A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 37

※The Pitfall (2)※

His threats continued.

[Lyndon] "Send the eldest son back. That is the only reason your neck isn't broken right now. The body meant to charm the savage must remain intact."

[Liene] "Do not delude yourself. The time when the Kleinfelter could do anything they pleased is over. Snap out of it and prepare to welcome Nauk's co-ruler."

[Lyndon] "You seem bold because you rely on those beasts, but you, too, should put that tiny head of yours to use. Do you truly think he came to Nauk to harmlessly side with you?"

[Liene] "......?"

First Laffit, and now Lyndon, were claiming Black had an ulterior motive.

What do these people know?

She deliberately hardened her expression.

[Liene] "What nonsense are you trying to spout now?"

[Lyndon] "He came to slit your throat. His goal is to set foot on this land under the pretext of marriage. Once you're no longer useful, he will dispose of someone like you without mercy. Did that obvious fact not occur to you?"

[Liene] "Nonsense. Can't you hear how ridiculous you sound? The Tiwakan Commander attempting all this just to claim Nauk—it is laughable. Why would he covet this small place that he could seize in a day if he put his mind to it?"

He gave a strange, ugly sneer.

[Lyndon] "It seems you can think whatever you want because you know nothing. That is why that crown does not fit you."

[Liene] "What exactly is it that I don't know?"

When she pressed him, Lyndon changed the subject, as if he had said something inappropriate.

[Lyndon] "Well, he probably plans to have some fun before he slits your throat. Your body might be appealing to the beast's eyes. Besides, there's the money he's already invested."

[Liene] "Shut your filthy mouth! Tell me what I don't know—Agh!"

A scream tore from her as he squeezed her wrist tight, as if trying to break it.

He seized the moment of silence to quickly spit out his proposition.

[Lyndon] "If you are not willing to feed Nauk to the bastard whole, there is only one way. Release Laffit. And kill him."

[Liene] "What... Never..."

[Lyndon] "It's not that you have no choice. Lure him into your bed. Lull him into a false sense of security, then stab him in the throat. I will take care of the rest. That is the only way to drive the beasts out of Nauk."

[Liene] "Are you j-joking... Why would I...?"

[Lyndon] "Can't you understand even after I've spelled it out? Do I need to show you proof that the bastard intends to murder you?"

[Liene] "......!"

Liene snapped her head up.

[Liene] "You... have proof?"

If she had to name the one thing she desperately longed for, it might be that.

The truth about Black.

What was he trying to do in this small land?

Was it truly revenge? W

as she, the royalty of Nauk, the target?

She needed to know.

Even if the one offering the answer was Kleinfelter.

[Liene] "What... is it?"

She wanted to know with such urgency.

[Lyndon] "Do you want to know? Then kill him."

[Liene] "Ridiculous. Show me the proof first. If such a thing truly exists."

Lyndon offered a repulsive, ugly grin.

[Lyndon] "A negotiation, even now. You shouldn't have that luxury. You are the one whose body is burning to know."

[Liene] "Which side came here begging to save their eldest son? You are the more desperate one, so stop trying to haggle and hand over the information..."

[Fermos] "Ah, I am curious as well."

Suddenly, an utterly out-of-place voice floated up from the floor, causing everyone in the room to freeze.

[Fermos] "Our Lord intends to do what?"

It was Fermos.

The reason the voice came from the floor was that he had been hiding under the desk.

Yet, despite being hidden, he looked completely unruffled and languid, like someone who had just taken a nap in his own room.

[Lyndon] "Why is there a rat!"

The most astonished person was undoubtedly Lyndon. He roared, ready to leap to his feet, utterly forgetting his dignity. He was clearly so flustered that he didn't even think not to scream.

[Fermos] "Well now. We both were hiding, so why call me a rat? What exactly were you trying to do?"

Liene bit her lip hard, barely suppressing a laugh.

The situation was beyond comical.

