“Is it okay to look at?”
“How many times have I told you this? You look good, Princess.”
"Yes."
Liene barely managed to tear her eyes away from the mirror. This was probably the first time she had looked into a mirror for so long. Madame Flambard smiled to herself, saying that Liene, who had been so plain in her appearance that she had almost seemed indifferent, now looked like a woman of her own age.
“Then you should go now. You’ve made him wait too long. Well, if you’re going to make him suffer, that’s fine.”
Today, they decided to have the breakfast they couldn’t have that day. After that, they were all busy. Liene had to meet the jeweler and the draper, and then she had to help make a new wedding dress. Madame Flambard had to put aside all her other busy work and focus on the wedding dress. They used people for things like embroidery, but the overall shape and the right accessories all had to be done by the lady. And Liene had to make a new title. She needed a new title for the Princess’s husband and co-ruler of Nauk. She couldn’t give him the name Gainers, but she wanted to give him a name that was just as good. A name that would become the new royal family of Nauk. She had to give him a new title and a mansion and land, and Liene was willing to spend all her remaining wealth to get it.
“Oh, I see. I think he’s already waiting. Let’s go then.”
“Yes, let’s do that. I’ll walk you to the front of the restaurant.”
It didn't take long to get to the restaurant.
***
“You’re already here.”
It seemed to be late. The moment Liene entered the restaurant, she noticed Black standing up. Before she could tell him to sit down, he passed the table and came to the door.
“I'm late.”
"It's okay."
He smiled brightly, looking at her face, which was much different than in the morning.
“Aren’t you going to the market?”
“Um... I guess so.”
“That’s good.”
The table was already fully prepared. Liene was surprised to see the flowers and gold candlesticks decorating the table.
“Where did these come from? They’re not found in the castle.”
“The flowers have had a hard time.”
In Nauk, it was harder to get fresh flowers than gold. In fact, it was not he who had to suffer but the mercenaries under him, but Black calmly took credit for his subordinates.
“Oh, like that.”
Suddenly, the area under her chest felt warm. Liene patted Black's arm as a sign of gratitude.
“I can see how much trouble you’ve been through. I’m so happy to see the flowers, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them.”
“The hard work was well worth it.”
Black held out his hand. She was escorted from the entrance to the table for a short time. The scent of flowers must be strong. The smell keeps getting sweeter.
“Please sit down.”
Black pulled a chair with his other hand and sat Liene down. The royal table was traditionally divided into seats by rank, and Black seemed to know this.
“I don’t like this seat.”
So, without her knowing, a sweet, flowery scent wafted out. This seat was originally meant to be his. What if he gave it up to her as if it were so obvious...? It was a seat that she couldn’t possibly sit in front of him. Liene quickly stood up from the seat of honor and spoke.
“I’ll sit next to you. That would be nice.”
“It’s strange.”
Black tilted his chin with a smiling face.
“What is it?”
Liene moved her seat to the side and tried to pull out the chair next to where Black had been sitting.
“It doesn’t sound like you want to sit next to me that much.”
But Black was faster. He naturally placed his hand over Liene's and moved the chair.
“I think there must be another reason.”
...I really don’t think lying will work on this man.
“Why do you think not?”
He couldn't shamelessly sit at the top table, but if he had to be picky, it would have been better for Liene to sit next to him.
“Well...is it too good to be true?”
"Yes?"
“I’m still a little thirsty.”
After Black sat down Liene, he pushed the chair back in and sat down next to her. Liene waited for him to finish sitting down before unfolding her napkin.
“Please tilt your head over here. Being thirsty doesn’t mean you want to drink water, right?”
Black did as Liene said without thinking and smiled slightly when he saw the napkin hanging around his neck.
"No."
“So what exactly do you mean? I think I know, but I’d still like to hear it.”
“Something like this.”
Black held Liene's hand as she pushed the napkin into his collar and fluffed it up neatly in royal etiquette.
“I don’t really believe it.”
“This is... a very trivial matter.”
“Because it’s trivial.”
Black turned his chin toward Liene's hands. The tip of his tongue brushed past his fingers. In that brief moment, Liene opened her mouth and let out a small gasp. Isn't this a bit... too much? This man is unnecessarily provocative. He shouldn't be doing this even in front of the dinner table.
“I can’t believe something like this has been given to me.”
