A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 20

※What an Eight-Year-Old Can Do※

[Flambard] "The Prince is only eight years old this year, Your Majesty."

She stared at Liene with an expression that suggested she was wondering if there had been something wrong with the apple juice she had just finished.

[Liene] "I am well aware of that. But eight is an age where one can accomplish many things, isn't it? It is even an age where one could join a mercenary group."

That, of course, was not factual. Black had escaped the slave traders and joined a mercenary group when he was fourteen.

She shifted her gaze from Liene to the empty apple juice bottle. She wondered if Renfel had spiked it out of spite; the Head Maid had been genuinely distraught about being left behind.

[Flambard] "Perish the thought. What sort of deranged mercenary captain would ever take in an eight-year-old child?"

[Liene] "Ah, perhaps that was a few years later. Regardless..."

Liene moved closer, placing a hand on the nanny's shoulder and physically turning her toward the field. From this angle, they had a direct view of Dief, who was bravely riding his pony.

[Liene] "Just look at him. Look at his expression. Does Dief not look like a man in love to you as well, Madam?"

[Flambard] "He is eight, Your Majesty."

[Liene] "We must not let our guard down simply because of his age. Eight is more than old enough to lose one’s heart."

[Flambard] "I... beg your pardon?"

Madam Flambard couldn't bring herself to ask if the Queen was feeling ill, so she merely fiddled with the juice bottle.

[Liene] "He said she was pretty. Three times! He said it three separate times."

[Flambard] "Pardon?"

The nanny’s hand stilled on the glass.

[Flambard] "Who said what, exactly?"

[Liene] "Dief did."

[Flambard] "And who did he say was pretty?"

[Liene] "Lady Seira."

[Flambard] "Oh, dear."

At those words, Madam Flambard’s expression turned every bit as grave as Liene’s.

[Flambard] "In that case... it would indeed be difficult to dismiss such a statement as meaningless, Your Majesty."

[Liene] "Precisely, is it not?"

[Flambard] "Indeed, it is."

Her eyes sharpened as she scanned the children on their ponies.

[Flambard] "Look there, Your Majesty."

[Liene] "I am looking."

[Flambard] "No. Not at the guests from Alito. Look at Princess Shellan."

[Liene] "At our Shellan? Why?"

[Flambard] "I am honestly quite worried, Your Majesty."

At the mention of worry, Liene’s lips set in a firm line.

[Liene] "What is it? Speak plainly, Madam. Is Shellan showing signs of being... unwell? Does she have a headache?"

[Flambard] "No. I mean to say that I am worried for Prince Dief because of Princess Shellan."

[Liene] "Is Shellan bullying him?"

[Flambard] "It is not that. Goodness... I see now that you don’t realize it either."

She shook her head slowly.

[Flambard] "Now, look at Princess Shellan. Truly look at her."

[Liene] "I am. I am looking right now."

Though puzzled, Liene followed the nanny's instructions. Madam Flambard had been her nanny since childhood and was one of the people Liene had spent the most time with. To the young Liene, her nanny had always been the one with the answers.

[Flambard] "Have you seen enough? Now, look at our guests."

[Liene] "Mmm... yes. I see them."

[Flambard] "Do you notice the difference?"

[Liene] "Well... ah, now that I think about it, Shellan’s riding outfit is quite stunning. It looks very practical for movement. I suppose the Duchy of Alito doesn't ride often. Adding so many ruffles to a skirt would only make the saddle uncomfortable."

[Flambard] "Good heavens."

She let out a small sigh.

[Flambard] "That is only natural. I am the one who tailored that riding outfit, after all. But I am not asking for praise for my handiwork. Look at their faces, Your Majesty. Do they not look vastly different?"

[Liene] "Ah? Well, of course, they are different children...?"

[Flambard] "Yes, they are! And our Princess Shellan is so radiant that she puts other children to shame!"

[Liene] "Mmm... well, Madam..."

Liene found herself in a difficult position, unable to agree with such blatant favoritism.

[Flambard] "Prince Dief sees a face like Shellan’s every single day. How could any other girl’s face even register in his sight? Yet, you say he called someone pretty?"

[Liene] "The guest. Seira."

[Flambard] "Then I must take a closer look."

Madam Flambard craned her neck to study Seira. Fortunately, the children were far too preoccupied with their ponies to pay any mind to the adults.

[Flambard] "Well, she is somewhat better-looking than average, I suppose. But it is not even a contest. The Prince must know this."

[Liene] "But he said it three times. He said she was pretty."

[Flambard] "That is... quite incomprehensible."

Madam Flambard tilted her head in confusion for a long moment.

Liene watched the nanny, her lips pouting as she thought of the person Seira reminded her of.

[Liene] "I mean, she is pretty. But a person’s face isn't everything, is it?"

[Flambard] "That is also quite true. However, I am not entirely certain what you are specifically fearing. Are you worried the Prince will ally with House Alito? Or is this girl an example of someone whose face is the only thing she has?"

[Liene] "It’s... sigh."

Once she began to speak, she realized she couldn't fully articulate her inner thoughts, leading to a frustrated sigh.

