Barbaric Proposal

Chapter 7 | If You Can Hold It (2)

[ Rienne ] “It..”.

What a strange thing to say.

He doesn't want her taken away? He was the one who stole it from the beginning.

But Black spoke as if Rienne was his from the start.

[ Rienne ] “What makes you say ‘taken’ like that?”

[Black ] “I'm glad I didn't let anyone else take you.”

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan..”.

[Black ] “If you marry someone else, everything will be complicated....

Black spoke almost to himself, his voice and words faint and vague like a dream.

[Black ] “Can I kiss you?”

Just then, her confused eyes turned to Rienne's lips. He rubbed his tongue against his dry lips as if he was dying of thirst.

[ Rienne ] “I..”.

[Black ] “Is that not?”

…It's a trap.

Rienne looked at the man's mouth, and it made his mouth burn with intensity.

No, he can't be fooled by this.

It's because of the fever.

This only happened because he mistook the heat from his illness as air . When he gets better, he'll calm down and all this will be over.

Because he wasn't really trying to seduce her.

He didn't really ask her for permission.

[Black ] “You can't avoid me forever. I'm not just any guy looking for your attention. We'll be married soon.”

The fire in Black's expression still had not faded. Rienne bit her lips as she looked at her misty eyes.

[Black ] “How can I make you say yes?”

…but maybe…

Perhaps, if he was delirious enough because of his fever, he could make this request to her. He could take advantage of this.

[ Rienne ] “Please promise me something.”

[ Black ] “What?”

Actually, he had promised her a lot. He promised to protect Nauk, ensure the safety and birthright of his son, and would help him ascend the throne himself.

From how things were, Rienne seemed to be the only one who benefited from this arrangement.

Black had even given him access to a powerful military force that would not even give the invaders a chance to enter his castle, and in return, all Rienne had to give him was himself.

Maybe Nauk needs a King like Black.

A person who can fill the position of her husband without needing much else from him.

So Rienne wants him to promise her that everything he said before is true. That when he spoke to her, she was honest with his words and would not reply to him easily.

If he has to get married, then he wants to do it right.

[Rienne ] “If you want this wedding to happen so badly, then you have to do everything in your power to maintain it.”

[Black ] “What do you mean?”

[ Rienne ] “I ask you not to break or break the promise you made to me.”

Black sighed as if trying to understand his words.

[ Rienne ] “Only that's what I asked from the bottom of my heart.”

[Black ] “And what would you give me in return for such a promise?”

This time, it was Rienne who let out a slow breath.

[Rienne ] “If you can promise this to me, then I vow to do my best to want you as you did to me, Mr. Tiwakan. That was my own promise.”

The response came quickly.

[Black ] “Alright.”

[ Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan..”.

[Black ] “If I plan to retract my words, I will do so from the beginning and never propose to you since the beginning.”

Saying that, Black wrapped his hands around Rienne's waist, moving so well, it was unbelievable he once had an arrow stuck in her shoulder.

Holding her with one hand, Rienne felt the man gently leaning his head back.

And then, in an instant, Black hugged Rienne, catching her lips with her own. As the sound of their kiss hit Rienne's ears, it was like a thick fog that completely covered her mind.

A foreign feeling from the hot air flowing at her made her lips tingle, and Rienne instinctively wrapped her arms around Black's neck to support herself. He felt like he needed to hold on to her or he was going to kneel down.

The sensation of the man's lips against his lips was completely new.

It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

The kiss that Rienne knew was gentle and kind, had never been this passionate.

 

[Black ] “... We have to stop here.”

Finally, the endless whirlwind that swept over him came to a halt. Burying his face into the soft skin of his neck, Black whispered softly.

[Black ] “I don't know if I can blame this on my fever again.”

Only after she realized her mouth was still on her neck did Rienne feel the tickle of her breath on her bare skin. Consciously, Rienne pushed Black away, hoping not to see how trembling she was.

[ Rienne ] “I forgot you got hurt.”

[ Black ]”. .”

Black gently let go of Rienne, letting her get out of bed. Rienne turned around to talk to him. He should be calm.

[Rienne ] “Then, I will leave you to rest now. Please heal fast.”

