Incompatible Interspecies Wives

42 – World Tree (2)

Ner greets me when I return home from work.

“Are you here?”

“…”

I felt a sense of stability that I hadn’t felt before with just this one.

She won’t know how much help a simple greeting can be.

Certainly, as hyung said, I must have needed someone to support me.

“I’m back.”

The tiredness of the day fades away. I feel completely at peace now.

To be called a couple, we are far apart, but to be called friends, we feel closer.

“What about rice?”

I asked Ner. I was busy preparing for the expedition today, so I couldn’t have a meal with Nere.

Thankfully, Ner nodded and said.

“I ate.”

“I’m glad. With who?”

“…With Arwin.”

“…”

I silently nodded at the person who jumped out.

The fact that another person will gradually intervene in our lives comes to us realistically.

This marriage with Nere didn’t last long, but I was just getting used to it.

I didn’t feel comfortable with another cataclysm approaching.

“…Yes. Let’s wash up and get ready for bed.”

With nothing else to say, I ended the conversation.

“Because I’m going to go out soon.”

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Naturally, we lie in the same bed.

I also threw off my top this time.

If Ner really didn’t like it, he would wear clothes, but if not, I wanted to relax as I was comfortable with.

Fortunately, Nerdo didn’t ask me to dress him after sleeping on a narrow bed at camp.

I vaguely realized the importance of my rest, and seemed to respect it.

I grab the lantern that I have lit with my fingers and put it out.

– Profit.

Darkness descends.

Ner and I closed our eyes in bed without saying anything.

As if getting closer, this sense of distance is still far away.

It feels like the distance has increased a little since the fact that Arwin will intervene.

“…Berg?”

Ner whispered in the dark.

It’s been a while since she talked to her from her bed.

“Yes.”

“So what happens?”

“What?”

“…Such as going out…There’s something like that.”

I took a deep breath and tidied up my hair.

hahahahaha I forgot to explain it to her because the day was so busy.

“I’ll leave as soon as I’m ready. Elves are also in a hurry. Maybe the day after tomorrow we will be leaving.”

“…I see.”

“…”

A moment of silence followed.

I wanted the conversation to end like this, but Ner once again finds me in the dark.

“Berg?”

“Tell me.”

“…How will the marriage go?”

“Unlike you, I think the subjugation will end and be concluded.”

“…Yes.”

From noble mtl dot com

Her voice sounded dry, or a bit weak.

At that voice, I laughed and joked with Ner.

“Why. Do you regret it now?”

“What, what?”

Ner was very surprised and raised his upper body, and I continued to giggle at the good response.

“Yeah, I just asked because I was curious. I told you my thoughts yesterday…”

Ner saw me laughing and shut her mouth, probably realizing it was a joke.

Then he lays down on the bed again and exhales a long breath.

“…Ha ha.”

Her breath tickles my bare upper body.

And just like that, the silence comes again.

“…”

“…”

The night got darker.

I put aside the momentary laughter for now, and slowly relaxed my body and prepared myself for sleep again.

“…Berg?”

“…”

But this noble lady kept calling me as if she couldn’t sleep today.

I didn’t hate this annoying favor.

It was to the point where I thought it would be fun if he was annoying me like this every day.

“Why?”

“…Do you think it will be dangerous?”

“This Subjugation?”

“…Yes.”

“It must be dangerous.”

“…I see.”

There was something that suddenly came to mind about her words.

“Oh, Ner.”

I opened her eyes and looked at her.

Ner’s yellow eyes were shining.

“Yes.”

“If I go out to subdue this time, can you cast that spell on me?”

“Witchcraft?”

“Why, I saw it a lot in the Blackwood estate. The wife-to-be put her hand on her husband’s back… And said something. Did you say that you are sharing ‘gi’? They say it gives you energy.”

“Ah. It’s… But it’s not a long-lasting spell. After only half a day, the effect wears off.”

Ner said worriedly.

“…Is that enough?”

When I say something questionable, Nere adds an explanation as if making an excuse.

“No, that’s not it…Huh? Then, are you going to follow me on this expedition too?”

It was only then that I was able to figure out what her question was.

I guess she thought she would stay here.

.

But Ner was different. Not because she’s my wife, but because she’s an aristocrat.

“It’s not common for you to follow me…But you’re different. There’s nothing left to do at Stockpin again. If you don’t want to follow me because it’s hard-“

“- No!”

She said with power in her voice.

