A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 106

※Absolutely Unbelievable (1)※

It was an unbelievable situation, but it was said that such things were possible in Sharka. While they might not be welcomed, they were certainly not forbidden.

[Fermos] "Even so, as long as the Queen is present, their relationship cannot be officially recognized. We cannot rely on that alone. The Queen’s family possesses the largest private army in the Sharka Kingdom. Even the King has no choice but to be wary of them."

It was then that Liene spoke up quietly.

[Liene] "There is the child."

[Fermos] "Pardon? The two of them don't have a child yet... Ah, you mean she might be pregnant?"

As long as the right of succession followed the bloodline of the eldest legitimate son, a child could be both a shield and a sword.

[Liene] "It’s embarrassing to bring up my own lie again, but if Princess Blini has a child, securing her position won't be difficult. At least until the child is born."

[Fermos] "Hmm... that would be troublesome. If she escapes this way and pushes the issue of Prince Dieren onto the Grand Duke..."

[Liene] "I think there might be a way."

Liene spoke after a moment of hesitation.

Discussing Princess Blini always made her feel uneasy. No matter how brief it had been, Black and Princess Blini were once lovers.

[Black] "Is it a method you’re reluctant to use?"

Black asked, reading the expression on Liene’s face.

[Liene] "A little. Do you remember when I mentioned I knew one of her secrets?"

[Black] "I remember."

[Liene] "Lord Wistard is connected to the Kleinfelters. Since they were of similar age, they have been visiting each other since they were young."

[Black] "So that’s how they became entangled."

[Liene] "Kleinfelter once told me that he even sold his own body just to come to Nauk. I understood that to mean he had a physical relationship with her."

[Black] "...It is possible."

[Liene] "If she used someone like that, I believe it’s something the Royal Family could take issue with.”

[Liene] "It feels like such a low method, so I didn't want to use it if possible. I had hoped Princess Blini would realize it herself first."

Black gave a bitter smile and stroked Liene’s hair.

[Black] "I understand."

Fermos stepped forward.

[Fermos] "Well, if that is true, then the one who is 'low' is Princess Blini, not you, Your Highness. Then, how about we use this as gracefully as possible? Let’s use Kleinfelter as a messenger. One to be sent to the Queen of Sharka."

It was a logical conclusion, as the Queen was likely the person in the Royal Court who detested Princess Blini the most.

[Liene] "Hmm... is that possible? Kleinfelter isn't the type of person to follow orders just because he's told to."

[Fermos] "We must force him. The one to open his mouth will likely be the Queen of Sharka. All Nauk needs to do is deliver Kleinfelter to her."

[Liene] "That... Ah, but didn't you say he hasn't been caught yet?"

Fermos’s face suddenly lit up with excitement.

[Fermos] "We didn't catch him on purpose. Ah, come to think of it, today is the fifth day. Since we’ve starved him all this time, he should have come to his senses by now. If you permit it, I will go and bring him in now."

[Liene] "Oh, dear..."

Liene’s face clouded with a mix of complex emotions. Just as the talk of Princess Blini was uncomfortable, matters involving Laffit always left a bitter taste in her mouth.

[Black] "Then do so. You are dismissed."

[Fermos] "Yes, My Lord!"

Fermos left the office with a spring in his step.

Click.

Once the door was closed, Black turned the chair Liene was sitting in toward him.

[Black] "Why the long face?"

[Liene] "What? How do I look?"

[Black] "You look like your heart is aching."

[Liene] "It’s... well, you know. We don't know what will happen to Kleinfelter. The same goes for Princess Blini."

[Black] "Princess."

He began to undo the knot of his neatly tied shirt. He gripped both armrests and tilted his head toward her.

[Liene] "Yes...?"

She swallowed hard as a sudden tension rushed over her.

[Black] "I love everything about you. Even the way you feel pity for such useless human beings."

[Liene] "I see. But then why...?"

You don't seem to like it very much…

And why are you undoing your shirt? In the middle of the day.

[Black] "I won't tell you not to feel that way. I don't want you to overexert yourself for my sake."

He says he won't tell me not to... but it sounds like he is.

Creak.

The old chair groaned under his weight.

[Black] "But when the opponent is Kleinfelter, it’s a bit difficult for me."

[Liene] "I... I understand."

If it’s difficult, why are you getting closer?

[Black] "Since it’s difficult, I’d like you to comfort me, Princess."

Um... sure. That’s fair.

Though I don’t know why the shirt has to come off for you to be comforted.

[Liene] "And you?"

And for reasons she also didn't know, she reached out to stroke his neck, which was revealed by his open shirt.

[Black] "Me, what?"

[Liene] "Princess Blini. Don't you feel any pity for her, not knowing what fate awaits her?"

[Black] "I don’t think she would have started this without knowing the consequences."

[Liene] "Even so, that doesn't mean you can't feel pity. Emotions are a separate matter."

Tug.

He reached out and undid one of the buttons on Liene’s dress.

[Black] "Are you telling me right now that you have feelings for Kleinfelter?"

[Liene] "No. It’s not that kind of feeling... It’s just a human sense of unease."

[Black] "The feelings I have for the Princess Consort are much more intense than pity."

Tug.

The second button was undone. Black pressed his lips firmly against the pale skin of her neck.

[Liene] "Oh my... that means you’re the one with feelings."

[Black] "I’m still angry. The fact that she did those malicious things to you."

His voice, vibrating against her skin, sounded like it was boiling.

Ah... so that’s the kind of emotion he means.

[Black] "No matter what fate the Princess Consort meets, I will not be satisfied."

