Chapter 22
22. Requiem (2)
The wind blew. In that moment, standing precariously by the window frame, even the wind felt like a daunting threat. Mixed with the wind, a more precarious whisper reached him. Liene was speaking.
-Please go somewhere else.
He couldn't watch the room. Instead, he strained his ears to listen to Liene's voice.
-To the next room.
That wasn't a message for the barbarian, but for him. I'll risk my life to take him to the next room, so you escape safely. He knew then that his love hadn't ended yet. Liene had only succumbed to force. The noble Daughter of Arsak couldn't bring herself to say she loved another man while betrothed, thanks to her noble heart. Even if that betrothal was practically stolen. So, he had to take her back.
“You're blind. Even more so than before.”
Lyndon Kleinfelter said to his nephew. Laffite shook his head, facing his uncle.
“Not blind, but now I've opened my eyes.”
Until then, he hadn't known. He thought that Liene, who hadn't allowed him to share her bed, didn't love him that much. He always thought he was the one who loved more. Now he knew. He would never doubt it again.
“Uncle, please remember this. Under no circumstances are you to lay a hand on Princess Liene yourself.”
“What?”
“Such a person will never gain control of Nauk.”
Lyndon Kleinfelter twitched his lips.
“You dare say that when things have come to this? What if the princess really has a wedding ceremony with the barbarian? Won't our family be left empty-handed?”
“I won't let that happen.”
Laffite revealed his firm resolve.
“I will definitely take her back before that.”
“……”
Lyndon Kleinfelter clicked his tongue once, but said nothing else. But Laffite didn't care. What others said wasn't important at all. Liene's wedding was only about ten days away. He had to find a way before then. * * *
“Why is your hand injured?”
The way back from the temple to the castle was similar to the way there. Except that Liene looked dejected and listless the whole time. People they happened to meet on the road were bewildered, not understanding why Liene was riding to the castle at this time when a funeral was being held. There was no way to tell them that she couldn't withstand Lyndon Kleinfelter's machinations.
“……Pardon? Oh, it's nothing. I was distracted for a moment while using scissors.”
Liene, who was lost in thought, replied a beat late. Black's gaze was fixed on the area below her fingernails. Liene, who had forgotten she was injured until he brought it up, felt strangely embarrassed and withdrew her hand.
“It's fine now.”
To notice the injury she herself had forgotten after applying a styptic, he must have remarkably sharp eyes.
“I should change the scissors.”
Liene involuntarily smiled briefly at Black's words. There was no way she could afford to replace nail scissors. It would be much faster to tell Madam Flambard to sharpen them less sharply.
“It was a small mistake, so there's no need to worry about it. I just need to be careful.”
Liene pulled her hand away from Black's grasp. It was very difficult not to let her guard down while their skin was touching.
“Then, I'll go in now. Thank you for the ride.”
Liene tried not to make eye contact as she walked towards the castle. But Black was faster. She had clearly started walking with him behind her, but strangely, he was in front of her.
“……?”
Men seemed to become more agile than anyone else when they decided to move quickly.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Yes.”
“Say it.”
Pale aquamarine eyes surged in before his words.
“Is it a big deal that I didn't attend the funeral?”
“……Perhaps.”
Liene didn't realize she had been wearing a worried expression all along, but Black hadn't missed it.
“Since this has never happened before, I don't know exactly what the consequences will be. But it won't be good. Lyndon Kleinfelter is……”
Liene hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure if she should say something that would make it seem like she was making an enemy of someone from Nauk to a foreigner.
“……not the type to simply forget what he couldn't have.”
“Then I will resolve the funeral issue.”
“Pardon?”
Liene's green eyes widened with a snap. How? ……No, why?
“We can change one of two things. The date or the location.”
“That may be so…… No, but if Tiwakan gets involved……”
It meant using force. It was by no means a good option in this situation. Black noticed Liene's concern.
“I didn't mean resolving it with a sword.”
“Then how?”
“I don't know yet. But I will resolve it. By tomorrow.”
“…….”
Could she trust what this man was saying? Why, of all people? This man said he had another purpose. Everyone said this man was seeking revenge. Why was he acting like he was worried about her and would do anything for her? Why?
“Why?”
She couldn't help but ask.
“What do you mean?”
“I asked why Lord Tiwakan is concerned about the funeral.”
“Is it something I shouldn't be concerned about?”
“This funeral is……”
It's because of you. It's a place to bury those you killed.
“I am the princess's betrothed now.”
“Lord Tiwakan,”
“The princess's affairs are my affairs. Ensuring the princess's safety is also my duty.”
“…….”
I'm confused. I really don't know. What this man is trying to do with me.
“Is that all?”
“Do you think I'm saying this for another reason?”
That's what others are saying.
“You're only doing this out of a betrothed's duty, without any other reason, is that right?”
“Why would I…….”
Black, who briefly rolled his tongue in his mouth at those words, slowly frowned.
“It seems that's the distance you keep from me, Princess.”
