A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 18

※Blood is Thicker than Water※

[Liene] "No! You cannot."

She cried out, her voice laced with flustered urgency.

[Black] "…May I not?"

The reply came as a low, velvety whisper through the wood.

[Liene] "Yes. Right now is… not a good time."

[Black] "What is it that isn't good?"

She meant that she was in no state to face him, but his mind went elsewhere.

[Black] "Your mood?"

[Liene] "No, it’s not that…"

She shook her damp hair.

[Liene] "I am sorry for breaking my promise. But I genuinely cannot go through with it tonight."

[Black] "Liene."

Thud.

Along with his voice, she heard a soft friction against the door. It was a sound she recognized well—the sound of him sliding down to sit on the floor, leaning his weight against the locked door.

[Black] "I honestly do not know what I can do this very second to make you feel better."

[Liene] "I am just… a bit worried. I am not actually angry with you."

Black did not find it easy to believe.

[Black] "I could ensure Dieren never speaks another word again. That is within my power."

She winced in the water.

[Liene] "Certainly not. Doing that won't change anything."

[Black] "It would change a great deal. For one, he would take his children and vanish. He would likely never dream of setting foot here again."

[Liene] "We were the ones who invited them."

Her voice grew slightly desperate.

It was true; Dieren had been intentional in his silence regarding the girl. He had been in the wrong. That alone was reason enough to revoke the invitation. She could send them away and then proceed with the trip…

[Liene] "…No, I still cannot go."

It wasn't that she didn't trust the staff at the castle. She could leave the children with Madam Flambard and Madam Henton without a second thought. In fact, those two would likely be stricter with the children’s routines than Liene herself.

However, she could not leave now. Even if she did, that face—the one that bore such a terrifying resemblance to Blini—would haunt the corners of her mind.

[Black] "Liene. May I come in?"

Having overheard her murmuring to herself, Black knocked once more.

[Liene] "No, right now is a bit…"

[Black] "May I come in?"

[Liene] "It is… difficult at the moment."

[Black] "May I come in?"

[Liene] "..."

[Black] "Liene."

He is doing this on purpose. He has to be.

She bit her lip. He knew all too well that when he repeated the same request in that low, steady cadence, her resolve would inevitably crumble.

[Black] "May I come in?"

[Liene] "…Just this once."

The words had barely left her lips before the door swung open and Black stepped inside.

Splash!

The bathwater overflowed as he pulled her into an embrace from behind. Liene gave his arm a sharp swat.

[Liene] "Your clothes are getting soaked! Think of the effort it takes for the servants to wash them, Your Majesty."

[Black] "I was wrong. About everything."

[Liene] "…Sigh."

In truth, he wasn't. As it had been then, Blini was merely a brief, inconsequential speck in Black’s past. If not for the matter of the ring, they would never have been entangled again.

She reached back and lightly stroked his hair.

[Liene] "I know you weren't at fault."

[Black] "I should have… dealt with it sooner."

[Liene] "It wasn't what you wanted, nor was it your intention."

She could not blame him for the years he spent wandering outside of Nauk, searching for a place to call home. She couldn't be angry that he had once tried to find that home in someone else. It wasn't his fault that Dieren’s daughter resembled Blini. A family resemblance was—

[Liene] "…No, wait."

As her thoughts reached that point, a fresh wave of irritation surged within her.

[Liene] "No, there is still a problem here."

She huffed and turned her body around, forcing Black to loosen his grip.

[Liene] "How dare he say such a thing?"

She grabbed his arms and gave them a firm shake.

The target of her ire was clear: Dieren. His comment about "blood telling" refused to melt away, sitting heavy in her mind like a stone beneath the water.

[Liene] "That makes me so incredibly angry. But you bear some responsibility too. It is undeniable that you once had such a… such a preference. That is why I—"

Tears welled in her eyes before she could finish.

[Black] "Liene."

His dark, intense gaze fixed on her, looking as though he might devour her in her tearful frustration. Black took her wet hand and brought it to his lips.

[Black] "Are you still being jealous for my sake?"

His lips pressed firmly against her skin. She couldn't tell if it was his breath or his gaze that felt hotter.

[Liene] "I don't know if I should call this jealousy. I am just so, so angry. The fact that you and that… that Princess… ha, really."

[Black] "Since my clothes are already ruined, I suppose this is fine."

Splash.

He stepped into the tub, fully clothed. Once inside, he pulled her into a breathless embrace.

[Liene] "I told you I am angry. What are you doing?"

[Black] "I cannot help myself."

[Liene] "Regarding what?"

[Black] "You."

[Liene] "Because I am angry?"

