Liene closed her eyes. That moment was the most fulfilling for her. This vast Nauk Castle was not her home, even though she had lived there since she was young. No, even if it was a home, it was too empty. Only when Black came did the empty space fill up. Like a real home.
“I won’t kill him. Not for revenge.”
“How could that be? Your father died right before your eyes. And you had to live for a long time without a name.”
“I want to have more houses. So if I have to give up revenge, it’s easy for me.”
“...No, that’s not true. That... can’t be true.”
“Why not?”
Black chuckled.
“Imagine that the Princess is eight years old. You have nothing, are injured, and can’t stop walking because you feel like someone is chasing you.”
“...”
“If you’re hungry and cold. If you have a fever, shiver, and keep seeing things. What do you need most at that moment?”
Liene couldn't answer. She had never been in a moment like that before.
“I wanted a house from then on. More than anything.”
"...I..."
Liene buried her forehead in Black's chest. She wanted to see his face, but at the same time, she couldn't. She was afraid that he might look like an eight-year-old.
“If I still don’t believe you... what are you going to do?”
“Well... I don’t think it will make much of a difference.”
Black raised his hand and slowly stroked Liene's head. He lowered his head while stroking and pressed his lips to her ear. He spoke softly with his lips pressed to her ear.
“You promised to accept me, didn’t you, Princess?”
“Even if you try hard, you might not be able to protect it.”
“No. I said I couldn’t. From today on, I will go back to that moment. The same goes for you, Princess. You will sleep in the same bed as me and when you open your eyes, you will have to accept the kiss I give you.”
“If I still can’t believe it.”
“I guess I’ll just have to wait. If nothing happens until the Princess lives with me and becomes a grandmother, then I’ll believe it.”
“...”
At those words, she could no longer hold back the tears that were pouring down. Liene wrapped her arms around Black. As if in response, Black hugged Liene’s body tightly. His lips settled on the crown of her head.
“Grandma... You went too far ahead.”
“All humans will grow old.”
“Still... I don’t like imagining things like that already.”
“You know what?”
Black gently rubbed his lips against her hair as they touched her forehead.
“How happy I am every time the Princess dislikes something.”
He told her that he didn't want her to ask him every single question before they kissed. He told her not to imagine herself as a grandmother. Like the complaints of a very hot and loving lover.
“...Me too.”
“I never said I didn’t like something.”
“I know. So... I’m glad.”
That he doesn't hate anything about her. Liene told Black to keep his enemy alive, that she would bear his child, and even though she doubted him and changed her mind every time, he still didn't hate her even once.
“That’s how all sons are. Don’t men consider the place they were born as their home? Don’t they call the place they find on their own feet their home?”
“Is that so?”
Those words made Liene feel strange. The words that she was the most similar to the home he had hoped for were painful and warm. It was like the words that he had finally found his destination after wandering for a long time with his injured and tired body. Because they meant so much...
“I know what you’re talking about. I thought exactly the same thing.”
“Isn't that him?”
“He doesn’t want to lose me by seeking revenge.”
"That..."
“I said I couldn’t allow Kleinfelter to die. If that happens, the other nobles won’t stay still. From that moment on, Nauk will be split in half and go to war.”
“...Then go ahead and speak.”
Madam Flambard who was listening to the story spoke firmly.
“What are you talking about?”
“Said you never had a Klinefelter child.”
“Well...”
“Tell him right now, Princess. Then we will know what his true intentions are. If he were willing to forget his grudge for you, he would be happy that you are not pregnant. Isn’t that right?”
That wasn't a wrong statement.
“On the other hand, if he had any intention of harming the child, his true colors will be revealed.”
“...That’s right.”
But something was weighing on her mind. It was the thought that she had been deceiving that man all this time... Liene wondered if he would feel disappointed or betrayed.
“And that’s right, aside from everything else. If you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you be holding back such a huge grudge? If his love for you was real, the other emotions he would have to hold back would be even more painful. Wouldn’t he have to treat his enemy’s child like his own? Just thinking about it is horrifying.”
“That’s true. I’m doing something really bad to that guy.”
“So please tell him as soon as possible.”
“...Yes. I think that would be better.”
Madam Flambard patted the back of Liene's hand with a relieved expression on her face.
“Yes, please do so. I’m sure you’ll say it was a good thing if you did as I said this time too. I’m sure.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She's a little worried... but it's right to say it. Liene has to say it. That man is doing something that not just anyone can do. Even if he's okay, it can't be easy.
“Princess. Why are you taking out another blanket?”
Madam Flambard who was helping to make the bed asked with a puzzled look. It was a very awkward question.
“That’s... we decided to share a bed starting today.”
"Yes?"
“It’s complicated to explain everything... That’s not all I mean... There are some circumstances.”
