“...Huh?”
Liene tilted her head for a moment.
“A baby? That’s still a long way off.”
It felt like a story farther away than a coronation.
But it didn’t seem to be the case for Mrs. Henton.
“I thought so too, seeing as how Lord Tiwakan acted. I guess there’s no news for the Princess, right?”
“...Huh.”
Her throat suddenly got choked up. Lady Flambard, who had known Liene for a long time, came over and patted her back.
“What do you know? I had the same thought, so I talked to Mrs. Henton about it. I think that might be right.”
“No, wait... That’s... Well...”
“You must have been very busy with the construction of the fortress because you were visiting the Kingdom of Sharka. Didn’t you forget because of that?”
“Yes... Right? I forgot the date.”
“Since Lord Tiwakan keeps telling me to take care of the Princess, saying that you've gained weight lately, shouldn’t you be more concerned? Haven’t you been eating well lately?”
“...”
Black had said something like that a few nights ago.
Thinking about it, if Liene hadn’t been eating well, Madam Flambard should have come forward, but surprisingly, she hadn’t said anything.
“Do you know?”
“I thought it might be because of the baby.”
Then, it gradually became clearer, so she brought it up today.
“How about calling a doctor today? Let Lord Tiwakan know too.”
“I should..?”
“You should.”
“That’s right.”
Liene shook her head as if she found it strange.
“But is it really the baby? I don’t feel anything.”
“It’s possible right now. We don’t know yet.”
“Unless...”
“Yes, Princess.”
“...I thought so, but what?”
“How could that be, when you’ve skipped your period for over a month?”
“But we still don’t know.”
The two ladies exchanged glances.
“You don’t want a baby, do you?”
“Yes? No, that’s impossible. There’s no way... I don’t know.”
Liene twisted her hair for no reason.
“Is it because I lied before...”
“What does that matter? It’s not like Lord Tiwakan doesn’t know why.”
“That’s true... It’s just that it doesn’t feel real yet.”
“That’s... Yes. That could be true. Then, should we call the doctor later? If you want, we can keep our mouths shut.”
“Um... Yes. That would be good. For now, we’ll find a way to tell Lord Tiwakan.”
“Understood.”
The two ladies readily agreed to that, but were as busy as swords when it came to other matters.
“Then I’ll go organize the closet.”
“I’ll help.”
“Very well.”
The two of them looked very busy for the time being.
Increasing the number of workers, training them, and refilling every nook and cranny of this vast place meant that there would be a lot to do.
And if they really had a child...
"...Madam, you might not even have time to sleep.”
Madam Flambard would not be able to relax for a moment until she safely gave birth to the child.
She even thought that there might be more baby clothes than the new clothes she was making while emptying the closet.
“Ah...”
As her thoughts flowed, it gradually became real.
“Really... that might be true.”
Liene absentmindedly rubbed her stomach. She suddenly felt scared when she thought that she might have a baby.
“Then what should I do now?”
Her eyes went dark.
She knew nothing about babies.
“Princess! Princess!”
It was early evening, and although there were still some places submerged in water, the sky was clear. The sunset in the clear sky was especially red.
Liene visited the backyard after a long time.
Maybe it was because of her mood, but it seemed that new grass was growing one by one in the usually desolate backyard.
It would take a long time for everything to turn green as it was getting colder, but the air already felt different.
She kept inhaling because it smelled like damp wood, not dry dust.
“Princess!”
Randall was running from the entrance.
“Sir Randall. What is it?”
Randall approached very quickly.
“My lord has asked me to bring you. Can you go now?”
“Now?”
Black was at the riverside with Fermos. It was because of the sewer construction that was supposed to be finished before the end of the year.
Since the weather was getting colder faster than last year, she thought it might be too much.
“Yes. He said he had something to show you.”
“I see.”
This was the first time Black had ever done this.
Does he have something to say? Is he trying to talk about the construction? If it was because they had to kill time, she told him it didn’t matter.
“Then let’s go.”
“Wouldn’t it be okay if you didn’t change your clothes? It’ll get cold when the sun goes down.”
“It’s okay as is.”
It was a good thing Liene had put on her cloak because she was going to meet him. It would be sunset soon, so she had better save time if she was going to the riverside.
“Which side of the river is he on? How long will it take?”
“It’s not that far if you ride a horse. It’ll take about thirty minutes.”
“I see.”
She had no thoughts until then.
However, when Liene saw the horse with the saddle on, she started to worry.
...What if she falls off?
