A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 13

※Dangerous Encounter (4)※

She couldn't believe it.

[Liene] “Laffit!”

Her former lover spat out the same nonsense as his uncle, right in front of her eyes, which were trembling with shock.

[Laffit] “I will spend the rest of my life thanking God for this day, where I can have the beautiful Princess as my wife. I hope the Princess will also accept and be happy with me as your husband.”

[Liene] “Our relationship is over! Our relationship will never return! Forcing a marriage won't change a thing!”

[Laffit] “Nonsense.”

He said with bloodshot eyes.

[Laffit] “Everything will change... How could it be the same? You will be my wife.”

[Liene] “......”

[Laffit] “If this marriage is the only way to have you, I will do it.”

He looked like a blind man, only seeing one thing. He was no longer the lover she knew.

He, who had rendered her speechless, asked his uncle.

[Laffit] “Where is the ceremony venue?”

[Lyndon] “No need to go anywhere. Wherever the Cardinal is, the ceremony can be performed.”

[Laffit] “Then, we will do it here. Right now.”

[Lyndon] “Good idea.”

[Liene] “Who agrees! I would never agree...... Mph,”

Her mouth, about to utter words of defiance, was covered by his hand.

[Laffit] “I will speak the wedding vows on the Princess' behalf.”

[Liene] “No, Mph, way!”

She grabbed his arm and struggled.

[Laffit] “Be still. Just for a moment.”

While he restrained her, the Cardinal stepped forward.

She felt her breath hitch when the Cardinal pulled out a laurel branch for the blessing from the long sleeve of his robe.

[Liene] “......!”

The more she struggled, the harder he held her.

She, who was dragged and hugged in front of the laurel branch, squeezed her eyes shut and bit the palm of his hand covering her mouth.

[Laffit] “Ugh...”

He winced. But even though blood flowed from the skin of his palm, he did not release her.

Please, let go.

She couldn't do anything on her own strength. A painful sense of frustration pressed down on her shoulders.

Please.

Even though she bit with a force that could crush her own jaw, only blood flowed from his tough skin.

Her stomach churned at the salty and metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth.

As she lowered her head to swallow the nausea, the Cardinal raised the laurel branch and touched its tip to her head.

At that moment, she felt her body was being skewered like meat on a stick.

[Millord] “Oh, Creator God, Root of the Earth, Tear of the Ocean, Lahorevenus Attika, today a pair of lovers created from Your soil wish to bind their promise before the altar in Your name...”

That was the moment the Cardinal’s long-winded marriage blessing began.

BAM!

The tightly closed door shook loudly. It was a sound loud enough to halt all their forced actions.

Lyndon, who regained his senses a moment later, said to the Cardinal.

[Lyndon] “Continue!”

The Cardinal was startled and tried to retrieve the laurel branch that had fallen to the floor.

But Liene was faster. She quickly snatched the laurel branch from the floor, clutching it tightly until her knuckles ached, and would not let go.

[Laffit] “Give it to me.”

He released her mouth and tried to snatch the laurel branch.

BAM!

A louder noise than before echoed—a volume impossible to ignore.

[Lyndon] “Damn it! What in the world is that! Go quickly and see!”

Lyndon snapped at a guard.

Two guards rushed towards the window. However, that action proved unnecessary.

Before they could look outside, this time, the main door of the mansion shook violently.

BAM, BAM!

The knocking didn't stop after just one hit.

A moment later, the source of the loud noise was revealed.

BAM! CRACK!

A portion of the large and sturdy door was ripped away, and a large, sharp battle axe was firmly lodged in the resulting split gap.

[Lyndon] “Wha... What the...”

CRACKKK!

The battle axe was pulled out, revealing a large enough crack for words to be clearly heard.

[Black] “Open the door.”

She unknowingly opened her eyes wide.

There was only one person with a voice so low and deep.

How could... it be him?

Black was right behind the door. Although he wasn't visible yet, he was within such proximity.

