One side of the man's cheek was red. It was because of the blood that had not yet dried.
“I’m late because something urgent came up. Please have a seat.”
The man stretched out his hand and pointed to the spot...
Get a grip. You have to stay calm.
There was a fight, but Tiwakan showed up at the promised location. Whatever happened, it didn’t seem to be a big problem for Tiwakan.
“I am meeting with the head of Tiwakan. I wonder what urgent matter you have to attend to that has made me wait for my suitor.”
Liene clenched her hands together tightly and made a voice that was so calm that even she found it hard to believe.
“There was a surprise attack.”
...As expected. Reinforcements have arrived. Liene bit her lips hard. Otherwise, she felt like she would laugh without realizing it.
“If it’s a surprise attack, Lord Tiwakan might not have the luxury of being here. You can postpone your appointment with Nauk. We’ll reschedule the meeting once you’ve sorted out your affairs.”
If reinforcements had arrived, it would have been different. Now Nauk could fight instead of surrender. Werose’s eyes also brightened with the same thought. The man who had appeared at the place where he was asking for permission to propose with blood on his face absentmindedly wiped his cheek.
"It's okay."
Blood was dripping from the thumb that had rubbed his cheek...
“I am meeting with the head of Tiwakan. I wonder what urgent matter you have to attend to that has made me wait for my suitor.”
Liene clenched her hands together tightly and made a voice that was so calm that even she found it hard to believe.
“There was a surprise attack.”
...As expected. Reinforcements have arrived. Liene bit her lips hard. Otherwise, she felt like she would laugh without realizing it.
“If it’s a surprise attack, Lord Tiwakan might not have the luxury of being here. You can postpone your appointment with Nauk. We’ll reschedule the meeting once you’ve sorted out your affairs.”
If reinforcements had arrived, it would have been different. Now Nauk could fight instead of surrender. Werose’s eyes also brightened with the same thought. The man who had appeared at the place where he was asking for permission to propose with blood on his face absentmindedly wiped his cheek.
"It's okay."
Blood was dripping from the thumb that had rubbed his cheek...
The smell of blood. Liene unconsciously crumpled her eyes and took a half step back. It might have been Nauk’s blood. The man followed Liene’s gaze as she distanced herself.
“Are you going to ask for permission now?”
Liene gritted her teeth to keep herself from shaking.
“That’s not it...”
Even when she looked at it again, it was the eyes of a beast. It was just a stare, but it felt like a slimy tongue was wrapping around her whole body. The man looked at Liene as if he was tying her up tightly, and then spoke outside the tent.
“Bring it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Outside, the mercenaries of Tiwakan were already waiting, and the answer came right away.
“Are you going to ask for permission now?”
Liene gritted her teeth to keep herself from shaking.
“That’s not it...”
Even when she looked at it again, it was the eyes of a beast. It was just a stare, but it felt like a slimy tongue was wrapping around her whole body. The man looked at Liene as if he was tying her up tightly, and then spoke outside the tent.
“Bring it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Outside, the mercenaries of Tiwakan were already waiting, and the answer came right away.
Whoosh!
The tent was pulled open, and the man's subordinate came in. In his hand was a sword. It was a long sword with a pommel and jewel decorations, commonly used by knights from noble families.
“This is...”
Liene's face turned pale as dawn. Werose was the same. This was the sword of the Knight Commander of the Arsak family. It was the very sword that the lover who had told her to wait ten days had worn on his waist on the day he set off...
“This is...”
Liene's face turned pale as dawn. Werose was the same. This was the sword of the Knight Commander of the Arsak family. It was the very sword that the lover who had told her to wait ten days had worn on his waist on the day he set off...
Dead... Could it be?
There was blood on the sword. The same color of blood on the man's cheek.
“There was a surprise attack, but it wasn’t a big deal, so everything was sorted out.”
A dry, soft voice that seemed to convey no emotion flowed slowly through the tent.
“So, what’s your answer to the proposal?”
“There was a surprise attack, but it wasn’t a big deal, so everything was sorted out.”
A dry, soft voice that seemed to convey no emotion flowed slowly through the tent.
“So, what’s your answer to the proposal?”
***
This situation meant only one thing. There was no choice. There would be no reinforcements anymore. The lover who had been bringing reinforcements was dead. By the savage before her eyes.
"...First."