Liene was pretty good at riding, but you never know.
There are many places along the river where the road is not paved.
“...”
With that thought in mind, she couldn’t possibly feel like riding a horse.
“Princess? Aren’t you going to ride?”
Randall asked, preparing to hand the reins he was holding to Liene.
Liene turned her head.
“I can’t go.”
“Huh? What do you mean you can’t go?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t ride a horse right now. Can’t I take a carriage?”
“There are no roads, so a carriage would be difficult. Would it be okay if I exchanged horses for you?”
“Then tell him to come and talk. Or he can come pick me up yourself. I can’t go alone.”
“I’ll take you.”
“You and I can’t ride horses together.”
Liene smiled, feeling sorry for making him take two steps for no reason.
“Tell him that.”
“...?”
Randall looked at Liene as she turned away, as if he found it a little strange.
“This isn’t good...”
He never thought Liene would refuse Black’s request.
Randall rubbed his chin with a puzzled expression.
“You always rode so well, and you suddenly don’t want to ride. Did you two fight?”
His mind was complicated, but it was a difficult problem for him, who had almost no experience with spending long periods with women, to figure out.
As expected, Black became very serious.
“...What did I do wrong?”
“Um... Well.”
“I don’t think we can know that.”
“...”
It was no use asking Fermos, who was probably the smartest person in the entire kingdom of Nauk.
“I wish you could have seen this together.”
On the drained riverbank, a field of purple flowers had formed, as if by magic. In fact, they were plants closer to grass than flowers, but their colors were so vivid that they looked like a field of flowers under the moonlight.
The moon was particularly large today.
The purple field, with the moon low on it, was a sight never seen before in Nauk. The finely broken silver moonlight sparkled against the still-cold water droplets. Even if they said it was a place where fairies lived, they would have believed it.
The mercenaries standing in this pretty and romantic place had uncharacteristically dark expressions.
“Was it a problem that I asked you to come?”
“I don’t know...”
“Should I have gone and picked you up myself?”
Liene tilted her head for a moment.
“A baby? That’s still a long way off.”
It felt like a story farther away than a coronation.
But it didn’t seem to be the case for Mrs. Henton.
“I thought so too, seeing as how Lord Tiwakan acted. I guess there’s no news for the Princess, right?”
“...Huh.”
Her throat suddenly got choked up. Lady Flambard, who had known Liene for a long time, came over and patted her back.
“What do you know? I had the same thought, so I talked to Mrs. Henton about it. I think that might be right.”
“No, wait... That’s... Well...”
“You must have been very busy with the construction of the fortress because you were visiting the Kingdom of Sharka. Didn’t you forget because of that?”
“Yes... Right? I forgot the date.”
“Since Lord Tiwakan keeps telling me to take care of the Princess, saying that you've gained weight lately, shouldn’t you be more concerned? Haven’t you been eating well lately?”
“...”
Black had said something like that a few nights ago.
Thinking about it, if Liene hadn’t been eating well, Madam Flambard should have come forward, but surprisingly, she hadn’t said anything.
“Do you know?”
“I thought it might be because of the baby.”
Then, it gradually became clearer, so she brought it up today.
“How about calling a doctor today? Let Lord Tiwakan know too.”
“I should..?”
“You should.”
“That’s right.”
Liene shook her head as if she found it strange.
“But is it really the baby? I don’t feel anything.”
“It’s possible right now. We don’t know yet.”
“Unless...”
“Yes, Princess.”
“...I thought so, but what?”
“How could that be, when you’ve skipped your period for over a month?”
“But we still don’t know.”
The two ladies exchanged glances.
“You don’t want a baby, do you?”
“Yes? No, that’s impossible. There’s no way... I don’t know.”
Liene twisted her hair for no reason.
“Is it because I lied before...”
“What does that matter? It’s not like Lord Tiwakan doesn’t know why.”
“That’s true... It’s just that it doesn’t feel real yet.”
“That’s... Yes. That could be true. Then, should we call the doctor later? If you want, we can keep our mouths shut.”
“Um... Yes. That would be good. For now, we’ll find a way to tell Lord Tiwakan.”
“Understood.”
The two ladies readily agreed to that, but were as busy as swords when it came to other matters.
“Then I’ll go organize the closet.”
“I’ll help.”
“Very well.”
The two of them looked very busy for the time being.
Increasing the number of workers, training them, and refilling every nook and cranny of this vast place meant that there would be a lot to do.
And if they really had a child...
"...Madam, you might not even have time to sleep.”
