Chapter 39
39. Beginning
It wasn't just that it seemed that way, it was true. Fermos had told him everything in detail, leaving nothing out, but Black could easily picture what had happened in the office. "Difficult" was an understatement. Liene had inherited the crown at nineteen, barely an adult. To the elder nobles, including Kleinfelter, a nineteen-year-old princess was nothing more than easy prey. She must have been constantly harassed by those jackals, each trying to grab their own piece, as she patched up this failing kingdom. That was why her seemingly fragile shoulders were actually so strong. That was why her eyes, which always seemed wet, had never actually shed tears. The moment he understood that, something inside him burst open. Through that gap, the woman named Liene Arsac flowed in without a moment's rest. Laffite Kleinfelter was finished. Liene was clever. She had probably already calculated what it meant to be bound to the Kleinfelter Family through marriage. Whether she had given her heart or conceived a child, Liene had absolutely no intention of being with him. So, that was that. She hadn't committed adultery, and she had no intention of doing so; that was the truth. Liene Arsac's fiancé was him. Black gently pressed Liene's forehead, making her lie completely on the pillow.
“Even if the princess is fine, the child won't be.”
“Child? Why suddenly a child...? ...Ah.”
Liene's expression stiffened as if she was flustered.
“It's always good to be careful, so rest for a while now. You don't look well.”
Her pupils darted around at those words. Like him, Liene was too unaware that she was carrying a child. Perhaps it was because it wasn't yet the time when her body would be greatly inconvenienced. That wasn't bad either. Liene would be with him for the entire duration of her pregnancy. The fact that the child's biological father was another man would have no place to stand in the future.
“Did you say there's no doctor in the palace?”
“There isn't. It's not like someone is needed often.”
He had never seen royalty without a personal physician. Black bit the tip of Liene's finger to stop himself from saying what he wanted to say.
“Ouch... ...Why are you doing that?”
“Did it hurt?”
“No. Not really... I'm just curious why.”
In truth, there was no reason. Since some time ago, he had just wanted to be in contact with Liene whenever he saw her. Whether it was her lips or her hand, it didn't matter. If he needed a reason for every one of those moments, it would be too complicated.
“Because you're pretty.”
“...Pardon?”
So, he decided to express it that way. Liene was pretty in every moment, so it was probably the closest thing to the right answer.
“Then I'll call Fermos.”
“No. There's no need for anyone to come... But was that person a doctor?”
“He has a lot of medical knowledge, so he's better than most doctors.”
“Is that, so?”
“Stay like this for a moment. I'll be back soon.”
“No, don't.”
Liene hurriedly grabbed Black, who was about to get up. Even such a trivial thing made Black's emotions complicated. A sense of relief and fulfillment, and some more violent desire than that, surged up at the same time and mixed in a dizzying way. If he had to choose the clearest one among them, it was the urge to hold her tightly, kiss her, and embrace her.
“Th-That, Lord Fermos... even if he's similar to a doctor... he's a man... and I'm uncomfortable.”
Looking at her flustered face, he wondered if there were other reasons. But he didn't want to make her uncomfortable by prying. The more uncomfortable things there were, the slower Liene would be to open her heart to him.
“Wasn't the doctor who confirmed you were pregnant a man?”
“The doctor... ahem, the doctor is a man, but his wife usually takes care of me.”
“Then I'll bring his wife.”
“His wife isn't in the castle right now.”
“When will she be back?”
“That's... I don't know how long it will take. She might not be back today.”
“Is it something that can't be brought back?”
“That's...”
Liene frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded as if she had made some kind of decision. Liene patted the spot next to her with her hand, signaling him to sit down again. It was a signal that the conversation might be long.
“I asked her to do something for me.”
“Did she go far?”
“No, it's not that... There was something I needed to know, so I asked her to meet someone for me instead. But I don't think it's necessary anymore.”
“Do you want to say why it's not necessary anymore?”
“Yes. Because it's something I don't have to hide anymore.”
Black saw Liene's expression change subtly. She looked a little more relaxed and refreshed.
“I met someone on the street who knew Lord Tiwakan the other day.”
* * * The time spent talking about meeting the beggar old man in front of the temple wasn't very long. But after spending that short time, her heart felt lighter than ever.
“...Just as I was about to hear the story, Lord Tiwakan came to pick me up. At that time, I didn't think it would be good for that person's identity to be revealed, so I didn't say anything.”
His expression must be a little funny right now. He must be twitching at the corners of his mouth as if he was smiling the whole time he was talking about deceiving her until now. It seemed that a lighter heart also meant lighter corners of the lips.
“Did that old man hear rumors from somewhere? ...Maybe he remembers Lord Tiwakan. Maybe he saw him when he lived in Nauk before.”
“That's unlikely.”
Black must have known that the corners of his mouth were moving, so he reached out and fiddled with the ends of his lips for no reason.
Such trivial things seemed to be binding him and her into the framework of a real engagement.
“My face wouldn't be the same as it was twenty years ago.”
“Would it?”
“I was young then. Much smaller than I am now.”
“Hmm... Maybe not. I would have remembered.”
Liene pictured Black's young self in her mind. Even if it was difficult to recall his appearance, she would definitely recognize one thing.
