Chapter 240: Enlistment (2)

Lately, there had been a strange undercurrent in the air.

“...?”

While eating the breakfast Arwin had prepared, I noticed a sudden silence at the table and glanced around.

-Pak!

-Tuk!

At that exact moment, Arwin and Ner flinched and turned their heads away.

Their startled reaction made it clear—they’d been staring at me silently for quite a while.

What I couldn’t figure out was why.

Why had they been looking at me like that?

Wondering if I had forgotten something, I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind.

“...”

I locked eyes with Sien, the only one still gazing at me with an awkward smile.

With just a look, I asked her what was going on, but Sien only shrugged, pretending not to know.

Trying to defuse the stiff tension hanging over the table, I decided to change the subject.

“...By the way, Sien, are you feeling okay now?”

Ever since she gave birth, I had been checking on her condition regularly.

She was the type who wouldn’t show it even when she was in pain—so I had to make more of an effort.

Not that she minded; Sien had always appreciated this kind of attention from me, so it worked out for both of us.

At my words, Sien smiled and subtly lifted her shirt to reveal her belly.

She had regained her figure from before.

Even toned abs were visible now.

You’d never guess this was the body of someone who had given birth.

Of course, she’d been following me on light workouts, so it made sense that she recovered her health.

“You can see for yourself, Bell.”

Sien said proudly.

I gave a small chuckle at her comment and asked again.

“Sure, I can tell you’ve slimmed down. But I meant, are you really okay?”

Being slim might be a sign of health, but Sien had always had a strong body with frequent minor illnesses.

Wanting to protect the happiness we had now, I needed to be sure.

“She healthy, Berg.”

This time, Ner answered instead.

Gone was the strange tension from earlier. She looked up at me and spoke with confidence.

“I check on Lady Sien regularly too, so I can say this for sure. Her menstrual cycle has been consistent and healthy for months... Her digestion, her appetite—everything’s been normal. There’s nothing major to worry about anymore.”

Hearing that from Ner, who was well-versed in medicine, I finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

If she said it, I could trust it.

I nodded and resumed eating.

“...We could have a second child now.”

That’s when Sien quietly whispered it.

“...”

“...”

At her words, both Ner and Arwin froze mid-motion.

I instinctively rolled my eyes over to glance at Arwin.

She was the one who had insisted time and again that the second child should be hers.

Even just this morning, she’d brought it up again.

“...”

Now, Arwin was silently staring at me again.

As if to say, “Choose your next words carefully.”

To me, her warning gaze was more adorable than threatening—but knowing how easily she could get sulky, I couldn’t just brush it off either.

Trying to lighten the mood, I let out an awkward laugh.

“...Haha, there’s no need to rush, Sien.”

Then, I gently patted her back and tried to gloss over it.

Truthfully, I had been trying…

Especially since both Ner and Arwin had once again shifted into a competitive mode, and I’d been... releasing inside every time.

But perhaps due to our different races, conceiving a child wasn’t as easy as one might think.

And being under constant pressure like this—I was starting to feel overwhelmed.

Maybe it was all the frequency that was the issue.

...I needed time to recover too.

After all, they wouldn’t let me go unless we had sex at least four times a day.

Only now did I realize what that strange tension at the breakfast table had really been about.

Maybe... just maybe…

Ner and Arwin were in the middle of a race.

The first child had been conceded to Sien, but... only now did their intentions come through clearly—there would be no yielding for the next.

-Puk! Puk!

I hurriedly stuffed the remaining food into my mouth.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I stood up from my seat.

“All done eating?”

Sien asked, and I gave her a faint smile as I walked away.

With my cheeks puffed out, full of food, I fled the scene.

Having learned the option of “retreat,” I smiled through the chilly atmosphere and moved my legs.

.

.

.

.

I was in Arwin’s room, sharing quiet laughter with her.

As our conversation went on, it naturally ended up just the two of us alone in her space.

Sien was downstairs, working on some kind of knitting project, and Ner… I wasn’t quite sure where she was.

Regardless, Arwin and I were holding each other close.

I sat slouched in a reclined chair, and Arwin was sprawled across my lap, resting on top of me.

“I’m telling the truth. I went out this morning and I saw it.”

“You’re teasing again, Berg.”

“You won’t believe it unless I show you. It was really there.”

“I’m not falling for it. You’ll just make fun of me if I do.”

Still wrapped in each other’s arms, we were enjoying the moment.

Even idle chatter felt more thrilling than anything else.

I was gently running my fingers through her soft hair, while Arwin had her ear pressed to my chest, listening to my heartbeat.

I was just telling her about the white deer I’d seen that morning.

“If you don’t believe me, then how about coming on a morning walk with me starting tomorrow?”

Smiling, I made the suggestion—but Arwin frowned.

“...Hmm, I would’ve gone if it were today. But tomorrow might be tough.”

“Why?”

To me, there shouldn’t have been any difference between today and tomorrow.

“Because... we’ll be going until morning tomorrow.”

“...”

At her follow-up, I froze.

Tonight was my night with Arwin.

If she planned to go at it until morning... I was already sweating at the thought of such an intense schedule.

Sure, I enjoyed our time together. It made me happy—immersed in the heat of the moment.

But the problem was starting. It took resolve. And I needed recovery time.

Lately, my stamina had been running low, so I let out a strained chuckle.

“...Haha.”

I softly patted the back of Arwin’s neck.

But once Arwin had found her rhythm, she wasn’t letting go.

