A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 80

※The Foreign Prince (1)※

Liene gestured toward the heavy rosewood cabinet.

It had originally been designed to house the crown jewels. The interior was a complex grid of drawers, each handle situated above a unique, intricate keyhole.

As the treasury dwindled and the pieces were sold off one by one, the cabinet eventually sat empty. It reached a point where Liene didn't even bother locking it anymore; she tossed the heavy ring of keys into a desk drawer in her study.

But the drawers that should have been hollow shells were full.

The gems that had once occupied these velvet-lined slots were back, nestled in their original places as if they had never left.

[Flambard] "Pardon? What are you... Oh! Oh, my heavens!"

Madam Flambard gasped, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a cry.

[Flambard] "How on earth did all of this get here? Wait... oh."

A flicker of realization crossed the older woman’s face.

[Liene] "Madam? You know something, don't you?"

[Flambard] "Well, it’s just that..."

Under Liene’s sharp gaze, the Madam reached for a specific drawer—the one that had once held the late Queen Mother’s favorite necklace, sold to a jeweler only weeks ago.

The necklace lay inside, its stones catching the light with familiar brilliance.

[Flambard] "I... I might have mentioned it to him. I told him how much that specific piece meant to you."

[Liene] "To whom? To the Commander?"

[Flambard] "Yes..."

[Liene] "Are you telling me he tracked down every single one of these?"

Liene’s heart hammered against her ribs. She let out a jagged breath, her mind racing as she began tearing through the other chests and cabinets in the room.

Every single one was overflowing.

Some pieces were the exact items she had sold; others were slightly different in cut or setting, but clearly intended as replacements.

[Liene] "He did this on purpose. Every bit of it."

[Flambard] "I... I’m not sure I follow, Your Highness."

[Liene] "There’s only one royal jeweler in Nauk. If you ask him, he knows exactly who bought every piece that left this castle. So he just..."

He must have bought them back regardless of the cost.

He wanted to fill the holes she had been forced to carve into her own heritage. Where the originals were gone for good, he had commissioned or found the closest possible matches.

[Liene] "This is insane. When did he even have the time to do this? He’s barely been in the castle."

[Flambard] "I don't know, Your Highness. It feels like only yesterday that I mentioned the necklace to him..."

The Madam’s voice turned thick with emotion, a slight sniffle escaping her.

Liene felt a dizzying mix of gratitude and sheer panic.

The man was out of his mind. Even with the Tiwakan’s vast resources, this was a staggering fortune. This wasn't just a gift; this was years’ worth of a national budget sitting in a rosewood box.

The weight of it was too much. He was the one who had given everything to Nauk; he was the one she should be rewarding.

Why was he the one still giving?

Liene spun on her heel and marched toward the door.

[Flambard] "Your Highness! Where are you going? We still need to fit your gown!"

[Liene] "I don't need a fitting. I’m certain it will fit perfectly."

[Flambard] "How could you possibly know that without trying it on?"

[Liene] "Because he’s the one who gave it to me."

[Flambard] "Even a man with sharp eyes is still a man, Your Highness! You can't just trust his intuition on silk and measurements."

[Liene] "The Commander needs to try his clothes on as well. I’ll go fetch him."

[Flambard] "You? You’re going yourself?"

[Liene] "It’ll be faster that way."

Liene bit her lip as she stepped into the hallway.

The generosity was too much. She had to tell him to stop—maybe even sell some of it back. He was already financing the entire wedding, and that wasn't all.

Black had mentioned his plans to fortify the southern lands, raising walls to turn the desolate plains into a proper stronghold.

Ever since the great drought began, most of the people south of the Evert River had abandoned that region.

The empty land was a gaping wound in Nauk’s defenses. Black, however, couldn't seem to tolerate a single weakness in the place he intended to call home.

Liene agreed it was necessary, but the cost was astronomical. She couldn't let him squander more gold on jewelry when he was literally building a kingdom from the dirt up. Especially when that was her responsibility—one she had been too overwhelmed to even address.

Gathering her skirts, Liene hurried toward the stables.

She ran into a Tiwakan mercenary near the North Tower, who informed her that Black had just departed for the southern fortress site.

