Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 10 | Dangerous Reunions (1)

...* * *...

He had no idea how much time had passed.

By the time Rienne pulled away, she was completely panting. Her lips felt numb as her lips got wet from her kiss. He could only imagine how he looked.

[Black ] “I didn't expect it.”

Black whispered while barely moving his mouth.

[Black ] “Not bad. And also not the clothes.”

As she wrapped her injured arm around Rienne's waist, she felt a swelling panic in her chest but somehow she couldn't deny how safe and supportive that feeling was.

 

[ Rienne ] “You can let me go now.”

Rienne pushed Black's shoulder with her palm.

He did everything he could to stay calm, but this man always found a way to shake him. It was hard to keep his head up, but if he was too relaxed, he would end up sitting on his lap.

[ Rienne ] “I have to go..”.

But realizing something, Rienne suddenly stopped talking.

Black squinted his eyes.

[ Rienne ] “Ah.”

Unknowingly, he pushed Black's injured shoulder away from everything. Rienne hurriedly pulled her hand.

[ Rienne ] “I didn't notice….. Are you okay?”

[Black ] “Nothing.”

She said it was okay, but she seemed to grimace in pain.

[ Rienne ] “Nothing.”

Rienne grabbed her hand and gently placed it over the wound she had just pushed, stroking it as if to calm her down or make her pain go away.

There was no blood, so at least he accidentally reopened his wound.

[ Rienne ] “Lain times, let me know if anyone is sick, okay?”

[Black ] “I don't think it's very painful .... Nothing to worry about.”

When he said that, his lips were as red and excited as before. She didn't know why, but Rienne felt it suited her.

It was a good performance for him.

I hope he will look like that every time he sees me.

….Wait, what did I say?

As her mind quickly spun, Rienne jerked her head back, fearfully pushing her down and hurriedly looked away.

[ Rienne ] “I'll go now.”

There's work to be done. He needed to stop someone from returning before he accidentally started a futile war.

[ Rienne ] “If you are not in pain, then you should eat yourself.”

Hearing that, Black made a funny face but Rienne, who turned to leave, did not see him.

[ Rienne ] “I hope you get well soon, Mr. Tiwakan.”

And then Rienne left without waiting for Black's answer.

It was only after the door closed behind him that he realized that he had forgotten the bandages and medicines on the table, but he could not go back and take them now.

… Everything is done now.

There's no turning back.

It was clear to him that Rafit and Black are very different from each other. Rienne was filled with a strange feeling of relief. As some of him can't wait to get away from all the time, Rafit will exaggerate his pain just to keep him with him.

Now she's engaged to the others. With his own strength, there was nothing he could do to avoid it.

 

* * *

 

There were dozens of reasons Rienne could give for meeting the Kleinfelder family.

Linden Kleinfelder, who currently acts as the head of the family, is the head of the Nauk delegation, and Rienne can think of many legitimate reasons she could give for visiting him.

Moreover, Rienne still had to greet the family. Rafit is the Knight Commander of Arsak, so he is expected to express his condolences for his loss directly.

[ Weroz ] “I have to protest, Princess.”

As Rienne prepared to leave, Weroz stopped him.

[ Weroz ] “Visiting Kleinfelders now will only make us doubt.”

[ Rienne ] “If that's what you're worried about, Weroz, then calm down.”

Rienne turned to look at herself in the mirror. As a last resort, she added floral accessories to her hair. Grief symbols. All that was left was to wear a black robe to cover her dress—which was sent to be taken by Mrs. Flambards.

[ Rienne ] “They already know he's alive.”

[ Weroz ] “What? Did ya? How can you be so sure?”

[ Rienne ] “It's just a feeling. I think they may have examined the body before returning it to us.”

Leader Tiwakan was actually rather generous, warning him that he knew the truth.

[Weroz ] “But I think they don't know what Sir Kleinfelder.” looks like

[ Rienne ] “I don't know. maybe they recognize the symbol in his armor or something similar.”.

[ Weroz ] “Symbol.....oh..!”.

Weroz's face turned pale due to his sudden awareness.

[ Weroz ] “Maybe they recognize the decorations on his helmet?”

[ Rienne ] “Decoration?”

