Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 5 | Reasons to Want

Their discussion is over.

Phermos left with Weroz, saying he needed to talk to him about how they would move the troops. Maslow, on the other hand, quickly excused himself to make a marriage contract before the Tiwakan troops basically stormed their castle.

A heavy silence weighed on the room now occupied by only two people.

Of course, there was a large table between Rienne and the Tiwakan leader with enough space to accommodate another thirty people easily, but Rienne still felt stifled.

[ Rienne ] “I'll take a walk.”

Unable to hold the atmosphere any longer, Rienne stood up.

[Black ] “Alright.”

Following Rienne's lead, Black stood up from his chair.

He would tell her to wait behind for a while while she sent someone to help her, but she was already standing by his side.

[Black ] “Where are you?”

[ Rienne ] “I just think I spent time in the park.”

…This guy is too impressive.

That was why he felt like he was suffocating whenever he stood too close. There was no other explanation as to why he felt so much tension.

Rienne turned her head to avoid Black's gaze.

[ Rienne ] “Wait here for a minute. I'll ask Mrs Flambard to stay with you.”

[Black ] “I don't need it.”

[ Rienne ] “No, when outsiders walk past Nauk Castle..”.

Black immediately cut Rienne off.

[Black ] “I'm not an outsider. I'm your fiancee, Princess.”

…Yeah, I guess so.

Rienne bit her lip.

For a moment, he wondered whether a barbarian would know basic manners habits or not, but the thought was squashed as Black extended his arm to escort him.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Rienne lowered her head in resignation before putting her hand on the curve of her arm.

[ Rienne ] “Oh..”.

He was so surprised by how sturdy and strong it was, he stopped walking. Seeing this, Black lowered his head and looked at him.

[Black ] “Is something wrong?”

[ Rienne ] “No, the.. it's okay.”.

Rienne quickly pointed forward as if to change the subject, but then something held her hand.

[Black ] “You're injured.”

[ Rienne ] “..?”

[Black ] “You're not taking any medication.”

There was a wound yesterday on Black's palm that he was holding, but next to it was a fresher wound today. Just by looking at the shape of the crescent moon from his wound, it was clearly caused by his own nails.

[Black ] “What should you do this time?”

Black gently raised Rienne's hand, asking a slow question that didn't seem to need an answer.

Walking hand in hand was one thing, but he did not want Black's lips to touch his hands anymore. He did not like the feeling of the man touching his wound, kissing it as if to comfort him.

[ Rienne ] “...Stop!”

Rienne couldn't take it anymore and quickly pulled her hand.

If Black did not still stare at him, he would clench his fists hard enough to leave another mark on his palm.

[ Rienne ] “I'm fine. I just want to take a walk...”

[Black ] “Nothing.”

A sweet gesture, as if to say that she was worried about her injuries and did not like her getting hurt. But that didn't sound the slightest bit sweet that came from a man with such horrible eyes.

In fact, it sounds more like a threat.

[Black ] “You must take care of yourself, Princess. Every injury you suffer is my responsibility now. ”

It was funny, coming from the person who was the biggest threat to him. Just like the day before, Black continued to be a puzzling contradiction to Rienne.

[ Rienne ] “... By here .”

Only after Rienne made the decision to never look him in the eye again did she feel comfortable enough to join hands with him.

After informing the guards in the reception room about where she was going earlier, Rienne headed to the park with the man who could now be called her fiance.

 

* * *

 

The back garden was huge, but not at all beautiful.

Since the drought, the flowers have struggled to thrive. They only bloom for a short while before withering away completely. The lush bushes that can live without much water are now the bulk of Castle Nauk's garden.

It's very hard to say walking through this park is a good thing.

Although Rienne was careful not to let their hands get too close, she suddenly became embarrassed to see the gloomy garden as it entered her gaze.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

What if he thought he was taking her there to mock her?

But it didn't happen at all. He had accidentally chosen an unpleasant location. It's just that most of the Nauks are like this. Everything is dry and dry. Even the majestic waterfalls that once split into nine different rivers throughout the castle have long since dried up.

Will you realize it after seeing something like this?

That the land of Nauk is worthless.

[Black ] –’Someone will want Nauk in the future, whether it's Nauk itself or you, Princess.’

