Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 25 | Requiem (5)

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[ Rienne ] “What?”

He wants her to postpone the wedding?

Does he even know what he's saying? How could he think such a thing was possible?

[High Priest ] “No marriage is allowed until madam Nauk absolves herself of her sins. If you ignore the will of the Gods, no doubt a great tragedy will occur.”

[ Rienne ] “Do you know what you asked of me?”

Rienne clenched her fists and bit her back. His actions did not go unnoticed by the High Priest, but he remained urgent.

[High Priest ] “The will of the Gods is insurmountable, Princess. You should know this.”

[Rienne ] “And you, the High Priest of Milrod, should know that you are humiliating the royal family by claiming to know the will of God.”

The High Priest gasped for breath at Rienne's calm yet sarcastic words.

[High Priest ] “I am a servant of the Gods. Therefore, I represent the ideals of the Gods, daughter of Arsak.”

[Rienne ] “And what exactly did God tell you? Are you likely to receive visions in your dreams that tell you to prevent marriage?

[High Priest ] “You..... how can you be so dismissive of a God? It becomes increasingly clear that the court set before the people of Nauk is to punish you, daughter of Arsak!”

The High Priest would never dare to say something like this to him in the past.

It feels loose. Looks like she's trying to get Rienne cornered.

While she is not sure, Rienne has deep suspicions that the High Priest was sent here by Kleinfelder to try and stop the marriage by any means necessary.

It's not about fixing the stairs. It was always about marriage.

[ Rienne ] “Dragon yourself, High Priest. This is not a temple. You're in my castle now. ”

Rienne was good at keeping a calm face, even as she held back her anger through a fist. But this time, he couldn't help it anymore.

[ Rienne ] “The royal palace is not bound by religious law. I have the right to punish those who dare to use their tongues to insult the royal family.”

[High Priest ] “Unfortunately, you can't get married without Lord—“'s permission

Just when the High Priest started talking—

[ Black ] “I'm late.”

The explosion!

The sound of the receiving room door screaming into the air as Black pushed it open with both hands.

 

* * *

.

[ High Priest ] “I.th.it ...”

The High Priest's face quickly turned pale yellow.

[ High Priest ] “K..why...why a mercenary..are here........”.

Immediately Rienne almost reflexively sighed.

Thinking about it, the High Priest might not see something like this coming. He seemed to be just following Kleinfelder, letting them push his back to the castle— insisting that this man would not be able to interrupt the meeting.

[ Rienne ] “Welcome, Mr. Tiwakan. Please sit.”

But instead of correcting the High Priest, Rienne instead invited Black to her side.

The act inaugurated his position as the fiance of the Princess as well as the leader of the Knights Guardians of the Arsak family.

Black quickly realized Rienne's intentions.

Without a word, he took a seat right next to Rienne. He was so quiet when he did it that it felt like the most natural thing in the world. As if it were true.

[ Rienne ] “Now where are we? Is correct. You said that God wants you to sabotage the marriage. Did he happen to tell you how long we had to postpone it? ”

[High Priest ] “I..”.

The High Priest stopped and shifted his gaze. He could not even begin to look towards Black, who was just sitting next to Rienne.

…..Worked.

Even though she didn't notice it, Rienne smiled bitterly.

He was happy to see the High Priest so confused and delaying, but he couldn't help but find his sudden and obvious attitude change a little disturbing.

It only proved how little the High Priest thought of him– that he saw him as someone who was easy to push.

[High Priest ] “Marriage will happen...after the Gods allow it....”.

[ Rienne ] “And how do we know when it is?”

[High Priest ] “A-as a servant of the Gods, their words will speak through me....”.

[Black ] “So in the end, you're the problem.” (1)

[ High Priest ] “Hah...h?”

The High Priest gulped.

Black casually tapped on the armrest of his chair with his fingers, the sound made the High Priest tremblingly raise his head towards him.

Then as soon as he met that cold gaze, his body became like a statue.