Then, as if to show her sincerity, her tail swayed and started hitting her bed lightly.

“…I want to go too.”

I said with a smile.

“…So. Stockpin said it was frustrating.”

“…”

“Anyway, back to my previous topic. Can you cast a spell? Isn’t that an act that has some meaning?”

I added. If, by any chance, the magic was an action deeply embedded in the meaning of affection, such as kissing or s*xual intercourse, he did not want to force it on her.

As if that idea came true, Nere muttered cautiously.

“…I don’t do it for just anyone. Actually… I only do it for my partner-“

“- Yes? That’s it-“

“- I’ll do it.”

Ner said with all his might.

And then, straight away, he lowered his voice and spoke as if making excuses.

“…If you don’t do it, it’ll look weird…And it’s the expedition you accepted because I asked for it…”

At the murmuring that followed, I smiled again.

Why are you talking so much when you’re going to do it?

I tried to think of it as part of being shy.

“…Dangerous again-“

“Thank you.”

I said, interrupting her continued excuses.

At those words, Ner’s eyes searched for mine.

Then she swallowed her excuse and nodded her head.

A subtle atmosphere flows.

A tickling, warm feeling.

It was a sensation that I had felt for the first time in years, buried in my long memory.

Thinking that this kind of atmosphere would only increase her reluctance, I closed my eyes and turned her head toward the ceiling again.

“…Berg?”

But this time too, Ner called me.

In the end, laughter broke out.

“Why are you laughing?”

I giggled and explained the reason.

“I can’t seem to sleep today, Ner.”

Ner nodded her head weakly and acknowledged it coolly.

“…Yes.”

“So why?”

“One more thing.”

“Tell me.”

But even when I told him to speak, Ner remained silent for a long time.

She opened her eyes and looked at Ner, wondering if he was asleep, but Ner’s yellow eyes were still shining in the dark.

Walking eyes, as if to let you know that you are in agony.

In this darkness, her agitation was clearly visible.

“Ask me, Ner.”

I gave her a push on her back once to make it easier for her to bury her.

It was only then that Ner whispered in a barely audible voice.

“…Are you going to hug Arwin?”

Rather than a question out of jealousy or territorial attitude, he looked like he was really curious.

I wasn’t the one who didn’t know what the meaning of the word embrace here symbolizes.

I didn’t bother making excuses.

There was no reason to make excuses.

It was a matter of course.

“That’s right.”

“…”

Ner shut his mouth and nodded his head.

She had been told what she was thinking, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what emotions she was feeling.

In case it seems barbaric, I add to the old woman’s mind.

In a way, her question might have stemmed from her concern for Arwin.

“It’s a man’s duty, so I’m just trying to do it. I won’t do it if the other person doesn’t like it.”

Ner looks at me.

She followed her.

“Like you. Should I rape my wife-to-be?”

“…”

Then, I imagined the future for a while and expressed my doubts.

“But maybe not. It’s not like they like me either.”

“…”

Ner nodded her head slowly.

Suddenly, I want to ask why I asked this question.

I looked at Ner and opened her mouth.

“…”

But in the end, I didn’t ask her that question.

Just by looking at Ner’s expression, which was blurred by the darkness, you could tell that she also didn’t know why she asked this question.

“Let’s go to sleep.”

So I ended the conversation.

“…Yes.”

Ner also answers.

“Tomorrow you should prepare too. If you have something to bring, bring it.”

“Yes. I need to prepare some herbs.”

At her words, another smile came out.

For some reason, her presence is reassuring.

If I ever have a problem, she will heal me in the future.

It felt like we were together.

I immediately closed my eyes.

Ner didn’t even talk to me anymore.

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“Let’s go!”

As time passed, Adam gave the order to march.

Elven elders and Arwyn, who visited the village, and their escorts also join the procession.

Behind me were the leaders of the group, such as Baran, Sean, and Jackson.

And next to…

“…How are you?”

…Ner, who was talking to me, was also with me.

I looked at her and smiled at her, then turned her head.

And I looked at the gaze I felt in the corner of my field of vision.

Since when have you been looking at me, my eyes meet Arwin’s.

“…”

“…”

Arwin looked away first.

This time, the cold atmosphere was still the same.

It wasn’t just because of her eyes that the cold atmosphere continued.

If you were kind to me, wouldn’t you have shown a small smile?

I put aside my troubling thoughts and took the reins.

“…This is it.”

Then, following the budding prominences, they headed for the World Tree.