A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 22

※Requiem (2)※

The wind blew. As he stood precariously on the windowsill, even a gust of wind felt like a terrifying threat.

However, a whisper far more dangerous mingled with the wind.

She was speaking.

[Liene] "—Let's go somewhere else."

Laffit couldn't observe what was happening inside the room. Instead, he strained his ears and listened to her voice.

[Liene] "—Move to the room next door."

Those were words meant for him (Laffit), not for the savage:

I will risk my life to bring this man to the next room, so run away safely.

At that moment, he knew his love was not over. She had merely succumbed to the threat of force.

The noble Daughter of Arsak, thanks to her lofty moral conscience, could not admit her love for another man while she was engaged—even if that engagement was practically an act of plunder.

Therefore, he had to reclaim her.

[Lyndon] "You're blind. Worse than before."

He said to his nephew. Laffit shook his head as he faced his uncle.

[Laffit] "Not blind, Uncle. I have only just opened my eyes."

Previously, he hadn't known. He thought she didn't love him deeply enough because, in the end, she didn't allow him to sleep together. He had always believed he loved her more.

Now he knew. He would never doubt again.

[Laffit] "You must also remember this well. Under no circumstances should you ever touch the Princess directly."

[Lyndon] "What did you say?"

[Laffit] "One who does so will never obtain the right to rule Nauk."

Lyndon twitched his lips.

[Lyndon] "In a situation like this, you dare to speak that way. What if the Princess truly marries the savage? Won't all our family's efforts be for naught, ending in total failure?"

[Laffit] "I won't let that happen."

He displayed fierce determination.

[Laffit] "I will definitely reclaim her before the marriage takes place."

[Lyndon] "..."

He merely clicked his tongue, saying nothing more.

But it didn't matter to Laffit. The words of others were completely unimportant.

Her wedding was barely ten days away. He had to find a way before then.

---

[Black] "Why is your hand injured?"

The journey back from the Temple to the Castle was similar to the journey there, except that Liene looked gloomy and dispirited the entire way.

People they passed on the road looked confused, unable to understand why she was riding a horse toward the castle while the funeral was taking place.

Of course, she couldn't tell them she had been defeated by Lyndon's cunning antics.

[Liene] "...Huh? Oh, it's nothing. I was briefly distracted while holding scissors."

She, engrossed in thought, answered a second too late.

His gaze was fixed on the wound beneath her nail.

She, who had forgotten about the injury until he mentioned it, felt embarrassed and withdrew her hand.

[Liene] "It's fine now."

He must have extremely keen observation to notice a wound that had already been treated with hemostatic powder and forgotten by her.

[Black] "We'll have to replace the scissors."

She unconsciously smiled faintly at his comment.

As if there was time to replace nail scissors. It would be much faster if she asked Madam Flambard to slightly dull the blades.

[Liene] "It was a minor incident, you don't need to trouble yourself. I just need to be more careful."

She pulled back the hand he had been holding. It was intensely difficult to maintain her guard when their skin touched.

[Liene] "Well then, I'll take my leave. Thank you for escorting me on horse."

She walked toward the castle, trying to avoid eye contact. But he was quicker.

She was certain she had started walking with him behind her, yet strangely, the man was now right in front of her eyes.

[Liene] "...?"

It seemed that when he decided to move quickly, he became more agile than anyone else.

[Liene] "Is there something you wanted to say?"

[Black] "Yes."

[Liene] "Say it."

His pale blue eyes pressed closer as he spoke.

[Black] "Is not attending the funeral a major problem?"

[Liene] "...Perhaps."

She didn't realize her face showed distress, but he didn't miss it.

[Liene] "Since this has never happened, I don't know exactly what the consequences will be. But it definitely won't be good. Lyndon..."

She hesitated for a moment. She was unsure if it was appropriate to speak to an outsider about the people of Nauk as if they were her enemies.

[Liene] "...He's not the type to easily forget what he couldn't possess."

[Black] "In that case, I will settle the matter of the funeral."

[Liene] "What?"

Her green eyes widened as if making a sound.

How? ...No, why?

[Black] "One of two things must be changed: the date, or the location."

[Liene] "That's true, but... Wait, if Tiwakan intervenes..."

That would imply a violent act. In the current situation, that was certainly not a good option.

He noticed her concern.

[Black] "I didn't say I'd settle it with a sword."

[Liene] "Then how?"

[Black] "I don't know yet. But I will resolve it. By tomorrow."

[Liene] "..."

Should I trust his words? Why?

He said he had another purpose. Everyone says he intends revenge.

Why is he acting as if he wants to do anything for me? Why?

[Liene] "Why?"

She finally couldn't hold back and asked.

[Black] "What do you mean?"

[Liene] "Why is Lord Tiwakan concerned about this funeral issue?"

[Black] "Is it not permissible for your future husband to be concerned?"

[Liene] "This funeral..."

This is all because of you. It's the funeral to bury the people you killed.

[Black] "Currently, I am your fiancé."

[Liene] "Lord Tiwakan,"

[Black] "Your problems are my problems. Ensuring you live in peace is also my concern."

[Liene] "..."

I'm confused. I really don't know.

What is he planning to do with me?

[Liene] "Is that all?"

[Black] "Do you think I'm saying this for another reason?"

Other people certainly say so.

[Liene] "Is it true that you are doing this purely out of a fiancé's duty, without any other motive whatsoever?"

[Black] "Why would you..."

He, who had momentarily rolled his tongue in his mouth, slowly furrowed his brow at her words.

[Black] "It seems that's how you judge me."

She couldn't deny it. After hearing Weroz's message, her suspicion grew daily.

