A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 96

※Ternan Kleinfelter※

[Black] "You’ve had a difficult journey, I see."

These were the first words Black spoke upon seeing Ternan Kleinfelter, who had been dragged in by Tiwakan.

Having jumped from a window with a frail body that required a cane, his suffering was evident. His clothes, face, long hair, and beard were all caked in mud.

To Ternan’s likely frustration, all that effort had been for naught, as he was immediately apprehended by the Tiwakan warriors stationed outside.

From the Tiwakan's perspective, it was absurd that Ternan thought they would leave the windows unguarded. It seemed the old man had lived a life of such luxury that he had forgotten the basic realities of a siege.

The Kleinfelter servants captured with him were in no better state, their hands and faces covered in scrapes.

[Black] "You should have stayed still. There was no escape for you from that height anyway."

The night had deepened into the early hours of the morning. The flickering candlelight on the wall cast eerie, somber shadows across the face of the man who had seemingly returned from the dead.

[Ternan] "King Pembrovin was not of sound mind."

Ternan finally spoke. His filthy beard twitched with every movement of his lips.

[Ternan] "It is a disease that runs through the Gainers bloodline. They are destined to go mad at a young age, drowning in wine and lust until they meet an early grave. Just like the King before him, and the one before that. We all watched it happen. The Gainers are a bloodline that should never have held the throne."

His voice was hoarse and gloomy, sounding like molten lead bubbling in a cauldron. No matter what he said, his words felt like a heavy curse.

[Ternan] "You will be the same. You were born with that same blood. You cannot escape that cursed fate. That is why the Seven Houses gathered. I was trying to save Nauk. I could not allow the blood of Gainers to flow through this land any longer."

...A part of that was likely true.

Black remembered how his father would sometimes behave like a madman. There were days he would lock himself in his room, neither eating nor sleeping, or spend the entire day muttering gibberish. Sometimes he would explode in inexplicable rage, and at other times, he would lapse into a bottomless melancholy.

In his own memory, his father was not a great king. Perhaps a part of him even understood why the rebellion had happened.

Liene had once said that no one in the world could entirely ignore the grudges tied to their bloodline. She might have been right. Perhaps he hadn't just endured it, but had come to accept it.

[Black] "And?"

Black looked down without emotion at Ternan, who was kneeling before him in a wretched state.

[Ternan] "And... you say?"

Ternan stiffened his neck, glaring upward.

[Black] "So you committed treason, placed the Arsak family—who would play the role of 'good' kings—on the throne, and then joyfully carved up the crown amongst yourselves in the shadows. So what? Has Nauk become a better place to live because of it?"

[Ternan] "...It was better than living under a mad king."

[Black] "Hardly. Twenty years ago, this was the most prosperous kingdom in the south. Now, it is the poorest. Ah, perhaps you haven't heard that yet? Since you only recently crawled out of your grave?"

[Ternan] "......"

Ternan ground his teeth in silence.

[Black] "And you didn't start that rebellion for such noble reasons."

He spoke slowly, his face etched in dark shadows as he dragged the past into the light.

[Black] "The Power of Gods. You were trying to steal it."

[Ternan] "......!"

Ternan’s eyes snapped wide. The surrounding priests stood with their mouths agape, looking confused by the term.

Their reaction only confirmed Black's suspicion. Very few people knew of 'The Power of Gods.' It was likely a secret that only a select few among the rebel houses intended to monopolize twenty years ago.

[Black] "It likely has something to do with water... and can only be obtained with a key, correct?"

[Ternan] "......"

The distortion of Ternan’s face told Black he had hit the mark.

[Black] "You must have tortured Manau to learn about the Power of Gods. Manau was lucky enough to survive, but he had to remain silent ever since the Kleinfelters swallowed this kingdom. To stay alive."

This was news even to the priests.

[Priest] "What? Is that true?"

The priests tried to surge forward in agitation, but Tiwakan effectively blocked them.

[Black] "Now it’s your turn to tell me. About the Power of Gods and the key."

His lips twisted into a slight, cold smile.

[Black] "We should begin once Manau wakes up. He likely remembers the torture he endured twenty years ago quite clearly. I wonder how he’ll react if I tell him he can repay you in kind."

[Ternan] "......That will not happen."

There was one thing Black did not yet know. It was the fact that Ternan had not hidden in the Temple today by mere coincidence.

[Ternan] "You will not lay a single finger on me. You will leave this land of your own accord."

[Black] "And why is that?"

[Ternan] "Because if you don't, the daughter of Arsak will pay the price."

[Black] "What?"

Ternan let out a chilling laugh that suited a ghost who refused to die.

[Ternan] "If one of my fingernails is pulled, the daughter of Arsak will have a finger severed. If my leg is broken, her ankle will be cut."

[Black] "......"

Black’s face froze with a chilling intensity, looking as if it might crack under the pressure.

---

Her mind felt like a swamp. Her skin itched as if it were burning. She desperately craved the few drops of water falling onto her lips. Liene forced her stiff mouth open and swallowed.

Ah... it tastes strange.

It didn't seem like water. It was incredibly bitter, with a strong, fishy scent of raw grass.

What is this... why am I...

[Laffit] "Liene."

What is this...? Is this a nightmare?

Why was she hearing a voice that shouldn't be there?

She wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids wouldn't move. Her entire body felt the same. She felt as though she wouldn't be able to budge even if her skin were melting in a fire.