Liene, who faced the leader of Tiwakan across a table, opened her lips. At that point, she had covered up her thoughts about her lover. There was no time to mourn him. Right now, the priority was to get out of here safely.
"...First."
Liene, who faced the leader of Tiwakan across a table, opened her lips. At that point, she had covered up her thoughts about her lover. There was no time to mourn him. Right now, the priority was to get out of here safely.
The situation changed in an instant. Her current situation was not simply whether to accept the proposal or not. At the very moment, she said she would accept the proposal, reinforcements arrived as if they had planned it in advance. The Tiwakan side could have seen this as a trap. The savages who were in the middle of it might have tried to appease their betrayal by cutting off her throat here.
“Please...be courteous. Lord Tiwakan.”
His voice was uneven. After barely getting out a single sentence, his throat felt like it was going to burst. The man's pupils moved slowly.
"Manners?"
“In Nauk, it is not polite to bring a knife to a marriage proposal discussion.”
“...”
The pupil, which had stopped moving loosely, scanned Liene's cheek. Just sitting still and moving his gaze made her feel both insulted and terrified. It must be because of the beast-like eyes. An overwhelmingly strong being looked at as weak and vulnerable prey that was completely useless.
"Then."
Thud!
“Please...be courteous. Lord Tiwakan.”
His voice was uneven. After barely getting out a single sentence, his throat felt like it was going to burst. The man's pupils moved slowly.
"Manners?"
“In Nauk, it is not polite to bring a knife to a marriage proposal discussion.”
“...”
The pupil, which had stopped moving loosely, scanned Liene's cheek. Just sitting still and moving his gaze made her feel both insulted and terrified. It must be because of the beast-like eyes. An overwhelmingly strong being looked at as weak and vulnerable prey that was completely useless.
"Then."
Thud!
The leader of Tiwakan lightly pushed the sword he had placed on the table and let it fall to the floor. With that, she had an excuse to cut off his head at any time, but he acted as if it was nothing.
“I didn’t mean to be rude. It wasn’t my sword, so I didn’t intend to swing it. This was just in case.”
Liene gripped the hand under the table tighter, her fingernails digging into her palm.
“What does 'just in case' mean?"
“Because the Princess might change her mind and reject the proposal.”
“...”
How much did he know? Strangely, those clear eyes revealed nothing inside. She couldn't read them.
“The one who had that sword would have been the reason the Princess could refuse the proposal.”
"That...."
Her breath caught for a moment. Of course, she knew. The one who had carried out the surprise attack was the Knight Commander of the Arsak family, and that meant that Liene was struggling to reject this proposal at all costs.
“He’s not coming back.”
The Tiwakan chief spoke in a nonchalant voice, almost like a declaration of war. There was no way to escape any longer. So, she had to answer.
“So, what about the proposal?”
“...”
The nail that had been stabbing her palm finally tore through her skin. The stinging sensation helped Liene come to her senses.
“I didn’t mean to be rude. It wasn’t my sword, so I didn’t intend to swing it. This was just in case.”
Liene gripped the hand under the table tighter, her fingernails digging into her palm.
“What does 'just in case' mean?"
“Because the Princess might change her mind and reject the proposal.”
“...”
How much did he know? Strangely, those clear eyes revealed nothing inside. She couldn't read them.
“The one who had that sword would have been the reason the Princess could refuse the proposal.”
"That...."
Her breath caught for a moment. Of course, she knew. The one who had carried out the surprise attack was the Knight Commander of the Arsak family, and that meant that Liene was struggling to reject this proposal at all costs.
“He’s not coming back.”
The Tiwakan chief spoke in a nonchalant voice, almost like a declaration of war. There was no way to escape any longer. So, she had to answer.
“So, what about the proposal?”
“...”
The nail that had been stabbing her palm finally tore through her skin. The stinging sensation helped Liene come to her senses.
I can’t have this kind of marriage. This man doesn’t want to marry me...
He wants to devour everything. The leader of Tiwakan had already devoured his lover. He would devour Nauk as well. She has to run. Now Liene had only one card left to play. It was called Lie.
“Before that, there is something Lord Tiwakan must know.”
“What is it?”
Liene chewed her tongue prayerfully. Please, let him fall for this lie.
“The owner of that sword was the Knight Commander of the Arsak family and was also my lover. You must have known that since you proposed to me.”
“I know.”
“I have already given my lover permission to sleep with me.”
“...”
The eyes, which looked more like those of a beast than a human, gleamed in the light.
