He didn't know anything else, but one thing was certain. The princess of Sharka was displeased with the sight of the Tiwakan chief marrying. Lafitte stood up.
“When? Now?”
Looking at him, his uncle stuck out his tongue as if he was amazed.
“Like that? Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“I heard. So, let’s go to my uncle’s house first.”
"Why?"
“I’m sure there’s at least one thing I can wear.”
“What? No, wait. I gave you all this money, and you want my clothes too? What...?”
“Stop talking and just walk.”
Thud! Lafitte pushed the back of his uncle, who was the same age as him.
“When? Now?”
Looking at him, his uncle stuck out his tongue as if he was amazed.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. I know you said the sooner, the better, but you can’t meet Her Highness the Princess in that state. Right?”
"...Shit."
Lafitte, his expression crumpled, approached his uncle and grabbed his arm.
“Go on.”
"...Shit."
Lafitte, his expression crumpled, approached his uncle and grabbed his arm.
“Go on.”
“Like that? Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“I heard. So, let’s go to my uncle’s house first.”
"Why?"
“I’m sure there’s at least one thing I can wear.”
“What? No, wait. I gave you all this money, and you want my clothes too? What...?”
“Stop talking and just walk.”
Thud! Lafitte pushed the back of his uncle, who was the same age as him.
***
The candle flickered.
“You came at a good time.”
It was past midnight when Lafitte set foot in the Princess’s bedroom. At this hour, it was impossible for an outsider without status to enter the palace. It was even more so if it was the Princess’s bedroom. But then something like this happened. It meant that the Princess had a reason to meet Lafitte.
“What did you want to see?”
Thanks to his uncle, Lafitte had somehow managed to regain his original good looks. His long hair created a shadow that hid his injured face. The Princess of Sharka laughed like a wild beast.
“You came at a good time.”
It was past midnight when Lafitte set foot in the Princess’s bedroom. At this hour, it was impossible for an outsider without status to enter the palace. It was even more so if it was the Princess’s bedroom. But then something like this happened. It meant that the Princess had a reason to meet Lafitte.
“What did you want to see?”
Thanks to his uncle, Lafitte had somehow managed to regain his original good looks. His long hair created a shadow that hid his injured face. The Princess of Sharka laughed like a wild beast.
“I think you need some comfort.”
“So, are you going to comfort me?”
"No."
“...?”
Princess Bliny Basched extended her hand to Lafitte.
“You must comfort me.”
“...”
Lafitte bit his lip and silently approached Princess Bliny and took her hand. However, he was confused about what to do. He could not figure out exactly what the Princess was asking of him.
“Can I ask why you need comfort?”
When he asked hesitantly, Princess Bliny raised her fingernails. The nails dug deep into the back of his hand. Bliny said, looking at Lafitte, who was frowning in sharp pain.
“You’re stupid. Well, that’s why you couldn’t stop that marriage even though you had the information I gave you.”
Lafitte's eyes suddenly changed.
“Wasn’t that information a useless lie from the beginning?”
“So, are you going to comfort me?”
"No."
“...?”
Princess Bliny Basched extended her hand to Lafitte.
“You must comfort me.”
“...”
Lafitte bit his lip and silently approached Princess Bliny and took her hand. However, he was confused about what to do. He could not figure out exactly what the Princess was asking of him.
“Can I ask why you need comfort?”
When he asked hesitantly, Princess Bliny raised her fingernails. The nails dug deep into the back of his hand. Bliny said, looking at Lafitte, who was frowning in sharp pain.
“You’re stupid. Well, that’s why you couldn’t stop that marriage even though you had the information I gave you.”
Lafitte's eyes suddenly changed.
“Wasn’t that information a useless lie from the beginning?”
"What?"
“As you said, that information played no role in ruining the marriage. If it were true that he came for revenge, he wouldn’t have acted like such a crazy lover!”
“...A crazy lover?”
Princess Bliny's eyes narrowed.
“Him?”
“Yes.”
Lafitte could no longer bear it and pushed away Princess Bliny's hand. A clear nail mark appeared between his thumb and index finger.
“You should have given me the military instead of information. If you had...”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me like that. You would have been beheaded long ago.”
“Are you saying that the army of the Kingdom of Sharka can’t handle a single mercenary group?”
“Of course. Not even Sharka, but no kingdom can handle him alone.”
Princess Bliny was resolute.
“You are a foolish young master who knows nothing. You must have lived comfortably in that small country house.”
Lafitte ground his teeth, forgetting that his opponent was the Princess.
“Don’t talk nonsense. I..."
“Well, fine. So you can just rush in without knowing. All the men I know have been weak. There’s not a single one of them who would confront him as recklessly as you.”
He was confused whether it was a compliment or an insult.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Show me your guts. Do you have the courage to steal a woman from the arms of a war god?”
