A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 70

※The End of the Drought※

It would have been a lie to say Liene wasn't terrified of the resentment festering in Madam Henton’s heart.

[Liene] "I am worried, Madam. But then again, I suppose I have no right to be."

[Henton] "What... what is that supposed to mean?"

[Liene] "I know what the late King... what my father did. I know the blood in my veins is tainted by his choices. I was so afraid that I couldn't even bring myself to confess the truth to Lord Tiwakan—to ask for his forgiveness. But I know that one day, he will learn everything. He’ll uncover the truth of what the Seven Families did to him."

[Henton] "..."

The Madam’s face turned to stone as she listened to Liene’s confession.

[Liene] "When that day comes, I will pay the price. So, worrying about your resentment is almost pointless in the grand scheme of things."

[Henton] "Are you saying it doesn't matter who kills you, since you expect to die anyway?"

[Liene] "No, not exactly. I mean... I’ve realized there’s no use in clawing desperately at a life I might not keep. I only hope this window of time lasts long enough."

Long enough to marry him.

Long enough to hand over the reign safely.

Long enough to build him a home.

Long enough to taste a few moments of true happiness.

[Liene] "Think about what you want to do, Madam. Talk it over with Klima. If you choose to stay, I want you to serve as the Head Maid of the Palace."

And I hope that your hatred for his family ends with me.

He was just a child then. As you said, a child can do nothing against the cruelty of adults.

[Klima] "That’s... that’s strange."

He stepped forward, swallowing the last of his biscuit and brushing the crumbs from his mouth.

[Liene] "What’s strange, Klima?"

[Klima] "He knows. All of it."

[Liene] "What?"

He blinked his mild brown eyes at her, looking confused by her surprise.

[Klima] "Prince Fernand—Lord Tiwakan—he asked me. And I told him everything."

[Liene] "You told him... everything?"

Liene whirled around so sharply that Klima flinched, his shoulders hunching toward his ears.

[Klima] "Everything I told you, Princess. Every detail."

[Liene] "When?"

She gasped, her green eyes wide with shock.

[Liene] "When did he find out?"

[Klima] "Yesterday."

[Liene] "Yesterday..."

It clicked. The moment he had turned cold. The moment he had grown silent and distant.

—"I forced this on you. I doubt there was ever a moment you actually enjoyed being with me."

He had pushed her away because he thought her affection was a performance fueled by fear of her father's victim.

—"I was desperate. I feared our hearts weren't in the same place."

[Liene] "So yesterday... he learned what the House of Arsak did to him... he knew..."

[Klima] "No,"

He said, shaking his head. More crumbs scattered from his chin.

[Klima] "He already knew about the past. Yesterday, he found out that I had told you."

[Liene] "He already knew? He knew all along and... and...!"

The world tilted. Liene stumbled back, her knees buckling.

Madam Henton reached out instinctively, catching her arm before she hit the floor.

[Liene] "How?"

Liene gripped the Madam’s sleeve, her voice a frantic whisper.

[Liene] "How could he look at me? How could he touch me, knowing what my father did?"

[Henton] "Your Highness, please. Just breathe."

[Liene] "He knew... and he still..."

—"I’ve forgotten the past. I only want a home."

Liene looked at Madam Henton, but she wasn't really seeing her.

[Liene] "He knew from the very beginning. And he told me he’d forgotten... he said he was just glad I had never been taken from him..."

She remembered what he said that morning.

—"Do what you want, Princess."

[Liene] "He was hurting because he thought I was only accepting him because I was scared... because I thought he was here for revenge..."

But when she had told him that wasn't true, he had told her to cry.

—"Cry so you can finally sleep."

Tears welled up in her eyes, hot and thick.

—"What matters is that your hand is on the scar, and it doesn't hurt anymore."

Finally, the weight of that sentence hit her with the force of a tidal wave.

He wasn't just forgiving her; he was using her love to heal the very wounds her family had inflicted.

[Henton] "I have no idea what you’re talking about. Should I call for help?"

[Liene] "No..."

Through the shimmering veil of tears, Liene broke into a radiant, sobbing smile.

[Liene] "Thank you, Madam. And I’m so, so sorry."

[Henton] "Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"

Liene threw her arms around the Madam, hugging her with a strength that left the older woman breathless and stunned.

[Liene] "He knew everything. He knew it all, and he still chose me. I’m so sorry... and I’m so grateful."

[Henton] "I am completely lost..."

Explaining it to the Madam could wait.

Liene pulled back and turned to Klima, grabbing him in a fierce embrace just as she had done with his mother.

[Liene] "Thank you, Klima. And I’m sorry. Truly, I’m so sorry. Thank you!"

[Klima] "P-Princess... Your Highness..."

Klima turned a vivid shade of crimson, stammering incoherently until she finally let him go.

[Liene] "Think about what I said! Both of you! Think about what kind of life you want!"

With that, Liene bolted.

She gathered her skirts in both hands, exposing her ankles as she flew down the stairs with the reckless abandon of a five-year-old child.

She wanted to cry. She needed to cry.

—"If you feel like crying, come find me. Don't waste those tears in private."

She had to find him.

---

Black was on his way back from inspecting the abandoned estates south of the river.

Fermos had been right. With a proper set of fortifications, the location was a natural stronghold. The geography, the vantage point—it was flawless.

[Fermos] "Then we’ll break ground as soon as the temple stairs are finished. Are you sure you want to shoulder the entire cost yourself, my Lord?"

