"Oh."
As Liene walked, she could see that this maze was divided into devices and paths. The paths were flat. Her feet didn't hurt. If she followed the flat path, it seemed like it would lead to the castle.
“...”
Liene paused for a moment at the end of the road.
“Here, the device is finished.”
Liene carefully felt the floor and walls, wondering if she could find out what kind of device it was. The whole time she was feeling around in the darkness, her fingernails broke and bled, but Liene didn't even notice the pain.
“If the device requires a key... there must be a lock somewhere.”
She felt around as carefully as she could, but she couldn't find anything like a lock.
“Isn’t this the right place...”
Although a little disappointed, Liene continued walking.
“Let’s just follow the road.”
It was fortunate that she had found the path. She felt as if Werose or Lafitte would rush out of the darkness to catch her at any moment, but fortunately, that did not happen. Liene became more confident as she followed the flat ground that seemed to be the path. At some point, stairs appeared.
“The length is right. The castle will be here soon.”
Just like her hands, her feet were covered in wounds, but Liene ran up the stairs, out of breath. When she was almost at the top of the stairs, Liene noticed a faint light coming from the end.
As Liene walked, she could see that this maze was divided into devices and paths. The paths were flat. Her feet didn't hurt. If she followed the flat path, it seemed like it would lead to the castle.
“...”
Liene paused for a moment at the end of the road.
“Here, the device is finished.”
Liene carefully felt the floor and walls, wondering if she could find out what kind of device it was. The whole time she was feeling around in the darkness, her fingernails broke and bled, but Liene didn't even notice the pain.
“If the device requires a key... there must be a lock somewhere.”
She felt around as carefully as she could, but she couldn't find anything like a lock.
“Isn’t this the right place...”
Although a little disappointed, Liene continued walking.
“Let’s just follow the road.”
It was fortunate that she had found the path. She felt as if Werose or Lafitte would rush out of the darkness to catch her at any moment, but fortunately, that did not happen. Liene became more confident as she followed the flat ground that seemed to be the path. At some point, stairs appeared.
“The length is right. The castle will be here soon.”
Just like her hands, her feet were covered in wounds, but Liene ran up the stairs, out of breath. When she was almost at the top of the stairs, Liene noticed a faint light coming from the end.
***
At first, it was a stone door that smelled bad. She pushed open the door, worried that it might be locked, and what came out was another very narrow and steep stone staircase. Fortunately, the stairs were not long. After climbing a few steps, the stairs ended, and Liene faced a narrow space where only one person could barely stand.
“Where is this?”
She couldn't figure it out, but it wasn't completely unfamiliar either. Somehow, she felt like she could figure it out if she was given even a little clue.
“Where is this?”
She couldn't figure it out, but it wasn't completely unfamiliar either. Somehow, she felt like she could figure it out if she was given even a little clue.
Bang, bang! Liene knocked around the small gap where the light was coming in. It wasn't a very thick iron door, but it was locked from the outside.
“Oh, no.”
Bang bang! Liene knocked on the door with more force.
“Is there anyone outside?”
Bang bang!
“Please open this.”
Bang bang! There was no response. It seemed like there was no one outside.
"Ha..."
She almost collapsed in despair. If she fell here, she would roll down there without any mercy. Liene carefully took a seat on one side of the steep stairs.
“If I stay here, someone will come. I’ll hear footsteps. They said this passage leads to the King’s Gallery. So anyone would hear the sound...Oh, wait. I wonder if there’s anyone in our bedroom right now.”
There was no way Black would be guarding the bedroom if she was gone. Without him, there was no reason for anyone else to look into the bedroom.
“There’s no use waiting.”
Liene had to somehow open the lock and get out.
“There has to be something to open the door.”
Liene peered into the gap to see if there was a way out. It was still quite dark, so she couldn't see very well.
“Oh, wait a minute. What are you talking about...”
The sound that faintly touched her ears was the sound of footsteps she had been waiting for so long.
“Over here!”
Bang! It was the moment when Liene knocked on the iron door again.
“Oh, no.”
Bang bang! Liene knocked on the door with more force.
“Is there anyone outside?”
Bang bang!
“Please open this.”
Bang bang! There was no response. It seemed like there was no one outside.
"Ha..."
She almost collapsed in despair. If she fell here, she would roll down there without any mercy. Liene carefully took a seat on one side of the steep stairs.
“If I stay here, someone will come. I’ll hear footsteps. They said this passage leads to the King’s Gallery. So anyone would hear the sound...Oh, wait. I wonder if there’s anyone in our bedroom right now.”
There was no way Black would be guarding the bedroom if she was gone. Without him, there was no reason for anyone else to look into the bedroom.
“There’s no use waiting.”
