"What..."
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Liene, who had discovered Black, ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Black caught Liene, who had been running towards him in surprise, and hugged her.
“Why are you so late?”
“Something was bothering me. So why are you here?”
Black smiled softly into Liene's ear, who was hanging on his shoulder. It was the same as before. He usually seemed calmer than anyone else, but when he was overcome with emotion, he became reckless and honest.
“I was worried, so I tried to pick you up.”
“To Fermos’ bedroom?”
“No, that’s not it...”
Fermos jumped up behind Liene.
“You misunderstand! You misunderstand very, very, very badly!”
Leaving Liene for a moment, his gaze towards Fermos had become sharper.
“Why are you naked?”
“Yes, yes? No, it was just a good time!”
“You should have worn it in front of the Princess. What were you doing?”
“No, I was going to wear it, but the princess stopped me!”
“...?”
Black's eyes quickly returned.
"Princess?"
“Oh, I thought it was an excuse to kick me out. It was because he kept trying to stop me from going out to pick me up.”
“...So you kept looking at it like that?”
“I didn’t really care.”
“...”
Black, who was about to say something, swallowed his words.
“Isn’t there really no reason for me to be here anymore?”
“Yes. Lord Tiwakan has returned safely.”
“Then I guess I should go now.”
Black turned around, lifting Liene. Of course, he didn’t forget to glare at Fermos before that. He even said something with just the shape of his mouth. “See you tomorrow,” he said. Fermos froze, and Liene was startled and patted Black on the back.
“Oh, please let me down! I’ll walk.”
“I saw you barefoot.”
“No, this is... I forgot to wear slippers.”
It sounded like he had been so worried that he had been out of his mind. Liene, who had been overjoyed at the fact that he had returned safely, now felt ashamed.
“Why did it happen like this... I feel a little strange today.”
“I understand.”
“Really?”
“I also often get weird when it comes to Princess.”
He knew in his head. There was no way that Fermos and Liene were related. But the bedroom was empty, and when he heard that Liene had gone to Fermos’s room barefoot, his emotions boiled over. Black couldn’t believe it until the moment he opened the door.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Liene, who had discovered Black, ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Black caught Liene, who had been running towards him in surprise, and hugged her.
“Why are you so late?”
“Something was bothering me. So why are you here?”
Black smiled softly into Liene's ear, who was hanging on his shoulder. It was the same as before. He usually seemed calmer than anyone else, but when he was overcome with emotion, he became reckless and honest.
“I was worried, so I tried to pick you up.”
“To Fermos’ bedroom?”
“No, that’s not it...”
Fermos jumped up behind Liene.
“You misunderstand! You misunderstand very, very, very badly!”
Leaving Liene for a moment, his gaze towards Fermos had become sharper.
“Why are you naked?”
“Yes, yes? No, it was just a good time!”
“You should have worn it in front of the Princess. What were you doing?”
“No, I was going to wear it, but the princess stopped me!”
“...?”
Black's eyes quickly returned.
"Princess?"
“Oh, I thought it was an excuse to kick me out. It was because he kept trying to stop me from going out to pick me up.”
“...So you kept looking at it like that?”
“I didn’t really care.”
“...”
Black, who was about to say something, swallowed his words.
“Isn’t there really no reason for me to be here anymore?”
“Yes. Lord Tiwakan has returned safely.”
“Then I guess I should go now.”
Black turned around, lifting Liene. Of course, he didn’t forget to glare at Fermos before that. He even said something with just the shape of his mouth. “See you tomorrow,” he said. Fermos froze, and Liene was startled and patted Black on the back.
“Oh, please let me down! I’ll walk.”
“I saw you barefoot.”
“No, this is... I forgot to wear slippers.”
It sounded like he had been so worried that he had been out of his mind. Liene, who had been overjoyed at the fact that he had returned safely, now felt ashamed.
“Why did it happen like this... I feel a little strange today.”
“I understand.”
“Really?”
“I also often get weird when it comes to Princess.”
He knew in his head. There was no way that Fermos and Liene were related. But the bedroom was empty, and when he heard that Liene had gone to Fermos’s room barefoot, his emotions boiled over. Black couldn’t believe it until the moment he opened the door.
Why on earth is that kid naked? What is he doing?
Black had even thought of that, so he said everything he wanted to say. If Liene hadn’t run to him and hugged him as soon as she saw his face, the result wouldn’t have been so good.
“Still, you shouldn’t do this in the future.”
Liene had now become accustomed to being carried down the stairs by him. With one arm around hia neck and her head resting on him, she felt no instability at all.
“If Madam Flambard had seen this, she would have scolded me.”
"Me too..."
"Yes?"
Black shook his head as he flexed his cheek muscles from an angle that Liene couldn't see.
“...I wanted to tell you not to walk barefoot.”
