“I’m talking about the Klinefelters. Since the wedding has gone smoothly, I think it would be a good idea to empty out the place. I’ve recovered the visible assets, but I think they might have a secret safe or two hidden somewhere in the corner of the house.”
It wasn't for nothing that Fermos came to this hour to bring up such useless things. There was a good reason for it.
“If that’s true, then I guess there’s a reason to search that house.”
“That’s right. I guess so, but I feel a little uneasy.”
Liene's face became serious.
“What is that?”
“It’s a family that has practically disappeared. The direct lineage will never be able to set foot on this land again. But there are still workers left. Who on earth will manage those workers? Even if they remain out of loyalty to the family, they still need to eat and live.”
The biggest task after the wedding was to look into the forces opposing the new reign. Even if the Kleinfelters were gone, their roots would still be deep. Even though the remaining five families were bound by a new treaty, it would be a headache if they changed their minds right after the wedding. Governing and war were two completely different things, and the Tiwakan chieftain was trying to do the former. In that sense, the fact that the Kleinfelters still had workers left was not a good sign.
“I guess someone is there.”
“Yes. Just like I said back then. The more I think about it, the more suspicious it becomes. Isn’t it strange that the house where they’ve enjoyed everything up until now has never been seen?”
Liene agreed. It was hard to believe that no one in this small country had ever known about the man who could move the Kleinfelter family behind the scenes.
“It seems like there is such a person, but I can’t be sure.”
“Yes, that’s right. So I want to empty that house as quickly as possible. There must be something hidden there.”
Liene nodded.
“If necessary, we should do it. Since the people are more friendly to the royal family because of the wedding, it would be better to do it now. The reason why Klinefelter was exiled is probably widely known by now.”
“Yes. That mansion is also a type of property, so it also belongs to the royal family. It is a large and good building, so instead of leaving it empty, why not use it for something appropriate? Like a library or a school?”
“Wow. That’s a really good idea.”
“Thank you for your permission. Then I will leave tomorrow. Oh, and I am not saying this to impress my lord. I am saying this based on my own cool judgment.”
Fermos interrupted and smiled.
“My Lord, please stay at the castle tomorrow. If you go to the Kleinfelter household yourself, it won’t look good. I will go. I have someone who can help me.”
The person Fermos was talking about was Klima. Klima had been in and out of the mansion for a long time, so he knew a lot about the secret places that Linden Kleinfelter used. Black didn't particularly object.
"Then."
“Please stay with me for a while. Oh, but it really is for a while. It has to be for a while.”
As if he was sorry, Fermos wiped away his smile and repeated his request before leaving. Now it was time to go to sleep.
“But we have somewhere to go tomorrow.”
The honeymoon was luxurious. Even late dinners were served without lifting a finger, and Black did everything from drying her hair to going to the bedroom. When she was held by him and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face was very close. That was the reason why Liene did not refuse to be held.
“Where?”
“It’s the Great Temple.”
“What is it?”
“I want to see the high priest.”
"Ah..."
When Liene smiled, Black realized why. Liene had met old beggars but had never met High Priest Manau.
“Shouldn’t I know what happened? I was so surprised when I recognized his face at the wedding.”
Liene, who saw Manau approaching her, saying he would bless her, almost screamed. She clenched her teeth so hard that her jaw started to hurt.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you in advance.”
It was surprising that he had forgotten something. I thought it was her who made such mistakes. Liene tugged on Black's ear playfully. He didn't say it hurt but smiled clearly.
“He was originally a high priest, right? Come to think of it, that’s probably true. That must be why he recognized Prince Fernand.”
“When I was young, I was weak.”
Black laid Liene down on the bed and began to tell her story. The two lay side by side, their foreheads touching, sharing a time that was still unfamiliar and difficult.
“There was also talk of a curse from God upon the royal family.”
So Prince Fernand spent a lot of time in the temple. It was because he had been praying and blessing him for quite some time that Manau recognized his face at once.