Liene had to somehow open the lock and get out.
“There has to be something to open the door.”
Liene peered into the gap to see if there was a way out. It was still quite dark, so she couldn't see very well.
“Oh, wait a minute. What are you talking about...”
The sound that faintly touched her ears was the sound of footsteps she had been waiting for so long.
“Over here!”
Bang! It was the moment when Liene knocked on the iron door again.
Bang! A sound several times louder than that sound roughly hit the room. It wasn't heard directly, but it was a sound that resonated through the space as if it were coming from the room next door.
“Ugh! Ouch!”
Liene could also hear someone screaming.
“Ugh! Ouch!”
Liene could also hear someone screaming.
Thud, thud! No matter how much she thought about it, it was the sound of someone hitting a wall.
"Say it."
A low, clear voice, different from a scream, was heard. Relief and joy surged through her. It was Black. Black was in the next room. Liene shouted urgently.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Bang bang! But her voice seemed to be drowned out by the noise coming from over there.
“What, what... Oh, I told you everything I knew... I didn’t know anything until I received the letter. Really, nothing... It was Bayar who did it. He brought the poison, he planned it... I, I didn’t even know there was a captain of the guards in Nauk. That’s what happened.”
“I guess I look like I have nothing to do in your eyes.”
“No, that can’t be... Why all of a sudden,”
Black's voice, lower and rougher than usual, sounded very tired.
“Now that I’m being told you don’t know anything, I should be looking for my wife. Don’t waste my time. Who is the human the Grand Duke brought me in hiding in the carriage?”
“I, I really don’t know... I just woke up from the poison too. How would I know what’s going on...”
It seemed as if a sigh was heard.
“Then I guess it’s useless.”
Then came a loud noise of unknown origin and a suffocating tension.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
Dieren's scream echoed for a long time.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Liene knocked on the iron door with more force.
"Say it."
A low, clear voice, different from a scream, was heard. Relief and joy surged through her. It was Black. Black was in the next room. Liene shouted urgently.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Bang bang! But her voice seemed to be drowned out by the noise coming from over there.
“What, what... Oh, I told you everything I knew... I didn’t know anything until I received the letter. Really, nothing... It was Bayar who did it. He brought the poison, he planned it... I, I didn’t even know there was a captain of the guards in Nauk. That’s what happened.”
“I guess I look like I have nothing to do in your eyes.”
“No, that can’t be... Why all of a sudden,”
Black's voice, lower and rougher than usual, sounded very tired.
“Now that I’m being told you don’t know anything, I should be looking for my wife. Don’t waste my time. Who is the human the Grand Duke brought me in hiding in the carriage?”
“I, I really don’t know... I just woke up from the poison too. How would I know what’s going on...”
It seemed as if a sigh was heard.
“Then I guess it’s useless.”
Then came a loud noise of unknown origin and a suffocating tension.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
Dieren's scream echoed for a long time.
“Lord Tiwakan!”
Liene knocked on the iron door with more force.
Bang bang! It's here! Just open this one door!
“Ugh! Ouch!”
Dieren's screams were so loud, but even in the midst of it all, her low, tired voice was clearly audible.
“Hold on. This time...”
Black's last words disappeared from his mouth. Then, as if cut off, Dieren's screams also stopped. Did you hear that?
“Ugh! Ouch!”
Dieren's screams were so loud, but even in the midst of it all, her low, tired voice was clearly audible.
“Hold on. This time...”
Black's last words disappeared from his mouth. Then, as if cut off, Dieren's screams also stopped. Did you hear that?
Bang, bang bang.
“Lord Tiwakan?”
Liene knocked on the iron door, half in doubt. Bang bang!
“It’s here!”
Boom! The door flew open.
"Ah..."
The next moment, all Libe could see was a blue gaze rushing in like water. Before she could say anything, her body was lifted. When Liene came to her senses, she was being held by him without a moment to breathe.
“Lord Tiwakan?”
Liene knocked on the iron door, half in doubt. Bang bang!
“It’s here!”
Boom! The door flew open.
"Ah..."
The next moment, all Libe could see was a blue gaze rushing in like water. Before she could say anything, her body was lifted. When Liene came to her senses, she was being held by him without a moment to breathe.
Ah... Good.
The feeling of his strong arms holding her body felt like the most comfortable thing in the world. The feeling of the cloth rubbing against her cheek, the fingers squeezing her body so that it felt slightly painful, and the rough breath wetting her earlobes were all comfortable.
“You’re safe.”
After a long while, Black opened his mouth. His voice rippled as if riding a wave.
“Yes... Nothing happened.”
"Ha..."
Black let out a very long sigh, then pulled away slightly to examine every corner of Liene's face.