Madam Flambard would not be able to relax for a moment until she safely gave birth to the child.
She even thought that there might be more baby clothes than the new clothes she was making while emptying the closet.
“Ah...”
As her thoughts flowed, it gradually became real.
“Really... that might be true.”
Liene absentmindedly rubbed her stomach. She suddenly felt scared when she thought that she might have a baby.
“Then what should I do now?”
Her eyes went dark.
She knew nothing about babies.
***
“Princess! Princess!”
It was early evening, and although there were still some places submerged in water, the sky was clear. The sunset in the clear sky was especially red.
Liene visited the backyard after a long time.
Maybe it was because of her mood, but it seemed that new grass was growing one by one in the usually desolate backyard.
It would take a long time for everything to turn green as it was getting colder, but the air already felt different.
She kept inhaling because it smelled like damp wood, not dry dust.
“Princess!”
Randall was running from the entrance.
“Sir Randall. What is it?”
Randall approached very quickly.
“My lord has asked me to bring you. Can you go now?”
“Now?”
Black was at the riverside with Fermos. It was because of the sewer construction that was supposed to be finished before the end of the year.
Since the weather was getting colder faster than last year, she thought it might be too much.
“Yes. He said he had something to show you.”
“I see.”
This was the first time Black had ever done this.
Does he have something to say? Is he trying to talk about the construction? If it was because they had to kill time, she told him it didn’t matter.
“Then let’s go.”
“Wouldn’t it be okay if you didn’t change your clothes? It’ll get cold when the sun goes down.”
“It’s okay as is.”
It was a good thing Liene had put on her cloak because she was going to meet him. It would be sunset soon, so she had better save time if she was going to the riverside.
“Which side of the river is he on? How long will it take?”
“It’s not that far if you ride a horse. It’ll take about thirty minutes.”
“I see.”
She had no thoughts until then.
However, when Liene saw the horse with the saddle on, she started to worry.
...What if she falls off?
Liene was pretty good at riding, but you never know.
There are many places along the river where the road is not paved.
“...”
With that thought in mind, she couldn’t possibly feel like riding a horse.
“Princess? Aren’t you going to ride?”
Randall asked, preparing to hand the reins he was holding to Liene.
Liene turned her head.
“I can’t go.”
“Huh? What do you mean you can’t go?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t ride a horse right now. Can’t I take a carriage?”
“There are no roads, so a carriage would be difficult. Would it be okay if I exchanged horses for you?”
“Then tell him to come and talk. Or he can come pick me up yourself. I can’t go alone.”
“I’ll take you.”
“You and I can’t ride horses together.”
Liene smiled, feeling sorry for making him take two steps for no reason.
“Tell him that.”
“...?”
Randall looked at Liene as she turned away, as if he found it a little strange.
“This isn’t good...”
He never thought Liene would refuse Black’s request.
Randall rubbed his chin with a puzzled expression.
“You always rode so well, and you suddenly don’t want to ride. Did you two fight?”
His mind was complicated, but it was a difficult problem for him, who had almost no experience with spending long periods with women, to figure out.
***
As expected, Black became very serious.
“...What did I do wrong?”
“Um... Well.”
“I don’t think we can know that.”
“...”
It was no use asking Fermos, who was probably the smartest person in the entire kingdom of Nauk.
“I wish you could have seen this together.”
On the drained riverbank, a field of purple flowers had formed, as if by magic. In fact, they were plants closer to grass than flowers, but their colors were so vivid that they looked like a field of flowers under the moonlight.
The moon was particularly large today.
The purple field, with the moon low on it, was a sight never seen before in Nauk. The finely broken silver moonlight sparkled against the still-cold water droplets. Even if they said it was a place where fairies lived, they would have believed it.
The mercenaries standing in this pretty and romantic place had uncharacteristically dark expressions.
“Was it a problem that I asked you to come?”
“I don’t know...”
“Should I have gone and picked you up myself?”
“I don’t know. We are also well...”
Black didn’t know why Liene was angry, and the Tiwakans were worried that Black might tell them to move the entire purple field into the Nauk Castle.
Fermos quickly plucked a few round, thorny grasses.
“Take them, my lord. It would be faster to ask the Princess directly instead of here.”
Black agreed.
He was just worried.
“What if she's really angry?”
“Then you should ask for forgiveness.”
Black glared at Fermos for a moment. Fermos flinched and hid his face behind Randall’s back.
“I know that.”
He knew, but he didn’t want to go through the process. That he had to face an angry Liene.
