A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 28

※Klima, the Servant (1)※

[Klima] "I... had no choice."

A muted voice scraped out from beneath the leather-shod foot.

Since adolescence, since the day he dedicated a life that should have been extinguished to the Kleinfelter family, he had served as the executioner for every foul deed Lyndon commanded.

He had also murdered the previous Cardinal. Everyone believed the former Cardinal had simply slipped on the stairs and snapped his neck.

This time, Lyndon had wanted the same kind of clean accident.

[Klima] "...There wasn't enough time. It was too rushed, and there were too many eyes watching..."

The man, wearing a long robe that swept to his ankles, spoke quietly with his gaze lowered.

[Lyndon] "You call that an excuse, hah!"

WHACK!

The answer was another brutal strike.

Kleinfelter's servant endured Lyndon’s fury without uttering a single cry of pain.

Lyndon, who had been indiscriminately hitting and kicking the servant, finally ceased his assault and caught his ragged breath.

[Lyndon] "You didn't leave any evidence, did you?"

[Klima] "No, my Lord."

[Lyndon] "You must not be caught. Do you understand? You must never let anyone discover that I ordered this."

[Klima] "I understand."

[Lyndon] "They are not men to be underestimated. Never... If you are caught..."

The fact that exposure would mean the end of him and the Kleinfelters was a chillingly clear truth. Lyndon’s shoulders gave a small, violent tremor.

[Lyndon] "Then I will discard you."

[Klima] "...Yes."

The servant nodded obediently.

Lyndon felt a fragile sense of relief at his subservient demeanor.

The strangely loyal servant was exceptionally discreet. Even if the worst occurred and his identity was revealed, Lyndon’s name would never pass his lips.

[Lyndon] "Get out."

The servant calmly rose.

He caught the blood, which streamed heavily from his gashed forehead, in the waiting cup of his palm.

He didn't seem concerned with wiping away the blood, but rather with preventing it from staining his robe.

With a bloodless hand, he carefully pulled up the hood attached to his robe to conceal his face.

Muffling his footsteps, he slipped out of Lyndon’s room and stepped into the cramped, hidden passage reserved for servants.

He descended the dark, winding, unlit stairs into the basement, then left the main building and headed toward the small annex behind it.

When the annex came into view, he halted. He then concealed himself behind a nearby tree. With only his eyes barely visible, he fixed his gaze on a single window of the annex.

Through the stained-glass window, someone moved like a faint shadow.

A thin woman, etched with the weariness of profound sorrow, was rising while holding a basin.

[Klima] "..."

The servant’s eyes, fixed on the woman, also began to cloud with the same dark sorrow.

The woman was the reason he had to commit all sorts of vile deeds as Kleinfelter’s executioner.

A moment later, just as quietly as he arrived, he slipped out of the Kleinfelter residence without notice and returned to his own quarters.

That place was the temple, and his name was Klima, the Servant.

---

[Liene] "..."

No matter how exhausted the body was, it couldn't fully conquer habit.

She felt her eyelids flutter, stirred by the early morning sun filtering through the window.

[Liene] "It’s morning already."

Her weary body was reluctant to move.

She counted in her mind with her eyes open.

[Liene] "One... Two... Three."

Only then did she muster the courage to throw off the covers.

[Liene] "The air's notably colder than yesterday."

The instant she stepped off the bed barefoot, a tingling chill struck her skin.

She hurried to put on her slippers and draped a shawl over her nightgown.

She disliked winter. It felt like life became inexplicably harder when the weather was cold.

The bitter cold had yet to truly set in, but the slightest drop in temperature made her yearn for the warmth beneath the blanket.

[Liene] "I must hurry."

All the more reason to move diligently. This was the season in which one could easily succumb to lethargy.

Intending to wash and change immediately, she took off the shawl again. Dressed in her thin nightgown, she quickly stepped into the bathroom.

[Liene] "…Oops."

And the moment she opened the bathroom door, her entire body froze.

Someone was already in the bathroom.

It was Black, clad only in thin undergarments like hers, and he seemed to be pulling them down even further below his waist, as if preparing to bathe.