“No one will know what the Princess has given me just now.”
That seemed to mean that he was relieved as much as she was. This guy keeps saying that he got it. She just came back. She had to come back. She didn't mean to give this guy a present. But he keeps talking like that. Liene said, burying her face in Black's neck.
“No one will ever know how lovely you are right now.”
“You’re safe.”
After a long while, Black opened his mouth. His voice rippled as if riding a wave.
“Yes... Nothing happened.”
"Ha..."
Black let out a very long sigh, then pulled away slightly to examine every corner of Liene's face.
“No one will know what the Princess has given me just now.”
That seemed to mean that he was relieved as much as she was. This guy keeps saying that he got it. She just came back. She had to come back. She didn't mean to give this guy a present. But he keeps talking like that. Liene said, burying her face in Black's neck.
“No one will ever know how lovely you are right now.”
***
From then on, Liene was a bit out of it.
“Princess...! Princess...”
First, Klima cried too loudly. Madam Flambard just smiled with her face ashen, and Mrs. Henton, a patient, supported Madam Flambard next to her. Tiwakan was silent, but they looked like they wanted to hug each other and cry, and Black was frozen like a statue, examining her hands and feet. The doctor in between looked like he wanted to die. Meanwhile, Liene noticed drops of blood spattered all over Black's face and clothes.
“There’s blood on it.”
"...Yes?"
“Here and there. No, this side too. I asked a lot. Where are you hurt?”
"That is..."
Black shut his mouth with a troubled expression.
“Take a look.”
Black stopped Liene from taking off his bloody clothes.
“I wasn't hurt.”
“Then... Ah, Prince Dieren.”
“...”
Black awkwardly turned his head. This bloodstain was the mark of Dieren's leg. He was planning to cut it off and send one piece each to Princess Blini and Grand Duke Alito. It was a warning to prevent them from doing anything since he couldn't guess where Liene was.
First, Klima cried too loudly. Madam Flambard just smiled with her face ashen, and Mrs. Henton, a patient, supported Madam Flambard next to her. Tiwakan was silent, but they looked like they wanted to hug each other and cry, and Black was frozen like a statue, examining her hands and feet. The doctor in between looked like he wanted to die. Meanwhile, Liene noticed drops of blood spattered all over Black's face and clothes.
“There’s blood on it.”
"...Yes?"
“Here and there. No, this side too. I asked a lot. Where are you hurt?”
"That is..."
Black shut his mouth with a troubled expression.
“Take a look.”
Black stopped Liene from taking off his bloody clothes.
“I wasn't hurt.”
“Then... Ah, Prince Dieren.”
“...”
Black awkwardly turned his head. This bloodstain was the mark of Dieren's leg. He was planning to cut it off and send one piece each to Princess Blini and Grand Duke Alito. It was a warning to prevent them from doing anything since he couldn't guess where Liene was.
Fortunately for Dieren, Black happened to hear Liene's voice at that moment, and the axe ended up sinking into his thigh. Of course, it would have been a horrible and barbaric thing to do to someone who didn't live on the battlefield every day. He didn't want Liene to see him like that.
“He wasn’t seriously hurt. His life wasn’t in danger. He was just scared.”
It was a statement that would have made Dieren suffer from injustice for three days if he had heard it.
“But if that’s the case, then the Kingdom of Sharka... Oh, that’s right! The Kingdom of Sharka said they would send troops! This is crazy. How did I forget that? The Kingdom of Sharka’s troops will be at the border soon...”
“No, they didn’t make it to the border.”
Liene, who had been pouring out her words in a hurry, forgot her excitement when she saw Black's expression.
“Did you... know that?”
“I thought so, so I sent Nauk’s army in advance. News came a little while ago that the Bashad army had retreated before they could even reach the border.”
The word retreat was not without its flaws. To be exact, all but one of the Bashad troops were left behind, their heads cut off. The plan was to collect the body when the one who survived reached the Kingdom of Sharka.
“Ahh... Thank goodness.”
Liene sighed and hugged Black's neck.
“I thought something big was going to happen.”
It would have been safe if he had been there. Werose's words were all lies. It wasn't that Gainers shouldn't be on this land, it was that he absolutely had to be there.
“I’m so glad. Really.”
Because you are here. Black asked, hesitating slightly.
“Then... is that okay?”
“What is it?”
“The thing that hurt Prince Dieren.”
“Well... I believe it was something you did out of necessity.”
“That’s right. It was necessary.”
It was a relief for Black that Dieren wasn't there.
“Then let me go now.”
Black carefully held the arm that was holding him.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“I want to, but I have to take care of the Princess’s wounds. She’s badly hurt.”
Madam Flambard, who had been waiting for an opportunity to say that for a moment, let out a loud noise without realizing it.
