Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 34

...As Rienne's body trembled, Black asked her a question....

[Black ] “Are you scared?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

He can't say yes or no.

[ Black ] “Hold.”

And then his lips fell.

Rienne took a short breath and suddenly. The feeling of someone he couldn't see kissing the back of his neck was very strange. Was it because it was a place that no one had ever kissed before?

It felt like Black opened up a part of her that had once been hidden and marked it with a sign.

But he couldn't say he hated that feeling.

…..It's insanity.

The sensation of her lips being pulled slowly around her neck felt like it was burning her skin. Although his shoulder was once the only one that shook, a powerful tremor was now pulsing all over his body.

Even as Rienne bit her lips tightly, she could not escape the sensation she had left behind.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Finally the gentle breath stopped and Black pulled his lips away from him. But even after such a kiss, she did not leave, instead wrapping her hands tightly around Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “Why......?”.

As Rienne asked puzzledly, Black gave strength to her grasp and forced her to lie down. He felt the weight of the familiar blanket covering his body as he dropped himself right next to him.

[Black ] “I sleep here.”

He also did not ask permission for this.

But despite her demanding words, she was not too close to him. He remains out of range of blankets where they will not touch accidentally.

He's good yet strong. Strong yet kind.

[ Rienne ] “....Without blanket?”

[ Black ] “No need.”

[ Rienne ] “But you will be cold.”

[Black ] “My body is hot. I'll be fine.”

He turned around and looked at Rienne.

[ Black ] “Sleep.”

Rienne could feel the side of her face hurt from her gaze. He continued to stare at the ceiling, not confident enough to face it head on.

The tip of his nose was starting to feel cold.

[ Rienne ] “Then....You should get another blanket.”.

He could not see it well from his position, but Black's shoulders seemed to twitch.

[Black ] “So I can sleep next to you?”

[Rienne ] “You've decided to do it, regardless of what I say.”

[Black ] “There is a difference between my insistence and you say it's okay, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “Is there? The result was the same in the end, even if I didn't say anything. ”

[Black ] “…….Isn't that the same?”

[ Rienne ] “Already. If you're going to sleep here, then you shouldn't sleep cold. ”

[Black ] “…….You're a strange woman, Princess.”

His voice was very low, his words came out like a whisper. Rienne had always wanted to say such a thing to her as well.

That's how you show up in front of me.

A very unusual man.

Whether he acts polite or rude, loving or cold — all those traits are covered in one person, so he has no choice but to accept them all.

[ Rienne ] “Fixed here.”

Black couldn't possibly get up and pick up another blanket, so Rienne got out of bed.

[Black ] “Where are you?”

[ Rienne ] “Lemari.”

From the closet behind the bed, Rienne took out an extra blanket that had been stored there in preparation for the colder winter months. For some reason, Black's body stiffened as he approached, opened the blanket and covered it.

Now he won't be that cold lying next to me.

For some reason, Rienne felt relieved, as if she had done her job.

[ Rienne ] “You should be able to sleep comfortably now.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Rienne heard Black muttering to herself, but she did not bother asking what she said. He just assumed that he thought he was weird, just like before.

[ Rienne ] “Good night, then.”

The two closed their eyes, lying on a single bed with two different blankets.

Finally, the strange night changed with an even stranger morning as Rienne fell asleep first.

*

* * *

*

When Rienne woke up, the first thing she noticed was how everything felt too warm.

That doesn't make any sense.

Morning hours are always cold during certain times of the year. At times like this, his nose would shiver and his head would still be sleepy, but his body would still wake up.

It was the season in which the only thing that kept him out of bed was forcing himself to open his eyes after hearing Mrs footsteps. Flambard is approaching.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

But this time, Rienne's eyes opened.

And she realized she was in Black's arms.

Although they fell asleep using separate blankets, for some reason they only used one blanket now. And just as Black had said that his body became hot despite the seasons, Rienne's cheeks clinging to his chest could prove the truth.

[ Rienne ] “Ah..

But just as Rienne was about to let out a surprised voice, she bit her lip.

Black is still asleep.

