Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 22 | Requiem (2)

* * *

.

It was windy and from its delicate position on the window frame, a gust of wind was extremely dangerous for him.

But being carried away by the dangerous wind was an even more dangerous whisper.

He could hear Rienne.

[ Rienne ] –’Let's go to another room first.’

Standing in his place, he could not look into the room but hear his voice, his ears raised.

[ Rienne ] –’R..next room ends.’

He was not talking to the horrible man. The message was for Rafit.

It seemed like he was trying to tell her that he was risking his life to make the barbarians leave the room. All so that he could escape safely.

Now Rafit believes their love is not dead.

Rienne only did this because she was forced.

As the daughter of House Arsak, Rienne was an honorable woman. She will never allow herself to admit that she still loves someone else when she is engaged to someone else.

Even if the marriage was not her wish, Rienne's heart was always noble.

That means Rafit has an obligation to take it back on its own.

[Linden ] “You're always blind when it comes to that woman, but it gets worse.”

Linden said to her nephew as Rafit shook his head at her.

[ Rafit ] “I'm not blind. I can see very clearly.”

As of now, Rafit has no idea what Rienne's true feelings are.

He never expressed any desire to sleep with her so he did not think she cared much for him. He always felt as if his love for her was deeper than his love for her.

But he knows better now. He would never let himself doubt her again.

[ Rafit ] “So remember, uncle. You will never be able to take direct action against Princess Rienne.”

[ Linden ] “What?”

[ Rafit ] “Be assured that humans will never master Nauk.”

Linden's lips twitched.

[ Linden ] “Are you unaware of our current position? What if the Princess really ended up marrying that savage? Doesn't that make our family look like a stupid couple?”

[ Rafit ] “I won't let that happen.”

Rafit spoke with clear and firm determination in his eyes.

[ Rafit ] “I'll make sure I get it back before that.”

[ Linden ]”. .”

Linden clicked her tongue but she said nothing more.

Even if he did, Rafit would just ignore him. To be honest, he did not care in the slightest what others said.

Rienne's wedding is ten days away.

Before that day happens, he needs to find a way to get it back.

.

* * *

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[Black ] “What happened to your hand?”

Their journey back to the castle from the Temple was the same as their trip there. The only difference was the grim expression on Rienne's face and how weak her body was.

As they passed by the people on the street, everyone looked a little confused. They did not understand why Rienne was riding a horse back to the castle while she was supposed to be at the cemetery.

But it seemed like Rienne could not tell them that she had no choice but to leave to avoid Linden Kleinfelder's tricks.

[ Rienne ] “...Huh? Ah. it's okay. I was only distracted for a moment and ended up cutting myself with scissors.”

With her head caught in a storm of thought, Rienne responded a few seconds too late. He completely forgot that he was injured until Black brought him up.

Realizing his gaze reached his hand, he retreated and tried to hide his wound.

[ Rienne ] “I'm fine now.”

After using the medicine to stop the bleeding, the wound was almost invisible. He must have good eyes if he can see them.

[Black ] “Then, you should get different scissors.”

Those words elicited an unconscious laugh from Rienne. There was no way he could do such a thing. It would be much faster just by asking Mrs. Flambard to not sharpen the knife too much next time.

[ Rienne ] “It was just a small accident. There's nothing you need to worry about. I will be more careful in the future. ”

Rienne reached out and grabbed Black's hand as she went back to help him down. It was too easy to forget that he needed to be careful around her every time they touched.

[ Rienne ] “I'll be in now. Thank you for allowing me to ride with you. ”

Rienne turned around to enter the castle, lowering her head to avoid eye contact.

But Black was much faster than him.

When he started walking away, he dared to swear he was behind her. However, somehow, he suddenly stood in front of her.

[ Rienne ] “.....?”

This man could move faster than anyone when he decided to do so.

[ Rienne ] “Is there something you want to say?”

[ Black ] “There.”

[ Rienne ] “Then speak your mind.”

Her pale blue eyes glittered right before she said anything.

[Black ] “Is it that bad you can't attend a funeral?”

[ Rienne ] “….I don't know. Maybe.”