[Black ] “I'll give you a choice. Either you use that mouth of yours to give us permission, or I'll force it out of you. ”

[High Priest ]”. .”

The High Priest's jaw stiffened. It was not immediately clear whether he understood the implications of those words or whether he was simply surprised that he, as the High Priest, was not respected.

[Black ] “I must have said it very well. Then I'll say it again. Open your own mouth or I'll tear you apart.”

[ High Priest ] “A-what….. How dare you!”

Finally the High Priest found his voice, loud enough to make the entire reception hall tremble.

But in the end, it was all just words.

Black looked at him, his fingers still tapping on the armrest.

[Black ] “Quiet.”

[ High Priest ] “.....?”

[Black ] “Don't raise your voice in front of nobility.”

[High Priest ]”. .”

[Black ] “Determine your choice. Your own will or broken to pieces.”

[High Priest ]”. .”

It was not because the High Priest's jaw became stiff. He just can't talk. He was afraid to let his voice echo in the room again.

[Black ] “If you do not choose, then I will do it.”

Knocks.

Black hit the armrest with a rhythmic pattern.

Knocks.

Knocks.

Knocks.

As soon as he heard the third voice, the High Priest let out his voice.

[High Priest ] “You can't do this! You cannot do something like this to a servant of God....!”.

But that's all he can manage.

As if the rhythmic sound was a signal, the door of the reception hall slammed shut.

[High Priest ] “Wait!”

Quickly, the High Priest as well as the Priests he brought turned around, but the tightly shut door remained closed.

[High Priest ] “Princess, open the door!”

Amidst all that, Rienne was the only person the High Priest could hold. A savage may not be able to communicate normally, but Rienne is not.

Even the Nauk royal family had no right to humiliate a servant of God like this.

[High Priest ] “Princess!”

[Black ] “If he wants me to open it, then I will open it.”

Black spoke slowly with his usual voice emotionless. That makes it very difficult to understand, but even so, one thing is very clear.

Rienne was the only person capable of controlling the Tiwakan leader.

[ Rienne ] “…….Thanks for the offer, but we're still in the middle of the conversation. It would be better if we keep it closed until we find the answer. ”

Rienne also realized that. More specifically, he realized what Black was trying to explain to the High Priest.

As long as Tiwakan was present, the High Priest would never be able to speak disrespectfully to Rienne as he had done before.

No, not just that.

If he wanted to leave safely, then he needed Rienne to help him, because the leader of Tiwakan would never open that door unless he asked for it.

[High Priest ]”. .”

Like iron, the High Priest's face completely hardened.

He would never again say that marriage needs to be postponed because Gods cannot tolerate the existence of a tarnished Tiwakan.

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* * *

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After that, the conversation ended without any major problems.

At the end of their talk, the High Priest had become like a different person. He simply nodded obediently before leaving immediately.

Although of course, there is a price.

Black agreed to pay the full cost to repair the stairs to the Temple. Only then can the High Priest pronounce their oath, according to the duty given to his position.

The disturbed burial will be completed that night in the chapel of Castle Nauk, with a group of Tiwakan mercenaries assigned to move the coffin.

Such a thing makes it impossible for anyone, let alone the High Priest, to claim that Gods cannot tolerate Tiwakan ‘kotor’. If ‘kotor’ does not carry the coffin, then the corpse will be left to rot in the Temple until the stairs are repaired.

Rienne was a little surprised by the results. This was the first time he negotiated matters unilaterally, not making a single concession.

[ Rienne ] “It's rather unexpected.”

As soon as the High Priest and his retinue ran off with their tails between their legs, only Rienne and Black were left in the reception hall.

[ Rienne ] “I didn't realize that the High Priest was a coward.”

The bitter smile on Rienne's face revealed many things she had gone through.

[Black ] “I'm glad you're satisfied with the result.”

‘Senang’ does not seem like the right word. That expression was too weak to describe how Rienne was currently feeling.

[ Rienne ] “But I think you agree to bear too much financial burden.”

