Black pushed Liene, who was trying to get up, and made her lie down again. Her eyes, which had been blurry, became clear.
“You said you couldn’t do it.”
Liene understood that his stopping in the middle meant that taking off a woman's stockings was harder than he thought. Stockings were thin and soft, so it was easy to accidentally tear them.
“Do you mean that I can’t take off what’s on the Princess’s body?”
"Sure?"
Black gave a laugh that had no meaning.
“Because I don’t have the confidence to not become a shameless person.”
It was as if she had heard those words in her sleep.
“I don’t understand. It’s the same as taking it off.”
“It’s different if the Princess knows that I’m taking off your clothes and if you don’t know.”
“...”
When he said it like that, it sounded really dirty. Black slowly lifted the hem of her dress from her ankles.
“Don’t move a finger. That’s okay.”
Liene's face turned bright red like an apple.
“Um, I’m a little... embarrassed. I’ll just do it.”
“It's late.”
Black, who had lifted her skirt up to just above her knees, reached for the band of her stockings that had fallen nearby and grabbed them.
“If I close my eyes, it might be slow.”
What was even more incomprehensible was that she did not firmly reject him.
“Then do it with your eyes open.”
“Wouldn’t you be embarrassed?”
“...I have to get used to it.”
Liene closed her eyes instead.
“Unless Lord Tiwakan suddenly changes your personality, it’ll be like this forever... and I can’t be embarrassed every time it happens.”
Because that would obviously be her loss. Let's be honest. It's not that she doesn't like this right now.
“Wouldn’t it be the same if the Princess closed her eyes?”
“Do one thing at a time..."
“It will get better if you change your posture.”
Black sat up from where he was sitting at Liene's feet and lay down next to her, half covering her. When he opened his eyes, their gazes continued.
“You take off your stockings in this position?”
“It is possible if the Princess helps.”
Black lowered his head and overlapped her lips. Once their lips touched, a kiss began naturally. Liene hugged Black’s head and stroked his hair as much as she could. As their lips parted and the kiss deepened, his hand groped the inside of her thigh. Ah...
“...My wife told me to grow up a little.”
Liene leaned against Black's shoulder, her cheeks red, and let out her hot breath.
“I get it.”
“No, that’s not true.”
Compared to his overly excited self, Black seemed like a normal person. However, upon closer inspection, his eyes were darker than usual.
“I’ll take off your outer clothes so you can sleep comfortably.”
Compared to stockings, outerwear seemed like nothing. She was wearing three layers of underwear, a petticoat, and an underdress, so there was no way her skin would be exposed. Liene raised both arms obediently. Black put his hands under them and began to undo the buttons hanging on her back.
“I have a question...”
"Yes."
“How did you know how to take off stockings like this?”
“This is the first time.”
“No way... You seem too good at it.”
“It’s probably because it’s your first time, too, Princess.”
“I wonder... And one more thing.”
Contrary to her words, her eyelids were getting heavier. Black must have noticed it too, as he gave her a small smile and kissed her drooping eye corners.
"Yes."
“Do you have any other thoughts when I take off your stockings?”
“What do you think?”
“It’s dirty or something.”
“...”
The hand that had been unbuttoning the top down to the middle of his back stopped and froze.
“I did... Lord Tiwakan didn’t seem to be like that at all.”
“...If it looked like that, then it is proof that there is a God.”
"Yes?"
“Because I’ve been praying for a long time to make myself look normal.”
“Uh... Since when..."
“Ever since the Princess told me to take off your stockings. In my head, the Princess has already been... No, I’d rather not say that. Raise your arms.”
When Liene raised her arms in surprise, her outer dress rose up over her head.
“That’s all. Is there anything else you need?”
“One more.”
Liene lay on the bed and tapped the spot next to her.
“Lie down here.”
“...It really can’t be done without God.”
Black, who was muttering quietly to himself, lay down next to her as usual. Liene, who was much more accustomed to being held by him than taking off her stockings, asked.
“Why weren’t you sleeping?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Because the Princess wasn’t here.”
She thought she knew what that was. She thinks so, too.
“So, after we get married, we’ll still share a room every day?”
“You won’t be able to kick me out unless the Princess hires a better mercenary group than Tiwakan.”
Liene chuckled at the ridiculous joke.
“Everyone will think that it’s strange. It’s not common for nobles in Nauk to share a room with their spouses.”
“Are you worried about that?”
“No. Rather... It’s the opposite. I’m looking forward to it.”
"Why?"
“Even if I thought it was strange at first, don’t you think we’re such a good couple in the end? So much so that you don’t even want to break up at night?”