[Black ] “I will. Especially now I know I don't need to use my fever as an excuse anymore.”

Black spoke slowly, his words were extremely sweet. Even his voice sounded like he was drunk by something.

[ Rienne ] “Sleep soundly.”

As the same dreamy voice touched her ears, Rienne left the room as quickly as she could. He did not want to be infected by whatever energy he had.

As soon as he came out of the room, he said a prayer in his heart to himself.

Please, don't forget your promise.

Even if you know I lied to you one day, please just do as you promised me.

 

* * *

 

Keeping promises is difficult.

 

[ ??? ] “Princess.”

When Rienne returned to her room, there was someone waiting for her. Rienne, expecting the room to be empty, almost shouted.

[ Rienne ] “Weroz—!”

[ Weroz ] ” Sst .”

Weroz put his finger in his mouth.

He looked around the room once more to make sure no one else was around. It meant that he had something he wanted to say that really needed to be kept secret.

[ Weroz ] “I managed to stay away for a moment. I don't think they were suspicious, but I'm still not sure if I was followed or not. ”

Rienne kept her voice low as she whispered.

[ Rienne ] “What happened?”

[ Weroz ] “There's something I have to show you.”

Weroz has been working with Phermos and several other Tiwakan members to organize search squads to find attackers.

In doing so, he found something else. Something that the barbarians did not recognize.

[ Weroz ] “This ..”

Weroz ransacked his sleeves and pulled out something.

[ Weroz ] “You recognize this, don't you?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

In Weroz's hand was a leaf. It was long and thick, roughly the size of two fingers. For ordinary people, the leaf was no different from the other leaves, but Rienne recognized a small trace of a thread tied at one end.

It was the same kind that her lover used to decorate her arrows.

[ Weroz ] “It hasn't been long since I found it.”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

[ Weroz ] “I found it while following the path left by the attacker.”

Rienne was dizzy.

Rafit Kleinfelder may not be dead. They might not know he was still alive, so he could trick Tiwakan into entering Nauk Castle.

…And then he would use a bow to shoot arrows.

…Destination right towards Black.

[ Weroz ] “Princess, are you okay?”

Only when Weroz reached out to help her did Rienne realize that she was shocking.

[ Rienne ] “I'm fine.. It's just... you said... she may still.... live?”.

[ Weroz ] “I can't say for sure. It's possible that someone just used one of Sir Kleinfelder's arrows.”

Without evidence, it is impossible to come to a conclusion.

[ Rienne ] “One has opened his coffin ?”

Six coffins were carried by Black and placed in the royal chapel to await their rights and final burial. Naturally, Rienne thought one of them contained the body of her ex-lover.

[ Weroz ] “Not yet. Do you want to check it out?”

[ Rienne ] “.Yes. I have to.”

[Weroz ] “This may be the best, but you must prepare yourself first, Princess. For whatever the truth is.”

Weroz's voice sounded heavy. It was as if it reminded him of the weight of what he said.

[Weroz ] “If Sir Kleinfelder really was alive, what would you do about this wedding?”

[ Rienne ]”. .”

He couldn't answer that question.

Before she said goodbye properly, Rienne had already received another man's proposal.

And just a moment ago that day, she had just made an appointment with her fiance to make their marriage as real as possible right after she was hit with an arrow.

And maybe his ex-girlfriend shot that arrow.

[ Rienne ] “..I just need to make sure it with my own eyes.”

Rienne forced herself to stand up straight, fighting the dizziness that threatened to eat her.

[ Rienne ] “Then I will think about what to do.”

If you are truly alive …

If he is willing to risk his life to destroy this marriage arrangement …

What's he gonna do?

[ Rienne ]”. .”

Ignoring her thoughts, Rienne turned around and started running towards the chapel.

 

* * *

 

…pollinate!

The lid of the coffin was pushed to the side, making a heavy sound as it collided with the floor.

[ Weroz ] “...Princess, are you hurt?”

Weroz quickly moved to grab Rienne, who was almost hit by a heavy cover stone.

[ Rienne ] “Dia... She's not here, right?”

