A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 5

His appearance meant he had only just finished his duties and returned to the castle. It also meant that he had come looking for Liene the moment he arrived, and he was not particularly inclined to share her with anyone else.

[Liene] "Oh, you're back already?"

[Black] "I missed you."

Black entered with a smile and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

While her expression softened instantly at his presence, the others in the room reacted differently. Everyone froze in a state of flustered embarrassment. Raising their voices in an argument in front of the pregnant Princess was hardly a good look.

[Black] "Why were you here? I was startled when I couldn't find you."

[Liene] "There was an accident today. Can you see that everyone is injured?"

[Black] "I see."

He took a quick look at the wounded. Recognizing at a glance that the injuries were not severe, he gave a light nod.

[Black] "They should be healed in two days. It is a relief, all things considered."

[Liene] "My word. How do you know that so precisely? The physician said the same thing."

[Black] "There is no need to worry excessively."

His subtext was clear: it was time for them to return to their quarters. However, Liene smiled and shook her head.

[Liene] "We’ve all agreed to have tea together. I’m craving roasted pears—with a dash of cinnamon."

[Black] "Is that why you rang the bell?"

[Liene] "Indeed. Everyone here is a patient, and I cannot move myself quickly ."

He chuckled.

[Black] "Then I shall bring it to you. On the condition that I am allowed to join."

From Klima to the two madams, their faces turned a subtle shade of pale.

[Klima] "Oh, no, you shouldn't... I-I can go get it..."

[Henton] "I shall assist as well."

[Flambard] "And I..."

Naturally, the patients' protests were ignored.

[Black] "Tea and roasted pears. Anything else?"

[Liene] "Mm... whatever you would like to eat."

[Black] "Understood. Wait just a moment."

Black left the room. A short while later, a refreshment table was prepared right there in the bedroom.

---

It was a tea service, but it was far from quiet or elegant.

Word of Klima’s injury had spread, and Tiwakan members were poking their heads in one by one.

[Tiwakan] "What? You couldn't catch two women and fell? This kid is hopeless. We need to train him harder."

[Tiwakan] "He lacks conditioning. How do you expect to survive being so flimsy?"

Despite their rough words, they all arrived with armfuls of gifts. They were "get-well" presents, though unfortunately, most of them were bottles of liquor.

Because Liene was sensitive to smells, no patient dared to crack a bottle open.

Liene sat nibbling on a warm, sweet pear, a constant smile on her face.

[Liene] "I never realized this room was so small. It feels quite warm, even for winter."

[Black] "I take it that means you are enjoying yourself."

[Liene] "Of course. Everyone looks so happy."

She popped a piece of pear into Black’s mouth. Roasting winter pears only made them sweeter. He accepted the fruit without complaint.

[Black] "Does the smell of the other food bother you?"

[Liene] "I’m fine for now. The pears are delicious."

As the crowd grew, the food naturally increased. Somehow, the simple tea time had transformed into a small banquet. Even the patients, who had been uneasy at first, were now naturally sharing food.

Aside from one person who thoughtlessly tried to open a bottle of wine—only to be driven back into their seat by the fierce glares of the two Madams—the atmosphere remained jovial.

[Fermos] "I don't believe this...! You rascals! How could you not call me when something like this was happening?"

Fermos arrived late. He had been buried under piles of official documents in the royal office and only heard the news belatedly.

By the time he arrived, the original purpose of a "sick visit" had vanished. Everyone was huddled in the cozy room, chatting and sharing food in a scene reminiscent of a small festival.

Klima, seemingly forgetting his earlier groans, was out of bed and busily carrying dishes. Consequently, the bed had been claimed by others. Liene and Black sat in the center, flanked by the two Madams.

[Klima] "Ah, was the Deputy Commander still in the castle?"

[Fermos] "Of course I was! You should have looked for me!"

He pushed his monocle up and squeezed into the group gathered by the fireplace.