[Weroz ] “People who replaced Sir Kleinfelder. Sir Kleinfelder is the only Knight to have such ornate armor, so perhaps they realized that the armor the man wore did not match how decorative his helmet was.”

[ Rienne ] “That's possible.”

Rumors had always called the man barbaric, but it turned out that he was very sharp. It was terrifying, if he saw something like that.

And it's not just him. Whether it was the leader of Tiwakan, his right hand, or the other members—they did not live as an invincible champion on the battlefield for no reason.

[Rienne ] “Now that I think about it, he didn't say much when he showed us the sword. He just vaguely said ‘dia won't be back’. He probably knew even then that the Commander was not the one who died.”

He did not walk into the meeting with blood on his face because he was a barbarian who did not know manners. He probably did it intentionally.

[ Weroz ] “How much do they know?”

[ Rienne ] “More than we thought. Maybe there's no point trying to lie to them.”

Lord Tiwakan is now a resident of the castle, under the name of the Princess' fiancee, and the Tiwakan Charge Army is no longer a mercenary, but the Arsak Guard Knights.

[ Weroz ] “Then why, Princess, you visit Kleinfelders..”.

[ Rienne ] “I'll tell Rafit to escape.”

When Rienne said that, her face turned into a dry expression. As if he was mocking himself.

[ Weroz ] “Do you really give up on Sir Kleinfelder and his family?”

[ Rienne ] “If it means saving his life. Tiwakan has been kind to us so far, but it is not enough to let the person who shot the arrow live.”

[Weroz ] “We don't yet know for sure if Sir Kleinfelder is responsible for it, Putri.”

[ Rienne ] “The truth is hardly important. The problem was that someone tried to kill the Tiwakan leader. They'll expect him to pay for this.”

[ Weroz ] “Kleinfelders won't let that happen.”

[ Rienne ] “Yes. You were right about that .. but I can't let them fight. Do you want Kleinfelder to engage in a futile battle with Tiwakan, knowing that they have no chance of winning?

[ Weroz ] “I..”.

Kleinfelders and Tiwakan were completely incomparable. Given that Tiwakan had an edge over them in every way, Rienne's decision was a wise one.

[Weroz ] “But Princess, once this is done, you will never be able to escape her clutches. You know this, right?”

[ Rienne ] “I'm aware.”

[ Weroz ] “Then please, think again. If you let Sir Kleinfelder go, then you will cut off your only exit.”

[ Rienne ] “There's no way out.”

Rienne's voice turned loud and firm.

[ Rienne ] “You know this is the same as me.”

[ Weroz ] “I know, but.. You're the one getting married, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “I'm ready for what brings my options.”

That's the strangest part. Somewhere deep down, Rienne felt that the man was not so bad, although it would make things easier if it were so. Of all the things surrounding this ludicrous marriage, the most ridiculous thing was Rienne herself.

[ Rienne ] “Hm.. Where's my cape... There's something going on with Mrs Flambard?”

Rienne quickly changed the subject, just as Mrs. Flambard knocked on the door and entered.

[Mrs Flambard ] “I brought your cape, Mistress.”

Upon entering the room, the woman immediately frowned when she saw Rienne standing in front of the mirror.

[Mrs Flambard ] “Is that your sorcerer's outfit, Princess?’

[ Rienne ] “Excuse me?”

Rienne tilted her head, quickly looking at herself.

[ Rienne ] “Um, yes. This is all I have. You're dealing with my wardrobe, Mrs Flambard. You should know it.”

[Mrs Flambard ] “Oh no, is this the dress?”

Madam Flambard firmly shook her head.

[ Mrs Flambard ] “How long has it been since you last used this—five years or more? No wonder it looks so different. You've grown so big, of course it won't fit the same. ”

Now three people have shown her clothes. Suddenly, Rienne felt grateful to Weroz for not thinking about it.

[ Rienne ] “I haven't grown that much. Besides, I don't think it looks terrible .. “

[Mrs Flambard ] “What did you say? Quite the opposite!”

[ Rienne ] “What?”

Another wave of confusion struck Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “What do you mean?”

