Chapter 21 | Requiem (1)

By the time Rienne finished getting ready and went outside, Black already had his horse prepared to leave for the funeral.

[Rienne] Ah.

Seeing him standing there, she paused.

Perhaps it was because he had gotten ready with the intent to accompany her, but he was completely dressed in black. Not only him, but all the Tiwakan soldiers standing behind him as well.

With every piece of his outfit completely black, it was understandable why rumors about him having been abandoned by the God of Death and rejected by the earth spread so easily. (1)

But when Black suddenly turned and made eye contact with her, Rienne unconsciously frowned.

..It was unfair how well such a dark color suited him.

It wasnt appropriate to have thoughts like that right before leaving for a funeral, but she couldnt help it. It was such a prevalent idea in her mind.

He must have been wearing black armor when we first met. I wonder why I never noticed before.

[Black] Youre here.

As Rienne stood perfectly still, he approached her first, his eyes gazing across her neck and shoulders.

[Black] Your clothes are different.

[Rienne] Mrs. Flambard altered my dress for me so it would fit better.

[Black] ..Is that a good thing?

Black muttered under his breath. Though Rienne didnt seem to notice his reaction, he also thought the color looked unfairly good on her.

While the two of them were distracted, one of the mercenaries walked towards them, tugging on the reins of Blacks horse. It was a dark horse and more imposing than Rienne wouldve thought. Just by looking at it, she could tell exactly who it belonged to.

[Black] Get on.

Black reached out his hand to Rienne.

[Rienne] On this horse?

[Black] Youre riding with me.

Rienne subtly shook her head.

[Rienne] Thats alright. I have my own horse.

She wasnt sure if she could stand riding the same horse as him again. Rienne could still clearly remember what happened the last time she did. It was too much for her to handle.

It wouldnt be a good idea to purposefully put herself in a similar position where something like that might happen again. Not right after she told herself she needed to be on her guard around him.

[Rienne] I can ride by myself.

[Black] You cant.

But he responded firmly.

[Black] We dont know if or when well be attacked with another arrow. If were too far apart, I wont be able to react as quickly.

[Rienne] . . .

Though Rienne knew Rafit to be the culprit, the person who shot the arrow still had yet to be officially identified. She knew he would never shoot an arrow at her, but she couldnt say that.

[Rienne] .If you insist.

Eventually, Rienne reluctantly agreed and nodded her head.

[Black] Ill help you up.

Without even waiting for her to reach out her hand, Black pulled Rienne into a hug and lifted her up onto the horse.

His shoulder was still hurt and it wasnt possible for it to have healed already, yet she was completely struck by how he handled her. It was like she weighed nothing to him.

It felt like the more she noticed about this man, the more confused she got.

[Black] Lets go.

Once he made sure Rienne was securely in place, he pulled himself onto the horse with a motion so practiced, he made it look like the easiest thing in the world.

What a strange man, Rienne thought as the sound of horse hooves swept through the air.

In more ways than one, he was a very mysterious person. No matter what he did, Rienne couldnt imagine him ever making a fool of himself. Whether it was riding a horse or just about anything else, he handled it skillfully and effortlessly.

[Rienne] . . .

If she allowed this train of thought to continue, Rienne would eventually remember how skilled his kisses were too, so she quickly crushed the thought before it could ever surface.

I cant forget. I need to be careful around him.

Clip, clop. Clip, clop.

As their horse picked up the pace, the sound of its hooves hitting across the ground grew even louder. All the while, Rienne could feel herself getting dizzyan undeniable feeling of reassurance growing in her chest as she felt this mysterious man grip the reins around her.

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* * *

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The Temple was located at Phillyon Hill, just north of Castle Nauk. Already Rienne could hear the clergy of the Temple ringing the bell, announcing the funeral. It was such a mournful and dreary sound.

[Black] Wait.

Arriving at the steep staircase leading up to the entrance, Black told Rienne to stay put. But before she could ask him why, he dismounted the horse first and extended his arm out to her.

[Black] You can come down now.

Looking at his big hand reaching out towards her, Rienne swallowed nervously.

Why was he being so kind to her?

Acting this way wasnt necessary if he was just here for revenge.

Why are you doing this to me? Why me?

[Rienne] . . .

Without saying her thanks, Rienne finally took his hand.

But it didnt end there.

