Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 3 | If God Wants It

At first, Fermos thought he had misheard.

[ Phermos ] “Sorry.... you want... what?”.

[ — ] “Princess Nauk”

Fermos adjusts his glasses.

[ Phermos ] “My master wants a woman? A woman you've never even met before today? But why?”

[ — ] “. . .”

The Tiwakan chieftain chose to remain silent rather than answer.

He is usually the stoic type.

He has no name, nor any origin. No one knew anything about him before he joined the Tiwakan Charge Army. Even Fermos only had a vague idea.

Although she did not have a name, the word they used to refer to her instead was ‘Black’. There is no better word to describe him. (1)

[ Phermos ] “My master, please think about the future. What do you think will happen after the child is born? What if he finds out the Knight Commander is his father? He will try to take revenge on you and call his mother a traitor.”

Phermos continued to babble, but he was sure Black was aware of all this.

He could not in his entire life understand what was going on in the man's head.

It was understandable if all he wanted was Nauk himself. To be honest, Phermos did not fully know what the use of such barren and poor lands was, but if Black wanted it, that was the reason Phermos needed.

To the mercenaries, Black was not just an illegitimate child born from the God of War. He himself is a god.

On the battlefield for those ten years, Black had saved all of them in the fight against the God of Death. That's all they need to know that Black himself is a God.

But now, suddenly Black wanted Princess Nauk, not Nauk himself. It was something that Fermos could not do.

It was impossible for Black to fall in love with the first woman he met today. It was true that Princess Nauk was indeed a rare beauty, one well sculpted face should not be enough to shake the Black of everyone.

There must be another reason.

[Black ] “That kid doesn't matter to me.”

When Black finally spoke again, Fermos' face beamed. He knew he shouldn't have asked his master, but that curiosity drove him crazy.

[ Phermos ] “Can I ask why?”

[Black ] “Every child born to Princess Nauk will be mine as well, regardless of who they are. I do not intend to act with a pure heart, but I do not want to capture its spirit either. Even if there is someone else who has his heart, I do not need or desire to take it by force.

[ Fermos ]”. .”

Phermos moved his eyes around, looking at him with a confused face.

His master's words were surprisingly innocent, and it made him feel strange.

[ Phermos ] “So... You really want to get Princess and not just Nauk?”

[Black ] “Are you really asking me that?”

Black raised his eyebrows.

That's enough in response. Black is not in love with Nauk's daughter. She was not very generous towards him, nor did she miss his affection.

So what's the reason?

[Black ] “I'm just trying to get him because I have to.”

[ Phermos ] “But why you ..”

[Black ] “I have to take back what was mine since the beginning.”

[ Fermos ] “What?”

That statement was so embarrassing, Fermos almost dropped his glasses.

[ Phermos ] “You mean, Nauk…? Then it..”

[Black ] “If Princess is going to get married, it will only make it harder to take it back. That's why I had to move fast and pick it up before then. I'll tell you what you need to know as we go, so stop asking so many questions. ” (2)

From there, Phermos can tell that Nauk has something to do with Black's completely veiled past. The past is kept secret from all of them.

[ Fermos ] “I understand.”

Then it really wasn't Fermos' place to argue.

[ Phermos ] “I'll do what you ask of me.”

If their Gods will it, then it must be done.

 

* * *

 

The light of dawn was very bright.

Rienne stood by the window, rubbing her eyes. He couldn't sleep the whole night.

[ Rienne ] “..Goodbye.”

As he leaned his forehead against the window all morning, he felt a chill run through his body until it reached the tip of his toe.

She mourns — ******* gently coming out of it as goodbye to her lover. Tears welled up like mist in his deep emerald eyes, but never dared to fall.

I shouldn't have cried.

It takes too much energy.

Rienne said this to herself, as if giving herself some comfort.

Goodby. I'm praying you can meet someone who will love you right in the land of death.

Even now, he was a coward. He did not even have the courage to treat her as a lover. It was just a compromise, having the Knights of the Arsak Family by his side.

