“Since you have the brain to wear the crown, I believe you understand what I’m saying.”
Bam!
Black, who was about to walk away without any hesitation, stopped for a moment and added.
“Everything I just said is valid while the Princess of Nauk is alive. If anything happens to my wife...”
The Tiwakan chieftain narrowed his pale blue eyes like blades.
“I will destroy this entire kingdom.”
Bam!
The Tiwakan chieftain slammed the door open. With a tingling sound, the door slid open on both sides.
“...!”
The King saw why the guards hadn’t come.
In fact, the corpses of the guards were lined up endlessly at the end of the corridor.
They must have run towards him one by one, and then died with their throats cut off or their chests split open.
Bam bam bam...
The sound of footsteps faded away.
The King unconsciously pulled his deafened ears and belatedly screamed.
“The Princess...! Bring the Princess! Quickly!”
He couldn’t even think about stopping Black, who had come into the palace and was making a fuss.
If he did that, it would give the rest of the people outside the border a reason to cross the border.
Right now, he had to find a way to save Bliny.
It couldn’t be true. There had to be a misunderstanding.
Bliny wouldn’t have done something like that.
But Bliny wasn’t in the palace. The guards were in an uproar.
***
“I can’t believe it.”
Bliny kept mumbling.
“Why did you do something like that?”
When he heard that the Tiwakan chief had come to visit, he knew it had come. Bliny called the royal guards to the palace.
She was glad to see them, but she had to be prepared. That was also why there were fewer guards in the main palace today.
Then she opened the gate.
But Black didn’t come.
When he said that he had turned and gone to the main palace, something inside her twisted.
“Why would you do that? You would have come to see me anyway.”
If the assassination was successful and the Princess of Nauk was dead, Black would have to search for her even more.
She was going to accept him venting his anger. She was going to watch him pour out all his remaining emotions.
“Then you know. How much I hated that marriage.”
In other words, it meant that she was still waiting for an answer to her proposal.
She was revealing her true feelings so openly, so why was there no answer?
Why was he dragging the Queen and the King into it?
Why wasn’t he coming to get the ring himself?
“Your Highness the Princess...”
The maids were at a loss as they watched Bliny’s expressions, lost in thought.
“You should go now. The secretary... said that there was no way to do anything to the villa, so it would be best for you to get out of here and protect yourself...”
“...”
Bliny finally raised her head at the sound of her voice it sounded like she was about to cry.
“The sooner the better. If we’re not careful... Your Highness the Princess could be in danger...”
It wasn’t an empty warning.
Black had handed Kleinfelter over to Queen Dileras, so she must have known all about what she had done.
That meant the King now knew the same.
Of course, she wasn’t sure the King would take his word for it. Just as she wasn’t sure he would still take her side.
“It’s dangerous...”
Bliny didn’t take chances with men.
There was nothing as inaccurate or easily swayed as men. There was no aftereffect to using them once and throwing them away. The King and his secretary had served their purpose.
“Then so be it.”
Bliny got up.
“Pack your bags. We’re going to Alito.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maids, who had been stamping their feet inwardly, moved quickly. They took only money and jewels, leaving out things they could buy at any time.
The captain of the royal guards who had been at the Prince’s palace showed the way.
He was also a man who could be used once and then thrown away, but at this moment, he was the most helpful.
***
Even though the captain of the guards sided with the Princess, most of the guards followed the King's orders.
They chased after the Princess who had disappeared according to the King's order to bring her back.
"Ha, damn it."
The captain of the guards felt that he had chosen the wrong line.
When the Princess had told him that she had to go out of the castle right now, he had not thought that it would be a big problem.
He thought she was going to meet a new concubine outside the castle. The royal family was lazy and usually brought people into their own nests, but in the fortress, it seemed like the King was just paying attention.
However, something was wrong.
Shouts were heard everywhere for the Princess.
The plan to sneak into the maze-shaped garden and go to the guards changed. He had to go down the waterway connected to the back garden and escape by boat.
The captain of the guards was conflicted even as he turned his body and changed direction. The conflict slowed his pace.
It seemed foolish to follow the orders of the Princess, who seemed to be running away.
Although he received a heavy bag of gold coins, it was a problem that could easily put his position in the guards in jeopardy.
“But Your Highness the Princess...”
The captain of the guards stopped walking on the forest path leading to the waterway and opened his mouth.
“You have to tell me exactly. Where are you going now?”
“...Alito.”
“Huh?”
It really was a runaway.
The captain of the guards shook his head.
“Then I can no longer serve you. I will go back now.”
“Now?”
Princess Bliny frowned.
“Please understand that I have been a Sharka person since birth. The road is over there. If you walk along the waterway, you will find a place where a boat is tied up. You can take that boat and go.”
Bliny grabbed the captain of the guards who was about to leave.
“I never thought it would be impossible.”
“Huh? What is that... No, let go of my hand. I can no longer go against His Majesty the King’s will.”
Since he had received the money, he would pretend not to see her leave.
“It’s already too late.”
Bliny stood close to the captain of the guards and pursed her lips.
“Don’t think that the King will hang you. It would be futile.”
