A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 24

※The Traitor's End※

[Dieren] "You utter fool! What do you think you’re doing!"

Dieren barked at his daughter, Seira, who had injured her leg. He pointed a trembling finger at the floor in fury.

Scattered across the rug were flowers that Prince Dief had personally picked for her, now half-withered and bruised. Seira had hurled them down in a fit of pique, and Dieren had burst in before anyone could clear the mess.

[Seira] "I... I was just so angry... I’m sorry..."

Her cheeks, which had been flushed with indignation moments ago, now turned deathly pale.

In her fourteen years of life, she could count the times she had faced her father on one hand. At fourteen, she was old enough to understand exactly what that absence meant, and what role her half-siblings would play in her future.

Because of that understanding, she remained perpetually intimidated. Life in the Grand Duchy was glamorous on the surface, but it didn't provide a fourteen-year-old girl with enough air to breathe. To her, her grandfather—whose eyes sharpened whenever he looked at her—and her father—who showed no trace of affection—were terrifying figures.

[Dieren] "Angry? You’re telling me you’re angry because he brought you flowers?"

[Seira] "It wasn't that... He asked about my mother... and..."

[Dieren] "And what of it?"

[Seira] "I felt... like he was pointing out that I’m not the daughter of the Princess Consort of the Grand Duchy..."

[Dieren] "Ha! Good grief."

He pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a heavy sigh.

[Dieren] "There is a limit to stupidity. Prince Dief clearly likes you. What does it matter whether he brings up your mother or not?"

[Seira] "I just... I find it strange. He’s only a child."

[Dieren] "Exactly because he is a child! That is why this is an opportunity!"

He raised his voice, his eyes wide with greed.

[Dieren] "Now, while he knows nothing of the world!"

[Seira] "......"

She fell silent, unable to find the words. Dieren stepped closer and snatched her by the arm.

[Dieren] "You remember what the Grand Duke said, don't you? Do you remember what you are supposed to do?"

[Seira] "It hurts... you’re hurting me."

[Dieren] "Answer me!"

She struggled to hold back her tears as she gasped out her response.

[Seira] "He told me... to come here and prove my usefulness."

[Dieren] "And what is your usefulness?"

[Seira] "He said that since the one with my face took the name of Vasheyd, I must... bring back the name of Arsak..."

[Dieren] "Good. At least you remember. Then what is all this!"

He finally released her arm and pointed again at the soiled flowers on the floor.

[Dieren] "You should be doing everything in your power to win his favor! And yet, when favor practically falls into your lap, you kick it away!"

[Seira] "......I’m sorry."

Seira bit her lip. Being a member of the Grand Ducal family came with a price. But it didn't feel real to her. Asking a girl to secure a marriage promise from an eight-year-old boy was absurd. Eight years old was an age not far removed from infancy.

Yet, the Grand Duke was serious. Dieren was serious. Even Dieren’s wife was serious, albeit in her opposition—she had screamed that only her own true-born children should unite with the Nauk royalty before hurling a teacup at Seira. It was a nonsensical situation, but everyone’s deadly seriousness made it feel all the more suffocating.

[Dieren] "I will arrange a tea party for this afternoon. Invite Prince Dief. And do what you were sent here to do."

[Seira] "......Yes. I will."

She nodded weakly, then peered up at his eyes.

[Seira] "Um, but Father..."

[Dieren] "What now?"

[Seira] "What if Prince Dief... doesn't want to get married?"

[Dieren] "Ha! Are you honestly asking me that?"

His face contorted.

[Dieren] "You make him want it. He is eight years old. Do not tell me you can't handle a single child."

[Seira] "......"

It was truly a nonsensical world for a fourteen-year-old to live in.

---

[Dief] "Waaaaah!"

[Shellan] "Hic... I hate him, I hate him so much!"

Meanwhile, chaos had erupted on the other side of the castle. Liene, who had been in her office as usual, was forced to send all the royal secretaries out when the children suddenly burst in.

They were clinging to her arms on both sides, wailing. The crying wouldn't stop, prompting Madam Flambard and Madam Henton to come rushing in.

[Liene] "It breaks my heart to see you both crying like this. Won't you tell me what happened? That way, we can figure out how to make it better together."

She wanted to pull them into a warm embrace, but with both her arms occupied by the clinging children, she was helpless.

[Liene] "What is making you so sad?"

[Dief] "M-Mother..."

Dief mumbled through his sniffles, startling Liene.

[Liene] "Me? Did I do something wrong to you?"

[Shellan] "Noooo... Hic, it’s Father."

Shellan, for the first time in a long while, was acting like a pouting child. She shook her head, rubbing her face against Liene’s sleeve.

