Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 177

177 – The Approaching Crisis (1)

What had been happening between us felt natural since we got involved.

Si-eon and I started discussing marriage.

There seemed no other way for us now since our relationship had deepened this much.

It felt that all villagers were expecting our marriage, so natural that even without mention.

Villagers teased me when I passed by them.

“When’s the wedding, chief? My son wants to sing at your wedding.”

“Chief, You two make a great couple. It’s so romantic to marry a childhood friend.”

We must have gotten even closer since that night.

We did not hesitate to kiss even in public.

Occasionally, I heard regrets.

The disappointing sighs of the villagers who were close with Ner and Arwin.

They congratulated us, but they still seemed unable to shake her memory.

Just like me.

I couldn’t help feeling like some sort of wall had been erected in front of me.

Hesitating to take the next step.

It’s natural for us who parted to walk our own paths, but I kept thinking about them.

Those psychological factors might have been the only wall blocking me and Si-eon’s marriage.

“…Sigh.”

But when that happens, I shake my thoughts off with a sigh.

I knew it was my part to take the next step.

I, who have started a new family, can’t stay single forever.

…And in that respect, there might be no better partner than Si-eon.

I was still pursuing Adam’s dream.

I didn’t know if I was making progress, but I had the responsibility to raise the reputation of the beast tribe.

Could there be anyone more fitting as my mate than the maiden who was purer than all the holy women?

Sure, I was well aware the criticisms that followed when she, a virgin saint, stepped down from her pedestal, but… she was still a hero among our race.

That fact remained unchanged.

Furthermore, I had given her my heart as well.

As we got closer, reasons became irrelevant.

After crossing the line once, we did not hesitate anymore.

We intertwined our bodies every night, and we desired each other every night.

Though it was clear that it wasn’t preferable to be so intimate before marriage, we had no more capacity to contain our longing for each other.

The pleasure derived from exchanging love was irresistible.

While we were in a relationship, Cien mainly smiled at me, looked up at me with eyes filled with passion, and occasionally shed tears of joy.

Even as days went by, she leaned on me.

The war was over, but each day was busier than the last.

Internally, there were plenty of documents to process.

We also had to manage resources.

With many people migrating to Stockfen, we had to consider public safety.

There was endless land to plough.

We were constructing new houses and buildings every day.

Externally, we had to establish good ties with nearby nobles.

We also had to start preparations for farming that would commence from next spring.

We had to apprehend thieves and lawbreakers that began to appear.

We had to be vigilant to news about the spread of a plague somewhere.

Occasionally, we received first-hand information about Krund, who had killed my elder brother Adam.

And through all these circumstances, Cien stood by my side.

She fed me while I was opening up land with the members, massaged my shoulders when I was done with paperwork, cheered me on when I went hunting for thieves lurking around our estate, and quietly stayed by me when I was lost in complex thoughts.

As such days passed, I was finally able to make a decision.

“Cien.”

“… Yes?”

“… When should we hold the wedding?”

“…”

Cien was quiet for a while after hearing that, and answered somewhat tearfully.

“… The sooner, the better.”

.

.

.

.

Cien and I had a simple wedding later on.

Naive as we were in our youth, we joked about having a grand wedding, but now that it was possible… we realized that it wasn’t what was most important.

In the end, it was our feelings for each other that mattered more than anything else.

We didn’t invite anyone special to our wedding.

Regardless of being war heroes, being famous in the kingdom… we didn’t send out any invitations.

Nobles and kings… when combined, they are only uncomfortable beings.

I still felt like I was wearing uncomfortable clothes.

I was not used to being a noble.

Nevertheless, it was a title I had to carry on for the sake of my brother’s heritage.

We didn’t want to get wrapped up in bothersome affairs, so we only planned to announce our marriage to the kingdom.

From the beginning, Sien and I did not need the congratulations or approval of anyone else.

It was enough for us to promise each other at the center of all the stares in Stockfine.

The only non-human who attended our wedding ceremony was Gale.

He too, like all the others, sent us applause with a smile.

In the midst of endless applause and cheers, Sien and I held each other’s hands and looked into each other’s eyes.

I couldn’t hear the voice of Baron, who was conducting the ceremony.

Sien, looking up at me, kept shedding tears.

Her feelings of happiness were being transmitted to me.

Everyone looking at her must have felt her happiness.

Some emotional women were infected with Sien’s emotions and shed tears with her.

“Stop crying, Sien.”

I tried to comfort her with a smile, but Sien only shed more tears at my words.

“…Lord. Now for the pledge.”

Before I knew it, it was my turn.

I opened my mouth after wiping Sien’s tears with my thumb.

It was time to make a promise.

From noble mtl dot com

“……..”

But at that moment, I hesitated at a familiar feeling.

Even this moment…I had experienced it twice before.

The memories inevitably come back.

The words I said to Ner.

The words I said to Arwin.

“…”

How would they react in this situation?

Ner and Arwin will soon hear about this marriage.

Would they be sad?

Would they be angry?

Would they let me go?

Or would they have no feelings?

“…Bell?”

I thought about them at the most inappropriate moment.

I snapped back to reality at Sien’s call.

Before I could make any pledge, Sien whispered and asked me.

“…Bell. Will it really be okay…?”

“…?”

“I am no longer…a saintess. I possess neither miracles nor power. I am not nobility…I have no one to rely upon. There are many out there who criticise me for abandoning my role as a saintess…”

“…”

“Is it really…alright for you…to be with me…? You are a noble…You have your own land…sob…you’re so wonderful…”

Upon hearing Sien’s words, I brushed aside all other thoughts.

She shouldn’t be demeaning herself like this.

I simply voiced the most sincere thoughts in my heart.

Words that were unaffected by any kind of pretense, simply pouring from my heart.