“Is it good for other people to think that way?”
“There is no reason to dislike it.”
Liene gently pulled on the hem of the black dress that was within reach.
“I wish everyone knew.”
That you are mine. That I am your home. No one can interfere. Black turned his body to the side and faced Liene. He looked at her without saying anything, but he could hear what she was saying. The feeling was both strange and familiar.
“That would be really great.”
After a while, Black slowly inserted his fingers between Liene's.
“For life.”
“Yes. Forever.”
At some point, her eyes closed as they faced each other like that. That morning’s sleep was sweeter than a dream.
“Uh... What? Is that true?”
Liene overslept. In her defense, she didn't do it on purpose, but she was just too out of it. She had asked Black to wake her up before she went to sleep, but he never woke her up. Liene finally woke up when morning was almost over, and as soon as she opened her eyes, Madam Flambard was excited and told her the news.
“She’s really fast with her hands. And she’s so meticulous and thorough. My goodness, I think she embroiders better than I do.”
After Liene had gone to bed, a few hours later, the embroidery was complete. Madame Flambard had the captain of the guard call the tailor to the castle. The tailor, who was still half asleep, yawned repeatedly and followed the lady's instructions to finish the dress. It would have been impossible to do it alone, but fortunately, unlike the tailor, the tailor brought along useful workers, and with Mrs. Henton's help, the wedding dress was completed in half a day.
“I kept the tailor just in case. I was worried that we hadn’t done a fitting. Lord Tiwakan should try it on and see if there’s anything that doesn’t fit well.”
“Ah... Yes, I’ll do that. Anyway, what should I do? I left the hard work to you two and slept comfortably.”
“Oh my, why are you saying such a thing? The Princess is a newlywed who is getting married tomorrow!”
“Not today.”
“So there’s a lot more to do! Shouldn’t the Princess try on your wedding dress in advance?”
"Ah...?"
Come to think of it, she hadn't even thought about her wedding dress.
“Look at my mind. I completely forgot.”
Madam Flambard cried out in excitement.
“Come with me now. Lord Tiwakan has told me that the wedding dress has been brought to the jewelry room.”
Madam Flambard still called the place, which was no different from a warehouse because most of the jewelry she had kept had been sold, a jewelry room.
“...Yes, then.”
Liene quickly finished her late breakfast. Even Madam Flambard, who would usually tell her to eat more slowly, did not do so this time. It seemed that she was really looking forward to wearing her new wedding dress.
"Let’s go, now.”
Madam Flambard took Liene's hand and headed to the jewelry room.
“I’m speechless...”
The wedding dress that Black was going to wear was much more splendid than Liene had expected. It was partly because she had some money left over and spared no expense and partly because Mada. Flambard had high standards. But the wedding dress that she was going to wear was ridiculous.
“What kind of fabric is this? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life...”
It was a dress that looked like it was made of snow. The dazzling white fabric was thin and light, but it spread out richly and made a rustling sound. The buttons and decorations were all pearls. From a distance, it looked like a large, blooming white flower, but up close, the tiny embroidery and decorations were dazzling.
“But wait a minute. I need to prepare myself mentally to wear that amazing outfit. Before that, I think I should look at Lord Tiwakan’s wedding dress.”
“It won’t be the same whether you wear it now or later... Well, I think I get it. It’s an amazing piece of clothing.”
“I see. Oh, it’s well built.”
Liene smiled brightly as she examined the wedding dress that Black would wear. The new dress did not seem to have been made in a hurry, and there was no sign that the tailors had been harassed. It was definitely a good dress, as the Madam liked it.
“I want to try it on quickly... Oh, right. I forgot. I should try this.”
Liene turned around and unlocked the chest in the corner. She had brought the key from her room on purpose.
“Princess? What are you doing?”
“I’ll put some decorations on your wedding dress. I left a blue pendant here...”
“Are you talking about the sapphire that was named after the royal constellation?”
"Yes."
It was also the only jewel Liene had left. There were small earrings and hairpins, but they were too small to be of much value.
“Oh, you put it in that box over there instead of here.”
Liene, who knew the box was empty, turned to the shelf in the opposite corner.
“There’s no separate lock here, so they probably wouldn’t have put any jewels in it....”
And it hardened.
"Princess?"
Madam Flambard came over as if something was strange.
“What is this... all this?”
“You said you couldn’t do it.”
Liene understood that his stopping in the middle meant that taking off a woman's stockings was harder than he thought. Stockings were thin and soft, so it was easy to accidentally tear them.
“Do you mean that I can’t take off what’s on the Princess’s body?”
