A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 31

※Beneath the Peace※

As anticipated, the children were not content to remain idle.

[Randall] "My word, where might you two be heading?"

It was Randall who caught them this time as they attempted to slip out of the castle. In truth, it was less a matter of "finding" them and more a routine part of his patrol. It was glaringly obvious that they would exhaust every possible means to reach Bellisa Castle.

Princess Shellan was the spitting image of Black, not only in appearance but in temperament—right down to her tendency to become reckless and headstrong the moment she lost her temper.

Newer recruits who had joined late might claim Black rarely showed anger, but those who had been with him since Tiwakan was nothing more than a nameless, mercenary group knew better.

To those veterans, the words "Black" and "reckless" belonged in the same sentence as naturally as fire and heat.

Shellan was Black's daughter through and through, and unfortunately, she was currently fuming and thoroughly prepared to be reckless.

[Randall] "Is there something you require, Princess?"

[Shellan] "...Hmph."

She didn't even bother to invent an excuse anymore.

[Shellan] "Is the Nauk Guard so idle? Do you have nothing better to do than chase children around?"

She chose a personal attack instead. Randall made a theatrical show of clutching his chest, feigning a wounded heart.

[Randall] "You wound me, Princess. We are merely performing our duty—protecting the safety of the royal heirs and the peace of this land. As we always do."

[Shellan] "If the very person you are supposed to 'protect' feels more irritation than safety, then clearly there is a problem with your methods."

[Randall] "If that is the case, then I am sincerely sorry, Princess. I beg for your forgiveness."

[Shellan] "I’ll forgive you if you turn around and vanish this instant. Can you do that?"

Randall blinked slowly. As if that would ever happen.

[Randall] "Allow me to escort you back to your quarters. Would you like a ride on my shoulders?"

Her lower lip jutted out in a pout.

[Shellan] "It’s already been two days. Two whole days."

[Randall] "Indeed. My heart swells with pride to serve two children who have remained so dignified and composed for two days without a single tear. It is a profound honor, Princess."

Randall spoke with exaggerated courtesy, causing Shellan to stomp her foot in frustration.

[Shellan] "We’re two days late already!"

It had been two days since that morning they realized Black and Liene had left them behind for Bellisa Castle. It also meant that Fermos had been meticulously counting his accumulated vacation days for two days straight.

Randall blinked with a look of feigned sympathy.

[Randall] "Yes, two days have passed."

He certainly couldn't tell her the truth: that no normal parents would leave their children behind to go on a trip, let alone order their subordinates to keep the kids pinned at home as long as possible, or that their father had threatened to be furious if they didn't stall for maximum time.

Thud!

Shellan stomped her foot again.

Randall could see the pale blue in her eyes—so much like Black’s—shimmering with indignation.

[Shellan] "I won't forget this. I’ll tell them what you did today."

Oddly enough, whenever she spoke with such cold, inverted phrasing, Randall felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He scratched the nape of his neck to shake off the sensation.

Still, she’s not as terrifying as His Majesty yet.

Just one more day. If I can hold out for three days, I’ve done a magnificent job.

[Randall] "I shall inform Sir Renfel that you were looking for him. Worry not."

[Shellan] "Forget it! It’s not like you’d actually tell him anyway."

She gritted her teeth and grabbed Dief’s hand, pulling him along.

[Shellan] "Come on, Dief."

Surprisingly, Dief pulled his hand away. Unlike Shellan, who was visibly angry, Dief looked much more conflicted.

[Dief] "I have a question, Sir Randall."

[Randall] "Anything, my Prince."

[Dief] "Is... well, is Father very angry with us?"

Randall was well aware of the story—that the two children had kicked Black out of the bedroom. In fact, there wasn't a soul in the castle who didn't know.

The incident had sent shockwaves through the ranks in various ways. Even now, opinions within the Knights were sharply divided between those who felt the children had their reasons and those who thought they had gone too far.

Those who defended the children did so not because they thought Black was at fault regarding the Blini affair, but simply because Princess Shellan was so precious. The prevailing sentiment was that if a daughter was that adorable, a father had to forgive her no matter what she did.

Of course, blaming Black for the Blini matter was objectively wrong. That had happened long before he had ever proposed to Liene, and no one could have imagined a person like Blini existed until they met her.

