A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 131

※Once It Begins to Flow (1)※

[Liene] "My goodness... an actual key existed. It was genuine."

She rubbed her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Madam Flambard, too, stood with her mouth agape.

[Flambard] "What do we do now? This is... to think this small piece of iron holds the power over the water..."

The word 'power' felt fitting. Though the piece of metal resting in her palm was light, it carried an immense weight.

[Liene] "Now we must find the keyhole that matches it."

They had found the key, but they were not yet at the end of their journey.

[Liene] "It’s late, but shall we look for it now?"

Both Klima and Madam Flambard agreed.

[Flambard] "Naturally. I don’t think I could sleep even if I tried."

[Klima] "M-me too... Ah, I’ll go call my mother as well. I’m sure she’ll be more than willing to help."

The King’s Gallery held the entrance that led directly into the labyrinth.

[Liene] "It’s a bit strange. This room is far too small to be called a proper room, and its purpose is unclear. It must have been built for a specific reason."

Since it was the greatest secret of the Gainers royal family, it was only natural for it to be located near the King’s bedroom. Like a secret passed down only by word of mouth, it was designed so that no one but the King could even approach it.

[Henton] "Is it right for us to touch such things? They belong to a specific master."

Madam Henton, though joyful at the prospect of returning the water, expressed a calm concern.

[Flambard] "It is a Gainers heirloom, so it is only right that a Gainers handles it."

[Liene] "Madam Henton has a point."

Liene felt a similar hesitation. However, she knew Black would feel differently. He had already renounced the absolute power that the Gainers had monopolized. He was the one who argued that such a monopoly of power was the root of all the tragedy that had occurred.

[Liene] "Water is a necessity for everyone. It isn't something one person should possess. Those were Lord Tiwakan’s—Prince Fernand’s—words."

Liene gently stroked the now-complete key.

If I were him, would I have thought the same?

...Yes, I would have.

She had never felt more certain that Black’s decision was right. The water needed to return as soon as possible.

[Liene] "So, he will be happy even if we were the ones to find it."

Madam Flambard nodded.

[Flambard] "Let’s just find it. Now that I know what’s at stake, I cannot wait another moment."

Liene made the final call.

[Liene] "Let’s do it. We shall send word to Lord Tiwakan not when we are looking for it, but when we have found it."

[Klima] "What should we be looking for exactly?"

She held up the key for everyone to see.

[Liene] "A hole or a lock that this key can fit into."

Klima was already moving. Determined to scour every inch of the relatively small space, he stood on his tiptoes and pressed his eyes close to the wall.

The others followed suit. They climbed onto chairs to inspect high corners and crouched on the floor to check spots lower than their knees.

Eventually, their necks ached, and their shoulders grew stiff, but their fervor was so great they didn't even notice the fatigue.

---

Midnight had long since passed. By unanimous agreement, they needed more hands, so Weroz joined the search.

Everyone was growing weary. Madam Flambard rolled up her sleeves, complaining of the sweat. Klima, who had inspected the interior of the fireplace several times, had a face covered in soot.

[Klima] "It’s strange... Could this not be the place?"

[Flambard] "Goodness... If scouring this tiny room is this exhausting, are you saying we have to search the entire castle?"

[Liene] "If it isn't this room, then where could it be? I was certain it was here."

She sat on the floor, staring at the empty walls. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

[Liene] "Ah, wait... You said this room was called the King’s Gallery, right?"

[Flambard] "That is correct."

[Liene] "That means this room used to be filled with paintings."

[Flambard] "It used to... why, certainly it did. I remember now. But what do the paintings have to do with it?"

[Liene] "If the keyhole is on the wall, it would have been hidden by a painting, wouldn't it?"

If the reason for creating a room called a 'gallery' and filling it with paintings was to hide a secret hole, it all made sense.

Liene stood up abruptly and faced the wall opposite the circular fireplace where the secret passage was hidden.

[Liene] "If my memory serves me, the largest painting hung right here."

Madam Flambard, who had hurriedly followed Liene, nodded.

[Flambard] "Indeed. Yes, you’re right. I used to dust the top of that frame. It was taller than me, so I had to use a footstool."

Liene stood before the wall and spread her arms.

[Liene] "Was the painting about this size?"

[Flambard] "It might have been even larger. Certainly not smaller."

[Liene] "Then the painting must have been as large as a door. Big enough for an adult man to pass through."

[Flambard] "Ah...?"

Liene began to feel along the wall. Realizing her intent, Klima quickly stepped up beside her and did the same.

[Klima] "H-here...! Your Highness!"

The wall revealed after the paintings were removed was unsightly. The marks from the frames were so vivid that the wall required a fresh coat of paint.

The paintings had disappeared from this room when Liene was very young, while her father was still alive. At that time, it wouldn't have been because of a lack of funds. Most likely, they were paintings related to the Gainers line that had to be cleared away.

They had then meticulously erased the traces left on the wall as if the paintings had never existed. Consequently, the place where the key was meant to go had also become invisible.

[Klima] "Right here!"

In his excitement, Klima grabbed Liene’s hand and pressed it to the spot he had just pointed out. She could feel it too. A faint click resonated in her ears.

