A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 102

※20 Statements※

[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, 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 Dieren isn't a negotiation."

[Liene] "Then what is it?"

[Black] "An announcement. Accompanied by a small measure of mercy. Do not be too generous with him; I haven't forgotten that he used poison on you."

He’s right. The fault lies with them.

Even if she held Prince Dieren captive, the Grand Duchy of Alito wouldn't dare send an army recklessly—unless they wanted the opposite to happen.

[Liene] "What kind of man is the Grand Duke of Alito? Is he the type to become reckless when it comes to his son?"

[Black] "No. He is more of a seasoned merchant. As long as his son’s head remains attached to his shoulders, he isn't the type to gamble on something as costly as war."

That was a relief.

[Liene] "What do you want to do with Prince Dieren?"

[Black] "Cut him in—"

Black stopped mid-sentence. He had almost let it slip that he wanted to sever the man in two and send the pieces back to Alito and Sharka separately.

[Liene] "In half?"

[Black] "......Forget I said that. If the Princess Consort cares at all for her home country’s situation, she will accept a proposal to trade him for the ring."

[Liene] "Ah, I see. That is a way."

At the mention of the ring, Liene suddenly tightened her arms around his neck.

[Liene] "Tell me one more time. That you never loved the Princess Consort."

Black paused his stride and patted her back with immense tenderness.

[Black] "As I said, I tried, but it never worked."

[Liene] "Why did you even try?"

[Black] "Because I thought we were alike."

[Liene] "In what way?"

[Black] "We were both born of royalty, and we were both... twisted."

[Liene] "......"

[Black] "As I mentioned, that was when the name Tiwakan had just been born. I was conflicted about what to do next—whether to return to Nauk and reclaim my place, or continue living as a mercenary. It was around that time I met her."

[Liene] "Did she... listen to your troubles?"

[Black] "I never spoke of them myself. However, she figured out on her own that I wasn't of slave origin, but royalty. Since she was also struggling with the succession rights of her Duchy, she took it upon herself to assume we were in similar circumstances."

[Liene] "Did finding someone in a similar situation... bring you any comfort?"

[Black] "At first."

[Liene] "And later?"

[Black] "I realized sooner than expected that you cannot love someone for that reason alone. The Princess Consort..."

He paused to choose his words carefully.

[Black] "She never felt like home."

[Liene] "......"

[Black] "Not for a single moment did I feel she was a place I could return to."

With those words, Liene’s lingering anger melted away completely. She knew she couldn't stay mad anymore.

You said you had wanted a home from the moment you left Nauk.

She couldn't feel slighted or angry at him for trying to find one.

I feel so sorry for those years you spent... and so grateful. Grateful that you didn't find another home. That, in the end, you came to me.

She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and whispered.

[Liene] "That's enough. You don't have to find twenty statements anymore."

[Black] "Is your anger fading that quickly?"

[Liene] "It’s better than being angry, isn't it?"

[Black] "I wouldn't have minded more. I found it rather pleasing that you were angry because of me."

She marveled at his boldness.

[Liene] "I even pinched your ears, and yet you don't seem to remember the pain?"

[Black] "It seems there are different types of pain."

He resumed his walk. This time, Liene didn't stubbornly insist on being let down.

[Liene] "Surely you aren't suggesting that you enjoy being hurt."

[Black] "Not all of it."

Black stopped again and, as if unable to contain his affection, nipped gently at the tip of her nose. Liene laughed, wrinkling her nose.

[Liene] "Ah, that hurts."

[Black] "This much pain feels quite good."

[Liene] "If tooth marks are left on my nose, what will you tell people? It’s not as if Nauk has a pet dog running around."

[Black] "Since the marks are on you, they will likely assume it is some form of ornament."

I can't believe he’s saying something so ridiculous...

[Liene] "Even to my ears, that is a gross exaggeration. People will laugh."

[Black] "Let them laugh. I am the only one who has a Princess whose nose I can bite."

This man is a bit much.

But if anyone were to ask how she felt at that moment, she would never say she disliked it.

Amidst their banter, they arrived at the dungeon where Dieren was being held.

---

[Randall] "This way, My Lord."

He quickly led the way.

[Randall] "The Prince of Alito has finally come to his senses. Earlier, after his leg was sev—er, slightly injured, he seemed dazed with shock, but he’s fine now. It seems he’s beginning to understand his place."

[Black] "Good to hear."

Although Randall didn't say much, Liene sensed he was trying very hard not to stare.

I must look so ridiculous. Even I feel a bit embarrassed...

[Liene] "The path here is narrow. Won't it be inconvenient for others if you keep carrying me?"

[Black] "Not at all. Is it inconvenient?"

Startled by the question suddenly directed at him, Randall tripped over his own feet and nearly fell.

[Randall] "In—Inconvenient? Perish the thought! How could it be?"

[Liene] "......And yet, your expression looks quite troubled."

[Randall] "The—The path is treacherous, so naturally, Your Highness should not be walking on such ground! It’s only right. I know this!"

Randall’s voice was much louder than usual. His booming voice through the underground corridor clearly conveyed the message:

This is the first time I’ve seen my Lord act like this.

Liene let out a soft sigh and gave Black’s sleeve a discreet tug, making sure no one else saw.

[Liene] "I’m glad you understand... I really did hurt my feet, after all."

[Randall] "Of—Of course!"

