Incompatible Interspecies Wives

Chapter 51: The Second Wife (3)

"...How's your night duty?"

"..........."

Ner could understand what Arwin was asking.

Because she herself, who wasn't directly involved, had once questioned Berg whether he would embrace Arwin.

Back then, Berg had said that he would not force Arwin if she refused.

At the time, Ner had felt somewhat relieved, but now Arwin's question made her heart waver again.

Could this uneasiness stem from the objective fact that her husband might soon be intimate with another woman? Even when framed strictly within social customs, the prospect was unsettling.

So instead of responding, Ner gazed slowly at Arwin with drooping eyes.

The previously vague look of concern on Arwin's face had grown more prominent, completely filling her expression.

Seeing that, Ner felt sudden clarity as if jolted awake from a reverie.

She had been so busy questioning her own feelings that she'd failed to recognize Arwin's worries.

Arwin was also worried about her wedding night, just like her.

After all, Arwin couldn't be completely unaware of the rumors that swirled around the human race. Despite lacking worldly experience, she was undoubtedly knowledgeable. And that might actually have contributed to her accumulating even more misconceptions.

Truthfully, even Ner couldn't tell if the widespread perceptions about the human race were incorrect.

Her only experience with them was with Berg. And he had never wronged her, not even once.

Attempting to brush aside her own anxieties, Arwin ventured a faint smile and softly whispered,

"...Is he as violent and aggressive as people say about them? ...like 'monkey beasts'?"

Just as people derogatorily referred to lizardmen as 'lizard beasts', dragonians as 'dragon beasts', werewolves as 'wolf beasts', and catfolk as 'cat beasts', they disparagingly called the human race 'monkey beasts'.

Hearing her question, Ner couldn't help but see a trace of an innocent girl in Arwin's usually mature demeanor. And knowing those feelings all too well, she felt a sudden urge to alleviate her concerns.

But just as she opened her mouth to speak, she found herself not knowing how to explain.

Her true relationship with Berg had always been a secret to everyone.

No one knew they were only pretending to be a loving couple.

Not even Ner's own family knew this truth.

Ner had been living within Berg's consideration, and she wondered whether she should really share this fact with Arwin.

"..."

Yet, she couldn't just let Arwin stand there, concealing her fears as she gazed out of the window.

They had decided to be honest friends and help each other, and perhaps that was even more reason to be concerned.

......And, to some extent-

"..."

-it might be selfish, but for the time being, while she was still Berg's wife, Ner wished that Berg wouldn't embrace Arwin.

What would happen after she left his side was another story.

She couldn't pinpoint the cause of these feelings, but they seemed to be growing more certain.