As if sensing his thoughts, Black's words from earlier sounded in his head.

[ Rienne ] “No way..”.

Rienne subconsciously shook her head, whispering her disapproval to herself.

[Black ] “What's up?”

Black stopped walking, and Rienne made the mistake of looking up and making eye contact with her. Again, he felt frozen in place.

[ Rienne ]”. .”

He swallowed nervously.

His eyes are the problem. He couldn't face them, but he couldn't avoid them either.

Rienne had no choice but to admit that despite being scary, they had a strange attraction to them. Perhaps because they were terrifying, he could not take his eyes off.

[ Rienne ] “... It's nothing. I just realized there's not much to see, so I wondered if it was a mistake to bring you here. ”

[Black ] “Nothing.”

Black's reply pierced through his ears.

[Black ] “You are here, Princess.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Mean what?

Does that mean he's a sight worth seeing? Or does he mean that he needs to watch over her?

[ Rienne ] “I'll take your words mean it's okay.”

Rienne took a step forward, but by then—

[Black ] “Do not move.”

Hearing Black's low voice, Rienne became confused and raised her head to look up, soon realizing Black was protecting her with her body.

Yoke!

Yoke!

Rienne's vision was obscured by a stream of black lines flying through the air, immersing themselves in Black's shoulder.

They are arrows.

 

* * *

 

[ Mercenary ] “To there!”

The Tiwakan Charge Army had already moved to the source of the arrow.

[ Mercenary ] “Don't let them escape! Catch them alive if you can!”

Seeing how quickly the mercenaries reacted, it made Rienne realize that it was not just the two of them who were in the park.

Which, he thought should have been clear.

It was not easy to ignore the possible threat to the leader of the mercenary company that had been roaming the battlefield for more than a decade.

[ Rienne ] “Are you okay?”

Rienne looked at Black, her face paled when she saw the arrow.

There was a chance he could consider her accepting her proposal as a pretense, only to betray her like this later. Rienne thought her head was going to explode.

Who would do something like that?

Why did they do something so stupid?

It did nothing for the sake of revenge or even for the sake of saving him. Instead, it put them on a one-way path towards Nauk's destruction with their own hands.

Even if they somehow managed to kill Black, nothing would change. The Tiwakan Charge Army would never let Nauk go after their leader was killed in such a cowardly attack.

[ Rienne ] “First. It will be safer there... than waiting for help here.”.

Rienne reached out her hand to help her, but her hand trembled. Rienne gritted her teeth. He doesn't want to be misunderstood.

[Rienne ] “Nauk has nothing to do with this. We have no intention of hurting you, Mr. Tiwakan.”

[Black ] “.. We'll see.”

Black was staring at Rienne's hand when he finally spoke again.

[ Black ] “I need help to walk.”

Even so, it was Rienne who was supported by Black's arm.

[ Rienne ] “I'm not hurt, Mr. Tiwakan.”

[Black ] “Then why are you shaking so much that you look like you're about to faint?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

[Black ] “Come to go.”

So they left, the one who was wounded by the arrow that supported the one who was not hurt.

Rienne kept trying to tell her that she did not need any help, but her mouth was unwilling to open. He could clearly feel his arms encircling his waist and his shoulders supporting his back.

Butwhy…

And how she trembled.

Why would…

Now it was not just his hands that were trembling. His whole.

The fact that this man was holding onto her made her feel strange. He recalled the moment right before the arrow shot out, when he hugged her and he felt her sturdy body clinging to his own body.

That's why he feels so weird.

The shaking had already started by then.

 

* * *

 

[Mrs Flambard ] “Yes Gods, Princesses!”

By the time Rienne regained consciousness, she and Black had already returned to the living room, and were now dealing with the pale-faced Mistress Flambard.

[Mrs Flambard ] “What happened!? Where are you hurt!? Who can do this.?”.

[ Rienne ] “This is not me. Mr. Tiwakan is the one who was hit by the arrow. Please, call the doctor and bring me some hot water and a towel. Quick, now.”

Mrs Flambard looked puzzled, like she couldn't believe the situation. It was embarrassing, but Rienne could understand why.

Still, she did not have time to explain so she made a request to her lady.

