A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 8

※A Falsified Death※

The path leading out of the chapel was as quiet as when they entered. The unexpected encounter with the Tiwakan search team seemed unlikely to cause a major problem.

Liene didn't let out a long breath until she was well away from the chapel. The moon felt dark. This was the first time she felt relieved that the moon wasn't too bright.

[Liene] "We have to hurry."

She suddenly stopped and said softly, and Weroz questioned her.

[Weroz] "What do you mean?"

[Liene] "The matter of contacting the family."

[Weroz] "Of course. The family, you mean... ah."

The words, spoken circuitously to avoid eavesdroppers, actually meant they had to quickly find and contact her lover.

It wouldn't be hard to find him. The Kleinfelter family was surely hiding him. Weroz also realized that 'the family' referred to Kleinfelter.

[Weroz] "Yes, Your Highness. I believe that is the most pressing matter."

[Liene] "Tell them I want to discuss how the funeral ceremony will be held. Tell them I want to meet and speak with him as soon as possible."

[Weroz] "I will relay that."

The conversation, whose meaning was known only to the two of them, ended, and the footsteps that had paused now continued quickly.

Fermos knew far more than they thought.

---

[Fermos] "We were tricked."

He came to Black while others were asleep. The two men, who were virtually in the heart of the enemy's base, looked relaxed as if they were in their own camp.

[Fermos] "The dead man isn't the Arsak Knights Commander. His swordsmanship was too poor for that. And the helmet and armor didn't match. It's as if the helmet was hastily swapped to pretend to be the Knight Commander."

[Black] "......"

[Fermos] "Of course, you already knew all of this, didn't you?"

Black said nothing, only furrowing his brow. As his fever began to subside, the pain from his wound felt more detailed and sharp.

[Fermos] "Hmm. If so, the problem is how deeply the princess is involved. It couldn't have been from the start... let's see, she must have thought her lover was dead until she checked the corpse. But isn't her lover as good as dead anyway? Fleeing and abandoning his subordinates to almost certain death just to save himself... Ah, perhaps."

He suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead.

[Fermos] "He might have sneaked in. Into Nauk."

They thought they had blocked all entry and exit routes when besieging the castle, but there must have been a way for a rat to hide and slip through.

[Fermos] "He seems like a very foolish man. He should have fled and saved his life after the request for reinforcement from the Sharka Kingdom was rejected."

The fact that the Arsak Knights Commander requested reinforcements from the Kingdom of Sharka was known to them.

They had also predicted that Nauk would do so, and that the Kingdom of Sharka would refuse.

They just hadn't expected the Arsak Knights Commander to be so lacking in self-awareness.

Fermos clicked his tongue.

[Fermos] "What does he think he can do alone... when everything was over the moment Nauk opened its own gates."

Black opened his mouth, his expression sour.

[Black] "Perhaps he thought only Nauk had ended."

[Fermos] "What? What do you mean?"

[Black] "He might be thinking the romantic relationship hasn't ended."

[Fermos] "That... ughhhhh...."

Fermos wore a very displeased expression.

[Fermos] "Are you saying he is dreaming of eloping with her? Only a madman would think of such a thing. Besides, it wouldn't be easy to convince her. Her sense of responsibility toward Nauk is enormous. That's why she accepted your proposal in the first place."

[Black] "There's no rule forbidding nobles from going mad."

Fermos was silent for a moment, pondering, then his expression changed.

[Fermos] "Well... that's true. I consider love games to be utterly useless, but there have always been people who stake their lives on it, so it's not entirely incomprehensible."

He idly fiddled with his monocle.

[Fermos] "Anyway, this is troublesome. He has a solid enough base in Nauk, so it will be difficult to handle without a disturbance... Ah, could the arrow this afternoon also have been his doing? Did you see what he looked like? Roughly his height, or his hair color?"

[Black] "The distance wasn't very close."

Black replayed the events in the backyard that afternoon.

The arrow flew from quite a distance. By the time he heard the arrow, it was already too late.

[Fermos] "That means he's quite skilled with a bow. Since the Arsak Knights Commander also uses a bow, we must assume he's the same person. But... ah, but you got hit by the arrow?"

His voice rose with a humorous tone.

[Fermos] "You got shot on purpose, didn't you? Am I right?"

[Black] "......"

Black avoided answering. But that was the answer.

[Fermos] "My goodness, really! Was that necessary? Do you know how shocked I was? Of course, thanks to My Lord's willingness to be injured, the takeover of Nauk accelerated... but there was no need to get shot deliberately. The wound will be painful when it heals."

Black said something else instead of answering.

[Black] "I didn't expect a man like that to be her lover."

Black's low voice sent chills down his neck. He rubbed his neck and looked at his Master.

He knew the reason why he had goosebumps. It was because Black was showing anger.

[Black] "The Princess could have been shot, not me."

[Fermos] "Oh god...."

So, even though his nerves were taut, he felt a little ridiculous on the other hand.

Is My Lord angry because Princess Liene was nearly hit by an arrow?

It was only yesterday that he said he didn't fall in love at first sight.

Had his heart changed that quickly... No, that's too fast, isn't it? Impossible.

If Black showed interest in women, even like a normal man, the nasty rumors about homosexuality surrounding Tiwakan would never have existed.

...Right. He is not swayed by beauty. He must be doing it because the Princess has utility.

Imagine if the Princess were shot and died. And they weren't married yet. That would be troublesome. No, not too troublesome. But still.

And damn it, a person who shoots an arrow knowing his own lover could be hit is not a human but a bastard.

