Chapter 20
20. Trap (4)
“No.”
The answer came too quickly, leaving Fermos momentarily bewildered.
“Then…?”
“It’s not that I’ve severed my feelings.”
That was how Black interpreted today’s events. The ex-lover had unilaterally come to visit, and Liene was desperately trying to hide him. She had even imitated seduction, which was unlike her. It would be a lie to say it didn't work. He was the one who had been momentarily driven out of his mind with excitement. He had snapped back to his senses the moment Liene squirmed, saying she was scared. Before that, he had been burying his face in her neck, wondering how to take off the dress she was wearing. It wasn't because of the heat, nor was it because he was desperate for a woman. He wanted Liene. Apart from the desire to possess what was originally his.
“I thought that woman…”
The words burst out of his lips. Fermos discreetly closed his mouth and listened.
“I thought she was part of Nauk.”
So he thought of her as something he had to have along with Nauk in order to possess Nauk. Today, he realized that wasn't the case. He wanted Liene regardless of Nauk. He wanted to take her back. As if she had never been taken away in the first place.
“So you’re saying your thoughts have changed?”
Black, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon nodded heavily.
“Yes.”
“May I ask how they’ve changed?”
“I intend to take everything back. Everything.”
Taking back was different from possessing. It meant returning her to the way she should have been. Without any room for another man to interfere, without even a trace left. He also had to get back Liene's heart, which the eldest son of the Kleinfelter Family had stolen.
“So that’s how it ends up.”
Fermos sighed inwardly. Well, he had a feeling it would come to this.
“If you are serious, my lord, then I will be serious as well.”
Regardless of whether Liene liked it or not, Black's will was absolute. He couldn't dare to tell him what to do with the person he had chosen.
“We must protect the Princess well. So that there is no next time.”
Black, who had been furrowing his brow, nodded. There must be no next time. Laffite Kleinfelter would never be able to meet Princess Liene again. * * * Liene, who had been tossing and turning all night, woke up at dawn. Her head had been filled with complicated thoughts about yesterday's events, which eventually forced her to open her eyes. Why was that man pretending not to know when he knew everything? What was he planning to do? Was he toying with her? If not, was he literally turning a blind eye just this once? Because she had touched him? Did that mean she was that much of… a meaningful existence to him? Liene knew how dangerous yesterday's situation had been. It wasn't just a matter of whether or not another man was caught sneaking into her bedroom. Laffite's identity could have been revealed, and the fact that she had been hiding his identity all along could have been revealed as well. Either way, the result would have been betrayal of her betrothed. She couldn't believe that he had turned a blind eye to it so easily. It seemed as if he was not only turning a blind eye, but also that he was blinded by her. It felt so affectionately blinding. …That couldn't be. There was no such man in this world. Even if there was, it wouldn't be Lord Tiwakan. Had she forgotten the way that man had proposed? The castle was surrounded and a hundred people had died. Liene squeezed her eyes shut and let out a sigh.
“I don’t know. I should just get up.”
Today was the funeral. The funeral was the responsibility of the temple, but Liene had to attend as well.
“I thought I woke up early, but I guess not.”
It was a relief that she had things to do. She had to tidy up her mourning clothes and prepare a black veil and black gloves to cover her face. She had woken up too early, so everyone else was still asleep. It seemed like she would have to fetch the water for washing her face herself.
“First, I’ll take care of the funeral…”
Wouldn't this maze-like situation be a little more organized if Laffite Kleinfelter was officially declared dead? With that thought in mind, Liene put on her mourning clothes over her slip and headed to the basement with a water bottle. * * * There was a well, but she couldn't use it carelessly. Nauk, which had been suffering from drought for years, was a place where every drop of water was precious. The water used in the castle was drawn from the well once a day and filled into the water container in the basement. If they needed to use more water than that, they had to get Liene's permission, and Liene had to assess the validity of the request. Creak. The basement was quiet in the early morning. Although no lights were on, Liene walked towards the water container familiarly. This wasn't the first time she had fetched water with her own hands.
“Princess.”
“……!”
However, she didn't expect someone hidden in the dim shadows to jump out. Liene was so surprised that she almost dropped the water bottle.
“Ah! Oh, I caught it!”
The someone quickly caught the precariously swaying water bottle with his palm.
“Who… Hyde?”
“Yes, yes. It’s me, Princess. Did I startle you?”
“Why are you here?”
“Ah, well, that is… Oh, dear. I shouldn’t have been caught.”
Hyde was someone that Sir Weroz had taken as a servant in the past. She had vaguely heard before that he had returned to his home when Sir Weroz moved his residence into the castle altogether. According to Sir Weroz, he unfortunately didn't show the qualities to become a knight. Hyde belatedly looked around the dark surroundings and lowered his voice as much as possible.
“Sir Weroz told me to deliver a message to you, Princess. But he insisted that I had to do it secretly, directly to you, so I was waiting here.”
“How did you know I was coming to get water?”
“Yes? No, well, I didn’t know. I was thinking of asking your maid if she came. After all, someone has to come to get your washing water, Princess.”
It would have been a long wait if that were the case, but either way, he was lucky.
“Sir Weroz? Is he safe? Where is he?”
