Incompatible Interspecies Wives

17 – Marriage (1)

“You are beautiful, Ner.”

Ner looked at himself in the mirror.

As the maids said, it was the first time I had decorated it so neatly.

A hairpin that lightly ties up the back of your hair in a neat pure white dress.

Light makeup and perfume. Oil applied to the tail to make it lightly shiny.

A simple necklace and fancy earrings.

But all these decorations couldn’t erase the gloom on Ner’s face.

A meal with the human mercenary, ‘Berg’, was scheduled soon.

She had to suppress her reluctance to go even if she died.

Ner remembered the contents of the pact with her father, Gibson.

Someday this will end. The beginning was difficult, she tried to understand.

I also tried not to forget that this marriage would save the lives of many werewolves.

Through her own sacrifice, the Blackwood family would escape extinction.

If one day all of this is over and you return, wouldn’t the brothers accept you?

At least it was clear that they wouldn’t be ignored like before.

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The honor of protecting the entire territory was not going to disappear.

I could tell just by looking at Gidin’s change towards herself.

There was no retaliation for the defiance of the previous day.

Even Gidin and the rest of her siblings must be the same.

She laughed at herself as deep within her heart she still felt her yearning for her brothers.

Their hearts are about to give up, but they are constantly shaken by the possibility of receiving love.

Maybe it was because the only important acquaintances she had were her brothers.

“…”

As Nere keeps her silence, her awkward air lingers around her room.

Her maids were silent as Ner couldn’t help her expression.

They looked at each other for a while, then gently hugged Ner.

At their consolation, Ner’s weak strength also surged. She nodded her head little by little, controlling her mind.

After the hugs and consolation, one maid raised the mood and said.

“Ner, please smile. You decorated it so beautifully.”

“…”

Ner raised the corners of her mouth following her maid’s words.

Your eyes cry, but your mouth smiles. A bizarre smile is formed.

“…”

Ner also knew with her head.

It was a marriage I hated so much, but there were parts where I had to work on myself.

Apart from her feelings, the marriage must take place.

Now I understand.

Sitting on the deathbed, if he was hated by the human mercenary and the marriage discussion went back to blank, not only Blackwood would perish, but countless werewolves would die without leaving the territory.

And it was clear that Ner would have to shoulder the responsibility.

So, even if you don’t like it, you have to cater to that human mercenary to some extent.

It was fortunate that we were in the same position.

Human mercenaries also had to treat themselves carefully in order to connect with nobles, and Ner also had to accept opponents for the sake of the territories.

If it had been sold to a mercenary group that had nothing to lack, it would have been a more terrible situation.

Ner continued to take comfort in trivial facts, and he suppressed his reluctance to move on.

-Tak…! Widely..! Widely!

The sound of someone running was heard.

“Ner! hahahaha…!”

“…Lyla.”

Ner was glad Layla showed up before dinner.

It was clear that he had brought information about ‘Berg’.

Other servants, who had heard her orders given to her lila in the morning, rushed near her breathless lila and supported her.

The maids ask first.

“Lyla! Did you… Know about Mr. Berg?”

“Is Layla okay? Can I bring you some water?”

Lila nodded her head at her maid who asked her first question, and shook her head at her second question.

Layla swiftly approached Ner, wagging her gray tail.

Lila kneels, her hands lightly folded on Ner’s lap.

“Ner. Ha ha… Ha… I know a little bit about Mr. Berg.”

“I didn’t expect to jump like this. It’s just dinner today…And there’s still time until the wedding…”

“But it was Nere-sama’s request…”

Ner let out a helpless laugh.

“…Thanks, Lila.”

At that thank you, Lila gave a small smile and nodded her head, then opened her mouth.

“…That…”

But Lila, who opened her mouth, took a long time.

“…So…”

She seemed to be contemplating how to package and deliver her words.

“I… Heard that you have a lot of affection. And…cheap, he’s good at fighting…”

“…”

“There… That…”

Ner stopped Lyla, which was gradually getting darker.

“Lyla.”

“Yes?”

Layla’s shoulders trembled at Ner’s call.

Ner calmed down her lila and spoke her heart out with her candidness.

“I said it in the morning too… But this is to prepare her heart.”

“…”

“I want to hear it honestly. I don’t want to get an unprepared shock. So, tell me what you heard.”

Layla’s eyes started to wander.

“That…But, all of the mercenary members…Are rough-mouthed and harsh…I don’t know if they were joking or if they meant it…”

“Tell me what you heard.”

Again, Lila paused and breathed in her breath.

“…You are strict.”

These are the stories he chooses and hears himself, but Ner’s heart sinks in those facts.

“Really… He says he trains to the point where he can’t live… He says he won’t help even when he begs… He’s a merciless person…”

A strict and merciless person. Ner engraves that fact into his mind.

“…Yes. Also?”

“…I heard it’s cold. Because there are few words, there are many times when I have no idea what he is thinking.”

A cold and blunt person. It was clear that she was the exact opposite of her destined partner.

“…Again?”

“As a mercenary, he was said to be so cruel and scary on the battlefield… I heard that there are not many members who want to join Berg-sama’s group… to be honest….”

A person who can be said to be cruel and fearful even to his own race. It presses his chest like something is pressing it. Should I marry such a person in the future?

“…”

“…Yes…Ner-sama?”

“…Again?”

As if Layla could see that Ner was gradually struggling, the maid began to hesitate to open her mouth.

“Tell me, Lila.”

But Ner pressured Layla, and Layla eventually had no choice but to open her mouth.

