Translator: Nox

Chapter 33

33. Flame (2)

Liene waited silently for him to continue.

“I don’t know if you’re too clever, Princess, or unbelievably naive.”

“……Neither sounds like a compliment.”

“Is it because you know I can’t refuse anything you ask?”

“Is that… is it?”

“You know what happened today.”

“……”

She knew well enough. What he had done for her. That even though he talked about a price, he had no intention of taking it.

“But I won’t keep doing this forever. So…”

Black reached out and snatched the towel from Liene’s hand.

“Leave. While I’m still pretending to be a decent man.”

Her hand was empty. Liene stared at her empty hand, then snatched the towel back as he had done. If I leave here, nothing will change. This man will misunderstand me, and I’ll just be left with that painful misunderstanding. I don’t want that.

“I know that Lord Tiwakan is more than just a decent man.”

I’m not afraid of you.

“So stay still. I will take care of my fiancé as I wish.”

“……”

The muscles in Black’s cheek twitched like a spasm. But this time, she could tell it wasn’t displeasure. * * * It took a long time to wash all the wounds. And after Liene insisted on washing his hair, evening had passed. Black drew a line, saying she didn’t have to do that, but Liene couldn’t bear to watch him ignore his injuries and wash his hair haphazardly. Anyway, she was exhausted when she came out of the bathroom. For some reason, Black looked more tired than she did, which was a bit strange. After telling his subordinates several times to make sure he applied the medicine, Liene returned to her room. Her arms were so heavy that she needed Madam Flambard’s help to change into her pajamas. After forcibly sending the Madam Flambard, who said she should have dinner, back, Liene lay down on the bed. It had been a long day. She wanted to close her eyes and fall asleep right away, but when she lay down, her back hurt and she groaned.

“Ah… why does it hurt now…”

Liene forced herself to turn over. She finally felt a little better when she lay on her stomach.

“Did I hit my back then… the bruise is on my side.”

I’m in so much pain just from a bruise, how is that man doing? That man seems to be getting hurt all the time. Then the arrow turned to Laffite, who had caused it. It’s all because of that person. Because he acted worse than a five-year-old. Why can’t he understand that it’s over? Come to think of it, she didn’t ask what happened to Laffite. She told them to lock him up, so he must be locked up somewhere. Tomorrow will be a mess. Lyndon Kleinfelter will be furious. He’ll send mashilow right away to squeeze me. What should I do about that? …Haa, let’s stop. For now. I’ll think about it tomorrow. She didn’t want to think about those people until right before she went to sleep. If she did, she would most likely have a nightmare. Let’s think about something that makes me feel good instead. A good thought that will make me forget my back pain. What could that be…? Suddenly, Black’s low, deep voice came to mind.

-Leave. While I’m still okay.

Suddenly, goosebumps spread along her cheek. She felt a tingling sensation in the back of her neck. Why am I so confused by those words? It wasn’t the content that was confusing. It was the emotion. The words were as gentle as Black usually was. At the same time, they sounded dangerous. It was like standing naked in front of a violent carnivorous beast without a weapon. But she also felt safe because she knew that the beast would never harm her. …That doesn’t make any sense. Liene shook her head while lying on her stomach. It didn’t make sense, but it made sense for Black. That man had been so contradictory from the beginning. Let’s just sleep. Liene forced her eyes shut. I don’t think I’ll have a nightmare now. My back hurts, but I won’t know when I fall asleep. Sleeping is the best thing to do now.

“……?”

But today was not over yet. Creak, thud. She wondered if she had misheard, but she hadn’t. The bedroom door was opening.

“Who…”

Liene struggled to get up and saw Black standing in the doorway, looking at her. * * * Why… why did he come? Could it be…

“I’ve come to collect my due.”

“……”

Her pajamas rustled as they crumpled. In fact, the sound was made by her unconsciously clutching her pajamas.

“You… didn’t you say you wouldn’t…”

Her throat was tight, and she made a sound that didn’t sound like her own voice. Black slowly walked towards her. In the midst of the complete silence, only the blue gaze looking at her seemed to be shouting loudly.

“Didn’t you do what you wanted, Princess?”

“I…”

“I want to do something too. Don’t tell me that you can and I can’t.”

“What do you want to do…?”

“I won’t do anything you don’t like.”

“……”

It didn’t seem like what he wanted to do was what she had been thinking. Liene noticed that Black was holding something in his hand.

“What… is that?”

“It’s medicine. Turn around and sit down.”

“……”

Liene hesitated, then turned around and sat down as he told her to. Black’s weight settled on the bed. He sat not too close, but not too far away, and whispered softly against Liene’s back.

“I won’t tell you to take it off.”

…Then what will you say?

“Instead, endure it. Even if it tickles.”

…? Swish, the hem of her clothes was lifted.

“What…”

Liene turned her head in embarrassment. Their eyes met for a moment, but Black didn’t stop his hand from reaching under her pajamas.

“W-wait a minute.”

Liene struggled to twist her body and grabbed Black’s wrist. Then she groaned softly in pain from her back and side.

