The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 5

What I knew about the lord of Lostork, Theodoric de Lostork, was not much.

He had inherited the ancient and noble House of Lostork at a young age, protecting his lands from magical beasts.

He was said to have such a fearsome face that anyone who saw him would faint on the spot.

He was known for his insatiable greed for money.

And he was rumored to be a cold-blooded, emotionless man.
Still, I had always thought that the title of “Barbarian Duke” was just a derogatory nickname. But I never imagined I would meet him in person, looking as wild and untamed as his reputation suggested.

He was tall—tall enough that I had to look up to meet his gaze. I wasn’t particularly short, but he was considerably larger than most men. He had his hood up, so I couldn’t see his face clearly, but it seemed like he was just as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

He casually set the magical beast he had been carrying onto the stone pavement, producing a heavy thud. I couldn’t help but be shocked when I glanced at the beast he had just defeated.

“A Mad Bear…”

Mad Bears were tricky opponents—using earth magic to make the ground muddy and then charging with their horns to deal the final blow. The one before me was covered in mud, which was likely from the bear he had slain, and the blood was probably drained to avoid the smell.

But the way he had defeated it was impressively clean. There were almost no unnecessary wounds on the bear. If this was the Margrave’s doing, it was clear he was highly skilled.

I’d defeated Mad Bears before, but I had never taken one down so cleanly.

As I admired the skill, I suddenly remembered I hadn’t introduced myself!

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts, standing tall with my staff in my left hand, my right fist placed over my chest as I bent my knee in a formal bow.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Margrave of Lostork. I am Rubel de Carbunculus. I have come to marry you.”

In my rush, I ended up giving a military-style salute, but it was fine, right!?

However, the Margrave did not respond at all.

I… I was stuck. I couldn’t find the right moment to break from the formalities. As I glanced up at him, I saw him slowly lower his hood.

I was stunned.

What appeared from under the hood was a young man with black hair—far younger than I had imagined.

I had been told he was in his early twenties, but I’d somehow expected someone much older because of his position.

But what surprised me the most was…

(He’s incredibly handsome… in a menacing way…)

His face was strikingly beautiful in a way that felt almost intimidating. His strong, deep features were sculpted like a masterwork of the finest artist, and his sharp eyebrows were forceful. His violet eyes glinted with an unsettling intensity, almost as if they could pierce through you.

If someone weaker were stared at by those eyes, their heart might just stop.

His thin lips were pressed into a tight line, but if they ever curved into a smile, it would likely make anyone nearby wonder what wicked plot was brewing in his mind.

His black hair, neatly trimmed at the nape, was short, which emphasized his strong, sharp presence even more.

In other words, he was impossibly handsome, but in a way that made him resemble a villain from a fairy tale—the kind of villain who torments the hero to the very end.

(Wait… wasn’t it because of this intimidating, villainous beauty that so many noble ladies, who were potential brides, ended up crying and going home?)

As I mentally accepted this, the Margrave blinked slowly.

“Are you… the ‘Scarlet Saint’?”

“Yes, that’s right. I apologize for the delay. It seems the royal envoy and I missed each other, as I came alone.”

As soon as I apologized, the Margrave opened his mouth wide, looking somewhat surprised.

His response was honest, almost childlike, which made him seem more like his age than the imposing image he had projected.
He glanced at a man standing beside him, Seriu, who nodded deeply.

The Margrave furrowed his brow for a moment before returning his gaze to me.

“Well… I am Theodoric de Lostork. I suppose that makes me your husband.”

There was a slight pause before he finished his sentence, but he did manage to introduce himself properly. I started to think that perhaps he was a bit more reasonable than I had imagined.
Just as I was processing this, Seriu cleared his throat loudly.
“My lord, I must apologize for not being able to properly guide our guest before your return. But I also feel that appearing before her in hunting attire may not be the most appropriate.”

“Ah, right. I see. Have the Mad Bear sent for processing. My apologies, Lady Rubel, for not taking more care in presenting myself to a young lady like you.”

The Margrave gave a quick order to those around him and then turned back to me with an apology.

I wasn’t exactly used to being addressed as “young lady,” but I supposed it was an unexpected compliment.