Rienne does not have the strength needed to protect the Nauk Kingdom alone, but her lover's family has it.

In essence, their relationship is a forced one, calculated by the family of her lover who wants to master Nauk, but she always tells Rienne that her love for him is right. He said he would wait until the day he could trust her completely.

He did not realize that affection would eventually lead to his death.

The death of her lover made her cold, like losing the light of dawn. Rienne realized at the time that there was one less person around with the power to protect her.

How cold-hearted and selfish he is. His lover was dead, yet all he could think about was the effect his death had on Nauk.

[ Rienne ] “Even after she left, I still use her.”

Rienne put her hand on the window sill.

He lied when he said there was a child. She almost never let her lover kiss her, let alone sleep with her.

Every time he did, he would stare at her with a burning intensity. That intensity and thirst reminded him of Kleinfelder's desire to take his position.

If she was really her lover's child, she wasn't sure she could tolerate it on her own.

[ Rienne ] “Nothing. Everything will be fine..”.

There must be a way to trick him.

Rienne had to pretend to have a miscarriage, or actually have a child.

Even entertaining the last idea gave him goosebumps. He had too much on his plate just to protect the castle.

Can I really fool him?

So he thought of that contradictory man.

He was a terrifying and ferocious man who could scare others just by looking at them, yet ..he was also the one who had left a gentle kiss on his palm after seeing him get hurt.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne stretched out her hand and opened it to look at her palm.

There was a red scar on the shape of his fingernail. The wound reminded him of the man's lips, making his hands tremble.

He began to realize that he would never understand how different these two sides of him were.

[ Rienne ] “Hah.

 

The new day has finally begun.

Another long and painful day to try to unify a messy kingdom, little by little each day. (3)

 

* * *

 

[ Maslow ] “..So we can secure tax revenue for three months. And of course it is affected by the reduction of expenditure.”

As usual, Maslow visited the King's office early in the morning. After King Seon died, the office was now Rienne's study, but not much had changed from before.

Kingdom revenue is falling every year.

Nauk was once the richest Kingdom in the entire southern region. Now, thanks to a drought that lasted twenty years, it quickly fell to the poorest.

However, they somehow managed to secure tax revenue due to the high rainfall this year. If not for the attack from Tiwakan, Rienne could have eaten three times a day.

[ Rienne ] “Nice to hear it.”

Rienne pondered over the documents Maslow had submitted to her.

[Rienne ] “I guess it's a good thing I received Lord Tiwakan's proposal when I did it. Otherwise, these numbers will definitely be worse.”

Although it was a light joke, Maslow seemed annoyed.

[ Maslow ] “I think it's a bit reckless you received a proposal, Princess. At the very least, you should consult Kleinfelder..”.

[ Rienne ] “If Lord Tiwakan returns his body, I will discuss the matter of burial with them. Until then, please convey my deepest condolences and sorrow to his family on my behalf

Maslow's lips twitched disapprovingly.

[Maslow ] “As members of the royal family, we should have an official mourning period. After all, it was the eldest son of the Kleinfelder family who died. ”

Maslow was still strongly opposed to Rienne's decision to accept Tiwakan's proposal. A civil war may break out if the man does not give his lover's sword to him as proof of his death.

[ Rienne ] “Isn't that a bit disrespectful? Tell them that I need to speak to Lord Tiwakan first. ”

[Maslow ] “If you insist on being polite to those barbarians, I will not stay silent.”

Maslow stroked his chin with his head drooping down.

The chairman of the noble council was the uncle of his deceased lover, and that seat of power was one of the positions Kleinfelder had guaranteed for generations.

The delegation was given the sacred responsibility of helping the royal family, but chairman Nauk has only done one task over the past few years.

Keep the potential for rebellion under control.

The chairman no doubt believed his nephew would become King Nauk a few days after serving dutifully as commander of the Arsak family's escorting knights.

It was obvious she would lose her mind, hearing that Rienne had become engaged to another so soon after her nephew died.

This was part of the reason why Rienne could never accept her lover's feelings for her as reality, no matter how sincere she was.