Hyde shook his head.
“I don’t know anymore.”
“What? Where did you see Sir Weroz?”
“Sir Weroz came to the mill where I work. I was so surprised…”
Sir Weroz had clearly disappeared from the Kleinfelter Family. She had assumed that he had been harmed there, but from what she was hearing now, Sir Weroz was moving on his own. She was confused.
“Anyway, he told me to deliver this message.”
Hyde looked around again and gestured to Liene.
“A word…”
It was something that someone who had been properly taught manners wouldn't do, but Liene listened to him. If it was something that Sir Weroz had insisted on, she had to listen to it no matter what. As her ear drew closer, Hyde whispered very softly.
“He said not to trust that man.”
“What?”
“He said you would know if he said that… He said that man's purpose is revenge.”
“……!”
Liene's green eyes, which had widened greatly, looked almost gray in the darkness. Hyde, who didn't see how surprised Liene was, continued.
“He also said to always be careful and to postpone the wedding until you return. He said that he would somehow dig up that man's secrets and bring them to you before then.”
“Then Sir Weroz… is now…”
“Yes. He has left Nauk.”
Her faded eyes began to shake violently. * * *
-That man's parents were killed by someone from Nauk.
-He said that his purpose is revenge.
In the end, it was the same story.
“How could he possibly…”
Liene bit her nails without realizing it. How did Sir Weroz know that? The place where Sir Weroz had suddenly disappeared was the Kleinfelter mansion. He must have somehow sniffed out a clue there. Revenge. At first, she had said she wouldn't believe it. She thought it was nonsense that a bitter ex-lover was throwing around carelessly. But… was it not? If she put Black's actions, which she couldn't understand from the beginning, into the formula of revenge, she could understand it. Was that man's revenge not something that could be resolved by simply cutting off heads? Was he trying to see a more cruel and painful end than that? Was the reason he didn't break down the castle walls and cut off her head in one fell swoop because he was trying to slowly wither Nauk from the root?
“What is it, Princess?”
Madam Flambard, who was brushing her hair and tying it with a dark ribbon suitable for the funeral, heard her muttering to herself.
“Oh my, good heavens. Oh, no, were you biting your nails?”
The Madam, who belatedly saw Liene's nails, scolded her.
“No, it's not like you're a child who can't talk, why are you suddenly doing this? Your nails are ruined. It breaks my heart. Wait a moment.”
The Madam put down the comb and rummaged through the box, taking out a pair of nail scissors.
“Ah……”
She felt embarrassed when she saw her nails, which had been chewed so much that the ends were tattered.
“Give me your hand.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Liene obediently held out her hand. The Madam carefully trimmed her nails and sighed.
“They’re too rough, Princess.”
“Ah, are they too damaged to trim? Just do it roughly. Who would care about my nails anyway?”
“Not just your nails, but your hands. Would anyone think these are… the hands of a princess of a nation?”
“……”
Madam Flambard’s eyes were already welling up with tears. Liene, thinking she really would cry, decided she should stop there. If she started complaining about her situation, there would be no end to it, and Madam Flambard, despite pretending otherwise, was prone to tears.
“What would you do with pretty hands in a place like Nauk? Stop it now. I’ll trim your nails… Ouch.”
Swish! As she reached for Liene's hand, the edge of the scissors grazed it. The old but well-sharpened scissors mercilessly sliced the tender flesh under her nail. Pop, pop-pop.
“Good heavens…! Princess!”
Madam Flambard was horrified to see blood gushing from Liene's thumbnail. Clang! She threw the scissors down haphazardly and tightly wrapped Liene's hand in her apron.
“What should I do? Goodness, I’ve done such a thing…”
“No, it was my fault. You didn’t do anything.”
“I… Good Lord. There’s so much blood. You’re badly hurt…”
She had been trying not to make Madam Flambard cry, but it looked like she really would. Liene forced a smile, not even daring to show the pain.
“It’s nothing. It doesn’t hurt much. Please let go.”
“No, what are you saying? The blood is still flowing like this.”
“The funeral is soon, isn’t it? We shouldn’t be late.”
“That’s true, but…”
Madam Flambard couldn’t bring herself to let go of her hand and fidgeted for a while.
“I think I should put some styptic powder on it. I’ll get the medicine. Please hold the wound for a moment, Princess.”
Madam Flambard reluctantly let go of her hand and left.
“Ah… it’s quite a cut.”
The wound was quite large. Watching the blood that showed no sign of stopping made her feel a little eerie.
-I will have my revenge. On Nauk.
The thought that wouldn’t leave her head brought on dizziness along with the red blood.
“It hurts…”
Liene clenched her hand tightly. Only after seeing the wound with her own eyes did it finally hurt. Just like the uncontrollably chaotic feeling when she faced the real reason Black had proposed to her.
“It hurts… really.”
Taking advantage of Madam Flambard’s absence, Liene let a tear fall. She muttered to herself that there was no evidence, that what Weroz had told her was just words, but the confusion didn’t disappear like the pain under her fingernail.
“If…”
If he was really trying to get revenge. Then what should I do? One thing was certain. She must never let her guard down. No matter how much he feigned kindness and blinded her.
