She hated it when her voice shook. Liene wrapped her hand around her shoulder and said.
“If you want to prove your prowess, do it in some other way. In a way that will make me happy and look forward to sleeping with Lord Tiwakan.”
“...Is this wrong?”
“Yes. Because I feel like you’re just teasing me. My heart won’t open like this. Just because you touch my body and I react, it doesn’t mean I’m ready. My mind has to be ready before my body.”
“Why aren’t you ready?”
“That now...”
“...Oh, no. If it didn’t work out, why do you need a reason? If it didn’t work out, then it must mean no.”
“...”
Black shook his head roughly once as if shaking off the remaining heat.
“I didn’t intend to suddenly ask you to sleep with me just because you opened your heart a little. I literally wanted you to sleep with me. Like yesterday. I just wanted to be by your side.”
Liene threw off the blanket and stood up. However, a red bloodstain had already spread around the sheets.
“I have to clean this up quickly...”
It was at that moment when she was about to throw away the sheet.
“Your complexion is bad.”
Black strode briskly towards the bed. A large hand touched her forehead without knowing what was going on.
“I have a fever.”
“No... It’s okay.”
“What’s okay with a face like this?”
The more he did that, the more pale Liene's face became. Liene covered herself with the blanket up to her head.
“Just get out. I’ll take care of myself.”
“I know you wouldn’t do that. Why don’t you just move the blanket for a second?”
Black's hand touched the edge of the blanket that Liene was desperately pulling up.
“Don’t touch!”
A sharp reaction leaked out without her knowledge. Black's hand flinched and stopped. His face gradually hardened. It was like a thin layer of frost falling on a lake at dawn.
“Are you angry? About yesterday.”
“No... No. Just get out. Hurry up.”
“That can’t be. I need to know why the Princess is angry.”
“I’m not mad. Just, hurry up...”
Black asked, grabbing Liene's wrist, which was tightly holding onto the edge of the blanket with all her might.
“Are you saying that you aren’t angry even after all this?”
To Black, who had no way of knowing what was happening under the blanket, it seemed like she was rejecting the idea of having his bare skin touch her. Liene was out of her mind feeling as if the blanket covering her secret would be removed at any moment.
“Hey, stop it and get out!”
“Why do people change in just one day?”
Black tried to pull down the blanket covering his face.
"No!"
Liene, who was getting impatient, pushed Black away roughly. Thud! Her strength was weak, but it was enough to push Black away. However, the problem was that the blanket slipped because of that force.
“...What is this?”
“...!”
The red bloodstains on the sheets and hem of her pajamas seemed larger than they actually were, and her mind went blank, so she couldn't even think of an excuse.
“Don’t look...!”
Liene tried to push Black away with a screaming sound.
Chin!
“You, don’t worry too much. In the early stages of pregnancy, there may be occasional bleeding and such. Of course, when the baby has grown enough to protrude, it is very dangerous, but Princess... Umm, how old are you?”
There were only two doctors in Nauk. One mainly treated nobles who could afford to pay for their treatment, and the other took care of the poor who could not. However, they had one thing in common: they were extremely busy because they had so many patients. Both of them had been in my bedroom since this morning.
The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead with a pale face. The other doctor, who was silent, did the same.
“Hey, do you have any stomach pains? Do you feel like your stomach is pulling inward, or like it’s going to tear...?”
“No... It hurts a little, but not that much.”
Liene had a dull ache in her lower abdomen, but that was something shd often experienced when she was on my period.
“I feel a lot better than when I first woke up.”
As Liene added, the doctors exchanged glances among themselves.
“Then it doesn’t seem like a big deal. However, bleeding isn’t a good thing, so it would be best to take care of yourself for the time being.”
“Yes. If the bleeding is frequent, you may lose the baby, so please try not to move from your seat. In particular, riding a horse for a long distance is extremely dangerous.”
"...Yes?"
Liene frowned at the unexpected news.
“Don’t move. Does that mean I should just sit there all day?”
“It’s better to lie down.”
“What are you saying...”
Black stood between the doctors and Liene.
“I’ll remember. Is there any medicine I need for this?”
“I have some medicine that will help the baby stay calm. I’ll get it ready for you soon.”
The doctors hurriedly greeted each other and went out. Black pointed to the doctors behind him and spoke to Fermos.
“Follow him. Make sure he makes the medicine properly. And find out how he spreads the word.”
“...Oh, that could be possible. Yes.”
Fermos followed the doctors without a word. The talk of spreading the word implied that they might be in league with someone like Klinefelter. Fermos, who believed that Liene was carrying Lafitte Klinefelter’s child, believed that it would be okay if the child was lost, but he was wise enough not to show such an attitude. It was true that the doctors had almost felt a little sorry earlier. If Liene, who was carrying the child, had not only been unwell but also had another accident, it was obvious that many people would suffer.