“You should sit up straight. It’ll hurt more if you sit wrong.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m going to take care of my fiancé. You’re quick to nag others, but you don’t seem to care about your own treatment.”

“No, wait… I’m in a position where I can reach. I can apply it myself.”

“Wasn’t I?”

“That’s…”

“Turn around. Or keep looking at my face.”

“……”

Black wasn’t going to stop. No matter how hard Liene grabbed his wrist, he moved her hand without difficulty.

“Didn’t you say you were going to take your due?”

Liene asked softly.

“Would you dislike it if I said I’d take this instead?”

…Of course not. Black offered a choice where choosing was meaningless. She couldn’t say that sleeping together would be better than applying the medicine herself, and the medicine was actually better. But this… This is a bit strange. It sounds like this man wants to do something for me. Instead of taking his due.

“Why did you think of this?”

In the end, Liene turned her head. Her cheeks kept getting hot, so she put her arms on her knees and buried her face in them.

“What thought are you talking about?”

“The medicine.”

“Because I didn’t think you would apply it.”

“So if you just give me the medicine…”

“Then I can’t touch you.”

“……”

“And there was a bruise in a rather difficult position to reach on your own.”

How did he know that? …Ah, he must have seen it. She was embarrassed again. How much did he see? I saw this man naked too, so it’s… …What’s with the ‘so’? I feel like I’m going to die of embarrassment.

“I-is there one on my back too?”

Liene coughed unnecessarily and asked. Black’s hand was now completely under her pajamas.

“Yes.”

The fingers applying the medicine touched the middle of her back. The small sensation was so vivid that Liene almost screamed.

“Here. Does it hurt?”

“A… a little…”

She lied because she was afraid of how much more intense that vivid sensation would become if she said it was okay. In fact, it wasn’t painful, it was suspicious. It was ticklish and tingly. It wasn’t an itch that she wanted to scratch, but a feeling that made her want to turn around and hug the man caressing her wounds tightly.

“I’m being gentle.”

She knew that. That was the problem, he was being too gentle.

“Do it… quickly.”

This strange ticklishness will end when the man takes his hand away.

“I don’t want to.”

“……Pardon?”

But, mischievously, Black said this.

“I’ll take my time. I want to touch you for a long time.”

Liene bit her lip once and then spoke.

“Those words are a bit… too… uncouth, I think. For someone who’s applying medicine.”

“I know. But I no longer intend to appear refined.”

The hand that had been slowly moving down her spine went a little lower. It was towards her side, which Liene knew. That place was several times more sensitive than her back. Liene couldn't stand it any longer and twisted her body.

“S, stop……”

“Endure it. I did too.”

Black slowly spread the medicine on her side as well. Today, he was both gentle and strangely coercive. He was somehow different from his usual self. Did his words about not intending to appear refined mean this? But why?

“Why don’t you want to appear refined?”

“It doesn’t seem to work.”

“What doesn’t work?”

“In getting the Princess.”

“……I don’t think it wouldn’t work. What woman would like an uncouth man?”

Liene spoke after thinking for a moment. But she had no choice but to close her mouth at Black's following words.

“Perhaps if the Princess had no other man, it might have been so.”

“……”

“I was going to wait for the Princess to forget on her own… but after seeing you today, I don’t think that will happen, so I’ve changed my mind.”

The hand applying the medicine stopped moving. However, the hand still remained inside her pajamas, gently covering the bruised area.

“I… as I said, I did not commit adultery.”

“I also said. I don’t believe it anymore.”

“I never… with that person…”

I’ve never felt affection for him. We were lovers, but I was in a position where I couldn’t treat him as a lover. When I lived as his lover, I always felt like I was walking a tightrope. Those words caught in her throat and didn't come out. Liene was known to be carrying the child of her former lover. To say now that she had never loved Laffite Kleinfelter would obviously sound like a cheap lie to get out of the current situation.

“……I have never told him anything else about my situation. I have told him that I will marry Lord Tiwakan, and that the child I will bear will be fathered by Lord Tiwakan. That’s all.”

“Accepting the situation and completely cutting off your heart seem to be different matters. When I look at the Princess.”

“……”

Black wasn't talking about physical infidelity. He thought Liene still couldn't forget her old lover.

“I’ll… try… to do that.”

She couldn't say anything else.

“Yes. Try harder.”

Black's fingers, touching her skin, twitched. But he didn't forcefully grab the painful area. He caressed her skin slowly, teasingly.

“Until I can trust the Princess.”

Black's head tilted towards her. He was so close that she could feel his breath on the crown of her head.

“I will kiss you.”

He no longer asked if he could kiss her.

“Here.”

The place he pointed to with his other hand was the back of her neck, where her hair fell. With one hand caressing her bare skin, he gathered her hair to one shoulder. Her neck, bent in a curve, was revealed. Liene didn't know how white and slender her neck was, and how it looked to Black.

“……”

His fingers touched her before his lips did. Liene shuddered slightly at the small contact that tickled her downy hairs.