Liene pointed to a heavy rosewood chest. It was originally used to store jewels. Each compartment had a drawer, and each had a different keyhole under the handle. As she sold them off one by one, the chest became empty, so there was no need to lock it anymore, so she just kept the keys in the desk drawer in her office. The drawer, which should have been empty, wasn’t empty. The jewels that had been there before were now lying in their place, looking like they were nothing.
“Huh? What the... Oh my, my God!”
Madam Flambard also covered her mouth in surprise and screamed.
“How did it all happen... Ah.”
Madam Flambard seemed to know something.
"Ma'am?"
“No, that’s...”
Madame Flambard, watching Liene, opened the drawer that contained the necklace of the late Queen that she had recently given to the jeweler. As expected, the necklace was still there as it was originally.
“That’s... I told him... that this necklace is something the Princess treasures very much...”
“Who... is Lord Tiwakan?”
“Yes...”
“So, does that mean that guy filled all of this out?”
Liene, who was sighing out her agitated emotions, suddenly remembered something and searched through all the other boxes and cabinets. The jewels were neatly piled up. Some were the same as the ones she had sold before, while others had slightly different shapes.
“This is probably on purpose, right?”
“Th, th... what are you talking about?”
“There’s only one royal jeweler in Nauk. If you ask him, he’ll probably know who bought it, so...”
Black would have bought it without caring about the price. To fill the empty space. Sometimes, he would buy something similar because he couldn't get the same thing.
“This is ridiculous, really. When on earth did he buy all this stuff? When did he have time for that?”
“That’s true. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that many days since I last spoke to him...”
Madam Flambard was also touched and let out a slightly stuffy sound. The man seemed a little crazy. No matter how much money he had, he couldn’t do this. This would be several years’ worth of budget. The amount was huge, but Liene couldn’t accept this overflowing gift. The man was the one who had something to receive. Why was she receiving it? Liene should be giving more.
Liene turned around and headed for the door. Madam Flambard was surprised and followed Liene.
“Princess? Where are you going? You should try on your wedding dress.”
“It’s okay if I don’t try it on. I’m sure it’ll fit well.”
“No, how do you know that?”
“That guy gave it to me.”
“No matter how good his eye for detail may be, he's still a man. You can’t necessarily trust that.”
“Lord Tiwakan needs to try on the clothes too. I will go and get them.”
“Yes? The Princess is going to go yourself?”
“I think that would be faster.”
Liene turned to the door and chewed her lip. No matter how much she thought about it, that was too much. She should ask to sell it again. That man had already spent too much money. He was already paying for the wedding. On top of that, Black said he was planning to build a wall on the empty land to the south and make it into a fortress. Since the long drought began, most of the people south of the river had left Nauk. The empty land was bound to be vulnerable to defense. He seemed to not be able to tolerate the fact that there was a gap in the house where he would live. She agreed that it was necessary, but it was obvious that it would cost a lot of money. Knowing that, she couldn’t ask him to buy her jewels too. That was something that was supposed to be done by me. It was something that she couldn’t even think about doing.
“Princess? Where are you going? You should try on your wedding dress.”
“It’s okay if I don’t try it on. I’m sure it’ll fit well.”
“No, how do you know that?”
“That guy gave it to me.”
“No matter how good his eye for detail may be, he's still a man. You can’t necessarily trust that.”
“Lord Tiwakan needs to try on the clothes too. I will go and get them.”
“Yes? The Princess is going to go yourself?”
“I think that would be faster.”
Liene turned to the door and chewed her lip. No matter how much she thought about it, that was too much. She should ask to sell it again. That man had already spent too much money. He was already paying for the wedding. On top of that, Black said he was planning to build a wall on the empty land to the south and make it into a fortress. Since the long drought began, most of the people south of the river had left Nauk. The empty land was bound to be vulnerable to defense. He seemed to not be able to tolerate the fact that there was a gap in the house where he would live. She agreed that it was necessary, but it was obvious that it would cost a lot of money. Knowing that, she couldn’t ask him to buy her jewels too. That was something that was supposed to be done by me. It was something that she couldn’t even think about doing.
Liene grabbed the hem of her skirt and hurried to find Black. When she asked the mercenary she met on her way out of the jewel room and to the northern tower, he said that Black was just leaving the castle to look around the southern fortress. At those words, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and ran toward the fortress. Actually, it wasn't that urgent, and it was something she could do at night, but she didn't want to miss it. Maybe he wanted to see it. Even though she was out of breath, she couldn't stop thinking about it. It felt like it had been a while since she'd seen him.
“Haa, haa...”
Liene, who had been running diligently, arrived at the entrance of the castle gate. However, what she saw there was not Black riding a horse. It was a splendid carriage that she had never seen before.
"Who...?"
And it was a young man who got out of the carriage, holding the servant's hand.
***
“My Lord has already departed for the southern fortress.”
These were the words of the mercenary who guided the young man's carriage to the castle gate.
“Oh, I’m late.”
“My Lord will also be sorry.”
Tiwakan, who bowed his head to the regretful Liene, then spoke to the young man.
“The adjutant is inside the castle. I will guide you.”
“Oh, wait. There’s no rush. I should say hello first.”
The young man looked like someone who had just been dipped in expensive perfume. His smile was as smooth as oil, and his attire was as extravagant as a carriage. In fact, his hair was combed back neatly with oil, something that was hard to find in Nauk.
“If my eyes are not deceiving, this beautiful lady is Princess Liene of Nauk. It is my first time greeting you. I am Dieren, the Grand Duke of the Principality of Alito.”
Liene straightened her body at the sudden polite greeting of kneeling on one knee. Where is the Principality of Alito... It seems like a place with splendid etiquette.