It was impossible to make him understand all the promises involved here. Rather than being embarrassed, it was because it was a tower of emotions built one square at a time with Black. It was impossible to suddenly point to the top and ask someone who hadn't looked closely from the bottom to understand.
“Lord Tiwakan will never spare my body. You need not worry about that, Madam.”
“No, that’s not what I said.”
Madam Flambard shook her head excitedly.
“How could I nag you about the bed issue when your wedding date has already arrived? That’s not what I meant. The Princess is currently in a state of shock, so it would be better for you to avoid sleeping.”
"Ah..."
Liene wrinkled her nose at the unexpected problem.
“I forgot. My stomach doesn’t hurt because of the medicine.”
“Oh my, that’s so.”
“What should I do?”
The woman thought for a moment and then nodded.
“It’s a good thing. You’re just telling him everything today. It’s not that you’re pregnant, it’s that you’re due on the period.”
“Ah... I guess that’s right.”
I don't think I'm mentally ready yet. But I shouldn't put it off any longer... right?
Her trembling hands grabbed the hem of Black’s clothes.
“But... is it okay?”
“I may. If the Princess wishes.”
“Even if I wanted to... I’m not qualified. I... still can’t allow it. Killing Klinefelter. That’s absolutely... on this earth.”
“But... is it okay?”
“I may. If the Princess wishes.”
“Even if I wanted to... I’m not qualified. I... still can’t allow it. Killing Klinefelter. That’s absolutely... on this earth.”
“I won’t kill him. Not for revenge.”
“How could that be? Your father died right before your eyes. And you had to live for a long time without a name.”
“I want to have more houses. So if I have to give up revenge, it’s easy for me.”
“...No, that’s not true. That... can’t be true.”
“Why not?”
Black chuckled.
“Imagine that the Princess is eight years old. You have nothing, are injured, and can’t stop walking because you feel like someone is chasing you.”
“...”
“If you’re hungry and cold. If you have a fever, shiver, and keep seeing things. What do you need most at that moment?”
Liene couldn't answer. She had never been in a moment like that before.
“I wanted a house from then on. More than anything.”
"...I..."
Liene buried her forehead in Black's chest. She wanted to see his face, but at the same time, she couldn't. She was afraid that he might look like an eight-year-old.
“If I still don’t believe you... what are you going to do?”
“Well... I don’t think it will make much of a difference.”
Black raised his hand and slowly stroked Liene's head. He lowered his head while stroking and pressed his lips to her ear. He spoke softly with his lips pressed to her ear.
“You promised to accept me, didn’t you, Princess?”
“Even if you try hard, you might not be able to protect it.”
“No. I said I couldn’t. From today on, I will go back to that moment. The same goes for you, Princess. You will sleep in the same bed as me and when you open your eyes, you will have to accept the kiss I give you.”
“If I still can’t believe it.”
“I guess I’ll just have to wait. If nothing happens until the Princess lives with me and becomes a grandmother, then I’ll believe it.”
“...”
At those words, she could no longer hold back the tears that were pouring down. Liene wrapped her arms around Black. As if in response, Black hugged Liene’s body tightly. His lips settled on the crown of her head.
“Grandma... You went too far ahead.”
“All humans will grow old.”
“Still... I don’t like imagining things like that already.”
“You know what?”
Black gently rubbed his lips against her hair as they touched her forehead.
“How happy I am every time the Princess dislikes something.”
He told her that he didn't want her to ask him every single question before they kissed. He told her not to imagine herself as a grandmother. Like the complaints of a very hot and loving lover.
“...Me too.”
“I never said I didn’t like something.”
“I know. So... I’m glad.”
That he doesn't hate anything about her. Liene told Black to keep his enemy alive, that she would bear his child, and even though she doubted him and changed her mind every time, he still didn't hate her even once.
It's shameless, but Liene is so happy about that. Black seemed to understand the words Liene had swallowed inside. If not, he wouldn't have suddenly pulled his face away and swallowed Liene's lips without warning. The kiss that started with their lips was terrifyingly sweet.
“It was good that I listened to Madam.”
Liene took her hands off the hem of the wedding dress that Black was going to wear. She had to fix the hem, so she had to embroider it tightly underneath, and since Madam Flambard insisted on using silver thread, she had to spend quite a bit. However, when the embroidery was finished, it was surprisingly well-made.
***
“It was good that I listened to Madam.”
Liene took her hands off the hem of the wedding dress that Black was going to wear. She had to fix the hem, so she had to embroider it tightly underneath, and since Madam Flambard insisted on using silver thread, she had to spend quite a bit. However, when the embroidery was finished, it was surprisingly well-made.
“But I’m better at embroidery than you, Princess. Anyway, you did a good job.”
“That’s great.”