[Liene] "Your father? What did he do?"

[Shellan] "He loved... someone else."

That was as far as she got.

[Black] "Liene. It’s me."

Black’s voice drifted in from outside the office.

Within Nauk Castle, etiquette and formality were often relaxed. Guards didn't trail every movement, and it was rare for a King’s arrival to be formally announced at every door.

[Black] "May I come in?"

[Liene] "Yes. The children just arrived—"

Before Liene could even finish her sentence, the children, who had been sobbing without explanation, suddenly snapped their heads up and shouted in unison.

[Shellan] "No! Father, don't come in!"

[Dief] "You can't come here! Go away!"

Liene stared at them, her mouth agape in shock. She had no idea why they were acting this way. Madam Flambard and Madam Henton shared her bewilderment.

[Black] "......Shellan? What’s going on?"

Following Black’s quiet voice, the door began to creak open.

[Shellan] "Ah! No!"

Both children bolted toward the door simultaneously. Madam Flambard and Liene tried to stop them, but it was of no use.

[Flambard] "Oh my! You’ll trip if you run like that!"

[Liene] "Children! Why are you—"

Thud!

They shoved the opening door shut with all their might.

[Black] "Tell me what’s happening. Speak."

The door opened slightly again. Seeing the gap, they gasped in horror and slammed their backs against the wood to block it. Their faces turned beet-red from the effort. The door remained ajar, flickering open and shut like a gasping mouth.

[Black] "Shellan, Dief. What are you doing? Step aside and explain yourselves."

Shellan squeezed out her voice through her strained, flushed face.

[Shellan] "Father... cannot... come in."

[Black] "Why not?"

[Shellan] "You can't... look at Mother."

[Black] "And why is that?"

[Shellan] "Because you’re a traitor!"

[Black] "......What?"

Thud!

Black must have let go of the handle in surprise, because the door slammed shut instantly. The children caught their breath in the sudden silence. But it was short-lived.

[Black] "I need to hear exactly what is going on. If you’re still blocking the door, move. You’ll get hurt."

Shellan and Dief shook their heads frantically.

[Shellan] "No!"

[Dief] "Don't come in!"

[Shellan] "Father, you don't have the right!"

[Dief] "That’s right!"

Finally, Liene walked over to them.

[Liene] "You are being rude and unfair to your father right now. Why are you doing this?"

[Shellan] "Because he betrayed you, Mother!"

[Liene] "......Eh? What on earth are you talking about? He’s never done that. You’ve misunderstood something."

[Shellan] "He loved someone other than you! They said he even gave her a ring! It’s a betrayal!"

[Dief] "Giving a ring is a proposal! It’s a betrayal!"

[Liene] "That—"

At this point, even Liene was at a loss for words.

Last year, they had caught a glimpse of the past. Even then, it had been difficult to speak. She had told them a sanitized version, cutting out and omitting as much as possible so they wouldn't be hurt.

Naturally, Blini was one of the parts that had been cut. Liene had hoped they would never find out. It wasn't because she was embarrassed to explain, but because everything related to that woman was bound to tangle their emotions and leave scars.

But they found out.

Someone opened their mouth... they’re dead. I won’t let this slide.

[Liene] "No. That happened long before we were married. That isn't a betrayal."

[Shellan] "It is! He loved someone else!"

[Dief] "That’s right! You’re only supposed to love one person!"

It was absurd. Liene was furious at whoever had dared to mention Blini to them, yet she struggled to suppress a bewildered laugh. Shellan was so brilliant, yet she was still innocent enough to be unable to emotionally accept the fact that love can sometimes come to an end.

She really is just a child. That’s actually quite sweet.

[Liene] "That’s not it. He didn't love her."

[Shellan] "But they were lovers! And he gave her a ring!"

[Liene] "Um... they weren't lovers."

[Shellan] "What?"

[Dief] "Wh-what?"

Their small faces froze in sheer horror.

[Shellan] "He gave a ring to someone who wasn't even his lover?"

[Dief] "And it wasn't just any ring, it was a treasure of the Gainers royalty!"

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

Liene pressed her hand to her forehead.

How was she supposed to explain this?

Telling the truth was proving to be far more awkward than she had anticipated. Even for Liene, it took time to find a way to make it sound plausible—that Black had spent time with Blini and gave her a ring, but had no feelings, and they weren't lovers.

In the end, she failed. If anything, she had added another charge to Black’s list of crimes. In their eyes, he was now not only a "traitor" who loved someone else but also a "villain" who had deceived their mother to conceal that fact.

And of course, in their minds, Liene—who had believed that a man would give a ring to someone who wasn't his lover—became an impossibly innocent and pitiful victim.

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