“It’s here.”
“It’s here.”
The two said almost the same thing.
Liene, who had come all the way past the castle to meet him, grabbed him without even giving him a chance to kiss.
Black was secretly dissatisfied with that, but he forgot all his resentment when he learned why Liene was so excited.
The key was complete.
He opened the door where the key was hidden.
Gainers’ secret was revealing the stairs in front of him.
“Haven’t you gone down?”
Black finally gave her the kiss she had been putting off. Liene closed her eyes as if savoring the feeling of her lips touching his forehead.
“I’m scared.”
“What?”
“What if... even just one time, my thoughts were wrong.”
“I don’t think you could be wrong.”
Fermos interjected from behind.
“I think the same. No, if not, why would they have put such a huge amount of effort into this device? This was calculated in advance when the castle was built.”
Black gently squeezed Liene’s hand.
“Don’t worry. If it’s not here, it must be somewhere else. We can find it together.”
“Yes. I know. I thought I had to hear that from you before I could go down.”
Liene took a deep breath.
“Then shall we go now?”
“Willingly.”
The stairs were narrow and steep.
Black, holding a lantern in his hand, took the lead.
Liene followed him, followed by Fermos, and then again by Klima.
The two ladies were eager to join them, but there were too many people. Werose swallowed without even asking to be taken.
“Be careful.”
Liene smiled at Black, who was taking a step forward and lighting his lantern in advance for her to step on.
Now, no matter what the outcome was, she wasn’t afraid.
She could just find another way with him.
Thud, thump.
Her heart raced as she took a step.
Liene held Black’s hand tightly and took each step.
“Please...”
Madame Flambard’s earnest prayer could be heard from quite a distance.
She probably wouldn’t stop praying until she returned.
A week had passed since the secret door of the Gainers royal family was discovered.
The next day, the Kingdom of Sharka surrendered, and the day after that, Black returned to the castle.
They entered the secret door together that day, and since they returned at night, it had been five days since they had started the engine.
The device hidden behind the nine waterfalls was indescribably huge and elaborate.
According to Fermos, he had been so excited in that airless place that he had almost lost consciousness several times.
When you went down the stairs along the secret door, there was a round platform like a well at the end. The difference from a well was that it was empty inside.
When you turned the handle in the middle of the platform all the way, you could hear a click, and the platform went down very deeply.
And at the same time, the door that had been hidden behind the stage was revealed. When you opened that door and went out, a familiar path appeared. It was a secret passage leading from inside the fireplace.
The reason the entrance and exit were clearly separated was probably because this was a device that handled water.
If there was even one problem with the device, there would be nothing you could do if there was only one path.
While saying this, Fermos kept expressing his excitement, saying that he didn’t know how brilliant the minds of those who inherited Gainers’ blood were.
Anyway, he moved the device.
He did everything he could.
Now all that was left was to wait.
“Wait, wait. Can’t you hear me?”
Liene kept saying the same thing every chance she got. She would suddenly put her ear to the wall or the floor and say that it seemed like water was flowing.
Black found Liene cute and pitiful at the same time.
“If there’s a sound, you’ll be able to see it. Stop it and come to bed.”
“That’s true, but...”
Liene reluctantly took her ear off the floor in front of the fireplace and walked to the bed.
Her quivering lips were adorable.
Black couldn’t hold it in any longer and pulled Liene’s arm in to kiss her.
“Umm... Wait a minute. I know you’re trying to appease me for being disappointed, but I’d like you to do it a little later.”
Black brushed Liene’s hair back from her forehead and met her eyes.
“It was the other way around.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t trying to appease the Princess, I was trying to appease me. The Princess hasn’t been paying any attention to me lately.”
“Oh, that... No, I’ve never done that before?”
“It’s been like that for five days. Do you know how long it’s been since we kissed?”
“Well... We haven’t done it every time?”
“I don’t count what I do. The Princess has never kissed me back.”
“That’s strange. No way could be happening...”
Liene tried to show her disbelief, but Black didn’t accept it.
In the end, Liene dove into Black’s arms and sat on his thighs.
“That’s because I’m worried. I wondered if I did something wrong. If not, there’s no way the water wouldn’t come back.”
“There was nothing wrong in the first place.”
“That’s true, but...”
The mechanism was very simple. All you had to do was open the door and turn the handle.
Fermos said there would be more invisible devices, and that they would calculate the height difference and adjust the water volume accordingly.
That was already five days ago.
For five days, her heart was beating so hard that it almost hurt.
“Since it’s old... Couldn’t the device be broken?”
“Fermos is doing his best to find out?”
