A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 71

※One Hour※

At first, he thought something was terribly wrong. The moment he dismounted, Liene practically threw herself into his arms, as if she’d been counting the seconds until his return.

[Black] "Princess?"

He could have sworn this was the first time she had ever worn her heart so brazenly on her sleeve. She was the one reaching out, the one initiating this desperate contact.

[Black] "Is something the matter?"

[Liene] "Yes."

He tried to pull back slightly, wanting to read her expression, but she only tightened her grip, burying herself against him with stubborn force.

[Black] "Tell me what’s happened."

Relenting, Black stopped trying to see her face and pulled her flush against his chest. His large hand began a slow, soothing rhythm down the length of her spine.

She took several ragged breaths before whispering into the fabric of his tunic.

[Liene] "I thought I was going to cry."

[Black] "And so you came looking for me?"

[Liene] "Yes. But now that I’m here... the feeling has passed."

[Black] "That’s a bit of a disappointment."

[Liene] "You see..."

She suddenly pulled away just enough to lock eyes with him. Her emerald gaze was startlingly beautiful, shimmering with a depth he hadn't seen before.

Then, she surged forward again, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

[Black] "Princess..."

[Liene] "I always thought you would eventually leave me."

[Black] "..."

His expression hardened for a fleeting second before a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He found the notion utterly absurd.

[Black] "That’s a pipe dream, Liene."

She still seemed to have no idea what it meant to be bound to him.

[Black] "I’m never leaving of my own accord."

[Liene] "But why? It would only be right."

[Black] "And what, exactly, would be 'right' about that?"

[Liene] "My father... he killed yours."

[Black] "Liene..."

[Liene] "I tried to put myself in your shoes. I realized that if I were you, I would never have been able to forgive. I thought... I thought you just didn't know yet. I was convinced that once you learned the truth, your feelings for me would turn to ash.”

[Liene] "That’s what people do. That’s what I would do. I couldn't imagine you being the only exception. It seemed too much like a fairy tale."

[Black] "I’ve told you a dozen times—my old name stopped being important to me a long time ago."

[Liene] "I only just realized that you actually meant it."

[Black] "Princess."

This time, she let him push her back gently.

Black cupped her chin, tilting her head up until her gaze was fixed on his.

The tears clinging to her golden lashes never fell; she had spoken the truth when she said the urge to cry had vanished.

[Black] "Is that why you ruined the wedding coat? Because of this?"

[Liene] "I couldn't bear the thought of you wearing it."

[Black] "Was it that painful for you? So painful that you’d rather slash your own hands than let me put on that coat?"

[Liene] "No matter how much I suffer, it can never compare to what you’ve lost."

[Black] "Well... this is going to be difficult."

He muttered the words to himself, his voice dropping an octave.

[Liene] "What is?"

[Black] "If I’m translating correctly, everything you just said means that you’ve fallen quite hard for me. Am I right?"

[Liene] "Yes. But what’s difficult about that?"

His brow furrowed as he scanned their surroundings.

The courtyard in front of the stables was as busy as ever. Marton, the royal groom, was scurrying back and forth tending to the horses, while the Tiwakan mercenaries were dismounting and leading their steeds away.

[Black] "The location."

[Liene] "What’s wrong with the loc—ah!"

Without warning, Black swept her up into his arms.

A dozen pairs of eyes turned toward them, wide with shock.

[Black] "Give me one hour."

[Liene] "Why one hour? And is this really something we need to discuss while you’re carrying me like this?"

[Black] "Yes. One hour. And yes, it is necessary. If my hands are free, I have no idea what kind of trouble you’ll get into."

[Liene] "Pardon?"

[Black] "What I’m trying to say is that I want to kiss you so badly I’m losing my mind."

He ignored her protests, his long strides carrying them toward the castle interior.

[Liene] "I can walk on my own two feet!"

[Black] "You’re making this very hard on me."

He came to a dead stop and captured her lips in a sudden, bruising bite.

Liene gasped, her hands instinctively grabbing the first thing they could find—which happened to be his ear.

[Black] "Ouch. That hurts."

He whispered against her lower lip, not pulling away.

