A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 123

※The War of All (3)※

[Randall] "Ah."

A short, startled sound escaped his lips.

[Liene] "Sir Randall? What is it?"

[Randall] "Someone is coming from ahead. I can hear footsteps."

Klima had heard them as well.

[Klima] "I don’t think it’s My Lord... those footsteps are... heavier."

[Randall] "Ah, this kid. You can even distinguish things like that? You really are useful."

[Klima] "......"

His face, which had been pale this entire time, momentarily flushed a faint red.

[Liene] "Then what should we do?"

[Randall] "We’ll try to act like Royal Guards. If that fails, I’ll block the path while you two go ahead. And you—the one guiding us—you should head back now."

The maid’s eyes went wide.

[Maid] "Ah, but... no, Her Majesty the Queen commanded me..."

[Randall] "It will be troublesome for you if our identity is discovered, won't it?"

[Maid] "…… It would be better if I stayed."

Surprisingly, the maid held her ground.

[Maid] "Who would suspect you if you are with the Queen’s personal maid? I will say I’m going to fetch candles for Her Majesty. I’ll tell them the knights from the Separate Palace are assisting me."

[Randall] "Are you sure? Is it all right for us to owe you such a favor?"

[Maid] "Her Majesty ordered me to ensure the Princess leaves the Separate Palace safely. I will lead the way."

The maid stepped past Randall and took the lead.

They had not walked far down the narrow servant's passage before they encountered the Royal Guards escorting the King.

---

[Royal Guard] "Fetching candles? In this situation?"

The guard was skeptical. Given the chaos outside, his suspicion was understandable. They had been shouting and pounding on the doors, yet here was someone acting as if they knew nothing.

[Maid] "Y-yes... we suddenly ran out of candles... and Her Majesty is quite uncomfortable."

[Royal Guard] "Hah, does that even make sense? You didn't know what was happening outside?"

[Maid] "I—I don't know about such things. I only do as I am told..."

As the maid’s voice trembled and she lowered her head, the guard seemed to have nothing left to say. Furthermore, the King was not in a patient mood.

[King] "What are you doing! How long do you intend to keep me standing in this filthy passage!"

[Royal Guard] "…… My apologies, Your Majesty."

Reluctantly, the guard gestured toward the maid and her group.

[Royal Guard] "Step aside. His Majesty must pass."

[Maid] "Y-yes..."

Liene and the others pressed themselves against the wall alongside the maid. The guards, seeing her group in the same uniform, made a sharp remark in irritation.

[Royal Guard] "Hey, you lot, take off your helmets. We’ve agreed to keep them off to distinguish ourselves from the enemy."

[Randall] "Uh, right. Understood."

He answered quickly, trying to match their tone.

[Royal Guard] "But did you really hear nothing? With all that pounding on the gate?"

[Randall] "Well, it’s just..."

Fortunately, another guard intervened.

[Royal Guard] "Save it for later. Do you want His Majesty to lose his temper again?"

[Royal Guard] "Dammit..."

The King and the main palace guards began to brush past them.

Liene bit her lip hard, terrified that even the sound of her swallowing might give them away.

Step, step...

The guards were moving away smoothly, but just before the tension could break, one of them suddenly whipped his head around.

[Royal Guard] "Ah, wait. You're there. Isn't that blood on your sword? If you’ve only been in the Separate Palace, why would there be blood...?"

[Randall] "…… Tsk."

They were caught.

Randall made a split-second decision. He reached out and yanked on the King’s royal robes.

[King] "Ack!"

The King, his collar suddenly seized, lost his footing and fell with a heavy thud.

Randall clicked his tongue; he had intended to take the King hostage, but the distance was slightly off.

[Randall] "Run! Now!"

The moment the King fell, the guards hesitated.

Abandoning his plan, Randall shoved Liene’s back. Klima quickly grabbed her hand and began to sprint. Randall followed close behind, whispering hurriedly into the maid’s ear.

[Randall] "Do not follow us. Tell them you didn't know we weren't Royal Guards."

She was a clever woman; she surely understood.

[Royal Guard] "They’re escaping! Catch them!"

[Royal Guard] "Support His Majesty! Quickly!"

[Royal Guard] "Over there! Get them!"

Liene’s group began to run with everything they had. Some of the guards protecting the King broke off to give chase.

---

[Randall] "Their numbers have dropped. I can handle this."

Unfortunately, the next opponent was in Randall’s blind spot. As a blade suddenly lunged from his back right, he panicked and grabbed the sword with his bare hand.

[Randall] "Gah, that hurts!"

He was wearing gloves, but they didn't make him invincible. The blade bit deep into his palm. With a face that looked ready to cry, he held onto the sword and kicked his opponent’s knee.

[Royal Guard] "Urgh!"

As the opponent stumbled, Klima rushed in and slammed a large stone against the guard's head.

Thud!

[Randall] "Whoa! Well done, kid! Where's the Princess?"

Randall had sent Liene ahead while he took the rear.

Three guards were pursuing them. As Randall cut one down, he ducked low and slammed his head into the guard’s chin, approaching behind.

Crack!

The impact of the jaw against the skull sent the guard collapsing to the ground.

[Randall] "Alright, next."

He looked for the next opponent.

[Randall] "…… Gah!"

Despite his dramatic complaints about his hand killing him, Randall didn't forget to check on Liene. She was up ahead, scanning the path.

[Randall] "Ack! Your Highness, you can't go on alone! Who knows where those bastards will pop out from!"

Randall hopped to his feet and scrambled toward her. Klima followed, clutching his injured side.

[Liene] "I only moved because the way looked clear. Are you both alright? Sir Randall, your hand..."

[Randall] "This is nothing."