[Liene] "Why... here..."

Liene was too stunned to remember the most basic reflex: to close the door and leave.

The only thought in her mind was why he was undressing in her bathroom.

[Black] "Would you like to wash first?"

He asked, his fingers hooked on the waistband of his pants.

[Liene] "No, I... why are you here..."

[Black] "I didn't realize you were awake."

[Liene] "I mean, why..."

[Black] "Because this is my bathroom too, now."

[Liene] "Ah..."

It just dawned on her.

Right, I agreed to let him use the adjacent room. So, we share the bathroom.

Then I...

S-L-A-M!

Liene, jolting back to her senses, slammed the bathroom door shut.

[Liene] "I apologize for my rudeness. I think... I'm not fully awake yet."

She spoke from behind the closed door.

Her tongue still stammered from the shock.

What was I thinking... How could I forget that?

The sound of footsteps came from behind the door.

Fearing he might open it, she gripped the doorknob tightly.

[Black] "It's fine."

It seemed he had approached not to open the door, but just to say that.

Still, she could not bring herself to let go of the doorknob.

Her face burned hot in a place unseen by anyone.

[Liene] "I'll be more careful next time. Please, go ahead and... wash up."

[Black] "This bathroom doesn't have a bathtub. Is there a particular reason?"

He suddenly asked something, leaving her to miss the chance to release the doorknob and turn away.

[Liene] "What?"

[Black] "I asked why you don't keep a bathtub."

[Liene] "Ah, the bathtub. Well..."

Originally, there had been a huge, ornate marble tub in the center of the bathroom.

When the tub with its exquisite carvings and gold-rimmed edges was there, the bathroom hadn't looked as needlessly large and desolate as it did now.

The tub had been sold long ago. The large, splendid marble was cut into pieces and was now being used as garden stones in the Kleinfelter residence.

[Liene] "...I had it removed. I felt that having a tub made us waste too much water."

For some reason, her chest gave a familiar, hollow ache.

Though it was a minor lie, the constant need to speak falsehoods chafed at her.

[Liene] "Do you need a bathtub?"

[Black] "I didn't say I would use it right away."

[Liene] "Then..."

[Black] "Perhaps there will be a day when we bathe together."

[Liene] "What... did you say?"

Liene, who had been about to retort, gaped.

Bathe... together? Why?

[Black] "Then I will arrange for a bathtub."

[Liene] "..."

That was the end of the conversation.

A soft swoosh, then a dull thud.

From the quiet interior of the bathroom, the sound of fabric rustling against skin drifted out. It was the sound of Black shedding the rest of his clothing.

[Liene] "...No, why..."

She unconsciously swallowed dryly.

Why did he claim he wanted to... bathe together?

The sound of splashing water followed. He seemed to be washing his face. She could vividly picture him lowering his head and splashing his face.

She could almost see the movement of his shoulders and arms—his hair slick with cold water, his damp eyelashes visible beneath the strands stuck to his forehead.

So why had he suggested bathing together...

She couldn't bear the thought any longer and spun around abruptly.

This is all his fault. He looks like that and says such strange, wicked things.

She covered her ears with both hands and retreated to her room.

What's the big deal about the sound of water? Of course, one hears the water when someone washes their face.

Strangely, her heart was still pounding furiously.

Liene closed her room door and stood there, waiting for the frantic pounding of her heart to subside.

...I can't be like this.

It was unwise to harbor any feeling other than caution toward that man.

I need to figure out what he's planning.

I need to find out why everyone says his purpose is revenge.

I shouldn't entertain useless thoughts.

She swallowed the dry saliva that had gathered in her mouth.

She had to meet the old man.

---

[Flambard] "What? Where are you suddenly going?"

[Liene] "To the temple."

[Flambard] "Why, go there so suddenly? Do you have business at the temple?"

[Liene] "Yes."

She deliberately kept her response curt for the bewildered Madam Flambard.

She felt no need to disclose the full story to the Madam.

Worrying about Black was her burden, and she didn't want to saddle the Madam with uncertain anxieties.