[Liene] "I’m sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. But if you do this here..."

[Black] "If you stay quiet, I’ll have us in the bedroom in ten seconds."

[Liene] "I can walk! People are staring!"

[Black] "I guarantee that if I let you walk, they’ll have even more to stare at."

[Liene] "What does that even mean?"

It was in moments like these that her utter lack of experience became painfully obvious.

[Black] "Just... stop talking for a moment."

[Liene] "..."

[Black] "I just told you I’m taking you somewhere private to kiss you, and your response is to offer to 'follow me on your own feet.' Do you not realize how that sounds to a man?"

[Liene] "Wait... oh."

[Black] "Glad we’re on the same page. Now, be quiet."

[Liene] "..."

Liene averted her eyes, her lips pressed tight.

As a soft crimson flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, Black felt something in the back of his mind snap.

He took the stairs two at a time, disappearing into the sanctuary of the bedroom.

---

[Black] "One hour."

He glanced at the clock, his eyes dark and hazier than usual.

Why does he keep checking the time? 

She wondered.

Is something happening in an hour?

The thought evaporated the next second. The moment her back hit the bed, his mouth was on hers.

This kiss was different. There was a frantic edge to it today, a lack of his usual restraint that acted like a match to dry kindling.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, drifting down to the nape of his neck. Every time her skin brushed against him, a low, guttural groan vibrated through his chest.

There it is again...

His lips broke away for a heartbeat, only to nip at her lower lip again. It wasn't painful, but it was strange.

Does he like biting? I think I prefer the kissing...

[Liene] "I’m curious,"

She whispered, her hand pressing gently against his forehead to create an inch of space.

[Liene] "Why do you keep biting me?"

[Black] "Did I?"

[Liene] "Yes. Just now. Like this."

Thinking he genuinely didn't realize it, Liene mimicked him, catching his lower lip between her teeth and nibbling softly.

His eyes snapped shut as a sharp, strangled moan escaped him.

[Black] "That’s... that’s my way of trying to stop."

[Liene] "Stop what?"

[Black] "The kissing. Because I can't just keep going forever."

[Liene] "Oh... well, I suppose that makes sense. We’d run out of breath eventually."

[Black] "It’s because we aren't married yet."

The two answers collided, revealing the vast gap in their perspectives.

[Liene] "What does that have to do with anything? We kiss all the time. Surely marriage doesn't change the act itself."

[Black] "I can't believe I actually convinced myself you preferred an experienced lover."

He leaned his forehead against hers, looking suddenly exhausted.

Liene whispered sheepishly against his skin.

[Liene] "You know that was a lie..."

[Black] "I know. It’s the fact that I believed it for even a second that haunts me."

[Liene] "Hey..."

Is it really that shocking? 

Maybe I’m just a very convincing liar.

She couldn't have been more wrong. Black was reeling from the realization of how blinded he had been—so enamored that he’d swallowed a transparent lie whole.

[Black] "Once we start kissing, I start craving the 'next step'."

His voice was a low, velvet trap. It felt like stepping into a marsh; one wrong move and she’d be pulled under completely.

[Liene] "Ah... so that’s what you meant."

She was innocent, but she wasn't stupid.

[Liene] "I... I understand that. And I..."

She trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

Was she supposed to tell him he could take that next step?

I want to. Of course I do.

But it’s the middle of the day.

And my cycle won't be over until tomorrow...

[Liene] "I’m not quite ready for..."

[Black] "I know."

He pulled back slightly, his tongue darting out to lick his lips.

[Black] "I have no desire to rush you into my bed like some common conquest. You deserve the proper procedure, and I will do my absolute best to respect it."

She let out a small, breathless laugh.

[Liene] "You say that, but we haven't followed a single procedure since the day we met."

[Black] "Which is exactly why I want to start now. Just because our beginning was messy, I don't want that to define our future."

He leaned back in, his lips parting hers as he lowered his weight over her.

[Black] "But I can't abstain from kissing you. That’s why I set the limit. An hour should be enough for me to cool my head."

Despite his words, his lips were scorching.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

[Liene] "You are a mass of contradictions."

[Black] "I’ve never been told that before."

