Chapter 21: First Night (1)

 

As we came out of the forest, many people were waiting for us.

 

Gibson looked at us as if acknowledging us as a married couple.

 

Adam Hyung wore a smile on his face.

 

Baran nodded his head in congratulations.

 

Gidon simply observed Ner.

 

Looking at them, I said, "It's done."

 

Gibson nodded and addressed the crowd.

 

"Well then, let's head back."

 

Ner, standing by my side, lowered her head.

 

"... Once we see off the newlyweds, our role will be complete."

 

****

 

This time, I positioned Ner in front of me.

 

There was also a desire to protect her from the numerous mercenaries following us.

 

Everyone threw mischievous jokes, and each time I heard those jokes, I could see Ner's tail wagging even more.

 

From my perspective, those pranks didn't cross the line, but to Ner, they seemed uncomfortable to hear.

 

'Different cultures, different social statuses...' There was a mountain of things to understand.

 

Ner soon stopped in front of a door.

 

It was a room where we would spend the night.

 

Amidst that unfamiliar feeling, even my heart swayed.

 

This was the place where we would truly become a married couple.

 

Uniting our bodies and leaving marks on each other deeper than mere rings.

 

The fact that Ner would be my first experience would never change, even until death, and it would be the same for Ner.

 

It was about sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience with each other.

 

Ner stood in front of the door for a prolonged period.

 

She didn't budge.

 

As I looked at her, I reached out behind her and opened the door.

 

There was no point in continuing to stand here.

 

Since she would hesitate anyway, I gently nudged Ner into the open room.

 

"Ugh...!"

 

She resisted me for a moment but eventually walked inside, weakly.

 

After safely sheltering her, I looked at the people who followed behind me and spoke.

 

"Now everyone should return."

 

Mischievous sounds of sighs and laughter followed once again.

 

Members of the Blackwood family glanced at our mercenaries with slight unease, then turned away.

 

As they dispersed, Baran also led the rest of the group.

 

Only Adam Hyung stayed for a moment and looked at me...

 

Once again, with those apologetic eyes.

 

I clicked my tongue and lightly pushed his face with the palm of my hand.

 

"Hey, this is for you, Hyung...!"

 

“…”

 

"G-Go now. Rest."

 

“…”

 

Since Hyung couldn't bring himself to move, I pondered for a while and whispered as if holding my breath.

 

I uttered empty words to put him at ease.

 

"I like her because she's pretty. So, stop being sorry and leave.”

 

“… Huh?”

 

Adam Hyung’s expression straightened out like never before.

 

"Did you really...?"

 

"Yes, so just go."

 

He started nodding slowly.

 

Even a faint smile also formed on his lips.

 

"Got it, Berg. I'll go then."

 

As I watched Hyung turn around, I entered the room and closed the door.

 

-Thud.

 

“……”

 

Then, as if the world had been severed, complete silence filled the air.

 

...The silence was so profound that even the sound of breathing could be heard.

 

In a corner of the dimly lit room, a small candle flickered.

 

The candle swayed as it burned, creating a gentle sound.

 

I could see Ner's silhouette shimmering.

 

The fragrance of blooming flowers from the scented candle filled the room.

 

Every element in the room seemed to foreshadow the forthcoming actions.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

The atmosphere was different compared to when only the two of us remained in the forest.

 

Ner had somehow weakly seated herself on the bed.

 

Her tail hung down, scattered randomly on the bed.

 

'Did she accept it too?'

 

I couldn't read her mind, and her expression was not visible, so I couldn't tell.

 

Nevertheless, I had to proceed with the final stage of our marriage.

 

As a man, I had a duty.

 

With a long sigh, I took off my clothes slowly.

 

One sleeve at a time, I took off my coat.

 

Soon, I hung the coat I had removed on a nearby chair.

 

Ner didn't move.

 

I also slowly organized the clothes that had been layered on me one by one.

 

Perhaps it was a formal attire, as there were certainly numerous layers.

 

Even during that time, Ner remained motionless.

 

No words were exchanged, and there was no movement.

 

I removed the final upper garment.

 

My upper body was exposed.

 

A slight cold air passed over me.

 

At the same time, Ner's yellow eyes briefly looked at me.

 

“…”

 

A short silence followed.

 

I blinked for a moment, realizing that it could become more awkward if we continued like this.

 

That was why, with a strained throat due to the morning training, I slowly approached her.

 

-H-hiccup... Huh...

 

And soon after, she began to shed tears like little droplets.

 

“…Huh?”

