Chapter 19
19. Trap (3)
Does he know? Is he asking on purpose, knowing everything? Is this man telling me to confess before I open that window? Liene struggled not to look at the window where Laffite Kleinfelter was precariously perched on the windowsill.
“Yes… that’s right.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
The man, who seemed to know everything, said only that.
“Then, take the measurements.”
“……”
She couldn’t. She had to get Black out of this room as quickly as possible and send Laffite back. He might be able to hold on for now, but someone might discover Laffite standing on the railing outside. And if Laffite were to slip and fall, the consequences would be far more terrible.
“Do it somewhere else.”
Liene moved closer to Black and spoke softly. She couldn’t bear the shame and embarrassment of having to do this. But she couldn’t think of any other way to get Black out right now. She guessed that if Black was aware of Laffite's presence, he wouldn't leave so readily after taking the measurements. He would stay to see what happened. Definitely. That's how Liene saw Black. Sharp, with a good sense, and quick in both body and mind. If he were just a barbarian who knew nothing but war and slaughter, as the rumors said, he wouldn't feel so dangerous and, at the same time, so fascinating.
“Why?”
As expected, he asked why he had to leave this room. Liene had to lower her voice even more. As a result, Liene's voice sounded like a whisper. As if she were seducing someone.
“Because Madam Flambard is here.”
“……”
At those words, Black silently scanned Liene. His eyes, so soft and clear, seemed to reveal every tiny expression hidden between her eyes, nose, and mouth. He lowered his head and whispered, mimicking Liene.
“Then send Madam Flambard out.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“All the sewing materials are here.”
“……”
“So… I can’t make Madam Flambard wait outside for too long.”
Her face flushed uncontrollably as she said those words.
“I see why I can’t stop thinking about you, Princess.”
Black pulled on the hair he was holding. Liene was drawn in without resistance. The distance between the two, which already seemed too close to others, narrowed even further. As if they were about to touch.
“I can never guess what you’ll do next.”
“What do you mean by that…”
“Where should we go?”
Black grabbed Liene's arms with both hands and asked quietly.
“To the next… room.”
He turned Liene's body around. Thump! His steps were quick, and the door opened quickly too. The next room was closer than she thought. * * * Thud! Something slammed hard against the wall. But it wasn't her body. Because it didn't hurt. Liene realized that Black had placed his palm against the wall before her back touched it. As soon as the door closed, their lips met. The moment Black lowered his head, lowered his body, and covered her, her mind went blank. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Black lifted the clinging Liene with one arm to match their heights. The kiss was hot, and her body was like kindling. Once a spark was ignited, everything burned.
“Ah, wait…”
Liene sighed as Black's lips dug into her neck.
“Do you not like it?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Then be still.”
The shoulder where his arm rested was broad and reliable. Her feet were off the ground, but she wasn't scared at all. She just wanted to be closer to him like this.
“……”
Liene breathed out softly and tightened her arms around his shoulder. Black paused his lips for a moment as she wiggled. But he didn't stop immediately. Black slowly removed his lips, caressing the skin that had been clinging to him until just now.
“Is the position uncomfortable?”
“No… no.”
“Then are you scared?”
She was scared. Scared of what might happen. Her body didn't feel like her own.
“A little…”
“……”
……. This time, Black sighed. His breath on her neck created a strange heat. A heat that made her head hot too.
“Don’t be scared.”
With those words, her feet gently touched the ground. Black put her down. Suddenly, her feet felt heavy. …I misunderstood. That's not what she meant by scared. But she couldn't ask him to pick her up again and kiss her. Even if Black was her lover, she would be too embarrassed to say that.
“I guess I was too fast.”
Too fast… she didn't really know. She just remembered her body heating up without rhyme or reason. Looking back, she couldn't say it was slow. But that meant… it wasn't just this man who was fast. Maybe she was even faster.
“It’s okay…”
Liene mumbled in a voice smaller than a mosquito's, lowering her gaze. It was impossible to look at the man straight after mixing her lips so passionately.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
Black suddenly intruded into her downward gaze. He was bending down and looking up at her from around her chest. Liene was flustered and placed her hand on Black's eyes.
“Why… are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you say it’s okay when you don’t look okay.”
“No, it’s really okay.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you covering my eyes?”
“Well…”
That's right. Why? Strangely, she was too embarrassed right now. It wasn't the first time they had kissed. It meant that he had gotten a little closer, enough to make her want to cover his eyes. Before, she would step back when she was embarrassed or flustered. Now, instead of avoiding him, she covered him with her hand. It was a change that was happening without Liene realizing it.
“I’ll let go, so don’t look up from below.”
“……If that’s the problem, I’ll do that.”
“Yes, then.”
Liene carefully removed her hand that was covering Black. The slowly falling hand brushed against his face. At this point, it was no different from caressing him. Before Liene's hand completely left, Black quickly grabbed her wrist and made it stay on his face.
