A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 36

※Somewhere in the World※

[Liene] "It’s strange. Is there still no word from them?"

Her voice was languid.

It was already afternoon, but they had not yet left the bedchamber.

An unusual thing happened whenever they came to Bellisa Castle; it was as if time itself slowed down. The nights were long, the mornings were slow, and even the sound of the waves and the breeze felt leisurely. The moonlight that filled the room seemed to linger before finally fading away.

The two were sharing a late meal in bed—one of those ambiguous meals that could have been breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Liene hadn't even bothered to dress, wearing only a Sharka-style gown. Black had been playfully nipping at her feet, claiming her bare toes were far too cute, which had resulted in a small, faint wine stain near her ankle.

[Black] "Are you referring to the children?"

[Liene] "Yes. Didn't you say they were supposed to arrive yesterday?"

[Black] "It seems they aren't quite ready to join us yet."

Black fed her a spoonful of sweet bean pudding.

While this seemed like a natural domestic scene, it was a rare luxury. Back at Nauk Castle, they could never have remained in the bedchamber until this hour. Even if they had tried, the children would never have left a relaxed Liene in peace. She certainly wouldn't have been lounging in a gown, idly swinging her bare feet.

This was a rewarding vacation indeed. Black felt so content he wouldn't have minded giving Fermos a whole month off in gratitude.

[Liene] "That can't be right. They don't want to come to Bellisa? Such a thing is impossible."

[Black] "It is their first time away from us. They might find having fewer people to nag them unexpectedly pleasant."

Her eyes widened.

[Liene] "Were we such strict parents?"

[Black] "Hmm... I’d say we were reasonable. To be honest, I don't actually know how other parents behave."

[Liene] "That’s true. We don't exactly know many other families."

[Black] "Alito wasn't exactly a helpful example."

She shook her head instinctively.

[Liene] "They certainly weren't good parents. One only has to look at how many illegitimate children they have to see that."

[Black] "Then stop worrying about the children."

He caught her foot. He had been watching her small feet swing back and forth for a while now, and the sight was making his throat go dry.

[Black] "Why not focus on enjoying this rare time together to its fullest?"

She laughed.

[Liene] "Don't you think I’m enjoying it a bit too much? I never realized I was a person capable of being this lazy."

[Black] "Is that a problem?"

[Liene] "Probably... Who would like a lazy person?"

[Black] "I think I like you best when you're lazy."

[Liene] "You say that now, but you’ll get bored eventually—ah!"

Her shoulders jerked as his lips brushed against the arch of her foot.

[Liene] "Honestly, you... Why are you so obsessed with my feet today? You’ve never been like this before."

[Black] "Because you’re never barefoot during the day."

[Liene] "Well, that’s because..."

[Black] "And that is why I like this so much."

Black looked genuinely happy as he spoke, and Liene decided not to argue further. Instead, she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

His bar for happiness is so low. He’s this pleased just because I’m not wearing stockings. I must have been neglecting him lately.

[Liene] "Come here."

Feeling a sudden wave of affection, she reached out to him.

[Black] "What is it?"

He allowed himself to be pulled into her arms. She stroked his hair and whispered into his ear.

[Liene] "I want to know what else you like."

[Black] "It might be faster to list what I don't like..."

[Liene] "Still, there must be something special."

[Black] "If I tell you, will you grant it?"

[Liene] "Depending on what it is... No, I will. If it’s within my power."

She changed her answer mid-sentence, feeling she was being too stingy.

[Black] "In that case..."

He leaned in close and whispered something directly into her ear. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

[Liene] "...You must be mad."

[Black] "I am perfectly sane, and I am being honest."

[Liene] "No, I think there is something wrong with you."

[Black] "Hardly."

He rolled them over, shifting her so that she was lying on top of him.

[Black] "We are on vacation, after all."

[Liene] "Is this what a vacation is supposed to be?"

[Black] "I believe a vacation is when you’re allowed to do anything."

[Liene] "Well... you aren't wrong, but still—ah!"

His lips pressed against her neck. It was practically a sneak attack. Liene huffed, her shoulders tensing, before she burst into laughter.

[Liene] "Fine. I’ll give you that much."

[Black] "And the other thing?"

[Liene] "I suppose I’ll do that too."

Grasping the cheeks of the man who claimed to find such easy happiness as long as she was there, she began to cover him in sweet kisses, starting from his forehead.

