A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 98

※The Princess Consort's Messenger※

[Liene] "Ouch!"

A sharp sting shot through her foot; the sole had likely been cut.

She bent down again, her fingers brushing against the cold floor. Beneath her touch, she felt a continuous row of hard, jagged protrusions.

[Liene] "I think this is the right way."

It matched her memory. She recalled how walking through this specific area barefoot had been exceptionally painful.

[Liene] "But this... this is strange."

The thought had crossed her mind back then as well—that this path felt less like a natural cave and more like a deliberate labyrinth. Feeling the floor now only solidified that suspicion.

[Liene] "The intervals are too constant."

The protrusions were far too rhythmical to be mere stones.

[Liene] "Someone... someone built this."

She didn't have to think long to realize who. This was a path permitted only to those of Gainers blood—a secret known only to them. Its creator must have been a Gainers as well.

Suddenly, her heart began to race.

[Liene] "Does this... have something to do with the Power of Gods?"

This path lay behind the nine waterfalls, deep within the hill upon which Nauk Castle was built. For all she knew, the castle’s very foundations were right above her head.

[Liene] "He said the Power of Gods was likely related to water."

Water. Nine waterfalls. An unknown mechanism. The secrets of the Gainers royalty. And the key that the Kleinfelters had tried so desperately to steal.

She felt a tingling sensation at her fingertips, as if the truth were almost within reach, yet the full picture remained just out of reach.

[Liene] "I’m going mad... what could it be?"

Getting out of here had to be her priority.

Clutching her pounding heart with one hand, she pressed forward into the dark.

---

After leaving the Temple, Black returned to Nauk Castle with haste.

Though eight had set out, only two returned: Black and Fermos. The rest remained at the Temple Square.

They had driven stakes into the center of the plaza, binding Ternan and his men to them as a public warning. It was a clear declaration that Tiwakan held hostages.

[Randall] "My Lord! I have something to—!"

Randall spoke with the air of a man prepared for death.

Before his horse could even come to a full stop, Black leaped down.

Grab!

[Randall] "…Ugh!"

Black’s hand shot out, seizing Randall by the throat and lifting him off the ground. His pale blue eyes were so cold they seemed devoid of any color at all.

[Black] "If anything happens to Liene."

His lips moved slowly, a sight so unsettling it was as if a stone statue had suddenly begun to speak.

[Black] "Consider yourselves dead. Every single one of you. No exceptions."

[Randall] "I... I understand... My Lord..."

Thud.

Black dropped Randall as if discarding a piece of trash.

Fermos followed closely as Black stormed into the main palace.

[Fermos] "What of Renfel?"

[Randall] "He was... cough... he was poisoned."

[Fermos] "Poison? What are the symptoms?"

[Randall] "He isn't dead, but... he’s unconscious. He has a slight fever, and a rash has appeared on the back of his hand. The physician believes the poison was applied topically."

[Fermos] "The same poison. Did you check his clothes?"

[Randall] "No."

[Fermos] "I’ll have to see for myself. Is the physician with him? Have someone standing by to fetch ingredients for an antidote. And what about that brat from Alito?"

[Randall] "Prince Dieren is also unconscious. We are currently interrogating his servant. We confiscated a letter addressed to the Prince; apparently, Prince Vasheyd of the Sharka Kingdom is dead. The messenger who brought the letter tried to flee, but we caught and imprisoned him. He is being interrogated as we speak."

[Fermos] "Use the antidote as a bargaining chip. Tell them there will be no cure for the Prince unless they tell us everything they know."

[Randall] "Understood."

[Fermos] "I’m asking this just in case there’s some shadow of an excuse—how did this happen?"

[Randall] "The Guard Commander betrayed us. He deceived the guards so that we couldn't react in time."

That betrayal had cost them precious time. Tiwakan, having lost all trust in the Nauk Guard, had excluded them from the search, leading to constant friction between the two groups.

