Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 1 | Bloody Dating (1)

The letter was completely tangled from his hand.

It was the second letter they sent.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne looked at her pale and cold hands. The blood had completely left them, and they did not feel like their own anymore.

The details of the letter were straight and to the point.

—’I've been waiting for fifteen days now. Please, give me your answer.’

It's the same as the first.

—’For Princess Palace Nauk. The leader of the Tiwakan Charge Army sent out a marriage proposal. We look forward to the news from you.’

And in the name of this proposal, the Tiwakan Charge Army had surrounded his palace for the past fifteen days.

[ Maslow ] “Princess.”

The voice calling Rienne belonged to Maslow, an aristocratic delegation adviser. It was trembling and full of worries.

[Maslow ] “You won't accept it, right? They were just wild beasts who knew nothing of human decency, only doing what they wanted. Have the courage to propose like this…! This is proof of their savagery!”

[ Rienne ] “But if we don't accept them, do we have any other way to stop them?”

Trying her best to calm her voice, Rienne opened the shattered letter with her hands.

[Rienne ] “We do not have the necessary strength to repel them alone. You know it.”

The only remaining symbols of power in their once great empire were Rienne, Maslow, and the Weroz—kapten guards. They were nothing compared to how beautiful the Nauk Kingdom was in the past.

Weroz spoke in a heavy voice. Although he was tense and stiff for a long time, he was over forty years old now.

[ Weroz ] “We can still fight them. I am ready to offer my life if necessary. ”

Rienne knows Weroz's loyalty. He knew he was honest when he said he was ready.

And that was increasingly the reason he had to accept the proposal.

He could not allow all knights who thought like Weroz to waste their lives in vain.

[ Rienne ] “We'll all die together.”

[ Weroz ] “P, Princess..!”

Weroz shook his head, but Rienne could not lie.

It's been fifteen days.

In just fifteen days, Nauk Castle had been completely isolated and not too long ago, their supply routes had been cut off. People were exhausted from the battle, and the few remaining guards completely lost their spirits.

They had no chance from the start. From the very beginning, the mercenaries had an army ten times the size of the castle's reserve army.

Not to mention the Tiwakan Charge Army, known as the cruelest and most savage army in the entire continent, did not suffer any real losses. For them, this was no different from hunting rabbits

They can easily last for months if necessary.

But not before everyone in the Nauk Kingdom starved to death.

Taking a deep breath, Rienne spoke.

[ Rienne ] “I'll accept their offer.”

Maslow and Weroz shouted together.

[ Weroz ] “No, Princess!”

[ Maslow ] “No, no! You just said that because you don't know what kind of person Tiwakan is!”

He had heard enough rumors.

They say the leader of Tiwakan was the son of the God of War, born after his mother was raped. As a result, the God of Death cursed him, and the God of Earth constantly rejected his body.

His cursed existence was one that could never perish on the battlefield.

[Maslow ] “They said he was one of those people who turned away from the Gods. Thus..”.

[ Rienne ] “Maybe she wants more men than women?”

Hearing Rienne's straightforward and outspoken words, Weroz stuttered.

[Weroz ] “Yeah, as you already know, the Tiwakan Charge Army does have more people.

Maslow was an experienced advisor, so he used clearer language to stop Rienne from accepting the offer.

[ Maslow ] “Because of that, women who spend the night with such men tend not to live long, Princess.”

Hearing that, a shadow bowed in Rienne's eyes. That was enough to make him shiver. What kind of beast is this man?

[ Rienne ] “But I don't think he's gonna kill me in one night. She wouldn't ask me to marry her if that's what she wanted.”

Maslow shouted in a panicked tone.

[ Maslow ] “Can't, Princess. Or have you forgotten what Lord Kleinfelder is trying to do now for your sake?

[ Rienne ] “She said she would find reinforcements from Sharka Kingdom and bring her here within ten days.”

Rienne is not the pessimistic type of person, but she does not want to hold on to what could turn into false expectations.

After all, she was Princess Rienne of the Arsak family, the ruler of Nauk Castle, and was in charge of the lives of everyone who lived there.

[ Rienne ] “Ten days have come and gone. There is no guarantee he will return, or he will bring back the reinforcements he promised.”

[ Maslow ] “Do you not trust Lord Kleinfelder? He did more for you, Princess, than he did for his own life. I'm sure he'll come back with reinforcements. ”

[ Rienne ] “If possible, she will return within the specified time.”

Rienne contemplated the promise of Rafit Kleinfelder, a knight from the Arsak family with a thorny expression on his face.

When they first heard the news that the Tiwakan Charge Army was marching on Nauk Castle, Rafit had left without the slightest notice to the Sharka Kingdom. Her mother's family is one of the largest in the entire country.

If anyone can get their help, it's him.

Ten days, he said.

He told them to hold on for that long.

Rienne wanted to believe him, but the glimmer of hope in her palm was nothing compared to the devastating reality before her.

[ Rienne ] “We can't delay any longer. Even if he manages to return, the Sharka Kingdom will never give us enough troops to repel the Tiwakan Charge Army. Which country wants to go to war with them now? Even the great Lekes Kingdom decided to humiliate themselves by signing their peace treaty.”

Five days passed from the appointed time. That's all the evidence they need.

Even Maslow and Weroz knew that there was no point in expecting reinforcements.

[Rienne ] “Whatever the reason, we all know that the proposal is real. They would not wait for an answer while besieging the castle otherwise. Their troops can easily break down gates and walls whenever they want.”

Looking back at the other two remaining people to defend Castle Nauk with her, Rienne made a decision.

[Rienne ] “As heir to the Arsak family and the last of my blood, I have a duty to defend Nauk. If my marriage with one man can protect everyone's life, it's a small price to pay.”