[Fermos] "What are you eating? Give me some."

[Tiwakan] "Why are you aiming for what someone else is eating? Get your own."

[Fermos] "Hand it over before I make you spit out what’s already in your stomach."

[Tiwakan] "...Here, take it."

Having finished her pear, Liene tugged at Black’s sleeve.

[Liene] "What was that Sir Fermos snatched away? I want to try some too."

[Black] "...Ah, you likely won't be able to eat that."

[Liene] "Why not?"

[Black] "It’s grilled chicken hearts with a heavy amount of garlic. The scent will be quite strong."

[Liene] "It looks tasty, though."

[Black] "Try it then. If you can't stomach it, leave it."

As it happened, the serving Fermos had snatched was the last one.

[Flambard] "Oh, dear, then you must have more. I’ll run to the kitchen at once."

Madam Flambard started to stand up out of habit. However, despite her enthusiasm, she was still in a condition where she needed her cane to walk. Unfortunately, the cane was leaning against the side where Madam Henton sat. Instead of handing it over, she let out a huff.

[Henton] "There is someone else better suited to go."

Madam Henton set down the fork she held in her left hand and stood up.

To Liene and Black, both women looked equally unfit for the task.

[Black] "Both of you, stay seated. Where do you think you’re going?"

He snapped his fingers. The nearby Tiwakan soldiers immediately snapped to attention.

[Black] "Go to the kitchen. We are short on food."

[Tiwakan] "Yes, My Lord!"

Their movements were crisp.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Madam Flambard shot a sideways glance toward Madam Henton behind Liene’s back. Her look clearly said:

The cane was right there next to you; why couldn't you just hand it to me? Our Princess wanted to eat, so naturally, I should have been the one to tend to her.

Madam Henton didn't miss the look. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed. Her face was the picture of:

Hah, as if you could have made it there on that leg.

[Flambard] "...I swear."

She gritted her teeth.

[Liene] "Madam? What is the matter?"

Liene, startled, took hold of Madam Flambard’s shoulder.

[Flambard] "I’m in this state because of a certain someone."

[Henton] "Are you implying that this is my fault?"

Madam Henton was not about to back down.

[Flambard] "Well, it’s only natural to fall if someone yanks on you like that."

[Henton] "And who was it that started yanking first?"

[Flambard] "What are you talking about? Are you saying I was the one who pulled?"

[Henton] "That is how I remember it."

[Flambard] "I never...!"

Just as their voices began to rise, Black cut the argument short with perfect timing.

[Black] "Enough. The child is listening."

Liene decided it was time to step in as well.

[Liene] "Why don't you two just make up?"

Madam Flambard turned her head away petulantly.

[Flambard] "Make up? One can only do that when the other party feels the same way."

[Liene] "But you do feel the same."

[Flambard] "Hardly! Did you not see what she was just saying?"

Madam Henton widened her eyes as if to ask what she had possibly done wrong.

[Liene] "I did. She was worried because you keep trying to walk with that cane. Isn't that right?"

[Henton] "Well... ahem."

She cleared her throat instead of answering.

[Liene] "And it’s the same for you, Madam Flambard. If that weren't the case, why did you even come here with that cane? You insisted on following me even when I told you to stay put."

[Flambard] "That’s... well, it’s only proper that I follow the Princess wherever she goes."

[Liene] "No one is fooled by that, Madam. At any rate, you both feel the same way, so there is no reason not to reconcile."

Madam Henton, having stopped her coughing, spoke softly.

[Henton] "I doubt that will be possible until the child is born."

The root of the conflict was that both women were incredibly firm in their opinions.

[Flambard] "She’s right about that. I am not a woman who will change her mind until I see with my own eyes that the child is a princess."

[Henton] "Those are my words exactly."

Even while bickering, the two were identical.

Liene shook her head in disbelief.

