A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 108

※Absolutely Unbelievable (3)※

Instead of trying to pull the duvet away, Black gathered Liene—duvet and all—into his arms.

[Liene] "Don't do this. Leave me alone. Please."

[Black] "Ten days was not such a long time. If we are counting years, the period you were someone else's lover was much longer."

[Liene] "Ah... well, I suppose I have no defense if you put it that way. But my situation was a bit different."

In truth, her heart was not entirely at ease.

Liene had once tried her best to harbor affection for Laffit. She had hoped that if she could accept him, their forced relationship might feel a little less horrific.

[Black] "Even so, it felt much longer to me. That is why my blood boils every time you even mention another man."

[Liene] "...I like that expression. My own head feels quite hot right now."

[Black] "I was suffering, but I survived thanks to your comfort."

[Liene] "Mm... so are you saying you intend to comfort me in the same way now?"

[Black] "It doesn't have to be the same way. Tell me what you want. I will do anything."

[Liene] "......"

She pulled the duvet down just a fraction.

[Liene] "Do you find me... a bit tiresome or pathetic? This is all in the past, yet I feel like I'm just running in circles."

[Black] "Did you find me tiresome?"

She thought about it seriously before shaking her head.

[Liene] "No. Actually..."

Her cheeks flushed crimson.

The intimacy that had begun under the pretext of needing comfort had been nothing short of perfect.

The afternoon sun had illuminated every fine hair on her skin, revealing every subtle shift in her expression. The memory of his face, flushed and undone by passion, was still vivid.

If she had to pull the most precious memory from her mind, that moment would undoubtedly be there.

He pressed his lips to the rosy cheek peeking out from the duvet and whispered.

[Black] "Tell me. Tell me what I must do."

[Liene] "I... I'm not sure."

She finally turned and moved into his embrace. The sight of her hands, tightening their grip on his shoulders as if reaching for salvation, was both pitiable and beautiful.

[Liene] "What were you thinking when you met her again? After you had parted?"

She was asking about the moment he encountered Princess Blini again at the Duchy of Alito.

[Black] "At first, I was pleased."

[Liene] "...Beg pardon?"

[Black] "Because I thought I might finally get my ring back."

She pulled back slightly, eyeing him with suspicion.

[Liene] "Is that all?"

[Black] "I mean it. Though I soon realized it was a futile hope."

It was obvious that Blini intended to use the ring as bait to manipulate him. When she told him to propose if he wanted the ring back, he decided he would rather discard the ring altogether.

He had no intention of becoming the King of Nauk again at that time. On the other hand, it had felt like a relief—as if he had finally severed an identity that had been clinging to him like an invisible tail.

[Liene] "Why did she go to such lengths? Was it because you were too kind to her?"

[Black] "I believe I should be the one asking that. Did you not show compassion to another man until this very afternoon?"

[Liene] "That has nothing to do with—no, wait. You're right. Kleinfelter never listened to a word I said, either. He just interpreted things strangely to suit himself."

Thinking of it that way made her feel a bit better.

She pulled him close again and patted his back. Black, quick to catch on, mimicked her movements.

[Liene] "This feeling will fade eventually. It will be fine as time passes."

Black smiled instead of answering. Liene might feel that way, but he did not. If Liene ever spoke of Laffit with pity again, he would make sure to extract "comfort" from her once more.

[Liene] "Still... could you return it? If it's all in the past, it's a meaningless object. You don't need to keep holding onto it."

[Black] "I shall do so. But to whom?"

He asked as he brushed her bangs away from her forehead.

[Liene] "To Princess Blini... Wait, was there someone else?"

[Black] "I doubt it. But what object are you talking about?"

[Liene] "The scissors."

[Black] "The scissors?"

[Liene] "The ones you hid away."

[Black] "...Ah. You saw them."

Only now did Black realize the bedroom had changed. A new wardrobe had been brought in, and it seemed she had moved his belongings.

She rubbed her forehead against his shoulder, acting somewhat spoiled.