Black whispered, slowly kissing the spot where his tongue had just touched. Liene couldn't believe it either. She wanted to hug him even while eating.
“I think you forgot.”
Liene muttered towards Black's eyelashes that were gently closing while kissing him.
The table was already fully prepared. Liene was surprised to see the flowers and gold candlesticks decorating the table.
“Where did these come from? They’re not found in the castle.”
“The flowers have had a hard time.”
In Nauk, it was harder to get fresh flowers than gold. In fact, it was not he who had to suffer but the mercenaries under him, but Black calmly took credit for his subordinates.
“Oh, like that.”
Suddenly, the area under her chest felt warm. Liene patted Black's arm as a sign of gratitude.
“I can see how much trouble you’ve been through. I’m so happy to see the flowers, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them.”
“The hard work was well worth it.”
Black held out his hand. She was escorted from the entrance to the table for a short time. The scent of flowers must be strong. The smell keeps getting sweeter.
“Please sit down.”
Black pulled a chair with his other hand and sat Liene down. The royal table was traditionally divided into seats by rank, and Black seemed to know this.
“I don’t like this seat.”
So, without her knowing, a sweet, flowery scent wafted out. This seat was originally meant to be his. What if he gave it up to her as if it were so obvious...? It was a seat that she couldn’t possibly sit in front of him. Liene quickly stood up from the seat of honor and spoke.
“I’ll sit next to you. That would be nice.”
“It’s strange.”
Black tilted his chin with a smiling face.
“What is it?”
Liene moved her seat to the side and tried to pull out the chair next to where Black had been sitting.
“It doesn’t sound like you want to sit next to me that much.”
But Black was faster. He naturally placed his hand over Liene's and moved the chair.
“I think there must be another reason.”
...I really don’t think lying will work on this man.
“Why do you think not?”
He couldn't shamelessly sit at the top table, but if he had to be picky, it would have been better for Liene to sit next to him.
“Well...is it too good to be true?”
"Yes?"
“I’m still a little thirsty.”
After Black sat down Liene, he pushed the chair back in and sat down next to her. Liene waited for him to finish sitting down before unfolding her napkin.
“Please tilt your head over here. Being thirsty doesn’t mean you want to drink water, right?”
Black did as Liene said without thinking and smiled slightly when he saw the napkin hanging around his neck.
"No."
“So what exactly do you mean? I think I know, but I’d still like to hear it.”
“Something like this.”
Black held Liene's hand as she pushed the napkin into his collar and fluffed it up neatly in royal etiquette.
“I don’t really believe it.”
“This is... a very trivial matter.”
“Because it’s trivial.”
Black turned his chin toward Liene's hands. The tip of his tongue brushed past his fingers. In that brief moment, Liene opened her mouth and let out a small gasp. Isn't this a bit... too much? This man is unnecessarily provocative. He shouldn't be doing this even in front of the dinner table.
“I can’t believe something like this has been given to me.”
Black whispered, slowly kissing the spot where his tongue had just touched. Liene couldn't believe it either. She wanted to hug him even while eating.
“I think you forgot.”
Liene muttered towards Black's eyelashes that were gently closing while kissing him.
“We’re going to be a bit busy today.”
“I know.”
“I know.”
“But if you do this... the mealtime might become too long.”
“Why is it getting longer?”
"Yes?"
The reaction was a bit unexpected.
“Of course it won’t get longer, right?”
"Why?"
Why?
“That’s why we slept late this morning, too. It was the same back then...”
“That’s because you can’t stop kissing.”
“That’s why.”
“...”
Black smiled silently, his lips widening.
“Did you mean let’s kiss here?”
“That’s... yes?”
“It’s too much. So it’s natural for me not to believe it.”
Black pulled the chair that Liene was sitting on. The seat next to him, which wasn't that far away, got closer, but he must have thought that it was too far because he lifted Liene up from the chair and sat her on his lap.
“Hey, I’m surprised.”
Liene wrapped her arms around his neck in surprise.
“There’s no need for that. I won’t drop the Princess.”
He wrapped his arms around the back of Liene's head. Their lips overlapped as if it were a signal. Even before he said that he would not let her go, Liene did not feel anxious. Black's embrace was the safest and most secure place for her.
“I think what the Princess said is right.”