Lafitte opened his eyes wide.
“Does that mean... you’ll help me?”
“We help each other. You take his woman, and I ruin him.”
"Great."
Lafitte didn't think twice. It wasn't because he still loved and desired Liene. He didn't want to live a miserable life as a penniless stranger in the kingdom of Sharka. He had to get back what Tiwakan had taken from him. His family, his honor, his wealth. And his pride, which had been crushed without mercy.
“What should I do?”
Princess Bliny pointed to the door next to the bed as if she had been waiting for it.
“If you open that door, you’ll find my husband’s bedroom.”
Lafitte knew that much too.
“My husband is probably asleep. He called three prostitutes today.”
“...”
Lafitte's face hardened. He knew that the Sharka royal family was debaucherous and hedonistic. But he had never thought that a Prince who had only been married for a year would so brazenly invite a prostitute into his bedroom. The Sharka Prince already had two recognized mistresses. That would have been insulting enough for the Princess, but now he had a prostitute.
“Don’t use a knife. It shouldn’t leave a mark. A pillow would be better.”
Then, it could have suffocated without injury. There would have been no way of saying who killed him. No doctor would have bothered to poke the corpse's nose to see if a feather had been forced into it.
“Then... and then what?”
“For the time being, those who have the right to succession will fight each other. I will quietly give birth to a child when they are done killing each other. After the child is born, I will become regent. Then this kingdom will be mine. I can do whatever I want, whether it be war or anything else.”
“Are you sure you’re having a baby?”
"No."
Princess Bliny let out a silent laugh from her lips.
“But today is a good day for me to have a child.”
A long, white finger pressed against Lafitte's heart.
“If you return safely from that room, I will give you the honor of becoming the seed of my child.”
“...”
Lafitte bit his lips tightly. To get back what was stolen, he had to kill the Prince of the Sharka kingdom. If he failed, he would become an assassin in another country and die with his limbs torn off.
“Let me ask you something.”
As it was a choice with such a high price, there was something to check. He had to know if Princess Bliny was as sincere as he was.
“Why do you want to ruin him?”
“To take it.”
“...”
“I couldn’t have it when it was so fresh. I felt bad about it, but I had to break it.”
The eyes that had been folded thinly and seemed impenetrable now sparkled like black opals. It was not a lie. The actions were crazy, but the desire was pure. Lafitte nodded once. The next moment, he pulled Princess Bliny’s chin in and kissed her as if he was going to chew her tongue.
“Warm up and wait. I’ll be back.”
Princess Bliny laughed, sticking out her tongue with a bite mark.
“As you said, that information played no role in ruining the marriage. If it were true that he came for revenge, he wouldn’t have acted like such a crazy lover!”
“...A crazy lover?”
Princess Bliny's eyes narrowed.
“Him?”
“Yes.”
Lafitte could no longer bear it and pushed away Princess Bliny's hand. A clear nail mark appeared between his thumb and index finger.
“You should have given me the military instead of information. If you had...”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me like that. You would have been beheaded long ago.”
“Are you saying that the army of the Kingdom of Sharka can’t handle a single mercenary group?”
“Of course. Not even Sharka, but no kingdom can handle him alone.”
Princess Bliny was resolute.
“You are a foolish young master who knows nothing. You must have lived comfortably in that small country house.”
Lafitte ground his teeth, forgetting that his opponent was the Princess.
“Don’t talk nonsense. I..."
“Well, fine. So you can just rush in without knowing. All the men I know have been weak. There’s not a single one of them who would confront him as recklessly as you.”
He was confused whether it was a compliment or an insult.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Show me your guts. Do you have the courage to steal a woman from the arms of a war god?”
Lafitte opened his eyes wide.
“Does that mean... you’ll help me?”
“We help each other. You take his woman, and I ruin him.”
"Great."
Lafitte didn't think twice. It wasn't because he still loved and desired Liene. He didn't want to live a miserable life as a penniless stranger in the kingdom of Sharka. He had to get back what Tiwakan had taken from him. His family, his honor, his wealth. And his pride, which had been crushed without mercy.
“What should I do?”
Princess Bliny pointed to the door next to the bed as if she had been waiting for it.
“If you open that door, you’ll find my husband’s bedroom.”
Lafitte knew that much too.
“My husband is probably asleep. He called three prostitutes today.”
“...”
Lafitte's face hardened. He knew that the Sharka royal family was debaucherous and hedonistic. But he had never thought that a Prince who had only been married for a year would so brazenly invite a prostitute into his bedroom. The Sharka Prince already had two recognized mistresses. That would have been insulting enough for the Princess, but now he had a prostitute.
“Don’t use a knife. It shouldn’t leave a mark. A pillow would be better.”
Then, it could have suffocated without injury. There would have been no way of saying who killed him. No doctor would have bothered to poke the corpse's nose to see if a feather had been forced into it.
