Incompatible Interspecies Wives

Chapter 22: First Night (2)

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

It wasn't just an empty statement.

Did I want Ner's love?

...It wasn't that, not yet.

However, I didn't want to be devoid of love from my lifelong companion.

It wasn't something I could control, though.

Nevertheless, I never forgot from the beginning. That this marriage wasn't for my own happiness.

It was for the future of the mercenary group.

From the start, it didn't make sense for the mercenary group to risk their lives for my personal happiness.

To me, it was just a role given to me.

To ensure the stability and cohesion of the Red Flames, keeping Ner Blackwood settled was essential.

After the war, it became even more crucial for the Blackwood family to support us.

Of course, by subduing monsters alone, they would accumulate a significant debt, but... to put it harshly, keeping Ner as a hostage would solidify that fact even more.

So even if the marriage with Ner wasn't filled with joy and didn't develop into a supportive relationship, there seemed to be no other option.

That was why I didn't want that future.

Regardless of who the other person was, I wanted a happy marriage rather than a sad married life.

Besides that, this was just an assumption.

Maybe eventually she would like me too.

I could find myself falling for her as well.

No one could say anything about the future.

There were instances when one would passionately love someone only to part ways unreasonably.

Sometimes an annoying person became an irreplaceable brother.

All I needed to do was put in my own efforts.

I looked at Ner, who was still rigid.

Fortunately, she must have sensed the sincerity in my words because she no longer held her guard up against me as before.

It felt akin to taming a stray cat.

Taking my time, I slowly approached her.

Even her tail, which had been standing upright, had relaxed slightly.

I picked up the cloth I had placed on her rigid knees.

Ner observed my actions with a slow gaze.

It was quite a peculiar situation.

Despite her intense rejection of me, she showed no inclination to harm me.

Perhaps she held me in high regard.

Despite being hated by her brothers, she sacrificed herself for her family.

Despite those sacrifices, she displayed no willingness to surrender herself to a stranger.

It felt like I was gradually getting to know the woman named Ner Blackwood.

Slowly, I lifted the cloth toward her eyes.

For some reason, I felt the urge to wipe away her tears, even if just a little.

'Is it because we became a married couple?'

'Couples hug each other', 'Couples comfort each other'... I didn't know if it was due to the words that had grazed my ears and left a mark.

...But thinking that even this small act might burden her, I ended up handing the cloth directly to her.