Black muttered with his eyes darker than usual, letting go of his lips for a moment to catch his breath.
“I think the meal will be long.”
“Look at that...”
“It can’t be like this every day...”
And the kiss continued well. Black’s lower lip parting hers was the beginning of the kiss and a spell to clear his mind.
“Why is it getting longer?”
"Yes?"
The reaction was a bit unexpected.
“Of course it won’t get longer, right?”
"Why?"
Why?
“That’s why we slept late this morning, too. It was the same back then...”
“That’s because you can’t stop kissing.”
“That’s why.”
“...”
Black smiled silently, his lips widening.
“Did you mean let’s kiss here?”
“That’s... yes?”
“It’s too much. So it’s natural for me not to believe it.”
Black pulled the chair that Liene was sitting on. The seat next to him, which wasn't that far away, got closer, but he must have thought that it was too far because he lifted Liene up from the chair and sat her on his lap.
“Hey, I’m surprised.”
Liene wrapped her arms around his neck in surprise.
“There’s no need for that. I won’t drop the Princess.”
He wrapped his arms around the back of Liene's head. Their lips overlapped as if it were a signal. Even before he said that he would not let her go, Liene did not feel anxious. Black's embrace was the safest and most secure place for her.
“I think what the Princess said is right.”
Black muttered with his eyes darker than usual, letting go of his lips for a moment to catch his breath.
“I think the meal will be long.”
“Look at that...”
“It can’t be like this every day...”
And the kiss continued well. Black’s lower lip parting hers was the beginning of the kiss and a spell to clear his mind.
This... This won’t do. There’s so much to do. I have to make a new wedding dress quickly. And the proclamation... Ah.
All of that had disappeared somewhere far away. Liene continued kissing Black while absentmindedly caressing his face. Every time Liene touched his earlobe or neck, he breathed heavily without fail. The kiss continued until the food that had been served had cooled. If Masam Flambard hadn’t come by, saying the meal was taking too long, it would have taken even longer.
***
“Ah... No, I should go to the North Tower.”
Half of the busy day had passed. The jeweler bought his mother’s sapphire necklace at an unexpectedly generous price. It was enough to comfort the regret she had felt when selling it. Liene selected the fabric the draper brought and worked with Madame Flambard to decide on the overall design. She was very ambitious about making a better coronation dress than the previous King’s.
After finishing that and ordering Arland to write the investiture, the sun had already set in the middle of the sky. Liene looked at her watch as she considered the legal issues of awarding a new title. It was the perfect time to visit Madame Henton. If she was too early or too late, it would be even more awkward.
Liene headed toward the north tower, holding the basket of cookies that she had told Madame Flambard to prepare in advance. It’s okay if she breaks the cookies. They won’t get stained.
Liene smiled and climbed the tower. The mercenaries guarding the tower bowed their heads whenever their eyes met. Now, it was common to see them in the castle of Nauk. Now, wasn’t this place closer to the man’s home? That momentarily warmed her heart. Oh... The man was now getting his home back. Liene climbed the steep stairs and arrived in front of the room where Madam Henton was staying.
Knock knock.
“Madam, may I come in?”
Then, it seemed as if a commotion was heard from inside, and before long, the door opened with a bang.
"Ah...?"
Liene looked at Klima, who was looking at her with surprised eyes, just as he was looking at her with very surprised eyes.
“You... was here?”
“Yes, yes... The, Princess... no, I... Per... no, no, that person... said that he could come...”
“You don’t have to be so flustered. Oh, I see... I had no idea. Is Madam Henton inside?”
“Madam, may I come in?”
Then, it seemed as if a commotion was heard from inside, and before long, the door opened with a bang.
"Ah...?"
Liene looked at Klima, who was looking at her with surprised eyes, just as he was looking at her with very surprised eyes.
“You... was here?”
“Yes, yes... The, Princess... no, I... Per... no, no, that person... said that he could come...”
“You don’t have to be so flustered. Oh, I see... I had no idea. Is Madam Henton inside?”
"Yes, yes."
Klima quickly stepped aside from the door. He still couldn't meet her eyes properly, remembering what he had tried to do to Liene.
"Ma'am."
Mrs. Henton, who was sitting in a chair in front of a small fireplace, turned her head. Her body moved slightly as if she was conflicted about whether or not to look away.