I’m safe now... no, wait. If Kleinfelter had used poison on this man, I would have felt the same.

No matter how miserably Kleinfelter died, I would still be angry.

[Liene] "I understand now. Why do you need comfort?"

Tug.

The third button was undone. This time, it wasn't Black who undid it, but Liene.

He held his breath and stared at the tips of her fingers. As she reached for the fourth button, she met his gaze and paused.

[Liene] "But... don't you think it would be better to move to another place? If I’m going to comfort you properly."

[Black] "I agree."

He stood up first and swept her into his arms. He had carried her to the bedroom many times, but he had never moved as fast as he did today.

She teased him, playfully pulling on his ear.

[Liene] "I believe royalty isn't supposed to run inside the castle."

[Black] "I’ll have to revise the etiquette soon."

Thud!

The door closed behind them as they entered the bedroom.

It was afternoon, and the room was bright in every corner, but their hearts were more urgent than the sunlight.

Her overdress rustled and messed up her hair. She laughed aloud at the tickling sensation against her cheek.

---

[Black] "She’s sleeping. I’ll be back soon."

She thought she might have heard those words in her sleep.

By the time the sky turned red, Liene woke up and rubbed her eyes, looking at the space beside her.

[Liene] "Ah... where did he say he was going again?"

She remembered something about the maze behind the waterfall. He said he was going to check the mechanisms built inside with Fermos while they were bringing in Laffit.

[Liene] "How mean. He should have taken me along."

She murmured, yawning languidly.

But she also knew that Black wouldn't have been able to wake her if she were mumbling in her sleep.

[Liene] "That man... he told me to rest, yet he’s the more diligent one."

When she woke up and he wasn't there, she felt like something was missing.

Knock, knock.

The Madam knocked on the bedroom door.

[Flambard] "Your Highness. Are you awake? May we come in?"

[Liene] "Ah, yes. Just a moment."

She hastily pulled her arms and head through her disheveled chemise. She would have to leave the tightening of the laces on her back to the Madam.

[Liene] "I’m ready."

[Flambard] "Yes, Your Highness."

Madam Henton had recovered enough to walk around now. Having become the Head Maid of Nauk, she seemed excited, saying there were countless things to attend to, though she was frustrated that her body couldn't keep up with her spirit.

The madams entered hurriedly. Without a word, they brought combs and ribbons; one combed her hair while the other helped her dress.

Liene secretly checked for any marks on her neck, but both women were too excited to mention anything.

[Henton] "Your Highness. Hasn't the wardrobe arrived today? We were thinking of placing it in that space. What do you think?"

[Liene] "A wardrobe? What wardrobe?"

[Henton] "A very large one, tall enough to touch the ceiling. You can keep your blankets and daily clothes in it. The one you used before is old and small, so we’ll move it to another room."

[Liene] "Ah, that sounds lovely. But why did a new wardrobe suddenly appear?"

[Flambard] "It was a wedding gift prepared by Lord Tiwakan. Since it's a wardrobe, it took some time to finish."

[Liene] "Wow... there was another gift."

[Henton] "Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if he sent something else tomorrow."

[Liene] "I feel the same way."

The two madams chattered tirelessly about how wonderful the new wardrobe would look and how intricate and luxurious the carvings were.

Once Liene was dressed, the wardrobe was brought in. They moved the old one and transferred the items to the new one.

[Flambard] "Why don't we keep Lord Tiwakan’s belongings here as well, Your Highness? Since the two of you share a room anyway."

The wardrobe was large enough to fill an entire wall and had plenty of space.

[Liene] "I was actually going to suggest that. It seemed inconvenient for him to go to his private quarters every time he needed to change."

She wondered if that was the real reason he had such a large wardrobe made.

I should have thought of that first. I feel a bit guilty.

The madas brought Black’s luggage from the adjacent room. Some were already being placed in the wardrobe, while others were still in trunks.

[Henton] "Shall we use this side? What do you think?"

[Liene] "Yes, that’s fine. Please move them there. I’ll organize them."

[Flambard] "Don't do that. Just tell us. We’ll do the heavy lifting."

[Liene] "Organizing isn't that hard. Madam Henton, you haven't fully recovered yet, so please stay still."

[Henton] "Sir Fermos said it’s fine to move around a little."

[Liene] "You shouldn't believe everything he says. All his patients have been Tiwakans."

They were organizing the luggage harmoniously, sharing occasional laughs.

[Flambard] "This isn't something that should be mixed with clothes... where should we keep this?"

[Liene] "Ah, what is it?"

She turned around to look at what Madam Flambard was holding out. It was a small box. Slightly smaller than a hand, the box was rimmed with gold and encrusted with jewels—it was very ornate.

[Liene] "This is a bit..."

Her voice trailed off awkwardly.

[Flambard] "It is, isn't it...?"

[Henton] "Yes. It looks that way to me, too."

There was a reason they were all frowning. No matter how one looked at it, this was a woman’s item.

[Flambard] "Could it be a gift for you, Your Highness?"

[Liene] "Then why would he hide it among his clothes...?"

[Henton] "I find that strange too. He has given you gifts many times before, so why hide this one?"

Madam Henton stared intently at the box and spoke.

[Henton] "Why don't we try opening it first?"

[Liene] "That’s..."

Liene bit her lip in hesitation.

What could it be? Why was he hiding it?

No. Maybe it's nothing. He might have just left it there and forgotten about it.

[Liene] "No, just..."

Leave it. I’ll ask him.

She was about to say that, but it was too late.

Click. Madam Henton opened the box.

As soon as the box opened, low gasps followed.

[Flambard] "Mmm..."

[Henton] "This... this is not good."

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