Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 190

190 – Physical Contact (2)

My thoughts froze at Arwin’s story.

Croond.

It was the name of the demon who had taken Chief Adam’s life.

“…What?”

At my side, Gale who had heard the story also frowned and asked back.

It was a name that held as much significance for Gale who had fought together with me.

“…”

I couldn’t even respond to the sudden news.

Just meeting Arwin had already complicated my thoughts.

But hearing Croond’s name on top of that jumbled everything up completely.

The plague, the bandits, the farm work…and now Croond too.

Just how much more did I have to overcome before all of this would end?

I glanced at Silfren too, hearing that unbelievable name.

She also nodded her head at us.

As Arwin spoke, she added explanation.

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“…I heard Croond is gathering an army again. The royal family is also preparing to face him…”

“War might break out again here…?”

“…Possibly.”

“…”

Seeing my expression, Arwin closed the distance.

-Swish.

As I blankly followed my thoughts, she lightly placed her hand on my arm.

It seemed like a gesture only close friends would make.

After that casual touch, she continued speaking with an unchanged stern expression.

“I’m telling you this so you can prepare.”

“…”

“It would be best if fighting doesn’t spread…but as you know, sparks may fly your way.”

At her use of ‘you’, Sien next to me grasped my hand.

Only after Sien reacted that way did I realize Arwin’s word choices were bordering impropriety.

But as if to prove she had forgotten me, Arwin didn’t waver at all and spoke.

“The Warrior has lost an arm so he can’t fight. We’re looking for the Angel of War Arcan who disappeared. Sis Silfren…doesn’t want to get involved in this fight…”

Arwin’s eyes then shifted to Sien.

“…And the former Saintess has lost her power. So in the end, the only one left is…”

“…”

I could understand what Arwin was saying.

Since I was revered as the Lone Knight, I might not be able to avoid the fighting either.

Arwin said.

“…I know you bear no responsibility. There’s no need to start fighting again. I don’t want you to fight again either.”

Sien spoke anxiously at my side.

“…Of course there’s no reason for him to fight. Berg isn’t…the Lone Knight.”

In the end, that illusory position of Lone Knight wouldn’t exist either.

There would be no mystical marks engraved on the body, no special power granted.

It wasn’t a role that could be definitively appointed to any single person.

Sien continued at my side.

“Berg was chosen as the Lone Knight…ultimately because there was no one else. Why would Berg, who has paid every price, return to war…”

I could feel Sien’s heart wishing I wouldn’t leave her again.

Her grip on my arm grew progressively stronger.

“If they call for Berg…that’s just…only finding someone else to fight in his place…”

Arwin responded to Sien’s words.

“I think so too. Rather, I’ve been looking for reasons why Berg isn’t the Lone Knight all this time. I’m guessing…Chief Adam was the Lone Knight.”

Arwin looked up at me.

“So Berg. If the king happens to summon you, please let me know. I’ll help make sure you don’t have to march.”

“………..”

I still remained silent.

With all the sudden new information, my head was a mess.

Half of what Arwin had told me had flowed in one ear and out the other.

I was just focused on the news that war might come again to our land.

I lightly turned my head and looked at Gale.

Gale let out a light sigh at my gaze.

“….Ha.”

I sighed along with Gale.

Then I spoke to finish up the situation for now.

“…Let’s go back.”

****

After that, I didn’t know how time passed.

The group from Celebrien who had arrived and us gathered in the office to talk.

Baran and Gale carried most of the conversation.

Where they would stay, farming matters, information on Croond, the epidemic situation, and so on…

My head was too jumbled to respond to conversations I couldn’t answer.

Whenever my mind returned, I would only glance at Arwin once.

She was just calmly drinking the tea in front of her with a composed attitude.

She didn’t show me any particular interest like Ner had.

I was increasingly believing her words that she had forgotten me now.

…For some reason, even that complicated my thoughts.

When all the talking finished, as always I went out to rest and clear my head.

I sat in front of Chief Adam’s grave and looked at my brother.

“…What should I do, Brother?”

I sought an answer from him, but of course, my brother didn’t reply.

So I could only imagine.

What would my brother have said?

Despite being the closest to my brother, to the point it was embarrassing, I didn’t know.

-Tap tap…tap tap…

Just then, someone approached me.

It wasn’t Sien’s footsteps.

And from the succinct, noble-sounding steps, I could quickly guess who it was.

Even after time passed, I still recognized it.

“…You were here.”

It was Arwin.

When I lightly turned to her, Arwin also had a veil around her mouth.

Arwin slowly approached me and laid a single flower down on Chief Adam’s grave.

She even offered a brief prayer.

“…”

Seeing her actions, I didn’t push her away.

I had no wariness to show someone who seemed to have forgotten me now anyway.

“…Have you been well?”

She asked after finishing her prayer.