She didn't stop to think. She sprinted toward the stables.

It wasn't an emergency—it could have waited until tonight—but the urge to see him, to voice her protest and perhaps just to be near him, was a physical pull she couldn't ignore.

Her lungs burned, but her thoughts outpaced her feet.

I need to see him. It feels like it's been an eternity.

[Liene] "Haa... haa..."

She reached the stable entrance, gasping for air.

But it wasn't Black mounting a horse that met her eyes. Instead, an ostentatious, glittering carriage sat in the courtyard, more flamboyant than anything she had ever seen in Nauk.

[Liene] "Who...?"

A young man, his hand resting on a servant’s arm, stepped down from the carriage.

---

[Tiwakan] "The Commander has already departed for the southern ruins, Your Highness."

The mercenary who had guided the carriage to the stables spoke up.

[Liene] "Ah... I missed him."

[Tiwakan] "He’ll be disappointed to hear it, Your Highness."

The mercenary bowed deeply to the crestfallen Liene before turning his attention to the newcomer.

[Tiwakan] "The Commander's adjutant is inside the castle. I will show you to him."

[Dieren] "Oh, wait. There’s no rush. I should pay my respects first."

The young man looked as though he had been marinated in the most expensive oils available.

His smile was slick, and his attire was as gaudy as his carriage. His hair was slicked back with a pomade so heavy it looked wet—a style virtually unseen in the rugged climate of Nauk.

[Dieren] "Unless my eyes deceive me, this vision of beauty must be Princess Liene of Nauk. A pleasure to finally meet you. I am Dieren, the eldest son of the Grand Duke of Alito."

Dieren dropped to one knee in a performative, overly dignified bow.

Liene straightened her posture, her expression guarded.

Alito... where have I heard it? Their etiquette is certainly... loud.

[Liene] "The pleasure is mine. I’m not sure what business brings you here, but if you come with good intentions, you are welcome in Nauk."

[Dieren] "Your eloquence is as graceful as your face. It is truly an honor. Now I see how a 'God of War' could be lured into staying in such a... remote backwater. The rest of the continent can finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he’s occupied elsewhere."

[Liene] "A mere human’s appearance could hardly ensnare a god. Despite your intent to flatter, your words border on an insult to the Commander's character. I’ll thank you to keep such compliments to yourself."

There was something oily about the way Dieren spoke.

Calling Nauk a "remote backwater" to her face was bad enough, but the way he spoke about Black—as if he were a wild animal that needed to be caged—set her teeth on edge.

It was the other way around; Black was the one who had solved the problems the rest of the continent couldn't handle.

And who was this man to evaluate her beauty? Only one man’s opinion on that matter carried any weight.

[Dieren] "Is it considered a breach of etiquette in Nauk to call a beautiful thing beautiful?"

[Liene] "I believe it is a breach of etiquette to say anything a person does not wish to hear."

[Dieren] "And why would a Princess not wish to be called beautiful?"

[Liene] "Because the man I am to marry provides more than enough praise on that front. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to change the subject. Nauk and Alito have had no contact for years. Did you seek the Commander’s permission before this sudden visit?"

[Dieren] "One man is enough? How dreadfully dull. The gods of Nauk must be furious that such beauty is being hoarded."

[Liene] "Nauk is far too busy a place to indulge in such dull sentiments. Surely a Prince of a Grand Duchy can understand that. Since the Tiwakan guards haven't drawn their swords, I assume your visit was authorized."

It was a polite way of telling him he clearly had too much time on his hands.

Dieren shrugged, stroking his cheek with an exaggerated flair.

[Dieren] "I feel as though I’ve just been slapped. My apologies for wasting the time of such a busy woman."

[Liene] "Apology accepted. Please, attend to your business.

[Liene] "Show Prince Dieren to Sir Fermos. As for me, I intend to follow the Commander. Is there a scout available who knows the path to the southern site?"

[Tiwakan] "There is, Your Highness. But the Commander rides hard; it’ll be difficult to catch him. I can escort you to the fortress myself. Please, wait a moment."

[Dieren] "In that case, I shall accompany you."

