“We’re in trouble, Princess!”
Today was going to be a very busy day. Liene woke up, washed up, changed clothes, had breakfast together, and then saw Black off. It wasn't that she had a lot to do, but it was hurtful. She had to cut down on the time she spent with him.
“What’s the matter, Ma’am?”
Back inside the castle, Liene was busy with her assigned task. With Aland joining her, she was also making progress in writing the dozens of affidavits. In the midst of all this, the sound of a pen scratching across parchment could be heard when Madame Flambard suddenly barged in and reported the problem.
“The tailor sent me some fabric... No, come with me. You have to see it with your own eyes!”
Her face was filled with embarrassment and looked really pitiful. Liene winked at Aland and stood up, putting down her pen.
“Yes, let’s go together. Where should we go?”
“To my room.”
Madam Flambard must have been in a hurry, so she grabbed Liene's hand and started running at a brisk pace.
“Does this make any sense?”
The woman threw up her anger, waving the cloth the tailor had brought.
“Where on earth can you find such embroidery! Oh my goodness! I paid that much money!”
"Ah..."
The fabric was cut to Black's size, and the workers hired by the tailor were supposed to embroider it. Because time was tight, they had to add a generous amount of extra money. However, the result was a mess.
“Oh my, oh my... How can you wear this as a royal wedding dress, yes?”
The embroidery seen up close was so sloppy that some people said it was sloppy. The stitches were all different, and some parts were not properly knotted, so they were sticking out. Madam Flambard had such high standards, but she was impressed when she thought of Black wearing such embroidery on his wedding dress.
“If you have a mouth, speak up! In which royal family would this be considered embroidery?”
Madam Flambard grabbed the tailor's hands and swung them at him. It seemed as if she was going to pull out the few remaining hairs, so Liene stopped her.
“Yes. Let me start by saying this. What is going on?”
“That’s it, Princess... I really...”
The tailor bowed his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know what the problem is. I hired the most skilled people I know, and they’re all going crazy trying to finish the embroidery by the time you mentioned.”
“What? How many people did you hire?”
The tailor proudly spread out his hands.
“Five! That way we can make it on time!”
“You rascal! There are five of you here, so each needle and needle is different!”
Madam Flambard was pounding her chest in frustration.
“What do you mean you’ve become skilled? If five people are stuck on this level of embroidery and their eyes fall out, they must be beginners who’ve only been holding a needle for a day or two!”
“Oh my, if you say so, what about me? A child? We are all skilled embroidery workers who have been doing embroidery for three or four years!”
“Shut up! You’ve been working for three or four years, and this is all I get in return!”
“I can’t come in today.”
The elders who had already taken the place of the Great Council were determined. They had already deployed private soldiers and blocked the entrance. Today, they had no intention of being disturbed by Tiwakan like yesterday. Moreover, there is no excuse for guarding prisoners today. All they had to do was select a new high priest and notify the royal family.
“Don’t even think about putting your dirty feet in it. Go back now.”
Burley spoke strongly, carrying yesterday’s grudge. Today, Tiwakan had only eight people, excluding the chief. There was one more unarmed human, but judging by his hunched back, he wasn’t a mercenary. On the other hand, the private soldiers of the five families who had been scraped together numbered over two hundred. Rosadel, who hadn’t given up a single private soldier, was a bit annoyed, but still, the number of two hundred was incredibly strong.
“They used their head a bit today.”
Black nodded as he looked at the formation of his soldiers. After being dealt a huge blow yesterday, it seemed like someone who knew how to use his brain this time had stepped forward.
“What are you talking about? Go back right now! This is not a place for a mercenary of low birth!”
Behind Circassian, Burley continued to shout. But Burley chose his words poorly.
“Low birth...?”
It wasn't Black who was angry, it was the mercenaries. A ten-year veteran named Randall twitched his fingers.
“How is it that all the nobles of Nauk are like this?”
