Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 173

173 – The Flow of Time (5)

A festival unfolded after a long time.

One by one, the people of Stutfin were overcoming the pain of loss.

Laughter echoed louder than cries, and playful jests outnumbered sympathetic comforts.

It was a time when everyone started to worry about the future.

They would still wield the swords, but everyone seemed to understand that they would have to handle farming tools more frequently now.

After all, they were the warriors who joined the Hongyeon Squad to survive.

Some of them had families, so they had to find the next meal for their loved ones.

No one felt regretful about putting down their swords.

It wasn’t only me who was tired.

Seeing colleagues die like family…once or twice was more than enough.

We, who have experienced this for several years, clearly knew the horrors of war.

Moreover, it was a relief for everyone when I became the head of the new family.

Just the fact that they had a strong backbone seemed to put them at ease.

Being from the slums, like many of the warriors, their ascension may have been the greatest success they could hope for.

However, the responsibility on my shoulders increased over time.

I wasn’t sure if I could lead my territory well, being not as wise as my older brother Adam.

I only chose to do the things that Adam would have done.

“Boss!”

Sean found me while preparing for the festival.

He was standing next to the well-stacked pile of firewood.

It seemed like he was about to start a big bonfire.

He was holding a torch, looking at me.

Then, he spotted Xi’en standing next to me.

The head warriors, especially, knew Xi’en’s face well.

After all, they had saved her in front of Jackson’s territory.

They knew better than anyone that Xi’en was a saint.

The rest of the Stutfin residents didn’t know that Xi’en was a saint.

It wasn’t that Xi’en intended to hide it, but she didn’t make a point of telling it either.

In the meantime, members like Shawn could only maintain an awkward demeanor.

Shawn bowed halfway at the waist as he looked at Sien.

Sien waved off his polite greeting and murmured,

“Ah, it’s… it’s nothing now…”

I was aware of the rumors surrounding Sien and myself.

In particular, these rumors were circulating widely within Stockfin.

A woman brought in after divorcing their wives when the war ended.

Members who knew Sien’s true identity were also aware of the past relationship I had with her.

Obviously, it was a rumor that had to circulate.

Nevertheless, Shawn handed me a torch as he saw me approaching.

“Captain, light the fire. Let’s start the feast.”

“Where are the alcohol and meat?”

“They’re all ready. We’re not using anything from the warehouse, but what Vice Captain Baran and I hunted today.”

I nodded my head and received the torch from Shawn.

“…”

I looked at the piled firewood.

…A feast of our own, started with Adam.

It was a party Adam created to honor the deceased members.

And now that Adam, who started the feast, was gone, I was finishing up preparations to honor him.

It was a first to have a feast without Adam.

Suddenly, my emotions were shaken by that reality.

“…”

Keeping silent like that seemed to make the surrounding members realize why I was acting like this.

They all kept their mouths shut, missing Adam in their own ways.

– Thud.

Then, someone put a hand on the back of my hand.

It was Sien.

“…”

“…”

She slowly nodded her head as she looked at me.

I let out a long breath as I looked at her, and threw the torch onto the pile of firewood.

A large fire erupted.

.

.

.

.

As the fire grew large and night fell, all the villagers enjoyed the feast.

Some enjoyed a drinking contest, others tore into the meat, and others sang.

I watched this scene from a distance as I sipped a glass of alcohol.

Seeing the happy people, I too felt a sense of levity.

“…”

My emotions were ebbing and flowing.

Even in between breaths…if I think of the recent break-up, my heart sinks.

The hole in my heart created by those who have left can’t be filled with mere rest.

I even had new habits forming.

Without realizing, I found myself often fiddling with my vacant fourth finger.

Every time I recognized that empty ring finger, a wave of sorrow made it hard to breathe.

“…Bell, aren’t you going to play?”

Si-en was beside me, watching the festival.

I’d been with her for more than ten days now.

It felt natural now for her to be by my side.

I nodded in response to her.

“This is enough for me.”

“…”

Si-en nodded with me, looking into the flame.

Silence swept over us.

I realized that this silence was the time Si-en was giving me.

Maybe our relationship was like this from the beginning.

Maybe we were destined not to break up, even if we tried.

I turned my gaze to Si-en.

She seemed oblivious that I was looking at her while she was staring into the fire.

…We genuinely felt our age.

She had matured… she was more adult-like.

