A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 1

[Liene] "I am furious."

Her brow was deeply furrowed as she bit into a peach harvested in late autumn. This was a fruit once unseen in Nauk, but with the borders expanding to Yadion Bay, foreign delicacies had begun to grace their tables.

Fermos had turned his keen eye toward new avenues of profit. He spoke tirelessly of his ambition to transform Yadion Bay into the largest port in the southern part of the continent.

He claimed that within ten years, the entire landscape of continental trade would be rewritten. He even suggested naming the new port after Liene.

She didn't mind that, of course. It meant prosperity for the kingdom, and the number of people who would benefit was endless.

In truth, Nauk was already becoming so wealthy that it was almost overwhelming, but wealth was undeniably better to have in abundance.

[Liene] "I am absolutely furious."

Crunch!

The problem was the timing.

When autumn began, she had been certain she was expecting a child. She had missed her cycle for a month, and everyone agreed it was a sure sign. Black had even commissioned three crowns to be made, scaled for a child's head. Since he wasn't sure which gems would suit the little one best, he intended for them to choose together once the baby was born.

Then, as if it were all a cruel joke, her monthly cycle returned the following month.

The disappointment had been so crushing that she had been bedridden for three days. She felt a surge of irritation toward the physicians, almost wishing she could strike them for being so wrong.

As the seasons shifted, she spent her time grappling with a sense of loss, melancholy, and sudden, explosive bursts of anger like the one she felt now.

Until yesterday, she had been too consumed by grief to leave her bed. Today, however, she found herself simply annoyed by everything.

The peach was delicious, but the juice ran down her hand, leaving it sticky.

That, too, made her angry.

Crunch!

[Liene] "I am so mad."

Even hitting the hard pit of the peach provoked her.

She was angry at the physicians who said she wasn't pregnant, angry at the sheer absurdity of the situation, and angry at herself for being cooped up in the bedroom, struggling to swallow her volatile emotions.

[Liene] "I hate this."

The peach juice that had trickled from her palm to her wrist left a small stain on her nightgown. Of all things, it had to be her new, snow-white gown, as soft as goose down.

[Liene] "……I really hate this."

She clutched the half-eaten peach and tried to steady her breathing. Tears threatened to spill over, but she felt ridiculous because she couldn't find a logical reason to let them fall.

What is wrong with me?

She knew, objectively, her life was filled with happiness and good fortune, yet her heart refused to follow her head. She felt as though she were the only one left behind, stuck in place.

What should I do?

She tilted her head back to keep the tears at bay. She felt that crying now would be a display of shamelessness.

She stared at the ceiling. After a moment, a pair of pale blue eyes entered her field of vision.

[Liene] "……I told you not to worry about me."

She was trying to avoid him, feeling guilty for showing him such a pathetic side of herself.

[Black] "I will just clean your hands and then go."

[Liene] "Didn't you say you had to go to Yadion Bay? I thought you had already departed."

[Black] "I sent Fermos instead. I couldn't bring myself to leave you."

[Liene] "……You should have just gone."

If he had, she wouldn't have felt the heavy burden of needing to hide from him.

Black reached out and gently took the half-eaten peach from her hand.

[Black] "Do you find the sight of me unpleasant?"

Of course not. I am just... ashamed to face you.

Seeing her give a small, subconscious shake of her head, he leaned down and left a tender kiss on her forehead.

[Black] "If that is not the case, then bear with me for a moment. I will clean your hands and disappear quickly."

[Liene] "......"

Black went to the washroom and returned with a towel. He had soaked it in warm water, and he used it to wipe away the sticky stains.

[Black] "I’ve been thinking,"

Even after her hands were clean, he did not let go. Nor did he disappear.

[Black] "If the peaches are sliced into small pieces, the juice won't get on your hands at all."

[Liene] "……I suppose so. I’ll have the Madam cut them for me."

[Black] "May I not do it?"

[Liene] "You?"

[Black] "I am quite skilled with a blade."

A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

[Liene] "Your blade isn't meant for such tasks."

[Black] "Trust me. I am capable with a small knife as well."

[Liene] "......"

[Black] "I am quite serious."

He called for an attendant and had them bring a small fruit knife.

As Liene watched him sit across from her on the bed, meticulously slicing the peach into bite-sized pieces, she felt the urge to cry again.

A mountain of peach slices soon piled up on a round plate. Until every peach in the basket was sliced, neither of them said a word. She couldn't even find the words to tell him that she couldn't possibly eat that much.

[Black] "Shall I do more?"

He asked this after slicing enough peaches to last a week.

[Liene] "I……"

She tried her best not to cry. She honestly did. She felt it would be shameless of her.

[Liene] "……What if it’s because of what I did?"

[Black] "What do you mean by that?"

[Liene] "I……"

Liene bit her lip hard.

[Liene] "……I lied before. I told you there was a child when there wasn't. I deceived you for so long. If this is the price I must pay, then what should I do……?"

[Black] "Is that what you’ve been thinking?"

He narrowed his eyes, his expression one of pure disbelief.

[Black] "People do not pay a karmic debt for every minor lie they tell. You must know that, Princess. The world does not operate in such a simple fashion."

[Liene] "I know, but…… no, this isn't something to be dismissed so easily. This concerns our child."

[Black] "The child will come when it is time. And even if they do not, it doesn't matter. We are still newlyweds."

[Liene] "That’s a lie. You were so happy when you thought it was true."

[Black] "Do you find our current life together lacking, Princess?"

[Liene] "No…… of course not."

[Black] "Then that is enough. It is enough for me as well."

He set aside the plate of peaches and moved closer, closing the distance between them.

