“That guy is crazy. That guy is absolutely evil. To swindle a child. No, it wasn’t just swindled. It was treason.”
Fermos raised his voice in rare excitement.
“It seems that all bloodlines are like that.”
Liene made a bitter expression.
“I can’t deny it.”
Klinefelter's deeds were endless. With the power he had built up, he had lived like a leech, sucking up this withering kingdom. And the one who borrowed that power to become King was her father. Black said he didn't care, but Liene seemed to never be able to forgive the blood flowing in her.
“Don’t think useless thoughts.”
Black immediately knew what Liene was thinking with that expression on her face.
“It’s not the Princess’s fault that Klinefelter was born to be a glutton.”
“I know. But...”
“I know. You don’t need to say anything else.”
“....”
“I’ll kiss you every time you say that. No matter where.”
Black's decisive addition made her laugh out loud in this situation.
“Don’t talk like kissing is everything. That doesn’t solve anything.”
“I can block the Princess’s mouth.”
“Just because you keep my mouth shut doesn’t mean it never happened.”
“That’s what it will be. We’ll kiss forever.”
“...”
That's ridiculous nonsense. But both arms were the first to embrace him. There's nothing she can do. If this man is going to be stubborn all his life, she has to listen. If that's what she has to do. Black's hand gently stroked her back.
“My father was not a desirable King, even in my memory. Klinefelter’s actions may have been for his own greed, but he must have had a reason to involve other nobles.”
“That... does that have anything to do with the story of stealing the power of God?”
"Maybe."
“The High Priest will know what that is.”
Liene pointed out something. Unable to face him, she raised her head, which had been buried in Black's chest.
“You said that Ternan Kleinfelter came to the temple. He can’t enter the temple without anyone knowing. At the very least, someone must have let him in secretly. The high priest at the time might know what happened.”
“Oh, that could be true. Then I should go to the temple right now!”
Fermos shouted, clicking his glasses.
“My guess is that it has something to do with the abnormal drought in Nauk.”
“And the drought?”
“All of this can’t be a coincidence. The rebellion happened 21 years ago, and the drought in Nauk began 21 years ago. And didn’t you say it was the power of the gods? Rain is the realm of the gods.”
Liene looked as if she had been hit. She couldn't believe it.
“Can... humans steal that? So, humans can... steal rain?”
“It would be impossible, in common sense. But there must have been something. Oh, when my lord said he would bring in scholars who studied climate, I should have done it right away. Then it would have been easier to get an answer.”
That was also a surprising statement.
“Were you thinking about that?”
Liene turned her head towards Black and asked.
“I was thinking of taking it slow. I have plenty of time.”
“Ha... Just how far are you planning to surprise me? I never thought of that.”
“The Princess would have done it too if Klinefelter hadn’t been there.”
“Just wait and see.”
Liene hugged Black again. Black smiled quietly as if he found Liene so endearing.
Black lifted Liene's body slightly by hugging her waist. He now knew the height at which Liene could hug his neck in the most comfortable position.
“I'll do that, and the Princess will surprise me too.”
“How?”
“I’ll leave that to the Princess.”
“Um... I’m not confident in surprising people.”
“I don’t think so. You, Princess, are the person who has surprised me the most out of all the people I have ever met.”
Black whispered softly and pressed his lips to her earlobe.
“I'll be back soon.”
He was just going to the temple for a bit, but why does she feel so nostalgic? She guesses she can't stand being away from this man for any length of time.
“You have to come quickly.”
“If you keep doing that, you won’t be able to go.”
Black lowered Liene with a smiling face. However, contrary to his refreshing actions, his gaze remained hot.
“...? It’s not scary. But what if I come here? I have to stay by your side.”
“Oh, my mother has a friend... No, she has another Madam... Oh, but he said I have to stay by the Princess’s side.”
“Who is it?”
“Oh, I understand.”
The back of Klima's neck turned red again for no reason.
“Let’s go, now.”
Leading the way, Liene didn’t notice that Klima was following her footsteps obediently, his eyes on the dark corridors keeping a close eye on her.
Fermos raised his voice in rare excitement.
“It seems that all bloodlines are like that.”
Liene made a bitter expression.
“I can’t deny it.”
Klinefelter's deeds were endless. With the power he had built up, he had lived like a leech, sucking up this withering kingdom. And the one who borrowed that power to become King was her father. Black said he didn't care, but Liene seemed to never be able to forgive the blood flowing in her.
“Don’t think useless thoughts.”
Black immediately knew what Liene was thinking with that expression on her face.
“It’s not the Princess’s fault that Klinefelter was born to be a glutton.”