[Black] "I am."

[Fermos] "Hmph. Building it properly is going to be a massive drain on the coffers."

[Black] "The Alito gold shipment is due any day now, isn't it?"

[Fermos] "Ah, is it that time already?"

Near the Grand Duchy of Alito sat several gold mines that Black had acquired as payment for his mercenary services during the war. The Tiwakan leased the mining rights back to the Duchy in exchange for half the annual profits.

Fermos was likely the only man on the continent who knew the true extent of Black’s wealth. His assets were scattered across the map—huge, unmovable fortunes in the form of land and minerals.

He had one gold mine, but several iron and salt mines. The revenue from the salt mines alone was enough to match the annual budget of a small principality.

In war, everyone lost money—except the mercenaries.

With Black’s martial dominance and Fermos’s logistical genius, Tiwakan had spent the last decade vacuuming up the continent’s "blind money."

[Black] "You knew exactly when the shipment was due."

He shot a side glance at Fermos. The advisor shrugged, looking only mildly sheepish.

[Fermos] "I can’t hide anything from you, can I? I was going to point out that this fortress is just the beginning. Nauk is a sieve, my Lord. It swallows gold and asks for more."

[Black] "I'm aware."

[Fermos] "And you intend to keep pouring it in anyway?"

[Black] "Money can be earned. It’s not as if we’re running low."

[Fermos] "Fair enough. Your fortune is large enough to maintain its own gravity. If we ever run short, I’ll start a merchant guild and double our capital myself."

[Black] "The drought will end eventually."

[Fermos] "Pardon?"

He blinked, caught off guard by the sheer certainty in Black’s voice.

[Fermos] "Do you know something I don't?"

[Black] "A twenty-year drought is statistically impossible. Unless the entire global climate shifted, it makes no sense for it to affect only Nauk. It’s unnatural."

[Fermos] "Well, when you put it that way..."

[Black] "We need scholars who understand the land and the weather. I plan to bring them here. Once we find the cause, we find the solution."

[Fermos] "Aha. I see."

His Lord’s vision was staggering. Even while entertaining the "mad" idea of bankrolling an entire kingdom, he already had a strategic roadmap.

[Fermos] "You really are determined to settle here. But... if I recall correctly, when we first arrived, you said this was just a temporary stop. When exactly did you change your mind?"

Black glanced at Fermos again. There was a slight narrowing of his eyes that made Fermos feel like he was being judged for his slow wit.

[Fermos] "Why are you looking at me like that?"

[Black] "That was then."

His voice was clipped, as if he were chewing on the words.

Fermos recognized that as one of the few human cracks in Black’s armor—the tone he used when he didn't want to answer, but his mouth moved anyway.

[Black] "I only intended to take what was mine and leave."

[Fermos] "Like the mines."

Exactly.

To Black, Nauk was originally just another asset to be seized. He had intended to maintain his mercenary lifestyle even after the marriage.

[Fermos] "But then you met the Princess. And the Princess turned out to be... well, her. And here we are."

Fermos nodded to himself, muttering under his breath.

As they rode, he looked around at the parched landscape and sighed.

[Fermos] "It’s not a bad idea, I suppose."

[Black] "What isn't?"

[Fermos] "Settling down. You’ll make a damn fine King."

Black shook his head immediately, not even entertaining the thought.

[Black] "I have no intention of becoming King. Nauk already has a perfect sovereign."

[Fermos] "I mean... I agree that the Princess is a remarkable leader, but her political position is incredibly precarious, don't you think?"

[Black] "That’s what makes her incredible. Despite everything, she’s held onto the throne this long."

[Fermos] "By emptying the royal treasury."

[Black] "Which is exactly why she still has a mandate. The people of Nauk wouldn't have accepted any other ruler but Liene Arsak."

That was the truth the Kleinfelters had never understood. They could have taken the throne by force years ago, but they knew they couldn't govern a people who adored their Princess.

Liene had "spent" her wealth to buy the most solid foundation possible: the loyalty of her subjects.

[Fermos] "She’s the ideal monarch, sure. But she’s hit her limit. Her treasury is dry. Do you really think the people will keep cheering when she can no longer provide for them?"

[Black] "It doesn't matter anymore."

Fermos smirked.

[Fermos] "Because you’re taking over that burden."

[Black] "I can afford it. That is my role."

[Fermos] "If you say so, my Lord."

Fermos turned his gaze back to the road.

To him, Black and Liene were two sides of the same coin. Both were willing to pour themselves out for others—a rare trait in any ruler.

The only difference was the motivation. The Princess did it for Nauk; Black was doing it for the Princess.

It was a perfect match.

Fermos grinned. Rebuilding a dying nation with two capable monarchs sounded like an entertaining challenge.

[Fermos] "Well, we just have to survive the Grand Council Assembly. We’ll wipe the floor with the Kleinfelters and keep the rest of the families on a very short leash."

[Black] "I’m looking forward to it."

Black had already set a "small device" in motion for the Council.

Fermos caught the glint in his Lord’s eye and gave a mischievous laugh.

[Fermos] "I’m right there with you, my Lord."

As they spoke, the silhouette of Nauk Castle loomed ahead. They crossed the drawbridge and headed toward the stables.

And there, waiting for him, was the woman who had spent the afternoon running through her own emotions.

[Liene] "Lord Tiwakan!"

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