“Yes...”
“If Fermos doesn’t know, then no one here does.”
“That’s true.”
Liene sighed and tugged at Black’s hem.
“Even if the water doesn’t come back, there’s a way. Since we’ve decided to expand the border, we can build a new castle there and move in together.”
“ ..That’s right.”
It would be a huge deal, but Black seemed like he would handle it without a care.
Liene hugged Black’s neck. When she rested her chin on his shoulder, Black slowly stroked her back.
“I know. You’re right. We won’t be struggling like we used to, and we won’t be in poverty. But...”
“I understand why you’re feeling sorry. But don’t be too upset. I think your face has lost some weight.”
“I’ve lost my appetite lately. My digestion seems to be poor.”
“I’m saying this because I care too much. If you do that, it’ll be hard for me.”
Black’s hands, which continued to caress her back, were incredibly affectionate.
Liene nodded while hugging his neck.
“That’s right. I didn’t think of that. If I were to stay like this, it would be hard for you too.”
“If you know, cheer up.”
“I’ll try.”
Liene slightly turned her head and rubbed his cheek, so Black grabbed her chin and rubbed his lips against hers.
“You look tired, so I can’t ask you to please me. Let’s just go to sleep.”
Liene bit her lips and laughed.
“Hmm... That’s more like seduction.”
“No. I mean, you look thin.”
“Oh... Really? You don’t like it?”
“That can’t be true.”
Black lifted Liene’s body and laid her down on the bed.
The hands that neatly arranged her hair that covered her face were nothing but affectionate.
“I’m worried. I’m worried that you might get sick.”
“...”
All she's been saying is that the device is broken.
This man was worried about her at that time.
Liene stretched out her arms toward Black.
“Hold me.”
“Yes.”
Black came into her open arms and gently patted her back.
“...Not like this.”
Liene stuck her head out and nipped Black’s earlobe with her lips.
“Hold me differently.”
She could feel Black’s shoulder muscles twitching under her pajamas.
“..No.”
“Why?”
“As I said, the Princess isn’t feeling too well right now.”
“There’s nothing wrong.”
“It will hurt. Just go to sleep.”
“How would you know it would hurt?”
“I know better than the Princess.”
“Why?”
“The Princess is indifferent to you, and I, on the contrary, am very sensitive.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re a prophet. Don’t you think now isn’t the time?”
Liene lowered her hand. The gown Black was wearing had only one string. Liene smiled slightly with her eyes as she fiddled with the string that was tied tightly.
“I’m really not in pain.”
“Princess...”
Black covered the back of Liene’s hand with his as she tried to pull the end of his gown.
“...You're the kind of person who thinks that even if you're in pain, you’ll just get better.”
“That’s... right.”
“It doesn’t matter if you suffer a lot or a little, as long as you don’t die, it’s the same.”
“It’s here.”
The two said almost the same thing.
Liene, who had come all the way past the castle to meet him, grabbed him without even giving him a chance to kiss.
Black was secretly dissatisfied with that, but he forgot all his resentment when he learned why Liene was so excited.
The key was complete.
He opened the door where the key was hidden.
Gainers’ secret was revealing the stairs in front of him.
“Haven’t you gone down?”
Black finally gave her the kiss she had been putting off. Liene closed her eyes as if savoring the feeling of her lips touching his forehead.
“I’m scared.”
“What?”
“What if... even just one time, my thoughts were wrong.”
“I don’t think you could be wrong.”
Fermos interjected from behind.
“I think the same. No, if not, why would they have put such a huge amount of effort into this device? This was calculated in advance when the castle was built.”
Black gently squeezed Liene’s hand.
“Don’t worry. If it’s not here, it must be somewhere else. We can find it together.”
“Yes. I know. I thought I had to hear that from you before I could go down.”
Liene took a deep breath.
“Then shall we go now?”
“Willingly.”
The stairs were narrow and steep.
Black, holding a lantern in his hand, took the lead.
Liene followed him, followed by Fermos, and then again by Klima.
The two ladies were eager to join them, but there were too many people. Werose swallowed without even asking to be taken.
“Be careful.”
Liene smiled at Black, who was taking a step forward and lighting his lantern in advance for her to step on.
Now, no matter what the outcome was, she wasn’t afraid.
She could just find another way with him.
Thud, thump.
Her heart raced as she took a step.
Liene held Black’s hand tightly and took each step.
“Please...”
Madame Flambard’s earnest prayer could be heard from quite a distance.
She probably wouldn’t stop praying until she returned.
***
A week had passed since the secret door of the Gainers royal family was discovered.