“Because eye color doesn't change.”
“Even if it's a unique eye color, I'm not the only one who has it.”
“Is that so...”
Liene had never seen eyes as light as Black's before. But that might be because she had never been outside of Nauk yet.
“Anyway, I should tell his wife to come back. She might be suffering for nothing.”
“I'll send someone in that direction.”
“Thank you.”
When Liene smiled with her eyes slightly folded, Black suddenly tilted his head.
“Still, since there's time until his wife returns, it would be good for Fermos to be here.”
The problem was back where it started. Liene struggled to hide her embarrassment as she faced Black from a suspiciously close distance.
“No, really... I'm really fine. I don't need a doctor.”
“Really?”
If a real doctor came, then a big problem would arise from then on. She would have to tell him that too. That she wasn't pregnant. But that was... a little later. At this rate, it would be a place where I confessed the lies I had told endlessly. So, just a little. Just a little later.
“Yes. Lord Tiwakan is just... ahem, just worrying for no reason. I'm the same as usual.”
“That's not true. Don't say you're the same.”
Black placed Liene's wrist, which had a bruise on it, on his hand as if to show her.
“...Except for that.”
“Then I'll believe there's no problem. So, may I kiss you?”
“Pardon? Suddenly?”
Black muttered as he looked at Liene, who asked back as if she was dumbfounded.
“Is it sudden? Not to me.”
“...You were treating me like a patient until just now.”
“I'm asking because you're a patient.”
“......”
“Because I don't want to make a sick person suffer more with just my greed.”
That meant he cherished Liene very much.
“I... I wish you wouldn't ask.”
Liene swallowed briefly. It seemed like she could say these words now. Because she knew what kind of existence she was to Black.
“Do you dislike it?”
No.
“Yes.”
The moment Liene heard the answer, she traced the corners of Black's frozen lips with her fingertips.
“I don’t want you asking me every time we do it anymore.”
“……”
Black only moved his eyes to stare at Liene's finger touching his lips. Watching it made his mouth feel strangely dry.
“……I might regret saying that.”
After a moment, Black slowly opened his mouth. Every time he spoke, the movement of his lips was transmitted to her fingertips.
“I don’t think… I will.”
“I won’t listen even if you say something different later.”
“I still won’t say it was a mistake.”
“If that’s the case.”
Suddenly, his lips approached and parted Liene's lower lip. Black's upper lip entered her mouth. Her body flinched at the new sensation she had never experienced before. …It might be a mistake after all. This man is too good at kissing. It wasn't as intense as in the morning, but this kiss was persistent. He dug into every corner and made her taste him until she was sick of it. Her arms unknowingly wrapped around Black's shoulders. When Black pulled her waist to bring their bodies close together, her golden eyelashes fluttered.
“……”
Their lips parted for a moment. Black supported Liene's back with one hand and slowly tilted his upper body. Liene lay down on the bed, and Black was in a position to look down at Liene from above.
“Good. This face right now.”
Black's thumb rubbed her wet lips. That touch felt like a different kind of kiss. Liene closed her eyes, not knowing what to do.
“In this position… doesn’t one usually look ugly?”
“It’s as if you, Princess, came from a country without mirrors.”
She was unnecessarily embarrassed, wondering if he was pointing out that there weren't many mirrors in the palace. Because she had diligently sold off the large, ornate, and valuable mirrors.
“What… does that mean?”
“I’m saying it’s as if you’ve never seen your own face.”
“Then that’s….”
Is he saying I'm pretty? Does it mean that I look very good in this man's eyes? Just like this man does in my eyes.
“I wish there was a room where time didn’t flow. I’d lock you up and be alone with you.”
Black slowly removed his thumb. The chilling words of locking her up sounded a little different when he uttered them slowly with fiery eyes. It felt like a hot wind was brushing over her skin.
“I don’t think there is such a place… but I’ll let you know if I find one.”
Black chuckled softly, as if exhaling a breath he had been holding back.
“I can’t let my guard down.”
“About what….”
“You, Princess.”
He lowered his head. His lips were in a position to touch hers immediately. Liene reflexively closed her eyes. It was a mistake after all. They were already in a room where time didn't flow. She didn't care if it was day or night, here or there. ...No, it's not a mistake. And Liene realized that she might like such a room very much. She came in by mistake, but she was glad she made a mistake. So she couldn't say it was a mistake.
“I’m not confident I can stop here….”
Black rubbed his lips against hers, stopped, and whispered softly.
“Is this something I don’t need to ask about either?”
She thought her breath was constricting at those words. And at the same time, there was a very cautious knock, knock.
“It’s me, Master. …And Princess.”
It was Fermos.
“May I come in?”
* * * She couldn't refuse. Black's words that he wasn't confident he could stop were too intense for that. Liene couldn't figure out what to say, and then used Fermos, who had knocked on the door at the right time, as an excuse. She was the one who said there was no need to call him a little while ago, but she didn't care now.
“I had a lot of things to ask anyway. What happened to Lyndon Kleinfelter?”
She let him into the room to stop Black, but it was actually a necessary thing to do. The fact that Lyndon Kleinfelter was imprisoned was a really big deal for Nauk. It wasn't over just because he was imprisoned. The really important thing was just beginning.