“Then... and then what?”
“For the time being, those who have the right to succession will fight each other. I will quietly give birth to a child when they are done killing each other. After the child is born, I will become regent. Then this kingdom will be mine. I can do whatever I want, whether it be war or anything else.”
“Are you sure you’re having a baby?”
"No."
Princess Bliny let out a silent laugh from her lips.
“But today is a good day for me to have a child.”
A long, white finger pressed against Lafitte's heart.
“If you return safely from that room, I will give you the honor of becoming the seed of my child.”
“...”
Lafitte bit his lips tightly. To get back what was stolen, he had to kill the Prince of the Sharka kingdom. If he failed, he would become an assassin in another country and die with his limbs torn off.
“Let me ask you something.”
As it was a choice with such a high price, there was something to check. He had to know if Princess Bliny was as sincere as he was.
“Why do you want to ruin him?”
“To take it.”
“...”
“I couldn’t have it when it was so fresh. I felt bad about it, but I had to break it.”
The eyes that had been folded thinly and seemed impenetrable now sparkled like black opals. It was not a lie. The actions were crazy, but the desire was pure. Lafitte nodded once. The next moment, he pulled Princess Bliny’s chin in and kissed her as if he was going to chew her tongue.
“Warm up and wait. I’ll be back.”
Princess Bliny laughed, sticking out her tongue with a bite mark.
Squeak.
Lafitte opened the door decorated with black borders like the border of hell and walked through it.
***
The song that over a thousand people were singing loudly was not in harmony at all. However, he could not miss a single verse. The song of the Nauk people who had gathered under the bedroom terrace and sang was a wedding gift to Liene.
“Ah... How nice.”
When one song ended, another one started. Liene listened to the song, half crying and half laughing. Every time Liene smiled and waved her hands, the song got louder. She hadn't even changed into her wedding dress yet.
“It feels like the night will never end.”
The moon was already high in the sky. Black came up behind her. She thought he was changing his clothes because he disappeared for a moment, but he was still in his wedding attire.
“That’s why I’m worried too. I think if we keep doing that, we’ll end up getting soaked by the morning dew.”
His arms naturally wrapped around her waist. Liene rested her head on his shoulder. Her braided hair, with many jewel pins, felt heavy. In fact, her entire body felt heavy. He couldn’t figure out how she had gone through all the procedures of the wedding ceremony that had been going on since morning. The wedding ceremony was held in the royal chapel. The wedding ceremony was extremely long, including the investiture ceremony, where both Black and Tiwakan mercenaries were granted titles and surnames. After that, they rode the carriage to the temple, signed the oath, and sealed it on the altar. After hearing the consecration by the high priest, which was unprecedentedly long, they returned to the castle. Instead, this time, they stopped the carriage in front of the Eini Bridge and crossed the bridge on foot. People crossing the bridge from the other side gave blessings in a single line. The wedding procession ended only after they each held each person’s hand. They got back on the carriage and returned to the castle for a banquet. There had never been such a large banquet in Nauk before. The path from the gate to the banquet hall had never been adorned with flowers and silks, nor had the mountains of food and drink been shared equally among the poorest of the lands. The royal chapel must have been the most beautiful thing ever built in this land. It was a huge festival attended by literally the entire kingdom. It was a day when even the mice living in the stables got drunk on delicious wine. The most vivid memory of all was when Black took off the veil from his face in the open wedding carriage, when Liene said that she wanted to see the cheering crowd but could not see well because of the veil.
"Then take it off."
Black pulled out the pin that was holding the veil in place as if to ask what the problem was.
"Oh, the veil is supposed to be taken off when the wedding dress is taken off. It symbolizes the bride's purity and the perfection of the marriage."
Black smirked as he looked at her fully exposed face.
"This face is the most perfect for me. What more do you need?"
Liene don't quite remember what she said. She probably couldn't say anything.
"Just be whatever you want to be."
Her vision became clearer, and she could see things she wanted to see clearly. The best part was seeing him clearly in his wedding dress.
"You always surprise me."
As Liene whispered softly in his ear, Black answered, tickling her fingers.
"Not as much as the Princess does to me."
Through those times, they have reached this moment.
“Let’s all stop before our throats get sore.”
Black gently pulled out the jewel pins from Liene's hair, who was leaning against his shoulder. As each pin was removed, the skin under her head that had been tingling felt relieved.
“I don’t know how to say this. You all look so happy.”
“I want to entertain the Princess. So, let me tell you that there are things to enjoy besides listening to music.”
“How?”
"Like this."
Black, who had picked out all the jewel pins and let her hair down, wrapped his arms around Liene's waist again. He supported her back with one hand and gently sucked her lips together, and the song stopped as if it were a lie.
“Oh, if it’s like this...”
