A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 44

※The Best Thing of All※

Facing her fury, his voice dropped to a cautious murmur.

[Black] "No, you see... I only asked for a day or two of extra time. It was Fermos who got greedy—"

[Liene] "Yes, Sir Fermos too! And Sir Randall! And Sir Ashker! And those wretched pirates!"

In contrast to his hushed tone, her voice only grew louder.

[Black] "Shh. You’ll wake them."

He quickly pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back.

[Black] "I am sorry. I had no idea things would escalate like this."

[Liene] "Let me go! Don't do this when I’m angry! It’s unfair."

[Black] "I... I am deeply sorry. Please, just indulge me for a moment. We mustn't wake the children."

Her trembling hands rained weak blows against his chest. Those soft thumps didn't hurt his skin, but they certainly stung his heart.

[Liene] "You... if something had happened on that ship..."

[Black] "It didn't, Liene. It was a dangerous situation, but they are safe. Even if it had been more dangerous, they would have been fine. I was there, after all."

[Liene] "You couldn't have known that for certain...!"

[Black] "No, I am sure of it."

[Liene] "Stop being so stubborn. Your voice is the problem. When you speak so calmly, it makes it sound like it was no big deal! But that isn't true. What happened today was utterly absurd, and you are half to blame. This is something that absolutely must never happen again..."

[Black] "Yes. It will never happen again. I swear it."

[Liene] "I mean it... You really..."

[Black] "I know. I was in the wrong. I genuinely regret it."

[Liene] "Haaa..."

It took a long while for Liene to let her anger subside. Or perhaps it wasn't anger at all, but another emotion entirely. Recalling what the children had endured today made the world go dark with fear.

A catastrophe like today’s had to be avoided at all costs. It would never happen again—she would make sure of it.

From now on, she would take the children with her wherever she went. Furthermore, she intended to scold them severely to ensure they never repeated such a stunt. The same applied to Black. The man who held the greatest responsibility for today’s chaos had to pay a price.

[Liene] "I’m warning you now: I will not let this go for some time. I will be angry every time I see your face. You brought this upon yourself."

[Black] "It is painful to hear, but I know it is my fault. So be it."

[Liene] "Reflect on your actions every time I am cross with you."

[Black] "I shall."

[Liene] "Swear it."

[Black] "I swear."

Liene had decided never to let the children out of her sight again, which was actually a harsh punishment for Black, though she didn't realize it yet.

[Black] "If we keep talking like this, they might wake. We should move elsewhere. You can vent your anger to your heart's content there."

[Liene] "...It makes me cross that you're right, even about this. But you are. If they are to be punished later, they should get plenty of sleep now."

[Black] "That sounds rather ominous. What sort of punishment do you have in mind for them?"

[Liene] "I’m still considering it. But I assure you, it won't be light."

[Black] "I agree."

[Liene] "I plan to have them serve their punishment for at least a month."

[Black] "Dear me."

[Liene] "Are you going to tell me that’s too long?"

[Black] "Not at all. You are quite right."

[Liene] "Good. That was the correct answer. I would have been even more furious if you had taken their side."

[Black] "To me, you are always the one in the right."

[Liene] "Don't expect me to cool off any faster just because you say such sweet things. I won't."

[Black] "I understand. I will accept whatever sentence you pass."

[Liene] "Hmph. Heavens... Stop talking now. I won't listen anymore, or I might start to soften."

At those words, Black fell silent. Liene glared at him and stood up. The two of them walked in perfect sync, their footsteps sounding as one.

[Black] "Still, they aren't injured in the slightest. It seems we’ve raised them to be quite sturdy."

[Liene] "I know that much. It’s a relief. It means I can start their punishment the moment they wake up."

[Black] "Oh... well, yes. That is a relief."

[Liene] "I am actually going to punish them."

[Black] "I know."

[Liene] "What do you mean you know... You sound like you don't believe me—"

[Black] "I do not—"

Their voices faded as they moved further away.

Once the sound of their footsteps had vanished completely, Shellan whispered.

[Shellan] "Dief, are you sleeping?"

[Dief] "Mmm... I don't think so. I think I’m awake. But I’m sleepy."

[Shellan] "Me too."

In truth, they were still half-asleep. They had only briefly drifted toward consciousness when they heard those welcome voices.

[Dief] "Do you think we’ll really be punished for a whole month...?"

[Shellan] "Mmm... probably? I’m not sure. But I think it’s only fair."

[Dief] "Mmm..."

Sleep pressed down heavily on their eyelids once more. Her voice was thick with a yawn.

[Shellan] "If only... yawn... we could pretend to be asleep for a month."

[Dief] "Is that even possible...?"

[Shellan] "I don't know. But we’d get too hungry, so probably not."

[Dief] "Mmm... then I’d rather just... get scolded... and then ask for something delicious."

[Shellan] "That sounds..."

She trailed off into a soft snore. Both children were now powerless against the pull of sleep.