At that very moment, a carriage carrying three adults and two children was departing from Nauk.

---

[Shellan] "This place is so different from Bellisa, isn't it?"

[Dief] "It really is. Completely different."

Their eyes were wide, and they hadn't stopped talking since they left. Every sight passing by the carriage window was so new that they seemed almost overwhelmed.

[Shellan] "The air feels strange!"

[Dief] "It smells different!"

[Ashker] "That’s because we’re near the coast. This area has a very active fishing industry."

Ashker had been assigned the task of entertaining the children. To keep the mission a secret, they had kept the group to a minimum of five.

Naturally, Ashker had expected to be the coachman, but to his surprise, Fermos and Randall had taken the driver’s seat. They needed a place where they could discuss the specifics of dealing with the Rambasol crew without being overheard.

While Shellan and Dief had promised to stay quietly in the manor at Blue Warren, Fermos believed there was at least a ten-percent chance they wouldn't. If that happened, it was better they knew as little as possible.

[Dief] "Fishing? Does that mean they catch fish?"

[Ashker] "Indeed. There is a massive fish market nearby."

[Shellan] "Wow! Then there must be so many fish!"

In Nauk Castle, which was far from the sea, "fish" usually meant something deliciously cooked and served on a platter. The concept of slippery, scaly creatures that were alive and smelled of the sea didn't yet exist in their minds.

[Ashker] "That’s right. It’s likely the market with the greatest variety of species on the continent."

[Dief] "Wooooah."

If Fermos were here, he would have realized the children were currently picturing a fish cake—the kind made with layers of minced white fish and red crab meat. Ashker, however, was oblivious.

[Ashker] "Do you like fish? I’ll tell the manor’s chef to prepare a fish dish for today."

[Shellan] "I’d love that."

[Dief] "I want to eat fried semi-dried cod!"

[Ashker] "Understood."

[Dief] "Ah, Shellan! Look at that! Such strange-looking birds are flying around!"

[Shellan] "Oh, you're right. Are those seagulls?"

[Ashker] "Well... I’m not entirely sure, but I assume so, since you haven't seen them in Nauk."

[Shellan] "Never."

[Dief] "Yeah, I've never seen a bird like that. ...Wait! Someone is wearing strange clothes!"

[Shellan] "Where? How are they strange?"

She leaned so far out the window that Ashker had to quickly grab her.

[Ashker] "Princess, it’s dangerous!"

[Shellan] "They’re wearing a bizarre hat! I’ve never seen a hat like that in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Continental Attire. I wonder which country that style is from?"

[Ashker] "That’s not a hat; it’s just a sack. The sun is quite fierce here, so people sometimes throw whatever they can over their heads."

[Dief] "Whoa! That person isn't wearing any clothes at all! But they’re wearing shoes! Dief, look at that person!"

[Ashker] "Agh, Princess!"

Snap!

Ashker instinctively reached out and pulled the curtains shut.

[Shellan] "Oh...?"

[Dief] "Huh..."

They turned to Ashker with expressions that asked how he could do such a thing. Ashker cleared his throat, trying to come up with an excuse.

[Ashker] "Well, you see... this place is a bit... unconventional. It’s a free city with a massive port, so all sorts of strange characters gather here."

[Shellan] "So you’re saying it’s an excellent educational site where we can observe a diverse cross-section of humanity?"

There were limits to "humanity."

[Ashker] "Walking around without clothes in broad daylight means that person is mad, Princess..."

[Shellan] "But they were wearing shoes. Couldn't there be another reason besides being mad?"

There was no way.

[Ashker] "No, Princess. Even in Blue Warren, no one who is sane wanders around naked."

[Shellan] "Are you certain?"

[Ashker] "I would swear it on the name of Arsak."

[Shellan] "Oh... I see."

Ashker couldn't understand why she looked so disappointed. Feeling an inexplicable pang of guilt, he gripped the curtain fabric tightly.

[Ashker] "Ahem. Is there any other food you’d like to try? Or shall I ask the chef to prepare dishes that can only be tasted here in Blue Warren?"

[Dief] "What do people eat here?"

[Shellan] "Is it good? Is it better than the food in Nauk?"

Thankfully, their interest shifted back to food. Ashker was relieved that the shock of seeing a naked man seemed to have worn off.

Even so, he felt a pressing need to tell Fermos that their curiosity was far too high—and that the chance of them leaving the manor on their own might be much higher than ten percent.

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