[ Weroz ] “Princess.”.

He didn't have it in him to fight him in this. Closing his eyes, Weroz accepted his choice with a sigh, his face filled with regret as the tip of his eyes wrinkled.

But Maslow was not ready to give up.

[ Maslow ] “Then what about Lord Kleinfelder? The Kleinfelder family is currently one of the most powerful families in the entire Nauk. It's not a relationship you can easily break off; it's not without consultation.”

As an adviser to the aristocracy, Maslow had long maintained a good relationship with Kleinfelder. He is one of many who believe that Rafit Kleinfelder will one day marry Rienne and become the ruler of Nauk.

[ Rienne ] “There is no point discussing it.”

[ Maslow ] “Can you say that to Kleinfelder, Princess?”

[Rienne ] “And tell me, what did the Kleinfelders do when the guards of Nauk Castle ran out of blood awaiting the return of Lord Kleinfelder?”

Rienne's expression turned cold.

The Kleinfelder family continued to grip the country's wealth and power, something that did not go unnoticed as the small kingdom began to crumble. With that power in his hands, Rafit urges Rienne to marry him after his father's death.

One way or another, Rienne fights off an official engagement to prevent Kleinfelder's attempts to gain common control over Nauk.

Perhaps, she could be a sincere lover for him.

But Kleinfelder is too greedy. They will eat all the Nauk, which is barren, leaving only bones.

[ Rienne ] “I will send my reply to Tiwakan.” head

Weroz and Maslow looked at him with distorted faces.

Speaking in a steady and direct voice, Rienne gave her answer to two people who were against her decision for different reasons.

[ Rienne ] “I accept their offer.”

An hour after his reply, they received a response.

The place for Rienne and her suitors to meet has been decided.

Rienne will be escorted by Weroz and several other guards.

Seen from here…

As the sound of horses rang out in his ears, Nauk Castle grew smaller in the distance.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne turned her head to the side, staring at the castle she had left behind her.

…I wonder if I will return safely.

 

* * *

 

The location of the meeting was exactly in the middle between Nauk Fortress and Tiwakan military camp.

We have already set up the tent first. Rienne went in first, accompanied only by Weroz.

Although the core of all of this was the proposal, the atmosphere was more akin to a battlefield. Troops were on both sides of them with only tents between them, and the tension in the air was palpable.

[ Rienne ] “..She hasn't arrived.”

Once inside, there was nothing but a table and two chairs facing each other.

Weroz stared angrily at the empty seats of their enemies.

[ Weroz ] “I didn't expect it to be like this. To think they won't respect us so far. ”

[Rienne ] “Well, thanks to them, at least I have time to prepare myself. Not everything is bad.”

So he said jokingly, but there was a bit of sincerity in his words.

Extra time is not too bad. Rienne was worried that her anxiety would be apparent with how much she trembled and how frightened she was when she first entered.

He was forced to accept this proposal, but he did not want to look intimidated.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne bit her lips, sitting on the spot she considered her seat.

In a moment, leader Tiwakan will enter. The bastard son, abandoned by the God of War.

Don't nervous.

Rienne clasped her hands on her lap.

Don't let them look down on you.

This is not a proposal. This is a negotiation. Whatever they wanted from him, he would not just give up.

[ Weroz ] “Princess.”

Suddenly, Weroz called out to Rienne, lowering her voice.

[ Weroz ] “I heard something.”

[ Rienne ] “...What's the matter?”

[ Weroz ] “It must be a sword.”

[ Rienne ] “What do you mean?”

[ Weroz ] “Someone is fighting. Those savages will find a reason to fight, even among themselves.. Ah!”.

Weroz's face turned red. Slapping his knees, he could not help the excitement that seemed on his face.

[ Weroz ] “That must be Sir Kleinfelder! He must have led his reinforcements directly to attack Tiwakan!”

[ Rienne ] “What?”

Rienne raised herself with tears in her eyes.

[ Rienne ] “Then does that mean... I don't have to accept this proposal?”

[ Weroz ] “Of course, Princess! On your order, allow me to check outside. If they get caught up in a battle, they will try to blame us for breaking our promise.”

Weroz took the lead.

[ Weroz ] “Quick, Princess.”

But just as Rienne started to step up, the sound of the tent curtain opening sounded; it was as if the world was mocking her.

Close, close.

A strong and bright light wave flowed into the inside of the tent.

Rienne let go of Weroz's hand and frowned. He blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the light and finally, he started to see a black silhouette in his vision.

…There's something big here.

The shadow that loomed over him was all he needed to realize just how big a person was standing in front of him.

Imposing, dark, stiff, and extremely ferocious.

[ — ] “I'm late.”

His dry tone and sluggish voice passed through the air, like the wind shaking dry grass.

[ — ] “Princess Nauk.”

Tiwakan's head had arrived, just as he was trying to escape from this savage proposal.

 

It was so bright, he felt his eyes start to water. Rienne opened her eyes wide and looked at the man who was now approaching her.

Just looking at it made him feel like he was suffocating.

His intimidating stature overwhelmed him, and every time he stepped closer, he felt his body go numb.

The man's hair was indescribably black, but on the contrary, his intense blue eyes were as clear as water. It felt more like an animal was staring at him, than a human.

Rienne had never met anyone with such an intense appearance before. When he made eye contact with her, it gave her spine goosebumps. However, he could not force himself to turn away.

In fact, even though they called her a savage savage savage more than a human, she was beautiful. The combination of deep hair and transparent lake-like eyes was amazing.

It's nonsense….

Rienne closed her eyes and opened them again.

But even so, the shock he felt upon seeing such an amazing person did not disappear so easily.

Pulling yourself together. Worth seeing or not, barbarians are barbarians.