A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 9

※Black’s Misunderstanding※

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

Those light-colored pupils swept over her neck and the lower part of her body.

Liene, who unconsciously lowered her head as she followed his gaze, felt her cheeks flush.

Is it because my clothes are loose? 

She knew her clothes weren't fitting her body well. However, she thought her clothes weren't bad enough to be openly stared at like that.

...I didn't think he was the type to care about other people's clothes. 

She tilted her head, confused.

What about him? He wasn't even wearing his shirt properly.

Black was the one dressed in a way that made others worry.

Perhaps due to his shoulder injury, he had only put one arm through the sleeve and hadn't buttoned it.

[Liene] "Please excuse my ill-fitting clothes. It's been a long time since I wore mourning attire, so it seems the size has changed. As you know, the funeral will be held soon, so there's no time to sew a new one."

She once again pulled on the tray, trying hard not to look at his bare skin.

[Liene] "How about we go inside? I will help you eat, as your arm must still hurt."

[Black] "......"

Black frowned for a moment. But soon, he kindly stepped aside.

[Black] "Come in."

[Liene] "Yes."

Liene entered the bedroom with him in an awkward position, as if they were sharing the tray rather than her holding or fully handing it over.

---

[Fermos] "No, Your Highness! Is that the only clothing you have?"

Black was not alone. Fermos and his men had already arrived to attend to Black for breakfast.

Although Fermos and the others were not nobles, the term 'attend to' might not be appropriate, but that's what they were doing. They brought water for bathing and a change of clothes.

Fermos, who had seen the two of them enter side by side as if sharing the tray, immediately stood up from his seat.

Seeing that, Liene briefly wondered why Black, with his injured shoulder, bothered to open the door himself when so many of his men were present.

[Fermos] "It is definitely rude, but I have to ask. Do you absolutely have to wear those clothes? Huh?"

After Black, now Fermos criticized her mourning clothes, making her feel slightly offended.

...Is my appearance that bad? 

However, openly criticizing like that was impolite.

She subconsciously frowned slightly and said,

[Liene] "These are clothes for mourning. In Nauk, we wear black clothes until the funeral ceremony is complete."

[Fermos] "What? You have to wear those clothes for three consecutive days, not just today?"

Fermos raised his monocle and repeated his question. It was strange that they overreacted just because her clothes were a little too big.

[Liene] "Is there a problem with my clothes?"

[Fermos] "That...."

Fermos did not continue his sentence and glanced at Black.

[Fermos] "My Lord......."

My Lord won't notice such minor things, right? 

The reason he glanced at Black was clear.

Unfortunately, Princess Liene, in a black dress, was too striking.

Fermos himself thought she was too beautiful, and he was deeply worried about how Black saw her.

If she were just an ordinary, beautiful woman, he wouldn't worry. But because there was a connection to Black's past, he couldn't ignore it. This woman was special. To Black.

The problem was, he didn't know what it meant. Maybe Black himself didn't know either.

One thing was for sure: he didn't want to see his Master being played by a woman.

Especially when that woman was the princess of an already ruined kingdom, there was no need for debate.

[Black] "Shut your mouth."

But perhaps it was too late. Black stared at Fermos from behind Liene's head. If his eyes glistened, it meant he was displeased.

[Black] "If her clothes are a problem, then you shouldn't look. Get out, or close your eyes."

[Fermos] "I... No. I was rude. I apologize, Your Highness."

The clever Fermos quickly backed down. However, the anxiety in his heart did not easily subside.

This won't do....... 

The Arsak Knights Commander was still alive. Princess Liene also knew it. It was not good for Black to show such generosity to her at a time like this.

[Fermos] "I hope the funeral will be completed as quickly as possible."

When he mumbled without certainty, Black said,

[Black] "Get out."

It seemed he was annoyed that Fermos kept nagging.

[Fermos] "...No, I can't... Alright."

He was forced to swallow his words; he wanted to say he couldn't leave them alone, but he bowed his head instead.

Black would realize the reason for his noticeable behavior.

Haa... what should I do? 

There was no other choice. According to his Master's words, they needed to find out what she was going to do. As quickly as possible.

[Fermos] "Please take care of My Lord, Your Highness."

Fermos led the remaining less sensitive mercenaries out.

---

The two of them were left alone.

Coincidentally, this was the same room where they shared the fever-like kiss yesterday.

If it weren't for Fermos, Liene would have been very embarrassed by the memories of yesterday resurfacing.

...Are my clothes that strange?

However, thankfully, her mind was preoccupied with something else.

Because two people in a row commented on her clothes, Liene genuinely felt her clothes were so bad, and it bothered her deeply.

Should I gain weight? 

When that thought occurred to her, she was startled herself.

...Crazy. Why should I gain weight?

Do I want to look beautiful in his eyes?

[Black] "What are you thinking?"

His voice suddenly pierced her eardrums, breaking her reverie.

[Liene] "...Nothing."

She drove away thoughts that she herself did not understand.

The idea of wanting to look beautiful in the man's eyes felt strange.

He was the one who had shattered the peace of Nauk, even though that peace would soon wither.

[Liene] "Do you want to eat first, or should I tend to your wound first?"

[Black] "It doesn't matter, but if I have to choose, I would like to change the bandage first."

[Liene] "Alright, then."

Before she asked him, Black took off the shirt that was only draped over his body.

His body remained mesmerizing to look at again.

Usually, seeing scars on the skin would remind someone of the pain or the story behind them. However, the man's scars made Liene feel dizzy instead.

...It must be because of his face. I

t was because of the man's face. A face that made everything look like jewelry.

