A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 10

※Dangerous Encounter (1)※

She lost all sense of time, submerged entirely in the moment.

When the kiss finally ended, she gasped for air. Her lips felt warm and puffy. His lips were wet and glistening; hers likely were too.

[Black] "I didn’t expect that kind of reaction."

He murmured, pulling back only far enough for his lips to move.

[Black] "It doesn't feel bad. Including this dress."

The arm that had been claimed to be injured was now wrapped tightly around her waist. She felt a thrilling sense of danger, yet paradoxically, a solid, rock-solid safety.

[Liene] "I believe you may release me now."

She pushed his shoulder.

She desperately tried to remain calm, but found it profoundly difficult in his presence. If she lost any more strength in her legs, she felt she would collapse right onto his lap.

[Liene] "I must go—..."

She stopped speaking, her gaze caught by his furrowed brows.

[Liene] "Ah, I apologize."

She realized only then that her hand had pushed his injured shoulder. She swiftly withdrew her hand.

[Liene] "I was distracted... Are you alright?"

[Black] "I am fine."

Despite his calm reply, his brows furrowed further.

[Liene] "No, you are not fine."

She slowly stroked the injured spot she had just pressed, as if to soothe the pain.

No blood seeped out through the bandage; the wound did not appear to have reopened.

[Liene] "Next time, please show some indication of pain."

[Black] "I didn’t feel pain... I was surprised as well."

The lips speaking to her were as red and hot as they had been yesterday.

She did not know the reason, but she felt this intense look suited him better. He looks better when he is passionate.

I wish he would look at her with such passion.

...Goodness, what was I thinking?

She quickly turned her face away, fearful of her own wild thoughts.

[Liene] "I shall leave now."

She had matters to attend to: she had to prevent her lover's return before it escalated into an uncontrollable war.

[Liene] "Since you say you are not in pain, I assume you will require no further assistance with your meals."

His expression instantly curiously warped. Liene, who was turning away, did not see it.

[Liene] "I wish you a swift recovery, Lord Tiwakan."

She left without waiting for his reply.

Only after she closed the bedroom door did she realize she had left the used bandages and medicine behind. However, it was too late.

...It was too late.

There was no turning back.

She already realized that her lover and this man were profoundly different.

She had wanted to detach herself from her lover when he dramatized his ailments.

In contrast, she now instinctively offered comfort and care to the injured man who claimed he felt no pain.

He was already her fiancé. She could not escape this reality on her own.

---

Liene had numerous pretexts for visiting the Kleinfelter Family.

Lyndon Kleinfelter, who currently led the family, was the Chairman of Nauk’s Grand Council. She could cite dozens of reasons why she had to meet him.

Most importantly, she had to deliver the formal notice of mourning. Since her lover was the Arsak Knight Commander, she also had the obligation to personally convey her respects.

[Weroz] "Even so, I am still against this, Your Highness."

He whispered to her, who was preparing to leave.

[Weroz] "A visit at this time will only arouse suspicion."

[Liene] "Don't fret."

She turned in front of the mirror.

Her preparation was simple: adding a single flower ornament, symbolizing grief, to her hair.

She only needed to wear a black cloak over her mourning dress. The cloak was currently being fetched by Madam Flambard.

[Liene] "They already know that he’s not dead."

[Weroz] "What? What do you mean... Is that true? How did you find out?"

[Liene] "I have a grave suspicion. I think they checked something before returning the corpse."

Black’s warning was, truth be told, rather subtle.

[Weroz] "They wouldn't recognize Sir Kleinfelter’s face, so why would you think that?"

[Liene] "I do not know... I am not certain myself, but could there have been a distinguishing mark on the corpse?"

[Weroz] "A mark on the corpse... Ah, good heavens."

Suddenly, his face paled.

[Weroz] "Could they have recognized the insignia on the helmet?"

[Liene] "The insignia? What do you mean?"

[Weroz] "The corpse was wearing Sir Kleinfelter’s helmet. But the armor beneath had no adornments. Sir Kleinfelter is the only Arsak Knight who wears adorned armor."

[Liene] "That is highly plausible."

They called them barbarians, yet their astute observation skills were startling.

Moreover, their leader and his right-hand man were both shrewd men.

Tiwakan was not called the undefeated mercenary who traversed the continent for ten years for no reason.

[Liene] "Yes. Now that I consider it, he was cautious when he showed the sword as well. He only provided hints, offering no explicit statement. Perhaps he already knew, even then, that the deceased was not the Arsak Knight Commander."

Perhaps the fact that he arrived with blood on his face was not because he was a barbarian ignorant of etiquette, but a deliberate act.

[Weroz] "Then... how far do their calculations go? They must be planning something more...."

[Liene] "They must have already outmaneuvered us. Lying will be useless."

It was already too late. Tiwakan had already entered the castle as her official fiancé. They were now the Arsak Guardian Knights, no longer just Tiwakan.

[Weroz] " Your Highness, so the purpose of your visit to the Kleinfelter Family is...."

[Liene] "To warn him to flee."

She spoke with a bitter expression.

[Weroz] "Are you going to abandon Sir Kleinfelter and his family?"

[Liene] "That is the only way he can survive. Tiwakan has been acting uncharacteristically lenient until now, but that leniency will not extend to letting him live. Especially since he was the one who shot the arrow."

[Weroz] "That is not yet confirmed, Your Highness."

[Liene] "What does that change? What matters is that someone tried to kill the Tiwakan Commander. And Sir Kleinfelter is the only one who will be held accountable."

[Weroz] "The Kleinfelter Family will not stand for it."

[Liene] "Yes, I know. And I am trying to prevent that from happening. Do you wish for the Kleinfelter Family to wage war against Tiwakan—a battle they are certainly doomed to fail?"

