"The King stole the power of God."
Is that possible? How can a human take away water? Liene, who was lost in thought, unconsciously grabbed her hair. Then, she was startled when Klima's finger touched her forehead.
"Why...?"
“Ugh, ahh...! Ah, no! I mean, my hand...!”
Rather than Liene, Klima seemed more surprised. He hurriedly stepped back and waved his hands wildly.
“My hands are just... not what I was trying to do... just, just... wrinkled...”
"Ah..."
Liene nodded as if she understood.
“Yes, I understand what you mean. But please don’t do that again.”
What Klima did was what she had done to Black today. She smoothed out his wrinkled and sore eyebrows. Klima's mind might not be exactly the same as hers, but someone other than Black didn't have to do the same thing.
“Oh, I understand... I’m sorry.”
Klima bowed his head.
“I’m not upset that you bothered me with your wrinkles. I’m just saying you don’t have to do that.”
“Oh, I understand.”
Klima opened the distance with a very apologetic expression on his face. Only then did Liene realize that they were very close. Feeling that the atmosphere was becoming awkward, Liene brought up a light story.
“You were with Mrs. Henton before you came to me, right? How is she? Has she improved a lot?”
“Yes, yes. Mother now...”
"Many...?"
It was then that Clima suddenly opened his eyes and covered Liene's mouth.
“...!”
"Shhhh."
Klima spoke in a very small voice to Liene, who was flustered and trying to shake off her hand.
“It looks like there’s someone outside.”
“...?”
Klima soundlessly extinguished the candle with his palm. A suffocating darkness descended.
“I guess I’m worried.”
It was around the time when the unfinished stairs began to appear dimly. Even as he rode his horse at an eerie speed, Black muttered to himself.
“What, huh, is the problem?”
Fermos was used to such things. Black was the kind of person who would not let his enemies or subordinates down.
“Henton. His new name was Renfell.”
“Are you talking about our cute youngest?”
Black looked back at Fermos for a moment, as if he was dumbfounded.
“You think he's cute?”
“Everyone, phew, the youngest is so cute since it’s been so long.”
“...He’s blind.”
“Oh, so, hoo, isn’t that even cuter? It looks like the duckling is following its mother.”
“That must be the problem with Liene.”
“It was something that was decided after the wedding ceremony. By the way, what brings you to me at this hour? Did something come up?”
“Yes, Princess. Lord Werose has returned. I think it would be best to tell you right away...”
“Oh my god! Sir Werose?”
It was someone she hadn't heard from in over a month. Liene sat up abruptly.
“Have he arrived at the castle yet? Where is he? Did he want to see me?”
“That’s... the problem.”
“Here it is, Princess. He still can’t open his eyes.”
Werose was covered in splints and bandages.
“Oh my god... How did he get hurt like this?”
The guard quarters attached to the castle walls were a bit strange. Since Tiwakan had been renamed the Knights of Arsak, there had been a conflict between the guards and the original guards, knowingly or unknowingly. Tiwakan wanted to get rid of the useless guards, and the guards treated them like strange intruders. Since all the mercenaries were knighted, the guards’ position became even more ambiguous. There were not many guards who had knighthood. Strictly speaking, the royal knights and the guards had separate duties, but the work of the original guards was not pleasing to Tiwakan’s eyes.
“...I made a slip of the tongue. I will do as you say.”
The captain took a step back. He was also a loyal man, but his discontent with Tiwakan was greater now. Liene turned her eyes away from him and took Werose’s hand, who was lying on the bed.
“Sir Werose... Thank you for your hard work. I believe you will get better soon.”
“...”
Werose's eyelids fluttered briefly under the dim candlelight.
Is that possible? How can a human take away water? Liene, who was lost in thought, unconsciously grabbed her hair. Then, she was startled when Klima's finger touched her forehead.
"Why...?"
“Ugh, ahh...! Ah, no! I mean, my hand...!”
Rather than Liene, Klima seemed more surprised. He hurriedly stepped back and waved his hands wildly.
“My hands are just... not what I was trying to do... just, just... wrinkled...”
"Ah..."
Liene nodded as if she understood.
