Chapter 44
44. Like Yesterday, Again
Black had said something similar. He thought they were betrothed, but it could have just been something his late father said in passing.
“If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be in the royal records, would it?”
“I wouldn’t know about such things.”
“I should check, just in case.”
Liene turned around in a flurry. The royal archives would be somewhere in the office. Please. Let there be something.
“Princess, where are you going? And why are you suddenly bringing up the betrothal? You were talking about him.”
“He said we were betrothed.”
“Pardon?”
Madam Flambard blinked, as if she didn’t understand.
“Who are you talking about? You weren’t betrothed to Kleinfelter either.”
“Lord Tiwakan.”
“What?”
Madam Flambard, startled, asked back, then hastily covered her mouth, surprised by her own voice.
“W-When… Th-That was… twenty years ago?”
“It’s not certain. It was so long ago. But he said that’s how he remembered it. That’s why he proposed to me.”
“I-If that’s the case… does that mean he’s from Nauk?”
“Yes. He said he left Nauk after his kin were killed a long time ago.”
“What a tragic story…”
Liene swept her hair back with a distorted expression.
“He said he’d forgotten everything from the past. He said that was the only reason he proposed to me. But… I keep…”
Liene paused, taking a deep breath.
“My thoughts are going in a bad… direction. What if… what if it was the late King who killed his kin? Is that why the old man said I would bleed because of Lord Tiwakan?”
“How can you say such a thing, Princess?”
The Madam shook her head vehemently, as if the thought alone was horrifying.
“The late King was a very good man. He was a wise, thoughtful, and magnanimous King. For such a person to kill someone… that’s impossible. It’s an absurd thought.”
“Then why did he say that? That old man.”
“That’s…”
Lost in confusion, Liene painfully hunched her shoulders. Madam Flambard watched her with pity before trying to soothe her.
“Princess, let’s think about it this way. No one knows who that old man is, right? For all we know, he might not even be in his right mind. Seeing him beat the acolyte who brings him food like that, he’s definitely not all there. How could such a person know things that neither you nor I know? Don’t you think?”
“Maybe… But the old man is old. He might have experienced and remembered things that you or I don’t know.”
“I’m saying, who is that old man that he could know such things?”
“……”
The Madam’s words were correct. The priority was wrong. She needed to find out who the old man was before worrying about what he said.
“That acolyte must know the old man’s identity.”
“The acolyte who was being beaten with a cane? Seeing how he said he needed to be beaten more, there must be an unspeakable story there. But didn’t that acolyte run away? …No, but why is Tiwakan tormenting a single acolyte?”
“He’s not tormenting him. It’s not certain, but maybe that acolyte is the one who killed the Cardinal, so he’s chasing him.”
“What? No, is that true?”
The shocked Madam briefly clasped her hands together and sought the gods.
“How could such a… someone who looks so pure and kind. Is Tiwakan perhaps framing an innocent person?”
“That’s not it. There was a clue that suggested it. But did you see the acolyte’s face, Madam?”
“It happened by chance. As you know, Princess, that acolyte always covers his face. But the old man was beating him so harshly that his hood came off in the process.”
The acolyte, who looked endlessly kind, also looked sad, she said. And he had wounds even on the back of his hands.
“Did he pray again…”
“What kind of prayer does that?”
“I heard there’s something called a prayer of atonement. It’s a prayer where you whip your own body.”
“Goodness… Even the gods who hear such prayers wouldn’t be pleased.”
“I think so too. What was that acolyte trying to atone for?”
“Perhaps he committed a sin worthy of it. …So maybe he’s not such a good person after all.”
If the acolyte Klima really did kill the Cardinal. And if the old man knew that, so he was beating him. If Klima was enduring the beating as a form of atonement. Then it was closer to the old man not being crazy and just spouting nonsense. Somehow, it felt like the old man knew more than he was letting on.
“Where did Tiwakan take the old man? I should talk to him after all.”
“That’s true… But if he deliberately took him away, would he readily reveal his whereabouts? He’s likely to hide him and make up excuses.”
“That’s probably right… Then I should at least find out about that acolyte.”
“That seems like the right thing to do. Shall I go to the temple?”
“No. It’s already late. Let’s go together tomorrow.”
“Will you have time?”
“I’ll have to make time. Fortunately, the new advisor has arrived, so I have a little less work.”
Liene squeezed the Madam’s hand tightly.
“Thank you for your hard work, Madam. You’re the only person I can fully trust.”
“Those are truly honorable words, Princess.”
The Madam gently stroked Liene’s disheveled hair with affection.
“Then let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day, won’t it?”
“I suppose so.”
Liene and the Madam parted ways in the audience chamber and returned to their respective bedrooms. Fortunately, they didn’t encounter anyone on the way back. The Tiwakans seemed busy chasing after the acolyte Klima out there.
* * * Clack. It was the moment she grabbed the doorknob.
“Where were you?”
As if he had been waiting, the door was pulled open from the inside. Startled, Liene let go of the doorknob. The face that appeared as the door opened was Black.