[Mrs Flambard ] “You look very pretty in black clothes, Princess. Back then, I thought your youthful energy was what made you so beautiful, but now I can hardly classify what you wear as ‘Mourning Clothes’. You have lost so much weight, it practically falls off of you! With so much of your chest and shoulders exposed, you look like you're preparing for your wedding night! Mr Weroz, how could you not say something?”

Suddenly, Bu Flambard's passionate talk turned to Weroz. Weroz shook his head in embarrassment.

[ Weroz ] “Oh, well.. of course I think she's beautiful, I just thought..”.

[Mrs Flambard ] “Oh, what does a knight know about beauty?”

Shaking his head, Mrs Flambard turned towards Rienne to stop her.

[Mrs Flambard ] “However, you cannot wear this to mourn so you must change, Princess. I'm afraid of what will happen to that barbarian mad head if he sees you wearing this. He looks like the kind of guy who would swallow you whole!”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

At Mrs Flambard's warning, Rienne's face turned pale; something the eagle-eyed lady had not missed.

[ Mrs Flambard ] “She's seen you wearing this, right?”

Caught wet.

[ Rienne ] “….Well..not that she saw me naked.”.

[ Mrs Flambard ] “Yes, but your figure is still exposed, we can clearly see your body shape. That might be more of a problem.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne could not find the words to say.

He could remember Black staring at him and telling him that his clothes ‘interrupted’ him, and how Phermos blatantly asked if he would continue to wear them.

So that's what they mean.

Mrs Flambard even said it was like a dress that someone would wear on their wedding night. If given the chance, Rienne was sure she would be more outspoken with her words.

…Oh my God...What if he thinks I'm wearing it on purpose?

Although it was too late to worry about such a thing, Rienne could not stop thinking about it.

And I even kissed her first.

It will only be natural …. If he thought he was intentionally wearing such seductive clothes while acting in such a manner in front of him.

 

* * *

 

After which, Rienne quickly took off the dress.

Mistress Flambard promised to fix it but in the meantime, Rienne had to settle for wearing the darkest colored dress she had with a black robe on it. In new clothes, Rienne leaves for the Kleinfelder Estate.

Although she was a Princess, her escort was simple. As usual, only Weroz accompanied him.

[ Rienne ] “There are many soldiers Tiwakan here today..”.

Rienne sat on her horse, her voice low as she spoke to Weroz and looked around the street. Weroz nodded in response.

[ Weroz ] “They must still be looking for an attacker.”

[ Rienne ] “... If this continues, Tiwakan will know everything there is to know about Nauk.”

[ Weroz ] “You're not wrong.”

Rienne smiled bitterly.

[ Rienne ] “It's a good thing they still can't believe the arrow was ordered by Nauk himself. They can take everything from us too easily.”

[ Weroz ] “Everything will be different if the attacker succeeds.”

Whatever sincerity that Rienne's smile might bring soon disappeared.

[ Rienne ] “Ya... everyone on Nauk... was killed to pay the revenge of others.”.

[ Weroz ] “. .”

Weroz knew Rienne was not wrong. All he could do was bow his head and not reply to anything his gray hair lay on his forehead.

[ Rienne ] “I'm glad Tiwakan's leader is still alive. Instead of taking Nauk by force, he was friendly enough to propose. ”

[ Weroz ] “This is rather suspicious, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “After all, we have to accept it. In fifteen days—no, even less than that, leader Tiwakan will rule Nauk with me.” (1)

The Princess only stated a fact, something Weroz had known for a long time, but she was still not used to hearing it out loud.

[ Rienne ] “We're almost there.”

The entrance to the Kleinfelder Estate is already visible.

Although his height was nothing compared to Castle Nauk, he was defeated in scale and luxury, having even more servants than the royal palace.

Bang out!

[ Weroz ] “Open the door! Your Majesty, Princess Rienne of the Arsak Family has arrived!”

Weroz knocked on the door as he announced Rienne's presence. After some time, the servants finally came to accept them.

 

* * *

T/N: (1) The reason why Rienne is still a Princess even though the last king had died many years ago is because she is not married. Naturally her husband will be king, although the arrangement she has with Black is set in Chapter. 4 still recognizes the birthright of ‘his’ above all else. Basically, he helped her rise without taking power from her in the same way Kleinfelder did.