A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 10

[Henton] "That is..."

She faltered, swallowing her words.

[Henton] "...I do not believe it is my place to say."

[Shellan] "Why not?"

[Dieff] "Is someone forbidding you from telling us?"

A complex expression crossed Madam Henton’s face—one far too nuanced for seven-year-old children to fully grasp.

[Henton] "It is likely because the Princess and Prince are still quite young."

[Shellan] "Pardon? That sounds very strange."

Madam Henton offered a lonely smile, the kind worn by someone who had lost a loved one a very long time ago.

[Henton] "Regardless, I must tidy this room. This painting must go back to its place... actually, it would be best to inform the King. How did you two happen to discover this?"

It was a moment where the twins could only keep their mouths shut.

[Dieff] "It just... happened..."

[Henton] "It just happened that you opened the door to the locked jewel chamber and found a painting no one knew existed? To open that door, you would have needed to borrow Flambard’s key."

[Shellan] "..."

[Dieff] "..."

[Henton] "Since you have no answer, I take it you borrowed it in secret. I cannot overlook this. Both of you, come with me. We are going to return that key to her immediately."

If they left now, it was obvious they would be scolded without learning a single thing.

Shellan’s mind raced.

[Shellan] "Fine. We’ll go. But in exchange, tell us why that portrait looks exactly like Father."

[Henton] "I have already told you that I cannot say."

[Shellan] "Then I’m not leaving."

She promptly plopped down onto the jewel chamber floor.

[Dieff] "Shellan...?"

Dieff looked at her in distress for a moment before eventually sitting down right beside his sister.

Though they were generally well-behaved children, they were undeniably stubborn. It was a trait they had likely inherited from Liene.

When Shellan was in this state, only Black could usually talk her out of it.

[Henton] "Princess. Why are you so desperate to know? You will find out when you are older."

[Shellan] "It is a matter of great importance to me. Isn't that right, Dieff?"

Dieff looked back and forth between the Madam and Shellan before nodding firmly.

[Dieff] "If it is important to Shellan, it is important to me, Madam."

[Henton] "...If you both continue to be so headstrong, I will not provide any snacks this evening. I cannot bring myself to spank you, but I can certainly withhold treats. What will it be?"

[Dieff] "Oh, but that's—"

She cut him off by tugging sharply on his sleeve.

[Shellan] "Fine. We won't eat any snacks."

[Henton] "Not just today, but tomorrow as well. I shall stop making the red bean pudding you love so much, Princess."

[Shellan] "That’s... that’s too cruel!"

[Henton] "Then stand up and let us return the key to Madam Flambard."

[Shellan] "No! I still won't go!"

Shellan shook her head to clear her inner conflict.

What she wanted to know was far too significant. She was at a point where she had to uncover whether Sir Renfel was royalty and if he was biding his time for revenge.

Madam Henton, who shared the same name, clearly knew about the painting but chose to hide it. There was a connection between them. In her eyes, those who hid secrets were rarely the "good guys."

[Shellan] "I must know what that painting is."

Shellan went from sitting to lying flat on the floor. Dieff, feeling he had no choice, lay down beside her.

[Henton] "Haaa..."

She let out a long sigh and shook her head.

[Henton] "Then stay here if you wish. I am going to go eat red bean pudding myself."

[Shellan] "..."

Shellan flinched at the mention of her favorite treat, but the twins didn't budge.

---

They would surely catch a cold if they stayed there much longer. The jewel chamber had no fireplace.

Reluctantly, Madam Flambard and Madam Henton brought in a brazier—one Liene had used during her pregnancy—to light a fire. They laid thick blankets on the floor for the children to lie on, piling up cushions and quilts.

It wasn't cold anymore, but hunger was beginning to set in.

[Shellan] "I want red bean pudding…"

She muttered to herself.

[Dieff] "I just want to eat anything at all."

He agreed from beside her.

[Dieff] "Madam Renfel was the one who said no snacks. Don't you think Madam Flambard might be different?"

[Shellan] "...That’s a silly thought. They're on the same side. They're practically twins."

[Dieff] "We’re twins too, but we’re different."

[Shellan] "Don't argue semantics. My point is that those two won't act differently from one another."

[Dieff] "But Madam Flambard is so kind."

[Shellan] "Madam Renfel was, too."

[Dieff] "That’s true..."

Dieff fell silent, his face dejected. He was hungry, bored, and the jewel chamber was pitch black.

[Dieff] "Shellan? I miss Mother."

[Shellan] "And Father."

[Dieff] "Father would scold us if he knew about this."

[Shellan] "Indeed. But Mother wouldn't be much different."

[Dieff] "Still, she would listen to our reasons."

[Shellan] "Yes. She would listen, and then scold us for what we did wrong."

[Dieff] "I suppose so..."

[Shellan] "That’s why we have to tell her about the things that gave us no choice but to do wrong."

[Dieff] "Right."

The twins found a bit of renewed energy.

[Shellan] "Let’s think about what to say when Mother arrives."

[Dieff] "Yes. Let's do that."

---

The night wore on. Bathed in the faint moonlight filtered through the blizzard, the twins eventually drifted into a light sleep.

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

Liene didn't return to the castle until nearly dawn.

Rescuing people from the frozen river had been an arduous task. However, thanks to everyone's combined efforts, no lives were lost. There were several injuries, but no fatalities—a fact she was genuinely grateful for. She intended to build a sturdier bridge as soon as the blizzard subsided.

After such a grueling day, she returned to the castle exhausted, only to find her children missing.