[Weroz] "Hmph...."

He must have made his own calculations.

Kleinfelter and Tiwakan could not coexist. Considering Tiwakan was in a position of absolute superiority, her decision was the prudent one.

[Weroz] "But Your Highness, if you do this, you will never break free from that barbarian's control for the rest of your life. Are you truly aware of the consequences?"

[Liene] "Yes. I am."

[Weroz] "Even so, consider it again. If you let Sir Kleinfelter go, then there will truly be no turning back."

[Liene] "There is no turning back."

[Liene] "You know that too."

[Weroz] "Yes, I do know. But Your Highness... it is you who will be married."

[Liene] "I have resolved myself."

That was the problem. Despite her resolution, the man was turning out to be less dreadful than she had imagined.

The most illogical part of this illogical marriage was Liene herself.

[Liene] "Speaking of which, the cloak is late. What could have happened to Madam Flambard?"

She desperately tried to change the subject. As if on cue, Madam Flambard knocked and entered.

[Flambard] "I have brought the cloak, Your Highness... Oh, my dear heavens."

The Madam, who had just entered the room, frowned deeply upon seeing her in front of the mirror.

[Flambard] "Your Highness? Are you wearing that as your mourning attire?"

[Liene] "Yes?"

She was bewildered and glanced down at her clothes.

[Liene] "Yes. This is the only mourning attire I possess. You know this, Madam."

[Flambard] "Oh my... Was this truly that dress?"

She shook her head.

[Flambard] "When was the last time you wore this? About five years ago? Goodness... how different it looks now. Of course, you have matured considerably since then, so it cannot be helped."

It was the third criticism. She felt grateful to Weroz, who had shown no interest in her clothes.

[Liene] "My body size has not changed that much. It doesn't look terrible...."

[Flambard] "Terrible? It is the very opposite that is the problem!"

[Liene] "What?"

It was a moment of renewed confusion.

[Liene] "The opposite?"

[Flambard] "The color black suits you exceedingly well. Before, you were still young, so we overlooked it as mere youthful charm. But now, I cannot possibly call this mourning attire. You have lost weight, so your shoulders and bust are clearly visible. This is practically a wedding night gown! Sir Weroz, why were you silent while you stood beside her?"

When the arrow of criticism suddenly pointed at him, he shook his head frantically.

[Weroz] "I, well... The Princess is so stunningly beautiful, I simply assumed that this was how she looked...."

[Flambard] "Hmph. Well, what would a mere knight like him know?"

She shook her head and restrained Liene.

[Flambard] "In any case, that attire absolutely does not befit mourning, so change immediately, Your Highness. I am deeply worried about what those coarse-minded barbarians will think when they see you like this. Especially their leader; he stared at you as if he wanted to swallow you whole."

[Liene] "......"

Her complexion became somewhat ashen. Madam Flambard did not miss it.

[Flambard] "You have already worn it and gone to see him, haven’t you?"

It was true.

[Liene] "...But, no skin is exposed."

[Flambard] "Yes. But your body's curves are evident. In my opinion, that is the greater issue."

[Liene] "......."

She fell silent right then.

She recalled Black saying he was bothered by her clothes when he saw her. Fermos had openly asked if she had to keep wearing that dress.

It turns out... that was what he meant.

Madam Flambard’s remark that the clothes were like a gown worn on the wedding night was the most polite expression. If she were more honest, her expression surely would have been far more explicit...

...Oh heavens. What if they think I wore it on purpose?

Even though she knew it was excessive worry, she could not stop her thoughts.

I was the one who... kissed him first.

Surely, they don't think I deliberately wore provocative clothes and acted that way... do they?

---

She took off the mourning attire that looked nothing like mourning attire. The clothes were to be repaired by Madam Flambard.

Since she only had one set of mourning attire, she wore the darkest colored dress she owned, put the cloak over it, and then departed for the Kleinfelter Residence.

Despite her status as a Princess, her escort was exceedingly modest. Her only escort was Weroz, as always.

[Liene] "I see Tiwakan’s people everywhere."

She looked around the streets from atop her horse and spoke softly.

Weroz nodded.

[Weroz] "They are still searching for the person who shot the arrow."

[Liene] "...Under that pretext, Tiwakan will come to know every corner of Nauk as they move about."

[Weroz] "That is true."

She smiled bitterly.

[Liene] "At this point, I suppose it is permissible to believe that being shot by an arrow was something intentional. Through that incident, Tiwakan is taking everything from Nauk with such ease."

[Weroz] "Had the attempt succeeded, the situation would have been different."

The bitter smile on her face vanished.

[Liene] "Yes. Everyone in Nauk would have died. In the name of revenge."

[Weroz] "......"

Weroz, who knew that her statement was true, bowed his head instead of answering. More gray hair was visible beside his forehead.

[Liene] "I am thankful that the Tiwakan Commander did not die. And I am thankful that he chose a peaceful way, which is to propose, instead of seizing Nauk by force."

[Weroz] " Your Highness, your remarks are too... gracious towards them."

[Liene] "I must be. Two weeks, no, now one more day has passed. After that, the Tiwakan Commander will become the co-ruler of Nauk."

He knew. But he thought it was a fact he could never accept in his lifetime.

[Liene] "We have arrived."

The gate of the Kleinfelter Family’s grand mansion loomed into view.

Although it was not as tall as Nauk Castle, the house was substantially more spacious and luxurious. The number of workers also dwarfed those at Nauk Castle.

Weroz hammered on the door.

[Weroz] "Open the gates! Princess Liene of the Arsak Family has arrived!"

He knocked on the door to announce their arrival.

After a considerable, tedious period had passed, the workers came out and opened the door.

Prev

Chapters

Next