Incompatible Interspecies Wives

222 – Escape (4)

Some more days had passed.

Baran also got up early in the morning and looked around the village.

He was doing his best to fill the void left by Berg.

It still didn’t feel real.

Getting used to losing someone precious in an instant was not easy.

The emptiness was immense when one felt the absence of someone who obviously should be there.

Baran, without realizing it, had been depending on Berg as well.

So, probably, that’s why it was harder for him now.

“…sigh.”

Baran let out a sigh.

Baran was expecting many guests today as well.

The situation was such that even the royal Draygo family had heard news of this place and embarked on a journey to visit.

It was the first time Adam and Berg had met the king without any expectations.

Even for Baran, it felt like a kind of pressure.

It would have been even more difficult without Gael.

Gael had exerted his strength to protect his loved ones, just as Berg had requested.

The wounds on his body had now stabilized, and he was carrying even more responsibilities than before.

The two of them looked down at the deserted streets of Stockpin that had not yet woken up.

Gael spoke first.

“…Baran, Lady Liker left her room yesterday.”

“…”

Baran, feeling a sense of relief in that change, inquired.

“…Is that so?”

Gael nodded.

“Yes. And… she said she wants to talk to you.”

“To me?”

In truth, Baran still didn’t have the courage to face Cien, Nell, or Arwyn.

He had a sense of guilt because he couldn’t protect Berg.

If they started blaming themselves and breaking down in front of him, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Of course, they weren’t like that.

“For now, it’s too early. We can visit her later.”

“…Alright.”

Baran had no idea what Cien’s message might be.

He simply felt a faint tension and looked down at the street again.

*Squeak… Squeak…*

At that moment, carriages appeared at the entrance to the village.

“…?”

And it wasn’t just one. Several carriages began to enter the village one after another.

“Have guests already arrived?”

Baran asked Gael, who simply shook her head with a puzzled expression.

“There are no family crests… it doesn’t seem like that. It might be supplies.”

The two of them began walking toward the carriages without exchanging a word.

And as they closed the distance, the true identity of the carriages became apparent.

They were carriages with Flint, Berg’s friend, perched on the top.

Flint, who had taken the lead on horseback, spoke.

“I brought supplies for my departed friend.”

Baran sighed deeply and responded, “There was no need for this.”

“I wanted to.”

Baran nodded, saying, “Thank you.”

Flint scratched his head casually.

“It’s not like there was no hidden agenda. Since a lot of people gather here, I was ordered to sell some goods from the top. The four carriages at the back are gifts from me, and the front three are items I brought to sell.”

Although Flint mentioned selling goods, even if he only brought what he already had, his sincerity overflowed.

In the end, those who survived were the ones who survived.

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With such sincerity shown, Baran had no reluctance even if he were to sell goods.

“I understand.”

Flint gestured to his soldiers and led the gift carriage away.

Soon after, Flint nodded to them in greeting and passed by.

The long line of carriages passed by Baran and Gael.

And then, an unusual energy began to fill the air around them.

It felt as if time, which had come to a standstill, was starting to flow again.

The time of mourning had come to an end, as if urging them to return to normalcy.

Baran licked his lips.

Perhaps the moment to move forward had come, and he might not have realized it.

…

…

…

Knock, knock.

Baran set aside time to meet with Cien.

After constantly pondering over when would be the appropriate time, I made up my mind to find her during lunchtime, accompanied by a meal that was reminiscent of death.

Since she probably wasn’t having a meal anyway, I wanted to take care of that for her.

If Si-en considered herself pregnant, she had to put in even more effort for her physical well-being.

“Please come in.”

“…”

But once again, Si-en responded to Baran with a determined voice, contrary to his expectations.

Since the funeral, Baran had been feeling perplexed by Si-en, Ner, and Arwin’s seemingly fine attitude.

She may have been confined to her room, but her condition seemed to be very sound.

-Baran sighed.

With the meal in hand, Baran entered the office.

Whether it was to seek Berg’s warmth or not, Si-en continued to be holed up here.

“….Huh?”

However, he was shocked by what he witnessed inside.

Si-en was handling numerous documents all by herself.

She looked perfectly fine.

She couldn’t even take her eyes off the documents.

When Si-en belatedly raised her head and saw the meal that Baran brought, she smiled brighty.

“…I already had a meal.”

“…”

Baran felt relieved that Si-en had taken care of her own body, but also felt confused.

He awkwardly looked at the food and placed it beside her.

“…I’m glad.”

With that, he approached Si-en.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Yes, that’s right. I wanted to talk to you. It’s not a long story. It’s a small request.”

Baran quickly regained his composure and prepared to accept Si-en’s request.

“Please tell me.”

Si-en said with the same smile.

“…If I disappear, please let Baran rule this land.”

But at Si-en’s following words, Baran’s body stiffened.

It seemed as if Cien was already considering the possibility of her disappearance.