 

****

 

Ner tried to hold it back, but she couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

 

As soon as Berg, the human mercenary, began to undress, her heart trembled with fear, and her breath stopped when she saw his bare body.

 

Tears followed as she watched him approach, loosening his tie.

 

Numerous scars. Well-defined muscles...

 

It was clear to Ner that if he had the intention, she wouldn’t be able to resist him.

 

She had to offer her body to someone she didn't love.

 

Until the moment she entered this room, Ner had a plan.

 

To have a rational conversation with him without shedding tears.

 

And to make a request that she knew was unreasonable.

 

Not to take away her purity... To tell him that there was a destined partner for her.

 

But all those words transformed into something unspeakable due to the fear of retaliation.

 

She already understood that expressing such absurd thoughts served no purpose. Not only would it invalidate all the rituals of the day, but it might also provoke him.

 

Ner had heard that there were also humans who took pleasure in violating women who resist.

 

She had heard that some people derived pleasure from witnessing the distorted expressions of women.

 

She couldn't be certain that Berg, with his sarcastic and cruel demeanor towards women, wasn't one of those individuals.

 

But now, all of those things had become futile.

 

She had shed tears.

 

She didn't know how he would perceive those tears, but she was certain it would be negative.

 

Ner hastily wiped her tears with both hands, but unfortunately, her eyes remained wet.

 

"J-just... wait... h-hiccup... g-give me... a little more time..."

 

“…”

 

Berg stiffened and slowly moved closer.

 

"Uh... Ugh...!"

 

Ner crawled backward on the bed until she reached the wall, with no way to escape.

 

She couldn't even bring herself to look at Berg. She was too terrified to witness his expression, too afraid to confirm it.

 

Ner could sense that Berg, who was approaching her, was reaching out his hand.

 

In the end, she tightly closed her eyes.

 

– Tap.

 

“…?”

 

Then, something light was placed on her leg.

 

Ner struggled to open her eyes and confirm what it was.

 

It was a white cloth.

 

Perplexed, Ner looked up as Berg spoke.

 

“…Wipe away your tears.”

 

“…”

 

Immediately, Berg shifted his body and gently sat on the bed. He didn't come any closer.

 

Instead, he let out a long sigh.

 

“Haaah…”

 

“…”

 

Ner was anxious but looked at him carefully.

 

She couldn't even lift the cloth placed on her knees.

 

"I'll not let go of my words. We're a couple now."

 

He said.

 

Ner was making an effort to comprehend this bewildering situation.

 

Berg was sitting on the bed with his elbow resting on his knee.

 

She couldn't tell what he was thinking as he let out another long sigh.

 

Then, he slightly turned his head and asked a sudden question.

 

"...It's said that the Werewolves only love one person for a lifetime... Is it true?"

 

Ner pondered for a long time, wondering about the intention behind the question, but couldn't find an answer.

 

In the end, despite being scared of the numerous scars on his back, she slowly nodded her head.

 

“…Y-Yes.”

 

Not all members of the werewolf race adhered to this, but generally, they focused their love on one individual.

 

Ner, too, had kept her heart devoted to loving only one person.

 

Berg remained silent for a prolonged period, revealing no thoughts, as the wind whispered through the window with a natural sound.

 

'What was he thinking?'

 

Berg stayed still for a while.

 

The wind rustled through the window, creating a natural sound.

 

"...Then, it must be equally difficult to like someone else."

 

After a long silence, Berg threw the question nonchalantly. Ner couldn't discern his intentions, but answering truthfully didn't seem harmful at all.

 

Ner cautiously nodded her head again.

 

Berg chuckled.

 

"...But if someone suddenly tells you to mix your body with someone you don't even like, of course, you'd naturally dislike it."

 

“…”

 

Even during the previous dinner, she had sensed it to some extent, but there was nothing to be afraid of in Berg's behavior.

 

Whether it was a consideration or an act, it made her feel foolish for being scared like this.

 

Ner felt that a momentary opportunity had come.

 

She tightly held the dress she hadn't even taken off yet and spoke to him.

 

"...Haaa... I...I don't want to..."

 

"...I don't have the intention to force you either."

 

With his response, Ner felt a heavy burden lifting from her chest.

 

As if her blocked airway had opened, a tingling sense of relief spread through her body.

 

Tears streamed down her face once again.

 

Ner used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears.

 

The cloth Berg had handed her still remained on her knees.

 

Looking at her like that, Berg said.

 

"...We became entangled due to our circumstances, but whether you like it or not, we're a couple now. I don't want to start off on the wrong foot. I don't want to spend our lives... hating each other."

