Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 21 | Requiem (1)

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By the time Rienne finished getting ready and went outside, Black had already prepared his horse to go to the cemetery.

[ Rienne ] “Ah..

Seeing him standing there, he stopped.

Maybe it was because he was already preparing with the intention to accompany her, but she was dressed all in black. Not only him, but all the Tiwakan warriors were also standing behind him.

With every part of his clothes completely black, it was understandable why the rumors about him had been abandoned by the God of Death and rejected by the earth spread so easily. (1)

But when Black suddenly turned around and made eye contact with her, Rienne involuntarily frowned.

…..It was unfair how suitable such a dark color was for him.

It was inappropriate to have such thoughts right before leaving for the funeral, but he could not help it. It was an idea so common in his mind.

He must have worn black armor the first time we met…. I wondered why I had never paid attention before ….

[Black ] “You're here.”

As Rienne stood still, she approached him first, her eyes staring at his neck and shoulders.

[Black ] “Your clothes are different.”

[ Rienne ] “Ny. Flambard changed my dress for me to fit better.”

[Black ] “…..Is that a good thing?”

Black muttered softly. Although Rienne did not seem to notice her reaction, she also thought the color did not look suitable for her.

While the two of them were distracted, one of the mercenaries walked towards them, tugging at the Black horse's control. It was a dark horse and more impressive than Rienne had expected. Just by looking at it, he could tell exactly who it belonged to.

[ Black ] “Ayo.”

Black extended his hand to Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “On this horse?”

[Black ] “You're coming with me.”

Rienne gently shook her head.

[ Rienne ] “Nothing. I have my own horse.”

He was not sure if he could stand on the same horse as her anymore. Rienne could still clearly remember what happened the last time she did it. That's too much for him to handle.

It is not a good idea to deliberately put himself in the same position where such a thing might happen again. It wasn't right after he told himself that he had to be vigilant around him.

[ Rienne ] “I can ride by myself.”

[Black ] “You can't.”

But he answered firmly.

[Black ] “We don't know if or when we will be attacked with another arrow. If our distance is too far, I won't be able to react that fast.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Although Rienne knew Rafit as the culprit, the person who fired the arrow was still not officially identified. He knew he would never shoot an arrow at her, but he could not say that.

[ Rienne ] “….If you insist.”

Finally, Rienne reluctantly agreed and nodded her head.

[Black ] “I'll help you.”

Without waiting for him to extend his hand, Black pulled Rienne into a hug and lifted her up onto the horse.

His shoulder was still injured and it was impossible to heal, yet he was completely shocked by how he handled it. It was as if he was weighing nothing for her.

It felt like the more he noticed this man, the more confused he became.

[Black ] “Come to go.”

As soon as she made sure Rienne was safe in her place, she pulled herself onto the horse with a highly trained move, she made it seem like the easiest thing in the world.

What a strange man, Rienne thought as the sound of horse hooves swept through the air.

In more ways than one, he was a very mysterious person. No matter what she did, Rienne could not imagine her embarrassing herself. Whether it was riding a horse or anything, he handled it skillfully and easily.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

If she let this thought continue, Rienne would finally remember how skilled her kiss was as well, so she quickly shattered the thought before it could surface.

I can't forget…. I have to be careful around him.

Clip, clamp. Clip, clamp.

As their horses accelerated their pace, the sound of their nails hitting the ground grew louder. Meanwhile, Rienne could feel herself dizzy—an undeniable calm feeling grew in her chest as she felt this mysterious man clutching control around her.

 

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The temple is located on Phillyon Hill, just north of Nauk Castle. Rienne could already hear the Temple priest ringing the bell, announcing the funeral. It was a sad and gloomy voice.

[ Black ] “Wait.”

Arriving at the steep stairs leading to the entrance, Black told Rienne to remain silent. But before he could ask why, he got off the horse first and extended his hand towards her.

[Black ] “You can go down now.”

Looking at her big hand that was outstretched towards him, Rienne gulped nervously.

Why is she so nice to him?

Acting like this was unnecessary if he was only here to take revenge.

Why are you doing this to me? Why me?

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Without saying thank you, Rienne finally grabbed her hand.

But it doesn't end there.

Pulling his hand, Black wrapped his other arm around his waist and pulled it into his chest. Helping her down, Rienne's feet carefully touched the ground. With how he treated her, anyone would think he had completely forgotten how to ride a horse alone.