The King’s study was no rat's nest, yet people were freely hiding inside. While there was nothing to steal or hide, it was certainly not a place to enter without her permission.

[Liene] "Sir Fermos. What were you doing under my desk? I have never granted you access to this study."

[Fermos] "Ah, I sincerely apologize for that. I have no excuse and will gladly accept any punishment."

Fermos wore a gloomy expression, appearing genuinely contrite.

But he hadn't forgotten his priority.

[Fermos] "However, might we postpone that discussion for a moment? I am just too curious about why our Lord would try to—Ah, I cannot bring myself to quote that exact phrase. It feels like my mouth is being soiled. Anyway, Sir Rat, would you be so kind as to speak? What exactly is this 'proof'?"

[Lyndon] "......Shut up!"

Lyndon, his eyes darting wildly, suddenly let out a shout and lunged at Fermos.

He clearly realized there was no way to salvage the situation. Killing Fermos to seal his mouth was the best option.

[Fermos] "Tsk. Just as the Princess said, a rude and foolish man. You should know who you're picking a fight with."

Though he wore glasses and played the role of the smart advisor, Fermos was a man who had brawled in the war camps for ten years.

He easily evaded Lyndon’s lunge and hooked his ankle.

Thwack! Thud!

[Lyndon] "Ugh!"

Lyndon tumbled forward, hitting his head on the corner of the desk.

Fermos swiftly stepped on the back of his neck as he lay sprawled on the floor.

[Lyndon] "Ugh, ugh! How dare you...! Get off me!"

Lyndon flailed his arms and struggled, but it was futile.

Fermos stood leisurely and addressed the back of his head.

[Fermos] "I'll give you a chance. If you open your mouth obediently now, I will relay only half of what you said to our Lord. Meaning, I will filter out the dirtiest parts that would rot my mouth. I guarantee it, that is a pretty good deal. Our Lord doesn't get angry often, but when he does, it is quite horrific."

[Lyndon] "What... Nonsense, ugh!"

[Fermos] "Tell me. What is our Lord supposedly planning to do?"

[Lyndon] "That's obvious, isn't it... If not, why would he covet a small place like this, out of all the places... Gasp!"

Fermos pressed his foot down on Lyndon’s neck.

[Fermos] "That's not it. It wasn't just a vague suspicion like that. Didn't you say you had proof?"

[Lyndon] "As if I would tell a bastard like you... Ugh!"

Crack.

A sickening sound emanated from under Fermos's heel.

[Mashilow] "Your Highness! What are you doing! Aren't you going to stop him!"

Mashilow grabbed Liene's sleeve, clinging to her.

[Mashilow] "A mere mercenary is trampling the Chairman of the Grand Council of Nauk! How can you stand idly by this insolence!"

At those words, both Liene and Fermos wore expressions of utter disbelief.

[Fermos] "Yet, you stood idly by while this fellow twisted the Princess' wrist. Was that not insolence?"

[Mashilow] "Th-that was..."

Mashilow was speechless and stumbled backward.

[Fermos] "And speaking of stopping things. Why are you, a perfectly healthy man, clinging to the Princess' sleeve? You're a man who has lived long enough to know better, yet you are crying for help to a Princess who is far younger than you. Aren't you ashamed?"

[Mashilow] "Ashamed, how dare you...!"

His face turned beet red, and he panted heavily.

Seeing his expression, Fermos understood the problem.

The people of Nauk must have pushed their governmental duties onto her this way. It was obvious that Kleinfelter, the Chairman of the Grand Council, had been doing the same.

Liene was told she inherited the crown six years ago. She was only a young adult then. If she had been burdened with the monarchy at that age, it was understandable that she couldn't distinguish between responsibility and undue sacrifice.

She must have interpreted the demands of the Grand Council as the solemn duties of a monarch.

[Fermos] "Tsk. So, you're not going to talk, then?"

[Lyndon] "Gasp... Choke!"

