Liene would have told the truth.
Knock knock!
If only a voice hadn't called out to them urgently at that moment.
“My lord! Are you there? I’m sorry, but this is urgent!”
“...”
Black quickly got up, muttering something that Liene couldn't understand. Judging by his unpleasant expression, it seemed like it was close to a curse.
"For a moment."
Black walked towards the bedroom door with his robe open. Something must have happened. Liene couldn't stay still either, so she pulled back the blanket and got up.
“What’s going on?”
Black opened the bedroom door himself. The thud, a nervous noise, was unusually loud. The mercenary who faced Black swallowed once but quickly said what he wanted to say.
“My lord! Are you there? I’m sorry, but this is urgent!”
“...”
Black quickly got up, muttering something that Liene couldn't understand. Judging by his unpleasant expression, it seemed like it was close to a curse.
"For a moment."
Black walked towards the bedroom door with his robe open. Something must have happened. Liene couldn't stay still either, so she pulled back the blanket and got up.
“What’s going on?”
Black opened the bedroom door himself. The thud, a nervous noise, was unusually loud. The mercenary who faced Black swallowed once but quickly said what he wanted to say.
“There is a fire.”
"...What?"
“What did you say?”
Liene was even more surprised. Her complexion turned extremely pale.
“Fire... Oh my god.”
In Nauk, where drought is a constant concern, fire was the most terrible disaster.
“Where are you going? Take the lead.”
Liene forgot everything that had happened just a moment ago. She pushed Black aside and tried to leave the bedroom.
"Princess."
Black quickly grabbed Liene's shoulder and stopped her.
"...What?"
“What did you say?”
Liene was even more surprised. Her complexion turned extremely pale.
“Fire... Oh my god.”
In Nauk, where drought is a constant concern, fire was the most terrible disaster.
“Where are you going? Take the lead.”
Liene forgot everything that had happened just a moment ago. She pushed Black aside and tried to leave the bedroom.
"Princess."
Black quickly grabbed Liene's shoulder and stopped her.
“Stay here. I’ll go.”
“No, I have to go... Let’s go together. No fire. No fire this season...”
Black touched her face, which had turned as pale as the moon in an instant, with a look of pity.
“You can’t do this while pregnant. Wait.”
“We have to get at least one more person to go. We have to wake up everyone in the castle..."
“There is no smoke or smell here. We don’t know how serious it is yet. Go and check and I will send someone to let you know soon, so don’t worry...”
As Black spoke, a loud noise of footsteps approached, piercing his ears.
“My lord! You just happened to be here...! The fire is serious.”
“No, I have to go... Let’s go together. No fire. No fire this season...”
Black touched her face, which had turned as pale as the moon in an instant, with a look of pity.
“You can’t do this while pregnant. Wait.”
“We have to get at least one more person to go. We have to wake up everyone in the castle..."
“There is no smoke or smell here. We don’t know how serious it is yet. Go and check and I will send someone to let you know soon, so don’t worry...”
As Black spoke, a loud noise of footsteps approached, piercing his ears.
“My lord! You just happened to be here...! The fire is serious.”
The mercenary who arrived one step later exhaled quickly, holding his breath.
“It seems like someone is doing it on purpose since it happens sporadically here and there.”
"No!"
Liene screamed. The fire was terrible, but who would do something like that on purpose? It was no different from a curse.
“Please let this go.”
Liene frantically pushed Black's hand away.
“Do the guards know there’s a fire? How much water is left in the castle?”
“All the guards on guard duty have turned off their lights. We are in the process of notifying the rest.”
“Where was the fire the biggest?”
“The kitchen is where it all started. So I didn’t think it was done on purpose, but rather that someone had accidentally left the fire in the stove...”
“That’s enough, Princess.”
As the atmosphere became one where reports were being made one after another, Black cut him off.
“Come in.”
“What do you mean! I...”
"No!"