Every word and action of his seemed to conceal an ulterior motive he wasn't speaking aloud.

[Black] "Would you find it easier to accept if there were another reason?"

[Liene] "Lord Tiwakan..."

He cut off her words and smoothed out his furrowed brow.

[Black] "Then assume I have an ulterior motive. I want payment for solving this funeral issue for you."

[Liene] "What kind of... payment do you want?"

[Black] "What will you give me?"

Well...

She wore a bitter expression. Regardless of what he wanted, she had nothing worthy to give him.

[Liene] "Apart from my desire to give you payment, what I can offer Lord Tiwakan won't be much. Such is the state of Nauk's conditions."

[Black] "In that case, I will accept whatever you can give. Exchange rooms."

[Liene] "Rooms... you mean the bedroom I'm using now?"

[Black] "I will use the room next to yours. As your fiancé."

[Liene] "..."

At that, her complexion changed slightly.

The room she was currently using was the hereditary bedchamber of Nauk's ruler.

The room didn't connect directly to the corridor but had to be entered through another bedchamber. Between the two bedchambers were the bathroom and toilet.

Essentially, the two rooms were considered a single unit. The room, now empty, was naturally the one used by the ruler's spouse.

[Liene] "That's..."

[Black] "Is it troublesome?"

[Liene] "..."

Of course it was. It was tantamount to sharing one room.

Anything I do, anyone I meet, this man will know everything.

[Liene] "It's the room you would naturally use after the wedding. Now..."

[Black] "If I wait until the wedding, it's not payment."

[Liene] "..."

[Black] "Do you permit it?"

She closed her eyes briefly and opened them.

Fine, if that's how you want to play it.

There was a reason the two rooms were designed to be one.

The structure was originally intended to prevent the ruler's spouse from committing any deception.

If he could watch her, she could also see his every move.

I will watch what you are truly planning.

[Liene] "Yes."

She nodded.

[Liene] "If you can resolve the funeral matter. But please remember this. There must be no killing. I don't want any more bloodshed in Nauk."

[Black] "My belongings will be moved tomorrow."

He gripped her hand. She thought he would just show courtesy by kissing the back of her hand, but his lips touched the tip of her injured finger.

[Black] "I will see you tomorrow."

A jolt of electricity ran through her as something touched her wound.

He said to her, who reflexively pulled her hand back:

[Black] "Be gentle with your hand."

[Liene] "..."

[Black] "Then I shall take my leave."

He nodded a greeting, released her hand, and turned away.

What exactly is he going to do?

She stood rooted to the spot for a moment, watching his receding.

Did I do something reckless?

Should I entrust the affairs of Nauk to him?

However, she couldn't deny the feeling of hope that sprang up from nowhere.

She absolutely couldn't imagine him failing at anything.

---

[Mashilow] "Your Highness?"

Mashilow was in the royal office. Sitting at the desk, writing something intently, he dropped his pen in shock when he saw Liene.

[Mashilow] "What is the matter, Your Highness?"

[Mashilow] "Weren't you attending the funeral?"

So he knew she was away, but he still came to the office.

She cast her gaze upon what he was writing.

[Liene] "The Kleinfelter family acted up, so I was chased away. I couldn't even set foot in the Temple. Speaking of which, what were you doing?"

[Mashilow] "Ah, that... I was preparing a Knight Conferment letter... because I thought it would be needed soon."

[Liene] "Conferment letter?"

[Mashilow] "That's right..."

He continued to avoid eye contact while speaking. His actions were clearly dishonest.

[Liene] "Is there a conferment ceremony I'm unaware of?"

[Mashilow] "That... Lord Kleinfelter requested it..."

[Liene] "..."

I should have known.

If it wasn't Kleinfelter, no one would dare act so arbitrarily.

[Liene] "Give it to me."

He was surprised and shook his head when she reached out.

[Mashilow] "I intended to show it to you once finished, of course. You have to sign it..."

[Liene] "Yes, I want to see it now."

[Mashilow] "No, that... you really don't have to..."

[Liene] "Surely I do, right?"

[Liene] "Besides, you just dropped your pen, so the ink must have smudged. Since the letter will be discarded anyway, just show it to me."

Mashilow, biting his lip, finally obediently handed over the conferment letter he had been writing.

[Liene] "...Ha."

She sighed after reading just two lines.

[Liene] "Lopez Kleinfelter, eh. Is that his new name?"

[Mashilow] "Your Highness!"

He was startled and quickly looked around.

[Mashilow] "What if someone overhears?"

[Liene] "Haa..."

She replaced the question, 'Do you think Tiwakan doesn't know Laffit is alive?' with a sigh.

[Liene] "Tell him this cannot be done."

[Mashilow] "Your Highness..."

He, who had been flustered just moments ago, now looked serious.

[Mashilow] "You know that this is a request that cannot be refused."

[Liene] "Though it's called a Knight Conferment letter, they're essentially asking for a bastard child to be recognized as nobility now. When has there ever been a case like this? Lord Kleinfelter must think little of the Royal Family."

Not just a little, but as a thorn in his side that must be removed.

[Mashilow] "...It wouldn't be good if you refused, Your Highness."

He advised again.

[Mashilow] "Didn't you say you weren't even allowed to set foot in the funeral? If Lord Kleinfelter is determined, what more can he not do?"

Regrettably, she knew that all too well. She twisted the corner of her lips.

[Liene] "What 'more' can he do?"

[Mashilow] "Your Highness…..."

[Liene] "Can he specify it? What revenge will he take if I refuse to acknowledge his bastard as a member of his family?"

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