Chapter 41 | The Treaty of Six Families

translator/editor: astralmech | editor: ghost

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[Phermos] Thanks to the Princess, I think things will go much easier. When I thought about having to watch the priests disrobe.Ugh, I think Im going to lose my appetite.

Now that they had a clue, they needed to move quickly.

Rienne had already started making the necessary preparations to convene the representatives, and Black was supposed to go to the Temple with Phermos.

Without wasting a single moment, their party prepared to head for the Temple.

[Phermos] Ah, here come the horses.

Up came a few mercenaries, leading Phermos horse to the yard.

[Phermos] Hm? You only brought one?

But they didnt bring Blacks horse along with them. For a moment, Phermos thought the underlings had lost their hearing but apparently that wasnt the case.

[Black] Youre going alone. I have something I need to take care of.

[Phermos] Oh, youre not going back to the Princess to finish what you startedare you?

Phermos tone expressed his blatant appall, but the second he noticed Blacks face, he pulled his composure back together.

[Phermos] I spoke out of turn, my Lord.

Changing the subject quickly, Phermos averted his eyes away.

[Phermos] Though that reminds me, is the Princess alright? After what happened this morning, she mustve been very shocked.

[Black] She says shes fine, but Im keeping an eye on her.

[Phermos] That would be for the best. Anything could pose a threat in the early stages, even if she looks well on the outsideAh, by the way (1)

As if remembering what happened before, Phermos gave a joking smile.

[Phermos] Doesnt the Princess seem a little..how do I put thisnave? Sometimes she reminds me more of an eighteen year old than a twenty-five year old..Are you alright, my Lord?

[Black] .Pick somewhere.

[Phermos] Im sorry?

[Black] Where do you want to be hit this time?

[Phermos] .Ah! Ive slipped up again, my Lord.

And just like that, the smile was wiped from his face, gone without a trace. Based on this interaction, it would appear as though Black was unwilling to tolerate anyone speaking about the Princess.

[Phermos] I will think twice in the future before I ever allow the Princess name to leave my.mouth!

Feeling intimidated by the glare of his lord, Phermos lowered his head and shoulders, muttering to himself before suddenly shouting as Black grabbed him by the collar.

[Black] Keep quiet.

Black lowered his voice as he spoke right into Phermos ear.

[Black] Theres a sick old man near the Temple. Find him first. Dont let anyone know.

[Phermos] Anyone..?

[Black] The Princess sent her nanny.

[Phermos] And you want me to find him before she does. I understand.

Accepting the order with a nod, Phermos asked a question.

[Phermos] May I know why?

[Black] I think he recognized me.

[Phermos] Recognized you, my Lord? Then.

As always, Phermos clever mind moved quickly. From a single word, he was able to infer a lot of information.

Those who knew of Blacks shrouded past still remained.

Princess Rienne mustve sent one of her people knowing such a person existed, and now, before that person was found, Black wanted to get them out of the way.

That meant that Black did not wish for Princess Rienne to know about his past.

[Phermos] What do you wish for me to do? Shall I silence him?

[Black] ..Not yet. Just hide him for now.

[Phermos] Very well.

Black released Phermos. Phermos just nodded, rubbing his aching neck.

[Phermos] I will return soon, my Lord.

Without even responding, Black turned around and left, disappearing into the distance. Left behind, Phermos muttered to himself with a sullen look on his face.

[Phermos] Was his lordships personality always this sour.?

In any case, he needed to be more careful with his words in the future.

After that, Phermos left for the Temple alongside five mercenaries.

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Step. Step.

Underground, the echoing sound of footsteps carried a different kind of atmosphere. The moisture that gathered on the stone floor clung to the soles of ones feet, making for a more somber and dreary sound.

[Mercenary] Huh, youre here!

All the guards posted in the dungeons were members of the Tiwakan mercenaries. It was a gradual process, but those of Nauks castle guard were being relieved of their original positions and replaced.

No doubt the absence of the former captain, Weroz made the shift significantly easier.

The mercenary who first noticed Blacks visit to the underground dungeon quickly straightened out his posture.

[Mercenary] I didnt get a message saying you would be coming today. Did you come for the interrogation?

[Black] Quiet.