[Laffit] "Liene. My Liene..."

She felt a hand brush against her forehead. Then, the hand that had been stroking her cheek pressed against her lips.

Get that hand... away.

What are you... doing?

What kind of dream is this...

[Laffit] "You must open your mouth."

Why... what are you... trying to do.

[Laffit] "Just a little more. Just a little..."

Fingers pried between her lips, forcing her clenched teeth apart. She wanted to bite down hard to tell him not to touch her, but her body refused to obey.

[Laffit] "There, that’s it."

The bitter, fishy liquid from before surged into her mouth through her forced teeth.

She tried to spit it out, but someone covered her nose, causing her throat to gurgle involuntarily.

[Liene] "Ugh... cough!"

The foul liquid flowed down her throat for a long time. The moment that felt like it would never end finally ceased, and she broke into a fit of coughing.

[Laffit] "Liene!"

[Liene] "......!"

Her body began to move slightly. She realized that the voice she thought belonged in a nightmare was still echoing, and this moment might not be a dream after all.

The moment that thought occurred, her hand moved.

Smack!

With every ounce of strength she could muster, Liene struck Laffit across the face.

[Laffit] "......Ugh! Liene!"

It couldn't have hurt much. Her physical condition was far too poor for that.

Laffit’s left cheek bore only a faint, clumsy handprint. She ground her teeth in frustration. She should have hit him properly, hard enough to make his nose bleed.

[Liene] "What are you... Don't touch me... huff!"

Her entire body ached as if it were being wrung out. Liene felt a wave of dizziness pull at her limbs, and she slumped over.

...Right. This is poison.

Sir Weroz had applied poison to her. Then she had collapsed. But when she opened her eyes, Laffit was feeding her something. It tasted horrific, but since her body was starting to move, it was likely the antidote.

If so, this was a reality more terrible than the bitter, fishy taste.

It meant Weroz had joined hands with the Kleinfelters and betrayed the royal family.

[Liene] "What do you want?"

She forced strength into her body. She had to stay focused.

What the Kleinfelters wanted was obvious. They must have committed this act based on the absurd delusion of driving the Tiwakan out of Nauk.

But someone was feeding that delusion: the Princess of Sharka.

[Liene] "I don't want to talk for long. Tell me what you want from me. I will listen and then decide."

[Laffit] "Can't you at least greet me first?"

Laffit was talking nonsense.

Through her flickering vision, she finally began to take in her surroundings. She realized they were behind the dried waterfall, at the entrance of a labyrinthine cave. There was no one else in the immediate vicinity—just Laffit.

However, if she listened closely, she could hear faint voices. There were definitely more people outside.

[Liene] "No. I refuse."

[Laffit] "Liene..."

His expression twisted as if he were about to cry.

[Laffit] "I risked my life to cross the border just to save you. I cramped my body into the hidden compartment of a carriage, enduring pain that felt like my neck was breaking! Aren't you even curious why I went to such lengths to return to Nauk?"

[Liene] "Not in the least. I wish your neck had actually broken then."

[Laffit] "Liene! How can you say such a thing!"

[Liene] "You shouldn't have been exiled; you should have been hanged!"

She wanted to scream, but her throat felt like it was on fire. No matter how much strength she put into her words, her voice couldn't even escape the darkness of the cave.

Just bear it a little longer.

Once the antidote fully kicked in, she would be able to move. She could scream then.

This place wasn't very far from the castle. Tiwakan would have realized she was missing and started a search by now. If she screamed while running, she would be found quickly.

[Liene] "I was a fool to show you mercy that one last time. Lord Tiwakan put the most terrifying blade on the continent in my hand! To think I have to suffer like this again because I couldn't swing it... There's no fool like me."

[Laffit] "Liene!"

When Laffit lost his temper and shouted, someone approached from the darkness.

[Weroz] "Quiet! Are you trying to let everyone know we're hiding here?"

Liene immediately recognized the silhouette distorted by the shadows. It was Weroz.

[Weroz] "Forgive me, but I must gag you now. The Princess needs time to realize the truth."

[Liene] "I don't need time! Return me to the castle this instant. If you do, I might at least let you die in peace— mmmph!"

With a decisive motion, Weroz tied a cloth over Liene’s mouth. She could make muffled noises, but she didn't have the strength to push away a sturdy knight. She twisted her head to avoid him, but her efforts were in vain.

[Weroz] "The antidote seems to be working faster than expected. My apologies, Your Highness, but I must bind you."

Weroz took the rope that had tied the sack and pulled her hands behind her back to tie them.

...I should pretend to be weak. Otherwise, he'll tie my feet too.

Liene leaned her head against the ground as if exhausted.

[Laffit] "Damn it."

He clenched his hands and ground his teeth.

[Laffit] "You can't do this to me... after everything I’ve done to get you back."

...You should have done nothing. You stupid man.

[Laffit] "I even had to... sell my own body to get here..."

What is he talking about?

As she listened, her anger flared.

He did that because of me?

Is he implying I asked him to do that?

Absolutely absurd.

Laffit leaned down toward Liene as she lay on the ground.

[Laffit] "Look at me, Liene. Can't you see I’ve sacrificed everything for you? I have no pride left. You are the only thing I have. Look at me. Pity me."

After spewing such nonsense, he leaned in as if to kiss her forehead.

Prev

Chapters

Next