“That’s right. I don’t usually do this.”
“Don’t just walk around in your pajamas.”
“I'm wearing a cloak, so he can’t see what I'm wearing underneath.”
“I can tell that you're only wearing pajamas underneath because you're wearing a cloak.”
At those words, Liene made an awkward face.
“...You are saying the same thing as Sir Fermos.”
“Did he say that, too?”
Black's eyes became fierce. Liene couldn't see what kind of expression he was making. Still, she could feel that something had subtly changed in his tone. There was something he didn't like. Who said he would hurry? Liene was so worried.
“You came too late.”
Liene grabbed Black's collar as soon as she could reach it.
“I was really worried. I was worried that something might have happened again.”
Black stopped midway down the stairs.
“If I’m going to catch it, I’d rather catch it somewhere else.”
“Huh? What?”
“Other than clothes.”
Liene quickly took her hand away, wondering if her neck was being pulled and hurt.
“Still, you shouldn’t do this in the future.”
Liene had now become accustomed to being carried down the stairs by him. With one arm around hia neck and her head resting on him, she felt no instability at all.
“If Madam Flambard had seen this, she would have scolded me.”
"Me too..."
"Yes?"
Black shook his head as he flexed his cheek muscles from an angle that Liene couldn't see.
“...I wanted to tell you not to walk barefoot.”
“That’s right. I don’t usually do this.”
“Don’t just walk around in your pajamas.”
“I'm wearing a cloak, so he can’t see what I'm wearing underneath.”
“I can tell that you're only wearing pajamas underneath because you're wearing a cloak.”
At those words, Liene made an awkward face.
“...You are saying the same thing as Sir Fermos.”
“Did he say that, too?”
Black's eyes became fierce. Liene couldn't see what kind of expression he was making. Still, she could feel that something had subtly changed in his tone. There was something he didn't like. Who said he would hurry? Liene was so worried.
“You came too late.”
Liene grabbed Black's collar as soon as she could reach it.
“I was really worried. I was worried that something might have happened again.”
Black stopped midway down the stairs.
“If I’m going to catch it, I’d rather catch it somewhere else.”
“Huh? What?”
“Other than clothes.”
Liene quickly took her hand away, wondering if her neck was being pulled and hurt.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it.”
“I’m not telling you not to do it.”
“...?”
“Somewhere else.”
What do you want me to do...
“Where?”
“As the Princess wishes.”
If you don't like the hem, where should I hold on?
“I don’t even know it hurts.”
Liene grabbed the tip of Black's nose, half jokingly, because the position was ambiguous when trying to grab something without taking off the hem of his clothes.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Black, with his nose blocked, spoke in a voice different from usual. This man is really strange. She thinks it's good to hear this kind of sound.
“Because I don’t think I can reach anywhere else.”
“Can’t you hear it?”
“Won’t your ears hurt?”
“I think it’s better than the nose.”
“Is that so?”
Liene quietly let go of his nose and grabbed his ear. She was careful with her gestures, fearing that she might accidentally pull too hard. As a result, she ended up fiddling with it rather than holding it.
“Your ears are handsome too...”
The problem was the monologue that came out without her knowing.
“What did you just say?”
“...Yes? No, it’s nothing.”
“I’m not telling you not to do it.”
“...?”
“Somewhere else.”
What do you want me to do...
“Where?”
“As the Princess wishes.”
If you don't like the hem, where should I hold on?
“I don’t even know it hurts.”
Liene grabbed the tip of Black's nose, half jokingly, because the position was ambiguous when trying to grab something without taking off the hem of his clothes.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Black, with his nose blocked, spoke in a voice different from usual. This man is really strange. She thinks it's good to hear this kind of sound.
“Because I don’t think I can reach anywhere else.”
“Can’t you hear it?”
“Won’t your ears hurt?”
“I think it’s better than the nose.”
“Is that so?”
Liene quietly let go of his nose and grabbed his ear. She was careful with her gestures, fearing that she might accidentally pull too hard. As a result, she ended up fiddling with it rather than holding it.
“Your ears are handsome too...”
The problem was the monologue that came out without her knowing.
“What did you just say?”
“...Yes? No, it’s nothing.”
“It was nothing.”
“It was nothing...”
Black twisted to the side so that his back was touching the stone wall next to the stairs.
“Even if it’s cold, please bear with it.”
Even though he said that, Black put his hand between his back and the wall to prevent the cold air from rising.
“Do I look good to you now, Princess?”
Black whispered, lowering his head so that their lips were barely brushing each other's.
“...You know.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I’ll look at the mirror every time I buy it... ah,”
Liene shrugged her shoulders as Black slid his lips past her earlobe. Her eyes closed on their own.
“The Princess is the same. I didn’t know your ears were this pretty.”