“Well, I’ll... take the sheets. I need to wash them before they get stained.”
Now, Madam Flambard, whose face had regained some of its color, spoke. Liene turned slightly to Black and grabbed Madam Flambard's sleeve.
“Let’s do it together. It’s hard to do it alone.”
“Oh, no. Why are you saying that...”
“That’s impossible.”
Mada. Flambard was right. Somehow Black didn't think he would let Liene say something like that, and he was right.
“I bet you were told to lie down.”
“If you want to prove your prowess, do it in some other way. In a way that will make me happy and look forward to sleeping with Lord Tiwakan.”
“...Is this wrong?”
“Yes. Because I feel like you’re just teasing me. My heart won’t open like this. Just because you touch my body and I react, it doesn’t mean I’m ready. My mind has to be ready before my body.”
“Why aren’t you ready?”
“That now...”
“...Oh, no. If it didn’t work out, why do you need a reason? If it didn’t work out, then it must mean no.”
“...”
Black shook his head roughly once as if shaking off the remaining heat.
“I didn’t intend to suddenly ask you to sleep with me just because you opened your heart a little. I literally wanted you to sleep with me. Like yesterday. I just wanted to be by your side.”
“...”
It was the same for Liene. She liked him so much that her boundaries kept breaking down. After she found out that he was her fiancé when she was young, she even thought that he might have been her man since birth. That's why she had to reject him.
“I think I lost my mind for a moment because I thought that wasn’t it.”
Black slowly raised both hands, indicating that he intended no contact whatsoever.
“Go to sleep. Have a good night.”
“...Yes. Lord Tiwakan too.”
Tak.
It was the same for Liene. She liked him so much that her boundaries kept breaking down. After she found out that he was her fiancé when she was young, she even thought that he might have been her man since birth. That's why she had to reject him.
“I think I lost my mind for a moment because I thought that wasn’t it.”
Black slowly raised both hands, indicating that he intended no contact whatsoever.
“Go to sleep. Have a good night.”
“...Yes. Lord Tiwakan too.”
Tak.
Liene quickly opened the door and ran into her bedroom.
“... I don’t like it.”
She hated these lies. She hated having to lie to herself. She hated how he backed off as if he would never touch her again.
“Tomorrow.. it’ll be okay.”
Tomorrow she will find out about the vassal, and then she will learn something about the old man. Or let's say she meets the old man. They said that Sir Fermos took him away. Then he must have been locked up somewhere in the castle. So they can talk about it again. The man has no right to interfere. So if she finds out the truth...
“... I don’t like it.”
She hated these lies. She hated having to lie to herself. She hated how he backed off as if he would never touch her again.
“Tomorrow.. it’ll be okay.”
Tomorrow she will find out about the vassal, and then she will learn something about the old man. Or let's say she meets the old man. They said that Sir Fermos took him away. Then he must have been locked up somewhere in the castle. So they can talk about it again. The man has no right to interfere. So if she finds out the truth...
From there, Liene's thoughts were blocked. She couldn't figure out anything.
What to do with him? What to do with him?
“...I feel like I’m going to die.”
Her heart felt like it was burning. Liene staggered and collapsed on the bed. Sleep was the first priority.
“...I feel like I’m going to die.”
Her heart felt like it was burning. Liene staggered and collapsed on the bed. Sleep was the first priority.
***
She couldn't sleep all night, so she tossed and turned. The time Liene fell asleep was so late that even the dawn was bright.
“Ah... It’s morning.”
Liene felt her body heavier than usual and turned around under the blanket.
“Why am I so listless... My body feels a bit cold.”
It seemed like she was sweating a little. Liene dug into the blanket, wondering if she had a fever.
“...!”
Then, a cold sensation running down between her legs brought her to her senses.
“The period is...!”
It started a few days earlier than the original date.
“Why is it like this?”
“Ah... It’s morning.”
Liene felt her body heavier than usual and turned around under the blanket.
“Why am I so listless... My body feels a bit cold.”
It seemed like she was sweating a little. Liene dug into the blanket, wondering if she had a fever.
“...!”
Then, a cold sensation running down between her legs brought her to her senses.
“The period is...!”
It started a few days earlier than the original date.
“Why is it like this?”
Liene threw off the blanket and stood up. However, a red bloodstain had already spread around the sheets.
“I have to clean this up quickly...”
It was at that moment when she was about to throw away the sheet.
Thump, thump.
“Are you awake?”
It was Black. Liene's face turned pale.
“Are you awake?”
It was Black. Liene's face turned pale.
What's going on, this morning?
The most important thing was to cover up this bloodstain. Liene put down the sheet and lay down on the bed again. Then she pulled up the blanket to cover up the bloodstain.
“What... is going on?”