“Why do you say such cruel things...”
Liene grabbed Black's hand tightly.
“I was just sick. The hardest thing was that the child was sick.”
“That’s the kind of place it is. The former King must have heard the same thing because of the drought.”
It was heartbreaking that he called Liene's own father the former King. He wasn't a King, he was the one who took the crown.
“It looks like you’re still sleeping.”
What are you talking about? Are you saying my eyes are swollen?
“Hearing that made me want to wash even more. I feel like I’m the only one being lazy.”
“You can sleep more or be lazy. Just be there when I open my eyes.”
“Oh, no. Don’t say things like that so pleasantly. It makes me want to move on.”
Liene stood up, holding Black's arm. Before that, Black lifted her body slightly and got her off the bed.
“Are you feeling sick today?”
No, she didn't. She almost cried just now when she stood on her own two feet. Her lower back was so tight.
“...I think it’ll be okay if I'm careful.”
“So you’re saying it’s not okay? Can’t you just lie down a little longer?”
“I don’t like that. It makes me feel like a patient.”
“If you are sick, it is right to become a patient.”
“That’s right. I didn’t get sick, I just shared affection. I can’t be a patient every time. This will become a daily routine.”
Black let out an inexplicable sigh.
“Maybe it’s good.”
“What is it?”
“Saying that won’t make you feel better all of a sudden... But the Princess who says that is so lovely. I can’t help but think that the outcome won’t be good.”
“Why are the results not good...”
“Just let me see this once. I won’t do it again.”
He swallowed her lips hastily, cutting off Liene's words. When Liene panicked and grabbed his shoulder, he held her waist tightly with his arms.
“No, I just woke up...”
Black, who listens to everything, sometimes goes deaf. Like now.
“Princess, Princess.”
Tang tang.
It wasn't for nothing that Fermos came to this hour to bring up such useless things. There was a good reason for it.
“If that’s true, then I guess there’s a reason to search that house.”
“That’s right. I guess so, but I feel a little uneasy.”
Liene's face became serious.
“What is that?”
“It’s a family that has practically disappeared. The direct lineage will never be able to set foot on this land again. But there are still workers left. Who on earth will manage those workers? Even if they remain out of loyalty to the family, they still need to eat and live.”
The biggest task after the wedding was to look into the forces opposing the new reign. Even if the Kleinfelters were gone, their roots would still be deep. Even though the remaining five families were bound by a new treaty, it would be a headache if they changed their minds right after the wedding. Governing and war were two completely different things, and the Tiwakan chieftain was trying to do the former. In that sense, the fact that the Kleinfelters still had workers left was not a good sign.
“I guess someone is there.”
“Yes. Just like I said back then. The more I think about it, the more suspicious it becomes. Isn’t it strange that the house where they’ve enjoyed everything up until now has never been seen?”
Liene agreed. It was hard to believe that no one in this small country had ever known about the man who could move the Kleinfelter family behind the scenes.
“It seems like there is such a person, but I can’t be sure.”
“Yes, that’s right. So I want to empty that house as quickly as possible. There must be something hidden there.”
Liene nodded.
“If necessary, we should do it. Since the people are more friendly to the royal family because of the wedding, it would be better to do it now. The reason why Klinefelter was exiled is probably widely known by now.”
“Yes. That mansion is also a type of property, so it also belongs to the royal family. It is a large and good building, so instead of leaving it empty, why not use it for something appropriate? Like a library or a school?”
“Wow. That’s a really good idea.”
“Thank you for your permission. Then I will leave tomorrow. Oh, and I am not saying this to impress my lord. I am saying this based on my own cool judgment.”
Fermos interrupted and smiled.
“My Lord, please stay at the castle tomorrow. If you go to the Kleinfelter household yourself, it won’t look good. I will go. I have someone who can help me.”
The person Fermos was talking about was Klima. Klima had been in and out of the mansion for a long time, so he knew a lot about the secret places that Linden Kleinfelter used. Black didn't particularly object.