If Rienne marries her and allows her to rule Nauk beside her, she knows the chairman won't waste time using Nauk for all his precious—eaten it from below.

[Maslow ] “Don't you think you should talk to Kleinfelder in person? If the savages had obtained the same courtesy, so did the Kleinfelders. Please give them the respect they deserve, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “I'm sorry, but I'm busy preparing for the engagement. I don't have time to express my condolences directly, so please understand my position. If not, then maybe you are somehow trying to defend the chairman's goal? ”

Maslow's face flushed red, but that didn't mean anything.

[Maslow ] “Daughter, I mean only we should not ignore the death of Lord Kleinfelder just because of his family. If we do, we will pay a heavy price. They are a family dating from the time of the first king Nauk.”

[ Rienne ] “Don't you think I know that?”

Rienne gave a tired and bitter smile.

[Rienne ] “You should all know how hard I tried to avoid a proposal from Lord Tiwakan, but the death toll continues to rise. What else can I do? Should I sacrifice more lives just to help save Kleinfelder's face?”

[ Maslow ] “...I've said my part, Princess.”

With no more words to say, Maslow retreated. Rienne did not respond as she turned around, left the room and closed the door behind her in a heavy voice.

[ Rienne ] “To think we should come to blows just plan a warning.”

Rienne sighed softly.

How bad I am as a lover…

[ Rienne ] “At least I have to change my clothes.”

If nothing else, she must wear mourning clothes to welcome the body of the lover she never loved.

 

* * *

 

[ Rienne ] “...What did you just say?”

But she can't wear a black dress.

[Mrs Flambard ] “Lord Weroz told me to deliver an important message. The barbarian chieftain was carrying his own body, so you have to change clothes again, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “Ha..”.

Even the thought of meeting those beast-like cold eyes again made his chest feel claustrophobic.

[ Rienne ] “ How else. Bring me another dress. And prepare a welcome.”

[Mrs Flambard ] “Ya, Princess.”

Mrs Flambard is Rienne's nanny, and now serves as her personal maid. He took a deep breath.

[Mrs Flambard ] “You must not welcome a barbarian, Princess. You don't have to be nice.”

As he picked out several pieces of clothing with colorful cloths, Mrs Flambard's eyes were filled with a mixture of pity and anger.

[Mrs Flambard ] “You also must not look too beautiful. They don't deserve to see you like that.”

[ Rienne ] “Again late for it. Now that I have accepted her proposal, we are considered officially engaged. Treating it badly will have a bad impact on me. ”

[Mrs Flambard ] “But she's a savage who killed your love.”

Rienne quickly moved to stop Madame Flambard's sobbing cry as if she was the one who suffered the tragedy.

[ Rienne ] “Ny. Flambard.”

[Mrs Flambard ] “Ya, Princess?”

[ Rienne ] “She's gone, and I'm engaged now. It would be an insult to my fiance and myself if I had to mention his name now.”

[ Lady Flambard ] “Ah..”.

[ Rienne ] “Now please, help me change clothes. I shouldn't be late.”

[Mrs Flambard ] “. .”

Madam Flambard did not respond, but she nodded her head instead.

She worked as usual when she changed into Rienne's clothes, but often, her hands trembled.

[ Rienne ] “Oh, but one more thing.”

As Mrs Flambard tightened the ropes in Rienne, some thoughts flashed through her mind.

[Mrs Flambard ] “Tell me, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “It's still a secret, but I have a baby.”

 

T/N: (1) His name can be read as “Black” (common) or “Vlack” (rare). To be honest, I personally preferred Vlack, but they later said that his moniker matched his dark personality, so I stuck with “Black”, as this was a more common read in the first place.

(2) There is no subject or pronoun in this phrase. Thus, it is deliberately made ambiguous whether Black refers to Rienne or Nauk, hence “itu”.

(3) It was founded in Ch. 1 that Rienne's lover's name is Rafit Kleinfelder, but raw people exclusively refer to it as “his lover” throughout this section, so I just stuck with it.