Rienne added, looking at Black. It was something that had been on his mind all along.

[Rienne ] “You don't have to pay for all that, even if the High Priest insists on delaying the wedding.”

[Black ] “Nothing. I have enough money to spend on anything I want.”

[ Rienne ] “But still only...”.

It was too much of a cost to talk about it for granted.

[Black ] “Is it rude if I tell you not to worry about money in the future?”

Rienne thought for a moment before answering.

[ Rienne ] “...No.”.

Nauk's financial hardship had stood up for too long to be arrogant when it came to it. Rienne wasn't even sure how much longer they could last.

For the past year, all he could do was try and get through day after day—praying for more rain.

[ Rienne ] “I don't think.”

[Black ] “Then don't worry.”

It was amazing to hear him say that so easily.

Maybe that was why Rienne started to misunderstand him. He was really starting to think he was a good person. That she was really by his side and did what he could to help her.

But what did he gain by risking so much to ensure this marriage took place?

[Black ] “.... If you can, it's.”

Rienne suppressed her feelings and simply nodded.

If Weroz returns, whatever Black is trying to hide will still be revealed.

Then..until it happens…..I thought it was okay to still feel reassured by him.

Just for a little longer, at least.

[ Rienne ] “Thank you, Mr. Tiwakan. Because of you, everything related to funerals and weddings is handled very smoothly. ”

[ Black ]”. .”

Rienne's thanks to Black were very sincere. He means every word. But instead of talking to her well, she remained silent and stared intently at Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “Is....everything is fine?”

[ Black ] “Pulling.” (2)

[ Rienne ] “What do you mean?”

[Black ] “I want to hear you say it again. I wonder if you are serious.”

….Is my thank you not enough?

[ Rienne ] “Thank you to me sincerely. I mean this honestly and earnestly.”

[Black ] “Not it. I'm taking about the wedding. ”

[ Rienne ] “Is something wrong?”

[Black ] “Is it true you don't want to postpone it?”

[ Rienne ] “Of course I……. Ah.”

It was too late for a second, Rienne realized the meaning behind her words. At some point, she began to treat marriage as something that would happen no matter what.

As Rienne's words stopped, her lips slightly opened, Black's eyes scanned her face. It seemed like he was looking for signs of lies hidden on his face.

[Black ] “Of course?”

[ Rienne ] “Of course…..I don't want to postpone it.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Hearing Rienne's reply, Black thought for a moment before his mouth began to pull on either side.

Oh….

Now Rienne is staring.

She smiles.

It was a small change but the difference was too big for Rienne.

I've never seen him make that face before.

[Black ] “Then it's not a waste of money.

Black said with a smile.

This man could say something like that. It made her look like she was really happy to marry him. That idea made him feel weird.

If this continues, Rienne will really start to misunderstand.

Thinking he's a good man is one thing….

..But to think he might really like me?

.

Now, the wedding is only a few days away.

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* * *

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[ Linden ] “Idiot it!”

Slam it!

Linden could not contain her anger and slammed her fists against the table, shuffling the ink bottle and spilling ink everywhere. Rafit glanced at the dirty table, but remained silent.

Eventually Linden gritted her teeth and straightened the dropped ink bottle.

[ Linden ] “He can't solve a simple problem like delaying the wedding? Something like that should be easy for a High Priest!”

Stepped over.

Linden got up, circled around the ink-stained table and paced around the room.

[ Linden ] “You how else. We need to find someone else who can do this right.”

He brought up the idea of nonsense to replace the High Priest so casually that Rafit frowned and quickly looked at him.

[ Rafit ] “What is it, uncle?”

[ Linden ] “My business with her is done. She is no longer useful to me.”

[Raffit ] “And how do you plan to replace High Priest?”

[ Linden ] “What are you talking about? Something like that is simple for our family.”

The High Priest Nauk is a permanent position.

Only when the current High Priest dies can others be chosen.

What Linden Kleinfelder was trying to say was that he wanted to kill the current High Priest.