"Then."
“Please stay with me for a while. Oh, but it really is for a while. It has to be for a while.”
As if he was sorry, Fermos wiped away his smile and repeated his request before leaving. Now it was time to go to sleep.
***
“But we have somewhere to go tomorrow.”
The honeymoon was luxurious. Even late dinners were served without lifting a finger, and Black did everything from drying her hair to going to the bedroom. When she was held by him and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face was very close. That was the reason why Liene did not refuse to be held.
“Where?”
“It’s the Great Temple.”
“What is it?”
“I want to see the high priest.”
"Ah..."
When Liene smiled, Black realized why. Liene had met old beggars but had never met High Priest Manau.
“Shouldn’t I know what happened? I was so surprised when I recognized his face at the wedding.”
Liene, who saw Manau approaching her, saying he would bless her, almost screamed. She clenched her teeth so hard that her jaw started to hurt.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you in advance.”
It was surprising that he had forgotten something. I thought it was her who made such mistakes. Liene tugged on Black's ear playfully. He didn't say it hurt but smiled clearly.
“He was originally a high priest, right? Come to think of it, that’s probably true. That must be why he recognized Prince Fernand.”
“When I was young, I was weak.”
Black laid Liene down on the bed and began to tell her story. The two lay side by side, their foreheads touching, sharing a time that was still unfamiliar and difficult.
“There was also talk of a curse from God upon the royal family.”
So Prince Fernand spent a lot of time in the temple. It was because he had been praying and blessing him for quite some time that Manau recognized his face at once.
“Why do you say such cruel things...”
Liene grabbed Black's hand tightly.
“I was just sick. The hardest thing was that the child was sick.”
“That’s the kind of place it is. The former King must have heard the same thing because of the drought.”
It was heartbreaking that he called Liene's own father the former King. He wasn't a King, he was the one who took the crown.
From you. Liene couldn't bear to look him in the eye, so she dug into Black's arms.
“Did the High Priest tell me your name was Henton on purpose?”
“I asked him. I don’t want to start a war here.”
Black slowly stroked Liene's head.
“Fortunately, he listened to me. It was shallow, so it quickly became useless.”
“It feels like... we’ve come a long way.”
“It was a road I had to take, even though it was a long way around.”
“That... is right, right?”
Black lowered his body and forced himself to meet her eyes at the voice that had somehow become smaller.
“Doesn’t that seem right?”
“I just... I was wondering if it’s okay for me to be like this. If it’s okay for me to receive this much, that kind of thing.”
“I will receive it.”
“What do you mean? That’s nonsense.”
“The fact that I am lying here like this right now is also a gift from the Princess.”
“Why did I give it to you? It’s because we’re married.”
“I could have been assigned to the next room. Like the other nobles of Nauk.”
The expression on his face as he spoke was so gentle and warm that Liene understood what he meant. He meant that she gave him her heart. That must mean something very important to him.
“I think it would be better if we shared a room. You don’t know how cold the winters are in Nauk. The bigger the room, the colder it is.”
“Then I like it even more. Because no matter how much the Princess likes me, I’m confident that I like you more.”
“I don’t know that.”
“You'll know when you see it.”
“Yes. Just wait and see.”
The two of them laughed for a long time while their eyes met. When the laughter stopped, the kiss began. The lips that were pressed against hers were dangerously sweet.
“Tomorrow... I can’t sleep in... because I have to go to the temple.”
Liene cracked jokes every now and then while her lips parted. Black, who would listen to anything, was a little different at times like this.
“Did the High Priest tell me your name was Henton on purpose?”
“I asked him. I don’t want to start a war here.”
Black slowly stroked Liene's head.
“Fortunately, he listened to me. It was shallow, so it quickly became useless.”
“It feels like... we’ve come a long way.”
“It was a road I had to take, even though it was a long way around.”
“That... is right, right?”
Black lowered his body and forced himself to meet her eyes at the voice that had somehow become smaller.
