Chapter 62
62. Unsuitable Clothes
As expected, the woman was connected to Klima. Klima had said that Kleinfelter had taken his mother hostage and imprisoned her. That was why she had to do what Kleinfelter told her to do.
“Then you still have to be afraid. If you lose your life, your son will never get better again. Your Sectarian was sustained by his mother's existence. Think about what will happen if even that disappears.”
“H, how...? How do you know that...?”
The woman was indeed Mrs. Hinton, Knight Hinton's wife.
“What about him? The Daughter of Arsak?”
Mrs. Hinton stammered, reaching out and clutching Liene's sleeve.
“What did you do to him? Don't tell me you...”
Mrs. Hinton was so pale that she looked like someone who hadn't seen the sun in 20 years. That's my fault too. The reason why Knight Hinton's family had to abandon their name and live in Kleinfelter's dark shadow was also because of the rebellion 20 years ago.
“Your Sectarian is safe. It has been revealed that he is innocent, so he will soon return to your arms.”
“Ah, ah...”
Mrs. Hinton let out a choked, wet breath. Relief and lingering confusion stared at Liene.
“But why... why is the Daughter of Arsak doing that...?”
“Your Sectarian told me.”
“Ah, th, then? Then that... don't tell me that...”
Pale brown eyes trembled terribly. Liene understood what Mrs. Hinton was trying to say. For her, 20 years ago would still be like yesterday. The Daughter of Arsak, who was the main axis of the rebellion, was a greater threat and nightmare to her than Kleinfelter.
“Through my marriage, Lord Tiwakan will become the co-ruler of Nauk, Madam.”
Liene carefully concealed the name Hinton. There were still too many people who shouldn't know that Hinton's family was alive. Even if the people in the castle were on her side, it was dangerous.
“I believe that his blood should inherit the rule of Nauk. That's how it will be.”
“Th, that's... I don't know... How... Is that really true? Can that be? The Daughter of Arsak?”
“Because I am the Daughter of Arsak.”
Liene bowed her head as if paying respect to Mrs. Hinton.
“I know that there are things I have to take responsibility for. You and your Sectarian are also part of that responsibility. I will protect you both as much as I can.”
“That can't be...”
Madam Flambard also couldn't believe Liene's words.
“No, Princess...? You're protecting him even though he ruined the wedding dress like this? Who is this person that you're doing this for? Isn't it possible that he was ordered to ruin the wedding dress?”
“This is a wedding dress?”
Mrs. Hinton's gaze sharpened again.
“This is the dress that the King of Arsak wore at his coronation, how can you...!”
“Ah...”
Liene suddenly realized at Mrs. Hinton's sharp exclamation. What was she trying to do? To make him wear Father's coronation gown. She also remembered Black's subtle silence when she first brought up the wedding dress. Why did he say he would wear this dress? It's only natural to refuse. This dress must smell like blood to you. Why are you so... why are you hiding everything so much? Why?
“Where is it?”
Liene looked around at her feet.
“Princess! What are you doing?”
“Scissors... where are the scissors?”
“Scissors? The scissors were just now... Ah, there they are. But why are you looking for the scissors?”
Madam Flambard, not knowing what was going on, tried to pick up the scissors that had fallen on the floor. Liene pushed the Madam away like a madwoman and picked up the scissors. Clang! The blade of the scissors, which she didn't hold properly, grazed her palm.
“Princess!”
Liene slashed the wedding dress with the scissors. Rip!
“Princess! Princess!”
Madam Flambard's voice, calling her in shock as if she was about to faint, was heard from far away. Everything was hazy, as if her head was boiling.
“I'm crazy...”
Our relationship is just like this dress. The past of killing and being killed doesn't disappear. There will be other people like Mrs. Hinton. People who would be dumbfounded and disbelieve if I said I was serious about him. They would ask what qualifications I have. What qualifications do I have to think about loving him? I know. The fact that my name is Arsak makes it even more of a load of crap. I'm just scared. That the man who knew all about my past would take back the heart he gave me. That he would never look at me the way he does now. That his eyes would no longer be warm and affectionate. That he would treat me like the daughter of his enemy. Rip! Snip! Thwack! I knew it. No matter how much I tore the dress, I couldn't tear the past. But I couldn't stop. I wanted to cut it all up and get rid of it. If only I could. Thwack, thwack! At some point, Liene was holding the scissors like a knife and stabbing the wedding dress.
“...Lord, Princess! Princess!”
At the same time as Madam Flambard's suffocating scream became clear, her wrist was grabbed. The hand that grabbed her wrist forcibly snatched the scissors away and threw them far away.
“Calm down.”
“...?”
The voice that dug into her ears was that low, deep voice that she was afraid of even in her dreams, afraid that it would disappear without a trace one day.
“Even if you hate the marriage, don't do this.”
“...”
Black, who was holding her hand, stood there with his dark eyebrows furrowed in pain. What he was looking at was her palm, which was a mess from the scissors.
* * *
“...It's done, Princess.”
Madam Flambard secured the bandage. She couldn't feel the pain, whether it was because of the medicine or because she was still out of her mind.
“Spare your hand for the time being. I'll help you wash, so don't do it alone. Do you understand?”
“...Yes.”
“Then I'll be on my way.”