[Black] "How can a person be like this?"

The last part seemed like a mutter to himself.

In the next moment, the water surged as he claimed her lips. While she didn't dislike his sudden heat, it did feel a bit rushed.

[Liene] "Wait. I am still… still angry."

As the kiss broke, she managed to pull her lips away just barely.

[Black] "…Can you not set your anger aside for just a moment?"

His gaze lingered heavily on her mouth. It felt as though he wanted to taste her again.

[Liene] "Does that even make sense?"

[Black] "Can you not?"

Feeling herself being drawn in again, she raised her hand to cover his mouth.

[Liene] "Now is not the time. What if… what if Dief ends up liking Seira?"

[Black] "Is that what worries you?"

His voice was muffled against her palm.

[Liene] "They say blood is thicker than water."

[Black] "Liene."

He gently moved her hand away.

[Black] "I am grateful for your jealousy. But as I have told you many times, you are the most beautiful person in my eyes."

[Liene] "I appreciate you saying that. But I hate the idea of Dief liking that… that face."

[Black] "I doubt he will."

[Liene] "How could you possibly know that?"

She pouted.

[Liene] "I have never heard Dief call anyone pretty before. And surely, it must be similar to when you first met Blini. Is it not?"

[Black] "That… it might be a bit different from what you imagine. At that time, I—"

[Liene] "No, do not say it. I am not blaming you. I just… I don't want Dief to turn out that way."

She rested her forehead against his shoulder with a soft thud.

[Liene] "I know. I know she just happens to look like her. Seira isn't Blini, and she likely wouldn't do the same things. But still… I still hate it so much."

Instead of speaking, Black spent a long time stroking her damp hair. He wasn't sure if he should offer an excuse, apologize, or perhaps even beg for forgiveness with tears in his eyes.

[Liene] "Am I being too narrow-minded?"

[Black] "…I doubt anyone could say such a thing."

Fortunately, Liene didn't seem intent on blaming him. He felt as though he should offer a sacrifice to the gods in gratitude.

[Black] "I hate it as well."

[Liene] "And I find it… suspicious."

[Black] "What do you mean?"

[Liene] "That the resemblance is so striking. I really don't want to say this… but is there any chance that Seira is not actually Dieren’s biological daughter?"

His hand paused for a moment.

[Black] "Do you suspect she is Blini’s daughter?"

[Liene] "I don't know. But if there is even a slim chance, we cannot allow it."

[Black] "I suppose I shall have to make him speak."

[Liene] "He might just deny it. We have no proof. And I'm not certain. It might just be me worrying too much."

[Black] "It is alright."

Black pressed his lips to her forehead. It was a gesture of comfort, a silent promise that she needn't worry further, and it always worked.

[Black] "I know him well. If he is hiding something, he will tell me."

[Liene] "He… yes, I suppose he will. He is terrified of you."

Finally, Liene let out a small laugh. With a splash, he pulled her even tighter into his arms.

[Black] "Then, will you still go on the trip with me?"

[Liene] "We can't go right now, can we?"

[Black] "Once all these concerns are resolved. It won't take long."

Whether Seira was Dieren’s biological daughter or not, Black had already made up his mind. It no longer mattered; he would throw them all out.

Then, regardless of the twins’ protests, he would put Liene in a carriage and head for the coast. Tonight… no, tomorrow morning.

He considered kicking Dieren out this very second, but he decided to postpone that thought until the morning. He couldn't think of a single way to let go of the woman currently in his arms.

[Liene] "Come to think of it, regardless of the truth, our guests cannot stay much longer."

[Black] "The moment he hid the girl’s existence, he ceased to be a guest in my eyes."

[Liene] "That is true. He undoubtedly kept quiet on purpose. But what if Dief gets upset?"

[Black] "He won't. Trust me."

[Liene] "How can you be so sure? We don't know what is in Dief’s heart yet."

[Black] "You said it yourself—blood is thicker than water. If Dief inherited my taste, there is no way he would ever truly love that face."

[Liene] "That… that sounds like a lie."

[Black] "I am sincere. Though I may have been mistaken once before."

His eyes spoke of his deep regret for that past mistake.

[Black] "These wet clothes are quite bothersome."

Beneath the water, Black took her hand and placed it on his soaked shirt.

[Black] "I’d like to take them off… wouldn't you?"

[Liene] "Mmm… I don't want to admit I’m such an easy mark, but I suppose I can't ask you to keep wearing wet clothes."

Click.

Liene began to undo the buttons of his shirt. The wet fabric made the buttons slicker than usual, causing her fingers to slip a few times. It made them both laugh, but it also kindled a heat between them that was far more intense than usual.

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