Si-en, whom I’ve always teased, seemed to be nonexistent.

Her eyes turned to me, late to notice my gaze.

We locked eyes again.

“…”

“…”

Lately, times like these have been increasing.

As if we were talking through our eyes, things we can’t express in words.

After gazing at her for a while, I lifted my glass and asked.

“Have a drink.”

“…”

She stiffened at my offer.

Then she shyly answered.

“I…I’ve never really drunk alcohol.”

“Really?”

“Ah…I’ve sipped some alcohol that Silfrien occasionally offers me.”

“…Bardi alcohol?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“It was only a guess since Bardil liquor is a traditional drink among elves.

I never talked to Xien about my past lovers.

I did not tell her why I divorced, or what it was all about.

She was unaware of the massive role Bardil liquor had played in the process.

I looked down at my liquor glass.

Even after it happened… I couldn’t quit Bardil liquor.

I don’t even know why.

It was a drink I had ignored for a long time, but after breaking up with Arwin, I began imbibing again.

As if it was the lingering regret for Arwin that I couldn’t tell anyone.

I looked down at my liquor glass and asked Xien again.

“…So, do you want to try?”

Xien, looking into my eyes, replied.

“Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

I got up and brought a glass of liquor for Xien.

Our hands briefly touched as I handed her the glass.

Xien was gently startled at the touch.

“…Ah, it’s okay to touch now…”

She chuckled as she explained her bizarre action.

Just as she predicted my past from the scars on my body, I saw her difficult times through her habits.

Feeling awkward, I sat next to her.

Xien leaned against my shoulder.

“…Cheers.”

With a touch of playful affection, Xien tried to lighten the tense atmosphere.

I chuckled at her words as I clinked my glass with hers.

After downing the liquor, I stared at the rekindling fire.

From noble mtl dot com

“Cough! Cough…!”

Then, Xien started coughing at my side.

“…Are you okay?”

I naturally patted her back.

Xien nodded as she responded.

“I’m okay…Cough…I’m okay…”

Seeing her like that made me smile.

…I don’t know why, but someone comes to mind.

The same goes for the bitter feelings welling up inside me.

Soon, I sighed deeply.

Once again, silence descended for a moment.

Now that everything was over, I had something to tell Xien.

I knew I had to tell her.

“……Xien.”

At the sound of her name, Xien was startled.

“…Huh?”

“…Why are you so surprised?”

“Ah. It’s…it’s been a while since someone called me by name.”

“…”

Briefly silent at the awkward reply, I spoke.

“…I’m sorry.”

After those words, the sounds of a festival filled the air.

The crackling and twisting sound of firewood burning.

The laughter of the troops and villagers.

The singing.

The cheers.

“…What for?”

Shien asked after a long silence.

I answered, taking a gulp of drink.

“…For everything.”

Shien seemed to think for a moment, turning his head forward.

His large pupils blinked for a brief moment.

As she put her mouth to the edge of her drink, her face slowly hid expressions.

Before Shien cried, he sometimes acted like this.

It was the result of teasing him for crying too often in the past.

Then, she began to whisper.

“…What do you have to be sorry about…? It’s my fault for leaving you.”

“Shien, I…”

“Then, Bell.”

Shien turned to look at me.

As her tears welled up, she slowly placed her hand on my thigh.

“…Just hold me once here.”

“…”

“…You didn’t hug me… last time.”

She seemed to be talking about what happened on the Jackson estate.

At that time, I didn’t hug her because of Ner and Arwin.

Now those were no longer beside her.

“…Just like before…hold me like that.”

At the same time, as if she couldn’t wait any longer, Shien buried her head in my chest and snuggled up.

She slipped her arms under mine.

Positioning herself between my legs, she knelt and held me.

“…I’ve missed you so much.”

Shien whispered as if talking about the last seven years of separation.

I felt the choking back of tears in her voice.

How many years had I struggled in pain after breaking up with Shien?

The reason for becoming a mercenary, why for seven years before meeting Ner and Arvin, he had kept no woman by his side, and why he had hesitated to marry – it was all because of that pain.

And behind that pain, there was always a single voice remaining.

“…I…sob…I missed you so much, Bel.”

Sien repeated.

Now, it was just the two of us left by each other’s side.

A moment when we could be more honest with each other than ever.

So I too, let out the words I had held back for so long.

“……..I felt same way.”