“…They say they hate women so much… They say it’s embarrassing when they see them from the side… That… Ah… No one approached them…”

“…”

“Ner-nim…?”

“…Enough of that.”

Ner suppressed the urge to deafen her in front of her maids.

Her words, especially her last words, shook her greatly.

A person who says that even human beings are cruel, even hates women.

How did you end up with someone like that?

It occurred to her that her own fate was too strange.

I am afraid of being used like a toy.

Her father said that the mercenaries would not treat him badly… But in reality, he doesn’t know what will happen. Hearing this story, the doubt grows.

Would mercenaries who live day by day think about the future?

Perhaps he and Berg are not in a situation where they have to be careful with each other.

It may be a situation where only you have to please the other person.

Perhaps this marriage was made by a rich mercenary to find a noble to play with.

In addition to insults, violence as a target for venting anger may be waiting.

Ner remained silent for a long time.

All the maids became quiet as well.

Again, an awkward silence enveloped the room.

Ner somehow suppressed his tears.

My makeup was finished, but I couldn’t shed tears here.

Heavy footsteps break the silence.

Ner could sense that his time was up.

She took a deep breath and rose from her seat.

Lila’s concerned expression followed her.

Through the open door, an attendant appears.

“Ner.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s about time. Are you ready?”

On the surface, they were ready, but on the inside, they were completely unprepared.

But Ner had no other options.

Just nodded cautiously.

****

At the dinner table, another Nerga found his father and Gidin waiting for him ahead of him.

“…Father. Brother.”

“Ner, are you here?”

I couldn’t see the others.

It seemed that they were not planning to invite other brothers or related persons to the meal.

I already knew that I couldn’t afford to do that in the first place.

It’s simple, but the table was filled with hearty food that could cover that simplicity.

Gibson glared at Nere.

Ner sensed the slight regret in his hardened expression.

It was definitely she who became easier to read her hidden feelings after her conversation yesterday.

Gidin looked at Ner with a cold expression and said.

“…Do not be rude.”

“…”

“Seeing you together today, you seem like a very nice person.”

Ner let out a quiet sneer through his teeth.

Gidin’s sarcasm was passed off in one ear.

“…I guess so.”

“…”

This time, Gidin didn’t say anything about Ner’s rebellion.

Ner felt a slight coolness in Gidin’s silent figure.

It was a feeling that even he could not understand.

He wants to be acknowledged by Gidin, but at the same time hates him.

I wanted to pour out my anger like this.

I didn’t even know that I was venting my anger because the future I had to deal with was so heavy.

Gibson loosened his neck gently.

At that signal, Ner and Gidin stopped fighting.

With natural movements, everyone finds their place on the square table and takes their seats.

Gibson is at the head of the table, Nere is to his left, and Gidin is next to him.

Leave the remaining two digits on the right completely empty.

“I only invited the leader of the Red Flame Troupe and its vice-captain, that is, your husband-to-be.”

“…”

“Because the first button is important…Even if it’s difficult, let’s try a little.”

Gibson said looking at Nere.

Ner also nodded his head, indicating that he would follow his father’s words.

Prying through the large door leading to the dining room, the butler enters.

“Holy lord, Adam-nim, the leader of the Crimson Troupe, and Vice-captain Berg-nim have arrived.”

Gibson nodded and stood up.

Gidin stood up too, and Nerdo stood up, calming his trembling heart.

Meanwhile, the door swings open.

Two human men walk in.

The person standing a little further in front was tall and smiling. He smiled with a confident stride.

“Lord Blackwood, thank you for inviting me.”

And after him, a taller man walked in.

Black dark hair and eyes.

A strong body.

A handsome face.

Numerous scars on the forearm.

Crude hands.

A firm expression.

Cold atmosphere.

I could tell immediately who was ‘Berg’.

My heart thumped so much that it hurt, and my legs trembled, probably because I was already scared.

I was scared. I couldn’t believe that I had to marry someone like that.

The tail curled up arbitrarily.

The two men approached and shook hands with Gibson first.

It was a human greeting, a handshake.

“Adam. Berg. Thanks for coming.”

The man called Berg was not looking at him. Her eyes might be right, but he didn’t even give her her eyes.

‘…He hates women… To the point of hating them…’

Lila’s words echo in her head.

Ner just clenched his teeth and hid his fear.

Then they shook hands with Gidin.

“Adam, Berg. You must keep your promise.”

“Going out? Sure.”

Finally, it’s Nere’s turn, the main character.

Adam steps back, creating space.

Berg’s head, which had never turned to her, turned towards Ner.

Ner gathered his courage and raised his face.

The two eyes meet.

Ner looks at the person who will become her future husband.

“…”

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“…”

Breaking the silence, Berg reached out his hand first.

But unlike the previous handshake, Berg’s hand is looking up at the sky.

Ner hesitated for a moment, then twisted his hand slightly and put his hand in Berg’s.

As he was thinking about how to shake hands here, Berg lightly grabbed Ner’s hand.

‘Ah…!’

Ner groaned inwardly.

Within a natural movement, Berg pulled the back of her hand and kissed her on the lips.

Ner pulled out his hand, startled by the feel of his soft lips.

-Pak!

Then, embarrassed, he made excuses.

“Ah…! That… so…”

But before that, Berg spoke first.

“Sorry. I should have told you about the culture of the human race first.”

“…”

Ner was surprised by Berg’s manner of speaking, which was far more polite than expected.

In the meantime, the other person introduced himself.

“My name is Berg.”