The kiss lasted a long time, making Liene feel like she was going crazy. When he let go of her lips, her cheeks were bright red...
“Ah... How nice.”
When one song ended, another one started. Liene listened to the song, half crying and half laughing. Every time Liene smiled and waved her hands, the song got louder. She hadn't even changed into her wedding dress yet.
“It feels like the night will never end.”
The moon was already high in the sky. Black came up behind her. She thought he was changing his clothes because he disappeared for a moment, but he was still in his wedding attire.
“That’s why I’m worried too. I think if we keep doing that, we’ll end up getting soaked by the morning dew.”
His arms naturally wrapped around her waist. Liene rested her head on his shoulder. Her braided hair, with many jewel pins, felt heavy. In fact, her entire body felt heavy. He couldn’t figure out how she had gone through all the procedures of the wedding ceremony that had been going on since morning. The wedding ceremony was held in the royal chapel. The wedding ceremony was extremely long, including the investiture ceremony, where both Black and Tiwakan mercenaries were granted titles and surnames. After that, they rode the carriage to the temple, signed the oath, and sealed it on the altar. After hearing the consecration by the high priest, which was unprecedentedly long, they returned to the castle. Instead, this time, they stopped the carriage in front of the Eini Bridge and crossed the bridge on foot. People crossing the bridge from the other side gave blessings in a single line. The wedding procession ended only after they each held each person’s hand. They got back on the carriage and returned to the castle for a banquet. There had never been such a large banquet in Nauk before. The path from the gate to the banquet hall had never been adorned with flowers and silks, nor had the mountains of food and drink been shared equally among the poorest of the lands. The royal chapel must have been the most beautiful thing ever built in this land. It was a huge festival attended by literally the entire kingdom. It was a day when even the mice living in the stables got drunk on delicious wine. The most vivid memory of all was when Black took off the veil from his face in the open wedding carriage, when Liene said that she wanted to see the cheering crowd but could not see well because of the veil.
"Then take it off."
Black pulled out the pin that was holding the veil in place as if to ask what the problem was.
"Oh, the veil is supposed to be taken off when the wedding dress is taken off. It symbolizes the bride's purity and the perfection of the marriage."
Black smirked as he looked at her fully exposed face.
"This face is the most perfect for me. What more do you need?"
Liene don't quite remember what she said. She probably couldn't say anything.
"Just be whatever you want to be."
Her vision became clearer, and she could see things she wanted to see clearly. The best part was seeing him clearly in his wedding dress.
"You always surprise me."
As Liene whispered softly in his ear, Black answered, tickling her fingers.
"Not as much as the Princess does to me."
Through those times, they have reached this moment.
“Let’s all stop before our throats get sore.”
Black gently pulled out the jewel pins from Liene's hair, who was leaning against his shoulder. As each pin was removed, the skin under her head that had been tingling felt relieved.
“I don’t know how to say this. You all look so happy.”
“I want to entertain the Princess. So, let me tell you that there are things to enjoy besides listening to music.”
“How?”
"Like this."
Black, who had picked out all the jewel pins and let her hair down, wrapped his arms around Liene's waist again. He supported her back with one hand and gently sucked her lips together, and the song stopped as if it were a lie.
“Oh, if it’s like this...”
The kiss lasted a long time, making Liene feel like she was going crazy. When he let go of her lips, her cheeks were bright red...
It’s embarrassing. Everyone must have noticed how much she was in love with this guy.
“Now just turn around and wave. Everyone will happily send you off.”
“..."
Liene, who had been awkwardly turning around, smiled brightly again as she waved at the people gathered under the terrace. As Black had said, the people who had stopped singing had very happy faces.
“How did you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“This is how it should be done.”
Black turned Liene around and smiled, sending shivers down her spine.
“It’s your first time, Princess, but they’ve been married before.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It means I’ve been waiting for this night like a madman.”
Thump. Black closed the terrace door behind him. Thump. The string holding the curtains back was released, completely covering the window.
“From now on, I’ll only care about myself.”
“...”
Liene swallowed without realizing it. Black's pale eyes had seemed as dark as pitch-black darkness just a moment ago.
“Now just turn around and wave. Everyone will happily send you off.”
“..."
Liene, who had been awkwardly turning around, smiled brightly again as she waved at the people gathered under the terrace. As Black had said, the people who had stopped singing had very happy faces.
“How did you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“This is how it should be done.”
Black turned Liene around and smiled, sending shivers down her spine.
“It’s your first time, Princess, but they’ve been married before.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It means I’ve been waiting for this night like a madman.”
Thump. Black closed the terrace door behind him. Thump. The string holding the curtains back was released, completely covering the window.
“From now on, I’ll only care about myself.”
“...”
Liene swallowed without realizing it. Black's pale eyes had seemed as dark as pitch-black darkness just a moment ago.
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