[Liene] "You... don't need them, right?"

[Black] "...If I had known you were this kind of person, I wouldn't have hidden them."

He let out a short breath.

[Liene] "I'm sorry for being 'this kind of person.' I didn't realize I was so narrow-minded either."

[Black] "I didn't say I disliked it..."

He suddenly cut himself off and pulled her away from him.

[Black] "Give me your hand."

[Liene] "My hand?"

Confused, she released her hold on him and reached out. He took her hand and pressed beneath her thumbnail, causing the skin to spread slightly. She flinched.

[Black] "Does it hurt?"

[Liene] "Not much. But why are you doing this?"

[Black] "You once injured yourself here. You said you were cut by a pair of nail clippers."

[Liene] "Oh...? When?"

Liene, who was usually indifferent to small wounds, did not remember. Black was equally indifferent to his own injuries, but any wound on Liene was different. He remembered every single one.

He held her thumb and licked beneath the nail, just as he had once before.

[Black] "That is why I bought them."

[Liene] "Uh... excuse me? What?"

[Black] "So you wouldn't get hurt."

[Liene] "You bought them for me? But... they weren't new."

[Black] "No. That is why I left them there."

It was not easy to find quality goods in Nauk. He had chosen the best of the few options available, but since it wasn't a perfect item, he had felt hesitant to present it.

Beyond that, their relationship at the time hadn't been one where he could easily give gifts. Back then, every moment was unpredictable. Just when he thought he had taken a step closer, they were distant again.

He had hoped she would never have to hurt her fingers with dull scissors again, but he couldn't find the words to tell her.

[Black] "I wasn't sure if you would even like receiving such a thing."

While they were left neglected in a hidden place, Liene had gone on to severely injure her hand with sewing shears. After that, the nail clippers became an object he could not give her. Even with such small scissors, Liene was more than capable of hurting herself.

After hearing the story, Liene let out a pained groan.

[Liene] "Now I feel pathetic."

[Black] "That wasn't why I told you."

[Liene] "You were thinking of me all along, while I only harbored suspicions."

[Black] "That isn't true."

[Liene] "How can you say that?"

She pulled her knees up and turned her head away.

[Black] "Look at me. Do you not believe me?"

[Liene] "No, it's not that... I'm just too embarrassed to look at you right now."

[Black] "Then don't turn your head. Just close your eyes."

[Liene] "Ah, I suppose that works."

She naively closed her eyes. Black's smile vanished as he lowered his lips.

[Black] "Keep them closed."

[Liene] "Mm... I'm only closing them because I'm shy... Ah!"

As his lips brushed against her ankle while lifting the hem of her nightgown, her shoulders quivered.

[Black] "Since your eyes are closed, you shouldn't feel shy."

He moved closer, his breath tickling her skin as he ascended from her ankle.

Liene gasped, her face flushed deep red.

[Liene] "This is strange... I think closing my eyes makes it even more embarrassing."

[Black] "Then you may open them."

[Liene] "What kind of choice is that...?"

It meant the result would be the same either way. Whether Liene sulked over a misunderstanding, got angry, or looked away over something trivial, what he did remained the same. He showered her with affection.

Liene twisted her body here and there, unable to handle the breath tickling her thigh.

[Liene] "So the scissors... are they... mine?"

She asked, her hands mussing his hair.

He pulled his lips away for a moment to answer.

[Black] "No. I have no intention of giving them to you now."

[Liene] "Why?"

[Black] "Because I hope you never have to use scissors yourself. I told you that before."

[Liene] "That... back then, I was just..."

[Black] "The sight still haunts my dreams sometimes."

[Liene] "You were very startled... I—ah...!"

[Black] "Yes. So I would like you to ensure you aren't injured from now on.”

[Black] "If I wake up from a nightmare, I might feel the urge to wake you as well."

[Liene] "If that happens... w-wake me."

Liene gasped, her face completely crimson.