Even though it was a small kingdom located in the southernmost part of the country, he wondered how they could not know a single anecdote related to Tiwakan. At first, there were few among the royals and nobles who had not shed tears of repentance among those who had asked Black about his birth without knowing what it was like. They ignored ordinary matters, but the one thing they could not tolerate was the gossip about Black’s origins.
“I will only cut out hia tongue, my lord. I will not touch anything else.”
Randall muttered, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"it's okay."
The one who tapped that hand was Black.
“No, are you trying to stop me? Why? Even in the Kingdom of Priana, they didn’t do that...”
“It’s a hassle. Unless you’re going to deal with one hundred and ninety-three people all by yourself, then stop.”
“Let’s try it, shall we? Is this how we set a record?”
The other mercenaries just snickered at the absurd talk.
“Play when you have free time.”
“Oh, really. You’re telling me to stop this.”
Randall grumbled, which only made the nobles even more shocked.
“Are these guys all crazy...?”
Elaroiden muttered involuntarily. Rosadel nodded in agreement. The shock of being beaten without being able to do anything at home was still intense. It was to the point where she thought it would be better to reverse the decision to elect a new chairman and disrupt the marriage.
“I told you to get out...!”
Burley tried to suppress his voice.
“Oh, that’s difficult.”
Black continued speaking calmly as if nothing had happened.
“Well, what’s so difficult... What could be difficult for a mere mercenary in the Nauk Council...”
“The National Assembly is canceled.”
“What? What did you say?”
Circassian couldn't help but agree with those words. As an opportunist, he was the type to back out before something would be detrimental, but now was not the time for that.
“What kind of council is Nauk that who dares to talk about canceling it?”
Now was the time to stop those barbarians from running wild, even if it meant resorting to armed conflict.
“The reason you are gathered here today is because of the appointment of the high priest.”
The fact that the casual, informal speech was natural also fueled the anger.
“Who are you to bring up the agenda of the National Assembly?”
“There is already a high priest, so there is no need for a meeting.”
“There’s a high priest... What kind of nonsense is that!”
“Bring it.”
Black gestured behind his back.
“Yes, my lord.”
The mercenaries brought someone to the entrance of the Great Council Hall. It was an old man with white hair, wearing long robes that covered his ankles.
“What? Who is this?”
Burley let out a hollow laugh. He was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even sarcastically say anything.
“Is this what it means to be the high priest of Nauk?”
“Yes, Sir Elling Burley.”
“...?”
Burley opened his mouth, suspicious of the old man who knew his name exactly. Knowing the name was a problem, but the voice sounded familiar for some reason.
“What... who?”
The old man moved his uncomfortable hands and pulled back the hood he had pulled down to the tip of his nose.
“It’s been 21 years, everyone.”
“...!”
The words 21 years were like an invisible arrow to the five nobles. They all opened their eyes wide as if something was flying and striking their consciences.
“Then... surely...”
Burley shuddered as he pointed at the old man. Circassian shook his head in disbelief.
“If it was the high priest 21 years ago ... Manau?”
The old man nodded slowly.
“As the voice of God, the name that God has given me is mine.”
“This, this... this... this... this...!”
The faces of the five nobles turned like sheets of paper.
Today was going to be a very busy day. Liene woke up, washed up, changed clothes, had breakfast together, and then saw Black off. It wasn't that she had a lot to do, but it was hurtful. She had to cut down on the time she spent with him.
“What’s the matter, Ma’am?”
Back inside the castle, Liene was busy with her assigned task. With Aland joining her, she was also making progress in writing the dozens of affidavits. In the midst of all this, the sound of a pen scratching across parchment could be heard when Madame Flambard suddenly barged in and reported the problem.
“The tailor sent me some fabric... No, come with me. You have to see it with your own eyes!”
Her face was filled with embarrassment and looked really pitiful. Liene winked at Aland and stood up, putting down her pen.
“Yes, let’s go together. Where should we go?”