“Yes, I understand what you mean. But please don’t do that again.”
What Klima did was what she had done to Black today. She smoothed out his wrinkled and sore eyebrows. Klima's mind might not be exactly the same as hers, but someone other than Black didn't have to do the same thing.
“Oh, I understand... I’m sorry.”
Klima bowed his head.
“I’m not upset that you bothered me with your wrinkles. I’m just saying you don’t have to do that.”
“Oh, I understand.”
Klima opened the distance with a very apologetic expression on his face. Only then did Liene realize that they were very close. Feeling that the atmosphere was becoming awkward, Liene brought up a light story.
“You were with Mrs. Henton before you came to me, right? How is she? Has she improved a lot?”
“Yes, yes. Mother now...”
"Many...?"
It was then that Clima suddenly opened his eyes and covered Liene's mouth.
“...!”
"Shhhh."
Klima spoke in a very small voice to Liene, who was flustered and trying to shake off her hand.
“It looks like there’s someone outside.”
“...?”
Klima soundlessly extinguished the candle with his palm. A suffocating darkness descended.
***
“I guess I’m worried.”
It was around the time when the unfinished stairs began to appear dimly. Even as he rode his horse at an eerie speed, Black muttered to himself.
“What, huh, is the problem?”
Fermos was used to such things. Black was the kind of person who would not let his enemies or subordinates down.
“Henton. His new name was Renfell.”
“Are you talking about our cute youngest?”
Black looked back at Fermos for a moment, as if he was dumbfounded.
“You think he's cute?”
“Everyone, phew, the youngest is so cute since it’s been so long.”
“...He’s blind.”
“Oh, so, hoo, isn’t that even cuter? It looks like the duckling is following its mother.”
“That must be the problem with Liene.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant..."
Fermos swallowed a groan inwardly. Everyone knew that Klima, who had been given the new name Renfell, was blindly obsessed with Princess Liene. During class, he would sometimes lose his mind and burst out laughing, and that was always when Princess Liene caught a glimpse of him in the distance. The fact that he became the youngest of Tiwakan, regardless of his age, was also because of his desire to become the guardian of Arsak. Fermos didn’t think that was a problem. Just as his past as an assassin made him a perfect bodyguard, his feelings, which were more blind than affection, would do their job perfectly.
“Rather, wouldn’t it be better to entrust the Princess’s safety to his? The youngest one... wouldn’t harbor any rude thoughts.”
“I know that too.”
“But?”
“I’m worried. Whoever it is.”
"Ah..."
Fermos, who was ignorant of the love affair between men and women, finally understood what Black was saying. So, he was just saying that he was annoyed by all the people hanging around, whether this guy or that guy. Was he always like this...?
Fermos swallowed a groan inwardly. Everyone knew that Klima, who had been given the new name Renfell, was blindly obsessed with Princess Liene. During class, he would sometimes lose his mind and burst out laughing, and that was always when Princess Liene caught a glimpse of him in the distance. The fact that he became the youngest of Tiwakan, regardless of his age, was also because of his desire to become the guardian of Arsak. Fermos didn’t think that was a problem. Just as his past as an assassin made him a perfect bodyguard, his feelings, which were more blind than affection, would do their job perfectly.
“Rather, wouldn’t it be better to entrust the Princess’s safety to his? The youngest one... wouldn’t harbor any rude thoughts.”
“I know that too.”
“But?”
“I’m worried. Whoever it is.”
"Ah..."
Fermos, who was ignorant of the love affair between men and women, finally understood what Black was saying. So, he was just saying that he was annoyed by all the people hanging around, whether this guy or that guy. Was he always like this...?
...Yes, that must have been the case. He guessed he just didn’t know.
“Then should we change the Princess’s escort to someone else?”
“...No. Henton is the best.”
Well, that's true. Isn't that a conclusion that has already been reached?
“But it still bothers me.”
“...”
Fermos decided to change the subject. Black probably didn’t suggest an alternative. He must have just blurted out a word because he was constantly on edge. Yes, so the lord was the kind of person who would say such nonsense...
“The high priest.”
Fortunately, the topic was safely moved on. After all, this was a more important matter. No, perhaps that was more important to the lord. Anyway.
