Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 32

...*...

At that moment, Rienne's mind was completely blank, but fortunately her hand knew to move on its own. He quickly picked up the towel he had prepared nearby and used it to cover his naked body.

[ Rienne ] “Ap, what are you....?”

But unlike his hands, his mouth could not speak properly.

[ Rienne ] “I, I think... I locked it...”.

That was when Black averted his gaze, speaking slowly.

[Black ] “...So that's why.”.

[ Rienne ] “......?”

[Black ] “I think the door is stuck, but it's just the key.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

So that's what he meant. He did not know the door was locked so he ended up breaking in by accident.

Rienne felt her heart calm at those words. He was happy to know he didn't do it because he intended to dispel his good intentions only to be impatient about tonight.

But looking at him now, he realized he must have wanted to take a bath. He was still covered in blood and mud from the incident.

[ Rienne ] “I want you to go now. I just finished, so I'll be out for a while. ”

[Black ] “Are you hurt?”

[ Rienne ] “……..Excuse me?”

As if he could not hear it, Black stood still and continued to ask his question.

[Black ] “Sleeve and your side.”

[ Rienne ] “Oh..”.

Wanting to hide her body from him, Rienne tilted herself and repeated herself.

[ Rienne ] “Ya, but please go...”.

[Black ] “When is it? Was that when the train crashed?”

Nope, no.

When the wagon fell and the barrel started rolling towards them, Black had pushed Rienne aside so quickly that they had not even left a scratch on her.

[Rienne ] “No, I think it happened when I was on the train. And please don't look at me like that…. Even if you're my fiancee, it remains impolite.”

[ Black ] “Ah...”.

Too late, Black finally turned his face away.

[Black ] “I'm sorry.”

Shifting his eyes, he turned towards her. As he started to go through the door with the shattered key, he slightly moved his head back towards her, muttering softly.

[Black ] “Then…. Isn...” (1)

[ Rienne ] “Sorry?”

Maybe it was because she was facing away from him, but Rienne couldn't hear her clearly.

[ Rienne ] “Did you say something?”

[Black ] “Nothing. Forget.”

And then Black left without turning around.

Clik.

The door closed behind him, almost soundless compared to the sound of an explosion when it opened.

[ Rienne ] “Hah.

Finally, Rienne could breathe.

[ Rienne ] “What happened?”

On the floor of the large bathroom sat the remains of an unnecessary sturdy iron lock. Although it was not as big as compared to the entrance gate lock, it was still quite heavy and powerful.

It was inconceivable to believe that Black could push it open so easily, thinking the door was just stubborn.

Rienne was once again given a striking and eerie reminder of their power difference. If he wanted to force her to do something that she did not want to do, she would have no way of resisting him.

[ Rienne ] “....But she went.”.

She did not stare at him when he asked her not to do so, and she quietly left when he asked her to leave. That was when it suddenly flashed through Rienne's mind about the man named Black.

[ Rienne ] “That guy……. He won't do anything I don't like. That's the kind of man he is.”

Rienne had no choice but to put her trust in that thought.

*

* * *

*

By the time Black entered, Rienne was almost done bathing. After that, all he needed to do was dry himself and change the clothes Mrs had left behind. Flambard.

Then, he returned to the bathroom and emptied the basin of water, filling it with fresh water himself. He felt it would be too cruel to ask the injured person to do it himself.

Tap, tap.

Once she was done with all her work, Rienne went through another door to the bathroom and knocked on Black's bedroom door.

[ Rienne ] “You can use the bathroom now.”

But there's no response.

[ Rienne ] “.....Master Tiwakan?”

Rienne tilted her head and finally turned to leave. If he doesn't answer, maybe he'll go again. But then a strange feeling overcame him and he turned around and opened the door.

Thumped.

[ Rienne ] “....Master Tiwakan!”.

When he opened the door, Black's body lay flat on the floor. With a pale face, Rienne ran towards him.

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan! Please wake!”

As Rienne hugged her head and patted her cheeks gently, her eyes began to open.

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan!”

[ Black ] “...Ah.”.

 

Even though he was lying on the floor, he spoke rather clearly. Over time, his blue eyes slowly appeared.

[ Black ] “What happened?”

He was on the floor with his head leaning against Rienne's lap, his eyes staring at her as he held her face with his hands. He really doesn't know what's going on.