[Liene] "Whether it’s a son or a daughter, why is that cause for an argument? We may not know yet, but the gender is already decided. Fighting won't change the outcome."

[Flambard] "It is a matter of who is correct, Your Highness."

[Henton] "Precisely. I am the Head Maid of House Arsak; it would be a blow to my pride not to know the gender of the royal baby."

[Liene] "But no one can know for sure."

[Flambard] "That’s just it—I can't not know. Because I am the nanny."

Madam Henton chimed in supportively.

[Henton] "Indeed, Your Highness. It is impossible for us not to know."

...Right. They fight because they are exactly the same.

[Flambard] "So, I say it once more: the child will be a princess."

[Henton] "It will be a prince."

[Flambard] "No. Honestly. It’s not."

[Henton] "Then let us wait and see who is right."

It no longer mattered who was responsible for the injuries. In fact, they probably didn't even want to fight about that anymore. All that mattered was who would be proven correct.

[Liene] "Are you really going to go on like this until I give birth?"

Both madams likely would have nodded with grim determination, their pride on the line—had Fermos not intervened.

[Fermos] "I believe I can resolve this for you."

Fermos approached, smelling of delicious food.

Liene unconsciously sniffed the air. Her morning sickness seemed a distant memory as the aroma of the food smelled heavenly.

[Fermos] "You will both be correct."

[Flambard] "...How can that be?"

[Fermos] "One son and one daughter. You will be having two."

[Liene] "What?"

Startled, Liene stroked her belly.

[Liene] "Twins? How can you possibly know that?"

[Fermos] "I’ve seen your morning sickness. It is quite dramatic, isn't it? It’s as if two people are in there fighting with everything they’ve got."

[Liene] "Mmm..."

Liene was so shocked she couldn't find words. The idea of having two children was a completely different weight than simply being pregnant.

[Flambard] "No... twins are exceptionally rare."

[Henton] "Indeed. And you claim to know this just from morning sickness? Morning sickness is fickle by nature."

The two Madams seemed skeptical of Fermos’s claim. Fermos nodded, confident that his words would prove true.

[Fermos] "We shall see when the children are born."

[Flambard] "Fine. Let's wait and see."

[Henton] "Of course. As if twins are that common."

[Fermos] "I am correct."

Fermos was the type of person who hated being wrong more than he feared death. Somehow, the debate had shifted from "son or daughter" to "one or two."

[Liene] "My goodness. I suppose the only solution is to give birth quickly."

The one upside was that since Fermos had become a common enemy, the relationship between the two Madams seemed likely to recover soon.

As Liene murmured this, Black’s expression turned solemn.

[Black] "What are you saying? The children will be born exactly when they are meant to be. Do not even entertain such thoughts."

She found his refusal to yield, even on a passing comment, quite lovely.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and asked.

[Liene] "What do you think it would be like to have two?"

[Black] "...I think I’m looking at exactly what it would be like right now."

A laugh escaped her.

[Liene] "Haha... but even if they bicker, they don't seem to have a bad relationship."

[Black] "I would prefer one. Two means the Princess would have to suffer that much more."

[Liene] "I think I would like two better. One would be lovely, but two would be twice as precious."

He sighed.

[Black] "Think of your own body first."

[Liene] "But it’s too late for that now. The children are already here."

[Black] "...I suppose I must hope they don't cause too much trouble."

He brought his head close to her rounded belly. His lips seemed to whisper something.

[Liene] "What did you say?"

[Black] "I told them I intend to be a strict father. So I told them to behave."

[Liene] "As if you could ever manage that."

Liene laughed. Seeing how soft he was toward her, she couldn't imagine him ever being a strict father to his children.

[Black] "Just wait and see. You'll see exactly how strict I can be."

[Liene] "I’m telling you, you can't."

There was only one conclusion: the answer would only be revealed when the child—or children—were born.

As the year turned and the season became not just warm but pleasantly mild, Liene finally entered the birthing chamber.

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