“……I just walked the Madam back.”
After swallowing once, a surprisingly smooth voice came out. Liene knew how futile it was to lie in front of Black. Perhaps he had already noticed that someone had come to see her from the bathroom.
“I told you I sent him on an errand. He said he met Fermos there. He was sulking because he couldn’t finish the task I gave him, so I walked him back to his room. I also let him know that the task is no longer needed.”
“I see.”
Black nodded, as if there was nothing particularly wrong. Then he held out his hand.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“Ah……”
Liene stared at Black’s outstretched hand for a moment before taking it. His hand was the same as ever. It was very warm, almost hot, and large enough to embrace anything. Black didn’t let go of her hand even after they entered the room. As they passed the bed in the center of the bedroom, Liene said jokingly.
“Are you going to walk me from room to room, by any chance?”
“No.”
Liene’s room was past Black’s room. Across from the bed were two doors, one leading to the bathroom and the other to a small room between the bedrooms. This small room was once called the King’s Gallery. Small but exotic and expensive ornaments and paintings for the ruler and his consort filled the room. It had been empty for a long time now. Liene sometimes even forgot what the purpose of this room was. Opening the door to the King’s Gallery, Black said.
“I’m going with you.”
“……Pardon?”
“I want to sleep with you again tonight. Like yesterday.”
“……”
It was that feeling again. A feeling of the bottom of her chest tightening for no reason. Liene felt a little tormented whenever she felt this sensation. Her throat was dry, and she kept swallowing.
"I thought you might have grown to like me a little more in the meantime... Am I wrong?"
"......"
That's right. That must be it. Even if you said those things, I didn't dislike you even a little bit. That's why the suspicion was even more agonizing. I still end up making excuses for what you said. Even if it's true that the late King harmed your family, and that's why you lost your home at a young age and had to wander in foreign lands, and that it's all a sin passed down through the blood of Arsac. Still, you could have forgotten the past and just wanted to propose to me. Like you said, it's already been twenty years. I was just a child who didn't know anything. If you want me to apologize to you for what the late King did, I'll do it as much as you want. Because I like you this much. So... maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you do.
"I'm just a little... concerned."
But Liene couldn't say what was on her mind. That was something she could only say when she was the daughter of an ordinary family, not the ruler of Nauk.
"About what?"
"About you saying you don't have much experience."
"......Excuse me?"
"That means you're clumsy, right?"
"......"
"I'm a little worried about someone like that."
"......"
The truth was the opposite. She was worried that he might be too skilled compared to her, who was bound to be clumsy, and that she would unknowingly keep imagining things from the past. But she couldn't say that either. She couldn't say that she wasn't carrying a child yet.
"......I'm a little speechless."
Black, whose cheeks seemed to stiffen at first, soon changed his expression and smiled lightly.
"Just how far were you thinking?"
"About what?"
"What were you thinking of doing with me? When you said we'd sleep in the same bed?"
"......"
Liene, finding it difficult to answer, simply closed her mouth, but a blush rose on her cheeks as if in response.
"What could possibly be troublesome if I'm clumsy?"
"......Anyway, I'll take that as an answer. Then, I'll be going."
Liene opened the bedroom door as if running away. Clack! But it closed again. It was because Black had pulled the door shut from behind. Thanks to that, Liene was trapped between the closed door and Black.
"How skilled do I have to be to satisfy you?"
Black lowered his head to the back of Liene's neck, who was trapped in his arms, and whispered softly.
"What do I have to do to be considered skilled?"
"It's just... that's... not right now..."
"That's strange. I was sure you meant we should do it now?"
Swish, Black's arm wrapped around her waist. At the same time, his lips parted the hair covering the back of her neck. His lips slowly slid over the exposed, delicate skin.
The hand that wasn't holding her waist stroked her hair, tickled her earlobe, and traced down her neckline.
"No... I didn't..."
"No, I meant for today."
The fingers that had been stroking her neck stopped at the edge of her pajamas. The fingertips teased, lifting the thin fabric as if about to enter, but not quite. Liene bit her lip tightly, almost letting out a sound.
"Fortunately, I don't seem to be clumsy enough for the princess to dislike. Judging by your reaction."
The fingers that had left her pajamas entered between her lips. Black slowly parted her tightly closed lips with his fingers.
"You'll get hurt if you do this. I told you this afternoon. I won't let you get any scars except the ones I make."
"Th-that..."
Her body kept trembling slightly, and she couldn't speak properly.
"You're not going to do this anymore. Promise me."
Black, who had parted her lips, grabbed Liene's chin and pulled her closer. He gently rubbed the lips that had teeth marks on them. It was disgustingly lewd and hot enough to melt her. If things continued like this, even her thoughts would disappear. Why he was being so lewd, why he was doing this, what kind of plan he was hiding inside... All those thoughts, that she had to find out the answer before harm came to Nauk.
"S-stop it!"
What is this? I didn't want this. Thud! Liene pushed Black away with all her strength.
"Stop it."
"......"
Black, feeling that she was serious, closed his mouth and looked at Liene.