It sounds ridiculous even to me. Hating a fourteen-year-old girl just because I don't like her face.

[Liene] "She is the spitting image of her."

Liene’s eyes darted around restlessly before she finally confessed.

[Flambard] "The image of whom?"

[Liene] "The... the former Princess of Alito."

[Flambard] "The former Princess of Alito? You mean...?"

[Liene] "Yes. That one."

[Flambard] "The one who... with His Majesty...?"

[Liene] "Yes."

Madam Flambard’s face flushed a deep crimson before she suddenly bolted upright from her seat.

[Flambard] "That is absurd! How dare they bring a face like that here!"

Her voice was loud. Startled, Liene looked around, but thankfully, no one seemed to be watching them.

[Liene] "Madam, please. Calm yourself. The children will hear you."

[Flambard] "This is unacceptable! Genuinely unacceptable! The audacity! This is an undeniable insult to the Royal House of Nauk!"

Is it?

Regardless, Liene felt emboldened by the nanny's reaction. She had worried she was being petty for still caring about her husband's past acquaintance, but seeing the nanny this furious suggested she wasn't alone in her feelings.

[Flambard] "You cannot simply sit here, Your Majesty! You must send them back at once!"

[Liene] "I suspect the matter is already being discussed."

The reason for Black’s absence was obvious. He was likely "persuading" Dieren somewhere out of sight. While Liene knew Black had different methods of persuasion for different people, she didn't particularly want to know the details of this one.

[Flambard] "So that is why His Majesty is not here."

[Liene] "Precisely."

Madam Flambard’s expression shifted to one of pity as she patted the back of Liene’s hand.

[Flambard] "So that is why you have been so uneasy these past few days. I had no idea."

[Liene] "Mmm... it is all in the past, but it feels good to be comforted by you. Honestly, I hated it. I hate the resemblance, but if Dief were to..."

She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, merely shaking her head.

[Flambard] "That will never happen, Your Majesty."

The nanny patted her hand with increased fervor, her eyes glinting.

[Flambard] "I shall do everything in my power to ensure such a thing never comes to pass."

[Liene] "That is very reassuring. But do we have a way?"

Her expression clouded with a hint of melancholy.

[Liene] "If Dief has genuinely fallen in love..."

[Flambard] "He is eight, Your Majesty. Falling in love is out of the question, and even if he has developed a slight fondness, he is at an age where he will forget it after a good night's sleep."

[Liene] "...You're right. Dief isn't twenty-three."

Black had been twenty-three when he met Blini.

[Liene] "Let us stop this, whatever it takes."

[Flambard] "I shall follow your lead with my very life, Your Majesty."

The faces of the two women, resolved to thwart what might be an eight-year-old’s first crush, were etched with a grim determination.

Consequently, it meant that the trip to Bellisa Castle—the one Black had longed for—was effectively postponed indefinitely.

---

CRASH!

[Dieren] "Eeeek!"

The door buckled under the force of a fist. Dieren let out a scream, feeling a phantom pain as if his own nose had been crushed along with the wood.

[Black] "Quiet. You're making too much noise."

[Dieren] "Wh-why are you doing this to—ugh!"

[Black] "You aren't asking because you don't know."

Dieren was scared to death by the shimmering blue eyes inches from his face. He wanted to ask the gods why a human's eyes would ever look like that.

[Black] "Leave. While your nose is still intact. This is the last time I will use words."

[Dieren] "N-no!"

Despite his terror, Dieren scraped together the last of his pride and defiance, shaking his head.

[Black] "...What?"

[Dieren] "I'm not leaving! I can't!"

Black reached out slowly.

[Dieren] "Aaaaagh! Don't touch me!"

Terrified, Dieren tried to bolt. But after only two steps, Black caught him by the scruff of the neck as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment.

[Dieren] "Gah! I'm dying! Choke!"

It was only natural to feel as though one were being strangled when the collar of a ruffled, ornate tunic was seized from behind. His face turned ashen as he clutched at his throat, struggling. Black loosened his grip just a fraction before his vision could turn yellow.

[Black] "Why can't you leave?"

The low voice vibrating from behind sent a wave of goosebumps from the nape of his neck down his entire body.

[Dieren] "If... if I leave now, I'll look pathetic. Everyone will know I was kicked out... Gasp... Let me go so I can talk—"

[Black] "I couldn't care less how you look."

[Dieren] "How can you be so coldhearted—"

Black lowered his gaze to Dieren’s thigh—the one he had nearly severed once before.

[Black] "Isn't it better to leave while you can still walk on both feet?"

[Dieren] "Ugh... D-don't look at me like that. I told you, I can't go."

[Black] "Why?"

[Dieren] "That is..."

Black’s eyes narrowed.

[Black] "Judging by your behavior, it seems the Grand Duke gave you specific orders."

[Dieren] "No, not necessarily—"

[Black] "Speak. What is the reason?"

[Dieren] "..."

Dieren fell silent, swallowing hard.

[Black] "Don't tell me your claim of her being your daughter was a lie. Is the Grand Duke seeking a memorial for his dead daughter after all this time?"

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