A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 127

※Nowhere Else to Go※

He lightly flicked her nose as she stood there, looking dazed.

[Black] "It’s not a home in the sense that Nauk is. It’s simply a place I keep for convenience. Everyone needs a place to rest, after all."

[Liene] "That... well, you are undeniably wealthy, aren't you?"

[Black] "I have a very capable adjutant to thank for that."

The mansion was large enough for the entire Tiwakan to rest comfortably and was impeccably maintained. Black mentioned that the estate manager would be sending over a fresh staff in the morning.

[Liene] "To think you had a home like this."

She sighed as she looked around the interior, which was even more elegantly decorated than Nauk Castle.

Black leaned down from behind and pressed his lips to the crown of her head.

[Black] "It wasn't a home."

[Liene] "It’s clearly a house, so why say it isn't a home...?"

[Black] "Because you weren't in it."

[Liene] "......"

She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. From her upside-down perspective, the tip of his nose looked endearingly cute.

[Liene] "You aren't just saying that to flatter me, are you?"

[Black] "I don't believe I’ve ever been one for empty words."

[Liene] "True. You aren't that type of man. Did you ever consider living here in Blue Warren? You have such a magnificent house."

[Black] "It is a lively and convenient city. But even here, I was always a stranger."

[Liene] "I see...... It’s strange, sometimes."

[Black] "What is?"

[Liene] "The fact that you came back to Nauk. You must have traveled all over the continent."

[Black] "Not exactly everywhere."

[Liene] "Even so, there must have been many places better than Nauk. Yet, you chose to return."

[Black] "As I said, you weren't in those other places."

She let out a soft chuckle.

[Liene] "I’ll take that as a compliment. But you weren't exactly sincere about your feelings for me when you first returned to Nauk, were you?"

[Black] "I think I knew, deep down. That it would eventually come to this."

[Liene] "Hmm...... that also sounds like something you’re saying just because it’s what I want to hear."

[Black] "To be honest, I didn't think I’d ever say such things either. But you......"

He paused, his brows furrowing slightly. Liene reached up and toyed with the bridge of his nose.

[Liene] "But I what?"

[Black] "Once I realized you had never given your heart to Kleinfelter, I couldn't help but think this way."

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

[Black] "We would have ended up like this. No matter how long it took."

[Liene] "I see......"

As she gave a small nod, Black cupped her neck and kissed her.

The kiss, shared with their positions reversed, felt novel, but they soon settled into their usual, comfortable rhythm.

[Liene] "When we return, I’ll have to renovate Nauk Castle. I can't have you living in a place that’s less grand than what you’re used to."

In front of the grand staircase at the center of the mansion, he swept her up into his arms.

[Black] "Does this house meet your approval, Princess?"

[Liene] "How could I possibly say no?"

[Black] "Then take it. It’s yours."

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

Step. Step.

He began to carry her up the stairs.

[Black] "I have a few more places like this besides this one. Take them all. I have no more use for them now."

[Liene] "Wow...... that’s far too much. And I don't really need—no, actually, never mind. Give them to me. All of them."

She buried her face in the crook of his neck.

[Liene] "Because you shouldn't have anywhere else to go. Give them all to me. Don't leave out a single one."

[Black] "Very well. In exchange, I want you to do something for me as well."

[Liene] "Fine. If it’s something I can give, I will."

[Black] "It’s not a physical object."

[Liene] "Then what is it?"

He stopped for a moment and leaned in to whisper into her ear. Her cheeks instantly flushed a deep crimson.

[Liene] "That’s a bit too......"

[Black] "Is it a no?"

[Liene] "If I say no, will you take back the houses?"

[Black] "Yes."

He was so resolute in his answer that she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

[Liene] "Then I suppose I have no choice. Fine. I’ll do it."

[Black] "It’s a promise, then."

Suddenly, his pace up the stairs quickened.

Black took her to a bathroom featuring a massive tub.

A short while later, the sound of breathless laughter echoed through the room.