Moreover, the Madam was an honest soul, and if she heard Black intended revenge, she clearly wouldn't be able to maintain a composed demeanor in his presence.

[Liene] "I'm concerned about the old man I saw yesterday. The temple usually distributes food, but the stairs still haven't been fixed. So, I intend to take food to him myself."

[Flambard] "If that's the case, simply dispatch the guards. Wouldn't it be too troublesome for you to go personally?"

[Liene] "I want to go myself. You have much work to do, Madam? I'll go alone."

Hearing this, Madam Flambard sprang up in alarm.

[Flambard] "What? No, you can't say that! It's too far to go alone!"

[Liene] "I'll request an escort from the guards."

She had to move as quickly as possible.

Tiwakan were rapidly establishing themselves in Nauk Castle.

Now, Tiwakan were a more common sight than the castle guards even within the castle walls.

If she went out, Black would either insist on escorting her himself or send his subordinates.

So, the only way was to speak to the guard commander separately and go quickly before he could notice.

[Liene] "Please prepare some food. Something that can be eaten by hand."

[Flambard] "If you absolutely must go, then so be it. But I will accompany you."

[Liene] "No. You have to work on the wedding coat, Madam. Have you forgotten? The wedding is just eight days away. You worried every day about the lack of time."

[Flambard] "Ah, right. That's true. Then I will quickly prepare the food... Oh, but?"

[Liene] "What?"

Madam Flambard stopped speaking and tilted her head.

[Liene] "What is it, Madam?"

[Flambard] "It's about the wedding."

[Liene] "Yes."

[Flambard] "I've been counting the days every day because of the sewing, but... Cardinal Milode passed away yesterday..."

The Madam quickly made the sign of the cross on her chest, then continued.

[Flambard] "Yes, since that happened, won't a new Cardinal need to be appointed immediately? As I recall, when His Eminence Milode was appointed Cardinal, we had to wait a full nine days after the former His Eminence Motia was interred. I heard there was a reason for that nine-day wait. Since the wedding is eight days away, I wonder who will officiate the ceremony. I hope God won't punish me for worrying about sewing in the face of the Cardinal's death."

[Liene] "Ah, right..."

Liene's expression hardened.

So that's why he killed him.

To force a postponement of the wedding.

There was a precise reason Kleinfelter had to kill the Cardinal.

When a new Cardinal was elected, he was required to fast and pray alone to God for nine days, according to temple law—a process called the Conversation with God.

It was said that if God did not recognize the new Cardinal, he would lose consciousness, unable to endure the nine-day fast.

In other words, it was a mandatory rite of passage that could not be shortened by a single day.

[Flambard] "Your Highness. You look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

Madam Flambard examined her with a worried expression.

[Liene] "No. I'm not sick, it's just..."

She felt fear.

What was Kleinfelter, who was so determined to postpone the wedding, plotting?

Kleinfelters had absolutely no intention of relinquishing control of Nauk. Knowing they couldn't contend with the Tiwakan through force, they were surely plotting something darker and more despicable behind the scenes.

[Flambard] "Are you truly not sick?"

[Liene] "Yes... I'm not ill."

[Flambard] "Then I'm relieved. Naturally, you look pale after not sleeping well last night. But I'm glad that at least one concern has been relieved."

[Liene] "What?"

To Liene's query, Madam Flambard patted her arm reassuringly.

[Flambard] "Your monthly cycle, Your Highness. If the wedding is postponed, the wedding night will naturally be postponed too, so at least you don't need to worry about that."

[Liene] "Ah... That's true."

[Flambard] "Then I will go prepare the food. Please don't fault me if there isn't much to go around."

[Liene] "I understand. Please hurry."

[Flambard] "Yes, Your Highness."

Madam Flambard left.

Though she prepared to leave, determined to hurry, her mind remained in turmoil.

The wedding can be postponed. Her monthly cycle can also be concealed.

But that means giving Kleinfelters time to plot something.

Then what should I do?

The confusion was a dense, painful knot she couldn't possibly untangle alone.

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