She wanted to kiss him. Yet, a sudden wave of shyness held her back. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t initiated it once before. But back then, perhaps her ignorance had given her courage. Now, knowing exactly what a kiss with this man entailed... that knowledge paralyzed her. [Black] "I’m not exactly skilled at this sort of thing." Black spoke as he watched her fingertips hover uncertainly, ghosting over the skin just below his neck. [Liene] "Skilled at... what?" [Black] "This." B

[Lyndon] "Ugh..." The pain did not fade easily. Lyndon, both his wrists broken, could not even rise from the floor. He lay prone, groaning in agony. [Laffit] "Is the pain very bad?" Laffit tried his best to inch closer and spoke to him. [Laffit] "You need treatment right away..." [Lyndon] "Talk sense! There is no way those beasts would do such a thing for us!" Lyndon shouted abruptly. It wasn't just aimless venting. He was furious at his nephew, who had sat motionless while h

[Fermos] "Things will work out easily thanks to the Princess. The mere thought of lifting the hems of those gloomy priests’ robes... Ugh, it was enough to kill my appetite entirely." Since they had found a clue, it was time to move swiftly. Liene began preparations to convene the Grand Council, while Black decided to go to the Temple with Fermos. A group was quickly organized to head there immediately. [Fermos] "Ah, here comes the horse." Mercenaries brought a horse for Fermo

Fermos nodded and began to speak. [Fermos] "Yes, just as I said..." [Liene] "No, before that, I must ask. What happened to your face?" As Fermos stepped closer to answer, Liene was startled. One side of his face was mottled with a deep, dark bruise. When he had dragged Lyndon by the scruff of his neck out of the study, his face had been perfectly fine. [Liene] "Did someone hit you? Who did this?" [Fermos] "Ah, this is..." Fermos stole a quick glance at Black. [Fermos] "I am a

It wasn't just a possibility; it was the truth. Fermos had recounted everything to Black, leaving no detail out, but Black could easily visualize the scene that had transpired in the study. To call it difficult would be an understatement. Liene had inherited the crown at nineteen, barely an adult. To the noble elders of the Grand Council, including Kleinfelter, a nineteen-year-old princess was nothing more than easy prey. She must have had to constantly endure the harassment

That morning, if it hadn’t been for Lyndon’s antics, it might have passed beautifully. The dishes in front of her were truly captivating, and how much more perfect it would be if a special someone could see her in her favorite dress. Maybe, that man would say again that she looked lovely. Ah… how wonderful it would be if all that happened. Liene carefully sliced the roasted meat and put a small piece into her mouth. She chewed, but she couldn’t taste anything, even though s

His threats continued. [Lyndon] "Send the eldest son back. That is the only reason your neck isn't broken right now. The body meant to charm the savage must remain intact." [Liene] "Do not delude yourself. The time when the Kleinfelter could do anything they pleased is over. Snap out of it and prepare to welcome Nauk's co-ruler." [Lyndon] "You seem bold because you rely on those beasts, but you, too, should put that tiny head of yours to use. Do you truly think he came to Nau

Liene washed and dressed. She wore a lilac-colored dress that she seldom used and usually kept aside. The thin, delicate fabric was embroidered with small needlework, making her extremely cautious not to tear it whenever she wore it. She had sold almost all of her impractical clothes, but this one remained. Madam Flambard had tearfully insisted she keep this dress, and Liene herself knew the lilac shade suited her complexion quite well, making her feel reluctant to part with

Their lips met again. This time, the kiss was more hurried and lacked the former leisure. It wasn't rough, but it was fierce. He immediately plunged inside her mouth, losing his composure and devouring her wet lips. The overwhelming, driving kiss tangled her mind into a blinding frenzy. All coherent thought vanished completely. Only sensation remained. The feeling climbing up her fingertips, the pressure on her skin, the scent her nose recognized, the taste adhering to her

[Black] "Are you afraid?" He asked her, whose shoulders trembled faintly. [Liene] "..." She found herself unable to answer, neither yes nor no. [Black] "Just endure it for a moment." And then, his lips touche her. Liene instantly gasped, choking back a breath. The contact of his unseen lips against the nape of her neck felt indescribably unfamiliar. Perhaps it was because the nape of her neck had never been touched—not even brushed—by anyone's lips before.

She waited in tense silence for his next words. [Black] "I cannot understand if the Princess is being overly clever, or simply ridiculously naive." [Liene] "...Neither sounds like a compliment." [Black] "Are you acting this way because you know I am unable to refuse your requests, as if I'm ensnared by some spell?" [Liene] "Is that... true?" [Black] "You know what happened today." [Liene] "..." She knew perfectly well. She knew what he had done for her. She also knew that tho

For a moment, her mind faltered, but thankfully, her hands moved instinctively. Quickly snatching the nearby towel, she veiled her naked body and stammered. [Liene] "Wh-what are you... doing..." Unlike her hands, her mouth couldn't articulate the words properly. [Liene] "Why, why did you... I bolted the latch..." Only then did Black tear his gaze away and speak slowly. [Black] "....I thought so." [Liene] "..." [Black] "I wondered why the door wouldn't open

Her voice was strained and high with panic. [Liene] "What?! That's not what I meant at all!" [Black] "Then what did you mean?" [Liene] "..." But she couldn't answer; her lips felt stiff, sealed tight. They both were fundamentally different. She had tried her utmost to prevent the rupture of Nauk, but in his eyes, her actions likely appeared as a series of poor lies thrown out only to protect her former lover. [Black] "As I said, I no longer trust you." Strangely, those words

[Black] "Look out!" He shoved her away. Thanks to his swift action, Liene narrowly scrambled back as the heavy, thundering cargo crashed into him. [Liene] "Lord Tiwakan!" She shrieked. The street instantly erupted into chaos. Thick dust billowed up, and the wooden barrels rolled loudly. Everyone screamed and scattered, desperate to avoid the barrels that felt like they could shatter bones if they hit. [Liene] "Lord Tiwakan... Ugh!" Amidst the commotion

Chapter 29 Klima, the Servant (2) [Tiwakan] "The Princess left the castle, My Lord." [Black] "What?" [Fermos] "Where to?" Black and Fermos simultaneously looked up, startled. Both men were utterly swamped with work. The tasks demanding completion were countless. The most urgent was determining the royal treasury's income structure and debt scale; reviewing ten years of records was proving unnecessarily complicated. Layered atop that were the temple staircase construction, t