“I’m waking you up because you seem to be oversleeping.”
Did I? Did I oversleep? No, even if I did, why are you waking me up?
“I’m not feeling... well. I’ll get up soon.”
“I don’t feel well... I’ll go in.”
“No, don’t do that...!”
It was late. Black had already opened the door and was coming in. Liene clutched the blanket and pulled it up to her neck.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just... nothing. Please leave.”
“What... is going on?”
“I’m waking you up because you seem to be oversleeping.”
Did I? Did I oversleep? No, even if I did, why are you waking me up?
“I’m not feeling... well. I’ll get up soon.”
“I don’t feel well... I’ll go in.”
“No, don’t do that...!”
It was late. Black had already opened the door and was coming in. Liene clutched the blanket and pulled it up to her neck.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just... nothing. Please leave.”
“Your complexion is bad.”
Black strode briskly towards the bed. A large hand touched her forehead without knowing what was going on.
“I have a fever.”
“No... It’s okay.”
“What’s okay with a face like this?”
The more he did that, the more pale Liene's face became. Liene covered herself with the blanket up to her head.
“Just get out. I’ll take care of myself.”
“I know you wouldn’t do that. Why don’t you just move the blanket for a second?”
Black's hand touched the edge of the blanket that Liene was desperately pulling up.
“Don’t touch!”
A sharp reaction leaked out without her knowledge. Black's hand flinched and stopped. His face gradually hardened. It was like a thin layer of frost falling on a lake at dawn.
“Are you angry? About yesterday.”
“No... No. Just get out. Hurry up.”
“That can’t be. I need to know why the Princess is angry.”
“I’m not mad. Just, hurry up...”
Black asked, grabbing Liene's wrist, which was tightly holding onto the edge of the blanket with all her might.
“Are you saying that you aren’t angry even after all this?”
To Black, who had no way of knowing what was happening under the blanket, it seemed like she was rejecting the idea of having his bare skin touch her. Liene was out of her mind feeling as if the blanket covering her secret would be removed at any moment.
“Hey, stop it and get out!”
“Why do people change in just one day?”
Black tried to pull down the blanket covering his face.
"No!"
Liene, who was getting impatient, pushed Black away roughly. Thud! Her strength was weak, but it was enough to push Black away. However, the problem was that the blanket slipped because of that force.
“...What is this?”
“...!”
The red bloodstains on the sheets and hem of her pajamas seemed larger than they actually were, and her mind went blank, so she couldn't even think of an excuse.
“Don’t look...!”
Liene tried to push Black away with a screaming sound.
Chin!
Then suddenly her hand was grabbed.
“Don’t move. Don’t move.”
“...”
Black forced Liene, who was squirming, onto the bed. Liene, who had no idea why he was doing this, looked at Black. Sweat was dripping down her forehead.
“I’ll call a doctor. Just a moment.”
“...?”
“Stay here. Don’t move.”
After finishing speaking, Black quickly left the bedroom. Only after the confusion subsided did Liene realize that he had made a mistake.
“Don’t move. Don’t move.”
“...”
Black forced Liene, who was squirming, onto the bed. Liene, who had no idea why he was doing this, looked at Black. Sweat was dripping down her forehead.
“I’ll call a doctor. Just a moment.”
“...?”
“Stay here. Don’t move.”
After finishing speaking, Black quickly left the bedroom. Only after the confusion subsided did Liene realize that he had made a mistake.
***
“You, don’t worry too much. In the early stages of pregnancy, there may be occasional bleeding and such. Of course, when the baby has grown enough to protrude, it is very dangerous, but Princess... Umm, how old are you?”
There were only two doctors in Nauk. One mainly treated nobles who could afford to pay for their treatment, and the other took care of the poor who could not. However, they had one thing in common: they were extremely busy because they had so many patients. Both of them had been in my bedroom since this morning.
To treat me, even though I wasn’t really sick...
This is driving her crazy, really. Liene swallowed the sigh escaping her lips. Black stood behind the doctors. He looked like he was going to bite the nape of their necks if they talked nonsense, and Fermos next to him had a look in his eyes that said he would try to stop them before they did.
"That is..."
Liene, who knew nothing about pregnancy, shook her eyes awkwardly.
“One month.”
The one who answered was Black.
“Huh, a month?”
“Exactly 28 days.”
“...”
Where on earth did the number 28 come from? Liene racked her brain desperately. Why 28 days...
"That is..."
Liene, who knew nothing about pregnancy, shook her eyes awkwardly.
“One month.”
The one who answered was Black.
“Huh, a month?”
“Exactly 28 days.”
“...”
Where on earth did the number 28 come from? Liene racked her brain desperately. Why 28 days...
Oh, I see.