His eyes were closed so tightly, there was a small fold forming between them. Rienne knew she must be exhausted from her injuries, given how serious they were. If ever there was a time when he desperately needed a break, it was now.

…….I shouldn't have woken her.

He is a patient, so of course he will not feel well. It was important for him to let her sleep while he could.

…….But how can I sleep like this?

Just before he fell asleep, he could recall clearly covering himself with a blanket and lying as quietly as possible. He felt so nervous that he also placed his hand on his chest.

So when is he…?

She was surprised she did not wake up at any point feeling someone suddenly hug her.

Even now, an unreasonable thought appeared in his mind that the position that shocked him felt comfortable and comfortable—as if that was how he fell asleep from the start.

 

But…

But what's even stranger is that she doesn't hate him.

She did not hate the sound of her breathing being so close to her, nor the sound of her hair rustling as she gently moved in her sleep. Feeling her strong arms embrace him was not bad either. He didn't even bother about the pounding of his heart.

And Rienne did not hate that the first thing she saw when she woke up was the sight of Black's closed eyes, sound asleep.

Now that she looked at it closely, she noticed how long her eyelashes were. His nose stem was straight like a ruler and his pale lips had a firm line.

Although looking at her lips only reminded her of how she kissed her yesterday. The stinging heat he felt on his neck that had spread throughout his body seemed to only return with that thought.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Tension that made him tied in place or that pulsated all over his body—nothing bad.

I don't hate all that.

But the reason why is still unknown.

I'm….. I don't know why.

Why doesn't he hate her? And why would he want to stay like this? He could not move his body at all, yet he did not hate him either.

Everything is too weird…..

[ Black ] “Mm..”.

Black moves in his sleep.

Putting more strength into her arms, she pulled Rienne closer to her chest.

The same nose he had just admired stuck to his forehead and his lips were only a few breaths away from touching his eyebrows.

Is he trying to wake up?

Rienne completely forgot to blink as she looked at Black's closed eyes.

I hope you will sleep a little longer.

And I hope we can stay like this longer too…….

But the moment that hope entered Rienne's subconscious mind, Black's eyes opened as if they had never closed at all.

[ Rienne ] “.......!”

[ Black ]”. .”

While Rienne's eyes widened, Black narrowed. He also seemed to realize his current position was very different from the one he slept with last night.

[Black ] “……..Did I do this?”

[ Rienne ] “I'm not sure.”

Although, despite the shock, none of them tried to be the first to break their position.

Rienne found it strange how Black looked at her without blinking, but she did not even realize that she was no different.

[Black ] “I've never seen you this close before.”

[ Rienne ] “… ..So .”

As they sat still, they were so close that their eyes could touch each other.

[ Rienne ] “There are scars here.”

Time feels like it's moving very slowly. Feeling her eyes starting to hurt, Rienne finally blinked her eyes as she looked at the remains of a small scar, barely visible on Black's brow.

[Black ] “Where?”

[ Rienne ] “This.”

He reached out his hand, touching his index finger to the scar, only slightly paler than the surrounding skin.

[Black ] “Is there?”

It seemed like he really did not know what he was talking about.

[ Rienne ] “It's very small. Even I can't see it well.”

He wouldn't have seen it himself if he hadn't observed his face up close.

[Black ] “You have a freckle here, Princess.”

Rienne felt Black tap her finger at a point just below her earlobe, near the beginning of her neckline. Just as his scar was unknown to him, this was unknown to him.

[ Rienne ] “I can't see it. What does it look like?’

[Black ] “It's small and the color is similar to my hair. I don't think many people will see it. ”

[ Rienne ] “Yes…..I didn't know I had a freckle there.”

Black was the first to see it…. Or maybe he's the only one. No one else had ever observed his face this close before.

In the morning that was supposed to be cold, warm, and in the room next to it that was always empty, there was even someone. He looked at someone's face without ever feeling tired, so did he.

They were both looking for more things that only the two of them could know.

And he doesn't hate her at all.

[ Rienne ] “Is there anything else?”

[Black ] “I can see if you want.”

[ Rienne ] “Ya, please.”

