Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 183

183 – Request for support (3)

I wake up from a long sleep.

Sien too starts to stir at my movements.

Sien, looking cold, shrinks her body and in a half-awake state, reaches her arm out to me.

She grabs my bare waist and lightly pulls me towards her.

“…”

I smirk at her behavior and hold her.

A smile spread across Sien’s face.

“How’s your body feeling?”

I asked Xien, as I woke up.

Lately, such was our way of asking after each other in Stockholm.

As the plague spread, we daily checked on the physical conditions of our cherished ones.

We tried, but we couldn’t completely stop the plague.

Even now, there were more than a few people tirelessly suffering with coughing fits.

The daily increase of patients, the daily falling of one after another, it was to the extent that thinking of the urgently requested aid from Blackwood brought some relief.

Xien spoke, lying still in my embrace, “I’m okay. And you?”

“I’m okay too.”

For a considerable time after that, we held each other tightly.

We enjoyed a happiness we only seemed to experience in the mornings.

Lying there for a while, I decided it was time to start the day.

With a sigh, I sat up.

Xien seemed to understand that I was about to leave for work and let go of me.

I got out of bed and began to dress carefully.

Xien also approached and changed out of her pajamas.

Watching her I asked, “…You’re not going anywhere, right?”

There was no answer from her.

I frowned and said, “I told you to rest at home only.”

While dressing Xien stopped and looked at me.

In a complaining tone, she said to me, “How could you?”

“…”

“People in the village are dropping left and right…how could you…”

It seemed like she could not deviate from her old habits on saintly benevolence.

She showed more consideration for others than to her own health.

Even recently, she had caught the plague from me, from nursing the afflicted villagers.

It was grateful the lengths she went for us, but at the same time worry was equally there.

“…Bell, we don’t have enough people to nurse the patients.”

“… And where does it say that you have to be the one to do the nursing?”

“So we ignore the people who are sick…?”

I let out a sigh, drew Xien into my arms.

She buried her face in my chest, hugging me tightly.

“I understand how you feel, Xien.”

“…”

“But like you said, you’re not the healthiest yourself.”

“…”

I comforted her, stroking her back gently.

“…We have to think about the child in your womb.”

Unable to oppose my words, Cien fell silent.

As if she was persuaded.

Yet, for her still uneasy, I spoke.

“Blackwood is supposed to arrive today.”

I reminded her again, soothing her back.

“So, you should rest.”

“….Blackwood…”

At the mention of Blackwood, Cien bit her lip.

She tried to hide it, but a faint discomfort was noticeable.

Even though she understood why they had to come, it seemed she couldn’t help but feel awkward.

We all understood the reason perfectly.

Even I was feeling conflicted about it.

Initially, I wasn’t even sure if Ner would show up.

Truthfully…I wished she wouldn’t.

I wasn’t ready for all that was to follow.

What would happen if she came?

I didn’t know.

After nodding her head to me, Cien let go and continued to dress.

“…Cien.”

“You’re not getting dressed to take care of someone.”

“…”

Soon, she sat in front of the vanity and started to apply her makeup lightly.

“The guests are coming, so I’m getting ready.”

“…”

I nodded again.

Having finished getting ready first, I moved to converse with Gale before Blackwood’s arrival.

“I’ll be back soon, Cien.”

Saying so, I was about to step out of the master bedroom.

“Bel?”

But Cien stopped me with a call of my name.

“…?”

“I love you.”

And that’s how she conveyed her feelings.

A phrase we’ve told each other countless times.

Yet, it never seemed to lose its charm.

Today’s ‘I love you’ even contained a hint of jealousy.

Despite no one having arrived yet, she was already like this.

At the sight of her, I gave a smile, and returned her words.

“I love you too, Cien.”

****

“They’re coming.”

Gael and I spotted the horse-drawn carriages approaching from afar.

Their scale was larger than I had imagined.

It seemed as if they were coming with certain reinforcements.

“…”

I was trying to calm the heartbeat that had started to resonate.

More than a year and a half had passed since I said goodbye to Ner.

We parted in the autumn of the year before last, and now spring was approaching.

Time had passed as we lived separately, not knowing how the other was doing.

If it were said that Ner did not come… then it would be my job to forget about Ner as it is.

But what if Ner did come?

I continued my thoughts to prepare myself.