“To my room.”
Madam Flambard must have been in a hurry, so she grabbed Liene's hand and started running at a brisk pace.
***
“Does this make any sense?”
The woman threw up her anger, waving the cloth the tailor had brought.
“Where on earth can you find such embroidery! Oh my goodness! I paid that much money!”
"Ah..."
The fabric was cut to Black's size, and the workers hired by the tailor were supposed to embroider it. Because time was tight, they had to add a generous amount of extra money. However, the result was a mess.
“Oh my, oh my... How can you wear this as a royal wedding dress, yes?”
The embroidery seen up close was so sloppy that some people said it was sloppy. The stitches were all different, and some parts were not properly knotted, so they were sticking out. Madam Flambard had such high standards, but she was impressed when she thought of Black wearing such embroidery on his wedding dress.
“If you have a mouth, speak up! In which royal family would this be considered embroidery?”
Madam Flambard grabbed the tailor's hands and swung them at him. It seemed as if she was going to pull out the few remaining hairs, so Liene stopped her.
“Yes. Let me start by saying this. What is going on?”
“That’s it, Princess... I really...”
The tailor bowed his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know what the problem is. I hired the most skilled people I know, and they’re all going crazy trying to finish the embroidery by the time you mentioned.”
“What? How many people did you hire?”
The tailor proudly spread out his hands.
“Five! That way we can make it on time!”
“You rascal! There are five of you here, so each needle and needle is different!”
Madam Flambard was pounding her chest in frustration.
“What do you mean you’ve become skilled? If five people are stuck on this level of embroidery and their eyes fall out, they must be beginners who’ve only been holding a needle for a day or two!”
“Oh my, if you say so, what about me? A child? We are all skilled embroidery workers who have been doing embroidery for three or four years!”
“Shut up! You’ve been working for three or four years, and this is all I get in return!”
Liene swear she's never seen Madam Flambard so angry before. Her ears were bright red, and there was no way to stop her.
“Well then, um... Can’t we fix it? If it doesn’t work, we can do it again.”
“Princess! What are you saying? How can I fix the embroidery? And before that gentleman brings in some truly skilled workers, it will be the same!”
The tailor nodded his head, seeming to agree with what was said, although he was angry.
“Oh, my... Then what should I do?”
“I have to tear it all out and start over from scratch. That’s the only way to salvage at least some of the fabric.”
“Ah... But we don’t have that much time. And if we do it again, it’ll be the same.”
"Princess."
Madam Flambard called Liene with a grave expression.
“There’s no other way. The Princess and I will do it together.”
"Yes?"
She doesn't know what that scary word is.
“You only have to stay up for three nights. No, two days.”
"Ma'am..."
Then, in three days, Liene won't be able to use her fingers.... She has a mountain of work to do right now.
“I can’t possibly entrust it to other people. People who don’t even know the basics of matching stitches! Oh no! It’s a wedding dress!”
Even though it was Liene, she couldn't accept that kind of embroidery. But asking her to stay up for two nights... She can't help it. If there's no other way, then she has to do it. She can't give Black clothes with embroidery like that as a gift. She doesn't like that.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Yes, of course! Thank you, Princess!”
Madam Flambard's face brightened when she heard that she had work to do for two nights. She was always sincere about embroidery.
“No, Princess...”
On the other hand, the tailor's face turned pale.
“Then, the price is...”
“What kind of money is this! It’s just a useless needle hole in a piece of cloth!”
Madam Flambard screamed as if she was annoyed.
“No, but how can you pretend not to know when you hired five workers...”
“You should have saved those useful people! Because of that, the Princess and I ended up suffering more!”
Madam Flambard was right, but the tailor had a point, too.
“Do it like this.”
Liene opened her mouth. It was decided to leave the wages for the five workers. Instead, the tailor had to return the money he had set aside as his share. The tailor went away with a sad face, but Madam Flambard clicked her tongue, saying that even that was too generous. The money the tailor returned went to the lady. Although there was an unexpected pile of work, it was fortunate that no one lost money in the end.