“I thought about it, but I’m still not sure. Do you trust him?”
"No."
The answer was so immediate that it actually embarrassed Fermos.
“You made him a high priest.”
“It was just the right time. Thanks to that, we got the wedding and that damn treaty sorted out.”
“That’s right. So, the high priest, were he on the same side as them 21 years ago?”
“As far as I remember.”
"I'm sure you'll agree," said Knight Henton, holding him in one arm.
"God will remember what you have done."
Someone from the Klinefelter family responded with a crooked grin.
"Well, I guess the priests will take care of that."
"If it was God who put a curse on Gainers' bloodline, then aren't we, who have eliminated that bloodline, messengers of God?"
Then he realized vaguely. Henton had said that he could survive if he just went to the temple, but in fact, that would not be possible. The high priest was the mouth of the gods. When the gods gave blessings or curses, the high priest would announce it.
“Then the reason why the body ended up in that state is, um... I guess it’s because the people who held hands had conflicting interests.”
“It’s one of two things. Either it’s broken, or it was a loser from the start who was just going to be used and discarded.”
“Both are possible, but aren’t the wounds too many? It doesn’t look like they were intended to kill, but rather like signs of torture.”
“Torture... That makes sense. They must have guessed that Manau knew something.”
“That must have been the case. But the torture didn’t work, and they installed a new high priest in his place and took control of the temple... Well, that’s too bad. I guess the high priest doesn’t know anything either.”
“Still, we have to talk. At least we’ll know what the key is.”
“Oh, I see.”
Meanwhile, Tiwakan arrived at the temple steps. From here, he had to walk on foot.
“Then should we change the Princess’s escort to someone else?”
“...No. Henton is the best.”
Well, that's true. Isn't that a conclusion that has already been reached?
“But it still bothers me.”
“...”
Fermos decided to change the subject. Black probably didn’t suggest an alternative. He must have just blurted out a word because he was constantly on edge. Yes, so the lord was the kind of person who would say such nonsense...
“The high priest.”
Fortunately, the topic was safely moved on. After all, this was a more important matter. No, perhaps that was more important to the lord. Anyway.
“I thought about it, but I’m still not sure. Do you trust him?”
"No."
The answer was so immediate that it actually embarrassed Fermos.
“You made him a high priest.”
“It was just the right time. Thanks to that, we got the wedding and that damn treaty sorted out.”
“That’s right. So, the high priest, were he on the same side as them 21 years ago?”
“As far as I remember.”
"I'm sure you'll agree," said Knight Henton, holding him in one arm.
"God will remember what you have done."
Someone from the Klinefelter family responded with a crooked grin.
"Well, I guess the priests will take care of that."
"If it was God who put a curse on Gainers' bloodline, then aren't we, who have eliminated that bloodline, messengers of God?"
Then he realized vaguely. Henton had said that he could survive if he just went to the temple, but in fact, that would not be possible. The high priest was the mouth of the gods. When the gods gave blessings or curses, the high priest would announce it.
“Then the reason why the body ended up in that state is, um... I guess it’s because the people who held hands had conflicting interests.”
“It’s one of two things. Either it’s broken, or it was a loser from the start who was just going to be used and discarded.”
“Both are possible, but aren’t the wounds too many? It doesn’t look like they were intended to kill, but rather like signs of torture.”
“Torture... That makes sense. They must have guessed that Manau knew something.”
“That must have been the case. But the torture didn’t work, and they installed a new high priest in his place and took control of the temple... Well, that’s too bad. I guess the high priest doesn’t know anything either.”
“Still, we have to talk. At least we’ll know what the key is.”
“Oh, I see.”
Meanwhile, Tiwakan arrived at the temple steps. From here, he had to walk on foot.
***
Thump, thump... Thump. The clear sound of footsteps stopped. Knock. What followed was a knock.
“Princess. Are you here?”
“...”
Liene recognized the voice. Surprisingly, it was the voice of the captain of the guard unit. Liene raised her hand and signaled Klima to remove his hand covering her mouth. Klima also belatedly realized the identity and hurriedly removed his hand.
“Yes, come in.”