28 days ago was the day the Tiwakan mercenary force arrived in Nauk. That day, she received the marriage proposal, and the next day, a battle began between the two sides as a sign of rejection. That man... really intends to make her baby his child. A child who doesn’t even exist yet.
“28 days ago, the castle would have been under siege... Huh?”
A doctor who was counting the days on his fingers opened his eyes wide.
“Well, I said that, and then I had a child...?”
Then, when Black met his eyes, he shut his mouth tightly. His blue eyes were so sharp that they almost looked menacing.
“You don’t need to know that. All you have to do is keep my child safe.”
“Uh...Yes, yes... Ah, I understand...”
“28 days ago, the castle would have been under siege... Huh?”
A doctor who was counting the days on his fingers opened his eyes wide.
“Well, I said that, and then I had a child...?”
Then, when Black met his eyes, he shut his mouth tightly. His blue eyes were so sharp that they almost looked menacing.
“You don’t need to know that. All you have to do is keep my child safe.”
“Uh...Yes, yes... Ah, I understand...”
The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead with a pale face. The other doctor, who was silent, did the same.
“Hey, do you have any stomach pains? Do you feel like your stomach is pulling inward, or like it’s going to tear...?”
“No... It hurts a little, but not that much.”
Liene had a dull ache in her lower abdomen, but that was something shd often experienced when she was on my period.
“I feel a lot better than when I first woke up.”
As Liene added, the doctors exchanged glances among themselves.
“Then it doesn’t seem like a big deal. However, bleeding isn’t a good thing, so it would be best to take care of yourself for the time being.”
“Yes. If the bleeding is frequent, you may lose the baby, so please try not to move from your seat. In particular, riding a horse for a long distance is extremely dangerous.”
"...Yes?"
Liene frowned at the unexpected news.
“Don’t move. Does that mean I should just sit there all day?”
“It’s better to lie down.”
“What are you saying...”
Black stood between the doctors and Liene.
“I’ll remember. Is there any medicine I need for this?”
“I have some medicine that will help the baby stay calm. I’ll get it ready for you soon.”
The doctors hurriedly greeted each other and went out. Black pointed to the doctors behind him and spoke to Fermos.
“Follow him. Make sure he makes the medicine properly. And find out how he spreads the word.”
“...Oh, that could be possible. Yes.”
Fermos followed the doctors without a word. The talk of spreading the word implied that they might be in league with someone like Klinefelter. Fermos, who believed that Liene was carrying Lafitte Klinefelter’s child, believed that it would be okay if the child was lost, but he was wise enough not to show such an attitude. It was true that the doctors had almost felt a little sorry earlier. If Liene, who was carrying the child, had not only been unwell but also had another accident, it was obvious that many people would suffer.
“Well, I’ll... take the sheets. I need to wash them before they get stained.”
Now, Madam Flambard, whose face had regained some of its color, spoke. Liene turned slightly to Black and grabbed Madam Flambard's sleeve.
“Let’s do it together. It’s hard to do it alone.”
“Oh, no. Why are you saying that...”
“That’s impossible.”
Mada. Flambard was right. Somehow Black didn't think he would let Liene say something like that, and he was right.
“I bet you were told to lie down.”
...This is what it meant to be tied up in one’s own lies. To say that it was awkward was an understatement. There was a lot to do today. Of course, Liene wanted to help with the changing of the sheets, but she also had to go to the temple.
“If necessary, I will do so.”
“Now is the time. Just stay still until the medicine arrives.”
“I have a lot to do, Lord Tiwakan.”
“And you're not single either.”
“..”
That made her feel even more trapped. Madame Flambard, who had been cautiously looking between the two of them, secretly took Liene’s hand out of her sleeve.
“I’ll do it myself, Princess. How can I help with laundry at this time of year? Please rest.”
“Madam, please don’t do that.”
“I think you shouldn’t do that, Princess... Yes, now is the time to rest.”
Madam Flambard nodded to Black over her shoulder, indicating that if she persisted any longer, he might become suspicious. Liene had to give up at that point.
“Yes... Then, I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be right back, Princess.”
Madam Flambard hurriedly gathered up the sheets and went out.
“If necessary, I will do so.”
“Now is the time. Just stay still until the medicine arrives.”
“I have a lot to do, Lord Tiwakan.”
“And you're not single either.”
“..”
That made her feel even more trapped. Madame Flambard, who had been cautiously looking between the two of them, secretly took Liene’s hand out of her sleeve.
“I’ll do it myself, Princess. How can I help with laundry at this time of year? Please rest.”
“Madam, please don’t do that.”
“I think you shouldn’t do that, Princess... Yes, now is the time to rest.”
Madam Flambard nodded to Black over her shoulder, indicating that if she persisted any longer, he might become suspicious. Liene had to give up at that point.
“Yes... Then, I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be right back, Princess.”
Madam Flambard hurriedly gathered up the sheets and went out.
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