[Flambard] "So, they are currently in the jewel chamber. They fell asleep after skipping dinner."

[Liene] "I can't believe it... where on earth did they learn such stubbornness?"

The madam answered bluntly.

[Flambard] "They learned it from you, Your Majesty."

[Liene] "From me?"

[Flambard] "Could it be from anyone else?"

Liene shook her head.

[Liene] "I was never like that. It must be that Gainers blood."

This time, it was the madam’s turn to shake her head.

[Flambard] "...Well, if that’s what you wish to believe. Your bath is being prepared, so please wait a moment. Would you like to change your clothes first?"

[Liene] "No. I’ll see the children first. I can't just leave them there, being so headstrong."

Liene followed Madam Flambard toward the jewel chamber. Inside, Madam Henton was sitting by the sleeping twins, watching over them.

[Henton] "You’ve returned. How did the matter go?"

[Liene] "There were some injuries. A relief, I suppose, given the circumstances. But Madam, you’ve had a hard time in this room without a fireplace because of these two."

[Henton] "Raising children always involves one thing or another. Still, they are both quite sensible."

[Liene] "Ah, I find that hard to believe right now. Not with these little troublemakers."

Having only managed to shed her outer coat, Liene approached the twins while still carrying the chill of the outdoors.

[Liene] "Shellan. Dieff."

[Dieff] "...Mmm. ...Oh, Mother?"

Dieff opened his eyes first. Shellan was usually a deep sleeper, but interestingly, she would often wake up right after Dieff did.

[Shellan] "Mother!"

Shellan lunged into her arms.

[Liene] "Wait, my clothes are likely damp. If you hug me like this, you’ll get cold, Shellan. It’s better to stay back."

[Shellan] "I missed you so much."

[Dieff] "Me too."

Dieff followed Shellan’s lead. Liene could no longer push them away and stroked their hair.

They look like absolute angels. And yet they caused the Madams so much grief. Why on earth did they do it?

[Liene] "Yes. I missed you both very much as well. I would have preferred to see you sleeping peacefully in your beds, but I suppose I’m still happy to see you like this."

[Shellan] "Me too."

[Dieff] "I'm happy to see you, too."

When she felt they had hugged enough, she gently pulled away from them.

[Liene] "Now, we have more to do than just greet each other. First, shall we discuss why you are here instead of in your bedroom?"

[Shellan] "Well, you see..."

Liene didn't miss the way Shellan’s clever eyes darted about.

[Liene] "Go on. Tell me."

[Shellan] "The thing is..."

What came next was quite unexpected.

[Shellan] "I will tell you only when no one else is around. This is a huge and important matter that threatens the royal house of Nauk."

[Liene] "What...?"

Dieff nodded his head fervently. The twins were incredibly serious.

---

Children really do grow up in the blink of an eye...

That was Liene’s reflection after hearing the full story of today’s mischief.

They had moved from the jewel chamber. While the two madams moved the children to their bedroom, Liene had quickly washed and changed.

Despite the late hour, the twins were wide awake, waiting for her. And as if they had been waiting for this moment, they began their tale.

Dieff went to the door to check if anyone was eavesdropping, while Shellan whispered into Liene’s ear.

The story flowed out steadily: their suspicion of Sir Renfel for knowing the underground passages, searching the royal records, discovering the missing records, and then sneaking into the jewel chamber.

They spoke of the highly suspicious painting and Madam Henton’s attempt to hide the truth.

When did they grow so much? I didn't know anything until that man actually appeared before me.

There was only one reason the past of Nauk had been kept hidden. The children were still young. Though the events of thirty years ago had largely healed, the weight of that history was still too heavy for them to bear.

They had discovered on their own what Liene had intended to keep secret until they reached adulthood.

Liene felt a sense of pride, but also a touch of sadness.

If you grow up this fast, what am I to do? To me, you still feel like tiny babies.

[Liene] "Sir Renfel is not royalty."

Perhaps the children were indeed old enough to know the secret.

[Liene] "Before House Arsak took the crown, the family that held it was the Gainers. I gave him the name Renfel as a reward for protecting the Gainers bloodline."

[Shellan] "...?"

[Dieff] "Hmm..."

The children looked confused.

[Shellan] "If the Gainers bloodline was protected, why did House Arsak inherit the crown? No kingdom does things that way."

[Liene] "That is because Nauk was a very special place."

[Dieff] "How was it special?"

[Liene] "Well, that's..."

Liene was in the middle of choosing her words when—

Thud, thud!

Someone knocked urgently on the door.

[Liene] "Come in."

The door to the twins' bedroom swung open. It was a Tiwakan who had gone to Alaudin with Liene. His nose was still red from the cold.

[Tiwakan] "Your Majesty! His Majesty is returning. He is roughly an hour away."

[Liene] "Oh, is that so?"

A smile spread across her face instinctively.

It was a relief. Everyone was safe. The blizzard that had been lashing the world suddenly felt a bit warmer.

She stood up abruptly.

[Liene] "An hour isn't long at all. I must go to the castle gate to meet him."

[Shellan] "I want to go too!"

[Dieff] "Me too!"

The twins clung to her skirts. It was very late, but she felt she didn't have to force them to sleep tonight.

The blizzard would soon cease, and the joy of welcoming someone back would melt away the chill like the coming of spring.

[Liene] "You must wrap your cloaks tightly, then. Put on your socks and earmuffs as well."

[Shellan] "Yes, Mother!"

Bundled up against the cold, Liene and her children headed toward the castle gate.

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