“It’s okay. Just stay there. I know you’re not in a position to expect courtesy.”
Liene then put the basket down on the table.
“Today, it’s cookies. They’re easy to break, and I think they’ll be easier to clean up. Oh, but that doesn’t mean they’re not tasty. I told the royal chef to put some effort into them, so they won’t be tasteless. Do you like cookies?”
When Liene asked, Klima, who had been standing cautiously in a corner of the room, raised her head.
“Yes? No... No, yes! Well, I’ll eat it! Anything you give me...”
He seemed ready to eat poison even if Liene told him to. It was heartbreaking to see how innocent and blind he was. To make someone like that do such dirty work... Klinefelter was a truly vicious person.
Klima quickly stepped aside from the door. He still couldn't meet her eyes properly, remembering what he had tried to do to Liene.
"Ma'am."
Mrs. Henton, who was sitting in a chair in front of a small fireplace, turned her head. Her body moved slightly as if she was conflicted about whether or not to look away.
“It’s okay. Just stay there. I know you’re not in a position to expect courtesy.”
Liene then put the basket down on the table.
“Today, it’s cookies. They’re easy to break, and I think they’ll be easier to clean up. Oh, but that doesn’t mean they’re not tasty. I told the royal chef to put some effort into them, so they won’t be tasteless. Do you like cookies?”
When Liene asked, Klima, who had been standing cautiously in a corner of the room, raised her head.
“Yes? No... No, yes! Well, I’ll eat it! Anything you give me...”
He seemed ready to eat poison even if Liene told him to. It was heartbreaking to see how innocent and blind he was. To make someone like that do such dirty work... Klinefelter was a truly vicious person.
“Try one, and if it tastes good, eat more. If you don’t feel like it, you don’t have to eat it.”
“Yes, yes... I will definitely do that.”
Klima approached with a strangely solemn expression on his face and held out both hands respectfully.
“You don’t have to force yourself to do anything. Just do what you want to do.”
Liene placed the most delicious baked goods on Klima's palm.
“If you do what you want...”
Klima muttered as he stared at the cookie in his hand, then took a bite. The sound of eating the cookie slowly filled the small room.
“I brought plenty, so there are some things that Madam will break.”
Liene smiled blandly and turned to Mrs. Henton.
“The blankets have been changed. Are they better?”
“...”
“It’ll be a lot better now that Klima is here. This room might be uncomfortable for the two of you, so how about moving?”
“...”
Mrs. Henton opened her lips as if to say something, then closed them again.
“Do whatever you want. Talk to whomever you want. Anyone in the castle is fine.”
“...Did you come here again to say something like that?”
Finally, Mrs. Henton hesitated and spoke.
“I’m being modest. I have things to discuss.”
“What are you doing to someone like me?”
“I mean, changing your name.”
“...Our names? My name and that of the child?”
"Yes."
Liene took a deep breath. It wasn't easy to speak, after all.
“The Kleinfelter family will be settled at this council, but I can’t guarantee that the remaining five families will be settled as well. It would be nice if you could use the name Henton, but if not, how about trying to live under a new name?”
“So... so? A new name?”
“If you want to leave Nauk and live there, that’s fine. I’ll take care of the travel expenses and settlement money.”
“...”
Liene added, watching Mrs. Henton's face harden.
“I don’t mean to throw you out of Nauk. I just don’t think it’s right for you and your son to continue to hide.”
“If I change my name... will it be safe?”
“Let’s change the name and live in the castle. It’s safe here, as Tiwakan is guarding it. I think it’s time for more people to stay in the castle.”
It was different from before, when the royal family was left alone. Even this morning’s breakfast was like that. If there had been someone to serve the meal like when the previous King was there, the food wouldn’t have gotten cold, and she wouldn’t have been doing something else... Not that Liene didn’t like it. Anyway, there was a problem with doing that every day. Now, Nauk Castle would be bustling with people. When Tiwakan settled down, they would meet someone and start a family. And she would give birth to a child who would continue the Gainers family. The child’s wet nurse would naturally be Lady Flambard, but she also needed some help.
“You’re leaving that... to me and my child?”
Mrs. Henton wrinkled her forehead in disbelief.
“Don’t you remember how I lost my second child? Don’t you worry about when I’ll lose my mind and stab you in the back?”
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