“You should go at this time. If the Princess is really angry, it would be right to ask for forgiveness as soon as possible.”
Fermos said this, using Randall as a shield.
Randall jumped up and down, asking why he was being put in the middle, but Fermos held firm.
“...I will go.”
Black turned around quickly. Then he came back and snatched the purple grass that Fermos was holding.
Since there was no signal to follow, it seemed like he was telling them to do whatever they wanted.
Everyone just stood there and watched Black ride off.
They knew without anyone saying anything that there was no reason to stick around at a time like this.
“But what would you have to fight about? I didn’t even notice it.”
“What would we know? About what happened between you two.”
“Still, my lord must have been wrong.”
“Oh, of course.”
In any case, since they were all loyal subordinates, they hoped that Liene would forgive Black appropriately.
The moon was really big.
It was a moon that could only be seen for a few days a year. Liene leaned against the terrace railing and stared at the moon as if she were entranced.
The tip of her nose was a little cold, but she didn’t even think about it because of her mood.
Her heart kept pounding.
If she had a child. If that’s the case.
So what would happen now?
Until a moment ago, her mind was in a dark place, but now she was starting to understand.
If she had a child.
First of all, the man would be very happy. Nauk would really be his home. Maybe he would cry. The tears he had put off since he was eight.
Until the child was born, the two wives and Black would always be by her side. When the child was born, everyone would give him lots of love.
The castle that had been empty and covered with spiderwebs until recently would be filled with the warmth of people.
...Every day would be so happy that it would feel like a dream.
Liene smiled slightly, resting her cheek on her knee.
A son or a daughter?
It didn’t matter. As long as the baby was healthy. Even if he resembled that man, he would be pretty, and even if he resembled her, everyone would think he was cute.
What should I do? I miss him already.
Liene, who had been lost in her own thoughts and making various expressions, belatedly discovered Black standing at the entrance to the terrace.
“...You were surprised, right? Why are you like that? You didn’t even say you came.”
Black didn’t know why Liene was angry, and the Tiwakans were worried that Black might tell them to move the entire purple field into the Nauk Castle.
Fermos quickly plucked a few round, thorny grasses.
“Take them, my lord. It would be faster to ask the Princess directly instead of here.”
Black agreed.
He was just worried.
“What if she's really angry?”
“Then you should ask for forgiveness.”
Black glared at Fermos for a moment. Fermos flinched and hid his face behind Randall’s back.
“I know that.”
He knew, but he didn’t want to go through the process. That he had to face an angry Liene.
“You should go at this time. If the Princess is really angry, it would be right to ask for forgiveness as soon as possible.”
Fermos said this, using Randall as a shield.
Randall jumped up and down, asking why he was being put in the middle, but Fermos held firm.
“...I will go.”
Black turned around quickly. Then he came back and snatched the purple grass that Fermos was holding.
Since there was no signal to follow, it seemed like he was telling them to do whatever they wanted.
Everyone just stood there and watched Black ride off.
They knew without anyone saying anything that there was no reason to stick around at a time like this.
“But what would you have to fight about? I didn’t even notice it.”
“What would we know? About what happened between you two.”
“Still, my lord must have been wrong.”
“Oh, of course.”
In any case, since they were all loyal subordinates, they hoped that Liene would forgive Black appropriately.
***
The moon was really big.
It was a moon that could only be seen for a few days a year. Liene leaned against the terrace railing and stared at the moon as if she were entranced.
The tip of her nose was a little cold, but she didn’t even think about it because of her mood.
Her heart kept pounding.
If she had a child. If that’s the case.
So what would happen now?
Until a moment ago, her mind was in a dark place, but now she was starting to understand.
If she had a child.
First of all, the man would be very happy. Nauk would really be his home. Maybe he would cry. The tears he had put off since he was eight.
Until the child was born, the two wives and Black would always be by her side. When the child was born, everyone would give him lots of love.
The castle that had been empty and covered with spiderwebs until recently would be filled with the warmth of people.
...Every day would be so happy that it would feel like a dream.
Liene smiled slightly, resting her cheek on her knee.
A son or a daughter?
It didn’t matter. As long as the baby was healthy. Even if he resembled that man, he would be pretty, and even if he resembled her, everyone would think he was cute.
What should I do? I miss him already.
Liene, who had been lost in her own thoughts and making various expressions, belatedly discovered Black standing at the entrance to the terrace.
“...You were surprised, right? Why are you like that? You didn’t even say you came.”