Both the mercenary and Liene shared an identical look of annoyance.

[Liene] "Prince Dieren, you are a guest. It would be a poor reflection on Nauk’s hospitality to send you back out on the road before you’ve even rested. Sir Fermos will see to your comforts."

[Dieren] "But you told me to attend to my business, Princess. And my business is with the leader of the Tiwakan, not his adjutant. If Lord Tiwakan is too busy to receive guests, then it is only right that I go to him."

Liene frowned.

He’s made it impossible to say no.

She turned to the mercenary, masking her distaste.

[Liene] "Is the southern site in a state to receive visitors?"

She was framing it as a concern for Dieren’s comfort, but the subtext was clear:

Is it safe for an outsider to see what we're building?

[Tiwakan] "The path is simple enough. But are you certain you want him coming along, Your Highness?"

Her lip curled slightly.

[Liene] "I can't very well ignore the protocols of diplomacy when dealing with the Commander's guests."

[Tiwakan] "The Commander usually doesn't care for such protocols."

[Liene] "I’m well aware."

Liene gave the soldier a small, knowing smile before finally relenting.

[Liene] "Very well. You may come. However, I am traveling light, so I expect you to keep your retinue to a minimum."

[Dieren] "As you wish."

Once again, Dieren dropped into that exaggerated, theatrical bow.

---

[Liene] "Oh..."

The landscape had transformed.

It had been years since Liene had ventured south of the river. This land had been a graveyard of abandoned dreams—nothing but crumbling shacks and patches of scorched earth.

But now, a road had been carved into the dirt.

Massive foundation stones were being hauled into place, their sheer size hinting at the scale of the fortress that was to rise here. Liene could almost see the battlements in her mind's eye.

[Black] "Why are you here?"

Liene was staring at the dry riverbed when Black approached her.

The mercenary had been right; Black had arrived long before her.

[Liene] "I brought you a guest."

She gathered the reins in one hand, preparing to dismount.

But before she could move, Black reached up, his hands circling her waist to lift her effortlessly from the saddle.

[Black] "A guest?"

Even after her feet hit the dust, his hands lingered on her waist. Liene felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

[Liene] "Yes. He’s right behind me. His carriage was... a bit slow."

Dieren had insisted on taking the carriage despite the narrow roads, claiming he didn't want to be covered in "peasant dust."

[Black] "If he isn't your guest, I think I know who it is. You shouldn't have gone to the trouble."

Black spoke softly, reaching up to brush a smudge of dirt from her cloak.

[Liene] "Was it a mistake for me to come?"

[Black] "Not at all. I just hate to see your effort wasted on the likes of him."

Black took her hand, his thumb tracing the pulse point on her wrist before pressing a lingering, heated kiss to the skin there.

Liene felt that familiar spark.

Just for this moment, it was worth the ride.

[Liene] "I thought you were busy. I was worried I’d be in the way."

[Black] "There’s work to be done, certainly. But it’s not something I can do alone."

[Liene] "You needed me?"

[Black] "Always. Our 'guest' was merely a coincidence."

They didn't look away from each other.

Black’s hand moved from her cloak to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering near her collar.

Liene found herself reaching out, tracing the bridge of his nose and the line of his jaw.

I could look at him forever and never be bored.

[Randall] "Ahem. My Lord."

His voice drifted from behind them, hesitant.

[Randall] "The carriage has arrived."

Black didn't bother turning around.

[Black] "It’s likely from Alito. Take whatever they brought and find a place for it."

[Randall] "Actually, My Lord... it doesn't look like a supply carriage."

[Black] "......?"

Black finally pulled his gaze away from Liene.

As he looked over his shoulder at the approaching gold-trimmed carriage, his expression shifted into a look of pure, unadulterated annoyance.

---

T/N:

1. A grand duchy is a country or territory led by a grand duke or grand duchess. This title ranks below that of a king or emperor, but above a duke.

2. The children of a grand duke or grand duchess are referred to as a prince or princess. The reason for this is that a grand duchy's status, although lower than that of a kingdom, has traditionally been considered high enough to grant its ruler's children the right to use the royal titles of "prince" or "princess."

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