As they emerged from the servant's passage, they reached the back courtyard of the Separate Palace.

[Liene] "Where do we go from here?"

[Klima] "Th-that way!"

[Randall] "Huh? Why that way? That’s the main gate."

[Klima] "They are fighting. I can hear... I can hear the sound."

[Randall] "Ah... that means My Lord is here. Then... dammit! It wasn't just three of them?"

Regrettably, it wasn't. More pursuers were closing in.

[Randall] "Argh... if it were only two, I’d take them, but why are there four? And of all times to have a hurt hand. …… Your Highness!"

Even without him finishing, Liene understood what Randall meant.

[Liene] "Yes. Let's run."

The moment she spoke, she began to sprint in the direction Klima had indicated.

[Randall] "The armor must be heavy, but you’re holding up well. Just a little further."

[Liene] "I’m still alright. The armor makes it hard to run, though. But really, is your hand okay? Can you even hold a sword?"

[Randall] "Ah, I’m just resting it on purpose right now because I’m scared I’ve torn a muscle. It’ll be fine later."

The servant's passage and the main gate were on opposite ends of the palace. As they sprinted across the long back courtyard, Liene felt as if her stomach were tearing.

[Liene] "You're indeed sure about that... huff, huff..."

Finally, a closed gate came into view. Fortunately, no guards were in sight, but they were likely swarming on the other side.

Randall tested his injured hand, then gripped his sword with his left.

[Randall] "Hey, youngest. Can you open that gate by yourself?"

[Klima] "What? Y-yes..."

[Randall] "Open it. Ah, wait. Let me get ready first. Once it’s open, protect the Princess. Do not leave her side."

[Klima] "I know that without being told."

[Randall] "Good."

Klima single-handedly lifted the massive wooden bar that usually required two men.

Bam!

As soon as the bar cleared the latch, Randall kicked the door open.

Revealed behind the gates was the thick scent of blood and bodies strewn across the ground. And then, there was the ear-piercing screech of clashing steel.

---

[Randall] "My Lord!"

He struggled to cut down a guard with his left hand as he searched for Black.

For Tiwakan, finding Black was easy. Even in someone else's armor, they could recognize him by the way he moved.

[Black] "......?"

Black turned his head. His helmet was drenched in blood. It was clear he had been in such a rush that he hadn't even bothered to dodge the arterial spray.

Thud, crash!

Black dodged a guard approaching from behind and swept his legs. He plunged his sword once into the fallen guard’s back, pulled it out, and ran toward them with his bloodied blade.

As Black changed direction, the tide of the battle shifted. Tiwakan, realizing Black intended to open a path, joined his line of movement.

[Randall] "Out of the way, you bastards!"

Randall swung his sword with all his might as he moved. It wasn't perfect, but he was glad he had some experience using his left hand. He had used it occasionally whenever his right was injured in the past, and that was how he had survived until now.

The Royal Guards blocking the entrance of the Separate Palace were split down the middle. In this narrow path created, the group reunited.

Black, having confirmed Liene’s safety, asked:

[Black] "Are you hurt anywhere?"

There was no time for the relief he felt to settle. The tension that had built up when he thought Liene might be trapped inside faded only for a moment, replaced by an even sharper vigilance.

[Liene] "No. What about you?"

[Black] "Not yet. Randall."

[Randall] "Yes, My Lord."

[Black] "How is your left hand? Is it usable?"

[Randall] "Of course. You saw it yourself."

[Black] "Set the course toward the horses before they regain their senses and block the way. I’ll take the rear once you break through."

[Randall] "Are we pulling out just like this? The Princess Consort might not be in the palace, but the King is. I want to take his head since we're already here."

[Black] "To do that, we’d have to be prepared for half of us to die. This is enough. The King has been properly frightened; he’ll think twice before he acts from now on."

[Randall] "Hah, I should have stabbed him when I had the chance back there... Fine, I understand."

Now they had to move toward the border and rendezvous with Fermos. The real war would begin after that.

[Black] "Then, begin."

[Randall] "Yes!"

Just as the Royal Guards were about to surround them, Randall charged forward. Black immediately took the rear, and the rest of Tiwakan followed, carving a path through the enemy. Klima stayed pressed close to Liene as if he were shielding her with his own body.

Her breath was shallow and caught in her throat. Liene moved, praying desperately that no one would die.

The Sharka guards seemed endless, but even that road eventually found its end.

---

Phew...

Finally, a moment to breathe arrived. Having escaped the capital of Sharka, they didn't hide in the alleys but headed into the mountains on the outskirts. They had to take a detour; the city held too many risks since they were outsiders.

The water flowing through the mountains was cold but clean. After rinsing their sweat-soaked bodies, they unpacked their bags to change clothes. These were bags they had stashed beforehand while checking the route after leaving the inn.

[Black] "Princess, you can wash behind that rock over there. You won't be seen."

Black said this as he sat Liene down by the water and began to remove her boots.

[Liene] "Ugh... don't touch them. They’re someone else’s shoes; I’m sure they smell awful. Besides, I’ve sweated quite a bit."

It wasn't just sweat. While she hadn't been wounded by a blade, she was covered in scrapes from the ill-fitting armor and boots.

She brushed back the damp hair clinging to her forehead and pushed Black away with her other hand.

He let out a small chuckle while still holding her foot.

[Black] "And do you think that would make me dislike you?"

[Liene] "Well, I dislike it."

[Black] "I don't."

[Liene] "It wouldn't hurt you to find it a little distasteful."

[Black] "That is impossible."

He finally pulled the boot off.

[Black] "......"

His expression changed instantly.

[Black] "Have you been walking on this foot the entire time?"

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