“What... are you... saying?”
The captain of the guards swallowed dryly.
“If by any chance I am caught, the King will know your name.”
“That is...”
Bliny placed her finger on the distorted lips of the captain of the guards and stopped him.
“But if I arrive safely in Alito, it will be different. You will have whatever you want.”
“...”
The captain tilted his head back and pulled away from Bliny’s hand.
“That... cannot be. My family is all in Sharka.”
“Can’t you make a new family? I told you. You will have anything. Status, property, women. Anything.”
“Oh, how can I have a family...”
“If you stay here, you will all die. What good is a family if we die together?”
“...”
The captain of the guards shook his eyes.
The words that he would have anything were as tempting as the red lips moving before his eyes.
“Go that way! There is a path that leads to the waterway! They say the captain might be with her!”
And the shouts coming from the entrance to the forest became terrifying.
Princess Bliny was right. Now was the time when he could not turn back.
“Then swear. I will keep my word that I will do anything. From this moment on, I am the one who saved Her Highness the Princess’s life.”
The oath was not difficult.
After all, the oath would be disposable anyway.
“Yes. I will swear.”
“Then, proof of the oath.”
The captain of the guards pulled Bliny’s head and swallowed the red lips that had been twitching for a moment.
Bliny opened her eyes and chewed the captain’s tongue until it bled.
“...Ugh.”
“Take that as proof.”
Bliny licked the blood off hia lips.
The captain of the guards swallowed the blood that had gathered in his mouth as if he had no other choice.
“This way. It seems like you are following the path, so we will cross the forest. From now on, make no noise.”
Everyone kept their mouths shut and walked.
The smell of blood on their tongues was strong.
Randall opened his mouth.
“It seems that this time, we are out of luck.”
The news that the escaped Princess Bliny had been caught in the canal was delivered the next morning.
The information agent was so excited that he ran to the inn himself.
He was currently locked up somewhere in the palace, and the King was furious, Queen Dileras was trying to return to the main palace.
“Even if she escaped the palace safely, it would have been difficult to get to Alito. The road would have been blocked by the time she reached the border.”
“Oh, right.”
By then, Tiwakan would have arrived at the border.
Running away was a suicide.
Now there was no one to listen to Bliny’s excuses.
“Will the King hand over the Grand Princess?”
“We’ll have to wait and see. She might make a move to Alito. The Grand Duke doesn’t particularly cherish his daughter, but he might try to save face.”
“If that’s the case, how will we act?”
“The Grand Duke will make a choice. His daughter or his son.”
“Hmm... That would be quite difficult.”
“Not really. Are there any mines left in Alito? If they’re big enough, I could trade them.”
“Huh?”
Randall blinked as if surprised, but soon realized the meaning and clapped his hands.
“I don’t know, but the Adjutant will know.”
“Even if it’s not a mine, there must be something.”
“Haha... Yes, I don’t think there won’t be any. It’s the Principality of Alito. The money to build a fortress will all come from there, right?”
“No. Then I’m thinking of giving her a wedding present.”
“Oh, you’re giving the Princess another present?”
“Because we haven’t done anything that big yet.”
“Uh, um... Yes, that’s right...”
Randall was momentarily confused because Black spoke so obviously.
He didn’t even know that wedding gifts were usually given and given in different types.
“What’s big?”
The one who asked was Liene.
She must have heard the last words as she opened the door connecting the rooms and came in.
“It wasn’t much. Should you have slept more?”
Black moved quickly enough to greet Liene, making Randall flinch.
“I'm all asleep. Have you heard any news from the Sharka royal family?”
Even so, Black knew that Liene had been taking care of Klima until late.
Klima was still unable to move on his own. Liene was basically just watching, but she seemed worried enough to not be able to sleep.
“The information agent just happened to be here. The Princess was caught while trying to escape.”
“Oh, oh... So the King’s protection is over?”
“I think we’ll have to wait and see. There’s still no word on handing over the Princess.”
“I see. Then I guess I’ll have to pretend to be sick for a while.”
“I’ll get a call today.”
Black rubbed her lips as if he loved her sleepy eyes.
“It’s time for breakfast. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Um... I want that yellow, juicy fruit.”
“Yes.”
Randall, who had been with Black since coming to Sharka, quickly stepped forward, having become a bit more perceptive.
“I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare a meal for the two of you. Talk slowly.”
Randall left the room in a hurry.
Black drew the curtains so that no one could see inside from the outside and turned to Liene.
“Is there anything you want to do before breakfast?”
“I know you’re asking.”
Liene smiled and spread her arms. Black smiled back and shoved himself into her arms.
If only Klima hadn’t gotten hurt, it would have been a happier morning.
The King of Sharka sent the message on the night of today, just before the deadline.
It really was a runaway.
The captain of the guards shook his head.
“Then I can no longer serve you. I will go back now.”
“Now?”
Princess Bliny frowned.
“Please understand that I have been a Sharka person since birth. The road is over there. If you walk along the waterway, you will find a place where a boat is tied up. You can take that boat and go.”
Bliny grabbed the captain of the guards who was about to leave.