The next day, the Kingdom of Sharka surrendered, and the day after that, Black returned to the castle.
They entered the secret door together that day, and since they returned at night, it had been five days since they had started the engine.
The device hidden behind the nine waterfalls was indescribably huge and elaborate.
According to Fermos, he had been so excited in that airless place that he had almost lost consciousness several times.
When you went down the stairs along the secret door, there was a round platform like a well at the end. The difference from a well was that it was empty inside.
When you turned the handle in the middle of the platform all the way, you could hear a click, and the platform went down very deeply.
And at the same time, the door that had been hidden behind the stage was revealed. When you opened that door and went out, a familiar path appeared. It was a secret passage leading from inside the fireplace.
The reason the entrance and exit were clearly separated was probably because this was a device that handled water.
If there was even one problem with the device, there would be nothing you could do if there was only one path.
While saying this, Fermos kept expressing his excitement, saying that he didn’t know how brilliant the minds of those who inherited Gainers’ blood were.
Anyway, he moved the device.
He did everything he could.
Now all that was left was to wait.
“Wait, wait. Can’t you hear me?”
Liene kept saying the same thing every chance she got. She would suddenly put her ear to the wall or the floor and say that it seemed like water was flowing.
Black found Liene cute and pitiful at the same time.
“If there’s a sound, you’ll be able to see it. Stop it and come to bed.”
“That’s true, but...”
Liene reluctantly took her ear off the floor in front of the fireplace and walked to the bed.
Her quivering lips were adorable.
Black couldn’t hold it in any longer and pulled Liene’s arm in to kiss her.
“Umm... Wait a minute. I know you’re trying to appease me for being disappointed, but I’d like you to do it a little later.”
Black brushed Liene’s hair back from her forehead and met her eyes.
“It was the other way around.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t trying to appease the Princess, I was trying to appease me. The Princess hasn’t been paying any attention to me lately.”
“Oh, that... No, I’ve never done that before?”
“It’s been like that for five days. Do you know how long it’s been since we kissed?”
“Well... We haven’t done it every time?”
“I don’t count what I do. The Princess has never kissed me back.”
“That’s strange. No way could be happening...”
Liene tried to show her disbelief, but Black didn’t accept it.
In the end, Liene dove into Black’s arms and sat on his thighs.
“That’s because I’m worried. I wondered if I did something wrong. If not, there’s no way the water wouldn’t come back.”
“There was nothing wrong in the first place.”
“That’s true, but...”
The mechanism was very simple. All you had to do was open the door and turn the handle.
Fermos said there would be more invisible devices, and that they would calculate the height difference and adjust the water volume accordingly.
That was already five days ago.
For five days, her heart was beating so hard that it almost hurt.
“Since it’s old... Couldn’t the device be broken?”
“Fermos is doing his best to find out?”
“Yes...”
“If Fermos doesn’t know, then no one here does.”
“That’s true.”
Liene sighed and tugged at Black’s hem.
“Even if the water doesn’t come back, there’s a way. Since we’ve decided to expand the border, we can build a new castle there and move in together.”
“ ..That’s right.”
It would be a huge deal, but Black seemed like he would handle it without a care.
Liene hugged Black’s neck. When she rested her chin on his shoulder, Black slowly stroked her back.
“I know. You’re right. We won’t be struggling like we used to, and we won’t be in poverty. But...”
“I understand why you’re feeling sorry. But don’t be too upset. I think your face has lost some weight.”
“I’ve lost my appetite lately. My digestion seems to be poor.”
“I’m saying this because I care too much. If you do that, it’ll be hard for me.”
Black’s hands, which continued to caress her back, were incredibly affectionate.
Liene nodded while hugging his neck.
“That’s right. I didn’t think of that. If I were to stay like this, it would be hard for you too.”
“If you know, cheer up.”
“I’ll try.”
Liene slightly turned her head and rubbed his cheek, so Black grabbed her chin and rubbed his lips against hers.
“You look tired, so I can’t ask you to please me. Let’s just go to sleep.”
Liene bit her lips and laughed.
“Hmm... That’s more like seduction.”
“No. I mean, you look thin.”
“Oh... Really? You don’t like it?”
“That can’t be true.”
Black lifted Liene’s body and laid her down on the bed.
The hands that neatly arranged her hair that covered her face were nothing but affectionate.
“I’m worried. I’m worried that you might get sick.”
“...”
All she's been saying is that the device is broken.
This man was worried about her at that time.
Liene stretched out her arms toward Black.
“Hold me.”
“Yes.”
Black came into her open arms and gently patted her back.
“...Not like this.”