[Black] "We haven't even been married a year. A child would have been too early."

[Liene] "……There is no such thing as 'too early' when it comes to a child."

[Black] "There is for me."

He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. Their gazes locked completely as he leaned his forehead against hers.

[Black] "Because I want to keep you all to myself for now."

[Liene] "You didn't say that when I told you I was pregnant."

[Black] "It wouldn't have been the right thing to say to a woman who just shared such news."

[Liene] "Hmm…… so you prefer things as they are now?"

[Black] "I would have been happy with a child, just as I am happy right now, exactly as we are."

Their noses brushed against each other. Sometimes, this gentle contact felt more intimate than a breathless kiss.

[Black] "After all, we won't get this honeymoon phase back again."

[Liene] "That is…… true."

He gave a soft chuckle. The sound of his laughter, rare as it was, always made her heart flutter.

[Black] "Because of that, I intend to be quite free for about a week."

[Liene] "I suppose Sir Fermos will be very busy then."

[Black] "You needn't worry about that. He can handle it."

[Liene] "I suppose he can."

Finally, a smile touched her lips. She realized she had been tormenting herself over something entirely unnecessary.

[Black] "And it’s not as if the Princess is ill."

He whispered, his lips grazing the corner of her mouth instead of a direct kiss.

[Liene] "I’m not ill."

[Black] "And it’s not as if you have a specific reason to be overly cautious with your body."

[Liene] "Hmm…… though it’s a bit disappointing, that is true."

[Black] "And it’s not as if you find the sight of me repulsive."

[Liene] "Of course not."

He gently nipped at her lower lip before letting go.

[Black] "Then, what would you like to do now?"

[Liene] "I’m not sure……"

She tapped the bridge of his handsome nose as she fell into thought.

He would be free for a whole week. What should they do?

[Black] "You’re thinking for a very long time. May I offer a suggestion?"

Tug.

Black began to undo the fastenings of his doublet. As the collar of his shirt fell open, his firm collarbones were revealed. He looked as magnificent as ever.

[Liene] "Mmm…… this feels less like a suggestion and more like a demand. Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"

The two of them were scheduled for their coronation soon. If she had been pregnant, it would have been postponed until spring, but since that wasn't the case, a winter ceremony would be lovely.

The view of Nauk Castle covered in snow would be breathtaking.

[Black] "Not at all. This is not a demand, Your Majesty. I believe a demand would look more like this……"

Cutting himself off, Black captured her lips and lowered her onto the bed. Her head sank into the soft pillow. She laughed aloud.

[Liene] "I’ve heard that a King who demands his Queen lie in bed is a tyrant."

[Black] "Keep laughing."

He tossed aside the rest of his doublet.

[Black] "Because you won't have time to laugh in a moment."

The weight of his body settled over her. With their fingers interlaced, he began to kiss her deeply. She felt a wave of dizziness. She squeezed his fingers and opened her lips to him.

The late autumn sun streaming through the curtains was brilliant. Even the slight heat of the sunlight on her skin felt provocative.

[Black] "You smell like peaches, Princess."

She murmured, licking her swollen lips.

His blue eyes were hazy, like a hot mist. Whenever he looked at her like that, a shiver ran down her spine.

[Liene] "I just ate a peach……"

[Black] "Precisely."

He leaned down to kiss her again, but it felt more like he was savoring her skin.

[Black] "Delicious."

[Liene] "......"

Those words sent a jolt of heat through her mind, but suddenly, a different kind of appetite flared up.

[Liene] "Wait a moment."

As his lips moved down her jawline, she abruptly sat up.

[Black] "……?"

He looked up at her, his eyes filled with confusion.

[Liene] "I want wild raspberry pie."

[Black] "……Right now?"

[Liene] "Yes."

She clenched her fists as she spoke.

[Liene] "I don't know what to do. I want it so badly. Now that I’ve thought of it, I can't think of anything else."

[Black] "……So, you mean, right this second?"

[Liene] "Yes."

[Black] "......"

He glanced up at the ceiling for a brief moment.

[Black] "I’ll have them make it. While we wait for the pie……"

Crunch.

There was no need for further words. Liene had already scrambled up, pulled the plate of peaches toward her, and popped a slice into her mouth. Since they were cut into bite-sized pieces, they fit perfectly, and no juice escaped.

[Liene] "This really was a great idea."

[Black] "……I’m glad you think so."

Black gave a slightly pained smile.

Liene looked perfectly happy, munching on her peaches and clutching the plate as if someone might take it from her. Compared to the days she spent suffering alone, this was something to be grateful for.

[Black] "Is there anything else you’re craving besides the pie?"

[Liene] "Not yet. …… Oh, I think I might want some red bean pudding as well."

[Black] "Anything else?"

[Liene] "We’ll see. I’m strangely starving."

[Black] "It’s because you haven't eaten properly for days."

Black began to re-fasten his half-undone shirt.

Liene, busy with her peaches, didn't even notice him getting dressed again. Once he was finished, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her temple.

[Black] "I’ll be back."

[Liene] "Ah, wait."

She popped a slice of peach into his mouth. Despite his internal predicament, the peach was sweet and crisp.

[Liene] "Is it good?"

[Black] "……Yes."

With her eyes crinkled in a smile, Liene looked just like a fresh peach herself. He couldn't resist leaning in to lick a drop of juice from her lips.

[Black] "Save some for me."

[Liene] "There are plenty of peaches."

[Black] "Not the peaches."

The Princess.

[Liene] "......"

Whether she understood the words he didn't say aloud, her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink.

Black reluctantly let her go. After all, he intended to be free for a whole week. There was plenty of time.

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