[Liene] "Well, that’s a relief."

[Black] "And why is that?"

The conversation was staccato, broken by the frantic press of his mouth against hers every time a silence lingered.

[Liene] "Because if anyone had told you that before... it certainly would have been a woman."

She whispered it against the corner of his mouth, tasting the damp heat of their shared breaths.

[Liene] "You say you want to cool down, yet everything you do only makes things hotter. How is that not a contradiction?"

Black cut his eyes toward the clock on the mantelpiece. The way his brow pinched in frustration only made him look more devastatingly attractive.

[Black] "Thirty-nine minutes... Princess, it would be best if you didn't speak another word."

[Liene] "If that’s what you want."

[Black] "Don't say that, either."

The kiss that followed was so hot it was almost agonizing.

---

[Tiwakan] "Oi! Get out. Both of you."

Creeeeeak—Thud!

The heavy iron door groaned open, flooding the cell with a rare burst of light. The two Kleinfelters squinted, their eyes long since adjusted to the pitch-black dungeon.

[Lyndon] "Where... where are you taking us?"

His voice was a dry rasp.

[Tiwakan] "To the Square of the Gods, or wherever it is you lot hold your meetings."

[Lyndon] "Ah... then... It’s finally time!"

Focus returned to Lyndon’s eyes. He had spent the last few days slumped on the cold stone floor like a dying man, but now he surged with renewed vigor.

[Lyndon] "Today is the Grand Council Assembly, isn't it?"

[Tiwakan] "Not my concern."

The Tiwakan, who had been stuck playing jailer for the week, looked profoundly bored.

[Tiwakan] "Just move. I’m tired of talking to you."

[Lyndon] "I will remember your face, peasant."

Lyndon had rediscovered his noble arrogance.

The past few days had been a special kind of hell. He had instructed two elder nobles to oversee the plan to have Liene defiled, but he had heard nothing of the outcome.

If the plan had succeeded, they should have returned to brag about it. The silence had been agonizing, like a fish gasping for water on a dry shore.

But the fact that nothing had changed in the dungeon gave him hope. If Klima had succeeded in ruining Liene, everything would be different by now.

Perhaps the boy was just taking his time; for all his talent for killing, Klima was as weak-willed as a child. It was pathetic.

Still, Lyndon was certain. Even if the barbarian leader were mad enough to crave a woman carrying another man's child, that affection wouldn't survive her ruin.

Men were simple creatures. Liene Arsak was foolish enough to think she was playing at love, but she was merely a barbarian's plaything. Once she was broken and discarded, the game would be over.

Affection in men was a fickle thing. Most confused lust with love, but at its core, it was all just entertainment. Once the fun was gone, the emotion vanished.

It didn't matter if you called it love or desire—when the thrill died, so did the interest. And once that pretty face was scarred by shame, the thrill would definitely die.

In that sense, destroying Liene Arsak was a masterstroke. Laffit was a man, too, and his "interest" would surely wane once she was soiled. All Lyndon needed was the good news.

[Lyndon] "Where is my escort? Who from House Kleinfelter has come to meet us?"

[Tiwakan] "Stop annoying me and get out of the cell."

[Lyndon] "Answer me! Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?"

Even huddled on the damp floor, Lyndon barked orders like a king.

The Tiwakan guard looked at him with pure pity. He had spent ten years following Black across battlefields; he had seen kings of great empires tremble and turn pale in his commander’s presence. Lyndon’s posturing was merely a comedy.

[Tiwakan] "Still haven't learned, have you? Fine. If you won't walk, I’ll drag you."

The mercenary stepped into the cell and seized Lyndon by the ankle.

[Lyndon] "How dare you lay a hand on—Gah!"

Lyndon was dragged across the floor like a dog on a leash.

Laffit watched the scene, paralyzed. He didn't even try to stop it. He was remembering the sound of his uncle’s wrists snapping under Black’s grip. His eyes remained hollow and empty.

[Tiwakan] "Hey, you. You coming, or do I have to drag you too?"

[Laffit] "..."

He glanced toward the light outside, then slowly, silently, pushed himself to his feet.

Prev

Chapters

Next