The deputy commander opened the door and came in, looking flustered.
“...? What were you doing in such a dark place? And he...”
“I was reading the royal records when the candle fell over and the light went out. I was in a panic. This is the person whom Lord Tiwakan entrusted to be my personal escort.”
“Oh, did that happen? I didn’t hear anything about personal escorts...”
“Princess. Are you here?”
“...”
Liene recognized the voice. Surprisingly, it was the voice of the captain of the guard unit. Liene raised her hand and signaled Klima to remove his hand covering her mouth. Klima also belatedly realized the identity and hurriedly removed his hand.
“Yes, come in.”
The deputy commander opened the door and came in, looking flustered.
“...? What were you doing in such a dark place? And he...”
“I was reading the royal records when the candle fell over and the light went out. I was in a panic. This is the person whom Lord Tiwakan entrusted to be my personal escort.”
“Oh, did that happen? I didn’t hear anything about personal escorts...”
“It was something that was decided after the wedding ceremony. By the way, what brings you to me at this hour? Did something come up?”
“Yes, Princess. Lord Werose has returned. I think it would be best to tell you right away...”
“Oh my god! Sir Werose?”
It was someone she hadn't heard from in over a month. Liene sat up abruptly.
“Have he arrived at the castle yet? Where is he? Did he want to see me?”
“That’s... the problem.”
“What's the problem?”
“He was badly hurt.”
“He got hurt... How much?”
“It was so difficult to move... I quickly prepared a place for him in the guard’s quarters.”
He said he was lying down. Liene nodded.
“Then I will go. You will guide me.”
“Yes, Princess.”
The captain bowed and turned around. Klima carefully grabbed the hem of Liene’s clothes from behind.
“If you go tomorrow morning...”
“Yes? Is there a reason for that?”
“No, it’s just... It’s too late now.”
“Sir Werose is a very important person to me. I cannot turn away from him for that reason alone.”
“Well, then...”
Klima let go of the hem of her clothes as if there was nothing he could do. But his slightly stiff face remained. For some reason, he had been feeling strange for a while now.
“You, you have to be careful...”
Liene thought that it was because Klima was very nervous. After all, it was his first time on an escort mission. He covered her mouth and turned off the lights as if something big was going to happen, but the person who showed up was the captain of the guard unit.
"All right."
Liene gently held Klima’s hand to show that it was okay. She still couldn’t quite believe that Werose had returned.
“He was badly hurt.”
“He got hurt... How much?”
“It was so difficult to move... I quickly prepared a place for him in the guard’s quarters.”
He said he was lying down. Liene nodded.
“Then I will go. You will guide me.”
“Yes, Princess.”
The captain bowed and turned around. Klima carefully grabbed the hem of Liene’s clothes from behind.
“If you go tomorrow morning...”
“Yes? Is there a reason for that?”
“No, it’s just... It’s too late now.”
“Sir Werose is a very important person to me. I cannot turn away from him for that reason alone.”
“Well, then...”
Klima let go of the hem of her clothes as if there was nothing he could do. But his slightly stiff face remained. For some reason, he had been feeling strange for a while now.
“You, you have to be careful...”
Liene thought that it was because Klima was very nervous. After all, it was his first time on an escort mission. He covered her mouth and turned off the lights as if something big was going to happen, but the person who showed up was the captain of the guard unit.
"All right."
Liene gently held Klima’s hand to show that it was okay. She still couldn’t quite believe that Werose had returned.
***
“Here it is, Princess. He still can’t open his eyes.”
Werose was covered in splints and bandages.
“Oh my god... How did he get hurt like this?”
The guard quarters attached to the castle walls were a bit strange. Since Tiwakan had been renamed the Knights of Arsak, there had been a conflict between the guards and the original guards, knowingly or unknowingly. Tiwakan wanted to get rid of the useless guards, and the guards treated them like strange intruders. Since all the mercenaries were knighted, the guards’ position became even more ambiguous. There were not many guards who had knighthood. Strictly speaking, the royal knights and the guards had separate duties, but the work of the original guards was not pleasing to Tiwakan’s eyes.