“And now I have a child.”
She took out her last card and showed it to him. She had no doubt that it was a card that would force her opponent to fold.
“Would you still propose?”
“Before that, there is something Lord Tiwakan must know.”
“What is it?”
Liene chewed her tongue prayerfully. Please, let him fall for this lie.
“The owner of that sword was the Knight Commander of the Arsak family and was also my lover. You must have known that since you proposed to me.”
“I know.”
“I have already given my lover permission to sleep with me.”
“...”
The eyes, which looked more like those of a beast than a human, gleamed in the light.
“And now I have a child.”
She took out her last card and showed it to him. She had no doubt that it was a card that would force her opponent to fold.
“Would you still propose?”
***
"Princess..."
Werose, standing behind Liene, pursed his lips with a pale face. Tension stabbed his entire body like an awl. There was no rejection more obvious than having another man’s child. A proper man would reject the proposal and leave. But the other person was a savage. Werose thought that the savage might go crazy from the insult right now. If that happened, he had to protect Liene from the savage with his bare body. But the savage didn’t overturn the table or go wild with a sword.
"...My Lord.”
He just tilted his head once as if it was unexpected and pursed his lips in a lecherous way.
“What Lord Tiwakan seeks through this proposal is joint rule over Nauk. So you must understand. The rule over Nauk is connected to the bloodline of Arsak. Even if you marry me, the next King will be my child. A child who does not have Tiwakan’s blood mixed in.”
Liene added without a break. That was all she could guess about Tiwakan. The reason why the mercenary band that had been sweeping the battlefield suddenly came down to a small southern castle with nothing to gain and demanded marriage. It could be that they wanted to settle down as Kings. There weren’t many ways for the mercenary band to go after the war. They could either take their spoils and return home, or continue to wander as a plundering job. Or they could take over a small kingdom. They could become the new King themselves as conquerors, or they could marry into the existing royal family and share the ruling power.
Werose, standing behind Liene, pursed his lips with a pale face. Tension stabbed his entire body like an awl. There was no rejection more obvious than having another man’s child. A proper man would reject the proposal and leave. But the other person was a savage. Werose thought that the savage might go crazy from the insult right now. If that happened, he had to protect Liene from the savage with his bare body. But the savage didn’t overturn the table or go wild with a sword.
"...My Lord.”
He just tilted his head once as if it was unexpected and pursed his lips in a lecherous way.
“What Lord Tiwakan seeks through this proposal is joint rule over Nauk. So you must understand. The rule over Nauk is connected to the bloodline of Arsak. Even if you marry me, the next King will be my child. A child who does not have Tiwakan’s blood mixed in.”
Liene added without a break. That was all she could guess about Tiwakan. The reason why the mercenary band that had been sweeping the battlefield suddenly came down to a small southern castle with nothing to gain and demanded marriage. It could be that they wanted to settle down as Kings. There weren’t many ways for the mercenary band to go after the war. They could either take their spoils and return home, or continue to wander as a plundering job. Or they could take over a small kingdom. They could become the new King themselves as conquerors, or they could marry into the existing royal family and share the ruling power.
But there was a problem. To be fully incorporated into the royal family, they had to be related by blood. As Liene said, if a child who wasn’t of their blood became the next King, it would be meaningless. They would just live as the Princess’s husband and die.
The leader of Tawakan frowned. That small wrinkle was the only expression of displeasure that he had ever expressed, despite having no expression at all.
“...The price is higher than I thought.”
The monologue flowed slowly. Liene held her breath until he finished his monologue. His eyes, which had become fierce like those of a dissatisfied beast, were directed at Liene.
“If I acknowledge the child’s right to rule, will you marry me?”
"...Yes?"
Liene, who had thought that he would naturally refuse, blinked in bewilderment. It was the same for Werose. Werose, who had been tense to the point of bursting with tension just a moment ago, wondering how he should deal with the leader of Tiwakan, the son of the god of war, opened his mouth stupidly.
“Then give birth.”
“...”
“Instead, I will have the Princess.”
“...The price is higher than I thought.”
The monologue flowed slowly. Liene held her breath until he finished his monologue. His eyes, which had become fierce like those of a dissatisfied beast, were directed at Liene.
“If I acknowledge the child’s right to rule, will you marry me?”
"...Yes?"
