A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 95

※Poisoning (4)※

It was absurd. A man who had been away from Nauk for an entire month was now spouting the same rhetoric as the Kleinfelters.

[Liene] "What... why on earth are you saying such things? There is no such thing as a curse. I believed you were a man who wouldn't be swayed by such groundless superstitions, Sir Weroz."

[Weroz] "The curse is real, Your Highness. The House of Gainers stole the divine authority of God. In return, God placed a curse of eternal drought upon Nauk. As long as the Gainers live, the drought will never end. That bloodline must be extinguished."

She was utterly appalled.

[Liene] "Listen to yourself! How could a mere human do such a thing? What kind of god would be so inferior to humans that they would let their power be stolen and do nothing about it!"

[Weroz] "I am sorry, Your Highness."

Instead of answering, Weroz covered her mouth. As she struggled, he took something from his pocket and let a drop fall onto the back of her hand.

[Liene] "......"

A purple stain bloomed on her skin. Though the color was different, Liene sensed it was the same type of poison Baiyar had used. The method was identical, and the same sickly scent drifted into the air.

The Prince of Alito, the messenger of Sharka, and now Weroz... something was binding them all together. Someone who never wanted the name Gainers to be accepted in this land ever again. Such a person could only be a Kleinfelter.

A sudden connection flickered in her mind—Laffit’s ties to the Kingdom of Sharka. And the Princess of Sharka... coincidentally, the newly widowed Princess of Sharka was the daughter of the Grand Duke of Alito, the same woman who had once proposed to Black.

The moment these three enemies merged into one in her mind, Liene lost consciousness.

---

Tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap.

The rhythmic knocking was a prearranged signal. Weroz opened the door. Standing there were the men who had brought him in on a stretcher.

At Weroz’s signal—the sound of him striking the wall earlier—they had dealt with the guarding sentries and crossed over to his room.

One of them handed Weroz a large sack. It was supposed to be his luggage, but the useless clothing inside had already been discarded.

Weroz placed Liene inside the empty sack. It swallowed her small frame as if she had never been there at all.

[Weroz] "One of you support me. If we walk out like this, it will look suspicious."

One man stepped forward and slung Weroz’s arm over his shoulder. Another shouldered the sack containing Liene.

[Weroz] "Let’s go."

The four men, including Weroz, left the empty barracks. They had no intention of crossing the main gates; even with Weroz there, that would invite too much suspicion.

Instead, Weroz took a path revealed to him by the conspirator he had joined forces with. It was a side path leading from the rear garden to the base of a now-dried waterfall.

Tiwakan had been meticulous in bolting the secret passages leading into Nauk Castle, but they couldn't block a passage leading from the inside out.

Their movement to the garden was smooth. The areas already fortified were guarded more by the local Nauk guards than by Tiwakan.

The guards were simply happy to hear Weroz had regained consciousness and didn't suspect a thing when told he was seeing off his "saviors," who had to leave early, and that they were stopping for a quick smoke first.

Creeeeak.

Arriving at a corner of the rear garden, Weroz unlatched the heavy bolt and opened the door blocking the passage.

[Laffit] "Give Liene to me first."

A man waiting outside the door spoke as soon as it opened.

Distaste and concern flickered across Weroz’s face, but he had no choice but to hand over the sack.

[Weroz] "......"

The man hurriedly loosened the rope at the mouth of the sack. Weroz swatted his hand away.

[Weroz] "What are you doing?"

[Laffit] "I just want to see her face. Just her face."

As the loose sack slumped down, her tangled blonde hair was revealed.

The man, who claimed he only wanted a glimpse, took a handful of that golden hair and pressed it against his lips.

[Laffit] "Liene..."

It was Laffit Kleinfelter, who had crossed the border yesterday, hidden among the messenger's party from the Kingdom of Sharka.

---

Black’s intuition was correct.

Ternan Kleinfelter was hiding in the Temple. It was obvious from the way the priests were desperately blocking his path. At first, it was pitiful, but eventually, it became irritating.

[Fermos] "My Lord, being polite seems to be taking too much time, don't you think?"

Black agreed. He couldn't understand what the Kleinfelters had done for these priests to make them throw their bodies on the line like this.

Even though Black was only using sheathed swords and mimicking strikes, bones were still being broken. He was trying his best not to turn Liene into a tyrant’s wife, but this sluggish pace was testing his patience.

She’s probably nagging Randall right now, unable to wait for me.

A faint smile touched his lips at the thought of Liene. She might have even rushed out of her room without shoes, making things difficult for everyone.

Randall had given strict orders, so he wouldn't bring her here, but he was surely sweating over it.

...I should stop thinking about her.

Once his thoughts drifted to her, his irritation doubled.

Why was he wasting his time gently handling these dark-robed priests when he should be lying in bed holding Liene?

[Black] "I'm changing tactics."

Black decided to cast aside his courtesy. Politeness was meaningless to those who chose to shield a Kleinfelter.

[Fermos] "In what way, my Lord?"

Black planted the tip of his sheathed sword on the ground and addressed the priests.

[Black] "I know Ternan Kleinfelter is hiding here."

[Priest] "What kind of slander is this?"

An older priest stepped forward.

[Priest] "We are merely protecting this place because we cannot tolerate secular blades defiling the House of God. Hiding someone? Absurd."

Perhaps the younger priests were just following the orders of their superiors. But as he had said, their circumstances were of no concern to him.

[Black] "One thousand milon."

Black spoke the number while standing tall.

[Priest] "What are you talking about?"