Eventually, Fermos and Randall overhauled the guards’ duties, but apart from the castle’s defenses becoming stronger, the guards’ dissatisfaction grew. Werose’s return happened in the midst of all this. If he had come back alone, the atmosphere might have been different. However, because he had difficulty moving, some people brought him. He couldn’t identify them. Judging from the swords they all carried, they were knights, but the tension was clear. It was natural for Tiwakan to watch them. The guards insisted that the benefactors who had brought Werose should be treated as guests.
“I don’t know. According to those who brought him, they found Lord Werose lying on the road, and when he came to his senses, he asked to be taken to Nauk.”
"Yes."
Liene looked at Werose with a complicated expression. In a way, Werose had suffered meaninglessly for the past month. The secret of Tiwakan that he had tried to uncover had eventually been discovered by Liene, and it had left a faint scar that they had been comforting together. She was worried that he would be even more devastated by this fact when he woke up.
“What about the doctor? Is he on his way now?”
“That’s... Actually, it’s getting late, so I was just about to ask the Princess.”
“I see. Send someone over immediately. He appears to have been treated, but we don’t know when it was, so we need a doctor.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
“What about those who brought Lord Werose? What did you decide to do with them?”
“I arranged for them to stay in the guard quarters. I think they want something in return, but I have to ask the Princess about that too...”
The deputy commander's expression hardened without him knowing it.
“...But the Tiwakan side wants to pay to send them out. Even though they are our guests.”
Liene read the true feelings in his expression. The captain was not pleased with Tiwakan’s decision.
“Is there a reason you say that?”
“It’s because I can’t vouch for their identity. No, they brought Lord Werose here, so what better vouch for them than that?”
“What did they want?”
“They wanted to relieve their fatigue because they were so exhausted. If they leave the castle right now, it won’t be easy to find a place to stay. What good is money? If they can’t use it right away.”
“I’ll talk to Tiwakan. First, bring me a doctor. The guards just need to pay attention to Sir Werose’s details.”
“Princess... Are you taking Tiwakan’s side?”
“Sir. Do you know that Tiwakan’s new name is the Guardian of Arsak? It’s out of the question to take sides.”
“I don’t know. According to those who brought him, they found Lord Werose lying on the road, and when he came to his senses, he asked to be taken to Nauk.”
"Yes."
Liene looked at Werose with a complicated expression. In a way, Werose had suffered meaninglessly for the past month. The secret of Tiwakan that he had tried to uncover had eventually been discovered by Liene, and it had left a faint scar that they had been comforting together. She was worried that he would be even more devastated by this fact when he woke up.
“What about the doctor? Is he on his way now?”
“That’s... Actually, it’s getting late, so I was just about to ask the Princess.”
“I see. Send someone over immediately. He appears to have been treated, but we don’t know when it was, so we need a doctor.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
“What about those who brought Lord Werose? What did you decide to do with them?”
“I arranged for them to stay in the guard quarters. I think they want something in return, but I have to ask the Princess about that too...”
The deputy commander's expression hardened without him knowing it.
“...But the Tiwakan side wants to pay to send them out. Even though they are our guests.”
Liene read the true feelings in his expression. The captain was not pleased with Tiwakan’s decision.
“Is there a reason you say that?”
“It’s because I can’t vouch for their identity. No, they brought Lord Werose here, so what better vouch for them than that?”
“What did they want?”
“They wanted to relieve their fatigue because they were so exhausted. If they leave the castle right now, it won’t be easy to find a place to stay. What good is money? If they can’t use it right away.”
“I’ll talk to Tiwakan. First, bring me a doctor. The guards just need to pay attention to Sir Werose’s details.”
“Princess... Are you taking Tiwakan’s side?”
“Sir. Do you know that Tiwakan’s new name is the Guardian of Arsak? It’s out of the question to take sides.”
“...I made a slip of the tongue. I will do as you say.”
The captain took a step back. He was also a loyal man, but his discontent with Tiwakan was greater now. Liene turned her eyes away from him and took Werose’s hand, who was lying on the bed.
“Sir Werose... Thank you for your hard work. I believe you will get better soon.”
“...”
Werose's eyelids fluttered briefly under the dim candlelight.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment