“...!”
It was impossible to recognize it. Liene saw Dieren's eyes shaking left and right for a moment. The attendant did the same.
“What did you plan to do to me, Prince Dieren?”
“That... no... without evidence... what kind of diplomatic rudeness is this, Princess?”
“I can’t believe it. You planned this as soon as Lord Tiwakan left the castle.”
“That... no, that... there is no evidence...”
The evidence was clear. Dieren's pale face and cold sweat were the evidence.
“If you really want to cry like that, try pouring the remaining ink on your hand.”
“What is that... How could you say something like that...I, I...”
The sweat dripping down Dieren’s forehead increased. Liene noticed an increasingly strange smell coming from the ink bottle that had spilled ink all over it. Klima grabbed the hem of Liene’s clothes with his other hand.
“Step back, Princess. It smells bad. Cover your nose.”
Liene covered her nose with her sleeve and stepped back. Klima approached Dieren. His gentle face became strangely empty at this moment. Dieren, terrified, stepped back.
“Don’t touch me! What are you doing! Go and bring Bayar!”
“Ugh, ugh...!”
Bang! The servant who had been shaking his eyes without knowing what to do opened the door and ran out. Klima didn't even glance at him and approached Dieren. After all, there was no way for the servant to escape alone from this castle.
“I won’t kill him, Princess.”
Klima muttered as if talking to himself. Dieren felt that everything was wrong and turned his back to run away like a servant. However, before he could, Klima grabbed him by the back of the neck. The large hand that was grabbing his neck tightened. Although she felt an eerie fear, Liene believed Klima’s words that he would not kill him and waited.
“...?”
But something strange happened. Dieren rolled his eyes and poured white foam from his mouth. He flailed his hands and fell to the floor, his knees weakly bent.
“Lord Renfell...?”
Liene called out to Klima. Klima's empty hands began to tremble.
“Why are you doing that, Your Highness?”
Klima took a step back, rubbing her mouth with a trembling hand.
“Don’t come any closer... Don’t touch me...”
...Thud! Clima also fell down. The poison on his hands was the problem.
“This can’t be happening!”
Liene ran to the door to call someone.
“Sir Werose...”
Werose was alone in the guard quarters. The guard quarters were empty. There were only the strangers who had brought Werose in the next room and two guards watching them.
"Princess."
As soon as Liene arrived, Werose motioned for the captain to leave. As soon as the captain closed the door and left, Werose got up from where he had been lying.
“Sir! Stay where you are. No need to say hello.”
Liene tried to stop Werose. But Werose wasn't trying to greet her. He sat up completely and pounded on the wall next to his bed.
“Sir Werose...?”
A sense of discomfort came over her. Werose did not look like a dying man at all. He could walk, so there seemed no reason for him to be carried out on a stretcher.
“You’re not... hurt.”
The bandages wrapped around his entire body were an illusion.
“Did you lie to me?”
“...I had no choice but to avoid their eyes.”
Werose lied to her. Why on earth? For what reason?
“Do you mean Tiwakan by them? Sir, Tiwakan has been given a new name, the Guardians of Arsak.”
“A name is just a name, Princess.”
“You are wrong. Lord Werose, much has happened while you were away from Nauk. Tiwakan is not Nauk’s enemy. Lord Tiwakan is now Nauk’s...”
“I know. I know who he is.”
Werose cut Liene off with a frighteningly hard face.
“That I am the last of Gainers’ bloodline. And that the curse still flows through his blood.”
It was impossible to recognize it. Liene saw Dieren's eyes shaking left and right for a moment. The attendant did the same.
“What did you plan to do to me, Prince Dieren?”
“That... no... without evidence... what kind of diplomatic rudeness is this, Princess?”
“I can’t believe it. You planned this as soon as Lord Tiwakan left the castle.”
“That... no, that... there is no evidence...”
The evidence was clear. Dieren's pale face and cold sweat were the evidence.
“If you really want to cry like that, try pouring the remaining ink on your hand.”
“What is that... How could you say something like that...I, I...”
The sweat dripping down Dieren’s forehead increased. Liene noticed an increasingly strange smell coming from the ink bottle that had spilled ink all over it. Klima grabbed the hem of Liene’s clothes with his other hand.
“Step back, Princess. It smells bad. Cover your nose.”
Liene covered her nose with her sleeve and stepped back. Klima approached Dieren. His gentle face became strangely empty at this moment. Dieren, terrified, stepped back.
“Don’t touch me! What are you doing! Go and bring Bayar!”
“Ugh, ugh...!”
Bang! The servant who had been shaking his eyes without knowing what to do opened the door and ran out. Klima didn't even glance at him and approached Dieren. After all, there was no way for the servant to escape alone from this castle.
“I won’t kill him, Princess.”
Klima muttered as if talking to himself. Dieren felt that everything was wrong and turned his back to run away like a servant. However, before he could, Klima grabbed him by the back of the neck. The large hand that was grabbing his neck tightened. Although she felt an eerie fear, Liene believed Klima’s words that he would not kill him and waited.
“...?”
But something strange happened. Dieren rolled his eyes and poured white foam from his mouth. He flailed his hands and fell to the floor, his knees weakly bent.
“Lord Renfell...?”
Liene called out to Klima. Klima's empty hands began to tremble.
“Why are you doing that, Your Highness?”
Klima took a step back, rubbing her mouth with a trembling hand.
“Don’t come any closer... Don’t touch me...”
...Thud! Clima also fell down. The poison on his hands was the problem.
“This can’t be happening!”
Liene ran to the door to call someone.
Boom! As she opened the door without thinking, someone spoke to her as if they had been waiting for her.
“Princess? Is something wrong?”
“...”
For a moment, her body felt cold as if she had been splashed with cold water. He was the messenger of the Sharka Kingdom, who Klima had been saying was strange.
“Princess? Is something wrong?”
“...”
For a moment, her body felt cold as if she had been splashed with cold water. He was the messenger of the Sharka Kingdom, who Klima had been saying was strange.
***
There was no need to panic. It would be a loss to show panic. She had to act like she didn't know who he was. Liene knew that there were always a certain number of Tiwakans staying in the castle. Strangely, the guards guarding the third floor of the main palace were nowhere to be seen, but Tiwakan would be there if she went to the entrance of the north tower. For now, it was to get away from this man.
“A man has collapsed. Go and get a doctor. There will be a guard in the north tower. Tell them to bring a doctor to this room. As soon as possible.”
“I am a doctor.”
The messenger of the Kingdom of Sharka strode into the room. For a moment, she felt as if she was in trouble, but Liene quickly gathered her wits.
“That’s good to hear. Then you're checking the details of the two of them. I’ll go and get someone to take care of them.”
"Princess."
Boom! Without a moment to stop, the messenger of the Sharka Kingdom slammed the door shut. The movement was strangely fast. It was as if he was watching a climax as if what he saw and how he moved were completely different.
“Don’t even think about running away. The moment the Princess runs away to save your life, the life of your loyal subject will be lost.”
He spoke as if he had seen right through Liene's mind. Somehow she felt like she knew his name. There was a name that Dieren had called out when the ink got on his hand.
"...Is your name Bayar?”
He must have moved Dieren from behind. If so, his status as a messenger of the Sharka Kingdom was not trustworthy.
“You are quick-witted. No, Your Highness, it seems you have been speaking rashly.”
“Are you from the Principality of Alito, not the Kingdom of Sharka? Is Prince Bashad really dead?”
“It is admirable to try to buy time, but all it does is hasten his death.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I have a deal. If you follow me on your own two feet, I will give you the deal.”
...Nonsense. How long would it take for someone else to arrive?
“A man has collapsed. Go and get a doctor. There will be a guard in the north tower. Tell them to bring a doctor to this room. As soon as possible.”
“I am a doctor.”
The messenger of the Kingdom of Sharka strode into the room. For a moment, she felt as if she was in trouble, but Liene quickly gathered her wits.
“That’s good to hear. Then you're checking the details of the two of them. I’ll go and get someone to take care of them.”
"Princess."
Boom! Without a moment to stop, the messenger of the Sharka Kingdom slammed the door shut. The movement was strangely fast. It was as if he was watching a climax as if what he saw and how he moved were completely different.
“Don’t even think about running away. The moment the Princess runs away to save your life, the life of your loyal subject will be lost.”
He spoke as if he had seen right through Liene's mind. Somehow she felt like she knew his name. There was a name that Dieren had called out when the ink got on his hand.
"...Is your name Bayar?”
He must have moved Dieren from behind. If so, his status as a messenger of the Sharka Kingdom was not trustworthy.
“You are quick-witted. No, Your Highness, it seems you have been speaking rashly.”
“Are you from the Principality of Alito, not the Kingdom of Sharka? Is Prince Bashad really dead?”
“It is admirable to try to buy time, but all it does is hasten his death.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I have a deal. If you follow me on your own two feet, I will give you the deal.”
...Nonsense. How long would it take for someone else to arrive?
It wouldn’t be that long. Liene heard that the castle’s security was impenetrable. Even if they couldn’t stop an uninvited guest disguised as a guest from another kingdom, there was no way that he could safely leave the castle with her.
Liene tried to catch her breath. Her thoughts finally came to a head. Even though she saw Dieren lying on the ground, Bayar didn’t panic much. He didn’t even try to make a fuss about giving him some medicine. Maybe the poison mixed in the ink wasn’t the kind that could kill someone so easily.
“Who is the one who commands you?”
“If cancellation is not necessary, we will force you to join us.”
Bayar approached with silent steps. Liene twisted her body with all her might and jumped into the bathroom.
“You’re fearless.”
Bayar followed Liene, muttering.
“Who is the one who commands you?”
“If cancellation is not necessary, we will force you to join us.”
Bayar approached with silent steps. Liene twisted her body with all her might and jumped into the bathroom.
“You’re fearless.”
Bayar followed Liene, muttering.
Bam! As soon as she entered the bathroom, Liene exited through the opposite door and instead of going into her own bedroom and locking the door, she entered the King’s Gallery. Leaning her back against the wall, Liene ran back to the room as fast as she could when she was sure that Bayar had entered the bathroom.
Bam! Liene pushed the door open with her shoulder, left the room, and almost cried out loud when she saw the guards approaching her.
“Princess! Why are you outside?”
“Inside...! The one who volunteered to be the messenger of the Kingdom of Sharka... Phew, he used poison. We must quickly catch him and obtain the cure. Lord Renfell has fallen.”
"Yes?"
The guards opened their eyes wide in confusion. Liene shouted.
“Come on! There’s no time to be surprised!”
“Ah, yes! I understand!”
The guards usually moved in pairs. It would have been absurd to leave Liene alone, knowing there was an intruder.
“Take the Princess to another room. And sound the intruder alarm.”
One of the guards stepped into the room. Liene was transferred to another guard.
“Princess! Why are you outside?”
“Inside...! The one who volunteered to be the messenger of the Kingdom of Sharka... Phew, he used poison. We must quickly catch him and obtain the cure. Lord Renfell has fallen.”
"Yes?"
The guards opened their eyes wide in confusion. Liene shouted.
“Come on! There’s no time to be surprised!”
“Ah, yes! I understand!”
The guards usually moved in pairs. It would have been absurd to leave Liene alone, knowing there was an intruder.
“Take the Princess to another room. And sound the intruder alarm.”
One of the guards stepped into the room. Liene was transferred to another guard.
***
Ding, Deing!
The bell of the north tower rang loudly. This was the second time since Klima had infiltrated Kleinfelter as his errand boy. The entire Nauk Castle, which had been preparing to sleep, woke up. The castle was lit up everywhere, and the guards and Tiwakan quickly divided up and searched the castle. The guard who had been chasing Bayar alone was found dead. The scars on the body showed that Bayar was a skilled assassin. The security was further strengthened. The servant who had escaped alone was soon caught and locked in the room. Dieren and Klima, who had been poisoned and collapsed, had no choice but to leave them lying there and wait for the doctor. There was no way to know what kind of poison it was, so they could not touch it carelessly. It was a long, slow night.
“Why does it take so long to find one person! And why are these doctors so clumsy?”
Madam Flambard stomped her feet and raised her voice. Madam Flambard, who had been taking care of Mrs. Henton, had heard that the number of patients had increased and came to find out. There was nothing she could do, but she couldn’t leave Liene alone to look after the patients. Fortunately, Mrs. Henton was asleep and didn’t know that her son had been in trouble.
“I wonder how much harder it will be for her if she finds out that her son has collapsed...”
From what Liene heard, it seemed like the two women had become friends.
“I’ll find it soon. It hasn’t even been an hour yet. Just wait a little longer.”
“Why does it take so long to find one person! And why are these doctors so clumsy?”
Madam Flambard stomped her feet and raised her voice. Madam Flambard, who had been taking care of Mrs. Henton, had heard that the number of patients had increased and came to find out. There was nothing she could do, but she couldn’t leave Liene alone to look after the patients. Fortunately, Mrs. Henton was asleep and didn’t know that her son had been in trouble.
“I wonder how much harder it will be for her if she finds out that her son has collapsed...”
From what Liene heard, it seemed like the two women had become friends.
“I’ll find it soon. It hasn’t even been an hour yet. Just wait a little longer.”
“Oh my, really.”
Madame Flambard, who had been pacing around the room, approached Liene.
“I don’t know why the night is so suspicious. Why is there no news from Lord Tiwakan?”
“That's what I'm saying."
The anxiety didn't stop. Liene kept thinking that maybe it wasn't just Klima who had fallen, and it was tormenting her heart.
“I wish he would come back soon...”
Just as Liene was muttering to herself, bang bang. Someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Princess, may I open the door? I have a message for you.”
He was the captain of the guard unit.
“Oh, it’s Sir Linderoy. Just stay there, ma’am. I’ll go.”
