A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 11

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of logs burning in the fireplace felt cozy. Equally cozy were the people who had bathed, changed into their nightclothes, and tucked themselves back into bed.

Today, they had pushed the twins' beds together, creating one massive bed where the entire family could lie down together.

The twins were ecstatic. Even as dawn approached, they showed no signs of sleepiness.

Dief had noticed a bruise where the chest of drawers had pressed against him, but he didn't mind. When his mother blew gently on it with a "ho-ho," the pain vanished instantly. It was the same for Shellan’s fingernails.

[Shellan] "Mother, please tell us now. You promised to finish the story once Father finished his bath."

Shellan clung to Liene, persistently asking about the events of the past.

[Dief] "That’s right. Please tell us."

Dief clung to her other side.

Whenever the four of them were together, it usually went like this: the children clung to Liene, and Black embraced Liene as she held the children.

[Liene] "Well... yes, I suppose I did."

She turned to Black with a slightly troubled expression.

[Liene] "I don't think I can get out of this, can I?"

[Black] "It seems unlikely."

Black whispered as he kissed the crown of her head. It felt like he was cheering her on, causing her to let out a soft laugh.

[Liene] "You’re not planning to leave this all to me, are you?"

[Black] "I could do it, but I doubt I have the talent to soften the story for children’s ears."

[Liene] "That’s just an excuse."

He pressed his lips to hers again.

[Black] "I shall do my best to assist."

[Liene] "Oh, you’re too much."

Liene shook her head and turned her attention back to the twins.

How should she put this into words...?

[Shellan] "Sir Renfel isn't royalty, so how did he know the paths that only royals are supposed to know?"

Thankfully, Shellan opened the conversation for her.

Liene stroked Shellan’s hair as she answered.

[Liene] "That is because he is a protector of the King even before he earned the name Renfel."

[Shellan] "Was that King an Arsak, or a Gainers?"

[Liene] "A Gainers."

[Shellan] "The last King of Gainers had the same eyes as Father. Does that mean Father was a Gainers?"

[Liene] "That is also correct."

[Shellan] "Then there must be a reason why Father’s surname is known as Tiwakan."

Liene was startled by how grown-up Shellan sounded.

[Liene] "......Yes."

[Shellan] "I want to know. Please tell us."

The blizzard had settled into a heavy snowfall. Instead of the howling winds that threatened to tear the sky apart, the sound of snow softly piling up filled the night.

The painful and sad past, which didn't feel like an old story at all, became a bit softer with the accompaniment of the falling snow.

[Liene] "......So, when your father came to Nauk to propose... Dief? It looks like you’re finally sleepy."

Her gentle stroking of Dief’s forehead had invited sleep. The children were nodding off before they knew it.

Black sat up and laid them down properly.

[Shellan] "But......"

Unlike Dief, who lay down obediently, Shellan murmured something.

[Shellan] "If the King of Arsak...... were still alive...... he would have...... waited."

[Liene] "Hmm, Shellan? What did you say?"

[Shellan] "He didn't...... throw away the painting."

[Shellan] "He must have been waiting...... for the young prince of Gainers to return......"

Her lips moved slightly before her eyes closed completely.

After propping Shellan up with a pillow, Black wrapped his arms around Liene’s waist from behind.

[Black] "She might be right."

[Liene] "About what Shellan said?"

[Black] "Yes."

[Liene] "That’s......"

Liene thought for a moment and then patted the back of his hand with a sorry expression.

[Liene] "We can't say that’s true just because of a single painting."

[Black] "It carries a great deal of meaning, doesn't it?"

[Liene] "Does it? We don't even know who kept it. Just because it has a seal doesn't necessarily mean my father was the one who did it."

[Black] "Think about it. There wouldn't have been just one painting."

During those glorious days, there would have been an abundance of paintings. The walls would have been covered with art and decorations until no space remained.

Yet, everything that could be associated with the Gainers royal family had vanished. One only had to look at the missing royal records to see how obsessive they had been about erasing all traces of the Gainers.

The fact that this one painting remained was significant. It couldn't be said to be meaningless.

[Liene] "If that’s the case......"

[Black] "Perhaps that painting was the final key we needed to find."

The past could not be undone, and the dead could not be brought back, but they could be forgiven.

Since Ternan Kleinfelter—who had led the rebellion of the seven houses—was dead, there was no way to know for sure what her father's true stance had been. However, a small seed that might bloom into forgiveness remained.

[Liene] "Can you honestly forget everything because of that?"

[Black] "I have already forgotten it all. I thought you knew that."

[Liene] "......You’re right. I’m the one who hasn't been able to let go."

[Black] "You can stop now. Honestly, it’s something that should have been forgotten long ago."

But it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

Black, who told her to forget so easily, was the strange one. A strange...... and incredible man.

If I were in his position, Nauk would never have regained its water.

[Black] "I think it’s time we went to bed as well...... Oh. Are you tired?"

He asked, his lips grazing her ear.

[Liene] "Yes. Let’s head back."

As if Dief had heard Liene in his sleep, He kicked off the blanket. Shellan pushed her pillow away with her head.

Black let go of Liene for a moment and turned to cover them with the blanket and adjust their pillows. His touch was that of a devoted father, but his expression was another story.

[Black] "This is problematic."

[Liene] "What is?"

[Black] "The children like you far too much."

[Liene] "Is that a problem?"

[Black] "The time I get to have you to myself keeps shrinking."

[Liene] "What are you talking about?"

He glanced at the children.

[Black] "Look."