“…”

I slowly nodded my head.

While it was tough enough in public to put on a strong front, having Sien at my side allowed me to endure somewhat.

On top of that, I didn’t want to show weakness to Arwin anyway.

“…You?”

Out of courtesy for her asking me, I asked back.

After all, we had once been married.

If that was over, I had no reason not to ask this question.

Even though Arwin had tried to kill me…by now I understood her reasons for making that decision.

The sense of betrayal I had felt then, I had let go of it like with Ner.

Now I just had to accept we couldn’t be together because our paths had diverged.

Arwin slowly sat down next to me.

It felt like a close distance, but that might have been my imagination.

“…I was struggling for a bit but I’ve been well too.”

“…”

“While traveling freely, seeing beautiful scenery…I’m achieving the dream I always dreamed of.”

Somehow, her words felt leisurely.

It put my heart at ease, as if she had found happiness.

I chuckled at her words and replied.

“…I’m glad to hear that.”

“…”

Why did it feel enviable?

If I could live without worries, wouldn’t that be happiness, I suddenly thought.

“…Berg?”

Arwin called me.

When I turned, she was looking straight at me and said.

“…Have you forgiven me?”

“…”

I had no intention of lying to her.

If I hadn’t forgiven her, I wouldn’t have accepted her help now either.

“…To some extent.”

At my answer, she lowered her gaze with a frown and said.

“…Thank you.”

“…”

“I’m relieved you’re living a new life too. You two suit each other well.”

I also smiled at her words.

“…Thank you.”

After a period of silence, Arwin soon spoke.

“Berg. I have a request.”

“…”

“I’ll work hard to help you too…so please grant me one small wish.”

“…”

Arwin placed her hand on my arm again, exerting very little strength.

“…Can we be friends?”

“…”

Her words gave me a sense of deja vu.

They were the words I had told her when we first married and she was wary of me.

To start as friends.

Even though the situation was clearly different now, with different intentions, I was reminded of that memory.

For Arwin, it might be a memory she no longer recalled.

“…I don’t want to keep fighting and live in contention with you.”

“…”

At Arwin’s words, I let out a sigh.

I followed my thoughts for a while.

But I didn’t ponder for long.

I had been thinking the same as her.

Just the territory was tiring and difficult enough.

I didn’t want to feel that kind of pressure from Arwin too.

“…Alright.”

At my words, Arwin let out a breath of relief.

She nodded and smiled, saying,

“…Yes. Then I’ll rely on you.”

At the same time as her words, Arwin lightly initiated a handshake.

I stretched out my hand to accept her offer.

-Swish…

“…”

Then Arwin clasped my hand as if caressing it.

Her thumb faintly stroked the back of my hand.

When the brief handshake ended, she got up from her seat.

“I’ll get going, Berg. Rest a bit more.”

I nodded at Arwin.

“Yeah. I will.”

Talking with her like this and settling the situation made me feel a bit more at ease.

– Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!

After Arwin left, Lua flew over to me alone.

She fluttered around me excitedly today for some reason.

Lua had been hard to predict lately.

One moment she seemed angry, then the next she would act cute like this.

Lua flew at my face and started rubbing her whole body against me.

She even lightly pecked my lips.

– Tweet! Tweet!

I chuckled at Lua’s affection and caught her.

“…Why are you so excited again?”

I realized I was talking to two beings who couldn’t answer.

****

“..Ha…ha…”

The moment she parted from Berg, Arwin hid behind a huge tree and had her bluebird share its vision with her.

‘Be affectionate.’

At Arwin’s request, the bird Berg had named ‘Lua’ started rubbing itself all over Berg.

Arwin covered her face with both hands, spilling the excitement she had endured.

Seeing Berg up close had heated up her body.

She had done well with the first step.

She had succeeded in approaching him without any rejection.

Approaching while acknowledging Sien seemed to have lowered his wariness.

Restarting as friends, clasping his hand too.

Since it was a moment Arwin had always waited for…the physical contact was woefully lacking.

But she couldn’t erase the thought that it was a good start.

She just had to slowly slip in and approach him like this.

If she held out until the end, she would win.

She just had to wait for Sien’s lifespan to end, then hundreds of years with Berg would remain afterward.

For now, her desires were enduring thanks to Lua.

She was able to suppress her intense desires and emotions because Lua was currently sharing its vision.

Through Lua, she could easily see Berg’s smiling face.

When Lua pecked at his lips, she could delude herself into thinking their lips met.

Without even this, it would have been hard to maintain sanity.

Arwin suppressed her trembling hands and calmed her body.

“…Ha…ha…”

Through Lua’s eyes, Arwin watched as Berg stroked her.

She reached out into the empty air and stroked Berg’s face.

‘For now…I’ll concede to Sien…’

She thought.

‘But in the future…’

And so, Arwin suppressed her emotions with difficulty.