[Liene] “Lord Tiwakan!”

She called out to him. Laffit tried to cover her mouth again, but it was too late.

[Black] “Are you alright?”

[Liene] “Mph, umm......”

Her mouth was covered, so that she couldn't answer.

However, this situation didn't feel as difficult as before for her. She could see the panic in the eyes of the Kleinfelters and the Cardinal.

[Fermos] “It seems they don’t want to open it, my Lord. We'll have to break it down.”

Following his cheerful voice, the large axe blade plunged back in with a deafening noise.

BLAM! BAM!

The sturdy and magnificent door was about to be split in two.

The problem was what came after the door was destroyed.

If the door were destroyed, the only thing that could stop Tiwakan would be human bodies.

[Lyndon] “Damn it!”

Lyndon cursed under his breath.

[Laffit] “We must open the door.”

Laffit protested.

[Laffit] “Uncle!”

[Lyndon] “There is no choice. Do you want to welcome them as enemies, instead of guests?”

The forced marriage had already been washed away.

A forced marriage was only possible when all witnesses were on their side.

When an enemy was swinging a battle axe from behind the door, the situation was clearly different.

[Lyndon] “You go and hide. There is no benefit in showing your face to them.”

[Laffit] “I can’t! I...”

[Lyndon] “This is no time to argue. You all, take the eldest son away.”

He ordered his private soldiers to forcibly drag Laffit away, then he turned to her and spoke quickly.

[Lyndon] “Although you are cheap, you are not stupid, so you know what situation this is. Whether Nauk turns into a battlefield or remains peaceful, it depends on your tongue.”

It was a shamelessly barefaced threat. However, he looked confident because he knew the reason she had come here secretly, accompanied only by Weroz.

[Lyndon] “So, do as you wish.”

He snapped his fingers, signaling a guard.

The guard waiting at the door avoided the axe and unbolted the bar.

[Fermos] “Oh? It seems they don’t want to fight, huh?”

Amidst the noise, Fermos chuckled, as if he had heard the bar being opened.

[Fermos] “Hey, put the axe down. We don't need to break it down anymore.”

BAM!

Then, a merciless kick slammed into the front door of the Kleinfelter mansion.

CREAK, THUD!

The damaged door was pushed open, and he stepped inside.

...What should I do?

Somehow, she felt like crying.

If she cried, it would look like she was crying with happiness to see him.

...But she couldn't say she wasn't happy either. She felt an absurd sense of relief upon seeing his face.

[Lyndon] “What business do you have coming to my house?”

Lyndon asked without shame.

[Lyndon] “You even damaged the door. What an uncivilized and barbaric act. This is the act of a wild dog, not a human.”

His words were nothing short of an insult.

[Liene] “Sir Kleinfelter,”

Before she could point out his disrespect, he spoke first.

[Black] “What about you?”

[Lyndon] “...What?”

Lyndon’s face changed color at the sudden, casual address thrown at him.

[Black] “Not a rat, but what were you doing, hiding in a rat hole?”

[Lyndon] “Why would a barbarian interfere with what I do in my own house.......”

[Black] “House or rat hole.”

Tap.

He stepped forward.

Lyndon’s expression changed drastically. Perhaps because of Black’s head taller stature, he looked threatening to Lyndon just by walking.

[Black] “Don’t shut the door. Especially when my fiancée is inside.”

[Lyndon] “Wha... What the.......”

Black stepped closer.

Lyndon, pitifully, tried to stand his ground without backing up, but ended up in an awkward position where only his upper body was tilted backward. It looked like he would fall right on his rear if someone touched his ankle.

[Black] “Are you hurt?”

He suddenly turned his head and asked her.

[Liene] “No. I... I was only delivering condolences. I wasn't hurt.”

[Black] “Your words need to be proven.”

Tap!

He stepped forward, the last step remaining before Lyndon.

[Lyndon] “Ugh.”

THUD!

Lyndon, whose upper and lower body balance was disrupted, finally stumbled backward and fell to the floor.