“Doesn’t that seem right?”
“I just... I was wondering if it’s okay for me to be like this. If it’s okay for me to receive this much, that kind of thing.”
“I will receive it.”
“What do you mean? That’s nonsense.”
“The fact that I am lying here like this right now is also a gift from the Princess.”
“Why did I give it to you? It’s because we’re married.”
“I could have been assigned to the next room. Like the other nobles of Nauk.”
The expression on his face as he spoke was so gentle and warm that Liene understood what he meant. He meant that she gave him her heart. That must mean something very important to him.
“I think it would be better if we shared a room. You don’t know how cold the winters are in Nauk. The bigger the room, the colder it is.”
“Then I like it even more. Because no matter how much the Princess likes me, I’m confident that I like you more.”
“I don’t know that.”
“You'll know when you see it.”
“Yes. Just wait and see.”
The two of them laughed for a long time while their eyes met. When the laughter stopped, the kiss began. The lips that were pressed against hers were dangerously sweet.
“Tomorrow... I can’t sleep in... because I have to go to the temple.”
Liene cracked jokes every now and then while her lips parted. Black, who would listen to anything, was a little different at times like this.
“Just tell him to come.”
“No, what... High Priest... you said. My legs are also uncomfortable...”
“What does it matter?”
The lips that had been biting the nape of her neck turned downward. The loose pajamas opened very easily. When she let out a sigh, it all became heat. Liene ran her fingers through Black's hair and tickled her chest.
“No, what... High Priest... you said. My legs are also uncomfortable...”
“What does it matter?”
The lips that had been biting the nape of her neck turned downward. The loose pajamas opened very easily. When she let out a sigh, it all became heat. Liene ran her fingers through Black's hair and tickled her chest.
Where on earth was this man going to take me?
But one thing was certain. Wherever he took her, it would be ecstatic. The night was just beginning.
***
But today, unlike yesterday, she didn't collapse until dusk. Liene opened her eyes just before noon.
“I guess it’s morning, huh...”
Liene, who had overslept for two days in a row, got up, mumbling an excuse that was embarrassing even to herself. It was a bit ambiguous whether Black, who he said had reflected a lot, had really reflected.
“Are you awake?”
Unlike her, who was still in her pajamas, Black looked like he had grown up nicely. He leaned against the door and smiled as he approached the bed.
“Um... I woke up, but please pretend you don’t know yet. I haven’t washed my face.”
“Yes, I know.”
Black kissed her eyes, which were still filled with sleep. Her eyes naturally narrowed, but Liene tried to push him away.
“This is cheating. You’re the only one who’s clean.”
“I’ll pretend not to know, so sleep more.”
“I can't do that, I'm asleep.”
“I guess it’s morning, huh...”
Liene, who had overslept for two days in a row, got up, mumbling an excuse that was embarrassing even to herself. It was a bit ambiguous whether Black, who he said had reflected a lot, had really reflected.
“Are you awake?”
Unlike her, who was still in her pajamas, Black looked like he had grown up nicely. He leaned against the door and smiled as he approached the bed.
“Um... I woke up, but please pretend you don’t know yet. I haven’t washed my face.”
“Yes, I know.”
Black kissed her eyes, which were still filled with sleep. Her eyes naturally narrowed, but Liene tried to push him away.
“This is cheating. You’re the only one who’s clean.”
“I’ll pretend not to know, so sleep more.”
“I can't do that, I'm asleep.”
“It looks like you’re still sleeping.”
What are you talking about? Are you saying my eyes are swollen?
“Hearing that made me want to wash even more. I feel like I’m the only one being lazy.”
“You can sleep more or be lazy. Just be there when I open my eyes.”
“Oh, no. Don’t say things like that so pleasantly. It makes me want to move on.”
Liene stood up, holding Black's arm. Before that, Black lifted her body slightly and got her off the bed.
“Are you feeling sick today?”