“I never thought it would be impossible.”
“Huh? What is that... No, let go of my hand. I can no longer go against His Majesty the King’s will.”
Since he had received the money, he would pretend not to see her leave.
“It’s already too late.”
Bliny stood close to the captain of the guards and pursed her lips.
“Don’t think that the King will hang you. It would be futile.”
“What... are you... saying?”
The captain of the guards swallowed dryly.
“If by any chance I am caught, the King will know your name.”
“That is...”
Bliny placed her finger on the distorted lips of the captain of the guards and stopped him.
“But if I arrive safely in Alito, it will be different. You will have whatever you want.”
“...”
The captain tilted his head back and pulled away from Bliny’s hand.
“That... cannot be. My family is all in Sharka.”
“Can’t you make a new family? I told you. You will have anything. Status, property, women. Anything.”
“Oh, how can I have a family...”
“If you stay here, you will all die. What good is a family if we die together?”
“...”
The captain of the guards shook his eyes.
The words that he would have anything were as tempting as the red lips moving before his eyes.
“Go that way! There is a path that leads to the waterway! They say the captain might be with her!”
And the shouts coming from the entrance to the forest became terrifying.
Princess Bliny was right. Now was the time when he could not turn back.
“Then swear. I will keep my word that I will do anything. From this moment on, I am the one who saved Her Highness the Princess’s life.”
The oath was not difficult.
After all, the oath would be disposable anyway.
“Yes. I will swear.”
“Then, proof of the oath.”
The captain of the guards pulled Bliny’s head and swallowed the red lips that had been twitching for a moment.
Bliny opened her eyes and chewed the captain’s tongue until it bled.
“...Ugh.”
“Take that as proof.”
Bliny licked the blood off hia lips.
The captain of the guards swallowed the blood that had gathered in his mouth as if he had no other choice.
“This way. It seems like you are following the path, so we will cross the forest. From now on, make no noise.”
Everyone kept their mouths shut and walked.
The smell of blood on their tongues was strong.
***
Randall opened his mouth.
“It seems that this time, we are out of luck.”
The news that the escaped Princess Bliny had been caught in the canal was delivered the next morning.
The information agent was so excited that he ran to the inn himself.
He was currently locked up somewhere in the palace, and the King was furious, Queen Dileras was trying to return to the main palace.
“Even if she escaped the palace safely, it would have been difficult to get to Alito. The road would have been blocked by the time she reached the border.”
“Oh, right.”
By then, Tiwakan would have arrived at the border.
Running away was a suicide.
Now there was no one to listen to Bliny’s excuses.
“Will the King hand over the Grand Princess?”
“We’ll have to wait and see. She might make a move to Alito. The Grand Duke doesn’t particularly cherish his daughter, but he might try to save face.”
“If that’s the case, how will we act?”
“The Grand Duke will make a choice. His daughter or his son.”
“Hmm... That would be quite difficult.”
“Not really. Are there any mines left in Alito? If they’re big enough, I could trade them.”
“Huh?”
Randall blinked as if surprised, but soon realized the meaning and clapped his hands.
“I don’t know, but the Adjutant will know.”
“Even if it’s not a mine, there must be something.”
“Haha... Yes, I don’t think there won’t be any. It’s the Principality of Alito. The money to build a fortress will all come from there, right?”
“No. Then I’m thinking of giving her a wedding present.”
“Oh, you’re giving the Princess another present?”
“Because we haven’t done anything that big yet.”
“Uh, um... Yes, that’s right...”
Randall was momentarily confused because Black spoke so obviously.
He didn’t even know that wedding gifts were usually given and given in different types.
“What’s big?”
The one who asked was Liene.
She must have heard the last words as she opened the door connecting the rooms and came in.
“It wasn’t much. Should you have slept more?”
Black moved quickly enough to greet Liene, making Randall flinch.
“I'm all asleep. Have you heard any news from the Sharka royal family?”
Even so, Black knew that Liene had been taking care of Klima until late.
Klima was still unable to move on his own. Liene was basically just watching, but she seemed worried enough to not be able to sleep.
“The information agent just happened to be here. The Princess was caught while trying to escape.”
“Oh, oh... So the King’s protection is over?”
“I think we’ll have to wait and see. There’s still no word on handing over the Princess.”
“I see. Then I guess I’ll have to pretend to be sick for a while.”
“I’ll get a call today.”
Black rubbed her lips as if he loved her sleepy eyes.
“It’s time for breakfast. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Um... I want that yellow, juicy fruit.”
“Yes.”
Randall, who had been with Black since coming to Sharka, quickly stepped forward, having become a bit more perceptive.
“I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare a meal for the two of you. Talk slowly.”
Randall left the room in a hurry.
Black drew the curtains so that no one could see inside from the outside and turned to Liene.
“Is there anything you want to do before breakfast?”
“I know you’re asking.”
Liene smiled and spread her arms. Black smiled back and shoved himself into her arms.
If only Klima hadn’t gotten hurt, it would have been a happier morning.
The King of Sharka sent the message on the night of today, just before the deadline.
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