[Black ] “Do we have to climb all those stairs?”

[ Rienne ] “Yes. After all, it was a Temple. ”

It's all part of how they worship God. Even the Nauk royal family was no exception.

But the difficult journey to the Temple is part of the reason why so few people can visit it. People who are sick or injured and in need of help cannot travel and never dare to try.

Even as a child, whenever she visited the Temple, Rienne would always feel tremendous pain in her legs and would be exhausted from the journey.

[Black ] “Then let's go.”

Rienne begins to walk first with Black quietly following her, but the silence does not last long. As the two of them began to climb up the steep stairs, a shadow made of white suddenly cut through their gaze.

They are priests.

The priests insisted on wearing white clothes, which contrasted sharply with the dark black mourning attire of Rienne's feast.

[ Rienne ] “What do Priests do here.?”.

Rienne instinctively frowned. He doesn't have a good feeling about this. Going down the stairs was as difficult as going up, so the priests stood still.

[ Priest ] “We came to convey the words of the High Priest to the daughter of the Arsak family!”

Suddenly, Rienne's bad premonition became very real. The priests who rushed out now shouted at him.

[Priest ] “On behalf of the great God Nauk and the High Priest, you are prohibited from attending this funeral!”

[ Rienne ] “..?”

The priest who shouted it was a bit far away so for a moment Rienne thought she might have misheard.

[ Rienne ] “What did you just say?”

[Priest ] “As long as he joins those who oppose the will of the Gods, we cannot let princess Arsak penetrate the Temple! Such were the words of the High Priest himself!”

[ Rienne ] “You mean my fiance is the one who defies the will of the Gods?”

[ Priest ] “Tapat.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

This is not a message from the High Priest. This is almost identical to the words of Linden Kleinfelder. The man was determined to isolate Rienne from all aspects of Nauk.

Rienne looked up— her words were firm and firm.

[ Rienne ] “I can't accept that. Stay beside.”

[ Priest ] “We got orders from High Priest.”

[ Rienne ] “I am a member of the Nauk royal family who rules.”

[ Rienne ] “How dare you...”.

Rienne could feel her hands raised from shock and anger.

This is really unbelievable. Even if the High Priest was allied with Linden, with his pockets fattening due to friendship, he had no right to publicly ignore the Nauk royal family.

[ Rienne ] “Call the High Priest. Tell him to say it in front of me.”

[ Priest ] “He is currently presiding over a funeral ceremony.”

[ Rienne ] “That's just an excuse.”

[ Priest ] “….But….. High Priest said there was a way to fix all this.”

As soon as Rienne's words turned fierce, the priest, who hesitated for just a moment, suddenly changed his tone.

[Priest ] “If you, daughter of Arsak, get rid of those who have abandoned the will of God, we will forgive all your sins and accept you once again as one of the faithful children.”

What they want from him is simple. Turn him over to Tiwakan and obey him calmly. Rienne was furious, she could feel her ears burning just by hearing it.

[ Rienne ] “Is the dissolution of my wedding arrangements really what she asked for? That's what High Priest really wants?”

Anyone with half a brain knows something like that is impossible.

The Tiwakan Bay Army besieged the castle for fifteen days to pressure it into accepting the proposal. That alone had already made it clear that this was not an arrangement that he could simply dissolve. There's no way Linden Kleinfelder didn't know that.

It's just his way of getting everyone on Nauk to fight Rienne.

If Rienne is expelled from the Temple and denied access to the cemetery, rumors will rage.

Although the Gods gave her a choice of safety, the brainwashed Princess fell into the desires of the savage monsters and left the heavenly ones behind. They will feel he is not worthy of his position. They'll roll him out.

He tried to pass it all as the will of the Gods.

[ Priest ] “That's what High Priest told me to say.”

[ Rienne ] “Then tell him to come out and talk to me! He should not hide in his Temple like a cowardly dog!”

The priests widened their eyes in shock as Rienne raised her voice as she could not help it.

[ Priest ] “Cover your head before the Gods, Arsak's daughter! Your Majesty will not tolerate such disrespect here!”

[ Rienne ] “And who showed disrespect from the start.!”.

This whole situation was completely unacceptable, there were no proper words to describe it. Rienne loosened her fists, instead of gripping the fabric of her dress.