She couldn't deny it. After hearing Weroz's message, her suspicions grew every day. It seemed like every word and action he took had another intention hidden behind it that he didn't say himself.
“Would it be easier to accept if there was a reason?”
“Lord Tiwakan……”
Black, cutting off Liene's words, straightened his furrowed brow.
“Then consider that I have another motive. I want to receive something in return from the princess for resolving the funeral issue.”
“What…… price do you want?”
“What will you give me?”
Well……. Liene made a bitter expression. Regardless of what Black wanted, she couldn't give him anything significant right now.
“Apart from wanting to give you something in return, what I can give Lord Tiwakan won't be very great. That's the situation in Nauk.”
“Then I will take what you can give. Change rooms.”
“Rooms…… Are you talking about the bedroom I'm using now?”
“I will use the room next to the princess's. As her betrothed.”
“…….”
Liene's complexion changed slightly at those words. The room Liene was currently using was the bedroom where the rulers of Nauk had traditionally slept. The room wasn't directly connected to the hallway, but was designed to be entered through another bedroom. There was a bathroom and a toilet between the bedrooms. In fact, the two rooms were practically one. The room that was currently empty was, of course, the place where the ruler's spouse would stay.
“That's……”
“Is it difficult?”
“…….”
Of course it was. That's no different from sharing a room. Whatever I do, whoever I meet, this man will know everything.
“It's a room you'll naturally use after the marriage. Right now……”
“Waiting until the wedding is not a fair price.”
“……”
“Do I have your permission?”
Liene briefly closed her eyes and opened them. …Fine, if that’s how you want to play it. There was a reason why the two rooms were made to feel like one. Originally, it was a structure designed to prevent the ruler's spouse from committing any wrongdoing. If the man could see her, she could also see his every move. I'll see what you're really trying to do.
“Yes.”
Liene nodded.
“So, if you can really solve the funeral issue. But please keep in mind, there must be no killing. I don't want to see any more blood in Nauk.”
“Moving rooms will be tomorrow, then.”
Black took Liene's hand. She thought he was just showing courtesy by touching the back of her hand, but his lips touched the tip of her injured finger.
“I'll see you tomorrow.”
The moment something touched the wound, a jolt went through her. Black said to Liene, who reflexively flinched.
“Take care of your hand.”
“……”
“Then.”
Black, who replaced his greeting with a nod, let go of her hand and turned around. What is he trying to do…? Liene stood there for a moment, watching Black's back as he walked away. Did I do something unnecessary? Is it okay to entrust the affairs of Nauk to that man? But she couldn't deny a strange sense of anticipation. She couldn't shake the feeling that Black would fail at something. * * *
“P-Princess?”
mashilow was in the royal office. He was sitting at his desk, writing something diligently, and dropped his pen in surprise when he saw Liene.
“What brings you here, sir?”
“Weren't you attending the funeral?”
So, he knew she was away and still came to the office. Liene cast her gaze at whatever mashilow was writing.
“The Kleinfelter Family made a fuss and I was kicked out. I couldn't even set foot in the temple. But what were you doing just now?”
“Ah, well… I thought it would be needed soon… so I was making a knighthood certificate.”
“A certificate of knighthood?”
“Y-Yes…”
mashilow kept avoiding her eyes as he spoke. It was clear that he was doing something he wasn't proud of.
“Is there some kind of knighting ceremony I don't know about?”
“Well… Lord Kleinfelter asked me to…”
“……”
I knew it. There was no one else who would act so arbitrarily except Kleinfelter.
“Give it to me.”
Liene held out her hand, and mashilow shook his head in embarrassment.
“I was going to show it to you when it was finished, of course. Since you need to sign it, Princess…”
“Yes, I'll take a look now.”
“No, well… there's no need to do that…”
“Surely there's nothing wrong with it?”
“……”
“You dropped the pen earlier, so the ink must have smudged. It's going to be thrown away anyway, so just show it to me.”
mashilow, who had been biting his lip, finally handed over the knighthood certificate he was working on.
“……Ha.”
Liene sighed after reading just two lines of the knighthood certificate.
“Laffite Kleinfelter. Is that his new name?”
“Princess!”
mashilow was startled and looked around.
“What if someone hears you?”
“Haa……”
Liene replaced the question of whether Tiwakan would know that Laffite was alive with a sigh.
“Say this is not allowed.”
“Princess.”
mashilow, who had been flustered until just now, became serious at those words.
“You know that's not something you can say.”
“It's called a knighthood certificate, but it's really asking us to recognize a bastard as a noble now. Where does this happen? Does Lord Kleinfelter think the royal family is a joke?”
Not just a joke, but an eyesore to be eliminated.
“……It's not good to refuse, Princess.”
mashilow advised again.
“Didn't you say you couldn't even set foot in the funeral? If Lord Kleinfelter sets his mind to it, what more could he not do?”
Unfortunately, she knew it all too well. Liene twisted her lips.
“What more could he do?”
“Princess.”
“Did he mention anything specific? What kind of retaliation will he take if I don't recognize his bastard as a member of the family?”