Suddenly, the unshakeable confidence in Cien’s words began to appear differently.

It was a statement that sounded like a suicide warning.

“You’re being too negative!”

“Please calm down, Balan.”

Cien spoke to Balan, who almost raised his voice in that moment.

Then, as if reading his mind, she continued.

“… It’s not a suicide warning.”

“…”

“It’s just that my body isn’t always in perfect health, right? That’s why I’m bringing this up.”

“…”

“I’ll have to give birth someday, and I don’t know what will happen to me then. Don’t worry, I’m not foolish enough to leave my child and turn my back on the world.”

Balan closed his mouth at Cien’s continuous excuse.

Meanwhile, Cien went on.

“Berger would have said the same thing. Right now, I am the actual administrator of this territory because I was Berger’s wife… But the more suitable leader would have been Balan.”

“…”

“Balan and I both want to protect Berger’s precious people, don’t we?”

“Ha.”

Balan unknowingly let out a sigh.

It was a sigh that came out naturally, even though he knew it was disrespectful.

“… You should be healthy. Berger would have wanted that too.”

“I will be healthy. As I said, I’m just saying this in case something happens.”

At Cien’s firm statement, Balan finally replied.

“I can help you. But nothing more than that-“

“-No. Promise me for sure.”

This time, Cien interrupted Balan’s words again and asked.

“If I disappear… please protect this territory, Balan. Berger trusted you the most.”

“…”

“I’ve already said the same thing to Gail.”

It wasn’t that Balan didn’t want to fulfill Cien’s request.

Rather, from Baran’s perspective, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With Berg having solved all the problems and left, all that remained was to reap the fruits of his labor.

Thanks to Berg’s contribution, the territory was in a prosperous situation with support from various families, and they gained the momentum to move forward, having learned the proper farming techniques.

To rule over such a rich land… not only for himself but also for his descendants, a path to survival was opened.

However, naturally, Baran thought that the fruit was not his share, but Berg’s.

If Berg couldn’t take it, then even his descendants had to take everything he had cultivated.

But in such a situation, Sien was willing to hand over everything.

He didn’t know what to do.

Baran looked up at Sien.

“…”

And then, belatedly, he realized.

Sien was conveying these words to him with a very determined expression on her face.

She looked at Baran with a refreshed expression.

“…Baran, promise me.”

Sien asked for the last time.

In this situation, there was nothing else Baran could say.

He let go of all his previous hesitation.

He looked straight at her so she could be reassured.

And finally, with a firm expression, he nodded his head in reply.

“I promise.”

****

As soon as Baran turned his body to leave, Sien finished all her preparations.

Sien quickly began to change into the clothes she had prepared under her desk.

Worn-out, plain, and simple clothes.

She took off and threw away the expensive clothes she used to wear.

And then she climbed out of the window of the room and entered the woods behind the house.

The moment she received Baran’s promise, there was no need to wait any longer in this place.

She knew all too well that her means of escape had arrived in the early morning.

She had heard that Berg had decided to enlist the help of his friend Flint.

She planned to secretly hide in his carriage, as Flint had been included in the upper level.

There was no need to worry about being seen or putting strain on the body during the journey.

It was Flint who could secretly take Vereck to his desired destination.

Cien had been growing increasingly weary of not being able to see Vereck over the past few days.

Especially since he had returned from the brink of death, she longed to see him even more.

She still wanted to see him healthy and well.

So, as soon as her final preparations were completed, she didn’t hesitate.

She didn’t pack any luggage.

Nothing was necessary.

Everything else was unimportant, except for the ring she had already put on her finger.

Ultimately, the most important thing was that she would be by Vereck’s side.

Without Vereck, the estate, the title, and all the comforts that came with them were meaningless to her.

Though it was early afternoon, Cien continued to move while keeping her body bent.

This was not a suitable way for a noble or a former saintess to behave.

But she had never been any of those things anyway.

Growing up beside Vereck had been her true self all along.

Soon, she found a man in the forest.

Flint.

They exchanged a silent glance and Cien nodded her head.

Flint handed her a large straw hat he had prepared.

Cien pulled the straw hat down to cover her face and continued on her way.

No one could recognize her identity in such a plain appearance.

Soon, she arrived at a carriage.

Cien entered the carriage without hesitation.

Flint, too, swiftly tapped on the carriage and commanded it to start without a moment’s hesitation.

The plan proceeded so naturally and seamlessly.

She heard that Nere and Arvin had chosen a different way to travel.

For now, it was just her making the journey alone.

“…..”

Cien looked at the receding distance of Stockpine.

This, too, would be the last time she would see this view.

“…”

Cien clasped her hands together.

A prayer that she hadn’t offered since marrying Berg.

But now it seemed necessary.

It was not a prayer to any one deity, but simply a prayer raised to all the gods.

‘May blessings rain upon this land.’