Incompatible Interspecies Wives

Chapter 161-163: Fated Partner (1-3)

Arwin had finished preparing to head to the capital with the Red Flames group.

The rain had stopped, revealing a clear sky.

Arwin thought to herself that under different circumstances, she would have discussed the weather with Berg.

The sky was clear, but the air was getting colder.

Leaves began to fall one by one, signaling the approach of autumn.

It was her first autumn since leaving the Celebrien estate.

Yet, none of this held any meaning for Arwin at the moment.

Her gaze was solely fixed on Berg, who was inspecting the Red Flames group.

Like the other members, Berg had donned a coat against the chill.

Arwin and Ner did the same.

If anything was different now, it was that they had chosen their attire themselves.

In the past, Berg might have given them a hint.

Telling them to wear a coat to keep warm as the weather turned colder.

He might have even smiled while advising them.

However, Berg said nothing to them now, and Arwin felt a coldness that no coat could fend off.

"Cough...! Cough...!"

Ner, suffering from a cold, erupted into a cough.

Berg's eyes instinctively darted towards Ner.

He could ignore consciously, but his unconscious reactions were beyond his control.

Seeing Berg's eyes on her, Ner smiled, and only then did Berg turn his head away and disengage.

Arwin felt jealous of that exchange.

A heavy, pathetic jealousy.

Berg finally turned to face the end of the line from the front of the column.

"..."

Seeing him there made Arwin's heart ache.

Perhaps it was because Berg had taken Adam's place as captain.

Or perhaps it was because she knew he felt betrayed by her and Ner.

...In that moment, Berg seemed profoundly alone.

Arwin momentarily recalled the life story Berg had once shared with her.

The realization that she could do nothing for him, that she had contributed to his loneliness, weighed heavily on her.

She saw the resolute expression on Berg's face.

It was painful to watch him hiding his wounds, standing up, and moving forward again.

"Let's go."

Berg then spoke to Baran.

Baran nodded and loudly commanded the start of their journey.

****

Throughout the journey to the capital, Ner spoke to no one.

Berg was not receptive, and Ner was not in the mood to talk to the others.

Ner knew her own guilt.

Indeed, from the moment her diary was discovered, Ner could not have objected to any punishment from the Red Flames group, or from Berg.

Arwin was in the same position.

Both had once prepared to commit a betrayal that could have shaken the very foundation of the Red Flames.