[Liene] "The brick... it’s moving, isn't it?"

[Klima] "Yes, yes!"

Using his fingertips, he manipulated the edges of the bricks he had just pressed. As the dried paint flaked away, one end of the brick recessed. When he pushed with all his might, the brick rotated halfway, revealing a hidden keyhole within.

[Klima] "This was the place!"

[Flambard] "My goodness! Your Highness!"

Madam Flambard let out a cry, Madam Henton covered her mouth, and Weroz stood frozen and pale, unable to speak.

[Liene] "I’m opening it."

She was also so overcome with tremors that she could barely speak. With shaking hands, she inserted the key into the hole. Applying pressure, she turned it.

With a click, the key rotated.

[Liene] "Oh my... My goodness!"

The key was not merely a key. As if it were a component of a larger mechanism, a portion of the wall that the painting had hidden slid open smoothly.

[Flambard] "Heavenly heavens, Your Highness..."

She grabbed Liene’s hand. The older woman’s hand was also shaking violently.

Beyond the wall lay a long stretch of stairs. Though there were no signs, they all felt they knew exactly where it led.

---

King Sharka was more persistent than expected and stupider than anticipated. He had sent men claiming he would rescue the captive Princess Consort. While doing so, he attempted to distract Tiwakan by picking a fight with a small portion of his troops.

Fermos, who saw right through the enemy’s movements, actually sighed. By splitting his already insufficient forces in two, the King was essentially offering his army up for a piecemeal defeat. Fermos obliged him. The battle didn't even take half a day, and the Sharka army completely lost its will to fight.

In retaliation for the ambush, Tiwakan cut off a long lock of Blini’s hair and sent it to the Sharka army. They made it clear that by not drawing blood, they were showing respect to the Grand Duke of Alito.

The following day, the man acting as the commander of the Sharka forces approached with his helmet off, carrying a scroll instead of a sword. That scroll was the peace treaty and the list of terms drafted by Fermos. The only difference was that it now bore King Sharka’s signature and seal.

By that evening, the border was clear. The Sharka army gathered their remaining men and retreated, agreeing to pay the massive war reparations demanded by Tiwakan over the next ten years.

Furthermore, the border changed. The boundary was pushed back all the way to Yadion Bay. The task of organizing the new border fell to the Tiwakan, but Sharka had to foot the bill. The King’s personal wealth likely shriveled significantly from this affair.

Having settled the border, Tiwakan marched back to the castle. It was around noon, and the day was slightly cool, but the sun was bright.

[Black] "Why did you do this?"

Black’s lips twitched. Because both he and his horse were so large, his expressions were usually hidden from the people.

[Fermos] "We must announce a victory. Everyone was likely worried."

He was referring to the reception from the people that began as soon as the castle came into view. The news that the border had been settled spread through Nauk faster than a bird.

The people of Nauk, who had been unsettled by rumors of war with Sharka, flocked out in excitement. They genuinely welcomed Tiwakan, who had ended the war before most even knew it had started.

Black felt out of place in Nauk, where people were waving their hands until they were sore and shouting Tiwakan's name at the top of their lungs.

[Black] "Did you not anticipate this?"

[Fermos] "I didn't expect them to be this delighted. It seems the fear associated with the name Tiwakan has vanished."

[Black] "It will remain for those who remember the dead."

[Fermos] "Well, that’s..."

Black didn't look around and rode forward. Fermos scratched his head awkwardly and slowed his pace to follow him.

[Fermos] "Still, change is inevitable. Everyone must feel they can breathe again just by the fact that the tyranny of the six houses has disappeared. There’s no way they don't know that."

[Black] "......If that is the case."

[Fermos] "And above all, they can see how much the Princess has changed."

Everyone could see the shadow had vanished from the face of the kind and beautiful Princess they loved so much.

[Fermos] "Is change not like a river? Once it begins, it is bound to become uncontrollable. And Nauk..."

He paused and looked back toward the Erendira Mountains, which looked distant like a land of myths from here.

[Fermos] "It is a place with an immense water source. When the river flows, it won't just be a trickle; it will rush forth with such force that nothing can stop it."

[Black] "Perhaps. ......Wait."

[Fermos] "Pardon?"

Suddenly, Black’s horse lunged forward. Fermos craned his neck, wondering what was happening, but soon broke into a helpless smile.

Randall, approaching from behind, asked.

[Randall] "Is something wrong? Should I follow him?"

[Fermos] "No need."

[Randall] "The people look a bit startled."

[Fermos] "They’ll get over it."

[Randall] "Aren't you being too calm? What if it's the remnants of the Kleinfelters...? Ah, I see."

He also realized why Black had suddenly dashed ahead.

[Randall] "The Princess has come out to greet him."

[Fermos] "There’s no other reason he would ride like a madman."

[Randall] "Ah... I suppose so."

Regardless, Tiwakan’s safe return was proof of victory, and that was reason enough to cheer. Nauk remained boisterous until every member of Tiwakan had entered the castle.

At the height of the cheers, Ternan Kleinfelter took his own life within the dungeon of Nauk Castle. Coincidentally, it was at the same hour that Queen Dileras authorized the hanging execution of Laffit Kleinfelter.

Prev

Chapters

Next