“It’s my first time meeting you, too. I don’t know what business you have here, but if you have good intentions, I welcome you with the same heart.”
“Your speech is as elegant as your appearance. It is an honor to meet you in person. You are truly a beauty worthy of pinning the god of war to the wall. Thanks to you, the continent has sighed.”
“...How can a mere human appearance confine a god? Contrary to your intention, this greeting seems like it could easily be a blemish on a god. I will decline such a greeting.”
There was something unpleasant about the compliments of Grand Duke Dieren. She talked as if that man was a problem. It should have been the opposite. That man was the one who solved the problems they couldn't do anything about. And he said out of the blue that Liene was pretty. That man was the only one who said she was pretty.
“Is it rude in Nauk to call beauty beautiful?”
“I think it would be rude to say anything when the other person doesn’t want to hear it.”
“Why doesn’t the Princess want to be told that you is beautiful?”
“I think one fiancé is enough to say such things. If you don’t mind, I would like to change the subject. The Principality of Alito and Nauk have had no contact so far, so did you ask for Lord Tiwakan’s permission to make this unexpected visit?”
“One is enough... Isn’t that too vain? The god of Nauk, who gave you such beauty, will be angry.”
“Nauk is too busy to feel empty over such things. As the Grand Duke of the Duchy, I am sure you understand. Since the Guardians of Nauk are not hostile, I can tell that your visit was authorized.”
It was an elegant expression, meaning that there was nothing filthy that a human being called the Grand Duke could do. Dieren shrugged and exaggeratedly brushed his cheek.
“I feel like I got slapped in the face. I apologize for taking up your time when you are busy.”
“I gratefully accept your apology. Now, go about your business. Have Prince Dieren guide Lord Fermos. And I wish to follow Lord Tiwakan. Is there a guard in the castle who knows the way?”
“Is that so? My Lord is probably going too fast, so it will be hard to catch up. So, I will take you to the southern fortress. Please wait a moment.”
Dieren intervened.
“Then I will go with you.”
Both Tiwakan and Liene had similar expressions.
“Your the is a guest of Nauk. It would be impolite of Nauk to send a guest on his journey while he is still recovering from his illness. Sir Fermos will welcome you without any shortcomings.”
“The one who told me to go about my business comfortably was the Princess. My business is with the chieftain, not the adjutant of Tiwakan. If Lord Tiwakan is too busy to greet the guests himself, then I guess I should go.”
...If you say that, I can’t refuse. Liene turned her head towards the mercenary and asked, hiding her unwilling expression.
“Is the southern fortress a place where guests can walk?”
On the surface, she pretended to care about Dieren, but in reality, she was asking if it was okay to tell others about this place.
“The way there is simple and will be fine. But will you allow me to accompany you?”
The corners of Liene's lips slightly twitched.
“I cannot treat Lord Tiwakan’s guests with only Nauk’s courtesy.”
“I don’t think the lord will care much.”
Well, that would be true. If he was a very important guest, Black would have told her in advance. However, etiquette according to status was strict, and it was impossible to ignore a foreign Prince.
“I know, too.”
Liene smiled faintly at the mercenary and reluctantly accepted his company.
“Then let us go together. Instead, I would like to keep the procession brief, so I ask that you also refrain from excessive conduct.”
“As you wish.”
This time, Dieren showed his courtesy by exaggeratedly bending one knee.
***
"Ah..."
The terrain had changed. It had been years since Liene had walked south of the river. This area was literally an abandoned area, with nothing but ruined houses and empty spaces littered with dried-up weeds. A path had been created there. Seeing the large rocks that seemed like they would be the cornerstones, placed in random places, it seemed as if she could imagine what kind of castle would be built here.
“How did you come here?”
As she stared at the dried-up river for a moment, Black approached. The mercenary was right when he said she couldn't catch up. He had arrived far ahead of Liene.
“I brought guests.”
Liene prepared to dismount, holding the reins with one hand. But before she could, Black lightly hugged her waist and lowered her to the ground.
"Guest?"
Her feet touched the ground, but the hand holding her waist stayed where it was. For some reason, Liene blushed a little to herself.
“Yes. They are coming from behind. The carriage is slowing down.”
Although the road was too narrow for a carriage, Dieren insisted on taking the carriage. He didn't want to get covered in dirt. Looking at the expensive white silk suit, it was not hard to understand that the company was half-baked.
“If he is not the Princess’s guest, then I know who he is. Thank you for your trouble.”
Black said, gently brushing away the dirt from Liene's cloak.
“Is it for nothing that I came here?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just a waste of sincerity.”
Black took one of Liene's hands and whispered as he pressed his lips to her wrist. Liene somehow felt that this man's behavior alone was reason enough to come here.
“Weren’t you busy? I came out here on purpose to avoid being a nuisance.”
“There is still work to be done. But it is not something I can do alone.”
“Did you need me?”
“Yes. I met the guest by chance. And then we ended up coming together.”
Even during that brief conversation, the two of them did not break eye contact for a moment. The hand that was dusting off the dust tidied up her messy hair and fiddled with her collar for no reason, and Liene followed suit, carefully touching his forehead and nose. The fact that she can never get tired of looking at him must be referring to this man’s face.
“I, ahem, my lord.”
Randall called out to Black cautiously from behind.
“The carriage has arrived.”
Black didn't turn his head uselessly or anything.
“It must have come from Alito. Take it and keep it somewhere safe.”
“No, that doesn’t seem to be the kind of carriage it is.”
“...?”
The gaze that had been fixed on Liene finally dropped. Black turned his head and looked back, his expression visibly crumpled.
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