Black lay her down, slowly lifting the hem of her gown.

[Black] "That’s a promise."

[Liene] "Yes..."

The sensation of the silk gown sliding against her skin felt particularly sensual today.

She swallowed hard as she watched him discard his robe.

In the end, those scissors became Madam Flambard's responsibility.

Every time the madam trimmed Liene's nails with the jewel-encrusted scissors, Liene would echo his words, telling her never to even think about touching them herself.

---

Time flowed quickly. It was a period that seemed peaceful, yet was not.

Two prisoners remained in Nauk’s dungeon. One was Ternan Kleinfelter, and the other was Weroz.

[Tiwakan] "You’ve arrived?"

Liene, who had visited the dungeon again today, nodded to the Tiwakan guard who greeted her.

[Liene] "How is he today?"

[Tiwakan] "The same."

[Liene] "......"

"The same" meant that Weroz was still refusing to eat. He had chosen to stake his life as a final measure.

[Liene] "Open the door."

[Tiwakan] "Yes, Your Highness."

Creak.

As the cell door opened, a scent saturated with dampness and gloom wafted out. Though she smelled it every time, it still felt stifling.

She prayed silently that one day this dungeon would be empty, so she would never have to smell this again.

[Liene] "...Sir Weroz."

As she entered, Weroz, who had been leaning his weakened body against the wall, forced his head up.

Despite the darkness of the cell, she could see his blackened, peeling lips. It was impossible for her heart not to ache.

[Weroz] "There is no need to visit so often. Unless you have decided to cast that man aside, do not come."

[Liene] "That will not happen."

[Weroz] "Then I have nothing more to say to you."

Weroz firmly believed that the hereditary madness of the Gainers bloodline would eventually consume Black. He insisted that Liene must leave him to protect Nauk.

Even now, with Ternan captured and the ties with the Sharka Kingdom severed, leaving no other options, he remained stubborn, wasting his own body away.

[Liene] "Can you not believe my words? Out of nineteen kings, only nine died young. Being of the Gainers line does not mean everyone suffers from the same illness."

[Weroz] "Are you a ruler who would stake the future of Nauk on a mere fifty-percent chance?"

[Liene] "I trust him. He would never do anything to harm me."

[Weroz] "Once madness takes hold, none of that matters, Your Highness."

[Liene] "Then you must protect me. If, by some slim chance, Lord Tiwakan falls ill, you can do something then."

[Weroz] "After Nauk has already fallen into the hands of a Gainers? I cannot allow that."

[Liene] "It is not like that. Lord Tiwakan has no desire to be a King of the Gainers. He said he would live as my husband, as Arsak Guardian Knight. I have told you this so many times. Why won't you believe me?"

[Weroz] "And I, too, have told you many times."

He clenched his fist, which had withered like a dry branch.

[Weroz] "I am one who swore an oath to protect you and Nauk. What I am doing now is the final way to uphold that oath. A knight’s life is a small price to pay for such a vow. Leave me be. Instead, remember why I had to die. That is the final act of loyalty I offer you."

[Liene] "...No. Do not call it the final act. I do not want to lose you this way."

[Weroz] "The moment you chose that man over Nauk, this path may have already been decided."

Such a stubborn man.

Liene pressed her toes down hard to keep her emotions in check.

I am the one saying the illness is fine, so why is he like this?

No matter how much he worries, it cannot be more than I do.

No matter how scared or sad he is, it cannot compare to me.

So why is the man who should be on my side making things so difficult for me?

[Liene] "I will bring all three of your meals personally until you eat. Unless you wish to keep tormenting me, you will eat."

[Weroz] "...Please return, Your Highness. You do not need to come anymore."

I can be stubborn, too.

[Liene] "Stop talking nonsense and eat. Think for a moment—if you don't eat the food I bring, I am the one who has to clear away the spoiled remains."

It was the moment Liene turned to leave the cell.

[Liene] "...Oh? How did you get here?"

Standing there without a sound was Black.

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