[Fermos] "What? You mean the man who disappeared a month ago?"

[Randall] "Yes."

[Fermos] "Hah... what a mess. I’m going crazy."

Randall pouted, looking utterly miserable.

[Randall] "Could you perhaps put in a good word for me with the Lord? I mean, who could have guessed that Commander would turn out to be a traitor? Wasn't he completely devoted to the Princess?”

[Randall] "And while we’re on the subject, is this how a royal messenger is supposed to act? That bastard arrived in a carriage with a hollowed-out seat! He clearly smuggled someone in. What kind of messenger does that? That’s a tactic used in war!"

Fermos smacked the back of Randall’s head.

[Fermos] "Shut up! Do you think complaining is going to get you a 'well done' or 'good job'? Regardless of the circumstances, you should have protected the Princess!"

[Randall] "I have no defense for that. Sigh..."

Randall let out a heavy, deflated sigh. Even now, he didn't want to believe that the events of last night were real.

[Fermos] "Just keep moving. The Lord is already out of sight."

[Randall] "Right..."

The two men hurried up the stairs of the main palace.

---

[Black] "Throw them all in the dungeon."

[Tiwakan] "Yes, My Lord."

Black settled the situation with terrifying efficiency. He didn't even listen to the Captain of the Guard, who screamed until his throat was raw about his innocence.

Every member of the Nauk Guard was imprisoned.

[Fermos] "I understand and agree with your decision, My Lord, but the lack of manpower is a problem. The more people we have for the search, the better."

[Black] "Those who are not in sync with us are only a hindrance."

[Fermos] "On that note, what if we mobilize the citizens of Nauk? If they move voluntarily in groups of five, they can monitor each other, even if there are some madmen among them."

It was a plan that relied on the premise that Liene was a beloved ruler.

[Black] "And if men working for the Kleinfelters infiltrate the groups?"

[Fermos] "We simply announce that the Kleinfelters hired those who kidnapped the Princess. The people will weed out anyone associated with that house themselves."

[Black] "Then do it."

Under normal circumstances, Black would have deliberated further, but he didn't have the luxury of time.

This was the second time. He had thought once was enough, but it had happened again. And the second time was far more horrific.

[Fermos] "Understood. I will take care of it immediately."

Fermos passed the orders to Randall, who ran outside at once.

---

[Tiwakan] "This way, My Lord."

A Tiwakan opened a cell door—the very same one where Lyndon had once been held.

[Tiwakan] "We have him here."

[Black] "......"

Black entered the cell without a word.

Baiyar, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead, looked up.

[Baiyar] "So, you’ve finally arrived."

The cell was dark, as always, but there was enough light to identify him.

[Black] "Did the Grand Duke send you?"

Black remembered Baiyar as the Grand Duke’s errand boy back when he stayed in the Alito Duchy. He recalled how strangely the Grand Duke had doted on him.

[Baiyar] "No."

[Black] "Then it must be the Princess Consort."

Baiyar let out an eerie laugh, his face slick with blood.

[Black] "What do you want?"

[Baiyar] "She wants the marriage annulled."

[Black] "And if I refuse?"

[Baiyar] "Princess Liene dies."

[Black] "Where is she?"

[Baiyar] "By now, she should be crossing the border into the Sharka Kingdom."

It was a lie. But Baiyar was an expert liar, and Black had no clues regarding Liene’s whereabouts.

Black nodded slowly.

[Black] "I will do as you wish. Bring Liene back."

[Baiyar] "......You’re lying."

Baiyar was sharp. He knew Black wouldn't simply obey Princess Blini’s demands so easily.

[Baiyar] "The annulment comes first. Give me the necessary documents, and I will deliver them to Her Highness. Only then can Princess Liene return to Nauk."

[Black] "Liene disappeared around midnight. That was less than five hours ago... and since no carriage could have been used, even if they traveled on foot, they wouldn't have reached the border yet."