[ Rienne ] “Then allow me to meet him in person. We will see if he says the same words as you do.”

[ Black ] “Wait.”

But suddenly, Black's low voice froze Rienne in place.

[Black ] “You don't have to go.”

[ Rienne ] “What…? Why?”

With a sharp look in his eyes, Black looked past him towards the priests.

[Black ] “They are not stupid.”

[ Rienne ] “Ah..”.

Rienne bit her lip.

He's not wrong. Even if the High Priest was stupid, he knew better than to show his face like this. The temple did not have sufficient military force to use against the Tiwakan. If they really wanted to enter, there would be no way to stop them.

However, despite all that, the priests spoke with great disrespect.

Unless they were stupid or had a death wish, they would not do that.

[Black ] “I think they are trying to provoke us.”

[ Rienne ] “But why..”.

[Black ] “They might want us to storm them.”

It's clear that they're not okay.

[ Rienne ] “But.I had to attend the funeral. Otherwise, they will only use it against me.”

[Black ] “We will find out one by one. But until we are sure what happens, you should not go.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Black correct.

Dealing with the political worries caused by Kleinfelder was one thing, but as the leader of an invincible mercenary company, he had experience dealing with far worse ones. He'll know what the best tactical decision is.

[ Rienne ] “. It is wise to follow you, Mr. Tiwakan.”

Rienne took a deep breath as she spoke. Turning around to return down the stairs, he glimpsed back up the hill. He could already see the priests floundering among themselves out of embarrassment.

There was no denying that Linden Kleinfelder had manipulated all of this to provoke him. Remembering that made his anger swell up again within him. He is openly trying to wrest control of Nauk from her now.

This is no different than a declaration of war.

So what can Rienne do now?

At least when he faced the siege of Tiwakan, he knew who his enemy was. Although it is difficult, the path is clear.

But now he had no idea who he could trust.

[Black ] “Be careful.”

That complicated and swirling idea distracts him from one of the stone steps being moved. As Rienne felt herself tripping, Black quickly hugged her.

[ Rienne ] “Oh.. forgive me.. I looked down, but I didn't see where I was going.”.

[Black ] “It's okay. i.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Is this man his enemy or not?

Rienne wishes she knew for sure.

She did not want him to fall and she did not want him to get hurt, but all that made Rienne even more confused.

Is it normal for revenge to feel this way?

It was funny even such a thought came to him.

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[ Linden ] “Damn!”

Leaning against the balcony railing facing the entrance of the temple, Linden Kleinfelder looked down and twisted her lips in annoyance.

[ Linden ] “They didn't take the bait. Smart little snake.”

Taking his uncle's side, Rafit Kleinfelder is the next to speak.

[ Rafit ] “….And that's a good thing, too. If Princess Rienne dies, the Kleinfelder family will be the first to face the anger of Nauk.”

Rafit, now known as Lopez Kleinfelder, looked down at the entrance with a worried look on his face.

At the top of the stairs to the Temple is what looks like a catapult with a large rock tied firmly on it.

[ Linden ]”. .”

Linden looked at her nephew, turning her shoulders towards him.

[ Linden ] “Are you serious? We missed a great opportunity to kill that barbarian chief in one fell swoop.”

As soon as Tiwakan took the bait and tried to raid the Temple forcefully, he planned to release the stone and roll it down the stairs. Everyone would be crushed to death or they would be forced to jump over the side of the cliff to avoid it.

Of course the Priests and Princess Rienne would also perish, but Linden barely cared about it.

[Raffit ] “You can't deny it. Princess Rienne is loved by the people of Nauk, so killing her recklessly is not wise.”

[ Linden ] “You're stupid…. Don't tell me you still love her? That dirty girl?” (2)

[ Rafit ] “Take your tongue, uncle.”

The man, who was once the eldest son now by a new name, narrowed his eyes. A flash of blue rage cut his expression like a knife.

[Raffit ] “I won't let anyone talk like that about Princess Rienne in front of me. Not after what he did to save me.”

 

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T/N: (1) Rumor reference saying that he was basically immortal because the God of Death rejected him.

(2) The word Linden uses to describe Rienne can mean many things, but it is generally a derogatory term meaning an unclean/non-picky/intelligent woman.

translator/editor: astralmech | editor: ghost

Shouting to my friend Ghost for helping me edit the next few chapters It was much easier thanks to them