Chapter 1
01. A Savage Proposal (1)
The letter crumpled in her fingertips. It was the second letter.
“……”
Princess Liene stared at her white hand, drained of blood and frozen cold. It felt like it wasn't her own. The letter's contents were brief. -Having waited for a fortnight, we await your answer. It was no different from the first letter. -To the Princess of Nauk Castle. The leader of the Tiwakan Mercenary Corps proposes marriage. We await your answer. And the Tiwakan Mercenary Corps, under the pretense of proposing marriage, had been besieging the castle for a fortnight.
“Princess.”
mashilow, a councilor of the Grand Council of nobles, called out to Liene. His expression and voice were full of agitation.
“Surely you're not considering accepting? Those men don't know the first thing about human decency. They're no different from barbarians. To dare propose marriage! Knowing that you already have a fiancé who is more than worthy…! That's proof of their barbarity!”
“If I don't accept, do we have any other choice?”
Liene smoothed out the crumpled letter with her fingertips, trying to keep her voice steady.
“We don't have the strength to drive them away. You know that.”
In this grand hall that was once wealthy and splendid, only Liene, mashilow, and the captain of the royal guard, Weroz, remained. A pitiful number compared to the former glory of the Nauk Kingdom. The steadfast knight, well past forty, opened his mouth heavily.
“We can still fight. I am ready to give my life at any time for you, Princess.”
Liene knew that Weroz was the kind of man who would do that. That was why she thought she should accept this proposal even more. She couldn't let all the knights who thought like Weroz die.
“And we'll all die together.”
“P-Princess…!”
Weroz shook his sweat-soaked, graying head. But he couldn't bring himself to say that it wouldn't happen. It had been a fortnight. In just a fortnight, Nauk Castle had been completely isolated. The supply lines from outside the castle had been cut off long ago. The people were exhausted, and the royal guard had lost their will to fight. It was a battle they couldn't win from the start. The difference in manpower was more than tenfold. On the other hand, the Tiwakan Mercenary Corps, known as the most cruel and barbaric army in the history of the continent, had not suffered any significant damage. It was as if they were just hunting rabbits for fun. They could maintain this standoff for several more months. And the result would be that everyone in Nauk Castle would starve to death alive. Liene took a breath and said.
“I will accept the proposal.”
mashilow and Weroz shouted almost simultaneously.
“No, Princess!”
“Yes, no! You don't know what kind of people the Tiwakan are!”
Unfortunately, she had heard enough rumors. It was said that the one who led the Tiwakan was the son born from the God of War raping a human woman. The God of Death had cursed him, and the God of Earth had eternally rejected his flesh. So he had become a body that could never die on any battlefield.
“They say that they are all people who have turned their backs on God. As proof…”
“They enjoy sleeping with men more than with women.”
Weroz, who had a rigid side, stammered at Liene's blunt statement.
“Y-You already knew. Yes. The Tiwakan Mercenary Corps… p-prefers men…”
On the other hand, the experienced councilor used a more explicit expression. It was to stop Liene from accepting the proposal.
“It is said that women die easily when they sleep with them, Princess.”
At those words, a shadow fell over Liene's eyes as well. It was horrifying just to hear about it. What kind of beasts were they?
“But they won't kill me in one night. If they were going to do that, they wouldn't have proposed marriage in the first place.”
mashilow cried out urgently.
“Please don't, Princess. Have you forgotten where Sir Kleinfelter is and what he is doing right now? He is currently…”
“Yes, he said he would borrow reinforcements from the Sharkan Kingdom and return within ten days.”
It wasn't that Liene had an unnecessarily pessimistic personality. She was just trying not to have too much hope. Because she, Princess Liene of the Arsak Family, the ruler of Nauk Castle, was the one who had to take responsibility for the lives of everyone living here.
“But ten days have already passed. There's no guarantee that he'll return, and no guarantee that he borrowed reinforcements as he promised.”
“Surely you don't distrust Sir Kleinfelter? He values you more than his own life. He will definitely return with reinforcements.”
“If he could have, he would have returned already. Within the promised time.”
Liene repeated the promise of Laffite Kleinfelter, the captain of the royal guard of the Arsak Family and her lover, with an expression as if she were swallowing thorns. When the news that the Tiwakan Mercenary Corps was marching towards Nauk Castle first came, he immediately led the royal guard and left for the Sharkan Kingdom. The largest family in the Sharkan Kingdom was his mother's family. He was the only one who could get reinforcements. Just ten days. He told her to endure for that time. Liene also wanted to believe those words. But in the face of reality, a handful of faith was too weak.
“I can't wait any longer. Above all, even if he brings reinforcements, the Sharkan Kingdom won't send a large enough force to overcome the Tiwakan. What country in the continent would want to wage war with the Tiwakan right now? Even the largest Rukes Kingdom in the continent has signed a peace treaty with the Tiwakan. And it was a very humiliating one.”
The fact that it was already five days past the promised time was proof of that. mashilow and Weroz also knew how much of a blind hope it was to just wait for reinforcements.
“As you both know, whatever the reason, the Tiwakan's proposal is genuine. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been waiting patiently for an answer for a fortnight while only besieging us. Their forces could break down the castle gates and destroy the walls at any time.”
Liene looked at the two people who were responsible for Nauk Castle with her and made a decision.