The coffin they just opened was the last one.

Of the six coffins Black had brought, none contained the body of Lord Kleinfelder. What was there was a body wrapped in a robe marked with the emblem of the Kleinfelder family.

Someone was willing to replace him to save his life.

[ Weroz ] “That's true.”

[ Rienne ] “She lives.”

Grain of sweat began to pool on Rienne's pale forehead.

[ Weroz ] “It looks like so. Then the arrow from before definitely means..”.

[ Rienne ] “That means she wants to fight, right?”

[ Weroz ] “Most possibilities. I'd do the same if I were him.”

Knocks.

Sweat from his forehead came down.

Rienne has to make a choice. Whether to fight or be forced to surrender. To believe in the devotion of his lover or fall into the desire of fierce passion.

[ Weroz ] “Sir Kleinfelder most likely accommodated by delegation.” (1)

As Weroz mentioned this, he realized that it was most likely that the search had not yielded any leads.

[ Weroz ] “That's the only place she'll be safe. We have to find a way to send him a secret letter first and foremost.”.

Before Weroz finished speaking, he was cut off by a shrill voice.

scream!

The sound of the chapel door opening violently scratched Rienne's ear. Shaking her head in surprise, Rienne saw Phermos and several other Tiwakan mercenaries enter.

[ Phermos ] “It's strange for a princess. What are you doing here of all places?”

 

* * *

 

Rienne did not know if she heard what they were talking about, but at least the chapel was completely dark.

That meant they could not see Rienne's surprised face as she saw Phermos standing there, observing her as if trying to read about her.

[ Phermos ] “So, what brings you here?”

There was doubt in his voice.

She was curious to know why Princess Rienne, accompanied only by her escort captain, was in the chapel so far away from the main palace at that late hour.

[ Phermos ] “Are you trying to check the bodies? It's weird.”

Lensed glasses like Fermos reflect moonlight through a small window. The light was cold and pierced through the air like a knife, carrying hostile intent.

[ Phermos ] “If I'm not mistaken, isn't there a custom on Nauk that prohibits you from seeing the deceased's face until the day of the funeral?”

[ Rienne + Weroz ] “. .”

He's not wrong. Rienne and Weroz could not retaliate.

[ Phermos ] “Is there anything you need to confirm?”

[ Rienne ] “It..”.

Rienne bit her lips before forcing her mouth open.

He has to make excuses.

If they find out her ex-boyfriend is still alive, things will quickly spiral out of control.

[ Rienne ] “..I just want to say goodbye.”

The Tiwakan people still believe that Knight Commander Arsak is dead. If that was the case, then he needed to lean on that assumption.

[ Rienne ] “If I don't do it now, I'll never get a chance.”

[ Fermos ] “... Is that ?”

Even though he didn't say it, it was clear that Fermos didn't really believe him.

[Rienne ] “Master Tiwakan and I have promised each other to make our marriage as real as possible. For that..”

[Phermos ] “So you mean you need to give yourself a chance to separate yourself from your deceased love?”

[ Rienne ] “..Ya.”

He is unsure if he sounds confident enough to deceive Phermos, but he knows his words officially make Rafit a dead man.

Realizing this brought a strange chill all over his body. It felt as if he was standing naked, alone in the midst of a violent snowstorm.

Phermos monocle glasses glistened above the blade-like light once again.

[ Phermos ] “Hmm.. if that's what you said, then I will definitely say this to Mr. Tiwakan.”

[ Rienne ] “..I'm sure she'll understand.”

Rienne gently nodded in a calm-looking manner.

[ Rienne ] “I have to go now. I hope some progress will be made in the search tonight.”

[ Phermos ] “If you are honest, then I will thank you for your consideration, Princess.”

With that, Phermos stepped aside, politely giving Rienne enough room to leave the chapel.

[ Phermos ] “Goodbye. We'll meet again next time.”

[ Rienne ] “Of course.”

Reversing it, Rienne left first, with Weroz following behind.

 

T/N: (1) They refer to what is mentioned in Chapter 3, about how Lord Kleinfelder's uncle became the head of the delegation. Weroz insinuates he must be hiding in his uncle's house.