---

From the balcony of Black’s third-floor room, one could see the river flowing behind the mansion.

Liene woke up at dawn, threw on a silk robe identical to the one Black wore, and opened the balcony doors.

It was the hour when the dim morning light touched the water’s surface, creating a cold, languid mist.

[Black] "......Why are you up so early?"

She had tried to move quietly, but Black had woken up immediately and followed her out.

[Liene] "I heard the sound of the water."

[Black] "Was it too loud?"

[Liene] "No. It wasn't that it was loud...... It’s just a sound you can't hear in Nauk, so it felt unfamiliar."

That was why she had woken up so early.

As she perched herself on the balcony railing, Black placed his hands on her waist to steady her.

[Liene] "Perhaps because of the river, the air isn't dry at all."

[Black] "It’s even more pronounced at this hour."

Watching the river flow calmly yet steadily, she spoke.

[Liene] "I wonder if Nauk will ever be like this?"

As she asked, the ring she had retrieved from Blini hung around her neck like a pendant. Black reached out and lifted the ring.

The ring that had been too large for Blini was also too large for Liene. Fearing she would end up fiddling with it all day if she wore it on her thumb, she had decided to wear it on a chain.

[Black] "If this ring truly serves as a key, then yes. It will be."

[Liene] "......I feel like I can't breathe."

She rubbed her cheek against his hand, which was still holding the ring.

[Liene] "I'm so happy...... it feels like a dream."

He let go of the ring and cupped her cheek.

[Black] "Wait just a little longer. It will be a reality soon."

[Liene] "I want to go home as soon as possible."

He laughed heartily.

[Black] "Only yesterday, when we were in the bath together, didn't you say you wished we could stay here for a few more days?"

[Liene] "Well...... I was being honest in that moment. I’m sorry. I’ve changed my mind."

[Black] "You should feel a little sorry. I was quite excited at the thought of staying for a few days."

[Liene] "I know. I was, too. Until yesterday."

[Black] "And you aren't anymore?"

[Liene] "No. Hearing the sound of the water, I can't think of anything else. My heart...... it just won't stop pounding."

He knelt on the balcony floor to bring his eyes level with hers.

[Black] "Princess."

[Liene] "Yes?"

[Black] "Does this mean you’ve finished the reflections you had when we left Nauk?"

[Liene] "Ah......"

When she had agreed to go to the Kingdom of Sharka, Liene had said she had things to consider.

—I want to see from outside Nauk whether I genuinely want to wear this crown, whether I am ready, and whether I am a person worthy of it.

[Liene] "......To be honest, I’m still not sure. Whether I’m ready or not. A part of me still feels like the King of Nauk should be you. My crown was given to me without me having earned it."

[Black] "You are the one who has worn that crown and protected Nauk all this time."

[Liene] "Only because I felt it was my duty. But now......"

[Black] "But now?"

[Liene] "Now, I don't think any of that matters anymore. What does any of that matter when the water is returning to Nauk?"

He let out a strange sigh that sounded like a chuckle.

[Black] "I think that is exactly what makes you worthy."

[Liene] "If there is one thing I’ve done right as the ruler of Nauk, it was accepting your proposal. That’s why you returned, and why the water is coming back."

[Black] "Yes. That is precisely what I think."

She might not be thinking it logically, but she likely felt it instinctively. The right to wear a crown wasn't something that appeared simply by inheriting royal blood. Both the King of Sharka and Blini were individuals who didn't exactly seem suited to a crown. Having seen such people with her own eyes, she must have concluded.

She lifted the ring.

[Liene] "But this is the Gainers family ring. Shouldn't you be the one holding onto it?"

[Black] "Which is why it belongs to you."

[Liene] "......Is everything of yours mine? That shouldn't be the case."

[Black] "Why not?"

[Liene] "Because I feel like I'm becoming greedy. I took your houses, yet I don't feel sorry at all; I’m just happy. It means you have nowhere else to go but Nauk. In that sense, if you were to give me anything else, I’d want to take that, too."