Black furrowed his brows and muttered in a low voice. He wasn't speaking to Baiyar; it was more of a monologue.

[Black] "She is still somewhere in Nauk... If Weroz is the one who took her, he would know places where no one would look. If they waited there... but that’s strange. Even if they wait, there’s no way out. Yet there have been no reports of movement."

[Baiyar] "Consider that with every passing moment, Princess Liene’s life is slipping away. I used poison. You’ve been to the Temple, so you’ve seen it with your own eyes—the Cardinal. It’s the same poison. If she doesn't receive the antidote, she’ll become a mindless fool, drooling until she dies—"

Baiyar’s voice cut off. Black was holding him by the jaw. His shimmering blue eyes looked empty, sending a chill down Baiyar’s spine.

The God of War wore such eyes on the battlefield—eyes that were so void of everything that they looked capable of killing anyone.

[Baiyar] "Ugh, h-hee... Aaaargh!"

Crack!

The jawbone in Black’s grip shattered. As Baiyar screamed, blood sprayed across the room. Droplets of blood landed on Black’s face, but he didn't even blink.

Thud.

Black released his grip on Baiyar’s jaw.

[Black] "What did you say earlier?"

[Fermos] "…Yes, My Lord?"

Fermos had been momentarily distracted by the sight of Baiyar writhing on the floor. He quickly composed himself and straightened his back.

[Black] "When you were talking to Randall. You mentioned the hidden seat in the carriage was empty."

Fermos was amazed; Black had heard everything even while walking far ahead.

[Fermos] "I said I couldn't believe a messenger would do such a thing. That it’s a tactic used in war... Wait, surely you don't mean...?"

[Black] "You said Prince Vasheyd is dead."

[Fermos] "Yes. Then—"

[Black] "Blini Vasheyd is sending an army."

[Fermos] "That lunatic."

Fermos ground his teeth involuntarily.

[Fermos] "Even if she’s out of her mind, she’s still a Princess Consort. Does she really not realize the consequences? The only army a Princess Consort—not even a Queen—can move is obvious.”

[Fermos] "There’ll be a bunch of idlers who helped out at the Prince’s palace or joined his hunts. Their numbers won't be high. Coming here will only lead to their slaughter... Oh, for heaven's sake."

He suddenly cursed under his breath.

[Fermos] "So that’s why they struck Princess Liene first. It’s the only way to tie your hands. That woman doesn't want a real war; she’s just putting on a show to claim the spoils."

His heart raced, but his mind grew cold.

[Black] "Go to the border. Strike first. There is only one road from Sharka, so it will be easy to cut them down. Kill them all, but leave one alive to send back. The sooner, the better."

[Fermos] "Understood. And the Princess...?"

[Black] "She’s here."

Black whispered, clutching his chest.

[Black] "Somewhere here. She can’t be far. I will find her."

[Fermos] "Yes, then—"

He started to say something, but quickly shook his head. It was better to remain silent. Nothing he said would make a difference now.

[Fermos] "How many men should I leave behind?"

[Black] "How many do you think Sharka will send?"

[Fermos] "A hundred at most. And that’s being generous."

[Black] "Then take fifty."

[Fermos] "What? Isn't that too many?"

[Black] "I want this finished quickly. Once you’ve dealt with them, join the search for Liene."

It was clear Black didn't intend to spend even half a day dealing with the army sent by Princess Blini.

[Fermos] "Understood."

Ambushes during transit were Fermos’s specialty. He was already mapping out the roads in his mind, searching for the best way to crush the Sharka reinforcements.

[Fermos] "I will return sooner than you think."

Fermos departed into the early dawn.

Baiyar, with his shattered jaw, was not left in the cell; he was moved to Temple Square and staked alongside Ternan Kleinfelter.

Whoever had been hidden in his carriage would surely lose their nerve upon seeing that sight.

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