“I… will make you happy.”

I paid no mind to her pessimistic statements.

I made my decision.

“Even if it costs me my life.”

There were no need for lengthy expressions.

All my intentions were contained in those brief words.

Sien’s sobbing intensified.

For those who found Sien’s crying adorable, it even burst out in laughter.

“Stop crying! It’s a happy day!”

“She’s so cute!”

Sien was unable to make a lengthy vow to me due to her profound tears.

“….I too.”

Instead, she merely promised me a future with her through her own words, more sincerely than anyone else could.

“I too, Bell.”

Early winter, age 24.

I finally became husband and wife with Sien.

****

News of our marriage, as expected, quickly spread throughout the kingdom.

Letters proposing marriages of convenience ceased, and we received congratulatory messages from various families.

From families we had encountered a few times, to those we didn’t know at all.

…We didn’t hear a single word from Blackwood or Celebrien.

I didn’t know whether I should be thankful for that, or feel the opposite.

I understood that it wasn’t just the nobility who were interested in our marriage.

Ordinary people, too, took great interest in our story.

“Duke Raiker!”

While carrying on my newlywed life and having meals with my members, a bard who visited Stapkin spoke to me.

“I want to turn the story of the Duke and Duchess of Raiker into a song, is that alright?”

“A song…?”

“It is an extraordinary story, isn’t it… two people who had been together since childhood, overcame numerous tumultuous events and found each other again. I sincerely beg for your permission…!”

The members approved of the bard’s proposal.

They all requested me to grant permission.

“Duke. This bard is famous. Surely, he will produce a great song, right? I am certain that people will sing it endlessly.”

“Opportunities like these do not come easy! Also, in my opinion, the story of you and your lady seems rather beautiful.”

“Couldn’t we show that not all Injok sleep around just like monkeys?”

I continued my contemplation.

I would be glad if our story helps change the perception of Injok… But would it really have that much influence?

I felt a vague reluctance.

Maybe it was due to my thoughts about my ex-wives.

“…Can’t we?”

But Xien, standing in front of me, asked me.

“…”

She seemed to like this proposal very much.

Xien’s feminine character is also confirmed in this way.

With Xien’s request, everything else became unimportant to me, and I smiled.

I said to Bard, looking at him,

“As you wish.”

Because I now prioritized Xien more than anyone else.

We continued our happy newlywed life with Xien.

You could say we lived more like Injok than anyone else.

Even as time passed, we never got tired of being intimate.

It was always inadequate, even when we cuddled each day.

Xien, sometimes, felt a belated jealousy.

She’d feel hurt looking at the bite marks Ner left on my neck, and the scar left on my cheek from fighting for Arwin.

Although she didn’t try to show it, it was always evident.

“…I wish it was gone.”

Sometimes she murmured as if talking to herself while touching that trace,

-Peck…Peck…

And sometimes she brought her lips to those scars.

She sucked at the scars with her lips attached, trying to leave a mark.

I found such a gesture of hers cute, but at the same time, it forced me to think about the lingering remnants of my ex-wives.

The marks of the ex-wife eventually became something that Xien could never erase, no matter what she did.

Time swiftly passed as we lived haphazardly like this.

Winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, spring again.

A year passed since I was married to Xien.

Our Crimson Flame Party, who had replaced swords with farming tools, was nodding along.

I can’t say that everything was perfect.

I could not even say that the first year’s farming went well as an exaggeration.

We lacked enough land to grow crops and we also lacked information about farming.

I felt that we needed more experience.

And on top of that, new issues were coming up every day.

Managing the gradually growing territory was not as easy as it sounded.

I was just a mercenary.

Thinking was not always my duty.

I allowed myself to hope that eventually it would become familiar.

It was positive that everyone was putting in an effort together.

Given to me, to Cien, to Stuckpin, there was a new life.

“Sigh…”

I gazed at my territory, lost in thought for a moment.

…It had been more than a year and a half since I’d parted with the former wives.

There had been no news about them during this time.

I maintained a healthy distance with Celebrien and Blackwood, but I received no news about the former wives.

I fully realized now that we were becoming distantly apart.

Again out of habit I found myself fondling the ring on my fourth finger.

Even though the ring with Cien was new, I didn’t give up the habit.

Perhaps I recognized that I might have to hold onto this question for a lifetime.

‘How are they living now?’

There would be no answer to this question.

-Chirp! Chirp!

A bluebird landed on my shoulder, lost in thought.

It had also been a year and a half since I’d become friends with Rua.

I stroked Rua and smiled.

Looking at the relaxing weather, I whispered to Rua.

“I hope everything goes well this year, Rua.”

-Chirp! Chirp!

Just then, while enjoying this short break, I heard Cien’s voice calling me from behind.

“Bel, Gale is waiting.”

At the same time, Rua flew far away.

I turned around to Cien with a smile.

I leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

Cien then smiled at the kiss and said to me.

“Let’s leave the rest…the affection for later. Let’s go back. Today also…Cough! Cough!”

Cien suddenly erupted into a bout of rough coughing.

“Cien, are you okay?”

At my question, Cien answered while wiping her mouth.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Do you need to take some medicine?”

She lightly shook her head and replied.

“You know my body has always been weak. It’s just…”

“…?”

“Just that I put down Hea’s blessing and went back to the old way, that’s all.”

“…”

Was it all that she had to endure to be with me?

With my deep feelings toward her, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

But did Sean realize my feelings? He folded his arms beside me in a teasing manner.

“I love you, Belle.”

Expressing his feelings through words was just a bonus.

I smiled mildly at his display of affection and gently stroked his head.

And as he said first, I began to look for Gale, who would be waiting for me.

I was getting ready to go through today’s schedule.