The letter crumpled at the tip of her fingers. It was the second letter.
“...”
Liene looked at the cold, bloodless, frozen hands. They didn’t seem to be her own. The letter’s content was brief.
The tent was empty, with only a table and two chairs facing each other. Werose glared at the empty chair on the other side, full of anger.
“I never thought he would dare come out like this. They are a bunch of people who have never seen manners in your entire life.”
“Thanks to him, I have time to prepare myself mentally. I think it’s a good thing.”
It was a joke, but there was also some sincerity in it. It was a relief. As she walked to the barracks, Liene was worried that she might look scared and trembling. She had accepted the proposal despite the threats, but she didn't want to look scared.
“..."
Liene chewed her lip as she sat down in the chair that she thought was hers. In a moment, the chieftain of Tiwakan, the bastard child of the god of war who abandoned the earth, would enter. Do not tremble. Liene clenched the fists on her knees. Do not look low. This is not a marriage proposal, this is a negotiation. Whatever they want, do not give it to them easily.
“Of course, Princess! If you permit, I will go outside and take a look. No, no, I think it would be better to go back now. They are caught up in the battle right now and will not have the presence of mind to hold us accountable for breaking our promise.”
Werose took the lead and urged them on.
“Hurry up, Princess.”
The moment Liene took her first step, the tent entrance opened as if it were a mischievous prank.
“It's late.”
A dry, languid voice rang in her ears, like dry grass swaying in the wind.
“Meet the Princess of Nauk.”
The chieftain of Tiwakan arrived just as she was about to flee from his savage proposal.
“...”
Liene looked at the cold, bloodless, frozen hands. They didn’t seem to be her own. The letter’s content was brief.
[I’ve waited for two weeks, so please give me an answer. It was no different from the first letter.
To the Princess of Nauk Castle.]
The leader of the Tiwakan mercenaries proposes to her. He will wait for her answer. And the Tiwakan mercenaries have been besieging the castle for two weeks under the pretext of proposing.
"Princess."
The noble council's advisor, Masilou, called Liene. His expression and voice were filled with excitement.
“You’re not going to accept it, are you? They are barbarians who don’t know anything about human nature. They are no different from barbarians. How dare they propose to you! Even though they know that the Princess has a more excellent fiancé than anyone else...! That’s proof that they are barbarians!”
“If I don’t accept it, is there any other way?”
Liene tried to calm her voice as she smoothed out the crumpled letter with her fingertips.
“We don’t have the power to drive them out, you know that.”
The only people left in this once-wealthy and splendid grand hall were Liene, Masilou, and Captain Werose. Compared to the old glory of the Kingdom of Nauk, it was a pitiful crowd. A stalwart knight who had long ago turned forty opened his mouth heavily.
“We can still fight. I am ready to sacrifice my life for the Princess at any time.”
Liene also knew that Werose was the kind of person who would do that. That's why she thought she had to accept this proposal even more. She couldn't let all the knights who thought like Werose die.
“And then we all die together.”
“Oh, Princess...!”
Werose shook his sweaty, gray head. But he could not bring himself to say otherwise. It had been a fortnight. In just a fortnight, Nauk Castle was completely isolated. The supply lines outside the castle had long since been cut off. The people were exhausted, and the guards had lost their will to fight. It was a fight that was no match for them in the first place. The difference in troops was more than ten times. On the other hand, the Tiwakan mercenaries, the most brutal and barbaric army in the history of the continent, were not hit even a little. It was as if they were hunting rabbits for a little fun. They could maintain this standoff for several more months. And the result would be that everyone in Nauk Castle would starve to death while alive. Liene took a deep breath and said.
“I accept his proposal.”
Masilou and Werose shouted almost simultaneously.
“No, Princess!”
“No, you can’t! You don’t know what kind of people Tiwakan is!”
Unfortunately, she had heard enough rumors. The one who led Tiwakan was said to be the son of the god of war who raped a human woman. The god of death cursed him and the god of the earth rejected his body forever. So he became a body that could never die on any battlefield.
“They all said that they were people who had turned their backs on God. As proof of this...”
“He likes sleeping with men more than with women.”
Werose, who had a somewhat old-fashioned side, stuttered at Liene's straightforward remark.
“Y, you already knew. Yes. The Tiwakan mercenaries... I, more men...”
On the other hand, the experienced adviser used more specific language to dissuade Liene from accepting the proposal.
“They said that if a woman sleeps with them, she will die easily, Princess.”
At those words, a shadow appeared around Liene's eyes. Just hearing it was so horrible that it made her shiver. What kind of beasts were they?
“That doesn’t mean he’ll kill me in one night. If he did, he wouldn’t have proposed to me.”
Masilou shouted urgently.