No, she didn't. She almost cried just now when she stood on her own two feet. Her lower back was so tight.
“...I think it’ll be okay if I'm careful.”
“So you’re saying it’s not okay? Can’t you just lie down a little longer?”
“I don’t like that. It makes me feel like a patient.”
“If you are sick, it is right to become a patient.”
“That’s right. I didn’t get sick, I just shared affection. I can’t be a patient every time. This will become a daily routine.”
Black let out an inexplicable sigh.
“Maybe it’s good.”
“What is it?”
“Saying that won’t make you feel better all of a sudden... But the Princess who says that is so lovely. I can’t help but think that the outcome won’t be good.”
“Why are the results not good...”
“Just let me see this once. I won’t do it again.”
He swallowed her lips hastily, cutting off Liene's words. When Liene panicked and grabbed his shoulder, he held her waist tightly with his arms.
“No, I just woke up...”
Black, who listens to everything, sometimes goes deaf. Like now.
***
“Princess, Princess.”
Tang tang.
Fortunately or unfortunately, before Liene could be pushed back into bed, Madame Flambard came to visit.
“...Can’t I just tell her to go?”
Black said something that no one could hear.
“Will that work? Madam called me over and over again.”
Bang bang.
“Princess. Princess. May I come in? I think I need to tell you something...”
It wasn't that his voice was anxious. Black shook his head once and quietly moved away.
“Just stay still. I’ll help you up.”
Liene answered her wife while Black hugged her waist and sat her down on the bed.
“Come in, Ma’am.”
“Princess. Princess.”
The door opened suddenly and Madam Flambard came in, her face darkened.
“Oh my... You two are still together. Please, forgive me for my rudeness, but I just can’t sit still.”
“What is it, Ma’am?”
“Why haven’t I seen her since this morning? I’ve looked everywhere, but I can’t find her. Something feels off...”
“If so, are you talking about Mrs. Henton?”
“Yes, Princess.”
Although they were still very polite to each other, it seemed like their hearts weren't like that.
“Are you sure there’s nothing inside the castle?”
Madam Flambard nodded, clasping her hands together.
“As far as I know, yes. Didn’t you say that she’s not allowed to go outside? But I still don’t understand why she suddenly left the castle...”
“Then I’ll notify the guards and have them look for her. Just in case, it would be best to search both inside and outside the castle.”
Black, who had been listening to the story, intervened.
“I’ll go to Klinefelter Mansion.”
“Huh? You decided not to go there.”
“That’s true, but I think Mrs. Henton might have gone there.”
“...Can’t I just tell her to go?”
Black said something that no one could hear.
“Will that work? Madam called me over and over again.”
Bang bang.
“Princess. Princess. May I come in? I think I need to tell you something...”
It wasn't that his voice was anxious. Black shook his head once and quietly moved away.
“Just stay still. I’ll help you up.”
Liene answered her wife while Black hugged her waist and sat her down on the bed.
“Come in, Ma’am.”
“Princess. Princess.”
The door opened suddenly and Madam Flambard came in, her face darkened.
“Oh my... You two are still together. Please, forgive me for my rudeness, but I just can’t sit still.”
“What is it, Ma’am?”
“Why haven’t I seen her since this morning? I’ve looked everywhere, but I can’t find her. Something feels off...”
“If so, are you talking about Mrs. Henton?”
“Yes, Princess.”
Although they were still very polite to each other, it seemed like their hearts weren't like that.
“Are you sure there’s nothing inside the castle?”
Madam Flambard nodded, clasping her hands together.
“As far as I know, yes. Didn’t you say that she’s not allowed to go outside? But I still don’t understand why she suddenly left the castle...”
“Then I’ll notify the guards and have them look for her. Just in case, it would be best to search both inside and outside the castle.”
Black, who had been listening to the story, intervened.
“I’ll go to Klinefelter Mansion.”
“Huh? You decided not to go there.”
“That’s true, but I think Mrs. Henton might have gone there.”
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