“Well then, um... Can’t we fix it? If it doesn’t work, we can do it again.”
“Princess! What are you saying? How can I fix the embroidery? And before that gentleman brings in some truly skilled workers, it will be the same!”
The tailor nodded his head, seeming to agree with what was said, although he was angry.
“Oh, my... Then what should I do?”
“I have to tear it all out and start over from scratch. That’s the only way to salvage at least some of the fabric.”
“Ah... But we don’t have that much time. And if we do it again, it’ll be the same.”
"Princess."
Madam Flambard called Liene with a grave expression.
“There’s no other way. The Princess and I will do it together.”
"Yes?"
She doesn't know what that scary word is.
“You only have to stay up for three nights. No, two days.”
"Ma'am..."
Then, in three days, Liene won't be able to use her fingers.... She has a mountain of work to do right now.
“I can’t possibly entrust it to other people. People who don’t even know the basics of matching stitches! Oh no! It’s a wedding dress!”
Even though it was Liene, she couldn't accept that kind of embroidery. But asking her to stay up for two nights... She can't help it. If there's no other way, then she has to do it. She can't give Black clothes with embroidery like that as a gift. She doesn't like that.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Yes, of course! Thank you, Princess!”
Madam Flambard's face brightened when she heard that she had work to do for two nights. She was always sincere about embroidery.
“No, Princess...”
On the other hand, the tailor's face turned pale.
“Then, the price is...”
“What kind of money is this! It’s just a useless needle hole in a piece of cloth!”
Madam Flambard screamed as if she was annoyed.
“No, but how can you pretend not to know when you hired five workers...”
“You should have saved those useful people! Because of that, the Princess and I ended up suffering more!”
Madam Flambard was right, but the tailor had a point, too.
“Do it like this.”
Liene opened her mouth. It was decided to leave the wages for the five workers. Instead, the tailor had to return the money he had set aside as his share. The tailor went away with a sad face, but Madam Flambard clicked her tongue, saying that even that was too generous. The money the tailor returned went to the lady. Although there was an unexpected pile of work, it was fortunate that no one lost money in the end.
Oh, no. I will lose money.
Liene looked at the lady who was tearing off the embroidery stitch by stitch with a pained face. It seemed that Black would sleep alone for the next two days. The words that it was the most anticipated time of the day lingered in her ears with a little regret.
***
“I can’t come in today.”
The elders who had already taken the place of the Great Council were determined. They had already deployed private soldiers and blocked the entrance. Today, they had no intention of being disturbed by Tiwakan like yesterday. Moreover, there is no excuse for guarding prisoners today. All they had to do was select a new high priest and notify the royal family.
“Don’t even think about putting your dirty feet in it. Go back now.”
Burley spoke strongly, carrying yesterday’s grudge. Today, Tiwakan had only eight people, excluding the chief. There was one more unarmed human, but judging by his hunched back, he wasn’t a mercenary. On the other hand, the private soldiers of the five families who had been scraped together numbered over two hundred. Rosadel, who hadn’t given up a single private soldier, was a bit annoyed, but still, the number of two hundred was incredibly strong.
“They used their head a bit today.”
Black nodded as he looked at the formation of his soldiers. After being dealt a huge blow yesterday, it seemed like someone who knew how to use his brain this time had stepped forward.
“What are you talking about? Go back right now! This is not a place for a mercenary of low birth!”
Behind Circassian, Burley continued to shout. But Burley chose his words poorly.
“Low birth...?”
It wasn't Black who was angry, it was the mercenaries. A ten-year veteran named Randall twitched his fingers.
“How is it that all the nobles of Nauk are like this?”
