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Chapter 66

Chapter 66 | Courtship (2)

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It was a belated realization, but this was the first time the woman had ever spoken to Black alone. It was different from how she thought it would be, back when she viewed him merely as a barbaric mercenary who was scary in ways she didn’t understand.

The way he gave his orders to his men was very clear and concise. He certainly didn’t sound polite, but he didn’t bark at them nor did he speak particularly harshly.

In fact, strangely enough, the atmosphere he carried around him was overbearing in a way that was similar to someone of a high noble status.

[Mrs. Flambard] “This is…..about the wedding attire.”

When the woman spoke up, she felt like she needed to be careful about her words, lest she shrink away entirely.

[Black] “If you need to get new ones, then do it. If money is a problem, then just talk to Phermos. He’ll take care of it.”

[Mrs. Flambard] “Oh, then could you tell that to the Princess directly? She keeps trying to sell such precious jewelry—“

[Black] “Jewelry?”

[Mrs. Flambard] “Yes. I would not interfere if they were just any old jewels, but she wishes to sell the cherished necklace of Her Majesty, the late Queen. It was something she kept even after she sold off things like the marble bathtub. But now she’s saying she’ll sell it and it hurts my heart. This necklace was one of the few things she kept even as everything else was slowly gotten rid of.”

Black frowned, furrowing his eyebrows.

[Black] “She’s selling an heirloom for the sake of my wedding attire?”

[Mrs. Flambard] “Yes.”

[Black] “But they’re just clothes….”

Mrs. Flambard quickly interrupted him.

[Mrs. Flambard] “They are not just clothes. The Princess doesn’t have much else to offer you as a gift for the wedding, so this is meant to be her present to you. She told me not to worry about the cost and to prepare something truly special. But selling Her Majesty’s necklace is too much. Once it’s sold, no amount of money can get it back.”

That was why she was hoping he could stop the Princess.

From what she could see, he was very sincere towards her Princess, and he clearly had plenty of money to burn, so she decided this was a request he would easily listen to.

[Black] “……..That makes things difficult.”

But Black just whispered quietly to himself instead.

[Mrs. Flambard] “Excuse me?”

Mrs. Flambard was so flustered that she grabbed the hem of her dress. Was he saying he didn’t want to waste the money? Was he really saying that in front of her right now?

[Black] “Doesn’t she hate the idea of getting married……?”

But he actually meant something different.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Mrs. Flambard patted her chest to calm herself down again.

[Mrs. Flambard] “Of course she doesn’t. The Princess is already prepared to have you as her husband, Lord Tiwakan. When we first started the process of altering the clothing, the Princess was very excited and did most of the work herself. She was preparing it with her heart and soul, but the moment I was away, the woman you brought to the northern tower completely ruined it…….Ah, I shouldn’t say that.”

She pretended to take it back, but truthfully, Mrs. Flambard said it on purpose. She thought it was all too unfair.

Rienne wasn’t the one who ruined the clothing. Mrs. Flambard wasn’t sure what caused her to become so emotional and use the scissors like that, but the reality was that the bulk of the damage was all started by that woman in the northern tower.

It was unfair for Rienne to be blamed for that alone. She didn’t know what the connection was between Lord Tiwakan and the woman from the tower, but he needed to hear this.

[Mrs. Flambard] “The Princess asked me not to say anything. The sin of ruining clothing meant for a wedding is great, so I can only assume she wanted to cover it up.”

She was trying to say that the dear Princess was such a caring angel that she was trying to understand the actions of one so far beneath her. And as the kind and lovely person she was, such a Princess was too good for a mere mercenary leader, so naturally he should take care of this for her to make up for it.

Or at least that’s what Mrs. Flambard was trying to insinuate.

[Black] “If it’s like that, then…..”

And fortunately, her gentle prodding worked. Black was so lost in thought that his temples were twitching.

[Black] “……Alright. I got it.”

Mrs. Flambard smiled, welcoming his answer as if she saw it coming.

[Mrs. Flambard] “Then what should I say to the jeweler? The Princess says she wishes to see them today.”

Letting the question settle for a moment, Black nodded.

[Black] “For now, just do as the Princess asks.”

[Mrs. Flambard] “I’m sorry? But then, the necklace…..”

[Black] “It won’t ever fall into anyone else’s hands.”

[Mrs. Flambard] “Ah, yes. Very well, then.”

He seemed to have another idea in mind.

[Mrs. Flambard] “I will call upon the jeweler.”

Black nodded to convey his response, then turned around and disappeared.

[Mrs. Flambard] “Hmm…..Looking at him again, how is it possible for someone to have such broad shoulders?”