It's natural for My Lord to be angry. It was a natural thing. It was right to be angry at a bastard like that. But why did he feel so deeply disturbed?

[Fermos] "In any case, you must consider betrayal from the Princess. Their side seems to be looking for another fight. What will you do? How about not just conducting a search, but directly uprooting the Kleinfelter Family? That would be faster and simpler. Before the Arsak Knights Commander tries to contact her."

[Black] "......"

His answer was slow. Actually, his thoughts were sluggish.

He also knew that Fermos's words were correct.

If this were war, and he had to win, he would definitely do it. But what he was engaging in was not war, but marriage.

— Only desire Nauk.

He promised as such. Regardless of the fever or any other excuse, there was no denying that he did it because of his desire at that moment.

— If so, I will also strive with all my heart to desire you.

Was that a lie?

Or did her promise become a lie the moment she learned her lover was alive?

He had to find out.

[Black] "No. Leave it."

[Fermos] "My goodness. Are you sure?"

[Black] "It will reveal what kind of person the Princess is. Whether she is worthy of maintaining this marriage, or the opposite."

[Fermos] "Hmm... If that's the case."

Fermos felt the same thing; the God of Tiwakan had no intention of waging war against Nauk.

[Fermos] "I will still keep watch. Because she acts quickly."

[Black] "Make sure she doesn't get suspicious."

[Fermos] "Understood."

Fermos, having finished his business, left the room with a calm face as if nothing had happened.

The fact that Laffit Kleinfelter had sneaked into Nauk was unexpected, but it wasn't a big problem.

To mercenaries who had fought for ten years, he posed no threat. What truly bothered Black was something else.

[Black] "...Should I have just killed him?"

His murmur, mixed with the increasingly sharp and detailed pain, slipped out.

If only I had known he was her lover. Perhaps that would have been better.

Her lover did not pose a threat, but he left behind annoyance.

[Black] "Annoying."

He rubbed his forehead roughly.

Before the kiss, it was her existence that bothered him.

After the kiss, it was now her lover who began bothering him.

Black did not yet know the meaning of this restlessness.

---

With almost no sleep, morning arrived. Liene got out of bed, washed her face, and put on her clothes as usual. She could see for herself that her complexion was not good.

[Liene] "I have a lot of work. I can't afford to get sick."

The woman, who looked very pale in the mirror, murmured. Her eyes looked hollow, as if she had lost a little weight.

[Liene] "If this continues, only a few of my clothes will fit me."

She smiled faintly, imagining her clothes would be too big and slip off.

[Liene] "That would look strange."

In that case, maybe he wouldn't say he still desired her?

[Liene] "...What nonsense is this. He didn't fall in love with me because of my appearance, did he?"

She stopped her thoughts and closed the mirror. The problem that tormented her all night remained, but in any case, it had to be postponed until she managed to contact her lover.

[Liene] "Today... ah, I have to wear mourning clothes. I will begin the funeral preparations."

Since the body had returned, she had to wear black clothes as a sign of respect. Funerals in Nauk lasted three days, and the tradition was to take off the mourning clothes at midnight on the third day.

Without Madam Flambard's help, Liene searched for and put on her black clothes herself. She didn't realize it when she put the clothes on, but black was not a good choice.

Her white skin looked smooth as marble, contrasting sharply with the black fabric. The slightly loose clothes did not hide her figure, but rather emphasized it. The thin, soft fabric clung to her skin every time she moved, as if sliding down.

Liene in black clothes became a figure who, beneath her usual beauty, looked both fragile and alluring. Again, her clothes were not a good choice at all. Even worse, she did not notice it at all.

---

Liene brought breakfast, painkillers, and a new bandage to Black's bedroom. Her loose clothes kept wrapping around her ankles.

After finding out her lover was still alive, she wasn't confident meeting Black calmly. She hadn't made a choice yet, and she also couldn't forget the kiss that felt like a fever.

...He must feel the same way.

That was the most frightening thing. Black might not have changed from the moment they promised to desire each other. Then, how should I face him? Liene was afraid he would still be that intimate.

[Liene] "Phew."

Black's room, which she wished were far away, felt too close today. She sighed when she arrived at the door. But no matter how much she sighed, nothing changed.

Knock, knock.

Liene knocked on the door slowly.

[Liene] "This is breakfast. Are you awake?"

She listened for a moment, but there was no answer. He seemed to be still sleeping. Thank goodness. Liene bent down, intending to place the items in her hands in front of the door and turn back.

Thud!

Suddenly, the door opened roughly at that very moment.

[Liene] "Ah...."

Her heart almost dropped. The one who opened the door was Black.

[Black] "Did I startle my future wife?"

[Liene] "No...."

[Black] "Good. I will take that."

At first, Liene didn't know what the problem was. The man stood straight on both feet and naturally took the large tray Liene was holding with both hands.

She would have just stood watching if it weren't for the bandage wrapped around one of his shoulders.

[Liene] "What are you doing!"

Liene was shocked and tried to snatch the tray back.

[Liene] "Let go quickly. Your shoulder is injured."

[Black] "No need. It's not heavy."

[Liene] "It's not a matter of weight...."

Although Liene pulled hard, the tray didn't move.

[Liene] "You are injured."

Liene looked up at Black while holding the tray. She had to lift her head to meet his eyes. The man was very close.

[Black] "Are you worried that I'm injured?"

The voice asking the question was also heard at a very close distance.

[Liene] "...Yes."

His lips moved subtly like a sigh or a murmur to himself.

[Black] "I am also worried."

[Liene] "I am not injured."

[Black] "Not about that, but your clothes."

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