She glanced toward the door for a moment.

It was firmly shut.

“...”

That’s when I realized my mistake.

I should have come in with the door open…

Arwin raised her long, porcelain-like fingers and gently placed them on my chest.

She lightly traced her fingertips, almost tickling, as she whispered:

“If you don’t want that... how about we do it now, just a little?”

“...Huh?”

“If we do it now... I might reconsider going until dawn tomorrow.”

“...”

At this moment, I was still feeling the effects of last night’s intense encounter with Ner—my lower half was still throbbing.

Arwin’s suggestion wasn’t unappealing, but right now, it was physically impossible.

How could I squeeze out something that just wasn’t there?

I gulped, blinking rapidly.

I had to seriously consider my options.

.

.

.

.

Ner had her ear pressed to the wall, trying to listen in on the conversation between Berg and Arwin in the next room.

While caring for Adam, her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

Lately, there had been tension between her and Arwin.

And it all stemmed from the way Berg looked at Adam.

She had always wanted a child—but seeing the love and pride in Berg’s eyes whenever he looked at the evidence of his and Sien’s love... that had only intensified her desire.

Anyone would feel jealous, watching Berg smile at Adam like that.

Of course, it wasn’t jealousy of Adam himself... It was a yearning—an aching need to feel that same kind of happiness.

To imagine what it might be like if she had a child with Berg.

A child with a fluffy white tail, toddling over to her.

A child who made Berg smile that way.

The thought alone brought a radiant smile to Ner’s face.

She wanted to be the first to wear that smile.

It was one thing to concede to Sien—but she would not yield beyond that.

She wanted to leave her mark of love before Arwin.

That was why she hadn’t let Berg rest—why she’d been relentless.

Even when she pushed her own stamina to the brink, Ner kept moving, again and again.

But the child still hadn’t come.

And so, her anxiety grew.

Ner could feel it—Arwin was thinking the same.

In the end, their feelings for Berg were honest and real. That’s why they could so clearly see each other’s hearts.

Ner had recently been searching for ways to be with Berg even during the day.

And so had Arwin.

This... was war.

And since Arwin had gone into the room with Berg, Ner had already anticipated that she might start making a move.

-Twitch!

Ner’s ears perked up.

Focusing, she could hear Arwin’s voice through the wall.

‘If you don’t like that... how about just a little now?’

‘...Huh?’

‘If we do a little now... I might reconsider going until dawn tomorrow.’

“...Ugh.”

Ner bit her lip gently.

The situation she had hoped to prevent was happening exactly as feared.

But how was she supposed to stop them?

It wasn’t as though she could just barge into their room when she clearly sensed that... particular atmosphere. Not unless she had skin made of steel.

And given the context—that Arwin had saved him, and they now owed each other kindness—it made things even more complicated.

“...”

She needed a different approach.

A way to break apart whatever was about to happen between those two.

Ner looked around the room.

And then her eyes stopped—locked onto someone.

Before she knew it, she had walked right up to Adam.

The adorable child of human race, half resembling Berg.

But right now, she needed Adam’s help.

She gazed down at the peacefully sleeping Adam.

“...”

Come to think of it, he’d been sleeping way too long for the middle of the day.

If he stayed asleep this long, he’d be up all night crying—causing trouble for Sien and Berg.

It was about time he woke up.

-Tap tap.

Ner gently pressed her finger to Adam’s cheek and whispered softly.

“...Adam, wake up for just a bit... can you help me?”

But Adam kept snoozing, unfazed.

So Ner gently pressed again, this time cooing even softer.

“...Adaaam... wake up... or you’re getting an elf sibling...?”

And at last, that whisper seemed to reach him—Adam’s eyes began to flutter open.

Then he let out a loud, powerful wail.

“Waaah! Waaah!”

A flicker of guilt passed through Ner, but she still smiled at the sight of Adam’s adorable little face.

Yes, it was a selfish trick.

But even this would someday become a fond memory—a shared happiness.

Smiling, Ner gently scooped Adam up into her arms.

And with a soft whisper, she offered an apology.

“I’m sorry, Adam...”

With a light chuckle, she added,

“But I promise, I’ll give you the cutest sibling who adores you... so forgive me, okay?”

-Thud!

At that moment, Berg appeared from the next room.

His lips were slick, faintly shining.

It wasn’t hard to guess what he and Arwin had been up to.

Good thing she’d acted quickly.

Ner, victorious, grinned and spoke to Adam.

“Daddy’s here, Adam.”

“...”

But Berg simply stared at Ner.

Then, ever perceptive, he tilted his head with a sly smile.

Despite it being only moments since Adam had started crying, Ner was already there holding him with practiced calm.

Something about that looked... suspicious.

“Did you...”

At the flicker of doubt in Berg’s voice, Ner jumped, raising her voice defensively.

“Huh? Wh-what?”

“...Did you wake him?”

“What? Me? Wake Adam? Why would I? I mean—maybe if he woke up because of my footsteps, then technically yes, but it’s not like I meant to—”

“...Haha.”

But all Berg did was chuckle at her string of excuses.

Maybe he’d figured it out—at least a little.

Realizing that, Ner blushed and lowered her head.

Berg walked over and gently patted her head.

“...”

“...”

Ner opened her mouth slightly, then buried her face in his chest.

Every time she saw Berg show her affection like this without needing words, her longing for a child of her own only grew deeper.

– – The End of The Chapter ––

 

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