"Sure?"
Black gave a laugh that had no meaning.
“Because I don’t have the confidence to not become a shameless person.”
It was as if she had heard those words in her sleep.
“I don’t understand. It’s the same as taking it off.”
“It’s different if the Princess knows that I’m taking off your clothes and if you don’t know.”
“...”
When he said it like that, it sounded really dirty. Black slowly lifted the hem of her dress from her ankles.
“Don’t move a finger. That’s okay.”
Liene's face turned bright red like an apple.
“Um, I’m a little... embarrassed. I’ll just do it.”
“It's late.”
Black, who had lifted her skirt up to just above her knees, reached for the band of her stockings that had fallen nearby and grabbed them.
Swirl.
The stockings followed his gesture and fell down.
“...”
It was different from when she was asleep. The hand that had been carefully pulling on the poor stockings so as not to touch her skin now came down, caressing her skin.
“Hey... Okay, wait a minute...”
Her shoulders continued to twitch. Black pretended not to hear the resistance that was as soft as a mosquito's sound.
“I took it all off... This side.”
Swish, thud.
“...”
It was different from when she was asleep. The hand that had been carefully pulling on the poor stockings so as not to touch her skin now came down, caressing her skin.
“Hey... Okay, wait a minute...”
Her shoulders continued to twitch. Black pretended not to hear the resistance that was as soft as a mosquito's sound.
“I took it all off... This side.”
Swish, thud.
Black dropped one of the stockings he had taken off to the floor. He held onto Liene’s ankle, which was exposed white under the cold, clear dawn light, and bent her knee, pressing his lips to the bulging kneecap.
Her body trembled with a start.
“Now the other side.”
“Oh, wait... Just a moment. I’ll do this.”
The untied band was well above and on the inside of the knee.
“Tell me why.”
“Well, it’s embarrassing...”
“Then it doesn’t seem like a very good reason. We’re just getting used to feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.”
“No, think about it the other way around. If Lord Tiwakan were wearing stockings and I were trying to take them off, would that be okay?”
“...I’m looking forward to it.”
Black's eyes seemed a little hazy.
“I don’t really have any occasion to wear stockings... but when I wear shoes, I wear stockings. Would you please take them off, Princess?”
Liene made a sad face.
“...Men’s stockings only reach up to the knees.”
“Unfortunately.”
What is this guy saying?
“If you want, I can make one that reaches MY thighs. It’s not that hard.”
Okay... Okay, I said.
“If you’re really that embarrassed, I’ll close my eyes.”
...Would that be any better?
“Is there a reason you would go to such lengths to take off my stockings?”
Black, who had already closed his eyes, let out a hollow laugh as if he found it ridiculous.
“It would be quicker to find a reason not to do so.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s no such thing. There’s nothing to look for, so it’ll be quick.”
Black's hand came up onto her knee. Liene flinched and shook her leg.
“It was here... That’s right.”
Knock.
“Now the other side.”
“Oh, wait... Just a moment. I’ll do this.”
The untied band was well above and on the inside of the knee.
“Tell me why.”
“Well, it’s embarrassing...”
“Then it doesn’t seem like a very good reason. We’re just getting used to feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.”
“No, think about it the other way around. If Lord Tiwakan were wearing stockings and I were trying to take them off, would that be okay?”
“...I’m looking forward to it.”
Black's eyes seemed a little hazy.
“I don’t really have any occasion to wear stockings... but when I wear shoes, I wear stockings. Would you please take them off, Princess?”
Liene made a sad face.
“...Men’s stockings only reach up to the knees.”
“Unfortunately.”
What is this guy saying?
“If you want, I can make one that reaches MY thighs. It’s not that hard.”
Okay... Okay, I said.
“If you’re really that embarrassed, I’ll close my eyes.”
...Would that be any better?
“Is there a reason you would go to such lengths to take off my stockings?”
Black, who had already closed his eyes, let out a hollow laugh as if he found it ridiculous.
“It would be quicker to find a reason not to do so.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s no such thing. There’s nothing to look for, so it’ll be quick.”
Black's hand came up onto her knee. Liene flinched and shook her leg.
“It was here... That’s right.”
Knock.
His fingertips touched the knot of the stocking band. Her lips parted, and a silent sigh escaped. It wasn't even touching her skin... Why on earth was this happening?
“If I close my eyes, it might be slow.”
What was even more incomprehensible was that she did not firmly reject him.
“Then do it with your eyes open.”
“Wouldn’t you be embarrassed?”
“...I have to get used to it.”
Liene closed her eyes instead.