His unusual eye color, which resembled a beast more than a human, his emotionless expression like a statue, and his intimidating posture—all of it, when combined with his face, became something simply beautiful to behold.

[Liene] "I will unwrap the bandage. ...Ah, but?"

The moment she restrained unnecessary thoughts and tremors, her hand touched his bandage. She thought the bandage was too clean, as if it had just been replaced.

[Black] "But?"

He repeated her sentence while looking at her.

[Liene] "I don't think it needs changing. Perhaps you have applied medicine too...."

[Black] "Just change it."

He quickly cut her off.

[Black] "Unless you no longer wish to touch me, again."

[Liene] "...In that case."

The word 'again' sounded strange, but Liene silently unwrapped the bandage.

Upon reflection, she did not dislike him.

Earlier, when he told his subordinate to close their eyes and leave, she felt for a moment that he was taking her side.

If that was true, did it mean he hadn't forgotten the promise he made yesterday?

Did it mean he seriously intended to keep it?

Then, what about me?

Should I do it too?

Am I allowed to do it...?

She removed and rolled up the bandage without saying a word. New medicine had also been applied to the wound.

Right, the bandage was indeed changed this morning. 

...Strange. Both the man who insisted on changing the bandage and she who changed it even though she knew it was unnecessary, everything felt strange.

[Liene] "I won't apply more medicine because I think the medicine shouldn't be mixed."

The wound seemed to be healing quickly. That was a relief.

Liene covered the wound with a new bandage and wrapped it carefully.

Suddenly, she remembered her lover had been injured in a similar spot once.

How was it, back then...? Did I tend to his wound that time, too?

...Ah, right. I applied the medicine, and Madam Flambard bandaged it.

At that time, her lover kept gripping her hand and rubbing his forehead against the hem of her clothes.

She thought her lover looked childish. She felt the wound wasn't big, but her lover was acting spoiled.

Compared to her lover's pain, she was more bothered that her lover kept holding her hand.

How long will he hold me? I have a lot of work. 

She had to restrain herself many times from asking to be released.

[Black] "...Did you check well?"

Being busy thinking, she missed his voice.

[Liene] "...What? What did you say?"

[Black] "I asked if you checked the corpse well."

Unlike her lover, Black did not act spoiled.

However, one thing was the same. Just as her lover had held her hand and restrained her, Black restrained her with his gaze.

And she felt a completely different feeling than before. She didn't have time to think about when she should ask to be released. All she felt was the illusion of being tightly bound.

[Liene] "Ah, that... You heard about it. Yes, I went to the chapel. I thought... it was my duty to say a proper goodbye."

She always felt his eyes were too clear. It was difficult to lie before his eyes.

[Black] "So, the goodbye is finished?"

Even now, he seemed to stare through her lie with remarkable clarity.

She unconsciously swallowed hard.

[Liene] "Yes...."

[Black] "That's good."

His voice sounded dry, devoid of any emotion.

[Black] "Then, all that's left now is for the Princess to keep her promise."

[Liene] "......"

Black slowly reached out and stroked her cheek. Following that slow, soft touch, the fine hairs on her skin seemed to bristle.

[Black] "I hope you can do it as quickly as possible... When do you think that will be?"

That... was not seduction. 

His fever had already subsided. Although his body temperature was naturally high, his hand was not as warm as it was yesterday.

His gaze was the same. It was no longer the hazy eyes of a fever. His eyes were cold and clear like water.

[Black] "I don't like ambiguity."

It sounded like he didn't like impurity. It meant he had no intention of tolerating doubt, conflict, or fragile consideration.

Following the touch of his hand, her expression slowly hardened.

...What did Fermos say yesterday?

—Is this man the Princess’s lover? He definitely said that.

Thinking back now, there was a tone of doubt when Fermos uttered that sentence.

— If your words are sincere, we appreciate it greatly. 

It was strange that he intentionally inserted the word 'sincere'. As if he knew her words were not sincere.

He knew. He knew the corpse was not the Commander of the Arsakh Knights.

Black moved his hand with a controlled touch, caressing her skin.

[Black] "And I'm also not gifted at waiting."

[Liene] "......"

[Black] "I hope you don't make me wait too long."

What Black was doing was a warning.

 I know that goodbye to your lover was fake, so make it real.

[Liene] "I am...."

Tension made her eyelashes tremble. It was too difficult to keep lying in the presence of someone who knew all your lies.

...But I can't do it. 

If she made a mistake, the fact that her lover was not dead and was hiding somewhere in Nauk would be exposed.

If that happened, the Kleinfelter Family would desperately try to protect their eldest son, and Tiwakan would gladly swing their swords to kill him. No one knew how many people would die by his sword.

[Liene] "I am trying."

She cupped her hand over his that was gripping her cheek. Black silently stared at their touching hands.

[Liene] "I also don't like anything ambiguous."

She had to make a decision.

She weighed her lover and his family against Tiwakan and their leader. The balance that should have been taut surprisingly tilted easily to one side.

The Kleinfelter Family could not fight Tiwakan. Choosing her lover meant she would also pick a battle that would surely be lost.

I can't do it. If I lose, it means the end for Nauk. 

The hand she had to hold was this hand. She tightened her grip on his hand.

[Liene] "I will forget the past."

She rose with their hands still joined.

His gaze, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, followed her upward movement.

Liene looked at the lips that were lifted towards her.

[Liene] "As promised."

She closed her eyes and lowered her head. Their lips met instantly.

She embraced his head as he had done yesterday, and sucked on his lips as their lips touched.

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