Pulling on her hand, Black wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest. Helping her down, Riennes feet gingerly touched the ground. With how he was treating her, anyone would think shed entirely forgotten how to ride a horse on her own.

[Black] Do we have to walk up all those stairs?

[Rienne] Yes. Its the Temple, after all.

It was all part of how they worshipped God. Not even the royal family of Nauk was an exception to it.

But the difficult trek up to the Temple was part of the reason why so few people were even able to visit. People who were sick or injured and in need of help couldnt make the journey and never dared to try.

Even as a child, whenever she would visit the Temple, Rienne would always have terrible pains in her legs and would be overtaken by exhaustion from the trip.

[Black] Then lets go.

Rienne started walking first with Black quietly trailing after her, but the silence didnt last. Just as the two of them started their ascent up the steep stairs, shadows made of white suddenly cut into their vision.

They were priests.

Priests insisted on wearing white clothing, which contrasted plainly against the dark black mourning clothes of Riennes party.

[Rienne] What are priests doing out here?

Rienne instinctively frowned. She didnt have a good feeling about this. Going down the stairs was just as much work as it was going up, so the priests stood completely still.

[Priest] Weve come to deliver the words of the High Priest to the daughter of the Arsak family!

Suddenly, Riennes bad feeling became very real. The priests who had rushed out were now shouting at her.

[Priest] In the name of the great God of Nauk and the High Priest, you are forbidden from attending this funeral!

[Rienne] .?

The priest who yelled was rather far away so for a second Rienne thought she mightve misheard him.

[Rienne] What did you just say?

[Priest] So long as she cohorts with those who defy Gods will, we cannot allow the daughter of Arsak to breach the Temple! Such were the words of the High Priest himself!

[Rienne] You mean to say my fianc is one who defies the will of God?

[Priest] Precisely.

[Rienne] . . .

This was no message from the High Priest. This was near identical to the words of Linden Kleinfelder. That man was determined to isolate Rienne from all aspects of Nauk.

Rienne looked upher words firm and resolute.

[Rienne] I cannot accept that. Stand aside.

[Priest] We have the High Priests orders.

[Rienne] I am a member of the reigning royal family of Nauk.

[Priest] Only God may claim reign over the clergy!

[Rienne] How dare you.

Rienne could feel her hands ball up with shock and anger.

This was completely unbelievable. Even if the High Priest was allied with Linden, with his pockets fattening from the friendship, he had no right to so openly ignore the royal family of Nauk.

[Rienne] Call the High Priest. Tell him to say that to my face.

[Priest] Hes currently presiding over the funeral rites.

[Rienne] Thats just an excuse.

[Priest] .But.the High Priest said there is a way to fix all of this.

As soon as Riennes words turned fierce, the priest, hesitant only for a moment, suddenly changed his tune.

[Priest] If you, the daughter of Arsak, cast aside those who have abandoned the will of God, we will forgive all your sins and accept you once more as one of the faithful children.

What they wanted from her was simple. Turn her back on the Tiwakan and quietly obey. Rienne was so angry, she could feel her ears burning up just hearing it.

[Rienne] Was the dissolution of my marriage arrangement truly what he asked for? Thats really what the High Priest wants?

Anyone with half a brain knew something like that wasnt possible.

The Tiwakan Mercenaries surrounded the castle for fifteen days in order to pressure her into accepting the proposal. That alone made it clear this was not an arrangement she could simply dissolve. There was no way Linden Kleinfelder didnt know that.

This was just his way of turning everyone in Nauk against Rienne.

If Rienne was turned away from the Temple and denied access to the funeral, rumors would run amok.

Though God gave her the choice of salvation, the brainwashed Princess fell to the whims of the barbaric monster and abandoned the divine. Theyd feel her unfit for her position. Theyd depose her.

He was trying to pass it all off as Gods will.

[Priest] Thats what the High Priest told me to say.

[Rienne] Then tell him to come out and speak to me! He shouldnt hide in his Temple like a cowardly dog!

The priests widened their eyes in shock as Rienne raised her voice the moment she couldnt keep it in.

[Priest] Bow your head before God, daughter of Arsak! His Holiness will not tolerate such disrespect here!

[Rienne] And who showed disrespect in the first place!

This whole situation was entirely unacceptable, there were no words to aptly describe it. Rienne loosened her fists, instead gripping the fabric of her dress.