[Dief] "But Shellan... when Father appeared earlier... like a real..."

[Shellan] "Mmm...?"

[Dief] "A... real hero, wasn't he?"

[Shellan] "Yeah... yeah..."

Shellan, drifting off again, smiled as she recalled the moment she had woken up in the water.

[Shellan] "Yeah."

[Dief] "Yeah. Me too."

[Shellan] "Yeah."

[Dief] "Yeah."

With their eyes closed, they murmured the same answer several times before drifting into a deep sleep as if by silent agreement.

They knew they would be in a world of trouble when they woke up, but for now, sleep was undeniably sweet.

No matter how much they were scolded, they were just happy that their mother and father were together. At this moment, it was better than anything else in the world.

By the time Shellan and Dief woke from their long slumber, Madam Flambard, Madam Renfel, and even Klima had all arrived at Bellisa Castle, unable to stay away out of worry for the little ones.

---

The Rambasol managed to survive, in a manner of speaking.

Instead of a swift end, they were handed over to the Red Rock and sold to a mine somewhere in the northwest of the continent.

Technically, the Red Rock didn't have the authority to punish the pirates, but fortunately, the fences and black-market dealers of Blue Warren had filed charges against them. It turned out that the goods the pirates had delivered were defective.

Spices infested with rats were a grave insult to the business ethics of Blue Warren. Consequently, the pirate crew was fined a hundred times the value of the goods.

Having lost their ship, half their comrades, and every coin to their names, they were forced to work in the mines, paying off their debt with wages that were less than a pittance.

It was said they wouldn't see the outside of that mine for at least thirty years.

It was Fermos who had orchestrated the charges using the black-market dealers. While thirty years of hard labor was harsh, he felt it was still not enough. This was because he had been forced to forfeit his vacations for the next ten years. He had also "voluntarily" given up the handsome annual bonuses he received from running the merchant group, hoping it might earn him a shred of forgiveness.

He wouldn't be entirely lonely, however. He had two comrades who were also destined to toil for a decade without a single day off. Still, it pained his heart to face Liene’s cold, angry gaze every time he saw her, just as it did for the young Prince and Princess.

He spent his days wondering if he should start reciting prayers he hadn't looked at since he was five, hoping the Queen's anger might fade even a day sooner.

However, if there was a glimmer of hope, it was that Liene’s fury didn't seem likely to last the full month. At least, that was the impression one got from overhearing the couple's conversations.

[Liene] "Don't do that. Do you think that will make me forgive you?"

[Black] "I wouldn't dare dream of such a thing. I am merely asking for the privilege of peeling this peach for you."

[Liene] "I have hands of my own."

[Black] "Those hands should be reserved for more precious tasks."

[Liene] "You’re ridiculous. Are you saying I can't even peel a peach for myself?"

[Black] "Why bother doing it yourself when I am here?"

[Liene] "Honestly... do you never worry that someone might overhear us?"

[Black] "I don't. Do you?"

[Liene] "I do!"

[Black] "Hmph. I had no idea. When was this?"

[Liene] "Often. Like right now. If our children heard this, wouldn't they think their mother doesn't even know how to peel a fruit?"

[Black] "Then you needn't worry. They have gone to pick apricots with Renfel."

[Liene] "Well, what about everyone else? I told you I’d be angry with you for at least a month. Everyone heard me say that."

[Black] "Why is that a problem?"

[Liene] "Don't you see? If people see us like this, they’ll think I’m a soft-hearted ruler who can't even stay angry properly."

At this, a low, stifled chuckle followed.

[Liene] "Are you laughing? Did you just laugh?"

[Black] "No, it’s just... that sounded very much like you were admitting you can't stay angry anymore."

[Liene] "I am not! I am still very much angry!"

Then came the sound of some playful scuffling, followed by her huffing breath and his muffled laughter.

[Liene] "No, really! Stop it!"

[Black] "Stay angry for one more day. I will endure it. But for now, please... indulge me."

[Liene] "You... mmmph..."

It was glaringly obvious what he wanted her to indulge.

In any case, given the way things were going, it seemed there was no need for great concern. Peace would soon return to every corner of Nauk.

Furthermore, since Princess Shellan and Prince Dief would be bringing back heaps of apricots starting today, most snacks in the palace would feature apricots for a while.

It was a secret, but the person who stubbornly ate the most apricot pies in Nauk every year was Fermos.

The children’s apricot-picking was technically one of the punishments for their escapade in Blue Warren, but it hardly mattered. After all, it meant everyone would be having a very sweet time.

※The End※

---

So, the story is over, but I feel like there are still a few huge questions left hanging.

• Is Laffit really dead on the gallows?

• Blini was pregnant with Laffit's child while she was running—did she actually give birth?

• What happened to Lyndon? Last we heard, he was sick and laid up in Sharka.

• Why did King Reder, Liene's dad, hide the portrait of King Pembrovin? Was Shellan right that he was waiting for young Prince Gainers to return?

What do you think? Drop a comment below!

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