This time, Shellan burrowed into the blanket and then pushed it off entirely. While Black picked it up, she began to slide sideways, trying to steal Dief’s blanket.

[Liene] "I didn't know their sleeping habits were this bad. But how does this mean they like me?"

Black retrieved Dief’s blanket and covered Shellan with her own.

[Black] "They aren't usually this restless."

[Liene] "Hmm?"

[Black] "When you are watching them, their behavior becomes exceptionally extreme. It’s as if they’re trying to hold onto you so you won't leave."

[Liene] "......? Really? I had no idea."

[Black] "That’s because you aren't as sensitive to these things as I am."

After making sure the children were tucked in, Black held out his hand to Liene.

[Black] "Let’s go now. Ah, don't let your footsteps be heard. If you do, we might never actually leave."

[Liene] "Surely not."

As she stepped away, one of the twins let out a soft groan. Black immediately placed both hands over Liene’s ears.

[Black] "It’s just a noise they make in their sleep. Don't worry about it and just walk. Quietly."

[Liene] "Even if I muffle my footsteps, the door will make a sound when it opens."

[Black] "Once the door is open, there’s no turning back."

[Liene] "What if someone kicks the blanket off again?"

[Black] "If they get cold, they’ll find it and cover themselves."

[Liene] "That sounds a bit like heartless parenting."

[Black] "It is rational and fair parenting. Let them at least gain the realization that they’ll be cold if they kick off the blanket."

[Liene] "Mhm."

It still sounded a bit cold, but his words had merit. They couldn't spend every night watching them sleep. Besides, the children were growing fast. Even if they felt like babies to Liene, they weren't anymore. They were at an age where they could pull a blanket back over themselves.

Creak, thud.

Black opened the door cautiously and shut it quickly. Liene felt like she might burst into laughter.

[Liene] "Oh, I almost forgot."

They walked hand-in-hand toward the King’s bedroom.

Liene whispered as they approached the nearby room.

[Liene] "Both of them need to be punished. They caused such a mess today."

[Black] "I agree. Deceiving the madams and leaving their bedrooms was wrong."

[Liene] "And lying on the floor of the jewel chamber, throwing a tantrum. Oh, and borrowing the key in secret—that won't do either. What kind of punishment should we give? Madam Henton said she won't make red bean pudding for them anymore."

[Black] "That’s a separate matter."

[Liene] "True. What do you think? Should we have them help with clearing the snow?"

With the blizzard, the snow outside must be at least calf-deep. It had to be cleared before it froze, an arduous task that required everyone in the castle to pitch in.

[Black] "What if they catch a cold?"

Black, who had just been acting heartlessly by saying children should learn for themselves, was now worrying about a cold.

[Liene] "We’ll dress them warmly and won't leave them out long enough to get sick. As long as you don't start a snowball fight with them for no reason, they won't catch a cold."

[Black] "That seems a bit heartless."

[Liene] "Wow. I was the one who said that. It sounds like you're twisting the facts, Your Majesty."

Liene giggled as she opened the bedroom door.

The room, where Madam Flambard had pre-lit a fire, was cozy.

Thud.

Black used his foot to close the door. He didn't use his hands because both were currently busy.

[Black] "I’ve missed you."

His hands cupped her cheeks. The warmth starting from his palms began to spread evenly through her entire body.

[Liene] "I missed you, too."

[Black] "Then show me. Show me how much you missed me."

Aside from the flickering firelight, the room was entirely dark.

Liene felt that there was no place in the world where the darkness felt this welcoming.

[Liene] "How?"

[Black] "However you wish."

He whispered in a voice as deep as the darkness. His breath touched her skin, sending a shiver down her shoulders.

[Liene] "Lower your head a little."

[Black] "With pleasure."

He bent his knees slightly. She reached out both arms, draped them around his neck, and pressed her lips to his. At the same time, her body was lifted into the air. It was a gesture all too familiar to them both.

[Liene] "I hope everyone oversleeps tomorrow."

Her back touched the plush bedding.

Supporting her neck with one hand, Black used the other to loosen the knot of her robe.

[Black] "They will. Everyone was exhausted."

[Liene] "It sounds like you’re saying you’re exhausted, too."

[Black] "Yes. I plan to be exhausted... by the time morning comes."

The fabric rustled as it fell to the floor.

She caressed her husband’s face—a face that was still breathtakingly handsome—with all the longing of the past few days.

[Liene] "So you aren't tired at all right now?"

[Black] "That would be a problem."

He lowered his head, and their bodies overlapped. His lips, which seemed to grow sweeter every day, brushed past her earlobe and tickled her cheek as they descended.

[Black] "I hope you aren't either."

Where his lips touched, her skin turned a rosy red.

The disarrayed fabric, the touch of his hands on every inch of her, and the breath seeping in close—it was all so good it almost brought her to tears.

[Liene] "I think I can delay being tired, that is."

She murmured like a sigh.

Black wrapped one arm around her leg, prompting her to bend her knee, and asked.

[Black] "How long do you think you can delay it?"

[Liene] "Hmm...... well. Until tomorrow morning?"

[Black] "Excellent."

Then, her lips were swallowed. A moment arrived where she envied nothing else in the world. She closed her eyes, scattered a low sigh, and pulled his neck close with all her might.

There was still a long time before the next morning.

---

The Castle of Nauk welcomed an unusually late morning. In the snow that had piled up overnight, bird tracks remained like decorations.

Around noon, when the sun rose, people finally woke up, ate a hearty breakfast, and came out to start clearing the snow.

It was only natural that the task of clearing snow turned into making snowmen, and then into a snowball fight.

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