[Liene] "......"

She looked away in silence.

Of the three, only Black remained perfectly composed. Randall was flustered, but he wasn't entirely oblivious.

Eventually, everyone would have to get used to such sights.

They all knew by now that for Black, Liene was the exception to every rule. If her feet were hurt, carrying her—even to meet a foreign Prince—was simply the natural order of things.

[Randall] "It’s this room."

Randall stopped in front of the cell where guards were stationed. A Tiwakan quickly opened the door.

Creeeeeak!

[Black] "Mind your head. The ceiling is low."

He gently shielded her head with one hand as he stepped into the prison cell.

[Liene] "...…"

Dieren, who had to witness the two of them entering, twisted his face in a grimace. He already looked miserable due to the deep gash on his thigh, but the sight before him made it worse.

[Dieren] "What a picture-perfect couple."

[Servant] "Your—Your Highness..."

His servant called out to him, signaling him to watch his tongue.

But Dieren wasn't merely being sarcastic toward Black. It was a self-deprecating remark directed at himself and his sister.

[Dieren] "To think we went through such futile efforts to pull this apart... Ha, it’s so absurd I think I’m going mad."

Liene looked at him with a trace of bitterness before speaking to Black.

[Liene] "You can set me down now. I can’t exactly interrogate while being held."

[Black] "One moment."

He called out toward the hall.

[Black] "Bring a chair."

[Randall] "Yes, My Lord."

A chair was brought in immediately. Black seated Liene upon it.

[Liene] "I have questions for you."

[Dieren] "My sister should have seen this sight."

Dieren said this instead of answering. But his words were essentially an answer to a question she hadn't yet asked.

[Liene] "It must have been the Princess Consort Blini Vasheyd who ordered my abduction to the Kingdom of Sharka."

[Dieren] "I cannot say 'yes' with my own lips. The Grand Duchy of Alito has its pride to maintain."

It had been a nonsensical plot from the start. And the result was failure. Baiyar had used all his cunning to cast a double and triple-layered net, yet Princess Liene had somehow torn a hole in it and escaped.

It was regrettable. How could someone who looked so gentle and demure possess such sharp claws to tear through their traps?

[Liene] "And the reason?"

[Dieren] "I told you, I cannot say. How pathetic would the Duchy look if I admitted she did it because she was jealous that the Tiwakan Commander married someone else? Don't you agree?"

She had suspected as much, but she had hoped it wasn't the case.

She continued with a grim expression.

[Liene] "I don't understand. Doesn't the Princess Consort already know that Lord Tiwakan is married?"

[Dieren] "Does that matter? In this world, there are more people for whom marriage holds no meaning beyond bloodlines."

[Liene] "But she is royalty. She knows that trying to satisfy her greed like this could lead to irreversible conflict between the two nations.”

[Liene] "The Princess Consort didn't just send assassins; she used Nauk’s Guard Commander to betray me. This isn't something that can be resolved with a simple apology."

Dieren let out a smirk.

[Dieren] "Princess. That is your way of thinking. That is the kind of royal you are."

[Liene] "And the Princess Consort is not?"

[Dieren] "No. Instead, she will have prepared an exit for herself. Even if Baiyar dies, he will never say my sister ordered it, and neither will I. As for the others she dragged into this, they are Nauk’s own people—so whether they live or die is your concern."

[Liene] "No, it’s not quite that simple. Even if the Princess Consort escapes the consequences of her actions, you are still here, Prince. Are you saying she wouldn't care what hardship you suffer? That would ultimately become a problem for the Grand Duchy of Alito."

[Dieren] "She likely thought I’d be fine. That the Tiwakan Commander wouldn't dare kill me—damn it."

Dieren shuddered.

The memory of the axe swinging toward him flashed through his mind. He had believed he wouldn't be killed, but he had been wrong. If Princess Liene hadn't appeared at that exact moment, he didn't know how many pieces he would have been hacked into.

Did his sister really not know that?

...Perhaps she did. And perhaps she didn't care.

If he died, the succession of the Duchy would naturally fall to her. She had likely calculated that if her position in Sharka became precarious due to this incident, she could return to the Duchy and become the Grand Duchess.

[Dieren] "Damn it, damn it, damn it."

He closed his eyes tightly and cursed repeatedly.

[Servant] "Your—Your Highness..."

The servant tried to quiet Dieren while casting wary glances at Liene.

Dieren, pale and drenched in cold sweat, continued to tremble.

[Liene] "Write a letter. To the Princess Consort."

As she spoke, Liene gently squeezed Black’s hand. Black nodded in agreement.

[Liene] "Convey my message: if she returns the ring, I will guarantee your life."

[Dieren] "......The—The ring?"

He came to his senses after a long moment and asked.

[Liene] "She will understand if you say just that. And tell her this as well: I know one of her secrets. If the ring arrives safely, that secret will vanish quietly. If not, it will be brought to light before everyone's eyes."

Having finished, Liene rose from the chair. The moment she stood, Black quickly scooped her back into his arms. She didn't even bother saying she was embarrassed.

She wore a composed expression, as if there were a law stating one must always be calm when entering or leaving a dungeon. In truth, she was exhausted.

[Liene] "I look forward to seeing how well the House of Alito has educated you in the art of writing."

With that, the conversation ended.

As they left the dungeon, news arrived as if on cue: Weroz and his gang had been spotted.

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