“Unless Lord Tiwakan suddenly changes your personality, it’ll be like this forever... and I can’t be embarrassed every time it happens.”
Because that would obviously be her loss. Let's be honest. It's not that she doesn't like this right now.
“Wouldn’t it be the same if the Princess closed her eyes?”
“Do one thing at a time..."
“It will get better if you change your posture.”
Black sat up from where he was sitting at Liene's feet and lay down next to her, half covering her. When he opened his eyes, their gazes continued.
“You take off your stockings in this position?”
“It is possible if the Princess helps.”
Black lowered his head and overlapped her lips. Once their lips touched, a kiss began naturally. Liene hugged Black’s head and stroked his hair as much as she could. As their lips parted and the kiss deepened, his hand groped the inside of her thigh. Ah...
For a moment, she thought her breath had stopped. When Liene opened her eyes slightly, she saw that he had closed his eyes and was absorbed in the kiss.
Swirl.
At the same time, the knot on the stocking band inside the dress came undone. When he pulled down the band with his large hand, her legs bent reflexively. The hand that had swept down her thigh brushed her knee and went down to her calf. When Liene folded her knee, he easily took off the stocking while kissing her.
“...My wife told me to grow up a little.”
Liene leaned against Black's shoulder, her cheeks red, and let out her hot breath.
“I get it.”
“No, that’s not true.”
Compared to his overly excited self, Black seemed like a normal person. However, upon closer inspection, his eyes were darker than usual.
“I’ll take off your outer clothes so you can sleep comfortably.”
Compared to stockings, outerwear seemed like nothing. She was wearing three layers of underwear, a petticoat, and an underdress, so there was no way her skin would be exposed. Liene raised both arms obediently. Black put his hands under them and began to undo the buttons hanging on her back.
“I have a question...”
"Yes."
“How did you know how to take off stockings like this?”
“This is the first time.”
“No way... You seem too good at it.”
“It’s probably because it’s your first time, too, Princess.”
“I wonder... And one more thing.”
Contrary to her words, her eyelids were getting heavier. Black must have noticed it too, as he gave her a small smile and kissed her drooping eye corners.
"Yes."
“Do you have any other thoughts when I take off your stockings?”
“What do you think?”
“It’s dirty or something.”
“...”
The hand that had been unbuttoning the top down to the middle of his back stopped and froze.
“I did... Lord Tiwakan didn’t seem to be like that at all.”
“...If it looked like that, then it is proof that there is a God.”
"Yes?"
“Because I’ve been praying for a long time to make myself look normal.”
“Uh... Since when..."
“Ever since the Princess told me to take off your stockings. In my head, the Princess has already been... No, I’d rather not say that. Raise your arms.”
When Liene raised her arms in surprise, her outer dress rose up over her head.
“That’s all. Is there anything else you need?”
“One more.”
Liene lay on the bed and tapped the spot next to her.
“Lie down here.”
“...It really can’t be done without God.”
Black, who was muttering quietly to himself, lay down next to her as usual. Liene, who was much more accustomed to being held by him than taking off her stockings, asked.
“Why weren’t you sleeping?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Because the Princess wasn’t here.”
She thought she knew what that was. She thinks so, too.
“So, after we get married, we’ll still share a room every day?”
“You won’t be able to kick me out unless the Princess hires a better mercenary group than Tiwakan.”
Liene chuckled at the ridiculous joke.
“Everyone will think that it’s strange. It’s not common for nobles in Nauk to share a room with their spouses.”
“Are you worried about that?”
“No. Rather... It’s the opposite. I’m looking forward to it.”
"Why?"
“Even if I thought it was strange at first, don’t you think we’re such a good couple in the end? So much so that you don’t even want to break up at night?”
“Is it good for other people to think that way?”
“There is no reason to dislike it.”
Liene gently pulled on the hem of the black dress that was within reach.
“I wish everyone knew.”
That you are mine. That I am your home. No one can interfere. Black turned his body to the side and faced Liene. He looked at her without saying anything, but he could hear what she was saying. The feeling was both strange and familiar.
“That would be really great.”
After a while, Black slowly inserted his fingers between Liene's.
“For life.”
“Yes. Forever.”
At some point, her eyes closed as they faced each other like that. That morning’s sleep was sweeter than a dream.
***
“Uh... What? Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Liene overslept. In her defense, she didn't do it on purpose, but she was just too out of it. She had asked Black to wake her up before she went to sleep, but he never woke her up. Liene finally woke up when morning was almost over, and as soon as she opened her eyes, Madam Flambard was excited and told her the news.