A blush briefly appeared on her cheeks as she imagined Black in formal attire.
“Did anything good happen, Princess?”
“Uh, yes?”
Her thoughts scattered, Liene looked back at Madam Flambard with a bewildered expression.
“Is this a good thing? Why all of a sudden?”
“Your complexion has changed completely. It’s completely different from this morning.”
"Ah..."
Liene feels embarrassed... Is that how it looks?
“That’s... the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
“No, Princess. Was there a misunderstanding?”
Judging by the way Madam Flambard's complexion changed immediately, she must have mistaken the target.
“No. It wasn’t Madam... It was Lord Tiwakan.”
“Ah...? Oh, is that so? No, wait. Wait a minute. Then the misunderstanding that it was resolved...”
"Yes."
Liene looked away slightly with an embarrassed smile.
“Lord Tiwakan has no intention of revenge. I didn’t believe that, but he explained it to me enough to convince me.”
“Is that true? No, but can you really believe something so incredible... just by hearing it?”
“That’s why he kept it a secret. I couldn’t believe it just by hearing it.”
“Oh, so that’s what happened. So did the old man who you called into the castle tell you something that might be of help?”
"That..."
When she thought of the old man, there was still something that was a bit off. It was the Arsak family, not the Kleinfelter family, who had been pointed out as the ones who would shed blood because of revenge. The old man said it was because of the drought, but that felt like an excuse. However, if she thought about it coldly, it seemed like someone who was begging because he was sick couldn’t possibly know the details of what the Kleinfelter family had done. The old man only knew that the Henton family had been murdered by chance and that their young son had run away. He could have been a relative or acquaintance of the Henton family. There were plenty of people who couldn’t forget their own terrible past and blamed others.
“Yes. I remembered the old name of Lord Tiwakan.”
“Oh, my goodness. So he really was from Nauk?”
"Yes."
“Then there was talk of an engagement with the Princess...”
“I don’t think that was an official conversation. It probably wasn’t a family with that much prestige. I think he was hoping for an engagement... Hmm. Maybe that’s why he incurred Klinefelter’s resentment.”
“Yes? You said Klinefelter?”
“It seems like Klinefelter did what he did to get rid of the Henton family.”
“Henton...?”
“Yes. It is the family of Lord Tiwakan. Do you know it?”
“No... He looks strangely familiar, but I don’t remember anything about him. Henton... I wonder if my son would know. He’s been memorizing things since he was little.”
“Oh, you said he's in the Sharka Kingdom now?”
“Yes. He is studying there. He said he would become a scholar and do some research with royal support. He doesn’t even dream of returning to Nauk now. I think my son probably intends to die as a citizen of the Kingdom of Sharka.”
“I'm going to miss... Very much.”
“That’s great.”
A blush briefly appeared on her cheeks as she imagined Black in formal attire.
“Did anything good happen, Princess?”
“Uh, yes?”
Her thoughts scattered, Liene looked back at Madam Flambard with a bewildered expression.
“Is this a good thing? Why all of a sudden?”
“Your complexion has changed completely. It’s completely different from this morning.”
"Ah..."
Liene feels embarrassed... Is that how it looks?
“That’s... the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
“No, Princess. Was there a misunderstanding?”
Judging by the way Madam Flambard's complexion changed immediately, she must have mistaken the target.
“No. It wasn’t Madam... It was Lord Tiwakan.”
“Ah...? Oh, is that so? No, wait. Wait a minute. Then the misunderstanding that it was resolved...”
"Yes."
Liene looked away slightly with an embarrassed smile.
“Lord Tiwakan has no intention of revenge. I didn’t believe that, but he explained it to me enough to convince me.”
“Is that true? No, but can you really believe something so incredible... just by hearing it?”
“That’s why he kept it a secret. I couldn’t believe it just by hearing it.”
“Oh, so that’s what happened. So did the old man who you called into the castle tell you something that might be of help?”
"That..."
When she thought of the old man, there was still something that was a bit off. It was the Arsak family, not the Kleinfelter family, who had been pointed out as the ones who would shed blood because of revenge. The old man said it was because of the drought, but that felt like an excuse. However, if she thought about it coldly, it seemed like someone who was begging because he was sick couldn’t possibly know the details of what the Kleinfelter family had done. The old man only knew that the Henton family had been murdered by chance and that their young son had run away. He could have been a relative or acquaintance of the Henton family. There were plenty of people who couldn’t forget their own terrible past and blamed others.
“Yes. I remembered the old name of Lord Tiwakan.”
“Oh, my goodness. So he really was from Nauk?”
"Yes."
“Then there was talk of an engagement with the Princess...”
“I don’t think that was an official conversation. It probably wasn’t a family with that much prestige. I think he was hoping for an engagement... Hmm. Maybe that’s why he incurred Klinefelter’s resentment.”