“I tried to tell you...”
"You did?”
“...I lost my train of thought.”
“Why?”
Black said with his eyes.
The Princess looked like she was going to fly away under the moonlight. He didn’t know how to hold her back.
“Why are you just staring at me like that?”
“...It’s cold.”
Black took off his cloak and wrapped it around Liene’s body.
“Maybe it’ll make me dusty.”
Liene smiled.
“Sometimes, you seem to know everything.”
Black sat down on the terrace floor with one knee and wrapped his cloak around Liene’s ankles.
“What do you mean?”
“Instead of telling me to go in because it’s cold, you wrapped your cloak around me. It seems like you always know what I want to do.”
“I wish that were true.”
Black said with a soft sigh.
“If you did, you wouldn’t have felt like your head was going to burst just now.”
“Why? What happened?”
“...It seems like you’re not angry when you ask me that.”
“Why am I angry?”
“I thought you were because you said you didn’t want to come. If not, that’s fortunate... This.”
Black took something out of his doublet. It was withered grass.
“Oh no. It’s already like this.”
Black clicked his tongue and placed the withered grass on the terrace floor.
“What is that? Weren’t you going to give it to me? Then give it to me.”
Black shook his head.
“It’s already withered. Next time.”
“It doesn’t look like a flower.”
"You did?”
“...I lost my train of thought.”
“Why?”
Black said with his eyes.
The Princess looked like she was going to fly away under the moonlight. He didn’t know how to hold her back.
“Why are you just staring at me like that?”
“...It’s cold.”
Black took off his cloak and wrapped it around Liene’s body.
“Maybe it’ll make me dusty.”
Liene smiled.
“Sometimes, you seem to know everything.”
Black sat down on the terrace floor with one knee and wrapped his cloak around Liene’s ankles.
“What do you mean?”
“Instead of telling me to go in because it’s cold, you wrapped your cloak around me. It seems like you always know what I want to do.”
“I wish that were true.”
Black said with a soft sigh.
“If you did, you wouldn’t have felt like your head was going to burst just now.”
“Why? What happened?”
“...It seems like you’re not angry when you ask me that.”
“Why am I angry?”
“I thought you were because you said you didn’t want to come. If not, that’s fortunate... This.”
Black took something out of his doublet. It was withered grass.
“Oh no. It’s already like this.”
Black clicked his tongue and placed the withered grass on the terrace floor.
“What is that? Weren’t you going to give it to me? Then give it to me.”
Black shook his head.
“It’s already withered. Next time.”
“It doesn’t look like a flower.”
“It looked like a flower from afar.”
“Ah... That’s why you wanted to show me.”
“The moon is nice today. It was pretty good.”
Liene was momentarily at a loss for words. She realized a little too late that it was because she had fallen for Black.
...This man loves her as if he were breathing.
Her child will be happy because of that.
Black will love her child as much as he loves her.
Black’s child will be happy because of that.
He will pour out all his affection as much as he can.
“I have something to say.”
“If it’s something that might hurt your feelings, give me some time. Get ready.”
“That’s not going to happen... It’s more like something surprising.”
“Hmm... Then you can tell me. I’m not the type to be surprised easily.”
Liene continued without giving her a break.
“It looks like I'm having a baby.”
Black nodded in his usual bland manner.
“That’s good news. I should congratulate you.”
“Ah... You're really not surprised. I thought you’d be happier, though.”
“If it’s good news for the Princess, it’s good news for me too. Should I send you a gift?”
“Ah... That’s why you wanted to show me.”
“The moon is nice today. It was pretty good.”
Liene was momentarily at a loss for words. She realized a little too late that it was because she had fallen for Black.
...This man loves her as if he were breathing.
Her child will be happy because of that.
Black will love her child as much as he loves her.
Black’s child will be happy because of that.
He will pour out all his affection as much as he can.
“I have something to say.”
“If it’s something that might hurt your feelings, give me some time. Get ready.”
“That’s not going to happen... It’s more like something surprising.”
“Hmm... Then you can tell me. I’m not the type to be surprised easily.”
Liene continued without giving her a break.
“It looks like I'm having a baby.”
Black nodded in his usual bland manner.
“That’s good news. I should congratulate you.”
“Ah... You're really not surprised. I thought you’d be happier, though.”
“If it’s good news for the Princess, it’s good news for me too. Should I send you a gift?”
“Um... A gift would be nice too. What would you like?”
“What would you like? Choose for me.”