Apparently, Black didnt want to make his presence known. The mercenary sensed this, immediately lowering his voice.

[Mercenary] Did you want me to lead you to the guy that was brought in today?

Black nodded without saying anything back.

[Mercenary] This way, sir.

Looking at the state of the dungeon, all the members of the Tiwakan could easily agree that it was worth its salt.

Though there werent many people imprisoned currently, it was still a big facility a large-scale prison made to accommodate several layers of security measures. Such an intense dungeon definitely proved the power the royal family once had.

[Mercenary] The structure of the dungeon has been designed so that you cant escape from it easily, but Sir Phermos told us not to take any chances, so I tied them up. (2)

[Black] Good work.

[Mercenary] Thank you, sir.

At the unexpected praise, the mercenary gave a goofy grin.

Eventually, they reached a set of double doors, locked from the outside where the prisoners were waiting.

[Mercenary] Ive been keeping them in this room. Ive also been monitoring what they talk about.

[Black] Have they said anything more?

[Mercenary] Not after Sir Phermos left. Ah, here.

Clink.

The mercenary opened the door and Black entered the room.

There were the two Kleinfelders, sitting in wooden chairs and tightly bound by ropes. Hearing someone enter, the two of them raised their heads.

[Black] Go. And shut the door.

The mercenary left, quietly closing the door behind him.

Now that room was a place where no one could interfere with Black. When he was there, one could could consider the rest of the Tiwakan guard entirely unnecessary, and none would dare interrupt him.

Seeing Blacks blue eyes, Linden Kleinfelder glared up at him.

[Linden] What are you going to do to me?

[Black] Well.

Though Blacks tone was slow and languid, it intimidated his enemies all the same. Right now was no different.

[Linden] You cant hurt me. Nauk would never allow it. The day I die is the day..

[Black] So noisy.

Thwack!

Black kicked out the leg of the chair Linden was sitting in with a loud crashing noise.

Boom!

[Linden] Ugh!

Linden fell to the floor, his arrogant face struggling and sniveling as Black looked down on him.

[Black] What do you know?

[Linden] WhaWhat are you.t.talking about..!?

Black kicked towards Linden, using his foot to turn his body onto his stomach. Once his bound hands were within view, he stepped right on his wrists.

[Linden] ARGH!

It was a rather violent scream. With how much pressure was being put on it, his wrist mustve surely snapped under the weight.

[Black] Quiet.

Then he moved his foot from crushing his wrist to the back of his head. As Lindens face smashed against the stone floor, he let out a terrified screammuffled by the ground beneath him.

[Rafit] What the hell are you doing!? Stop!

Though he was once sitting still, Rafit began struggling in his chair, shouting out.

[Black] Dont move.

But instead of discouraging Rafit, Black ignored him, putting more pressure on the back of Lindens head.

[Black] There are two people here with working mouths.

[Rafit] . . .

Rafit turned pale and stopped moving.

As if he knew he would, Black turned his attention back to Linden, lifting his foot only a little.

[Black] Ill ask again. What does Princess Rienne not know?

[Linden] You..obviously.must..

[Black] Why do I want Nauk?

[Linden] You, its obvious.you..Ugh!

[Black] Think about what I said and try again. It wouldnt be difficult for me to break your neck in an instant.

[Linden] Gah.!

Linden took a haggard deep breath. His head was spinning, trying to figure out if Blacks threats were sincere, or if he was simply trying to intimidate him.

But then he remembered how he mentioned there were two people with working mouths. That meant even if Linden got his neck broken, that wouldnt matter because someone else could just as easily speak.

[Linden] .Agh.That girl knows.gh..nothing.

So Linden tried proving there was nothing to gain from killing him, though all that did was reveal that he did indeed know something.

That was what Black wanted.

[Black] Then say it.

[Linden] Th.that..

Only now realizing his mistake, Linden rolled his eyes.

But it was too late to take anything back.

[Black] Its possible to break someones neck in way that allows them to still talk.

[Linden] Rienne is blind.

And the moment he accepted his situation, Linden muttered.

[Black] Keep going.

[Linden] She has no idea how her father became king in the first place. How the Treaty of Risebury came to a conclusion.

[Black] And?