Liene stuck her head out and nipped Black’s earlobe with her lips.
“Hold me differently.”
She could feel Black’s shoulder muscles twitching under her pajamas.
“..No.”
“Why?”
“As I said, the Princess isn’t feeling too well right now.”
“There’s nothing wrong.”
“It will hurt. Just go to sleep.”
“How would you know it would hurt?”
“I know better than the Princess.”
“Why?”
“The Princess is indifferent to you, and I, on the contrary, am very sensitive.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re a prophet. Don’t you think now isn’t the time?”
Liene lowered her hand. The gown Black was wearing had only one string. Liene smiled slightly with her eyes as she fiddled with the string that was tied tightly.
“I’m really not in pain.”
“Princess...”
Black covered the back of Liene’s hand with his as she tried to pull the end of his gown.
“...You're the kind of person who thinks that even if you're in pain, you’ll just get better.”
“That’s... right.”
“It doesn’t matter if you suffer a lot or a little, as long as you don’t die, it’s the same.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds a little different from what I thought...”
“I want to make an exception for the Princess. So don’t do something dangerous like this.”
Black finally took Liene’s hands off his gown strings.
“Close your eyes quickly.”
“...This is too much.”
Liene muttered softly and fell face down on the bed.
Black looked at the back of her round head with eyes that were adoring and didn’t know what to do, then lowered his head and kissed her shoulder.
“I’ll wait for you to get better after today.”
“You’re joking too much. About me.”
“Get used to it. It’s going to be like this for the rest of your life.”
“Sometimes it seems worse than the Madam.”
As she said that, Liene suddenly turned around. Their eyes met, and Liene bit his lower lip without giving him a chance to avoid it.
“...Ha.”
Black let out a low sigh.
Liene smiled and pulled Black’s neck.
“The Princess doesn’t know anything.”
“It seems like you don’t know anything.”
“...Then I’ll pretend not to know.”
Black opened his mouth and started a kiss that seemed to devour her.
His breathing was already rapid. Liene felt his hair tickle between her fingers. Every sound that escaped her mouth sounded strange.
Taking advantage of the brief gap between their lips, Liene whispered.
“You know, right? Wait, turning off the lights...”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Why...”
“Focus on me. Not anywhere else.”
“...”
Why don’t you know about turning off the lights?
But the kiss was so passionate that it seemed she didn’t know anything else. The hair covering her neck became tangled. Black pushed her hair away and buried his lips in her neck.
Thud.
Even though he didn’t pull, the laces of her gown came undone by friction.
At that moment.
Bang bang!
A loud knock shook the two people who were still unaware of anything.
“My lord! Princess!”
“...?”
It was Randall.
Randall rarely came running to the bedroom at this hour. The excitement in his voice was too much to ignore.
“Even if you’re asleep, wake up! The water... the water is flowing!”
“I want to make an exception for the Princess. So don’t do something dangerous like this.”
Black finally took Liene’s hands off his gown strings.
“Close your eyes quickly.”
“...This is too much.”
Liene muttered softly and fell face down on the bed.
Black looked at the back of her round head with eyes that were adoring and didn’t know what to do, then lowered his head and kissed her shoulder.
“I’ll wait for you to get better after today.”
“You’re joking too much. About me.”
“Get used to it. It’s going to be like this for the rest of your life.”
“Sometimes it seems worse than the Madam.”
As she said that, Liene suddenly turned around. Their eyes met, and Liene bit his lower lip without giving him a chance to avoid it.
“...Ha.”
Black let out a low sigh.
Liene smiled and pulled Black’s neck.
“The Princess doesn’t know anything.”
“It seems like you don’t know anything.”
“...Then I’ll pretend not to know.”
Black opened his mouth and started a kiss that seemed to devour her.
His breathing was already rapid. Liene felt his hair tickle between her fingers. Every sound that escaped her mouth sounded strange.
Taking advantage of the brief gap between their lips, Liene whispered.
“You know, right? Wait, turning off the lights...”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Why...”
“Focus on me. Not anywhere else.”
“...”
Why don’t you know about turning off the lights?
But the kiss was so passionate that it seemed she didn’t know anything else. The hair covering her neck became tangled. Black pushed her hair away and buried his lips in her neck.
Thud.
Even though he didn’t pull, the laces of her gown came undone by friction.
At that moment.
Bang bang!
A loud knock shook the two people who were still unaware of anything.
“My lord! Princess!”
“...?”
It was Randall.
Randall rarely came running to the bedroom at this hour. The excitement in his voice was too much to ignore.
“Even if you’re asleep, wake up! The water... the water is flowing!”
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