“She’s really fast with her hands. And she’s so meticulous and thorough. My goodness, I think she embroiders better than I do.”
After Liene had gone to bed, a few hours later, the embroidery was complete. Madame Flambard had the captain of the guard call the tailor to the castle. The tailor, who was still half asleep, yawned repeatedly and followed the lady's instructions to finish the dress. It would have been impossible to do it alone, but fortunately, unlike the tailor, the tailor brought along useful workers, and with Mrs. Henton's help, the wedding dress was completed in half a day.
“I kept the tailor just in case. I was worried that we hadn’t done a fitting. Lord Tiwakan should try it on and see if there’s anything that doesn’t fit well.”
“Ah... Yes, I’ll do that. Anyway, what should I do? I left the hard work to you two and slept comfortably.”
“Oh my, why are you saying such a thing? The Princess is a newlywed who is getting married tomorrow!”
“Not today.”
“So there’s a lot more to do! Shouldn’t the Princess try on your wedding dress in advance?”
"Ah...?"
Come to think of it, she hadn't even thought about her wedding dress.
“Look at my mind. I completely forgot.”
Madam Flambard cried out in excitement.
“Come with me now. Lord Tiwakan has told me that the wedding dress has been brought to the jewelry room.”
Madam Flambard still called the place, which was no different from a warehouse because most of the jewelry she had kept had been sold, a jewelry room.
“...Yes, then.”
Liene quickly finished her late breakfast. Even Madam Flambard, who would usually tell her to eat more slowly, did not do so this time. It seemed that she was really looking forward to wearing her new wedding dress.
"Let’s go, now.”
Madam Flambard took Liene's hand and headed to the jewelry room.
***
“I’m speechless...”
The wedding dress that Black was going to wear was much more splendid than Liene had expected. It was partly because she had some money left over and spared no expense and partly because Mada. Flambard had high standards. But the wedding dress that she was going to wear was ridiculous.
“What kind of fabric is this? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life...”
It was a dress that looked like it was made of snow. The dazzling white fabric was thin and light, but it spread out richly and made a rustling sound. The buttons and decorations were all pearls. From a distance, it looked like a large, blooming white flower, but up close, the tiny embroidery and decorations were dazzling.
“Me too, Princess. Why, who on earth made clothes like this? There shouldn’t be anyone like this in Nauk. Seriously... Oh my.”
Madam Flambard kept sticking out her tongue with a pleased face.
“This is so beautiful, Princess. It would look even better on you, Princess.”
“Won’t they only show me the clothes?”
“Oh my, don’t say that. I’ve never seen anyone with hair as beautiful as a Princess.”
“Well, you were my nanny, weren’t you?”
Liene blushed in embarrassment.
“Would you like to try it on now while you’re at it?”
“Oh, no. Just a moment. Later.”
“...? Shouldn’t you try it on to see if it fits well?”
Madam Flambard kept sticking out her tongue with a pleased face.
“This is so beautiful, Princess. It would look even better on you, Princess.”
“Won’t they only show me the clothes?”
“Oh my, don’t say that. I’ve never seen anyone with hair as beautiful as a Princess.”
“Well, you were my nanny, weren’t you?”
Liene blushed in embarrassment.
“Would you like to try it on now while you’re at it?”
“Oh, no. Just a moment. Later.”
“...? Shouldn’t you try it on to see if it fits well?”
“But wait a minute. I need to prepare myself mentally to wear that amazing outfit. Before that, I think I should look at Lord Tiwakan’s wedding dress.”
“It won’t be the same whether you wear it now or later... Well, I think I get it. It’s an amazing piece of clothing.”
“I see. Oh, it’s well built.”
Liene smiled brightly as she examined the wedding dress that Black would wear. The new dress did not seem to have been made in a hurry, and there was no sign that the tailors had been harassed. It was definitely a good dress, as the Madam liked it.
“I want to try it on quickly... Oh, right. I forgot. I should try this.”
Liene turned around and unlocked the chest in the corner. She had brought the key from her room on purpose.
“Princess? What are you doing?”
“I’ll put some decorations on your wedding dress. I left a blue pendant here...”
“Are you talking about the sapphire that was named after the royal constellation?”
"Yes."
It was also the only jewel Liene had left. There were small earrings and hairpins, but they were too small to be of much value.
“Oh, you put it in that box over there instead of here.”
Liene, who knew the box was empty, turned to the shelf in the opposite corner.
“There’s no separate lock here, so they probably wouldn’t have put any jewels in it....”
And it hardened.
"Princess?"
Madam Flambard came over as if something was strange.
“What is this... all this?”
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