[Klima] "I... had no choice." A muted voice scraped out from beneath the leather-shod foot. Since adolescence, since the day he dedicated a life that should have been extinguished to the Kleinfelter family, he had served as the executioner for every foul deed Lyndon commanded. He had also murdered the previous Cardinal. Everyone believed the former Cardinal had simply slipped on the stairs and snapped his neck. This time, Lyndon had wanted the same kind

DING, DONG! The twelve chimes announcing the funeral's died out. Yet, the ceremony showed no signs of beginning. [Liene] "Does this make any sense?" The Cardinal meant to preside over the ceremony had vanished without a trace. The attending priests merely stated they knew nothing of His Eminence's whereabouts. [Liene] "Who was the last person to see His Eminence Milode?" Tired of waiting, Liene stepped forward and confronted the priests and deacons who had traveled

Laffit stared at his uncle with a look of displeasure. [Laffit] “Since… Since when did our family become like this?” Lyndon clicked his tongue at his nephew, who had a bewildered and stunned look on his face. [Lyndon] “Have you really been that naive all this time?” [Laffit] “Even without doing something like that, Kleinfelter will still be the most powerful family in Nauk.” [Lyndon] “It's because we do things like this that you can live comfortably, so you should be thankful

[Liene] “What?” He wants me to postpone the wedding? Does he know what he's saying? How does he think I'll be able to postpone it? [Cardinal] “The wedding is not permitted until the Princess of Nauk is free from her sins. If you ignore God’s will, there is no doubt a great tragedy will occur.” [Liene] “Do you know what you're asking of me?” Liene clenched her hands and restrained herself. Her action didn’t escape the Cardinal’s notice, but he still pressed on. [Cardinal] “G

Fortunately, there was still water in the bathroom. Liene took a soaked cloth and began to clean the wound. The candlewick was getting shorter, and the flame almost went out a few times as it flickered. However, Liene's eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, so she could easily see objects that were close enough. [Liene] “It must hurt.” And now she could see the wound was not a minor one. The severity was difficult to notice because his hand was so large, but if she had

Of course, Mashilow denied it. There was a difference between giving veiled advice and openly discussing the atrocities of the Kleinfelter family. He was not that brazen or an impolite man. [Mashilow] "Revenge? Preposterous!" [Liene] "You say preposterous? Didn't you just speak with that intention? That Kleinfelter could commit even worse acts." [Mashilow] "I meant they would be extremely displeased." [Liene] "Merely because they are displeased, they could harm the Royal Fam

The wind blew. As he stood precariously on the windowsill, even a gust of wind felt like a terrifying threat. However, a whisper far more dangerous mingled with the wind. She was speaking. [Liene] "—Lets go somewhere else." Laffit couldn't observe what was happening inside the room. Instead, he strained his ears and listened to her voice. [Liene] "—Move to the room next door." Those were words meant for him (Laffit), not for the savage: I will risk my life to bring this

When Liene finished getting ready and stepped outside, Black was already waiting with his horse, ready to depart for the funeral. [Liene] “Ah…” Seeing him standing there, Liene froze. Perhaps because he had deliberately dressed to accompany her, Black was wearing all black. Not only him, but the Tiwakan soldiers behind him were also dressed the same. Every piece of his dark clothing seemed to explain why the rumors about him—that he had been abandoned by the God of Death a

[Black] “No.” Black’s answer was so quick that Fermos was confused for a moment. [Fermos] “Then why…?” [Black] “She is still in the Princess’s heart.” Considering everything that happened that day, that was how Black saw the situation. Even though Liene didn't summon him herself, Liene’s ex-lover still came to see her. And Liene was clearly in a panic, trying to hide the man’s presence from Black. She even went to the extraordinary lengths of trying to seduce Black just

Did he know? Was he deliberately asking despite knowing everything? Was he baiting me to confess before he opened that window? She struggled to prevent herself from turning toward the window where Laffit was likely clinging precariously to the ledge. [Liene] "Yes... That is correct." [Black] "Then all is well." The man who seemed to know everything simply uttered those words. [Liene] "..." She could not afford to feign composure. She had to move him away from the chamber as

She could have found a plausible excuse. An excuse to refuse the wedding night: "I am carrying a child." That excuse, however, was too temporary. Once the marriage was formalized, she knew she had to conceive as quickly as possible. Although the biological father was undoubtedly Black’s, the child would still inherit the Arsak name, as promised, and become the next ruler. It was the best possible outcome for her. Though the marriage was forced by an inevitable proposal, she h

He didn't need to try hard to realize his mind was solely focused on her. His shoulder hurt constantly because of it. Every time she moved, his head followed. His body was still, but his head turned, naturally pulling at his arrow-pierced shoulder. He found the matter preposterous, yet he had no intention of denying the obvious consequence of his shoulder's movement. He stared at her in a daze. If she were in front of his eyes all day, he would stare at her all day. [Fermos]

His question was absolutely unfair. She asked herself countless times, but her inner answer was always the same: she didn't object. [Liene] “If you move... what is it you want to do?” [Black] “There are many things I can do.” The fingers that had been slowly stroking her hair paused at the nape of her neck. All the sensations she had tried to ignore surged back entirely. The tremor that started deep inside her ran along her spine. She could see her own fingers, resting on hi

[Flambard] “Hmm... This robe is better than I expected.” That was her comment after opening an old wooden trunk covered in dust. [Liene] “Yes. I thought so too.” Liene had brought Madam Flambard to the royal storeroom. Inside was a trunk containing her late father's clothes. Most of the valuable jewels had been sold, but some items remained. One of them was the late King's wedding robe. [Liene] “The embroidery is still intact.” She touched the robe, which still held the rich

...Her heart was uneasy. He lifted her onto his horse. The warmth and touch emanating from his back continued to make her uncomfortable. Fewer guards followed him than had been left behind at the Kleinfelter Residence. Only three mercenaries straggled behind, making her feel as if it were just the two of them going somewhere. [Liene] “Does your wounded shoulder... not bother you?” She asked, swallowing her internal discomfort. [Liene] “If you find it difficult to hold the rei