[ Rienne ] “I called you, but you didn't answer..then I walked in and I found you on the floor.”.

While Rienne was very surprised, she was completely panting.

[Black ] “……..I must have fallen asleep.”

[ Rienne ] “Sleep? On floor?”

[Black ] “I sometimes do that when I get hurt.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

With a look of disbelief on her face, Rienne looked at Black who was just looking at her.

[ Rienne ] “Have you lost your mind ? You are injured.”

[Black ] “I wake up, so it's okay.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

At that moment, why did his scar-filled body appear in his mind?

He didn't even realize he was hurt. She was unaware of her own pain or her own illness so she forgot to take care of herself.

So why was he looking at her like that when he saw her bruise?

[ Rienne ] “Stand.”

Rienne let go of Black's head as she slowly stood up from the ground. He made a strange face while doing so, but he was finally able to stand on his own two feet.

[Black ] “Are you going to stay here?”

Black asked this while facing the bathroom door. She said she wanted to take off her clothes before entering.

[ Rienne ] “…..No, not here.”

Rienne shook her head and stood up.

[ Rienne ] “Follow me.”

[ Black ] “.....?”

While Black was left wondering, Rienne walked past him and walked into the bathroom.

*

* * *

*

[ Rienne ] “Open your clothes. As you usually do in the shower.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Black stared right at Rienne. Perhaps stunned to the point of being speechless, his lips slightly opened.

[ Rienne ] “I'll help you. It is not right to leave someone who can faint at any time alone.”

[Black ] “Nothing.”

[ Rienne ] “Not. Release them.”

[Black ] “I'm not injured.”

[ Rienne ] “I'm sure.”

[ Black ]”. .”

[Black ] “Why are you doing this?”

[ Rienne ] “I've said it before. You're hurt, so I have to treat you like a patient.”

[Black ] “This is no big deal.”

[ Rienne ] “And you wonder why I did this? It's not the first time I've had to take care of your wounds. Why should today be different?”

As his wrinkles deepened, so did the wrinkles between his eyebrows.

[ Black ] “Not that…..If you do this because you want to pay the price to keep Kleinfelder alive, then this is not necessary. It's completely different, Princess. ”

[ Rienne ] “It...”.

With those words, Rienne's face turned pale, but it was only for a moment. Not long after, he was able to make his expression calm again.

[ Rienne ] “This has nothing to do with it. You are injured, Mr. Tiwakan, but unfortunately you don't seem too interested in improving yourself. That's up to me. ”

[Black ] “And why do you do that for me, Princess?’

[ Rienne ] “Because you're my fiancee.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Rienne caught a glimpse of Black raising one of his eyebrows. He doesn't know exactly what that means, but it certainly doesn't mean he's happy.

Even if I were him, I would feel the same way.

Especially after what happened today.

[ Rienne ] “…….I know it sounds silly coming from me, but my feelings haven't changed since the day we first wrote our wedding vows. Neither body nor mind, I had no intention of cheating with my fiancee. That will always happen as long as I carry the name Arsak.” (2)

I can't force him to trust me. It's his own heart, not mine.

But he couldn't leave her, alone and hurt, just because of a misunderstanding.

[ Rienne ] “If you can't trust me, then please, at least call someone else.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Black stood still, rubbing his dirty hair. When he moved his hand, his expression was fully visible, and it looked different than usual.

[Black ] “I usually take off all my clothes when I wash myself.”

When she said that, Rienne's face turned slightly red.

[Black ] “How much do you want me to leave?”

They decided the minimum. In the bathroom where Rienne was waiting for, Black walked in wearing only trousers cut above the knee.

*

* * *

*

Rienne had to endure the screams.

With a wound like this, any other man would lie sick in bed, groaning in pain. Yet Black, contrary to all beliefs, sat down completely unperturbed with a distant look on his face.

[ Rienne ] “ The wound is everywhere.”

Rienne sighed, looking at the places where her skin had become swollen or cut off. He was lucky that his back was facing towards him so he could not see his expression.

[Black ] “I don't tend to feel pain unless there's a broken bone so.....”.

His words came to a halt like he was in a hurry to make an excuse.

To be honest, during his life, he had made so few excuses that he did not even realize that he did. He was just thinking strangely why something that was usually so obvious was difficult to say in front of Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “But this one healed so fast. I think it might have been completely healed by now. ”

As he worked to clean it of all the bloodstains and dirt, he carefully touched where his shoulder had been pierced with an arrow not long ago.