[Black] "I will give it to you if you clear the path."

[Priest] "How dare you insult us! Are you offering secular gold to the children of God and asking us to betray Him?"

[Black] "It's not betrayal; it's an opportunity for verification. Just step aside. Even if Kleinfelter isn't here, I will pay the same amount."

[Priest] "Even... even if he isn't?"

[Black] "Even if you continue to block me, nothing changes. Some of you will get broken bones, others will faint. From my perspective, it just takes a bit more time. Wouldn't it be better to just verify? If he isn't here, I’ll leave quietly. I’ll even offer an apology."

[Priest] "......"

The priests hesitated. It was proof they were almost swayed.

[Black] "If you have nothing to hide, there’s no reason to keep blocking me when I’m being this flexible. That is, if the only thing you’re trying to protect is the House of God."

[Priest] "If... if that is the case..."

The lead priest asked waveringly.

[Priest] "Will you apologize? Will you stake the honor of the royal family and promise never to defile this holy place with secular matters again?"

[Black] "I promise."

The priests glanced at each other.

Black's hunch was right—they were just blocking the way to the living quarters on orders from high-ranking priests without knowing the full story.

[Priest] "Then..."

Without needing to be told twice, the younger priests began to slink away, clearing the path.

The money was a factor, but the offer of an apology carried more weight. They were as afraid of blades as anyone else, and Black had offered them a "carrot" that allowed them to retreat without losing face.

[Priest] "Since these are the words of a secular sovereign, we shall trust them with that much weight."

The path to the priest's quarters opened. Black lifted his sword and moved forward. The Tiwakan followed easily through the cleared path.

If Fermos were in his position, he would have argued about whether Black was better at negotiating than fighting.

Searching the quarters was easier than expected. And Ternan Kleinfelter, as predicted, was hiding inside.

---

Now it was the high-ranking priests. Black was starting to get curious about this tenacious connection.

[Black] "How much for you lot?"

He asked.

[Black] "Name a reasonable price, and I'll let it slide."

The high priests, blocking the door where Ternan was likely hiding, exchanged subtle glances. But they weren't exactly blinded by secular crumbs.

[High Priest] "I despise the vulgarity of viewing the children of God as goods to be bought and sold. Take back your words immediately."

[Black] "This is becoming exhausting for everyone."

[High Priest] "God will surely demand a price from those who trample His house with force. If you fear the curse that will be added to your name, then leave."

[Black] "Fine, let's say I'm vulgar. Then what about you?"

His voice dropped, his words coming out faster than usual—a sign of his growing annoyance.

[Black] "What is it that binds you to the Kleinfelters?"

No fool would believe it wasn't money. Yet, even if the relationship was forged in gold, this time was different. The priests believed that Ternan’s "resurrection" was the will of God. They had to, given the past.

[High Priest] "God knows your name."

[Black] "Does He?"

It wasn't surprising. Since Ternan had returned, the past had returned with him.

[High Priest] "The children of God will never again allow that cursed name to take root in the soil of Nauk. That is God's will."

[Black] "You're mistaken about something."

It was nothing new to hear the priests babbling nonsense; they had done it in the past, too. The word "curse" never circulated without passing through the Temple. It was the "Voice of God" that had turned him into a cursed prince and his late father into a mad tyrant who turned his back on God.

Without the Temple, the rebellion could never have happened. That was why Manau, recognizing Black's face, had wept and begged to be killed.

But things were different now than they were twenty years ago.

The current ruler of Nauk was impeccably ideal, and the Six Families who once controlled the Temple had been brought to heel.

The Kleinfelters had nothing left but a name. Even if they had managed to hide some wealth, they couldn't use it openly as they once did.

[Black] "And if you don't allow it, then what?"

The royal family would no longer be swayed by things that should be beneath them.

[Black] "Are you going to huddle together again and try to take my head? Do you honestly think that's possible?"

[High Priest] "That..."

The priests fell silent. Even they could see that it was impossible. The one holding the blade here wasn't the Six Families, but Black, and the name of that blade was Tiwakan.

[Black] "This is as far as my patience goes. To me, whether you are a high priest or a novice, you're just another life. I’ve avoided killing dozens, so taking the heads of the seven remaining won't be a problem."

[High Priest] "......"

[Black] "Considering what you'll go around whispering later, getting rid of your tongues now seems like a decent option too."

The priests’ faces turned deathly pale.

[Black] "If you understand, move."

Trembling, they looked at one another.

[High Priest] "T-That... that is..."

[Black] "Is that a no?"

Clink.

Black tapped his waist, and the sword within its scabbard made a chilling metallic sound. He nodded slightly.

[Black] "In that case."

Shing!

The sword was drawn in an instant.

[High Priest] "N-No!"

As the blade flashed before his eyes, one terrified priest collapsed to the floor. That was the beginning.

[Priests] "Ugh, ah..."

The priests began to slink away. As Black took a step forward, they scrambled to get out of his way even faster.

[High Priest] "N-No... We already swore an oath. We said we would protect Nauk with our lives..."

One of the priests muttered belatedly, but it was useless. Black was the victor. The past had not been erased, but it would not be repeated.

[Black] "Open the door."

Black spoke lowly, and one of the priests hesitantly opened it.

The room was empty. Instead, a window leading outside was wide open.

[High Priest] "H-He's gone?"

Even so, Black didn't seem particularly flustered.

[Black] "Move."

As Black pushed past the priest and headed toward the window, a Tiwakan voice echoed from outside.

[Tiwakan] "We’ve caught him, my Lord!"

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