It was only natural that Shellan and Dief couldn't grasp such nuances at their age, but they would understand eventually as they matured. Yet, Randall could swear that not a single knight—not even a mouse in Nauk Castle—actually wanted them to be old enough to understand a woman like Blini.

[Randall] "I cannot presume to know His Majesty’s mind, Prince. However, I can tell you this: he had planned this trip long before that incident. It was merely delayed unexpectedly; he did not cancel it because of what happened."

[Dief] "So... they didn't go on a trip alone because they didn't want to see us?"

[Randall] "Of course not. When they eventually hear how bravely and maturely you both behaved while they were away, they will be just as proud of you as I am."

[Dief] "......Alright then. You may go now."

Dief turned away dejectedly. The sound of their footsteps echoing down the empty corridor was heavy.

[Randall] "Goodness."

He turned and walked in the opposite direction, muttering to himself.

[Randall] "I can't drag this out much longer... I need to have a word with Fermos."

Before Dief became genuinely heartbroken—perhaps even as soon as tonight—Randall thought it best to discuss taking them to Bellisa.

---

[Fermos] "You idiot, do you have any idea what’s at stake here?"

He glared, his eyes bulging. Of course, Randall wasn't intimidated in the slightest. While Fermos held a higher rank, he was no match in a test of strength. Randall was confident he could pin him to the floor in five minutes using only his left hand.

[Randall] "Just give up one day of your vacation. What if the Prince stops eating out of sorrow?"

[Fermos] "One day isn't enough!"

He stomped his feet. Randall inwardly scoffed, wondering why a man of his age was throwing such a tantrum.

[Fermos] "I was planning to visit Blue Warren. Do you think it’s just about getting there? I have business to attend to! Two days won't even cover the travel time!"

[Randall] "Then forget about it. Are you saying Blue Warren is more important than the Prince right now?"

[Fermos] "Urgh, well..."

Fermos scratched his head vigorously before gesturing for Randall to lean in.

Randall hesitated; the sight of two men huddled so closely together was a far cry from the typical Tiwakan aesthetic, but he eventually complied.

[Randall] "What is it?"

[Fermos] "Just come here."

[Randall] "......Fine, but make it quick."

He leaned in as requested. Fermos lowered his voice to a whisper.

[Randall] "Eek!"

He jumped, unable to bear the ticklish sensation near his ear. As he shivered and pulled away, Fermos reached out and yanked on his earlobe.

[Randall] "Ow! What was that for?"

[Fermos] "Just shut up and listen."

The secret Fermos whispered was indeed worthy of being kept under wraps.

[Fermos] "......And that is my plan."

[Randall] "Oho...?"

Randall’s eyes gleamed. He felt a sudden, familiar hunger for action.

It was a long and old story. In the long history of the Tiwakan, they had encountered many villains and madmen, but there was a consensus that the worst of the lot was the pirate crew known as Rambasol, who prowled the Eastern Sea. They were the primary reason Black had claimed, until recently, that he never liked the ocean.

Because their territories had never overlapped, Tiwakan had never had a full-scale confrontation with them—merely a few accidental brushes—but Fermos held a deep, lingering grudge against Rambasol's helmsman.

Recently, word had reached him that Rambasol was shifting its territory, loitering near the Southern Sea rather than the East.

Pirates naturally needed to trade their illicit goods, and one of their hubs was Blue Warren, a free city with the most complex port in the south. It was a foregone conclusion that Rambasol would frequent the place.

Fermos had finally spotted an opportunity to settle a grudge from eleven years ago.

And if it was Fermos’ grudge, it provided Randall with more than enough reason for revenge as well. It wasn't because he respected his superior so deeply; to put it simply, it guaranteed excitement.

Nauk was far too peaceful. It wasn't that Randall hated peace, but it was certainly boring. And for a man that bored, an eleven-year-old grudge was the perfect kindling to set his heart ablaze.

[Randall] "Is that information reliable?"

[Fermos] "Do you think I'd joke about this?"

Fermos smirked. No matter how busy or brilliant he was as a Chancellor, his essence remained Tiwakan. After ten years in a peaceful kingdom, his hands were itching for a fight.

Randall held out a clenched fist.

[Randall] "I’m in. Let’s get that revenge together."

[Fermos] "Oh? You will?"

Fermos didn't decline.

And so, it looked as though the twins would be staying at Nauk Castle a little while longer.

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