“Please don’t do that, Princess. Have you forgotten where Lord Klinefelter is and what he is doing? He is here for you..”
“Yes, he said he would return with reinforcements from the Kingdom of Sharka within ten days.”
It wasn't that Liene had an unnecessarily pessimistic personality. She was just trying not to have too much hope. After all, she was the Princess of the Arsak family, the ruler of Nauk Castle, and she was responsible for the lives of everyone living here.
“But it’s already been ten days. There’s no guarantee that he’ll come back, or that he’ll get the reinforcements he promised.”
“You don’t trust Lord Klinefelter? He values the Princess more than his own life. He will definitely return with reinforcements.”
“If he could, he would have come back already. Within the promised time.”
Liene chewed on the promise of her lover, Lafitte Kleinfelter, the knight commander of the Arsak family, with an expression that seemed to be swallowing thorns. When the news of the Tiwakan mercenary force advancing to Nauk Castle first reached him, he immediately led the knights to the Kingdom of Sharka. His maternal family was the largest in the Kingdom of Sharka. He was the only one who could secure reinforcements. He told her to endure for just ten days. Liene also wanted to believe those words. However, in the face of reality, even a handful of faith was too weak.
“I can’t wait any longer. Above all, even if he brings reinforcements, the Kingdom of Sharka won’t send a force large enough to surpass Tiwakan. What country would want to wage war against Tiwakan right now? Even the largest kingdom on the continent, the Kingdom of Rakesh, has signed a peace treaty with Tiwakan. And it was a very humiliating one.”
The fact that five days had already passed since the promised time was proof of this. Masilou and Werose also knew how blind hope it was to simply wait for reinforcements.
“As you both know, for whatever reason, Tiwakan’s proposal is genuine. Otherwise, he would not have quietly laid siege for two weeks, waiting for an answer. Their forces could have broken down the gates and collapsed the walls at any time.”
Liene looked back at the two people in charge of the Nauk Castle with her and made a decision.
“As the last of the Arsak family, I must protect Nauk. If my marriage can save all life in this land, then it is worth enduring.”
"Princess..."
Werose closed his eyes, unable to object any longer. Regret and sighs creased the old knight's eyes in place of the old glory that had disappeared. But Masilou persisted.
“Then what will happen to Lord Kleinfelter? The Kleinfelter family is the most powerful in Nauk. We cannot unilaterally cut ties without consulting them.”
Masilou had long maintained a close relationship with the Kleinfelter family. He was one of those who firmly believed that Lafitte Kleinfelter would marry Liene and become joint rulers of Nauk.
“Nothing will change if you consult with them.”
“Princess, can you say that in front of the Klinefelter family?”
“I would like to ask. What has that family been doing while Nauk’s guards have been bleeding while waiting for that person?”
Liene's face turned cold. Although they were lovers, their relationship had never been sincere. The Kleinfelter family held considerable wealth and power in this crumbling small kingdom. With that power, they had persuaded Liene to marry them as soon as her father died. Up until now, Liene had been putting off the formal engagement day after day, trying hard to avoid the Kleinfelter family's attempts to seize the joint rule of Nauk. Her lover might have been sincere. However, his family was too greedy. They might have devoured this already barren place, leaving only the bones.
“I will send a reply... to the head of Tiwakan.”
Werose and Masilou each raised their eyes and distorted their expressions. Liene spoke firmly to the two people who opposed the savage's proposal for entirely different reasons.
“I will accept his proposal.”
An hour after the reply was delivered, a meeting place was set for the proposer and the proposed one. Liene rode on horseback, escorted by Werose and the guards.
"Princess."
The noble council's advisor, Masilou, called Liene. His expression and voice were filled with excitement.
“You’re not going to accept it, are you? They are barbarians who don’t know anything about human nature. They are no different from barbarians. How dare they propose to you! Even though they know that the Princess has a more excellent fiancé than anyone else...! That’s proof that they are barbarians!”
“If I don’t accept it, is there any other way?”
Liene tried to calm her voice as she smoothed out the crumpled letter with her fingertips.
“We don’t have the power to drive them out, you know that.”
The only people left in this once-wealthy and splendid grand hall were Liene, Masilou, and Captain Werose. Compared to the old glory of the Kingdom of Nauk, it was a pitiful crowd. A stalwart knight who had long ago turned forty opened his mouth heavily.
“We can still fight. I am ready to sacrifice my life for the Princess at any time.”
Liene also knew that Werose was the kind of person who would do that. That's why she thought she had to accept this proposal even more. She couldn't let all the knights who thought like Werose die.
“And then we all die together.”
“Oh, Princess...!”