“Please, do not worry. I am used to it. In fact, I’ve never seen a Mad Bear taken down so cleanly before!”

Hunting magical beasts had been a regular part of my life, so it didn’t particularly surprise me, though I hoped my tone wouldn’t seem too boastful.

But the Margrave and Seriu’s reactions were strangely subdued, almost like they didn’t believe me.

“There’s no need to put on a brave face. We’ve heard from the Crown Prince about your engagement and the management of Carbunculus. However, we had expected you to arrive much later, so the preparations for your welcome are not yet complete. There will be some inconveniences for the time being.”

Wait… the engagement news didn’t come from that idiotic second prince, but from the Crown Prince? That was curious. I had no idea the Crown Prince had been involved in this arrangement.
“What about the fact that I punched the second prince?”

As soon as I asked, a quiet murmur spread through the room.

From the reactions, it seemed they had heard about it.

“The messenger did spread the story throughout the castle.”

From the Margrave’s tone, I could tell he was less than pleased.
That idiot prince, he was quick to spread any gossip, wasn’t he? Trying to make it seem like I was starting from scratch with a negative reputation! When I see him next, I’ll make sure to give him a good punch!

I could already imagine how that foolish prince had likely twisted the facts.

“I heard you suddenly punched and insulted your superior officer, the prince. A woman who would act so recklessly when displeased… A cruel woman, as your name suggests, who should be disciplined harshly.”

“That’s about the gist of it.”

“Oh, he said you were quiet when tasked with monster hunting.”
Wow, that prince really knows how to exaggerate.

As I was mentally fuming at the prince’s words, I noticed that the Margrave didn’t seem entirely convinced by the stories he had heard.

“You don’t seem to believe that story.”

“I believe in honoring those who have earned merit. If you’ve fought fiercely to the point of being drenched in blood, then that is an honor in itself. I don’t think the second prince could have achieved anything even close to that.”

While he didn’t directly say it, his words made it clear that he believed the second prince had claimed credit for my accomplishments.

It seemed the Margrave was well-informed, much more so than I had expected.

As I was starting to process this new information, the Margrave continued, his tone growing more formal.

“We’ll wait until spring for the wedding. I know it’s a short notice, but the king’s orders cannot be delayed. Get everything ready by then. I know this land may not be what you expected, but Lostork welcomes you.”

Welcome, huh? It sounded like a formality, but hearing it made me unexpectedly happy.

“So, you have no objections to this marriage, then?”

“…It is the king’s will. Considering your accomplishments in the recent war, I believe everyone here will support you. We are grateful for your service to the kingdom.”

His words carried weight, and there was a sincerity in his voice. The Margrave, it seemed, was treating me with respect, and not just as a political pawn.

I smiled faintly, realizing I had come to a place where I was genuinely welcomed, despite the coldness I had expected. The idea of settling here didn’t seem as daunting anymore.

“I’m glad to hear that. My lord, I hope you’re not too tired. If you are, perhaps we could head to the temple. I’d like to get the vows done quickly.”

“Go to the temple? For what?”

“We don’t need any elaborate preparations. Let’s just get married quickly. That should be enough for the king.”

I had thought the Margrave would appreciate this idea—after all, the king had already given his approval. A simple ceremony seemed like the best way to go.

But the Margrave stared at me, stunned.

Seriu and the others looked at me as if I had suggested something utterly bizarre.

“Huh? What?”

The Margrave narrowed his eyes, as if trying to understand what I was suggesting.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. The king is satisfied with the fact of our marriage. If we make it simple, we save everyone time and effort.”

I had thought he would appreciate the efficiency, but instead, he seemed confused.

“The ladies are usually excited about wedding dresses and all that.”

“Wedding dresses? Oh, right, for the vow I’ll need a veil!”
Apparently, to avoid being taken by spirits, brides had to wear a veil when making vows to the gods.

I quickly ran to grab a white tablecloth from the waiting room and used it as a makeshift veil. Returning to the Margrave, I placed it on my head.

“There. All set.”

I grinned as I showed him my veil, ready to fulfill the wedding ritual.

But the Margrave and the others were still in shock, unable to hide their disbelief.

“Huh?” I thought. “What’s the matter with them?”