"Just..."
Liene spoke softly with her eyes tightly shut.
"Yes?"
“You don’t have to say that. I just want you to kiss me quickly.”
She can't believe she's saying this... Black let go of her earlobe and sighed.
“The Princess doesn’t know why I talk so much in front of you.”
“I don’t think it needs to be much now...”
“What do you think I would do if you didn’t say anything?”
“Well... we’ll kiss.”
Black whispered, his lips pressed together.
“That’s right. But you should know that there’s a lot more to it than just kissing.”
What was that sound, Liene wondered, but all thoughts disappeared as the sweetness ate into her mouth.
***
How she came down from the tower and entered the bedroom, the process was a little vague. Black forcibly broke off the very long kiss and went into the bathroom, saying he was going to wash up. And when he came back after five minutes, he hadn't even dried himself properly. Water was dripping from his wet hair, so Liene had to drag him back to the bathroom.
“So what was it that caused you such trouble?”
It was surprisingly fun to wipe away his wet hair with a towel. No, it would be more accurate to say it was enjoyable. While she was at it, Liene ran her fingers through his hair to check for any other injuries. He was a person who was insensitive to his own injuries, so he probably didn’t even know that there were such small injuries.
“Ah, the Kleinfelter family knight showed up in the middle...”
“Huh? Then you fought again?”
Black lifted his chin and looked at Liene, whose gestures suddenly stopped, with hot eyes. He turned his arm around, pulled Liene’s hand towards him, and kissed the back of her hand.
“That’s not it.”
There was only one knight who appeared, and what he asked for was company. The reason was hard to understand, but there was a knight who said he would be loyal to Linden Kleinfelter until the day he died. If it were not Tiwakan but a normal knight order, they might have allowed him to accompany them. After all, loyalty to one’s lord was the reason for a knight’s existence. However, Tiwakan was different. It was not that Tiwakan did not know loyalty, but they had seen loyalty distorted and exploited on the battlefield.
“So he declined?”
Liene asked again, carefully rubbing the towel. A faint smile appeared on Black’s face, and his eyes closed.
“No. Instead, since he is also an exile, I told him to wear the monk’s uniform and go.”
“Oh, my. He’s a knight...”
“I took off his armor, but I allowed him to keep a sword. Because you are a knight.”
"Aha."
Liene tilted her head and smiled.
“It seems somewhat vulgar, yet merciful?”
“I’ve never heard of the word mercy before. What would you do, princess?”
“If it were me... I guess I’d allow the armor. But first, I’d request a body search. If it’s Klinefelter, he might have hidden something inside the armor.”
Black stretched out his upper body while sitting on the bathroom chair and kissed the tip of Liene's chin.
“So I took it off."
“So what was it that caused you such trouble?”
It was surprisingly fun to wipe away his wet hair with a towel. No, it would be more accurate to say it was enjoyable. While she was at it, Liene ran her fingers through his hair to check for any other injuries. He was a person who was insensitive to his own injuries, so he probably didn’t even know that there were such small injuries.
“Ah, the Kleinfelter family knight showed up in the middle...”
“Huh? Then you fought again?”
Black lifted his chin and looked at Liene, whose gestures suddenly stopped, with hot eyes. He turned his arm around, pulled Liene’s hand towards him, and kissed the back of her hand.
“That’s not it.”
There was only one knight who appeared, and what he asked for was company. The reason was hard to understand, but there was a knight who said he would be loyal to Linden Kleinfelter until the day he died. If it were not Tiwakan but a normal knight order, they might have allowed him to accompany them. After all, loyalty to one’s lord was the reason for a knight’s existence. However, Tiwakan was different. It was not that Tiwakan did not know loyalty, but they had seen loyalty distorted and exploited on the battlefield.
“So he declined?”
Liene asked again, carefully rubbing the towel. A faint smile appeared on Black’s face, and his eyes closed.
“No. Instead, since he is also an exile, I told him to wear the monk’s uniform and go.”
“Oh, my. He’s a knight...”
“I took off his armor, but I allowed him to keep a sword. Because you are a knight.”
"Aha."
Liene tilted her head and smiled.
“It seems somewhat vulgar, yet merciful?”
“I’ve never heard of the word mercy before. What would you do, princess?”
“If it were me... I guess I’d allow the armor. But first, I’d request a body search. If it’s Klinefelter, he might have hidden something inside the armor.”
Black stretched out his upper body while sitting on the bathroom chair and kissed the tip of Liene's chin.
“So I took it off."
“Oh, I see.”
It wasn’t for nothing that Fermos said the two looked alike. Compared to Black, Liene’s methods had some limitations, but that didn’t mean she didn’t keep her line. She set certain areas where she couldn’t give up and maintained those areas through coordination. Perhaps that’s how she learned how to protect the royal family amidst the conflicts with the six families. That’s why Liene was a weak yet strong person.