And apparently, broad shoulders were accompanied by an open mind and a generous pocket—traits unusual for a mercenary.

[Mrs. Flambard] “……Hm. Well, when it comes to a man, what use is being well bred and coming from a good family? It’s far more important to have the money to treat one’s woman well. Oh, goodness.”

Thinking like that, it made it a little bit more possible for Mrs. Flambard to cast aside her fears that a mercenary leader was no a good fit for a Princess, lacking in many ways as a proper partner for Rienne.

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Meanwhile, completely ignorant of what those two talked about, Rienne quietly sold her mother’s necklace to the jeweler that evening. The extremely generous price managed to soothe the feeling of loss that nagged at her heart.

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The day was already over.

Listening quietly, she could hear the familiar and faint sound of running water. It was the sound of Black, washing up after a busy day.

It would probably be hard for Rienne to go to bed if she didn’t hear that sound.

Though their times were different, the sound of water just before she fell asleep was a comfort to her, as if it were acting as a sign that the day was finally over.

And it meant that both he and her had returned, safe and sound.

Rienne fiddled with the pillow she’d set down next to her.

But she didn’t know if Black would come to her room or not. She left out a blanket and a pillow, but she didn’t know if they would see any use tonight.

He said he was going to go cool down his head…..Did he manage to do that? He still looked really angry. Or maybe disappointed? He thinks I’m trying to avoid this marriage.

I need to tell him that’s not how it is. But how should I say it?

Stuck in her thoughts, the sound of water stopped. That meant Black was done washing up and would come out soon.

[Rienne] “…..No.”

Rienne jumped out of bed, searching the drawer next to her bedside.

She just remembered a good excuse to talk to him.

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Tap, tap.

A hesitant and careful tap sounded against the bathroom door.

[Rienne] “C, can…..I come in?”

There was no answer. Did he finish up and leave through the other door?

Rienne knocked on the door again.

[Rienne] “Did you finish washing up?”

. . . . . .

Silence again. Closed tightly without a single word in response, it made her feel as though the door was rejecting her. Rienne bit her lip.

What do I do now? Should I put off trying to reconcile until tomorrow?

There were people who didn’t like it when others tried to force them to talk when they were in a bad mood. But if he were that kind of person, wouldn’t he just outright tell her? She didn’t think he was the kind to ignore her or pretend not to hear her calling out to him just because he was mad.

Then maybe he really can’t hear me…..? Oh, or did he collapse like he did last time?

Back then, Black was horribly injured and was bleeding a lot. Now Rienne was starting to feel a little scared.

[Rienne] “Lord Tiwakan.”

Tap, tap.

The sound of her knocking felt louder now.

[Rienne] “I’m worried you’re not answering…..I’m going to open the door now.”

Finally, Rienne opened the door.

[Rienne] “…..?…..”

But nothing terrible had happened in the bathroom. Black was just fine, standing on his own two feet as he ruffled his hair, drying it out. The only difference was that he wasn’t wearing any clothes, having only a towel wrapped around his waist.

[Rienne] “Are you….alright?”

[Black] “I’m fine.”

His answer was short.

Somehow, the atmosphere was a little uncomfortable. The oppressive silence seemed to be telling her to leave because there was no point in being there any longer. Like she was a stranger.

[Rienne] “It’s just…you didn’t respond when I called out to you…..”

[Black] “I have nothing to say.”

[Rienne] “. . .”

…..That’s right. This man had a side of himself that she didn’t know very well. He was capable of being so kind to her, but that just made his coldness all the more frigid…..

[Rienne] “I, I just wanted to ask if you were hurt anywhere. If it’s not too bad, then maybe I can help apply the medicine…”

The longer she went on speaking, the quieter her voice became, like something in the air was causing it to shrink away. Even her shoulders seemed to unconsciously pull back.

[Black] “I’m fine.”

[Rienne] “Ah…Is that so…. That’s good.”

She said it was good, but she didn’t feel happy. Now…she didn’t have any excuse to talk to him. Rienne took the hand that was holding the medicine and hid it behind her back.

Apparently, she had a little bit of expectation in her heart.

He said he liked it when she did things for him and when she touched him, so she foolishly thought reconciliation would be easy. That she could simply explain to him that it was a misunderstanding that she destroyed the clothing because she didn’t want to get married, and that he would listen.

That she just wants to be with him so badly that she’s terrified of him leaving.

[Rienne] “What room will you be sleeping in tonight?”

As Rienne asked, her voice was filled with a scared sense of hesitation.