Liene screamed. The fire was terrible, but who would do something like that on purpose? It was no different from a curse.
“Please let this go.”
Liene frantically pushed Black's hand away.
“Do the guards know there’s a fire? How much water is left in the castle?”
“All the guards on guard duty have turned off their lights. We are in the process of notifying the rest.”
“Where was the fire the biggest?”
“The kitchen is where it all started. So I didn’t think it was done on purpose, but rather that someone had accidentally left the fire in the stove...”
“That’s enough, Princess.”
As the atmosphere became one where reports were being made one after another, Black cut him off.
“Come in.”
“What do you mean! I...”
“I cannot guarantee the Princess’s safety in this situation. I cannot block the smoke.”
“That’s nonsense. I know that...”
“That body won’t be of any help.”
Black cut off Liene's words with a cold tone and pushed her body into the bedroom.
“Ugh, don’t do that...”
Her body was pushed away with such ease that her resistance was meaningless. Black slammed the door shut without another word.
“One of you stays and guards the princess. You lead the way. Where can I see the entire castle at a glance?”
“The adjutant said it was the north tower. He is there now.”
Black turned around without even having time to reply.
Black turned around without even having time to reply.
***
Thump, thump!
“Open the door!”
Liene pounded on the bedroom door with all her might. She couldn't open the door with her body blocking it from the outside with her own strength.
“What are you planning to do by locking me up! Get out of the way right now!”
“No, I... My lord is right. Inhaling smoke is harmful. To the baby...”
“That’s not it!”
Bang!
“Open the door!”
Liene pounded on the bedroom door with all her might. She couldn't open the door with her body blocking it from the outside with her own strength.
“What are you planning to do by locking me up! Get out of the way right now!”
“No, I... My lord is right. Inhaling smoke is harmful. To the baby...”
“That’s not it!”
Bang!
Her hand went cold as she poured her emotions into her fist. Liene covered her reddened fist with her other hand and exhaled deeply.
“How can I open it for you?”
“How can I open it for you?”
“Don’t even dream about it. I can’t do it unless my lord himself tells me to.”
“...”
They were that kind of people. So what should I do? Should I open the window and go out? There's a step, so I'll just move somehow and get to the balcony...
“...Will that work?”
Liene, who had been imagining absurd things, collapsed in a state of emptiness. The feeling was just too strange.
“Is it okay for me to just sit like this...?”
“...”
They were that kind of people. So what should I do? Should I open the window and go out? There's a step, so I'll just move somehow and get to the balcony...
“...Will that work?”
Liene, who had been imagining absurd things, collapsed in a state of emptiness. The feeling was just too strange.
“Is it okay for me to just sit like this...?”
How could this be possible? Everything in the castle of Nauk had been Liene's responsibility. Whether it was the rats in the old castle, or the little things like chewing ropes or tearing grain sacks, Liene had to think of the solution. There were too few workers for the castle's size, and there weren't many residents. It had become a habit to step forward rather than keep the people who were already busy with their own work busy with another task. Besides, Liene was always the one taking responsibility. She wasn't the one who sat back and received protection.
“...It’s strange. It keeps...”
...I think I’ll get used to it.
Ever since Black set foot in Nauk, Liene had been feeling the same way. Whenever something difficult or hard happened, Black would come to her as a gift and give her a solution.
“This is a bit...”
Isn't it dangerous? Was I the type to leave things to others like this? ...No, that's not true.
“This is a bit...”
Isn't it dangerous? Was I the type to leave things to others like this? ...No, that's not true.
She's never done that. So it's his fault. It's because he's the man. It felt like he had found a void inside her and clicked into place. Liene, who was sitting on the floor, lightly placed her hand on her chest. As if that was where Black had clicked into place.
“Why do we break up...”
“Why do we break up...”
She thought she knew what it meant to feel like her heart was being ripped out. Because this much was disappearing. On the other hand, it also meant that Black had firmly established itself in her heart. There is such a thing... A poet would have given this feeling a more plausible name.