“This isn’t bad either.”
“What… do you mean?”
“The Princess touching me.”
“……”
Black gently turned Liene's wrist and kissed her palm.
“So I’ll be patient today.”
“With what?”
“The Kleinfelter Family’s bastard.”
“……!”
While Liene froze like a statue, Black this time kissed the back of her hand. It was the first time she had ever been so scared of a man who was kissing her politely.
“Now, Tiwakan is in charge of the security of Nauk Castle. Anyone who enters without my permission will not be considered to have good intentions. But today…”
Chok, his lips gently brushed her hand before falling away.
“As I said, I’ll be patient. Because the Princess touched me.”
“……”
Liene couldn't say anything more. Black, who had let go of her hand, asked as if nothing had happened.
“Where should I take the measurements?”
It was only when Black asked that that Liene realized she hadn't even brought a ruler. In the end, it was Madam Flambard who finished taking the remaining measurements. * * *
“I let him go nicely, as you said.”
Fermos was full of complaints. Laffite Kleinfelter was the one he supposedly let go easily. There was no way he wouldn't know that someone was sneaking into the castle. It was an old castle, so there were so many back doors that he lost track for a moment, but he still received the report. The moment Fermos received the report that a rat from the Kleinfelter Family had sneaked in, he grinned. He was thinking of squeezing the Kleinfelter Family even more with this. If things went wrong, he could even take the momentum and uproot them. But the smile stopped when he heard that the rat was going to Liene's bedroom. Because Black wasn't smiling. It was the opposite of smiling. Black visibly hardened. Fermos swore to the God of War that this was the first time he had ever witnessed Black losing control of his expression like this. The Kleinfelter's rat was definitely the captain of the royal guard who hadn't died, and the fact that he had found Liene's bedroom seemed to be closer to a lovers' rendezvous. Princess Liene hadn't forgotten her lover. Well, it would be stranger if she had completely changed her mind already. The two had been lovers for quite some time, and seeing the rat recklessly running around without regard for his life, it was clear that he had no intention of letting Princess Liene go easily. Above all, he was also the child's father, so as a princess, she wouldn't have been able to cut him off so easily. The problem was that Black had to hear and see it himself. …This is wrong, wrong. He's fallen for her. Judging by the way his emotions are all over his face, Black's heart has already leaned towards Princess Liene. But that didn't give Princess Liene a free pass to continue her secret rendezvous with her ex-lover. He had never had a woman by his side before, but Black wasn't the type to be so spineless. Spineless? He's the most ruthless of all. The lord's mercy that he had shown to Princess Liene until now was over today. If she brought her lover into her bedroom while she was engaged, someone's head would have to fly. But things didn't go that way. Ironically, a message came at that moment. Princess Liene wanted the lord to come to her. While he was trying to figure out what was going on, Black was already gone. That's something. Whether she's lucky or cunning. At least the lord was right that it was difficult to grasp Princess Liene at a glance. He still couldn't tell whether her beautiful face, which looked so innocent and pure, was real or just a remarkably elaborate mask.
“He's still got his head and went back to his hole just fine. But…”
Black, who had seen Princess Liene, somehow resembled the princess. It meant that he was lost in his own thoughts with an expression that was hard to grasp.
“Are you really going to let this slide?”
Fermos couldn't stand it any longer and asked.
“……This time.”
Black's answer came after a long pause. It meant that it wasn't an easy conclusion to come to.
“May I ask why… No, no, I must ask. It's not good to leave the Kleinfelter Family like this. A few hundred soldiers are not a problem, but as you know, the rat has connections with the Sharkan Kingdom.”
“I've decided to let it go this time.”
“No, I mean, why? Why this time…”
“Because I received compensation.”
“Compensation… Compensation? What compensation? From the Kleinfelter Family?”
He asked even though he knew it didn't make sense. That family was the only one who could pay the price.
“No.”
“Then?”
“The princess did.”
The following reply was tinged with annoyance. Fermos instinctively knew that it was time to cut back on the questions. He was dying to know what the compensation was, but he decided to hold back for now. Of course, if he knew that the compensation was just touching his face first, it would be better to just remain curious.
“Yes, well, if that's what you've decided… I hope that the compensation can make up for the opportunity you missed today. But if I may be so bold, if you continue to be so lenient, the same thing will happen again.”
Fermos added, bracing himself for being presumptuous, but he received an unexpectedly firm answer.
“……No, it won't.”
“Oh. Why is that?”
“Because the princess didn't call him.”
“Hmm… How did you know?”
“If I had a brain, I wouldn't call two people at the same time.”
“Well… that's true.”
Fermos was a little confused about that point too. So does that mean Princess Liene is as innocent as she looks on the outside? Is that what's making the lord's heart so soft like pudding all the time?
“So you've decided that you can trust Princess Liene?”