[Linden] It was the Kleinfelders who gave the Arsak family the chance to become royalty! It would be ridiculous to ignore the blessingAugh!

As Black again put pressure on the back of Lindens head, his mouth was forced shut.

[Black] A blessing.

Blacks lips twisted into a sarcastic smirk.

[Black] And yet, the Princess life could never be considered perfect.

[Linden] She was born as the eldest daughter of an insignificant family! Without us, she wouldve been sold off to someone, but instead shes being called a princess! If thats not perfect then what is.Ugh!

As if was just waiting for his chance, Black kicked him in the back of the head.

[Black] You should fix your way of speaking. Show some respect for your sovereign.

[Linden] .At.at any costyoull definitely take.

With an uncontrollable anger surging through him, a chill ran through Lindens body.

[Black] At any cost? Is that what the Princess doesnt know?

[Linden] ..It is.

[Black] Youre lying to me.

Black tapped the back of Lindens head mockingly with his foot.

[Black] Thats not a good enough reason for me to take the Princess head. Why would I do that just to get Nauk?

[Linden] . . .

[Black] Answer me.

And the next words to escape Linden were a series of curses.

[Linden] Goddammit! You should know the answer to that! Why would you ask me when youre the one doing this!?

[Black] I just proposed but youre the one saying theres another reason for it.

[Linden] What.what a joke..! Just proposed!? Not even a dog would be foolish enough to believe that! You must be doing this because youre after something else!

[Black] So what is it Im after?

[Linden] Nauk.

[Black] Whats in Nauk?

[Linden] Its a fine enough place. Where else could a barbarian like you be treated like royalty after rolling around in a battlefield!?

Though it was just for a moment, Black didnt miss the violent shaking of Lindens eyes.

[Black] If I killed the Princess, thats not how things would go.

[Linden] Y, youll get married, then gain control of the nation.

[Black] I was told that the sovereignty of Nauk belongs to the Arsak family. If I killed the Princess, the throne would fall to the next person of Arsak blood and thats not me. Dont act like you didnt know that.

[Linden] A barbarian like you would never honor the rules of the royal family. Youll just do whatever you please.

[Black] So youll keep trying to hide the truth?

[Linden] . . .

Linden just swallowed hard without answering.

It was clear to Black that a more cruel and complex form of torture would be necessary to get him to open his mouth. Kicking his pride around wouldnt be enough.

[Black] Fine then.

Then Black pulled his foot away.

[Black] I found out what I needed to know. Thatll be it for today.

[Linden] ..?

Linden looked confused and perplexed when Black suddenly turned to leave.

[Black] Ah.

Then he stopped for a moment.

[Black] I did it on the left.

His words were so quiet, he might as well have been talking to himself, but Linden could clearly understand him.

[Linden] Whats on the left?

Black turned and leaned over, untying the rope that bound Lindens hands together.

But there was no one who would interpret this as a kindness on his part, especially not Linden, whod already had his left wrist broken by him.

[Linden] What the hell is wrong with you!? Get your hands off me.ARGH!

And just like that, Black took Lindens right wrist and snapped it.

It was the same place where Linden had injured Riennes wrist so terribly, hed left a hand print behind.

[Linden] Ah, augh! Agh!

And as Linden writhed on the floor, pride tossed aside from the pain in his wrist, screaming out in agony, Black gave him a simple warning.

[Black] Know this. The only cause the Tiwakan will have to fight for in the future is for Princess Rienne.

[Linden] Ridiculous..Dont make me laugh!

Through tears and a runny nose, Linden screamed out.

[Linden] The Princess is pregnant with another mans child, no less! Youre doing all of this for a woman like that!? Who the hell would believe that!?

Blacks eyes moved over to Rafit, whose mouth was clenched shut.

[Black] Thats really none of your concern.

[Rafit] ..!

[Black] The child is mine. If I hear you say anything else, youll prove your tongues troublesome, so Ill rip them both out.

They couldnt say anything back.

Boom!

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Leaving behind an ominous warning, Black closed the door and left the dungeon.

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T/N: (1) The early stages of pregnancy

(2) The mercenary technically calls Phermos a word meaning aide or right hand (or anything to that effect), but the sentence sounded awkward in English, so we replaced it with his name.