“Um... How about a crown? Something small enough to fit the child’s head. Maybe the three of us, including the child, will have to hold the coronation ceremony together.”
“A crown?”
Black squinted his eyes slightly.
“I think that’s something the Princess’s child should wear. Can’t I have something else?”
“What would you like? Choose for me.”
“Um... How about a crown? Something small enough to fit the child’s head. Maybe the three of us, including the child, will have to hold the coronation ceremony together.”
“A crown?”
Black squinted his eyes slightly.
“I think that’s something the Princess’s child should wear. Can’t I have something else?”
“It’s okay since it’s my child?”
“Then... No, wait.”
Black waved his hand as if chasing something.
“Wait... The Princess... No, what did you say? The child...”
“The winter will pass and spring will come, he’ll be born.”
“...”
Black stopped moving. Maybe he held his breath for a moment.
“I think it was that time. The first day, I went to the Kingdom of Sharka.”
“...”
“Maybe before that. Maybe after that.”
“...”
A tremble slowly spread through his still eyes.
Liene caressed his eyes that were trembling as if there had been an earthquake.
“You’re surprised right now, right? You seem to be much more surprised than I expected... Ah.”
Liene was surprised for a moment when Black buried his forehead in his cloaked knee.
“...I thought my heart stopped.”
“You were really surprised.”
“Yes.”
Black raised his head after a long time. While waiting for him, Liene could hear the sound of his heartbeat in her ears.
“Tell me again. What do you want besides the crown?”
“Um... That’s enough for now.”
“I don’t think it’s enough...”
“There’s plenty of time.”
Liene grabbed Black’s collar.
“Let’s think about the rest little by little every day. There’s no need to rush. For now, just be happy.”
Black raised his body and hugged Liene with his whole body. The sound of his heart replaced the words he couldn’t say.
“I’m happy.”
It must have been the first time he’d ever been this happy in his life.
She’d never heard Black’s heartbeat this loudly.
“...I wonder if it could be this good.”
“Me too.”
Liene hugged Black.
The cloak he had wrapped around him tumbled down as he moved his arms, flying across the dark sky.
Liene smiled instead of panicking or thinking about picking it up.
Even that seemed like a revelation that tomorrow would be just as happy as today.
“It seems a little cold now... Shall we go inside?”
“As you wish.”
Black carefully hugged Liene.
Liene was carried into the bedroom in a familiar position.
The dangling movements of their feet, the eyes they met, and the kiss they shared as they stopped, unable to hold back.
It was all a revelation.
What God sends to humans, or what humans send to their lives.
“Then... No, wait.”
Black waved his hand as if chasing something.
“Wait... The Princess... No, what did you say? The child...”
“The winter will pass and spring will come, he’ll be born.”
“...”
Black stopped moving. Maybe he held his breath for a moment.
“I think it was that time. The first day, I went to the Kingdom of Sharka.”
“...”
“Maybe before that. Maybe after that.”
“...”
A tremble slowly spread through his still eyes.
Liene caressed his eyes that were trembling as if there had been an earthquake.
“You’re surprised right now, right? You seem to be much more surprised than I expected... Ah.”
Liene was surprised for a moment when Black buried his forehead in his cloaked knee.
“...I thought my heart stopped.”
“You were really surprised.”
“Yes.”
Black raised his head after a long time. While waiting for him, Liene could hear the sound of his heartbeat in her ears.
“Tell me again. What do you want besides the crown?”
“Um... That’s enough for now.”
“I don’t think it’s enough...”
“There’s plenty of time.”
Liene grabbed Black’s collar.
“Let’s think about the rest little by little every day. There’s no need to rush. For now, just be happy.”
Black raised his body and hugged Liene with his whole body. The sound of his heart replaced the words he couldn’t say.
“I’m happy.”
It must have been the first time he’d ever been this happy in his life.
She’d never heard Black’s heartbeat this loudly.
“...I wonder if it could be this good.”
“Me too.”
Liene hugged Black.
The cloak he had wrapped around him tumbled down as he moved his arms, flying across the dark sky.
Liene smiled instead of panicking or thinking about picking it up.
Even that seemed like a revelation that tomorrow would be just as happy as today.
“It seems a little cold now... Shall we go inside?”
“As you wish.”
Black carefully hugged Liene.
Liene was carried into the bedroom in a familiar position.
The dangling movements of their feet, the eyes they met, and the kiss they shared as they stopped, unable to hold back.
It was all a revelation.
What God sends to humans, or what humans send to their lives.
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