“I know. But...”
“I know. You don’t need to say anything else.”
“....”
“I’ll kiss you every time you say that. No matter where.”
Black's decisive addition made her laugh out loud in this situation.
“Don’t talk like kissing is everything. That doesn’t solve anything.”
“I can block the Princess’s mouth.”
“Just because you keep my mouth shut doesn’t mean it never happened.”
“That’s what it will be. We’ll kiss forever.”
“...”
That's ridiculous nonsense. But both arms were the first to embrace him. There's nothing she can do. If this man is going to be stubborn all his life, she has to listen. If that's what she has to do. Black's hand gently stroked her back.
“My father was not a desirable King, even in my memory. Klinefelter’s actions may have been for his own greed, but he must have had a reason to involve other nobles.”
“That... does that have anything to do with the story of stealing the power of God?”
"Maybe."
“The High Priest will know what that is.”
Liene pointed out something. Unable to face him, she raised her head, which had been buried in Black's chest.
“You said that Ternan Kleinfelter came to the temple. He can’t enter the temple without anyone knowing. At the very least, someone must have let him in secretly. The high priest at the time might know what happened.”
“Oh, that could be true. Then I should go to the temple right now!”
Fermos shouted, clicking his glasses.
“My guess is that it has something to do with the abnormal drought in Nauk.”
“And the drought?”
“All of this can’t be a coincidence. The rebellion happened 21 years ago, and the drought in Nauk began 21 years ago. And didn’t you say it was the power of the gods? Rain is the realm of the gods.”
Liene looked as if she had been hit. She couldn't believe it.
“Can... humans steal that? So, humans can... steal rain?”
“It would be impossible, in common sense. But there must have been something. Oh, when my lord said he would bring in scholars who studied climate, I should have done it right away. Then it would have been easier to get an answer.”
That was also a surprising statement.
“Were you thinking about that?”
Liene turned her head towards Black and asked.
“I was thinking of taking it slow. I have plenty of time.”
“Ha... Just how far are you planning to surprise me? I never thought of that.”
“The Princess would have done it too if Klinefelter hadn’t been there.”
“Just wait and see.”
Liene hugged Black again. Black smiled quietly as if he found Liene so endearing.
“I’ll do something too. It’s something I had to do.”
“I will be waiting.”
Fermos intervened.
“Um... The two of you are very close, and, um, it is very, very good that you both promote each other’s virtues as monarchs, but please remember that there is something more urgent. It would be more effective if you, the lord, met the high priest yourself, since you know the past.”
“I think so too.”
“Shall we leave now, since the ox horns have been pulled out in one go?”
There was no reason to waste time. And now that Ternan Klinefelter had disappeared, the sooner they could respond, the better, given what he might do.
"Then."
“Let’s go together.”
Liene let go of the arm that had been holding Black and spoke.
“No, the Princess is here.”
“Why? I might know something.”
“I will be waiting.”
Fermos intervened.
“Um... The two of you are very close, and, um, it is very, very good that you both promote each other’s virtues as monarchs, but please remember that there is something more urgent. It would be more effective if you, the lord, met the high priest yourself, since you know the past.”
“I think so too.”
“Shall we leave now, since the ox horns have been pulled out in one go?”
There was no reason to waste time. And now that Ternan Klinefelter had disappeared, the sooner they could respond, the better, given what he might do.
"Then."
“Let’s go together.”
Liene let go of the arm that had been holding Black and spoke.
“No, the Princess is here.”
“Why? I might know something.”
“But Klinefelter will be on the move outside the castle. We can’t just expose the Princess without knowing who he is.”
Liene thought he was being too cautious, but she couldn't object. She knew what he was thinking. No matter how shallow the pond was, it was a mind that couldn't be made to step into. Liene would have been the same.
“We can move faster if the Princess is in the castle.”
"All right."
Liene lifted her toes and hugged Black's neck.
“Then go very quickly. So that I am surprised.”
Liene thought he was being too cautious, but she couldn't object. She knew what he was thinking. No matter how shallow the pond was, it was a mind that couldn't be made to step into. Liene would have been the same.
“We can move faster if the Princess is in the castle.”
"All right."
Liene lifted her toes and hugged Black's neck.
“Then go very quickly. So that I am surprised.”
Black lifted Liene's body slightly by hugging her waist. He now knew the height at which Liene could hug his neck in the most comfortable position.
“I'll do that, and the Princess will surprise me too.”
“How?”
“I’ll leave that to the Princess.”
“Um... I’m not confident in surprising people.”
“I don’t think so. You, Princess, are the person who has surprised me the most out of all the people I have ever met.”