“That’s right! I’m so glad that the Princess has returned safely, but I think it’s time to wash those hands and feet!”
"Ah..."
Liene was so out of her mind that she didn't notice. Her hands and feet were very dirty and covered in wounds. It was to the point where her body was soiling the white bed.
“Then I’ll go to the bathroom.”
“Yes, Princess! Please wait a moment. I will heat some water.”
Madam Flambard ran to the bathroom in a hurry. By that time, Klima had barely stopped crying. One of the mercenaries, who felt sorry for his youngest crying, patted him on the back of his head.
“How did you lose your shoes?”
Black asked, gently squeezing the foot sticking out of the blanket. Liene didn’t know that he was thinking to himself that if there was a human who stole her shoes, he should cut off their foot.
“I took it off.”
“You didn’t get hurt like this.”
“I thought it would be easier to find my way.”
“...You figured out how to find your way.”
Liene nodded.
“I know it’s a secret... but am I in trouble if I find out?”
“No way. I was impressed. To the Princess who thought of finding her way back from there barefoot.”
Then Black pressed his lips to her forehead, forcing her to push him away slightly.
“Please step away for now. I have something to tell you.”
“This is what I do. I didn’t cover your mouth.”
“I want to do that, but I have to be serious about this.”
The two looked at each other and smiled bashfully, realizing that they were doing the same thing.
“Do it now.”
Black pulled his lips away as if he had made a big concession. Liene stared at his face from a very close distance until she was tired of it...
“He wasn’t seriously hurt. His life wasn’t in danger. He was just scared.”
It was a statement that would have made Dieren suffer from injustice for three days if he had heard it.
“But if that’s the case, then the Kingdom of Sharka... Oh, that’s right! The Kingdom of Sharka said they would send troops! This is crazy. How did I forget that? The Kingdom of Sharka’s troops will be at the border soon...”
“No, they didn’t make it to the border.”
Liene, who had been pouring out her words in a hurry, forgot her excitement when she saw Black's expression.
“Did you... know that?”
“I thought so, so I sent Nauk’s army in advance. News came a little while ago that the Bashad army had retreated before they could even reach the border.”
The word retreat was not without its flaws. To be exact, all but one of the Bashad troops were left behind, their heads cut off. The plan was to collect the body when the one who survived reached the Kingdom of Sharka.
“Ahh... Thank goodness.”
Liene sighed and hugged Black's neck.
“I thought something big was going to happen.”
It would have been safe if he had been there. Werose's words were all lies. It wasn't that Gainers shouldn't be on this land, it was that he absolutely had to be there.
“I’m so glad. Really.”
Because you are here. Black asked, hesitating slightly.
“Then... is that okay?”
“What is it?”
“The thing that hurt Prince Dieren.”
“Well... I believe it was something you did out of necessity.”
“That’s right. It was necessary.”
It was a relief for Black that Dieren wasn't there.
“Then let me go now.”
Black carefully held the arm that was holding him.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“I want to, but I have to take care of the Princess’s wounds. She’s badly hurt.”
Madam Flambard, who had been waiting for an opportunity to say that for a moment, let out a loud noise without realizing it.
“That’s right! I’m so glad that the Princess has returned safely, but I think it’s time to wash those hands and feet!”
"Ah..."
Liene was so out of her mind that she didn't notice. Her hands and feet were very dirty and covered in wounds. It was to the point where her body was soiling the white bed.
“Then I’ll go to the bathroom.”
“Yes, Princess! Please wait a moment. I will heat some water.”
Madam Flambard ran to the bathroom in a hurry. By that time, Klima had barely stopped crying. One of the mercenaries, who felt sorry for his youngest crying, patted him on the back of his head.
“How did you lose your shoes?”
Black asked, gently squeezing the foot sticking out of the blanket. Liene didn’t know that he was thinking to himself that if there was a human who stole her shoes, he should cut off their foot.
“I took it off.”
“You didn’t get hurt like this.”
“I thought it would be easier to find my way.”
“...You figured out how to find your way.”
Liene nodded.
“I know it’s a secret... but am I in trouble if I find out?”
“No way. I was impressed. To the Princess who thought of finding her way back from there barefoot.”
Then Black pressed his lips to her forehead, forcing her to push him away slightly.
“Please step away for now. I have something to tell you.”
“This is what I do. I didn’t cover your mouth.”
“I want to do that, but I have to be serious about this.”
The two looked at each other and smiled bashfully, realizing that they were doing the same thing.
“Do it now.”
Black pulled his lips away as if he had made a big concession. Liene stared at his face from a very close distance until she was tired of it...
They say that everyone goes crazy and dies at a young age. Will this man die too? Then what should I do?
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