A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 101

※The First Time for Everything※

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 before I tracked it down."

He had returned to the city of Blue Warren. The person who had purchased the ring was a daughter of a noble house, spending her youth abroad. Just as he had drifted across the continent, so had the ring.

[Black] "The ring’s owner was the Princess Consort. At the time, I didn't know her true status."

He had been twenty-three—an age defined by youth. The Princess Consort, also young at the time, had demanded payment for the ring in a currency other than coin. In Blue Warren, youth served as an excuse for everything that transpired.

[Black] "I have no intention of using the ring as an excuse. Even without it, we likely would have become entangled in that way. I was... reckless back then."

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

The moment those words left his mouth, Liene felt a sharp prickle of anger. The tears she had been fighting so hard to suppress vanished as if they had never been.

[Liene] "Wait. I think I need an explanation for what 'entangled in that way' means. What exactly do you mean by 'that way'?"

[Black] "Precisely what you are imagining."

Liene, who had been leaning against him, spun around to face him.

[Liene] "And what is it you think I'm imagining?"

[Black] "Well..."

He frowned as they suddenly found themselves face-to-face.

[Black] "Your feet are submerged in the water again. Please, let's not—"

She swiped away the hand he reached out to turn her back.

[Liene] "Don't change the subject. Answer me."

[Black] "That is the answer. We were together for ten days before I ended the relationship. In the end, I never even got the ring back."

[Liene] "Ten days!"

Before she knew it, she was shouting.

[Liene] "For ten whole days!"

[Black] "Princess. First, your feet..."

[Liene] "I told you to stop changing the subject! What exactly did you do together for ten days?"

[Black] "......"

In truth, a verbal answer wasn't necessary. The troubled, grimacing expression on his face told her everything she needed to know.

[Liene] "I know... I know it’s strange for me to ask this. Technically, I had a lover for a long time, too—even if it was only in name—so I suppose I had one. No, that’s different, I never actually liked that man.”

[Liene] "But you... for ten days... for ten whole days... I’m not saying I can’t accept your past. We weren't anything to each other back then, were we? It’s perfectly fine that you had other lovers. It’s natural. I had one too... No, but... I never actually loved anyone else!"

Liene knew her words were a tangled mess. She was furious, but when she tried to justify her anger, she realized she had no logical ground to stand on.

Black hadn't cared even when he thought she was carrying another man’s child; it was hypocritical of her to be unable to accept a ten-day fling from his past.

Above all, she couldn't change what had happened five years ago.

And yet, she was livid. Despite knowing it was unfair, the anger burned.

[Black] "I felt no affection for her."

He reached into the water, lifted her foot, and rested it on his shoulder.

Liene wanted to tell him that such gestures were useless while she was angry, but looking at his face, the words died in her throat.

It’s just because this position is... awkward.

The towel is slipping. My face feels like it’s about to dip into the water. That’s why I can't speak.

[Black] "I tried to feel something, but it never worked. I simply couldn't find the desire to settle down with anyone."

That was why he had left the ring behind. Blini wouldn't have surrendered it willingly at the end of their affair, and he would have had to take it by force.

Despite his reputation, he wasn't a man so low as to steal a ring from a woman who claimed—however unconvincingly—to be in love with him. He had planned to return later and pay a different price for it.

[Black] "You were the first, Princess."

Black gripped the foot resting on his shoulder and pressed his lips to her wounded sole.

[Black] "The first person I wanted to possess by any means necessary. The first person who made me feel that no matter what you did to me, it would be alright."

[Liene] "I bet you... You did all of this with her, too."

The words finally spilled out, though they weren't what she had meant to say. She wanted to say she believed him, that she felt the same way, but her heart wouldn't listen.

[Black] "I didn't."

[Liene] "How can I believe that? You are far too experienced in everything."

[Black] "I won't deny that there was a physical relationship, but so many things are a first for me with you."

[Liene] "I don't believe you. I didn't even know two people could get in a tub together until you brought this one here."

[Black] "It is also a first for me to enter a bath with someone so tightly wrapped in a towel."

[Liene] "What is that supposed to mean!"

Her anger flared again, and this time, it brought a fresh wave of tears.

[Liene] "If there wasn't even a towel, then what exactly were you doing!"

[Black] "Oh, for the love of..."

Realizing his blunder, Black reached out anxiously. But because of their awkward positioning, he couldn't pull her into a proper embrace.

[Black] "Can we not go out? Or at least, keep your feet out of the water..."

[Liene] "Stop using my feet as an excuse!"

Splash!

She stood up abruptly in the tub, causing the water to overflow.

[Black] "Princess."

Startled, Black caught her hand. Liene wrenched it away and gave him a sharp shove.

He yielded easily, his back hitting the wall of the tub.

She ground her teeth slightly and gripped both of his ears.

[Liene] "Tell me. What else did you do? Was it only the Princess Consort? Were there others?"

[Black] "She wasn't the first..."

[Liene] "See? I knew it."

Why did she feel so wronged and miserable? She had never once assumed she was his first.

As she glared at him with tear-filled eyes, he slowly raised a wet hand to cup her cheek.

[Black] "You are the first person to ever enter a bath with me and stay so stubbornly wrapped up."

[Liene] "Really... are you trying to make me angrier? Do you have to say things like that?"