[ Rienne ] “Please, Lady Flambard.”

[Mrs Flambard ] “Oh, yes. Of course, Princess.”

As Mrs Flambard rushed out of the living room, Rienne turned towards Black and spoke in a low voice.

[ Rienne ] “You can let me go now. I'm fine.”

[Black ] “Alright.”

With that, the hand that he was wrapping around him was pulled.

Even so, Rienne did not fall. If anything, there was no reason for him to be supported by someone injured by the arrow.

Although Rienne's thoughts were still muddled, Black pulled the sofa closer to the fireplace.

[ Black ] “Sit.”

[ Rienne ] “...Hah?”

Rienne gave him a surprised expression.

[Black ] “You're still shaking. Sitting.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Maybe it was because he still felt his hands were on it. Ignoring that, Rienne forced herself to regain her composure.

[ Rienne ] “I'm not hurt. We should focus on taking care of your wounds first, Mr. Tiwakan.”

[Black ] “I know. But you still have to sit.”

Silent, Black glanced at the arrow embedded in his left shoulder.

Looking at him, it was hard to believe he was injured at all. It was as if he had gotten too used to being hurt like this that he could not find himself to be shocked by the wound.

[Black ] “It will take quite a long time.”

Black muttered softly as he sat on his knees in front of Rienne. Contrary to Rienne's panicked thoughts, her request was simple.

[Black ] “I want to get your help in undressing.”

[ Rienne ] “Open a shirt.. oh, yes.”.

It would be difficult for him to take off his own clothes because of where the arrow was. Realizing this, Rienne quickly got up from her seat.

[ Rienne ] “I'll take the scissors.”

[ Black ] “No need.”

But Rienne had already turned to leave.

[ Rienne ] “Please wait a minute.”

He has to do this.

He had to take any and all opportunities that he could to not be alone with her and create a distance between them.

Rienne must get out of a dangerous situation that seems to rule her.

 

* * *

 

[Black ] “I should have done a better job of avoiding getting hurt.”

After Rienne leaves, Black is left alone to talk to himself.

[Black ] “Phermos will give me a lot about this.”

Knowing that, Black seemed completely unperturbed by the situation. With such an expressionless face, he clearly did not look like someone who had just been severely injured by an arrow.

[ Black ]”. .”

Although his eyes were closed a moment ago, Black suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling onto the chair where Rienne once sat.

He stretched out his unharmed arm and placed his palm on the cloth. Sure enough, the lingering warmth was proof that someone had once sat there a moment ago.

[ Rienne ] –’And now I'm with the child. Knowing this, are you still going to apply?’

As the warmth from the chair tickled her hands, Rienne's words the other day tickled her ears.

As he had said before, bastard child was no big deal to him. To be honest, he had no real expectations for this relationship from the start.

He was just trying to get back what belonged to him.

It was the same in terms of Nauk. The place suffered a financial loss, and he gained nothing by taking over a kingdom so barren that it was in decline. Rienne must have made a living selling royal property, but that was barely earning anything.

As Rienne probably knew, being the ruler of Nauk meant pouring wealth into bottomless pits.

Still, it bothered him knowing someone else could potentially step in and take it. He did not consider himself a greedy person, but he still decided to impulsively propose.

After ten years of wandering and going wherever the fight took him, he became more sensitive to the situation of every nation. There are many men who crave Rienne Arsak, although they have not officially become her lover.

Among those people, some were even very wealthy prepared and were willing to endure Nauk's financial hardships if it meant owning Rienne.

So he decided to keep it to himself rather than give it to someone else. Other than just getting her, she didn't really think of anything beyond that.

That was why it didn't matter to him if he had a lover or illegitimate child.

[Black ] “Now..”.

Black licked his lips.

[ Black ] “...How frustrating.”

He had what he wanted now, but he was still not satisfied.

Every time he looked at her, he clenched his fists until it made a scar on his palm. His lips will tremble, his eyes will tremble, and his face will become very pale.

However, his slender body never wavered. He stays strong and survives.

Tuk.

Black moved his fingers, the warmth he once felt completely fading from his hands.

And suddenly, he felt a strange thirst rising in his chest.

He needs to know what this irritated feeling is.