Werose shook his sweaty, gray head. But he could not bring himself to say otherwise. It had been a fortnight. In just a fortnight, Nauk Castle was completely isolated. The supply lines outside the castle had long since been cut off. The people were exhausted, and the guards had lost their will to fight. It was a fight that was no match for them in the first place. The difference in troops was more than ten times. On the other hand, the Tiwakan mercenaries, the most brutal and barbaric army in the history of the continent, were not hit even a little. It was as if they were hunting rabbits for a little fun. They could maintain this standoff for several more months. And the result would be that everyone in Nauk Castle would starve to death while alive. Liene took a deep breath and said.
“I accept his proposal.”
Masilou and Werose shouted almost simultaneously.
“No, Princess!”
“No, you can’t! You don’t know what kind of people Tiwakan is!”
Unfortunately, she had heard enough rumors. The one who led Tiwakan was said to be the son of the god of war who raped a human woman. The god of death cursed him and the god of the earth rejected his body forever. So he became a body that could never die on any battlefield.
“They all said that they were people who had turned their backs on God. As proof of this...”
“He likes sleeping with men more than with women.”
Werose, who had a somewhat old-fashioned side, stuttered at Liene's straightforward remark.
“Y, you already knew. Yes. The Tiwakan mercenaries... I, more men...”
On the other hand, the experienced adviser used more specific language to dissuade Liene from accepting the proposal.
“They said that if a woman sleeps with them, she will die easily, Princess.”
At those words, a shadow appeared around Liene's eyes. Just hearing it was so horrible that it made her shiver. What kind of beasts were they?
“That doesn’t mean he’ll kill me in one night. If he did, he wouldn’t have proposed to me.”
Masilou shouted urgently.
“Please don’t do that, Princess. Have you forgotten where Lord Klinefelter is and what he is doing? He is here for you..”
“Yes, he said he would return with reinforcements from the Kingdom of Sharka within ten days.”
It wasn't that Liene had an unnecessarily pessimistic personality. She was just trying not to have too much hope. After all, she was the Princess of the Arsak family, the ruler of Nauk Castle, and she was responsible for the lives of everyone living here.
“But it’s already been ten days. There’s no guarantee that he’ll come back, or that he’ll get the reinforcements he promised.”
“You don’t trust Lord Klinefelter? He values the Princess more than his own life. He will definitely return with reinforcements.”
“If he could, he would have come back already. Within the promised time.”
Liene chewed on the promise of her lover, Lafitte Kleinfelter, the knight commander of the Arsak family, with an expression that seemed to be swallowing thorns. When the news of the Tiwakan mercenary force advancing to Nauk Castle first reached him, he immediately led the knights to the Kingdom of Sharka. His maternal family was the largest in the Kingdom of Sharka. He was the only one who could secure reinforcements. He told her to endure for just ten days. Liene also wanted to believe those words. However, in the face of reality, even a handful of faith was too weak.
“I can’t wait any longer. Above all, even if he brings reinforcements, the Kingdom of Sharka won’t send a force large enough to surpass Tiwakan. What country would want to wage war against Tiwakan right now? Even the largest kingdom on the continent, the Kingdom of Rakesh, has signed a peace treaty with Tiwakan. And it was a very humiliating one.”
The fact that five days had already passed since the promised time was proof of this. Masilou and Werose also knew how blind hope it was to simply wait for reinforcements.
“As you both know, for whatever reason, Tiwakan’s proposal is genuine. Otherwise, he would not have quietly laid siege for two weeks, waiting for an answer. Their forces could have broken down the gates and collapsed the walls at any time.”
Liene looked back at the two people in charge of the Nauk Castle with her and made a decision.
“As the last of the Arsak family, I must protect Nauk. If my marriage can save all life in this land, then it is worth enduring.”
"Princess..."
Werose closed his eyes, unable to object any longer. Regret and sighs creased the old knight's eyes in place of the old glory that had disappeared. But Masilou persisted.
“Then what will happen to Lord Kleinfelter? The Kleinfelter family is the most powerful in Nauk. We cannot unilaterally cut ties without consulting them.”
Masilou had long maintained a close relationship with the Kleinfelter family. He was one of those who firmly believed that Lafitte Kleinfelter would marry Liene and become joint rulers of Nauk.
“Nothing will change if you consult with them.”
“Princess, can you say that in front of the Klinefelter family?”
“I would like to ask. What has that family been doing while Nauk’s guards have been bleeding while waiting for that person?”
Liene's face turned cold. Although they were lovers, their relationship had never been sincere. The Kleinfelter family held considerable wealth and power in this crumbling small kingdom. With that power, they had persuaded Liene to marry them as soon as her father died. Up until now, Liene had been putting off the formal engagement day after day, trying hard to avoid the Kleinfelter family's attempts to seize the joint rule of Nauk. Her lover might have been sincere. However, his family was too greedy. They might have devoured this already barren place, leaving only the bones.