Rienne was unaware of this, but she had a worried expression on her face the entire time they drove back to the castle.

But his deeply troubled expression did not go unnoticed by Black.

[Rienne ] “I've never dealt with anything like this before. I don't know exactly what the impact is, but I know it's not good, given who Linden Kleinfelder is...”.

Rienne hesitated. He wasn't sure if talking about Nauk's people as if they were enemies to outsiders was a good idea. (1)

[ Rienne ] “....He is not the type of person who lets this kind of thing go.”

[Black ] “Then I will handle his funeral.”

[ Rienne ] “What?”

Emerald Rienne's eyes widened.

But how is it….? No... More importantly, why?

[Black ] “We will change the date or location if need.”

[ Rienne ] “If only it was possible....but if Tiwakan do something...”.

It would be considered a use of force. Given how complicated the situation was, it was definitely not a good idea.

But Black had already realized Rienne's fear.

[Black ] “I don't plan on using power.”

[ Rienne ] “Then what will you do?”

[Black ] “I don't know, but I'll think of something. Give me until tomorrow.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Can I believe that? Can I believe what he said?

Everyone says he has an ulterior motive. They kept trying to tell him that one way or another he would try to take revenge.

So why?

Why act as if he would do something for her? Like he's worried?

Wh why?

[ Rienne ] “Why are you doing this?”

In the end, the question was too much and he asked without pause.

[Black ] “What do you mean?”

[ Rienne ] “I want to know why you care about funerals, Mr. Tiwakan.”

[Black ] “Is there a reason why I didn't do it?”

[ Rienne ] “This funeral...”.

….It happened because of you. To give peace to those you kill.

[Black ] “I'm your fiancee now, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan–”

[Black ] “That makes your responsibility my responsibility. It is my job to make sure you are safe. ”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

I don't get it…….What does this guy want from me?

[ Rienne ] “That's it?”

[Black ] “Do you think there's anything more than that?”

That's what everyone says.

[Rienne] “Are you really just doing this to fulfill your obligations as my fiancee? No other reason?”

[Black ] “Why You ..”

Hearing Rienne's words, Black was about to respond before slowly frowning.

He cannot argue.

Ever since he heard Weroz's mysterious message, this unrelenting doubt has gotten stronger by the minute. Whenever Black says or does something, Rienne cannot dispel the idea that there is a hidden meaning behind it.

[Black ] “Will it be easier if I say there's a reason?”

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan—”

Black cut through Rienne's words, his face erect into his usual neutral expression.

[Black ] “Then, yes, I have another reason to do this. If I'm dealing with a funeral, then I want you to give me something, Princess.

[ Rienne ] “Something...my?”.

[Black ] “What can you offer me?”

That's….

Rienne had a troubled expression on her face. No matter what he wanted from her, he could not think of anything precious that he could give her.

[ Rienne ] “...Given the situation on Nauk, I don't have much I can give to you, Mr. Tiwakan. But please know that my desire to give you something in return is true.”

[Black ] “Then I want what you have to offer me before. I want to move rooms.”

[ Rienne ] “A room….? You mean the bedroom you live in?”

[Black ] “I want a room next to yours, Princess. As your fiancee.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

The moment Rienne heard those words, her face paled.

The room he was using right now was where the generation of Nauk rulers slept. It was a place that could not be accessed directly from the hallway, but rather from the bedroom next to it.

Considering they even have a shared bathroom, two bedrooms function more like one.

Of course, the long empty room was always meant to be used by her future husband.

[ Rienne ] “It...”.

[Black ] “Is that a problem?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Intention's clear.

If he moved into that bedroom, they would basically share one space. Whatever Rienne did, whoever she met—ia would be the first to know everything.

[Rienne ] “After we get married, that room will be yours, but for now..”.

[Black ] “If we wait until the wedding then it will not serve as payment.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

[Black ] “Do you allow it?”

Rienne closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

….Okay. If that's the way he wants to do things.

There was a reason why the rooms were built as if they were one. It was designed to keep the ruling couple Nauk from committing acts of treason.

If this man was planning to use this as an opportunity to watch over her, then it meant that he could also watch over her.

Whatever his true intentions were, he would find it.