“Did you hide something?”
“Yes. Various things. Like bills of exchange used in the Kingdom of Sharka, or jewels that could be used for money.”
“Ah, as expected.”
It seemed like that.
“So I thought about it.”
“What do you think?”
“I think there will be someone left to lead the Klinefelter family. No matter how loyal he may be, I don’t think a knight would collect a promissory note on his own.”
“Huh...? I see. Is that what the butler told you to do?”
“Does the butler have that much authority? Shouldn’t someone from the family be able to touch the safe?”
“That’s right...”
Liene shook her fluffy hair with a serious expression on her face.
“Does that mean there is someone left with that much power...?”
“It’s better to assume so. It hasn’t revealed its existence yet, but it will soon. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Why tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, the five families will elect a new Speaker. It seems unlikely that Klinefelter will quietly give up the Speakership.”
“I think so, too.”
Liene stamped her feet.
“It’s frustrating not being able to attend the council. Sir Arland won’t be able to attend tomorrow either. The selection of the High Priest is not a royal proposal, but something the council decides on.”
“Do you want to attend the general meeting?”
Black turned around and asked. Without saying anything, he grabbed Liene and sat her on his thigh, and Liene leaned against him naturally without showing any sign of surprise.
“I guess so.”
“It will be so now.”
"Yes?"
“Not tomorrow, but after that.”
Liene smiled slightly and grabbed Black's earlobe.
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“I thought it was time to amend the Treaty of Liseberg. I’ll bring the results tomorrow.”
Black smiled wryly as he answered.
“Oh, are you hurt?”
“No. It’s not that it hurts, it’s that I like it.”
“I don’t think you have a good face...”
“Even if it’s too good, it’s sometimes painful.”
Black stood up from his chair, still holding Liene. She was now used to the feeling of not having her feet touching the ground.
“Can I go to bed now?”
"...Yes."
And this feeling of him suddenly getting hot. He rested his forehead on Liene's nape and muttered softly.
“I feel like I live these days, from the moment I open my eyes, waiting for this moment all day long.”
"Ah..."
Why on earth does everything he says become sweeter by the second? The two fell asleep in bed, facing each other, just like yesterday.
It wasn’t for nothing that Fermos said the two looked alike. Compared to Black, Liene’s methods had some limitations, but that didn’t mean she didn’t keep her line. She set certain areas where she couldn’t give up and maintained those areas through coordination. Perhaps that’s how she learned how to protect the royal family amidst the conflicts with the six families. That’s why Liene was a weak yet strong person.
“Did you hide something?”
“Yes. Various things. Like bills of exchange used in the Kingdom of Sharka, or jewels that could be used for money.”
“Ah, as expected.”
It seemed like that.
“So I thought about it.”
“What do you think?”
“I think there will be someone left to lead the Klinefelter family. No matter how loyal he may be, I don’t think a knight would collect a promissory note on his own.”
“Huh...? I see. Is that what the butler told you to do?”
“Does the butler have that much authority? Shouldn’t someone from the family be able to touch the safe?”
“That’s right...”
Liene shook her fluffy hair with a serious expression on her face.
“Does that mean there is someone left with that much power...?”
“It’s better to assume so. It hasn’t revealed its existence yet, but it will soon. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Why tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, the five families will elect a new Speaker. It seems unlikely that Klinefelter will quietly give up the Speakership.”
“I think so, too.”
Liene stamped her feet.
“It’s frustrating not being able to attend the council. Sir Arland won’t be able to attend tomorrow either. The selection of the High Priest is not a royal proposal, but something the council decides on.”
“Do you want to attend the general meeting?”
Black turned around and asked. Without saying anything, he grabbed Liene and sat her on his thigh, and Liene leaned against him naturally without showing any sign of surprise.
“I guess so.”
“It will be so now.”
"Yes?"
“Not tomorrow, but after that.”
Liene smiled slightly and grabbed Black's earlobe.
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“I thought it was time to amend the Treaty of Liseberg. I’ll bring the results tomorrow.”
Black smiled wryly as he answered.
“Oh, are you hurt?”
“No. It’s not that it hurts, it’s that I like it.”
“I don’t think you have a good face...”
“Even if it’s too good, it’s sometimes painful.”
Black stood up from his chair, still holding Liene. She was now used to the feeling of not having her feet touching the ground.
“Can I go to bed now?”
"...Yes."
And this feeling of him suddenly getting hot. He rested his forehead on Liene's nape and muttered softly.
“I feel like I live these days, from the moment I open my eyes, waiting for this moment all day long.”
"Ah..."
Why on earth does everything he says become sweeter by the second? The two fell asleep in bed, facing each other, just like yesterday.
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