“..."
Liene, who was sitting there thinking about Black, gave up on going outside. She trusted Black. There was no danger to her in the castle where he was.
“Let's go back to bed.”
It'll be okay. If the situation gets dangerous, He'll come and let her know. That was the moment when Liene, who had been worried, got up and turned her back.
“...?”
Liene saw a very strange sight. In Black's bedroom, where no one was sleeping and the lights were turned off, someone was standing silently and watching her.
"Who...!"
He appeared out of nowhere and covered Liene's mouth with a movement so fast it was unbelievable.
“...!”
Liene twisted her body with all her might to resist. But her opponent was too fast and too skilled. He pressed the artery under her chin precisely and waited for Liene to lose consciousness.
“...”
Liene struggled with all her might, but she couldn't make a sound. With her mouth blocked and her arteries compressed, she quickly lost consciousness.
“...”
Finally, her eyes closed. He appeared without a sound and silently carried the unconscious Liene on his back. The black clothes he was wearing gave off the pungent smell of fire and ash at the same time. Next, he headed to the room that had lost its identity, located between Black and Liene’s bedroom. In one corner of the room was a cylindrical iron fireplace that had been left unsold. The fireplace, which looked like a round pillar as the ceiling was high, was very large. He opened the fireplace door without a sound and strode inside.
Creak.
The door was pulled open from the inside with minimal noise. He lowered the latch using the string he had tied in advance. The thin string that was barely noticeable at first glance was actually hair. When he struck the tip of the hair with a flint and lit it, the hair quickly burned. Hair left behind not even a trace of ash, except for a slight smell. Moreover, the smell quickly disappeared. Then, the room was as if nothing had happened, without a single trace.
***
"...Ugh...?"
Her head felt hazy as if there was fog. Liene forced herself to pull herself up, feeling her mind sinking heavily.
How did I...? Why...?
“You don’t have to struggle to get up.”
“...?”
“Because there is plenty of time.”
“...!”
She remembered whose voice it was.
“You...!”
Liene jumped up. It wasn't easy because her wrists and feet were tied.
“Klima!”
He was right before my eyes, having committed the crime of murdering the high priest and was on the run.
“What are you doing! Why are you doing this to me...!”
“You don’t have to struggle to get up.”
“...?”
“Because there is plenty of time.”
“...!”
She remembered whose voice it was.
“You...!”
Liene jumped up. It wasn't easy because her wrists and feet were tied.
“Klima!”
He was right before my eyes, having committed the crime of murdering the high priest and was on the run.
“What are you doing! Why are you doing this to me...!”
"Sorry."
In this dark and gloomy place, Klima's voice did not sound frightening, but rather sad, like the sound of rain.
In this dark and gloomy place, Klima's voice did not sound frightening, but rather sad, like the sound of rain.
“I have received the order.”
“Orders? To whom... Could it be that Klinefelter gave the order? How could he do that when he’s in prison!”
“I’m sorry. I was ordered to do so, so I can’t do anything about it.”
“What the hell is he... No, let me go. Quickly. No order takes precedence over mine in Nauk.”
“Orders? To whom... Could it be that Klinefelter gave the order? How could he do that when he’s in prison!”
“I’m sorry. I was ordered to do so, so I can’t do anything about it.”
“What the hell is he... No, let me go. Quickly. No order takes precedence over mine in Nauk.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t. I can’t help it.”
In the darkness, Klima shook hia head from side to side. Liene recognized the water droplets reflecting in the faint moonlight.
“...”
Klima was crying. It was absurd, but he didn’t look like a murderer, sobbing with his shoulders rounded. Liene let out a sigh and forced herself to calm down. A bad person... No. He must be crying now because of guilt. Like that prayer of atonement. He’s someone who hurts others so much that he hurts himself. He needs to come to his senses and talk. She needs to change his mind. There must be a reason why Klinefelter can control him. She just needs to figure it out.