Liene, who had thought that he would naturally refuse, blinked in bewilderment. It was the same for Werose. Werose, who had been tense to the point of bursting with tension just a moment ago, wondering how he should deal with the leader of Tiwakan, the son of the god of war, opened his mouth stupidly.
“Then give birth.”
“...”
“Instead, I will have the Princess.”
The proposal was accepted. Under completely incomprehensible circumstances.
***
“I will see you off.”
The chieftain of Tiwakan had gone from being a suitor to a fiancé. Therefore, Werose could not tell him to step aside immediately, or even dare to lay a finger on the Princess of Nauk. He simply gritted his teeth and took a step back.
“I’m still not used to the touch. I’ll decline this time.”
Liene followed Werose back. The sound of the man's footsteps following her to where the horse was parked gave her goosebumps.
“You’ll get used to it. You’ll have to.”
"I am..."
“Catch it.”
The chieftain of Tiwakan held out his hand. The man's hand, which was difficult to refuse, was contradictory. The hand that killed people as if it were food, the human hand that even now had blood on one cheek, was straight as if it were a lie. There were calluses on the part where he held the sword, but the long fingers were straight as if he were a nobleman. If there were even traces of blood between his fingernails, he could have made excuses and refused. However, the neatly trimmed fingernails were spotless and clean.
"...Then."
Liene barely managed to place her fingertips on the man’s palm. The Tiwakan leader did not take the hand and grab it, but instead left it there and wrapped his other hand around Liene’s waist.
“...Sigh.”
While she was inhaling without realizing it, he lifted Liene lightly with one arm and placed her on the saddle. It happened so suddenly that she felt like part of her mind had disappeared. Before she could even think about grabbing the reins, the man tapped Liene’s palm with his fingertips.
"Ah."
“You have a wound.”
A sharp pain brought Liene back to her senses. It was the part where the nail had dug into the skin and torn it. It was so obvious what kind of wound it was. Liene tried to hide her hand without realizing it. Before she could, the man grabbed Liene’s fingertips and stopped her.
“You held on well.”
"Yes...?"
“You will continue to endure like that. You will get used to it someday.”
The man finished speaking slowly, lowered his head, and placed his lips on his torn palm.
“...”
Liene stared at the man with her mouth open as if she had never expected it. The late afternoon sun was shining down on the man. The pale eyes, completely exposed to the sunlight, sparkled in this direction.
“Go.”
The man let go of Liene’s hand and instead gave her the reins.
Crackle crackle...
The horse walked towards Nauk Castle. Liene clenched her teeth, feeling that the man was standing there, looking at her.
***
“What on earth are you thinking?”
As soon as the Princess of Nauk disappeared, his aide spoke as if he had been separated from him for a long time.
“My lord... No, I mean, my lord! Didn’t you intend to have Nauk? Since you were going to have her, it would be a hassle and pointless thing to shed too much blood, so you chose the method of proposing. Am I mistaken?”
The staff member named Fermos was a clever man. The funny thing with the round glass bead in the metal frame was not just a decoration on his nose. He read a lot of books and possessed a lot of knowledge. And he thought things that other people wouldn’t dare think of. Even he thought that when their leader suddenly came down to the south and proposed to the Princess of a kingdom that was going to collapse, he naturally wanted to rule.
He thought that after all that time on the battlefield, he wanted to rest. So he followed him without saying a word. Besieging a castle with only a few troops was like resting for them. The enemy was going to surrender anyway, and they were just practicing their trivial table manners, wondering if they would become nobles if their lord became King.
But an illegitimate child? To accept someone else’s child who was not related by blood and would surely cause trouble in the future. What kind of strange thing was that?
“You’re not wrong. I want Nauk.”
“Then it is not too late even now. Do not yield the right to rule. No matter what my lord demands, there is no way for them to refuse. If they do, the consequences are obvious.”
Black turned his eyes to where Liene’s back had disappeared. Fermos felt that his eyes looked a little different than usual. The answer flowed slowly like the drying up river of Nauk’s Evet.
“What I want includes that woman.”
“You’re not wrong. I want Nauk.”
“Then it is not too late even now. Do not yield the right to rule. No matter what my lord demands, there is no way for them to refuse. If they do, the consequences are obvious.”
Black turned his eyes to where Liene’s back had disappeared. Fermos felt that his eyes looked a little different than usual. The answer flowed slowly like the drying up river of Nauk’s Evet.
“What I want includes that woman.”
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