Black whispered softly and pressed his lips to her earlobe.
“I'll be back soon.”
He was just going to the temple for a bit, but why does she feel so nostalgic? She guesses she can't stand being away from this man for any length of time.
“You have to come quickly.”
“If you keep doing that, you won’t be able to go.”
Black lowered Liene with a smiling face. However, contrary to his refreshing actions, his gaze remained hot.
“Don’t sleep, wait.”
“I will do that.”
Black left for the temple, leaving behind a gaze that seemed to stick to his skin.
“Oh, don’t be afraid. I came here because the Princess told me to stay by your side.”
Black left and the moon rose. Normally, it would be time to wash and get ready for bed. Today, she didn't feel like doing that. Lying down in bed alone was now something she never wanted to do. Liene sat by the window for a while without washing or changing clothes, and then unexpectedly, Klima came to visit her.
“I will do that.”
Black left for the temple, leaving behind a gaze that seemed to stick to his skin.
***
“Oh, don’t be afraid. I came here because the Princess told me to stay by your side.”
Black left and the moon rose. Normally, it would be time to wash and get ready for bed. Today, she didn't feel like doing that. Lying down in bed alone was now something she never wanted to do. Liene sat by the window for a while without washing or changing clothes, and then unexpectedly, Klima came to visit her.
“...? It’s not scary. But what if I come here? I have to stay by your side.”
“Oh, my mother has a friend... No, she has another Madam... Oh, but he said I have to stay by the Princess’s side.”
“Who is it?”
“Prince Fernand, no, my lord. And the adjutant too.”
“That’s strange. I wonder why that happened.”
Liene didn’t know it, but it was because Klima had been trained as an assassin. Since he was an excellent assassin, he could also play a role in stopping assassins. Black hadn’t forgotten Liene’s disappearance inside the Nauk Castle. The name Kleinfelter was also a name that didn’t discriminate between means and methods.
“That’s strange. I wonder why that happened.”
Liene didn’t know it, but it was because Klima had been trained as an assassin. Since he was an excellent assassin, he could also play a role in stopping assassins. Black hadn’t forgotten Liene’s disappearance inside the Nauk Castle. The name Kleinfelter was also a name that didn’t discriminate between means and methods.
However, looking at Klima, who seemed so innocent on the outside, it was hard to believe that he was someone who was preparing for an assassination. Furthermore, Klima looked even more immature when he was next to Liene because his neck would turn red for no reason and he would stutter once in a while. It seemed like it probably started after Liene gave him some really delicious snacks.
“Oh, that’s good timing. I couldn’t sleep, so I was thinking of looking through the royal records. Would you like to come with me?”
“Oh, I’ll take you anywhere. Anywhere.”
When Klima answered with a serious expression on his face, Liene smiled slightly.
“Thank you, LmSir Renfell.”
After the wedding, Liene called Klima by his new name. Strictly speaking, Klima was not yet a knight, but as a courtesy to the Knight of Henton, his son was also given a title of honor.
“You go ahead. We have to go to the King’s office.”
“Ah, no, I should go from behind... Well, I don’t know the way well, so you, Princess, should go in front... You should go in front.”
“Oh, I see. Then please pick up the candle over there. It’ll be dark in the hallway.”
"Yes, yes."
When told to pick up the candlestick, Klima grabbed the candle with hot wax flowing out of it and handed it over.
“Oh, then it’s hot! Just hold the candlestick!”
Liene hurriedly accepted the candlestick. Klima shrugged his shoulders like a child who had been scolded.
“Oh, I know... Oh, I don’t mind holding hot things. I’ve held on to things so many times that it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Liene sighed softly.
“Was holding a hot candle with bare hands also a way of praying for repentance?”
“It was one of them.”
“...Now, you've decided to stop praying. So don’t hold on to the hot candle either.”
“Oh, that’s good timing. I couldn’t sleep, so I was thinking of looking through the royal records. Would you like to come with me?”
“Oh, I’ll take you anywhere. Anywhere.”
When Klima answered with a serious expression on his face, Liene smiled slightly.
“Thank you, LmSir Renfell.”
After the wedding, Liene called Klima by his new name. Strictly speaking, Klima was not yet a knight, but as a courtesy to the Knight of Henton, his son was also given a title of honor.
“You go ahead. We have to go to the King’s office.”
“Ah, no, I should go from behind... Well, I don’t know the way well, so you, Princess, should go in front... You should go in front.”
“Oh, I see. Then please pick up the candle over there. It’ll be dark in the hallway.”
"Yes, yes."