Liene hurriedly opened the door.
“Did you catch the intruder? How about the release?”
“That’s... not yet, Princess. I’m sorry.”
The captain of the guard was alone. The outsiders who entered the castle were of two types. The unknown people who brought Werose, Dieren, and his party. Those who had secretly left the quarters were just wandering around the backyard and smoking cigarettes, so they were returned to the rooms they had been given. However, they still had to be watched. They had to bring a doctor, and they had to search the vast castle like a swarm to catch the poisoner. The entire guard was busy moving, but there weren’t enough people.
“Then who did this message come from?”
“Ah, that’s it, the captain has come to his senses!”
“Sir Werose has awakened? Oh. That is good news.”
The only news that could put her mind at ease on this long night was delivered. However, the squad leader's expression was not very good.
“But the captain said that he didn’t think he could hold out much longer. He said that he had something to tell the Princess, so he asked me to bring you now.”
“Oh, that...”
Her heart sank. Liene nodded with a pale face.
“Go ahead. Madam, I’ll go see Lord Werose for a moment.”
Madam Flambard also had a gloomy expression. But she could not come forward to say that she would go with them.
“Understood, Princess.”
Liene hurriedly followed the captain. There was much to tell Werose and much for him to tell her. Werose would be very happy to learn that the Treaty of Liseberg, which had bound the royal family, had lost its power and that the Kleinfelter family had disappeared from this land.
Madame Flambard, who had been pacing around the room, approached Liene.
“I don’t know why the night is so suspicious. Why is there no news from Lord Tiwakan?”
“That's what I'm saying."
The anxiety didn't stop. Liene kept thinking that maybe it wasn't just Klima who had fallen, and it was tormenting her heart.
“I wish he would come back soon...”
Just as Liene was muttering to herself, bang bang. Someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Princess, may I open the door? I have a message for you.”
He was the captain of the guard unit.
“Oh, it’s Sir Linderoy. Just stay there, ma’am. I’ll go.”
Liene hurriedly opened the door.
“Did you catch the intruder? How about the release?”
“That’s... not yet, Princess. I’m sorry.”
The captain of the guard was alone. The outsiders who entered the castle were of two types. The unknown people who brought Werose, Dieren, and his party. Those who had secretly left the quarters were just wandering around the backyard and smoking cigarettes, so they were returned to the rooms they had been given. However, they still had to be watched. They had to bring a doctor, and they had to search the vast castle like a swarm to catch the poisoner. The entire guard was busy moving, but there weren’t enough people.
“Then who did this message come from?”
“Ah, that’s it, the captain has come to his senses!”
“Sir Werose has awakened? Oh. That is good news.”
The only news that could put her mind at ease on this long night was delivered. However, the squad leader's expression was not very good.
“But the captain said that he didn’t think he could hold out much longer. He said that he had something to tell the Princess, so he asked me to bring you now.”
“Oh, that...”
Her heart sank. Liene nodded with a pale face.
“Go ahead. Madam, I’ll go see Lord Werose for a moment.”
Madam Flambard also had a gloomy expression. But she could not come forward to say that she would go with them.
“Understood, Princess.”
Liene hurriedly followed the captain. There was much to tell Werose and much for him to tell her. Werose would be very happy to learn that the Treaty of Liseberg, which had bound the royal family, had lost its power and that the Kleinfelter family had disappeared from this land.
***
“Sir Werose...”
Werose was alone in the guard quarters. The guard quarters were empty. There were only the strangers who had brought Werose in the next room and two guards watching them.
"Princess."
As soon as Liene arrived, Werose motioned for the captain to leave. As soon as the captain closed the door and left, Werose got up from where he had been lying.
“Sir! Stay where you are. No need to say hello.”
Liene tried to stop Werose. But Werose wasn't trying to greet her. He sat up completely and pounded on the wall next to his bed.
“Sir Werose...?”
A sense of discomfort came over her. Werose did not look like a dying man at all. He could walk, so there seemed no reason for him to be carried out on a stretcher.
“You’re not... hurt.”
The bandages wrapped around his entire body were an illusion.
“Did you lie to me?”
“...I had no choice but to avoid their eyes.”
Werose lied to her. Why on earth? For what reason?
“Do you mean Tiwakan by them? Sir, Tiwakan has been given a new name, the Guardians of Arsak.”
“A name is just a name, Princess.”
“You are wrong. Lord Werose, much has happened while you were away from Nauk. Tiwakan is not Nauk’s enemy. Lord Tiwakan is now Nauk’s...”
“I know. I know who he is.”
Werose cut Liene off with a frighteningly hard face.
“That I am the last of Gainers’ bloodline. And that the curse still flows through his blood.”
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