[Rienne] “Should I prepare you a blanket?”

Though, she’d actually already done that.

[Black] “…..It’s fine.”

Black answered more slowly than he did before. He didn’t look at her, focusing on brushing his hand through his wet hair. As he shifted, so did the towel wrapped around him, and it was too embarrassing to watch. He knew she was here, watching him.

Rienne turned her gaze to the ground, saying something that made her feel very afraid.

[Rienne] “You say you don’t need it…..but may I ask why?”

Maybe he was still upset. She knew he said he was going to cool off his head, but she was extremely saddened by the sudden cooling of his heart, too.

[Rienne] “I’d like to know if it’s just for tonight……or if you won’t need it indefinitely.”

[Black] “It’s just occurring to me that I was forcing you to do something you didn’t like. But I guess that’s funny coming from me considering I forced this marriage on you.”

With his hair pushed back, Black’s expressionless face was more visible than usual, but that just made it even more unbelievable. Without covering the face, one’s expression should be easier to understand.

But with him, it was the exact opposite. It was like he was wearing a mask. She had no idea what was going on in his mind.

[Black] “We started sleeping in the same bed together because I forced you to. And now I’m realizing you would’ve had no choice but to act nicely about it, even if you hated it. So it won’t happen again.”

[Rienne] “I never thought that I hated it…”

[Black] “Something happened and I ended up being able to sleep next to you as a form of payment. Truthfully, it’s always been like that, to the point where I can’t even remember when it started.”

[Rienne] “Even if it started with just paying the price…..”

With an outpouring sense of icy indifference, Black turned to Rienne.

[Black] “Honestly, I feel a bit pathetic to have to take those kinds of steps by forcing you every single time. So don’t worry and just sleep. I won’t disturb you anymore.” (1)

[Rienne] “I never said you were disturbing me.”

[Black] “But you never said it felt good either.”

Black opened the door on the other side—the one leading to his own room.

[Black] “From now on, just do whatever makes you comfortable, Princess.”

Click.

And then he was gone, leaving behind words that were just as cold and indifferent as his expression.

Tap.

The medicine container fell from Rienne’s grip, lightly clinking against the floor. Even as it rolled around, Rienne couldn’t even think about picking it up.

She never thought about this before.……but being pushed away was very heartbreaking.

Rienne frowned as if she were physically hurt.

She felt so tired and weak the entire time it took her to wash up, but now she couldn’t even close her eyes.

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It must’ve been around the early morning by now, just before dawn.

Creak—

Rienne pushed off her blankets with one hand, opening the door to the bathroom with completely silenced footsteps. Her heart felt so heavy, she couldn’t sleep at all. At this rate, she may never get another minute of sleep for the rest of her life.

Since when?

Passing through the King’s Gallery and standing in front of Black’s bedroom door, Rienne bit her lip.

Since when?

Since when have I been unable to sleep without him…….?

The tightly closed door looked especially heavy tonight. And the little amount of confidence she had to open it was quickly leaving her.

[Rienne] “. . .”

Should I just go back?

That man must be asleep right now. He was someone who lived on a battlefield for a long time. Even if he were sleeping, he would immediately notice if she opened this door.

She couldn’t wake him up. He was already upset with her, and she might worsen that if she disturbed his rest as well.

So, I should just go away.

That’s what she thought, but her feet wouldn’t move.

Rienne swallowed hard repeatedly, reaching out and gently grabbing the doorknob.

Squeak…..

But then the door opened far too easily, pushing open as if it were waiting for her to touch the handle. Rienne’s shoulders pulled back in surprise, but then her heart grew bolder.

The door….opened by itself…..I didn’t open it.

The room was incredibly quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of Black’s low breathing. He showed no sign of stirring, so Rienne carefully walked up to the bed.

He was so fast asleep, he looked almost dead.

Seeing how tightly his eyes were shut, she felt strange. She was happy to see him resting so well, but at the same time, she felt a little bitter.

You’re sleeping so well, but I can’t even close my eyes. Like I’ve forgotten how to sleep alone entirely.

But I’m glad you didn’t wake up.

As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, Rienne traced the outline of his face with her eyes. It had only been a single day, but she already missed him so much.

……Sleep well.

And tomorrow….I hope I can see the you from before again.

Feeling uneasy, like she was crossing a line by staying here, Rienne quietly turned around.

She was going to leave, but then—

[Black] “Are you just going to walk away?”

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T/N: (1) The original wording here has him phrase it like ‘theft’. Like he almost has to steal interaction from her. Or like how progress only seems to be made in their relationship when he has to force it out of her as ‘payment’.