His neck was pressed so hard that he was now unable to speak even if he wanted to.

[Fermos] "Suit yourself. I warned you, clearly."

Fermos lifted his foot.

Then, he grabbed Lyndon by the scruff of his neck and dragged him away.

He was clearly heading for the door to exit the study.

Once the door was opened, it would be over. There would be no way to conceal what had happened today.

[Mashilow] "Your Highness!"

In desperation, Mashilow had no choice but to call Liene again.

[Mashilow] "You mustn't do this! The royal family cannot turn the Kleinfelter family into an enemy! Stop that man at once! At once!"

[Fermos] "......Oh, for goodness' sake."

Fermos stopped abruptly. It was clearly always like this. He turned his head and looked at Liene.

[Fermos] "What will you do, Your Highness? Do you wish for me to stop?"

[Liene] "......"

Of course, she had no intention of letting Lyndon off the hook here.

Fermos merely needed to know whose side Liene would ultimately take.

Lyndon had gone so far as to tell her to murder Black.

She did not answer immediately, but Fermos needed confirmation of her decision.

[Liene] "......No."

Liene took a breath before answering.

[Liene] "Even if I stopped you, it would be meaningless now. And I have no desire to stop you."

It was exactly as she said.

Since Fermos knew, this incident could not be covered up.

And Liene felt disgusted with the endless cleanup of the Kleinfelter’s messes by lying to Black.

The Kleinfelter family would never change.

As long as Laffit was alive, he would cause the same troubles, and Lyndon would demand Liene to cover up the incidents as if it were her obvious duty.

It had to end somewhere, sometime.

Even if all the nobles belonging to the Grand Council rebelled, she had to endure it this time.

[Fermos] "A wise decision."

Fermos nodded with a smile.

It was a stark contrast to the sheer horror on the faces of Mashilow and Lyndon.

[Fermos] "Then I will drag this fellow away and lock him up. I look forward to the trial."

Thump!

Fermos finished his sentence and opened the securely closed office door.

[Fermos] "Hey, you! Come here and take this bastard away. Oh, and there's another one inside, so take him too."

Mashilow, unfortunately, realized a little too late that "the other one inside" referred to him.

---

Tiwakan's work was incredibly swift.

Mashilow and Lyndon were locked in the dungeon. Afterward, the guards who had turned a blind eye to Laffit’s entry into the castle were weeded out.

The Deputy Commander of the Guard protested vehemently, but Fermos did not yield an inch.

Meanwhile, the time for the breakfast Black had proposed had long passed.

[Liene] "......No one is here."

When she arrived, the dining hall was empty.

The food arranged on the table was getting cold, untouched.

Yet, she knew Black had been there. One chair was overturned, tilted backward.

Black, who must have arrived earlier than the appointed time and waited for her, seemed to have left after receiving a report.

Liene sat in the chair opposite the one where he had been sitting.

She wasn't expecting him to return. With such an incident having occurred, she assumed he must have urgent business.

She simply hated the thought of unilaterally breaking the promise she had made with him.

[Liene] "I should have changed my clothes."

She mumbled as she unfolded the napkin neatly folded on the table and placed it on her lap.

At the hem of the sleeve of the lilac dress she had purposely dressed in, a blackish-red handprint marked her wrist.

[Liene] "How unsightly."

She winced as she lightly touched her wrist.

It was not just unsightly, it was painful.

It even seemed to be swelling slightly.

[Liene] "It can't be badly hurt, can it?"

She picked up a fork and knife and cut into the closest dish, roasted pheasant.

She felt pain every time she moved her wrist, but for now, she could move it.

[Liene] "......It's fine. It's just this much."

She had no appetite, but unfortunately, the cuisine was exquisite.

Tiwakan seemed to have a talented chef. It had been a long time since she had faced such a lavish meal.

...What a shame.

It seemed Black had put a lot of effort into inviting her to this meal.

That made it even more regretful.

It would have been nice to eat it together.

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