[Lyndon] “Good heavens!”

[Guard] “My Lord!”

The guards behind him rushed forward but dared not help him up to his feet. Black was standing too close.

Black stood over the fallen Lyndon, looking like a human pondering whether to step on the ant beneath his foot or let it pass.

[Black] “Don't forget.”

The command—not to close the door—meant that there should be no resistance whatsoever.

Black, who had unforgettably delivered the warning, quickly turned around.

He faced Liene.

[Black] “I came to fetch you.”

[Liene] “...Yes.”

That reason was enough for him to visit the Kleinfelter Mansion.

[Black] “Can we return now?”

[Liene] “Yes.”

She walked forward to him on her own feet. Black quietly grasped the hand she offered.

[Liene] “Let's go back.”

She hoped everything would end at this mansion.

Although she trembled at the Kleinfelters' cruelty, unfortunately, she could do nothing but cover it up.

If it were revealed that Laffit was hiding in this mansion, unwilling to release her, attempting assassination, and trying to force a marriage, a war would begin right this instant.

Nauk would be split in two, and they would kill and be killed by each other. War was the one thing she had to avoid above all else.

[Liene] “My business here is finished. There’s no need to linger any longer.”

However, as always, they knew more than she thought.

[Fermos] “So quickly?”

He chuckled and adjusted his monocle.

[Fermos] “Is there any reason to return immediately after business is concluded? The Kleinfelter Family... Wait a moment. I understand they are the wealthiest family in Nauk. Since we are already at this mansion, let's have some tea.”

[Fermos] “Our Lord, who will soon be the co-ruler of Nauk, has personally visited, so the host must show proper courtesy. If he lets us leave just like that, doesn't that mean there's a serious problem with the host’s head?”

Lyndon, who was suddenly deemed to have a problem with his head, flushed with anger.

Just as Lyndon was about to open his mouth, Fermos quickly cut him off.

[Fermos] “And as luck would have it. That old man, judging by his attire, seems to be the Cardinal in Nauk. Since we’ve met, let's discuss the procedures for the upcoming royal wedding. What do you think, My Lord?”

A Cardinal should not leave the temple without reason.

Fermos, who recognized the Cardinal's identity, might have been trying to find out why he was at the Kleinfelter mansion at this time rather than at the temple.

[Liene] “Can the wedding discussion be held later?”

She placed her hand on the back of Black’s hand.

Black’s eyes, which had been facing Fermos, turned towards her. She looked up at him. She forced an expression that looked quite desperate.

[Liene] “I want to return now. I'm tired.”

Before you uncover things that should not be revealed.

She leaned her body against his chest with a desperate look. She could feel his muscular chest twitch and become even firmer.

[Liene] “With you.”

Before you tear Nauk apart.

If she could prevent that war, she was willing to hug him and even do something more daring.

[Black] “......”

His low breath touched her forehead.

She couldn't believe it, but she felt stable leaning on him.

His chest, so strong that it would have no difficulty bearing her weight, felt like the castle walls of Nauk. She felt comfortable and protected.

He looked down at her and muttered softly, as if whispering.

[Black] “It’s strange.”

[Liene] “What.......”

[Black] “I know you’re hiding something, but I don’t feel like questioning it right now.”

[Liene] “…….”

Yes, of course, he would know. She didn’t think the situation could be explained merely by saying she had come to deliver condolences.

That’s why this moment felt strange to her. The fact that the man who didn't trust her felt so reassuring.

[Black] “Since you wish it, we will return.”

He put his arm around her waist. His embrace was more like a supportive gesture than a hug.

But she was the only person he allowed to escape the demand for an explanation.

[Black] “You stay here and get the treatment I should have received. Conclude the business with the Cardinal as well.”

[Fermos] “Of course, My Lord. I won’t disappoint you.”

The personnel quickly split up.

Those who would escort him back to the castle and those who would remain at the Kleinfelter Residence with Fermos took their respective positions.

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