[Rienne] Then allow me to meet with him in person. Well see if he speaks the same words you did.

[Black] Wait.

But suddenly, Blacks low voice froze Rienne in place.

[Black] You shouldnt go.

[Rienne] What? Why?

With a keen look in his eyes, Black looked past her at the priests.

[Black] Theyre not stupid.

[Rienne] Ah

Rienne bit her lip.

He wasnt wrong. Even if the High Priest was a fool, he knew better than to show his face like this. The Temple didnt have adequate military power to use against the Tiwakan. If they truly wished to enter, there would be no way to stop them.

And yet, despite all of that, the priests were speaking with such obvious disrespect.

Unless they were stupid or had a death wish, they wouldnt do that.

[Black] I think theyre trying to provoke us.

[Rienne] But why.

[Black] They might want us to storm them.

It was clear they were up to no good.

[Rienne] ButI have to attend the funeral. If I dont, theyll only use it against me.

[Black] Well figure it out one thing at a time. But until were certain whats going on, you shouldnt go.

[Rienne] . . .

Black was right.

Dealing with the political apprehension caused by the Kleinfelders was one thing, but as the leader of an undefeated mercenary company, he had experience dealing with much worse. He would know what the best tactical decision would be.

[Rienne] Very well. It would be wise to follow you, Lord Tiwakan.

Rienne breathed in deeply as she talked. Turning to head back down the stairs, she took a quick look back up the hill. She could already see the priests floundering amongst themselves in embarrassment.

It was undeniable that Linden Kleinfelder had manipulated all of this in order to provoke her. Remembering that made the anger swell up inside of her again. He was openly trying to usurp control over Nauk from her now.

This was no different from a declaration of war.

So what could Rienne do now?

At least back when she was dealing with the Tiwakans siege, she knew who her enemy was. Though it was difficult, her path was clear.

But now she didnt know who she could trust.

[Black] Careful.

The complex, spiraling ideas distracted her from one of the displaced stone steps. As Rienne felt herself stumble, Black quickly embraced her.

[Rienne] Oh my apologiesI was looking down, but I wasnt watching where I was going.

[Black] Thats fine. I was.

[Rienne] . . .

Was this man her enemy or not?

Rienne wished she knew for certain either way.

He didnt want her to fall down and he didnt want her to get hurt, but all that did was confuse Rienne even further.

Is it normal for revenge to feel this kind?

It was funny such a thought even came to her.

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* * *

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[Linden] Dammit!

Leaning over the railing of the balcony overlooking the entrance of the temple, Linden Kleinfelder looked down and twisted his lips in irritation.

[Linden] They didnt take the bait. Clever little snakes.

Taking his uncles side, Rafit Kleinfelder was the next to speak.

[Rafit] .And its a good thing too. If Princess Rienne had died, the Kleinfelders wouldve been the first to face the fury of Nauk.

Rafit, now known as Lopez Kleinfelder, looked down at the entrance with a look of concern on his face.

At the top of the steps to the Temple was what looked to be a catapult with a heavy boulder precariously bound to itsomething that definitely didnt belong there.

[Linden] . . .

Linden looked at his nephew, turning his shoulders towards him.

[Linden] Are you serious? We missed a great opportunity to kill the head of that barbaric tribe in one fell swoop.

Once the Tiwakan took the bait and tried to storm the Temple by force, he was planning on releasing the boulder and rolling it down the steps. Everyone wouldve been crushed to death or they wouldve been forced to jump over the side of the cliff in order to escape it.

Of course the priests and Princess Rienne would perish as well, but Linden hardly cared about that.

[Rafit] You cant deny it. Princess Rienne is beloved by the people of Nauk, so killing her recklessly would be unwise.

[Linden] You fool. Dont tell me you still love her? That dirty wench? (2)

[Rafit] Watch your tongue, uncle.

The man, once the eldest son now with a new name, narrowed his eyes. A flash of blue rage cut through his expression like a blade.

[Rafit] I wont allow anyone to speak that way about Princess Rienne in front of me. Not after what she put herself through to save me.

Only

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T/N: (1) Reference to the rumor that said he was basically immortal because the God of Death rejects him.

(2) The word Linden uses to describe Rienne can mean a lot of things, but generally is a derogatory term meaning an unclean/promiscuous/wily woman.

Shout out to my friend Ghost for helping me edit the next few chapters It was a lot easier thanks to them