…If Ner had come, perhaps it would be right to let go of all my regrets towards her this time.

Drawing a clean conclusion would be the right thing to do.

Gael and I spurred our horses to greet them.

More people followed us from behind.

Cien was among them.

Driving at the forefront was the second son of the Blackwood family.

His name was…

“…Garan Blackwood.”

Gael, as if reading my mind, reminded me of his name.

I nodded in acknowledgement.

Soon, Blackwood’s procession stopped in front of the village.

Only Garan came forward driving his horse.

I likewise approached Garan.

We both dismounted simultaneously and faced each other.

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I extended my arm to offer him a handshake, and Garan also accepted my handshake.

“It’s been a long time, Count Lyke.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“We haven’t seen each other much since the battle at Blackwood? I can’t forget the swordsmanship of Lyke that I saw then… “

“…That’s very kind of you.”

We opened the conversational door with such a light topic.

Garan Blackwood then spotted Cien approaching and spoke.

“…Lady Saint.”

“I am no longer a saint, I’m Cien Lyke now.”

“…….My apologies, Mrs. Lyke. Such disrespect on our first meeting… “

“It’s okay. How was your journey here?”

“Yes, there were no problems. The territory is really beautiful.”

Garan said, turning his attention next to Gael.

“It’s an honor to meet the greatest warrior.”

“I’ve since retired the title. I’m not what I used to be, you see.”

“But in a situation where a successor has not yet been found, would you not still be considered the greatest warrior, Gael?”

Gael shrugged his shoulders.

A hint of pride could be subtly seen.

This seemingly a leftover trace from his instinctively strong character in his youth.

After they finished their greetings, Garan turned around and beckoned with his hands.

Hastily asking for the remaining people to be called over.

At the same time, preparations were being made for the next guest in the back.

A Wolf-tribe soldier approached a magnificent carriage and opened the door.

Garan’s attention, my attention, and Gael’s attention were all drawn in that direction.

It was time to see who came looking for us.

-Squeak…

Soon, a woman with a grey tail and hair revealed herself.

Laan Blackwood.

The eldest daughter of the Blackwood family.

She stood on the carriage, bowing her head towards me.

Me, Gael, and even Cien, likewise bowed our heads.

Nel did not seem to come.

And I was breathing, unnoticed.

I couldn’t tell whether this feeling in my breast was relief or something else.

-Squeak…

But the continuation of someone coming out of the carriage echoed.

As we looked up from our bows, another figure appeared after Laan.

A pure white tail.

Hair as white as winter snow.

Perky ears.

A curved body.

A beautiful face.

And empty eyes.

…it was Nel.

The woman who I thought wouldn’t come, appeared next.

She was standing on the carriage, her beauty glowing more than ever.

Unlike with Garan, or Laan, she wasn’t able to greet me.

I couldn’t respond, frozen in the sight of her.

Nel’s empty eyes rolled around … slowly finding me.

“…”

“…”

Even as we looked at each other, we stayed silent for a long time.

Ner’s vacant eyes slowly regained life.

She continued to stare at me, just me.

She didn’t see Cien or Gael.

She behaved as if I was the only one left in the world.

-Thump…Thump…

Ner slowly got off the carriage.

And she stepped toward me, one step at a time.

“…”

“…”

Still, she neither extended a greeting or looked at someone else.

Everyone was melting into the unique atmosphere that she brought.

There was no one present who did not know about Ner’s and my relationship.

Everyone knew that we used to be a couple.

As Ner approached me, her breathing became harsh.

As if she had been running for a long time, she repeatedly tried to catch her trembling breath.

Soon, Ner came to my side.

We looked at each other from a distance less than a step’s length.

Before Ner could come any closer, I quickly bowed my head in greeting.

-Thump…Thump…

But Ner did not stop her steps.

She broke the appropriate distance and kept coming closer to me.

Her wobbling eyes looked up at me.

She slowly stretched out her hand.

Just like old times, she tried to place her hand on my face.

“….Ber….rg…”

-Thump.

I gently stopped the hand that Ner was reaching out towards my face.

I looked down at her, gripping her wrist.

“…”

“…”

We were no longer a couple.

Everyone knew that fact well.

Yet Ner looked up at me, seeming confused by that obvious fact.

-Whoosh.

