you have to do to be considered proficient?”
“It’s just... that’s... not right now...”
“That’s strange. Wasn’t it clearly meant to be done now?”
Swish, Black's arms wrapped around her waist. At the same time, his lips brushed back the hair covering the back of her neck. His lips slowly slid over the exposed pale skin.
The hand that wasn't holding her waist stroked her hair, tickled her earlobe, and ran down her neckline.
“No... It wasn’t..."
“No, I was talking about today.”
The fingers that had been sweeping her neck stopped at the edge of her pajamas. The tips of his fingers lifted the thin fabric, almost reaching inside, almost trying to enter. Liene bit her lips hard, almost letting out a sound.
“Fortunately, I don’t think I’m clumsy enough to dislike the Princess. Judging by your reaction.”
The fingers that fell out of her pajamas entered her lips again. Black slowly spread her tightly shut lips with his fingers.
“This will cause wounds. I told you this afternoon. I will not let any wounds occur except the ones I create.”
"That..."
Her body kept shaking so much that she couldn't speak properly.
“I won’t do that again. I promise.”
Black, who had parted her lips, grabbed Liene's chin and pulled her closer. He gently rubbed the lips where the bite marks remained. It was dirty and hot enough to melt. If he kept going like this, even her thoughts would disappear. Why was he so dirty, why did he do this, what on earth was he planning...
All of those thoughts were about finding out the answer before Nauk got mad.
“Stop it!”
What is this? I didn't want this. Blame!
“Stop it!”
What is this? I didn't want this. Blame!
Liene pushed Black away with all her might.
“Stop it.”
“...”
Black shut his mouth and looked at Liene, feeling that she was sincere.
“Stop it.”
“...”
Black shut his mouth and looked at Liene, feeling that she was sincere.
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