“Was it also Klinefelter’s orders that you killed the high priest?”
“...Yes.”
Liene thought he might deny it, but surprisingly, Klima nodded obediently. Maybe he wanted to confess his sins to someone rather than to a god who had no answers.
“What did you make me do again?”
“...High Priest...”
“You just said that you killed High Priest Milod.”
“High Priest Motiya...”
“What the...! ...Ha.”
Liene held back a scream that was about to burst out and let out a sigh instead. Where on earth was that human doing? He had killed two high priests. There might have been something like that before. She thought she knew why Klinefelter was so arrogant and presumptuous. He could even kill and grind high priests if he wanted to, so he probably had nothing to fear. Liene wondered if the crown she had inherited was nothing more than a jeweled headdress in Klinefelter’s eyes.
“And what else? Did you kill anyone else?”
"...Yes."
"How much?"
"...thirteen."
Klima recited the exact number while swallowing his tears. It also meant that he was always bearing the brunt of his sins.
“If I include the Princess, it becomes fourteen.”
“...”
Those words couldn't help but give Liene goosebumps.
“Are he telling you to... kill... me?”
"No."
“Did Klinefelter tell you to... kill me?”
"No."
Klima wiped the tears from her cheeks. But it was no use. His eyes soon filled with tears again.
"Crazy..."
It was so horrible that it made Liene stomach churn. She couldn't believe that he dared order such a thing for the ruler of a country, but the reason he ordered it was also too evil.
In the darkness, Klima shook hia head from side to side. Liene recognized the water droplets reflecting in the faint moonlight.
“...”
Klima was crying. It was absurd, but he didn’t look like a murderer, sobbing with his shoulders rounded. Liene let out a sigh and forced herself to calm down. A bad person... No. He must be crying now because of guilt. Like that prayer of atonement. He’s someone who hurts others so much that he hurts himself. He needs to come to his senses and talk. She needs to change his mind. There must be a reason why Klinefelter can control him. She just needs to figure it out.
“Was it also Klinefelter’s orders that you killed the high priest?”
“...Yes.”
Liene thought he might deny it, but surprisingly, Klima nodded obediently. Maybe he wanted to confess his sins to someone rather than to a god who had no answers.
“What did you make me do again?”
“...High Priest...”
“You just said that you killed High Priest Milod.”
“High Priest Motiya...”
“What the...! ...Ha.”
Liene held back a scream that was about to burst out and let out a sigh instead. Where on earth was that human doing? He had killed two high priests. There might have been something like that before. She thought she knew why Klinefelter was so arrogant and presumptuous. He could even kill and grind high priests if he wanted to, so he probably had nothing to fear. Liene wondered if the crown she had inherited was nothing more than a jeweled headdress in Klinefelter’s eyes.
“And what else? Did you kill anyone else?”
"...Yes."
"How much?"
"...thirteen."
Klima recited the exact number while swallowing his tears. It also meant that he was always bearing the brunt of his sins.
“If I include the Princess, it becomes fourteen.”
“...”
Those words couldn't help but give Liene goosebumps.
“Are he telling you to... kill... me?”
"No."
“Did Klinefelter tell you to... kill me?”
"No."
Klima wiped the tears from her cheeks. But it was no use. His eyes soon filled with tears again.
“Catch her, swear at her, and then put her back... where everyone can see.”
It was so horrible that it made Liene stomach churn. She couldn't believe that he dared order such a thing for the ruler of a country, but the reason he ordered it was also too evil.
He didn't want to... kill me, he wanted to destroy me. He wanted to... separate that man.
It was so vicious and poisonous. Liene couldn't believe that Klinefelter, who thought like that, was a human like her.
“My lord.”
“My lord.”
Liene clenched her bound hands into fists to suppress her anger for a moment.
You can be angry later. After you get back safely.
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