The Madam forced herself up, gathered her medicine, and left. Her heart wanted to stay by her side all night and take care of her wound, but now was the moment to give her seat to someone who was more desperate than herself. As Madam Flambard disappeared with hesitant steps, only Black and Liene remained in the bedroom. The bedroom continued to darken, but neither of them thought to turn on the light.
“It will hurt. Even later.”
Black, who was leaning against the pillar at the foot of the bed, opened his mouth after a long time.
“...”
Liene didn't know what to say, so she just nodded. The darkness felt heavy today. Feeling like her shoulders were being pressed down, Liene buried her forehead on her knees.
“I think there was a story like this in the old days.”
Black suddenly brought up an old story with a blank expression. Liene just listened quietly.
“The king who heard the prophecy that the born princess would be stabbed by a spinning wheel and die burned all the spinning wheels.”
It felt absurd that Black was saying such a thing, but at the same time, it felt tender in one corner of her heart. That man is saying things that don't suit him. Because I got hurt.
“That won't do. If there are no spinning wheels, you can't make thread.”
“It's a relief it was scissors.”
“Yes?”
“It's not a very essential item even if it's gone.”
“...”
Liene looked at Black, wondering if the absurd words about getting rid of the scissors were really sincere. Black wasn't smiling at all.
“Do you think I can't do it?”
...What should I do? He seems serious.
“Still, you can't. If there are no scissors, Madam Flambard will cry every day.”
“Let her cry. What's so important about that?”
“...Wouldn't it be okay to just leave the scissors to the Madam? I won't use scissors for the time being.”
“Not just for the time being, but forever.”
“...Forever?”
“Answer me.”
“...”
He's serious. Even about this. Because I got hurt. Why are you... why are you like this? What are you going to do later if you give me all that sincerity? The more sincerity he gives, the greater and fiercer the sense of loss will be when I lose it. It's not just me, but this man will be too. Even if he takes it back, it won't be the same as before once he's given it to someone else. It will be tainted and wounded.
“It'll heal quickly. It's just a small cut.”
“Maybe that's true for the Princess, but not for me.”
“...”
Black slowly detached himself from the bedpost. It seemed like he was trying to come this way, but that was it. The distance between the two people was quite far for being in the same bedroom.
“There's something I need to ask the Princess.”
Liene faced Black, feeling strangely unfamiliar. It was oddly awkward that he was standing so far away.
“……Yes. Speak.”
“If the answer is yes, then don't answer.”
“……?”
“Do you want to postpone the wedding?”
“Yes?”
“Don't ask. Either answer, or don't. Did you actually dislike the wedding?”
Black's question was as sudden as the unexpected distance between them. As Liene, flustered, missed the moment to answer, Black let out a heavy, slow sigh.
“I understand. Then rest.”
“Yes……?”
Black quickly turned his back. He strode towards the door without a moment's hesitation. Then, her heart made a thudding sound as it sank.
“No…… No!”
Liene hurriedly got out of bed. Forgetting she was barefoot, she ran and reached out to Black. Her cheek pressed against his back. Liene gripped Black's clothes tightly with both hands and said. Her voice was small, afraid that a sob would mix in if she opened her mouth wrong.
“That's not it. ……Don't leave like this. I don't want that.”
“…….”
Black let out a short breath.
“Then why did you do that?”
“……I, I thought it wouldn't suit you.”
“What?”
“The clothes…… for Lord Tiwakan.”
Anyone would think it was a lie. No one would tear up clothes they hadn't even tried on because they didn't think they would suit them. Only now did she realize how insane her actions must have seemed. ……How foolish. At this rate, he'll get tired of my personality before he even finds out I'm the enemy's daughter.
“I thought it would look good…… but after fixing it, it looked old…… and I got angry.”
“…….”
“I wanted to give you something nice, but I couldn't…… so I was just so angry about everything. I hate that I'm a Princess who can't even control her own wedding…… so…….”
“…….”
Black very slowly removed Liene's hand from his clothes and turned around.
“Princess.”
“Yes.”
It was the first time she had ever felt the weight of the lie she had just uttered to be so flimsy. Liene couldn't meet his eyes, afraid that Black would tell her to stop with the lies he wouldn't fall for.
“Open your eyes. Look at me. Is that your answer?”
……No.
“Yes.”
“Then why can't you open your eyes?”
“Because I'm ashamed. That you…… caught me like that.”
Because I'm scared. Scared that you'll find out about the past I'm hiding. That you'll leave me because of it. That you'll disappear at a speed I can't catch up to, without ever looking back, just like before. And that you'll forget everything. That you'll erase me, completely. Black, looking at Liene who still couldn't meet his eyes, said.
“You can wear any wedding dress. We don't need gifts. I've also found a way to solve the Cardinal problem regardless of the Lisebery Treaty. We can have the wedding right now if we want to.”
“I, it's come to that? How…….”
“So you can only say it once now, Princess.”
“Say what…….”
“That you don't want to get married. Then I'll postpone it.”
Liene finally opened her eyes.
“That's not it…….”
“Think carefully before you speak. I said once. If not now, you will never be able to avoid marrying me again.”
“…….”
Liene swallowed hard. Her mouth was so dry it hurt.
“Should I count? Then one.”
