A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 132

※Once It Begins to Flow (2)※

[Liene] "It’s here."

[Black] "Watch your step."

She smiled at him, who had stepped down first to light the path exactly where she needed to step.

No matter the result, she was no longer afraid. If this failed, she would find another path with him by her side.

Thump-thump.

Her heart raced with every step. She gripped his hand firmly as they descended into the depths.

[Liene] "Please..."

Madam Flambard’s desperate prayers could be heard echoing from far above. She likely wouldn't stop praying until they returned.

---

A week had passed since the discovery of the secret door. Sharka had surrendered the following day, and Black had returned to the castle the day after that.

Since they had entered the secret passage together that night and activated the mechanism, five days had passed.

The machinery hidden behind the nine waterfalls was unimaginably massive and sophisticated. According to Fermos, he had nearly fainted several times from sheer excitement in that airless chamber.

Descending the stairs led to a circular dais constructed like a well. Unlike a well, however, the center was hollow. When the handle in the center was turned until it locked with a heavy clack, the entire dais would descend deep into the earth.

Simultaneously, a door previously hidden by the dais was revealed. Beyond that door lay a familiar path: the secret passage that connected to the fireplace.

The reason for the separate entrance and exit was clear—this was a system for managing water. If something went wrong with it, a single path would leave them with no way to repair it.

Throughout the exploration, Fermos had been in a state of constant euphoria, marveling at the extraordinary intellect of the Gainers bloodline.

Regardless, the machine had been set in motion. They had done everything they could. Now, there was nothing left but to wait.

[Liene] "Wait, wait a moment. Do you hear that?"

She had said the same thing every chance she got for the past five days. She would press her ear against a wall or the floor at a moment’s notice, claiming she could hear the sound of flowing water.

Black found her behavior both adorable and heart-wrenching.

[Black] "If it makes a sound, we will surely see it as well. Stop that and come to bed."

[Liene] "I suppose you’re right, but..."

She reluctantly pulled her ear away from the floorboards in front of the fireplace and walked toward the bed. The way her lips twitched in a small pout was utterly endearing. Unable to resist, Black pulled her by the arm and kissed her.

[Liene] "Mm... wait. I know you’re trying to comfort me because I’m disappointed, but could we wait just a little longer?"

He brushed the hair back from her forehead and met her eyes.

[Black] "It was actually the opposite."

[Liene] "What was?"

[Black] "I wasn't trying to comfort the Princess; I was trying to comfort myself. Lately, you’ve given me no attention at all."

[Liene] "Oh... goodness. No, that’s not true."

[Black] "It has been true for five days. Do you even know how long it’s been since we last kissed?"

[Liene] "Well... haven't we done it every time?"

[Black] "The ones I initiate don't count, as the Princess has yet to return them."

[Liene] "That’s strange. That can't be right..."

She tried to signal her disbelief, but he wasn't having any of it. Finally, she snuggled into his arms and sat across his lap.

[Liene] "It’s just... I’m worried. I keep wondering if I did something wrong. If I didn't, there’s no reason the water wouldn't have returned by now."

[Black] "There was nothing you could have done wrong in the first place."

[Liene] "I suppose, but..."

The mechanism was simple. Once you opened the door and entered, all there was to do was turn the handle. Fermos had speculated that there were likely many more unseen components designed to calculate the drop and regulate the flow automatically.

That was five days ago. For five days, her heart had been beating so wildly it felt painful.

[Liene] "It’s been so long... could the machinery be broken?"

[Black] "Fermos is doing his best to investigate that, isn't he?"

[Liene] "He is..."

[Black] "If he doesn't know, no one here does."

[Liene] "That is also true."

She sighed and toyed with the fabric of Black’s clothes.

[Liene] "Even if the water doesn't return, it isn't as if we are without options. Since we’ve expanded the border, we could build a new castle there and migrate everyone."

[Black] "……I suppose we could."

It would be a monumental task, but she felt as though Black would handle it as if it were nothing.

Liene wrapped her arms around his neck. As she rested her chin on his shoulder, Black slowly stroked her back.

[Liene] "I know. I know you’re right. We won't have to suffer as we did before, and we aren't destitute anymore. Still..."

[Black] "I understand your regret. But please, don't let it break your heart. You look as though you’ve lost weight in your face."

[Liene] "I have lost my appetite lately. My digestion feels a bit off as well."

[Black] "It’s because you’re overthinking. When you suffer, I suffer too."

