Azphira Tales

Black seated Liene on a chair and fetched a dry towel. He began to dry her wet hair with the towel, just as he had done before. [Liene] "What would Nauk be like if it had a sea?" She opened her mouth while gazing out at the ocean, where the sound of waves could be heard beyond the terrace. [Liene] "It would surely be a markedly different country, wouldn't it? The food, the lifestyle, and the way we view foreign nations would all be vastly different, I think." [Black] "Do you

The Kingdom of Sharka was a land of many birds. There was an abundance of grass, trees, and people. With every breath she took, she felt a lingering dampness in her nostrils. Bordering the ocean, even the air in Sharka was thick with moisture. [Liene] "The air has such a peculiar scent." She hadn't been able to take her eyes off the window ever since the exotic scenery appeared before them. She sat with her hands pressed against the glass as if pinned there, watching the land

[Liene] "It seems our sleeping schedule is going to change once again." The kiss that had begun in the King’s office continued all the way to the bedroom. It was still before sunset—an hour far too early for sleep. [Black] "I have a solution for that." He answered briefly while his lips grazed the tender skin of her neck. [Liene] "And what is that?" [Black] "We simply share our affections from now until our usual bedtime. That way, our actual time for sleep won't have to chan

Had the Abbas Royal Family not vanished due to war and Aliham Palace not fallen into ruin, perhaps proper records regarding the Divine Envoy might have survived. Unfortunately, everything belonging to the Abbas line had been reduced to ash. All that remained were legends passed down by word of mouth. [Fermos] "If the technology to pull water from below to above existed at that time, I believe it would have been possible to pull it over a single mountain even across such a dis

[Liene] "So that was it..." She spoke while still holding Black’s hand tightly. [Liene] "I should have asked sooner." [Manau] "My lips would not have opened back then." Manau explained that he had intended to bury the past forever. Just as Black had not returned under the name Fernand Gainers, Manau saw no reason for the name Gainers to be resurrected in Nauk. He had planned to bury both the tragedies of the Gainers line and the sins of the Kleinfelters along with it. He beli

Her face turned pale with dismay. [Liene] "I... I was just about to head back." [Black] "......" He remained silent. He simply stood there, rooted to the spot, staring at her. [Liene] "Let’s go back. You came to fetch me, didn't you? Did you miss me that much in such a short time?" Liene tugged at his arm, trying to change the subject. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she might go deaf from the sound. He couldn't have heard everything... No. He shouldn't have. Pleas

Instead of trying to pull the duvet away, Black gathered Liene—duvet and all—into his arms. [Liene] "Don't do this. Leave me alone. Please." [Black] "Ten days was not such a long time. If we are counting years, the period you were someone else's lover was much longer." [Liene] "Ah... well, I suppose I have no defense if you put it that way. But my situation was a bit different." In truth, her heart was not entirely at ease. Liene had once tried her best to harbor affection fo

When the box was opened, what emerged was a small pair of nail scissors. Its body was made of gleaming silver, adorned with rubies on the exterior. However, they were not new. No matter how thoroughly they had been polished, there was an undeniable difference between an object that had been used and one that had not. [Henton] "These aren't new, so they couldn't have been meant as a gift." Madam Henton murmured as she closed the lid. [Flambard] "Indeed. Why on earth would he k

It was an unbelievable situation, but it was said that such things were possible in Sharka. While they might not be welcomed, they were certainly not forbidden. [Fermos] "Even so, as long as the Queen is present, their relationship cannot be officially recognized. We cannot rely on that alone. The Queen’s family possesses the largest private army in the Sharka Kingdom. Even the King has no choice but to be wary of them." It was then that Liene spoke up quietly. [Liene] "There

[Liene] "Prince Dieren’s legs were badly injured. Has he been treated?" She asked as they walked side-by-side toward the dungeon. Black turned his head slightly, hiding his expression. [Black] "He has. It looks like a severe injury, but it isn’t as bad as it seems. His life is in no danger." Whether the man would lose his "function" as a male was a possibility, but Black didn't care about that in the slightest. [Liene] "Ah, that’s a relief. Will he be able to walk normally on

[Liene] "Madam." She gently pulled her hand away from Madam Flambard’s grasp, only to take the older woman’s hands in her own once more. Her movements were slightly clumsy due to the thick bandages. [Liene] "Even if it is true, it doesn't mean everyone with Gainers blood will suffer the same fate. Look at Lord Tiwakan. He looks like a man who couldn't die even if he wanted to. A man that healthy wouldn't suddenly fall ill." [Flambard] "I... I want to believe that, too. I do."

The men who had brought Weroz were mercenaries hired by Baiyar. Realizing there was no escape, they surrendered quickly, but Fermos showed no mercy and had them executed on the spot. Exhaustion had curdled into a raw, biting fury for Fermos. After dealing with the Sharka troops sent by Blini, he had spent every waking moment tracking Weroz and Laffit. Since Black had no intention of leaving Liene’s side, the remaining cleanup fell entirely on his shoulders. It wasn't that he

[Liene] "What is it?" She asked, her voice bright with anticipation. [Black] "You are the first person who ever made me want to carry someone just because they had a small injury. So, for now, just stay in my arms." [Liene] "......" She found herself speechless. [Liene] "But what if Prince Dieren looks down on me? I’m supposed to be going there to negotiate." [Black] "Whether you are in my arms or on my back, no one would dare look down on you. Besides, what we are doing with

The life of Prince Fernand, a reality Liene could scarcely fathom, had eventually bled into the life of the man now known as Lord Tiwakan. [Black] "There are times when even a battlefield has a break. It was during those intervals that I occasionally inquired about the ring." Though his life as a wanderer had been chaotic, he had never forgotten Nauk. He had buried the memory deep, fearing the pain of looking at it, but its weight had never vanished. [Black] "It wasn't long b

She had thought about it for a long time, but one thing she knew for certain: she did not want to change this relationship for a reason that had not yet occurred. If you become ill, I will be terribly distressed by that fact, but it won’t distress me more than losing you. [Black] "Why you have the pensive expression when speaking?" Liene smiled and shook her head. Leaning in, she whispered softly into his ear. [Liene] "About the key Kleinfelter mentioned. I think I know w

[Liene] "Ah." The further she walked, the clearer it became: the labyrinth was a deliberate composition of mechanisms and clearings. The actual paths were flat, no longer punishing the soles of her feet. If she followed these smooth stretches, she was certain they would lead her back to the castle. [Liene] "......" She paused at a point where the path branched. [Liene] "The mechanisms end here." Hoping to understand the nature of the traps, she meticulously felt along the flo