When told to pick up the candlestick, Klima grabbed the candle with hot wax flowing out of it and handed it over.
“Oh, then it’s hot! Just hold the candlestick!”
Liene hurriedly accepted the candlestick. Klima shrugged his shoulders like a child who had been scolded.
“Oh, I know... Oh, I don’t mind holding hot things. I’ve held on to things so many times that it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Liene sighed softly.
“Was holding a hot candle with bare hands also a way of praying for repentance?”
“It was one of them.”
“...Now, you've decided to stop praying. So don’t hold on to the hot candle either.”
“Oh, I understand.”
The back of Klima's neck turned red again for no reason.
“Let’s go, now.”
Leading the way, Liene didn’t notice that Klima was following her footsteps obediently, his eyes on the dark corridors keeping a close eye on her.
***
When she thought of the royal records, Liene didn’t think much of it. She didn’t want to fall asleep until Black returned, so she felt a lighthearted desire to do something. What she had been looking for in the royal records was the record of the drought. If the drought had started after the death of King Pembroyn, the last King of the Gainers Dynasty, as Fermos had said, then there shouldn’t have been any mention of drought in the records before then.
“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case...”
As she looked through the records, the lightheartedness disappeared without a trace. Liene delved into the records without thinking. She didn’t even realize that her hair almost burned because she held the candle too close to read the faint letters. If Klima hadn’t been startled and snatched the candle away, one side of her head would have been disfigured. Because of that, Klima had to hold the hot candle with his bare hands again, and only then did Liene come to her senses and hand the candle over to Klima.
“What, what are you looking for?”
“Rainfall. I record it every time it rains.”
“You mean how much rain it got?”
"That's right."
Liene remembered that Klima was older than Black.
“Do you remember when you were young? More than 20 years ago. Did it rain a lot back then?”
“The rain... uh, um... Well, I’m not sure. I think it rained a little more than it has now... But the rain falls differently depending on the season...”
“The records are the same.”
Comparing the rainfall, it was definitely a drought now. The season was like that, and there was little rain. However, if you go back a long time, the rainfall was not much more than now. There were many days in the past when it didn't rain for a long time. The only difference is that there was no record of the Ebet River drying up at that time.
“Look. Here. At this time, it didn’t rain for more than half a year. But the crop yields and the taxes paid to the royal family didn’t decrease.”
“That, that?”
“Even if it didn’t rain, there was no shortage of water. Unlike now.”
“Ah...? Why, why is that?”
“I don’t know.”
The Ebet River flowed abundantly, and the nine waterfalls created beautiful rainbows every day. Looking at the water levels at that time, Nauk was truly a wealthy place. Not only was the lack of rain a problem, but even when it rained heavily, farming was difficult. Nauk did not receive much rain, but the water was always abundant. It was truly a land blessed by God.
“Why did the river dry up? Even the nine waterfalls.”
It was as if someone had taken all the water away.
“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case...”
As she looked through the records, the lightheartedness disappeared without a trace. Liene delved into the records without thinking. She didn’t even realize that her hair almost burned because she held the candle too close to read the faint letters. If Klima hadn’t been startled and snatched the candle away, one side of her head would have been disfigured. Because of that, Klima had to hold the hot candle with his bare hands again, and only then did Liene come to her senses and hand the candle over to Klima.
“What, what are you looking for?”
“Rainfall. I record it every time it rains.”
“You mean how much rain it got?”
"That's right."
Liene remembered that Klima was older than Black.
“Do you remember when you were young? More than 20 years ago. Did it rain a lot back then?”
“The rain... uh, um... Well, I’m not sure. I think it rained a little more than it has now... But the rain falls differently depending on the season...”
“The records are the same.”
Comparing the rainfall, it was definitely a drought now. The season was like that, and there was little rain. However, if you go back a long time, the rainfall was not much more than now. There were many days in the past when it didn't rain for a long time. The only difference is that there was no record of the Ebet River drying up at that time.
“Look. Here. At this time, it didn’t rain for more than half a year. But the crop yields and the taxes paid to the royal family didn’t decrease.”
“That, that?”
“Even if it didn’t rain, there was no shortage of water. Unlike now.”
“Ah...? Why, why is that?”
“I don’t know.”
The Ebet River flowed abundantly, and the nine waterfalls created beautiful rainbows every day. Looking at the water levels at that time, Nauk was truly a wealthy place. Not only was the lack of rain a problem, but even when it rained heavily, farming was difficult. Nauk did not receive much rain, but the water was always abundant. It was truly a land blessed by God.
“Why did the river dry up? Even the nine waterfalls.”
It was as if someone had taken all the water away.
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