His hand, continuing to stroke her back, was undeniably tender.

She nodded, her arms still locked around his neck.

[Liene] "You’re right. I wasn't thinking. If I’m like this, it must be hard on you too."

[Black] "If you know that, then try to cheer up a little."

[Liene] "I’ll try."

As she lifted her head slightly to nuzzle his cheek, he took her chin and pressed his lips to hers.

[Black] "You look exhausted, so I won't ask you to entertain me. Let’s just sleep."

She laughed, nibbling slightly at his lips.

[Liene] "Mm... that sounds more like a temptation than a rejection."

[Black] "It isn't. I genuinely mean it when I say you look thin."

[Liene] "Ah... really? Am I unpleasant to look at?"

[Black] "Impossible."

Black lifted her and laid her down on the bed. His hands were nothing but gentle as he smoothed her hair away from her face.

[Black] "I am worried about you. I fear you might fall ill."

[Liene] "......"

I’ve spent all my time complaining about whether the machine is broken, while he has spent all his time worrying about me.

She reached her arms out toward him.

[Liene] "Hold me."

[Black] "I am."

He moved into her open arms and patted her back affectionately.

[Liene] "……Not like this."

She leaned forward and bit his earlobe.

[Liene] "Hold me differently."

She felt the muscles in his shoulders twitch beneath his robe.

[Black] "……I cannot."

[Liene] "Why?"

[Black] "As I said, the Princess isn't in the best of states right now."

[Liene] "Nothing hurts, though."

[Black] "It will. Just go to sleep."

[Liene] "How do you know it will hurt?"

[Black] "I know better than you do."

[Liene] "Why?"

[Black] "Because you are indifferent to your own well-being, whereas I am hyper-aware of it."

[Liene] "That doesn't make you a prophet. Don't you think this isn't the time for such caution?"

Liene lowered her hand. Black’s robe was held by a single sash. She toyed with the knot, her eyes curved in a subtle smile.

[Liene] "I promise you, I’m not sick."

[Black] "Princess……"

He placed his hand over hers as she tried to pull the sash.

[Black] "……I am a man who believes that even if I fall ill, as long as I recover, it’s fine."

[Liene] "Well... that’s true."

[Black] "Whether a sickness is grand or minor, as long as it doesn't kill me, it’s all the same."

[Liene] "When you put it that way, it sounds a bit different from what I was thinking..."

[Black] "But I want you to be the exception. So, do not do anything so dangerous."

He finally pulled her hand away from the sash.

[Black] "Close your eyes now."

[Liene] "……You’re mean."

Liene grumbled softly and flopped onto her stomach.

Black stared at the back of her head with a look that suggested he found her almost too adorable to bear. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder.

[Black] "I will wait for you to be better when the sun rises."

[Liene] "You’re being far too dramatic about my health."

[Black] "Get used to it. I’ll be this way for the rest of our lives."

[Liene] "Sometimes you’re worse than Madam Flambard."

As she spoke, she suddenly flipped over. Their eyes met, and before he could move, she bit his lower lip.

[Black] "……Ha."

He let out a low sigh. She smirked and pulled him down by his neck.

[Black] "The Princess knows nothing."

[Liene] "I know what I know."

[Black] "……Then I shall pretend I don't know any better either."

Black opened his mouth and began a kiss that felt as though he might devour her.

Her breath hitched instantly. She felt the sensation of his hair tickling between her fingers. Every sound that escaped her lips felt strangely sensual.

Taking a brief moment when their lips parted, she whispered.

[Liene] "Wait... the lights... we should turn them off..."

[Black] "I know nothing of lights."

[Liene] "What do you mean...?"

[Black] "Focus on me. Nowhere else."

[Liene] "......"

How can he not know how to turn off a light?

But the kiss was becoming so sweet that everything else seemed to fade into insignificance.

Her hair, which had been covering her neck, became a tangled mess. Black brushed it aside and pressed his lips to her throat.

Tug.

The sash of her robe loosened on its own from the friction, without her even pulling it. It was at that exact moment—

Bang! Bang!

A heavy knocking shook the room, jolting the two of them out of their daze.

[Randall] "My Lord! Your Highness!"

[Liene] "……?"

It was Randall. It was almost unheard of for Randall to come running to their bedroom at this hour. But the sheer excitement in his voice was too great to ignore.

[Randall] "Forgive the intrusion, but you must wake up! The water... the water is flowing!"

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