[Black] "And yet, I find this version of you the most provocative."

[Liene] "What in the world..."

Suddenly, her ears began to burn.

Wait... I was in the middle of being angry.

[Black] "You are the most beautiful, the most intoxicating. You are the first person I have ever wanted to hold so badly that I fear I might lose my mind and my self-control."

Honestly... what does he expect me to do with that?

[Liene] "You’re just... you’re just trying to smooth things over with words. No... I’m still angry."

[Black] "I know."

He whispered, his voice dropping to a low, heavy rasp.

[Black] "Thank you for keeping your promise."

[Liene] "Why... oh..."

She remembered now. She had promised to be angry.

But why did it feel like this?

Wasn't it natural to be angry after hearing such a story?

[Black] "Because it means you don't hate me."

[Liene] "Well... It’s not something I should hate you for. People meet others in their past... even if it makes me very, very angry."

[Black] "You can be as angry as you like. I’ll take whatever you throw at me. Just... don't say you’ve grown to hate me."

In a fit of pique, Liene let go of his ears and ruffled his hair into a mess.

[Liene] "I almost wish I could hate you a little."

The reason she was so angry was that she loved him too much.

The thought of him being as tender and passionate with someone else as he was with her felt like a theft.

[Black] "Don't say such terrifying things."

[Liene] "And being angry isn't terrifying?"

[Black] "No. That tells me you still care for me."

Typical. He knows exactly what he's doing.

He was too experienced. It only made him more irritating.

[Liene] "I dislike you quite a bit right now."

[Black] "I know. I'm sorry."

[Liene] "Before I go to sleep tonight, I want you to think of ten things that I am the 'first' for. No, ten is too few. Twenty."

[Black] "I will do my best."

[Liene] "I still dislike you."

[Black] "I just thought of one."

He let his lips slide downward.

[Black] "This is a first for you, Princess."

He caught the edge of her towel with his teeth. Slowly, the fabric unraveled.

Warm water rushed against her bare skin.

---

The time they spent in the bathroom after that wasn't long.

Upon seeing the skin around her wounds begin to swell from the water, Black stood up, towel and all, and lifted Liene out of the tub.

He wrapped her dripping body in a fresh towel and set her directly onto the bed. He ignored her protests that her hands and feet were still perfectly functional.

After quickly changing into dry clothes, he began to meticulously apply salve to the cuts on her hands and feet. A sigh followed every stroke of the medicine.

[Black] "I should have told you sooner."

[Liene] "I was the one being stubborn..."

[Black] "I still should have told you."

The downward slant of his eyes made him look incredibly pained. It was an expression she had never seen before.

[Liene] "Is this a first, too?"

[Black] "What is?"

[Liene] "Applying medicine to someone’s wounds."

[Black] "It isn't the first time."

...I shouldn't have asked.

Just as disappointment began to set in, he added one more thing.

[Black] "But it is the first time it has ever hurt my heart this much."

The look on his face proved he was telling the truth.

[Liene] "I’m sorry for making you worry."

He had been trying so hard to keep her feet dry, and she had ignored his efforts.

Liene wiggled her toes sheepishly. Black caught her moving toes in his hand.

[Black] "Don't do that. It’s distractingly adorable and... alluring."

[Liene] "Saying things like that is even more alluring."

[Black] "I wouldn't have to say them if the Princess would stop moving her toes."

[Liene] "But why did you call it 'distracting'?"

[Black] "Because I can't do anything until your wounds are fully healed."

If I weren't injured, what would he be doing?

The thought sent a jolt of heat through her.

[Liene] "Well... It’s not as if they are major injuries."

[Black] "An injury is an injury, regardless of its size."

He finished wrapping bandages around both her feet.

[Black] "There. Finished."

As he released her feet, Liene turned to her side, searching for her slippers beneath the bed. She was immediately caught by the ankle again.

[Black] "What are you doing?"

[Liene] "......? I have to get up. I can't stay in bed at this hour."

[Black] "Tell me where you intend to go."

[Liene] "Well, first... to see Prince Dieren?"

[Black] "Why that man?"

[Liene] "I have to negotiate. We can't actually go to war with the Grand Duchy of Alito."

He let out a short sigh.

[Black] "You’ve already found more work to do. You could rest for a day."

[Liene] "I’ve told you several times, there is nothing wrong with me. I just have a few scratches."

[Black] "I wish you understood how much those 'scratches' hurt me."

He muttered those incredibly heated words as if they were nothing. It left her feeling flustered.

[Black] "Come here."

[Liene] "Wh—what?"

[Black] "We have to be careful with your hands."

Black reached down and scooped her up from the bed.

Liene, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, asked:

[Liene] "Are you... Are you really going to carry me there?"

[Black] "I believe I already told you I would."

[Liene] "No, I thought... I thought you were just saying that. And it’s not as if we’re going to the next room; we’re going to see Prince Dieren."

[Black] "Even if we were going to see someone else, you wouldn't be walking on those feet."

[Liene] "I’ll wear slippers. Soft ones."

[Black] "Wear them if you like. Just don't plan on walking in them."

[Liene] "This is too much."

[Black] "Princess."

He found another way to break her stubbornness.

[Liene] "What?"

[Black] "I’ve thought of another thing. Another first for you."

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