 

Ner managed to calm her tears somehow. She lifted her shoulders intermittently and took a deep breath.

 

She hadn't expected Berg, who she had feared, to say such things.

 

"...How long does it take for the werewolves to like someone...?"

 

His words sounded like a grace period.

 

Ner swallowed her saliva and recited a number that momentarily came to her mind.

 

"...One year... Ah, two years..."

 

It took a long time for the werewolves to fall in love, but there wasn't a specific number that existed.

 

Even so, Ner intentionally mentioned a specific time, naturally harboring an intention.

 

However, Berg shook his head.

 

"...No"

 

“Yes?”

 

"It's too long."

 

In an instant, Ner held her breath. Her heart sank.

 

Her ears trembled as she turned towards him.

 

"...But...but...still..."

 

"A few days later, our troops will go into battle. They will fight for their lives. Some will get injured... Some will die. It's difficult for me to have you by my side, crying every day, after they went through all of that... It's inconvenient," Berg said.

 

“…”

 

Berg slowly turned his upper body.

 

Ner locked eyes with him.

 

His gaze seemed somewhat sad.

 

"I know. I understand. In the end, we're tied together because of our circumstances. You probably can't love me yet. It must be scary and unpleasant. But..."

 

“…”

 

"But, we're staking our lives. Even for the sake of my comrades, it's inconvenient to have you like this. Members should be proud to accept you. You have to prove that their life is worth it."

 

“…”

 

"Of course, I'm not telling you to smile by my side every day. But still, distancing yourself from me too much becomes a problem. Being happy next to me was not a condition of our contract, but..."

 

Berg, as if deep in thought, tightly closed his lips before speaking.

 

"...I'll make a promise."

 

“…Yes?”

 

“I am also aware of the labels attached to our race. There will be resistance to the human race, and I know that interspecies marriage will be as embarrassing as it was unexpected.”

 

Ner had her own reservations, of course, but what bothered her more was the fact that she couldn't connect with her destined partner.

 

Having endured a lifetime of suffering alone, she had been waiting for the hand of salvation to come, only to find herself faced with another arduous path.

 

But Berg continued speaking.

 

"It will undoubtedly be difficult in the future... With different cultures, there will be moments when we don't understand each other."

 

“…”

 

"But I won't do things that you would hate. After all, I am now... your husband. I'll stand by your side."

 

Ner was confused at Berg’s much friendlier appearance than she expected.

 

Where did the cruel person go?

 

The one who hated women?

 

Human race which was said to be in heat while time?

 

The mercenary who enjoyed debauchery?

 

Among the many words used to describe him, not a single one could explain the man before her.

 

For the first time, Ner saw the true face of Berg. Compared to any other appearance she had witnessed, his current self seemed devoid of any pretense.

 

“So, don’t be afraid of me anymore. Therefore…”

 

Berg slowly rose from the bed and reached out his hand.

 

Ner quietly observed as he approached.

 

There was still fear stemming from his approach itself, but she had nowhere else to run.

 

His subsequent actions were incredibly gentle.

 

His hand enveloped hers.

 

She could feel his warm touch.

 

“…So hide your feelings for us. Endure it. At the very least, do that much."

 

It was a sincere and polite request. It was the plea of someone who cherished their loved one.

 

In the end, he even spoke with a smile.

 

"...And if you keep acting like this, Adam Hyung will start to get annoyed."

 

Ner looked down at her hand, embraced by Berg's.

 

His hand was rough, but it didn't elicit as much aversion as it had throughout the day.

 

Of course, even this was one thing she didn’t want to do.

 

She wanted to keep her body as clean as possible for her destined partner.

 

Nevertheless, perhaps Berg's heartfelt request as a person was being conveyed.

 

For some reason, it felt like her heart was being transmitted through his touch.

 

Ner stood still for a while and asked quietly.

 

“Pretending to be good…Acting…You mean? Until I… Like you…?”

 

"As long as we're alone, you can behave however you want."

 

Once again, she gathered her courage.

 

"...What if I never come to love you?"

 

It was a response tinged with a faint conscience.

 

Already, Ner had been looking only at her destined partner.

 

Betraying him, dismantling the mercenary group, simply reverting the contract, and paying the price to leave... Ner had thought of leaving Berg someday.

 

She didn't want to wait for a love that would never come.

 

“…”

 

Berg did not answer right away.

 

His upright shoulders seemed to droop slightly.

 

And then, he spoke.

 

"...I hope that doesn't happen."