Whirr.

Black brought his face closer.

As he pushed his hair to the side, the grip of his arm on him did not slacken in the slightest. Finally, the sides of Rienne's face and neck were revealed.

He rubbed a finger along his jaw.

[Black ] “Nothing here.”

Black took her finger, running it along her neck near her chest, which was still covered by her nightgown.

[Black ] “Can I keep looking?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Those words caught his breath.

[ Rienne ] “Yah….. You have to pull my dress down.”

[ Black ] “Ya.”

[ Rienne ] “So..”.

[Black ] “Can I?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

As she waited for a response, she continued to move her finger slowly over the neckline of her nightgown.

He did not even attempt to hide the explicit meaning behind the movement his blue eyes, closer than ever, were as honest.

[ Rienne ] “No, not here.”

And that's when he realized.

Regardless of his goal — whether he wants revenge or whatever — the fact is he wants it.

And my mind is not much different either.

Even though he knew he wanted it beyond anything he planned with Nauk, even more so, he wanted him to want it.

I wonder..Will thoughts like this end up being poison?

Or will it end otherwise?

Rienne wants to know. More than anything, he was curious.

[ Rienne ] “Now.. too bright now.”.

[Black ] “I won't be able to find anything if I don't have light.”

[ Rienne ] “You don't need it.... If you see close enough, it doesn't have to be light.”.

[Black ] “Then, can I take a closer look?”

[ Rienne ] “Somewhere darker than this.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Black's fingers stopped at his neckline. Rienne's unusual feeling made her eyebrows tense up. He held her face and began to gently rub her cheeks with his thumb, a frown forming in his eyes.

[Black ] “I hope you know what you say, Princess.”

[ Rienne ] “You...didn't I think so?”.

[Black ] “No, I don't.”

Black breathed slowly.

[Black ] “That's why you keep doing this kind of thing without blinking. You don't know what you look like in my eyes right now.”

[ Rienne ] “Like what…..I look?”

His hand stopped.

[Black ] “You don't want to hear it.”

[ Rienne ] “Is it because I look bad?”

[Black ] “Backside of.”

That sounds really strange to Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “Why do I not want to hear it if it is good?”

[ Black ]”. .”

Once again, Black sighed instead of giving an answer.

[Black ] “That's why I said you don't know.”

[ Rienne ] “Then you can tell me.”

[Black ] “That's not something I can talk about.”

[ Rienne ] “Why is that?”

Suddenly, Black's eyes changed.

[Black ] “This is why.”

The hand that had been on her cheek found a new place in the bedsheet. As Black lifted himself up, Rienne thought he had just gotten out of bed.

[ Rienne ] “....!”

But that's not what happened.

She now loomed over Rienne, who was lying on her back clamped on the bed— locked between her arms.

[Black ] “Do you understand now?”

[ Rienne ] “I .... think ... I do.”

[ Black ] “No. You still don't understand.”

[ Rienne ] “No, I..”.

Black grinned in disbelief.

[Black ] “If you knew, you would have pushed me away and run away now.”

[ Rienne ] “What?”

[Black ] “But now it's too late.”

And then, without any hesitation for a moment, he lowered his head.

While Rienne's mouth was slightly open, she did not waste the opportunity, tucking her upper lip between the gaps. Even before he realized it, his lips opened, giving him more space as he closed his eyes.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

What began as a slow, gentle, and alluring kiss became increasingly in need of a—like gentle rain turned into a sudden rain. He wrapped both of his hands around Black's neck, while he held her on his back, pulling her towards him.

Over time, their position changed. Holding her in his arms, Black fell flat on his back, with Rienne following and sitting on top of her as her body pressed down on her.

But her movements were so frantic, her knees were left awkwardly pushing her legs as they were entangled together.

[ Rienne ] “Wait...”.

Within a short time their lips separated, Rienne's breathing felt heavy as she spoke.

[ Rienne ] “Wait, your feet...”.

[Black ] “Legs?”

[ Rienne ] “I think you're hurt...”.

[Black ] “Nothing.”

Black cupped the back of his head with his big hands and pulled it back.