[ Rienne ] “Alright.”

Rien nodded.

[ Rienne ] “I'll allow it, as long as you can handle the funeral issue. But please remember, I don't want you to kill anyone. I don't want to see any more bloodshed on Nauk.”

[Black ] “Then I will move rooms tomorrow.”

Black grabbed Rienne's hand.

At first he thought he would only strengthen their agreement by taking his hand, but his lips found his injured finger.

 

[Black ] “See you tomorrow.”

As he felt something touch his finger, he felt a sensation of fire passing through him. As she watched Rienne move away from her, Black looked at Rienne.

[Black ] “Dragon your hand.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

[Black ] “Now.”

Black let go of his hand, saying goodbye with his eyes rather than his words as he turned around and started walking away.

What's he gonna do….?

All Rienne could do was stand there, watching Black's back as he disappeared into the distance.

Maybe this isn't a good idea.

Can she really leave something so important about Nauk to her? But at the same time he could not help the sense of hope he had stored in his heart.

It seemed like the idea of Black's failure was completely unimaginable.

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* * *

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[ Maslow ] “Ah, Princess?”

Maslow is in the King's office.

Sitting at the table, she seemed to be working on something, but dropped her pen in embarrassment as she looked at Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “What's up, Sir?”

[ Maslow ] “Are you not supposed to be at the funeral?”

So you came here thinking I'd go.

Rienne casually glanced down towards what Maslow had written.

[ Rienne ] “Kleinfelders banned me from entering because I was too impolite. I didn't even have time to set foot in the Temple. But more importantly, what are you doing?”

[ Maslow ] “Oh..well... I just thought we'd need.. appointment letter for knight title soon...” (3)

[ Rienne ] “Letter designation?”

[ Maslow ] “It ..”

Every time he tried to speak, Maslow kept his eyes off him. Obviously, whatever he did was cheating.

[ Rienne ] “You plan to do something like that without my consent?”

[ Maslow ] “This... what Lord Kleinfelder wants...”.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Sure oes. No one other than Lord Kleinfelder was arrogant enough to do something so brash.

[ Rienne ] “Give me.”

When Rienne reached out her hand, Maslow embarrassedly shook his head.

[ Maslow ] “I plan to show it to you after I'm done. It needs your seal, Princess..”.

[ Rienne ] “Then I'll see it now.”

[ Maslow ] “No, you don't need to do that...”.

[ Rienne ] “ Is That How ?”

[ Maslow ]”. .”

[Rienne ] “I'm sure you must have smeared ink when you dropped your pen earlier. In any case, you should start from the beginning, so you better show it to me. ”

Biting his lips, Maslow finally relented and stretched out the letter he was writing.

[ Rienne ] “….Hah.”

After reading the first two lines, Rienne immediately sighed.

[Rienne ] “Lopez Kleinfelder…. That's his new name now?”

[ Maslow ] “Princess!”

Maslow's eyes quickly looked around in surprise.

[ Maslow ] “What would you do if someone heard you?”

[ Rienne ] “Ha..”.

Rienne let out an irritated sigh again as Maslow expressed his belief that Tiwakan still did not know that Rafit was alive.

[ Rienne ] “Reject it.”

[ Maslow ] “Princess.”

Although just a moment ago he looked confused and uninspired, suddenly Maslow's expression turned serious.

[ Maslow ] “You know what you said, right?”

[ Rienne ] “They want to give him the title of knight, which in turn will allow him as a child ‘not legit’ to become a nobleman. Have I earned this right so far? The royal family sure looks like a joke to the Kleinfelder.” family

Not just a joke but also spoiling the scene they had to get rid of.

[ Maslow ] “…..It is not wise to say no, Princess.”

Maslow once again tried to advise Rienne.

[Maslow ] “You said earlier you couldn't even enter the Temple for the funeral. If Lord Kleinfelder hears you reject this, things will get worse.

This was a reality that was very familiar to Rienne. He instinctively frowned.

[ Rienne ] “’More bad’ how?”

[ Maslow ] “Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “Did she say anything specific? If I didn't recognize his bastard son as a member of his family, how would he make me pay, I wonder?