Even though it was a small kingdom located in the southernmost part of the country, he wondered how they could not know a single anecdote related to Tiwakan. At first, there were few among the royals and nobles who had not shed tears of repentance among those who had asked Black about his birth without knowing what it was like. They ignored ordinary matters, but the one thing they could not tolerate was the gossip about Black’s origins.
“I will only cut out hia tongue, my lord. I will not touch anything else.”
Randall muttered, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"it's okay."
The one who tapped that hand was Black.
“No, are you trying to stop me? Why? Even in the Kingdom of Priana, they didn’t do that...”
“It’s a hassle. Unless you’re going to deal with one hundred and ninety-three people all by yourself, then stop.”
“Let’s try it, shall we? Is this how we set a record?”
The other mercenaries just snickered at the absurd talk.
“Play when you have free time.”
“Oh, really. You’re telling me to stop this.”
Randall grumbled, which only made the nobles even more shocked.
“Are these guys all crazy...?”
Elaroiden muttered involuntarily. Rosadel nodded in agreement. The shock of being beaten without being able to do anything at home was still intense. It was to the point where she thought it would be better to reverse the decision to elect a new chairman and disrupt the marriage.
“I told you to get out...!”
Burley tried to suppress his voice.
“Oh, that’s difficult.”
Black continued speaking calmly as if nothing had happened.
“Well, what’s so difficult... What could be difficult for a mere mercenary in the Nauk Council...”
“The National Assembly is canceled.”
“What? What did you say?”
Circassian couldn't help but agree with those words. As an opportunist, he was the type to back out before something would be detrimental, but now was not the time for that.
“What kind of council is Nauk that who dares to talk about canceling it?”
Now was the time to stop those barbarians from running wild, even if it meant resorting to armed conflict.
“The reason you are gathered here today is because of the appointment of the high priest.”
The fact that the casual, informal speech was natural also fueled the anger.
“Who are you to bring up the agenda of the National Assembly?”
“There is already a high priest, so there is no need for a meeting.”
“There’s a high priest... What kind of nonsense is that!”
“Bring it.”
Black gestured behind his back.
“Yes, my lord.”
The mercenaries brought someone to the entrance of the Great Council Hall. It was an old man with white hair, wearing long robes that covered his ankles.
“What? Who is this?”
Burley let out a hollow laugh. He was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even sarcastically say anything.
“Is this what it means to be the high priest of Nauk?”
“Yes, Sir Elling Burley.”
“...?”
Burley opened his mouth, suspicious of the old man who knew his name exactly. Knowing the name was a problem, but the voice sounded familiar for some reason.
“What... who?”
The old man moved his uncomfortable hands and pulled back the hood he had pulled down to the tip of his nose.
“It’s been 21 years, everyone.”
“...!”
The words 21 years were like an invisible arrow to the five nobles. They all opened their eyes wide as if something was flying and striking their consciences.
“Then... surely...”
Burley shuddered as he pointed at the old man. Circassian shook his head in disbelief.
“If it was the high priest 21 years ago ... Manau?”
The old man nodded slowly.
“As the voice of God, the name that God has given me is mine.”
“This, this... this... this... this...!”
The faces of the five nobles turned like sheets of paper.
***
Black was right. Manau’s presence had defeated the purpose of the Great Council. Manau had become the High Priest before the Treaty of Lisberg. Therefore, the High Priest had no right to argue about his suitability based on the treaty.
Manau, as the High Priest, blessed the royal marriage and set the wedding date for three days later at noon. Since the voice of God had approved the marriage, Black became co-ruler of Nauk by the marriage contract with the Arsak family. Circassian protested that they were not yet married, but the contract, which had already been signed, was valid according to Nauk’s customs.
“Now is the time to use your right hands.”
Black, sitting at the head table, blurted out these words to the nobles. The three nobles who had already broken their left hands gulped.
“Sign this.”
“Now is the time to use your right hands.”
Black, sitting at the head table, blurted out these words to the nobles. The three nobles who had already broken their left hands gulped.
“Sign this.”
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