[ Black ] “...Hng.”.

Turning his shoulders, Black groaned softly. Rienne was immediately startled, pulling her hand.

[ Rienne ] “Sorry. I didn't know it still made you sick.”

[Black ] “No pain.”

[ Rienne ] “……? Then...?”

[Black ] “Your hands are soft.”

[ Rienne ] “.....?”

If my hands are soft, then why did he avoid them…..? Oh, that must be because it's annoying.

Understanding her reaction, Rienne nodded to herself. The wound may heal but the skin is sensitive because there is still scar tissue.

I need to be more careful.

[ Rienne ] “How do you plan to wash your back with so many wounds?”

Thinking it would cause too much pain, Rienne gently rubbed her wound with a wet cloth. With how injured his body was, it was unthinkable to imagine him doing it himself.

[Black ] “I didn't think about it. Maybe just poured water on it.”

[ Rienne ] “Hah.

Just like he thought. The man was very insensitive in terms of his own pain.

…But I don't.

From Rienne's point of view, he looked so hurt that it was hard to touch his wound.

[ Rienne ] “I'm almost done. Wait a minute.”

[Black ] “Nothing. You don't need to rush.”

[ Rienne ] “Nothing.”

If Rienne spent more time looking at her injuries, she would not be able to sleep at night. Seeing him so hurt made him feel pain.

[ Rienne ] “Your back is done. You will probably be able to accomplish the rest yourself …….. ”

Gathering her courage, Rienne spoke again.

[ Rienne ] “Stay only, I want to do it for you if possible.”

Black looked back to look at her.

[Black ] “Is it because I'm your fiancee?”

[Rienne ] “No, it's because I know you yourself won't take good care of your wounds, Mr. Tiwakan.”

[ Black ]”. .”

For some reason, Black did not answer. He closed his mouth as he looked at Rienne. He thought his neck could hurt if he stayed that way for too long.

[ Rienne ] “I'll assume it means it's okay.”

So he moved in front of her.

Sitting on such a bathroom chair, Black's stature was much smaller than usual and it was easier for Rienne to stand on equal footing with him. But he always seemed to get into trouble when their eyes met.

Maybe I shouldn't have offered.

Rienne could never calmly look at her face like this.

[Black ] “…….It's okay.”

As Rienne reached out to put the wet cloth on her collarbone, she tilted her head back to avoid touching it. His outstretched hand floated awkwardly in the air, stiffening in response.

[Black ] “I will only ask for payment for what happened today.”

[ Rienne ] “It..........Oh.”.

Rienne understood Black just a moment later.

It was not his words that made him understand, but rather the look in his eyes. There was a fire there that was more intense than when he was hit by the arrow and his fever increased, although he did not immediately see it.

[ Rienne ] “Something like that.... won't happen.”.

Saying that, Rienne's throat felt dry and her voice broke. Without blinking, Black noticed her as he covered his mouth with his hands and coughed awkwardly.

[Black ] “What do you mean, won't?”

[Rienne ] “You are not the type of man who would force such a bad thing on me, Mr. Tiwakan.”

Black's mouth stiffened for just a moment.

[Black ] “Is the idea of sleeping with me really ‘horrible’?”

[ Rienne ] “No, that's not what I said..

[Black ] “How do you know it?”

[ Rienne ] “You've shown me with your actions. I know because you've always respected me so much.”

Just then, Black smiled bitterly.

[Black ] “Honor ……. Even if I, the problem of us sleeping together is different.”

[ Rienne ] “No, no. I'm not in a position to reject this proposal, but you still respect and pay attention to me. I'm sure it means you wouldn't force me to do such a thing if I didn't want it.”

[ Black ]”. .”

From there, his bitter smile only grew.

But after his smile faded, Black looked at Rienne.

[Black ] “I don't know.”

 

* * *

T/N: (1) He uses incomplete phrases, so it is not clear what he is talking about, even though he is basically asking for confirmation of a negative statement, ignoring specific things because he is not being heard. Kind of like to say “No?” in English Language.

(2) By the phrase ‘body or mind’, he means that he does not conspire against it or physically cheat.

astral comment: You have earned a lot of points by being nice so far, don't throw it away now!

ghost comments: this is my favorite CG so far, I think. It's very soft.