“Yes? You said Klinefelter?”
“It seems like Klinefelter did what he did to get rid of the Henton family.”
“Henton...?”
“Yes. It is the family of Lord Tiwakan. Do you know it?”
“No... He looks strangely familiar, but I don’t remember anything about him. Henton... I wonder if my son would know. He’s been memorizing things since he was little.”
“Oh, you said he's in the Sharka Kingdom now?”
“Yes. He is studying there. He said he would become a scholar and do some research with royal support. He doesn’t even dream of returning to Nauk now. I think my son probably intends to die as a citizen of the Kingdom of Sharka.”
“I'm going to miss... Very much.”
“That’s how all sons are. Don’t men consider the place they were born as their home? Don’t they call the place they find on their own feet their home?”
“Is that so?”
Those words made Liene feel strange. The words that she was the most similar to the home he had hoped for were painful and warm. It was like the words that he had finally found his destination after wandering for a long time with his injured and tired body. Because they meant so much...
Could that be me?
Liene was just lying to that man the whole time, trying to protect what was hers.
“But, Princess, I don’t understand at all.”
The conversation, which had briefly detoured to talk about Madam's son, returned to its original place.
“If Klinefelter is his enemy, isn’t his intention too obvious? The reason he proposed to the Princess. And the baby... he must know that he is Klinefelter’s bloodline.”
“But, Princess, I don’t understand at all.”
The conversation, which had briefly detoured to talk about Madam's son, returned to its original place.
“If Klinefelter is his enemy, isn’t his intention too obvious? The reason he proposed to the Princess. And the baby... he must know that he is Klinefelter’s bloodline.”
“I know what you’re talking about. I thought exactly the same thing.”
“Isn't that him?”
“He doesn’t want to lose me by seeking revenge.”
"That..."
“I said I couldn’t allow Kleinfelter to die. If that happens, the other nobles won’t stay still. From that moment on, Nauk will be split in half and go to war.”
“...Then go ahead and speak.”
Madam Flambard who was listening to the story spoke firmly.
“What are you talking about?”
“Said you never had a Klinefelter child.”
“Well...”
“Tell him right now, Princess. Then we will know what his true intentions are. If he were willing to forget his grudge for you, he would be happy that you are not pregnant. Isn’t that right?”
That wasn't a wrong statement.
“On the other hand, if he had any intention of harming the child, his true colors will be revealed.”
“...That’s right.”
But something was weighing on her mind. It was the thought that she had been deceiving that man all this time... Liene wondered if he would feel disappointed or betrayed.
“And that’s right, aside from everything else. If you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you be holding back such a huge grudge? If his love for you was real, the other emotions he would have to hold back would be even more painful. Wouldn’t he have to treat his enemy’s child like his own? Just thinking about it is horrifying.”
“That’s true. I’m doing something really bad to that guy.”
“So please tell him as soon as possible.”
“...Yes. I think that would be better.”
Madam Flambard patted the back of Liene's hand with a relieved expression on her face.
“Yes, please do so. I’m sure you’ll say it was a good thing if you did as I said this time too. I’m sure.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She's a little worried... but it's right to say it. Liene has to say it. That man is doing something that not just anyone can do. Even if he's okay, it can't be easy.
Liene nodded again as if making a promise. Madame Flambard and Liene wrapped the formal attire they had fixed up until late in the night in a clean cloth and put it away in the closet, preparing to face the night.
***
“Princess. Why are you taking out another blanket?”
Madam Flambard who was helping to make the bed asked with a puzzled look. It was a very awkward question.
“That’s... we decided to share a bed starting today.”
"Yes?"
“It’s complicated to explain everything... That’s not all I mean... There are some circumstances.”
It was impossible to make him understand all the promises involved here. Rather than being embarrassed, it was because it was a tower of emotions built one square at a time with Black. It was impossible to suddenly point to the top and ask someone who hadn't looked closely from the bottom to understand.
“Lord Tiwakan will never spare my body. You need not worry about that, Madam.”
“No, that’s not what I said.”
Madam Flambard shook her head excitedly.
“How could I nag you about the bed issue when your wedding date has already arrived? That’s not what I meant. The Princess is currently in a state of shock, so it would be better for you to avoid sleeping.”
"Ah..."
Liene wrinkled her nose at the unexpected problem.
“I forgot. My stomach doesn’t hurt because of the medicine.”
“Oh my, that’s so.”
“What should I do?”
The woman thought for a moment and then nodded.
“It’s a good thing. You’re just telling him everything today. It’s not that you’re pregnant, it’s that you’re due on the period.”
“Ah... I guess that’s right.”
I don't think I'm mentally ready yet. But I shouldn't put it off any longer... right?
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