“I will send a reply... to the head of Tiwakan.”
Werose and Masilou each raised their eyes and distorted their expressions. Liene spoke firmly to the two people who opposed the savage's proposal for entirely different reasons.
“I will accept his proposal.”
An hour after the reply was delivered, a meeting place was set for the proposer and the proposed one. Liene rode on horseback, escorted by Werose and the guards.
Clap, clap...
As the sound of horse hooves grew, the castle of Nauk grew further away.
“....”
Liene turned her head slightly and looked at the castle she had just left. Will she be able to return safely?
“....”
Liene turned her head slightly and looked at the castle she had just left. Will she be able to return safely?
***
The agreed-upon location was exactly halfway between Nauk Castle and Tiwakan's camp. Tiwakan had already set up a tent. Liene entered the tent with only Werose. The pretext was a marriage proposal, but the atmosphere was no different from a battlefield. The troops of both sides faced each other with the tent in the middle, tense and tense.
“...He hasn’t come yet.”
“...He hasn’t come yet.”
The tent was empty, with only a table and two chairs facing each other. Werose glared at the empty chair on the other side, full of anger.
“I never thought he would dare come out like this. They are a bunch of people who have never seen manners in your entire life.”
“Thanks to him, I have time to prepare myself mentally. I think it’s a good thing.”
It was a joke, but there was also some sincerity in it. It was a relief. As she walked to the barracks, Liene was worried that she might look scared and trembling. She had accepted the proposal despite the threats, but she didn't want to look scared.
“..."
Liene chewed her lip as she sat down in the chair that she thought was hers. In a moment, the chieftain of Tiwakan, the bastard child of the god of war who abandoned the earth, would enter. Do not tremble. Liene clenched the fists on her knees. Do not look low. This is not a marriage proposal, this is a negotiation. Whatever they want, do not give it to them easily.
"Princess."
Suddenly, Werose called Liene. His voice, which had become extremely low, was ominous.
“I can hear a sound.”
"...Yes?"
Suddenly, Werose called Liene. His voice, which had become extremely low, was ominous.
“I can hear a sound.”
"...Yes?"
“This is definitely the sound of a sword.”
“What does that mean?”
“It looks like there’s a fight. Those savages have a reason to fight among themselves... Ah!”
A color came over Werose's face. Werose, who hit his knee with his hand, shouted in joy, unable to hide his joy.
“What does that mean?”
“It looks like there’s a fight. Those savages have a reason to fight among themselves... Ah!”
A color came over Werose's face. Werose, who hit his knee with his hand, shouted in joy, unable to hide his joy.
“It must be Lord Klinefelter! He has come with reinforcements and attacked Tiwakan!”
“What did you say?”
Liene sat up with a start.
“That person right now... No, does that mean I don’t have to accept the proposal?”
“What did you say?”
Liene sat up with a start.
“That person right now... No, does that mean I don’t have to accept the proposal?”
“Of course, Princess! If you permit, I will go outside and take a look. No, no, I think it would be better to go back now. They are caught up in the battle right now and will not have the presence of mind to hold us accountable for breaking our promise.”
Werose took the lead and urged them on.
“Hurry up, Princess.”
The moment Liene took her first step, the tent entrance opened as if it were a mischievous prank.
Whoosh, flutter!
An uncontrollable amount of light poured into the dark tent. Liene let go of Werose’s hand and frowned. When she blinked her eyelids on her own, a black silhouette slowly took shape in her now-white vision.
...It was big. She could tell it was big just from the silhouette. Black, big, solid... and extremely ferocious.
“It's late.”
A dry, languid voice rang in her ears, like dry grass swaying in the wind.
“Meet the Princess of Nauk.”
The chieftain of Tiwakan arrived just as she was about to flee from his savage proposal.
***
Her eyes were dazzled and watery. Liene forced her eyes wide open and stared at the man approaching her. Just looking at him made her breath catch in her throat. The overwhelming physique gave off a sense of intimidation. Her skin tingled with each step the man took. The man’s hair was a very dark black, and on the contrary, his eyes were a very pale blue like clear water, making him look more like a wild beast than a human.
He had a very intense appearance. Liene had never seen anyone with this kind of appearance before. Even just meeting their eyes gave her goosebumps, but instead, her gaze seemed frozen and she couldn’t take it. Incredibly, the savage who looked more like a beast than a human was beautiful. The harmony of his black hair and his eyes like clear lakes was dazzling.
This is ridiculous... Liene squeezed her eyes shut once and then opened them. Even so, the shock of the man’s beauty did not easily disappear.
Come to your senses. Just because a savage doesn’t look like a savage doesn’t make a difference.
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