Incompatible Interspecies Wives

Chapter 203: Ner’s Choice (7)

Days continued to pass and the same routine repeated itself every day.

Dealing with bandits, tending to the farm, meeting Sien, and caring for Ner.

All I could do was endure each day.

The weight on my shoulders felt as heavy as ever. The more I grew accustomed to Sien and Ner’s situation, the more the harsh realities resurfaced.

Trouble with Krund was also escalating.

“The Draigo family has retreated.”

One day, Gale approached me with this new information.

“They’re pulling back to the capital to properly regroup. It seems even His Majesty now sees Krund as a definite enemy.”

“...So, they couldn’t hold off Krund.”

“...It’s something we had anticipated, wasn’t it?”

With that, Gale unfurled a map in front of me.

“Berg, there’s something you need to know.”

He pointed to a specific location.

It was the Cryer family’s territory, which Krund had decimated a few days ago.

“The Cryer family, right.”

“Exactly. Krund waged its first battle here. After wiping out the Cryer family... Krund was spotted near the Depol Mountains, where they slaughtered nearby dwarves.”

He drew a straight line from the Cryer family’s land to the Depol Mountains.

“Next, they appeared in the Voltra family’s territory. Being a minor family, they too faced Krund’s devastation. That’s when His Majesty decided to withdraw.”

Then, he connected the Depol Mountains to the Voltra family’s land.

There was a discernible path to Krund’s movements.

“...If they keep advancing in this direction.”

If we extend Gale’s drawn line... at the end of it lay Stockpin.

“...It’s us.”

With that realization, I let out a sigh.

For some reason, I wasn’t even surprised.

It was something I’d somewhat anticipated.

“A territory with three war heroes gathered. It could be seen as an inevitable target, given the circumstances.”

“...Should we ask Lady Sylphrien to leave for safety?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea. Perhaps we should send back all our guests.”

“...”

I fell silent as thoughts of Ner flooded my mind.

Ner’s body wasn’t yet fit for a long journey.

Even if she were carefully laid down in a carriage, she wasn’t in a condition to withstand the bumpy roads and the cold nights.

And with bandits lurking everywhere, there’s no telling who they might encounter.

Besides, it didn’t feel right to part ways with Ner just yet.

She risked her life and made sacrifices for me, and all she wanted in return was a single embrace. To send her away now felt unbearably cruel.

Moreover, we still needed Blackwood’s assistance.

Although the number of recoveries had risen, there were still new cases emerging.

There were still severe patients. They needed Blackwood.

“...We still need Blackwood’s help.”

At my words, Gale reconsidered.

“A slip of the tongue, I apologize. Right, of course... I’d been too focused on external matters and overlooked Stockpin for a moment. Perhaps we should at least send Lady Celebrien back first.”

“...”

Silence lingered between us.

And in that silence, Gale once again offered a suggestion.

“...Berg. The escape plan...”

“...Ha.”

I sighed at Gale’s suggestion.

I still hadn’t made a decision on it.

Gale continued.

“I’m not saying we need to go far. As I mentioned, the Draigo family is gathering trained soldiers. We could retreat until they’re ready... then face Krund together.”

“...”

I blinked, my thoughts racing.

If we were to leave...

What about the children?

And the critically ill?

Hundreds of people were still suffering from the plague.

If we moved, the plague would spread even further.

And we’d have to load supplies for all of them onto carriages.

But we didn’t have nearly enough carriages.

We didn’t have enough horses to pull that many carriages, either.

Moreover, retreating would mean having to rebuild our village from scratch.

If Krund, in retaliation, decided to lay waste to Stockpin... our foundation would be destroyed.

All the fields we’d painstakingly cultivated would vanish.

We’d have no food for next year.

Perhaps I was being forced to make a choice between two fates.

Would I choose a swift end... or a slow one?

Which of the two would I choose?

“...”

And on top of that, Stockpin held the graves of my fallen comrades.

Countless companions who had stayed by my side lay resting here.

Even Adam Hyung.

Of course, I wasn’t so inflexible as to risk the living solely for the sake of the dead, but there was a definite reluctance.

“...Ha.”

I sighed as my thoughts came together, looking at Gale.

I took a deep breath.

A series of nightmares had come crashing down on me at once.

I blinked, shaken by that ominous dream, and checked on Ner.

“......Huh...?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“...Did you... have a nightmare?”

Ner, with a feeble hand, was holding onto mine.

Her fingers were even intertwined with mine, though I had no idea when that happened.

I hurriedly leaned toward her.

Almost instinctively, I nearly let go of her hand, but somehow, Ner found the strength to keep her grip.

With my free hand, I caressed her face.

“Ner... Are you... awake?”

“...”

With her weak strength, she rubbed her cheek against my hand.

Then, as if she had exerted all her energy, she fell still, but managed to open her eyes and whisper.

“...Yes.”

She smiled gently.

“...I missed you, Berg.”

****

Ner, with her eyes now open, showed more strength than I had expected.

Though she still couldn’t lift her arm by herself, she didn’t easily drift back to sleep.

She kept herself awake, holding on.

“Not sleepy?”

I asked her repeatedly.

“If you’re tired, rest a bit more.”

But Ner simply shook her head in response.

“...Hand.”

I looked down at our hands.

Our fingers were still intertwined.

Ner smiled softly and said.

“...With this... how could I... fall asleep...”

“...”

She didn’t seem willing to let go of our clasped hands just to rest.

Her determination was so endearing and yet... so cute that I couldn’t find any words to say.

But despite my efforts, I continued to doze off.

Each time I did, Ner would gently squeeze my hand, as if reminding me to stay with her.

“...Sorry. I dozed off again.”

But instead of accepting my apology, she made a suggestion.

“...Lie down... here... with me.”

Her ears twitched slightly, showing that, even in her weakened state, she was embarrassed by the suggestion.

“...”

I looked down at her in silence.

I hesitated, just for a moment.

Noticing my hesitation, Ner added another word.

“...Cold.”

“...”

I chuckled at that.

Then, nodding, I prepared to lie beside her on the bed.

Back when we barely knew each other, sharing the bed that first night was easier than this.

But now, with so many shared memories and a deeper bond, lying beside her felt strangely difficult.

Gently, I shifted her to the side and lay down next to her.

Struggling to turn, Ner buried her face into my chest.

It was as if she’d been waiting for this moment all along—a reflexive gesture.

I was taken aback for a second as she nestled into my embrace, her body beginning to tremble.

Soft, faint sobs escaped from her.

I wrapped my arms around her, comforting her with warmth.

She had once betrayed me... put those dearest to me in danger...

But now, she had saved those precious people, my wife and child included.

I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with her anymore.

Any lingering resentment had been replaced by gratitude and tenderness.

I held her tighter, allowing myself to be honest with my feelings.

Ner hadn’t fully regained her strength yet, but if I’d let her go without giving her this, I would’ve regretted it for years.

This moment felt like a miracle.

I held Ner even closer.

She, too, used all her strength to hold me back.

And in that embrace, Ner eventually drifted back to sleep.

As she nestled into my chest, a soft, steady rhythm took over as she entered her dreams.

I looked down at her sleeping face... gently kissed her forehead, and soon after, I, too, fell asleep.

This time, there were no nightmares...

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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