That’s when Cien slowly came closer to me.

“…”

Gripping my hand with hers firmly, tightly,

It seemed like she was trying to remind Ner who my wife was.

Ner’s gaze finally met Cien’s.

There was a clear line drawn between Neru and us.

The difference started off from our race.

After all, Cian and I were of the same human race.

“…”

Only then did Neru cautiously lower his arm, as though he had just regained his wits.

And at the same time, I discovered something.

…On Neru’s left ring finger, our wedding ring still remained.

Even the ring I discarded was engraved on his thumb.

He hated wearing rings to this extent.

But before I could continue thinking any further, Neru spoke.

His tone was calmer than before, as though he had suppressed his emotions.

“Did you receive my letter? Is there a plague outbreak?”

Neru took a deep breath.

She then briefly glanced at Cian and said,

“I’ll help you, Berg.”

****

Neru followed Berg into Stockholm.

Now, they needed to discuss various matters related to the plague.

Since when did it start? How severe is the situation? How many are infected? Are there any recoveries? Are any medications being used, etc…

There were still tasks left to match each other’s understanding.

…Neru also had a request for Berg.

“…”

Neru couldn’t take her eyes off Berg, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Just moments ago, she had almost shed tears at the sight of his face.

She had the illusion that only Berg existed in the world.

Her splendid memories with him seemed to be coming back to life.

If he hadn’t restrained her, she would’ve certainly forgotten everything and thrown herself into his arms.

But reality wasn’t as forgiving… she had to watch the former saint standing by Berg.

Her heart ached everytime she saw Berg holding hands with the former saint and walking.

She was still unable to completely get rid of the thought that Berg was hers.

While she knew it in her head, her heart just couldn’t understand the situation.

The place beside Berg where the saint was… was supposed to be hers.

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She had been loved by Berg and was his first wife.

Why did things turn out this way?

Despite a year and a half passing, she still couldn’t accept the situation.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes.

Could Berg and that saint really have a good relationship?

Even she and Berg had been just acting once.

They fooled everyone to keep their good relationship facade.

So couldn’t they be doing the same? she wondered in silence, harboring an unrealistic hope.

Nerd knew very well that Berg was trying to raise the reputation of their race for the sake of Adam.

Maybe in the process… he became connected with the saintess.

Before he knew, Nerd was clinging onto his own hope.

‘Cough! Cough!!’

Coughs erupted everywhere as he was walking along.

Only then did Nerd belatedly take note of the condition in Stoupine.

An epidemic was spreading in Stoupine.

The land had expanded vastly due to endless developments.

He was made to feel afresh that the time he spent since parting with Berg was long.

He realized that the time he couldn’t recover had passed.

Soon, a crowd gathered in front of Adam’s house.

Berg’s servants appeared and bowed in greeting.

Garang and Rana accepted the greeting and entered the house.

The outsiders who wouldn’t be involved in the meeting finally departed.

The saintess also seemed to be parting ways with Berg.

They were having a conversation with smiles on their faces.

“…”

Why is it so hard to see even that?

Suppressing the pain he felt in his heart, Nerd swallowed.

And he was about to follow Rana and Garang inside.

Then, he faintly heard Berg’s conversation with the saintess.

‘…Yeah. Stay at home. I’ll come after it’s over.’

‘Can you come early? I think I will be.. quite lonely today.’

The saintess showed a noticeable coyness to Berg.

Before he knew, Nerd was gritting his teeth.

But to her flirting, Berg answered with a bright smile.

‘I will. I’ll come back earlier than usual… so get some rest.’

-Page break-

Then he pressed his lips to her forehead.

“……………..”

For Nerd, it felt as if his heart was torn apart.

A common scene for a couple.

But it was something Nerd couldn’t do often.

‘So lacking.’

In that moment, the saintess wrapped her arms around Berg’s neck.

She pulled him closer strongly and kissed him.

“….Swish.”

In the end, Nerd moved his steps unable to bear the sight that was to unfold.

He forcefully suppressed his wildly pounding heart.

He endured the feeling that he was going to cry.

Tears had already flowed to excess.

…It was now time to act, and there was no choice but to endure.

Until the point of securing Berg’s love…There would be numerous lingering pains.

“…”

…But simultaneously.

The hatred building toward the saintess, was after all, something that couldn’t be helped.