“As the last of the Arsak Family bloodline, I have a duty to protect Nauk. If my marriage can protect all the lives in this land, then that marriage is worth enduring.”
“Princess…”
Weroz couldn't object any further and closed his eyes. Regret and lamentation wrinkled the eyes of the old knight, replacing the lost glory of the past. But mashilow was persistent.
“Then what about Sir Kleinfelter? The Kleinfelter Family is the most powerful family in Nauk. We can't unilaterally sever our relationship without consulting them.”
mashilow had maintained a close relationship with the Kleinfelter Family for a long time. He was one of those who firmly believed that Laffite Kleinfelter would marry Liene and become the co-ruler of Nauk in the future.
“Nothing will change even if we consult them.”
“Princess. Can you say that in front of the Kleinfelter Family?”
“I would like to ask you. What has that family been doing while the royal guard of Nauk has been bleeding while waiting for him?”
Liene's expression turned cold. Although he was her lover, their relationship had never been genuine. The Kleinfelter Family held considerable wealth and power in this crumbling little kingdom. With that power, they urged Liene to marry as soon as her father died. Until now, Liene had been postponing the formal engagement, trying to avoid the Kleinfelter Family from seizing even the co-rule of Nauk. Her lover might have been sincere in his own way. But his family was too greedy. They might devour this already barren land, leaving only bones behind.
“I will send a reply. …To the leader of the Tiwakan.”
Weroz and mashilow each widened their eyes and distorted their expressions. Liene firmly opened her mouth towards the two people who opposed the barbarian's proposal for completely different reasons.
“I will accept the proposal.”
An hour after the reply was delivered. The place where the proposer and the proposee would meet was decided. Liene got on her horse, escorted by Weroz and the royal guard. Clatter, clatter…. As the sound of hooves increased, Nauk Castle also moved further away.
“……”
Liene turned her head slightly and looked at the castle she had just left. Would she be able to return safely? * * * The agreed-upon location was exactly halfway between Nauk Castle and the Tiwakan's encampment. The Tiwakan side had set up a tent in advance. Liene entered the tent with only Weroz. The pretext was a proposal, but the atmosphere was no different from a battlefield. The forces on both sides faced each other, with the tent in the middle, enveloped in a tense atmosphere.
“……He hasn't arrived yet.”
The tent, which contained only a table and two chairs facing each other, was empty. Weroz glared at the empty chair on the other side, filled with anger.
“To dare to come out like this. They are scoundrels who have never seen courtesy in their lives.”
“Thanks to that, I have time to prepare myself. Let's think of it that way.”
It sounded like a joke, but there was sincerity mixed in. She thought it was rather fortunate. Liene had been worried that she might look scared and trembling as she walked into the tent. She was accepting the proposal because she was being threatened, but she didn't want to look scared.
“……”
Liene bit her lip as she sat in the chair that she thought was hers. Soon, the leader of the Tiwakan, the bastard abandoned by the God of War on earth, would enter. Don't tremble. Liene clenched her fist tightly on her lap. Don't be underestimated. This isn't a proposal, it's a negotiation. Don't give them what they want easily.
“Princess.”
Suddenly, Weroz called out to Liene. His lowered voice was ominous.
“I hear a sound.”
“……Yes?”
“It's definitely the sound of swords.”
“What does that mean?”
“It sounds like a fight has broken out. Is there any reason for those barbarians to fight among themselves… Ah!”
Weroz's face lit up. Weroz, who slapped his knee with his hand, couldn't hide his joy and shouted.
“It must be Kleinfelter! He led the reinforcements and attacked Tiwakan!”
“What?”
Liene abruptly sat up.
“Are you saying that he… No, does that mean I don’t have to accept the proposal?”
“Of course, Princess! If you allow it, I will go and scout outside. No, rather, it would be better to return now. They are caught up in battle and won’t have the mind to hold us accountable for breaking our promise.”
Weroz took the lead and hurried them along.
“Hurry, Princess.”
The moment Liene took a step, the entrance to the tent was lifted, like a cruel joke. Whoosh, flap! An uncontrollable amount of light poured into the dim tent. Liene let go of Weroz's hand and frowned. As she blinked involuntarily, a black silhouette gradually took shape in her whitened vision. …It was large. She could tell it was large just from the silhouette. Black, large, solid… and extremely savage.
“You are late.”
A dry, languid voice echoed in her ears, like dry grass rustling in the wind.
“I greet the Princess of Nauk.”
The leader of Tiwakan had arrived. The very moment she was trying to escape from his barbaric proposal.
* * * Her eyes were so dazzled that they watered. Liene forced her closing eyes open wide and stared at the man approaching her. Just looking at him made it hard to breathe. His overwhelming physique exuded a sense of intimidation. Her skin tingled with every step he took. The man's hair was a very dark black, while his eyes, a very light blue like clear water, seemed closer to a beast than a person. He had a very intense appearance. Liene had never seen anyone with such looks before. Her skin crawled just from making eye contact, yet she couldn't tear her gaze away, as if it were fixed in place. Unbelievably, the barbarian, who seemed more like a beast than a person, was beautiful. The combination of black hair and eyes like a clear lake was dazzling. No way… Liene squeezed her eyes shut once and then opened them. Still, the shock of the man's beauty did not easily disappear. Get a grip. Just because a barbarian doesn't look like a barbarian doesn't change anything.
