[Noble] "Regardless of the evidence, we cannot hang the Chairman of the Grand Council." The dissenting noble looked toward the other Elders, searching for a crumb of solidarity. Rosadel and Ellaroyden, however, refused to meet his eyes. Instead, they stole nervous glances at Black. Lord Burrey was in no condition to help; he was too busy cradling his mangled wrist, his face twisted in a mask of agony. [Arland] "In anticipation of a lack of unanimity, Her Highness Princess Li

The two Kleinfelters were bound at the wrists with rough hemp rope. They were treated with no more dignity than common thieves. The cord connected the uncle and nephew, the slack held firmly in the calloused hand of a Tiwakan warrior. Lyndon had spent the morning shrieking that such treatment was an impossibility, an insult to his status, but a few sharp kicks to his shins from the guards had finally bought his silence. Liene watched the entire spectacle unfold. She hadn't in

At first, he thought something was terribly wrong. The moment he dismounted, Liene practically threw herself into his arms, as if she’d been counting the seconds until his return. [Black] "Princess?" He could have sworn this was the first time she had ever worn her heart so brazenly on her sleeve. She was the one reaching out, the one initiating this desperate contact. [Black] "Is something the matter?" [Liene] "Yes." He tried to pull back slightly, wanting to read her expres

It would have been a lie to say Liene wasn't terrified of the resentment festering in Madam Henton’s heart. [Liene] "I am worried, Madam. But then again, I suppose I have no right to be." [Henton] "What... what is that supposed to mean?" [Liene] "I know what the late King... what my father did. I know the blood in my veins is tainted by his choices. I was so afraid that I couldn't even bring myself to confess the truth to Lord Tiwakan—to ask for his forgiveness. But I know th

Thanks to Madam Flambard’s frantic fussing, Liene managed to reclaim her usual composure. Her eyes remained slightly heavy, but the swelling had faded enough that no one would notice without a keen, prying look. [Liene] "Do I look presentable?" [Flambard] "I’ve told you three times already, Your Highness. You look lovely." [Liene] "Right. Of course." Liene finally forced herself to turn away from the mirror. It was likely the first time in her life she had stared at her own

A wave of raw, aching sorrow washed over her. As Liene sobbed against him, his expression faltered into a look of sheer helplessness—yet a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. [Black] "I was... a bit desperate, I suppose." [Liene] "Desperate? How?" She sniffled, looking up at him through tear-blurred eyes. To her, he had been cold. Indifferent. Black gently lowered her onto the bed. He settled her against the oversized pillows and sat between her legs, caging

Her heart nearly stopped in her chest. [Liene] "You... you weren't sleeping?" [Black] "No." In the heavy darkness, his pale eyes seemed to glow with an unnerving clarity. He was watching her with the stillness of a predator that had already cornered its prey. [Black] "You’re awake as well, Princess." [Liene] "I... I couldn't sleep." [Black] "That much is obvious." Clearly. A flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. Why else would she be standing in a man’s bedroom at thi

It had just dawned on Black that this was the first time Madam Flambard had ever spoken to him alone. The experience was far different from what he would have expected in the past, when Madam Flambard would have simply viewed him as a scary, barbaric mercenary for no clear reason. The way Black gave orders to his men was very clear and concise. He didn’t sound polite, but he didn’t yell or speak rudely. Strangely enough, the aura he emitted was similar to that of a high noble

Madam Flambard was the person who had the most trouble if Liene's clothes were damaged. But every time Liene tried to help, she would always refuse, saying she would never stop performing her duties for the Princess as long as her eyes could still see, including washing her clothes. [Liene] "It's just fruit juice, so a little rinse should be enough." But Madam Flambard shook her head quickly, her eyes full of emotion. [Madam Flambard] "I don't know. If it's fruit juice, it's

The last King of the Gainers line had been overjoyed when a daughter was finally born to the House of Arsak. The moment the news reached the King, he had practically sprinted to the Arsak estate, exhausting the newborn’s weary parents with his insistence on an immediate betrothal. While the Arsak daughter was the picture of health, the Gainers prince was a sickly child, plagued by one ailment after another. Because of his fragile body, the official ceremony was postponed ind

[Liene] “...I don't hate the idea of getting married.” Her heart wasn't divided on this matter. That was a conclusion she had reached a long time ago. Even if she didn't deserve to love the last prince of the Gainers royal family, Liene had decided she would do it. And because of that, she would keep that truth for the rest of her life. [Liene] “So don't push me away. I don't like it.” [Black] “Two.” [Liene] “You don’t need to count.” [Black] “I already told you to think care

The connection was undeniable. Klima had told her the truth: the Kleinfelters had held his mother hostage, a leverage they used to force his hand in their dark deeds. [Liene] "Then you should still be afraid. If you lose your life now, your son will never recover. You were the only thing anchoring him. Think of what will happen to him if his anchor is cut loose." [Henton] "H-how... how do you know? How could you possibly...?" The woman was indeed the wife

Elaroyden let out a strangled yelp and threw his weight against the gate, desperate to slam it shut. CRASH! It was a futile effort. The heavy wood didn't just stop; it recoiled with enough force to nearly take Elaroyden’s shoulder off. [Black] "You have a remarkably loud voice." The Tiwakan Commander let the words spill out in a slow, lethal drawl. [Black] "I heard every word. Even from the street." [Elaroyden] "Wha—what...? You... how?" Black didn't bother with an explanati

[Liene] "What is the problem?" [Fermos] "As you know, the Treaty of Risebury is the primary obstacle to your marriage. You mentioned the Temple was the only power capable of overturning it. However, the position of Cardinal is currently vacant, and the only people authorized to appoint a successor are the very wretches who signed the Treaty in the first place. That is why the young brother, Klima, was our solution." The strategy was clear. By exposing the fact that the Kleinf

[Madam Flambard] “Are you sure you’re alright?” Liene had never woken up so late. It was an unprecedented occurrence that caught Madam Flambard by surprise. When Liene declared that she wanted to simply be lazy all morning and not leave her bed, the woman could hardly believe her ears. [Madam Flambard] “Are you sure you’re not sick? You’re not hiding something so as not to worry anyone, are you?” [Liene] “No. I slept very well and now I feel much better. In fact, I think I ha