Black stood up. Turning Liene, who was sitting on the railing, toward him, he gave a gentle tug on the sash of her robe.

[Black] "That also means I will never leave you...... does that not frighten you?"

[Liene] "Why would that be scary? Isn't the opposite far more terrifying?"

[Black] "If you take everything of mine, I will have nothing left to lose. Except for you."

He believed Liene understood exactly what that meant.

[Liene] "That is precisely what I want."

Since she had given him the very answer he wanted to hear.

[Black] "Then take it all."

[Liene] "No taking it back later."

[Black] "The same goes for you."

The two of them pulled each other into an embrace simultaneously. Their lips, cool from the dawn air, were sweet. As they lost themselves in the kiss, their robes began to loosen.

[Black] "I'd like to sleep a bit more...... and you?"

[Liene] "Me too."

[Black] "Then let’s go inside."

Black swept her up and left the balcony.

Though they lay down in bed together, the idea of "sleeping" turned out to be a lie.

The two discarded robes fell to the floor, and the bedroom was filled with the sound of heated breath.

---

They were eventually eating a very late breakfast that had been brought to the bedroom.

[Liene] "......the Princess Consort?"

[Randall] "Yes, Your Highness."

Randall had brought a message from Blini. She said she had something to tell Liene.

[Liene] "Hmm......"

[Randall] "In my personal opinion, I don't think you need to bother listening to her. It’ll just be nonsense anyway. It would be a waste of a walk to head down there."

Randall shook his head vigorously.

[Liene] "And you?"

Black, who had leaned over to take a bite of the bread Liene was holding, answered after a moment.

[Black] "......It likely isn't anything important. If you don't want to face her, just ignore it."

[Liene] "I’m more concerned about why you’re eating the bread in my hand instead of your own. But I think I’ll meet her."

[Black] "Doing it this way makes it feel like you’re feeding me. Do you really have to meet her?"

[Liene] "You could just ask me to feed you. And, yes. I am curious to hear what she has to say."

[Black] "I wanted you to do it before I had to ask. Fine, then we’ll go after we finish eating. I’m coming with you."

[Liene] "Sometimes I don't understand what you want from me. But since you want it, I’ll do it. What else do you want to eat besides bread?"

[Black] "I’d like some grapes."

[Liene] "Here."

Black took the grapes she held to his mouth, his lips brushing her fingers as he did.

Randall awkwardly scratched his cheek.

[Randall] "Maybe she should just see this. Then she’d probably stop bothering us with her 'talk'."

[Black] "......I'm starting to wonder why you’re still standing there."

Black spoke after a brief pause to chew his grapes, causing Randall to quickly straighten his back.

[Randall] "I shall take my leave immediately. Please, enjoy your meal in peace."

Once he left, the distance between them closed even further.

Liene smiled as she watched Black pull her chair closer to his.

[Liene] "What will it be this time?"

[Black] "Grapes."

[Liene] "Be honest. You’re doing this on purpose. Just so you can bite my fingers again."

[Black] "I wasn't biting them."

It felt less like a bite and more like being devoured.

[Liene] "If you’re going to take it from my hand, it doesn't have to be grapes."

[Liene] "How about this?"

She playfully picked up a piece of roasted pork slathered in thick cinnamon cream.

[Liene] "Are you still going to eat it?"

[Black] "Give it to me."

As Black took a bite of the pork, the cream slid off and ran down her wrist. His lips immediately followed the trail of the cream.

[Liene] "Ah...... you’re too much."

She smeared some of the cream from her fingers onto his cheek.

[Liene] "You should try it, too. When cream gets on me, I feel like I've become a food."

He offered his cheek to her.

[Black] "Eat me, then."

[Liene] "Honestly......"

With a wry smile, Liene licked the cream off his cheek. It wasn't necessarily more delicious, yet in a way, it undeniably was. It was incomprehensible, yet not entirely beyond understanding.

Engrossed in their playful banter, breakfast took a considerable amount of time.

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