Chapter 104: The Direction Where The Heart Rests (3)

 

I strolled around the village, hand-in-hand with Arwin.

 

Ever since the day we got caught in the rain together, I felt even closer to her.

 

Perhaps it was because of our physical proximity.

 

Arwin didn’t seem to mind our interlocked fingers.

 

Of course, it was she who had suggested it.

 

Carefully nurturing her own presence by my side, Arwin responded to the villagers’ greetings with a light blink of her eyes and answered their words in her own unique way.

 

She had an aura about her that distinctly set her apart from me.

 

Her different origin was palpable enough for anyone to notice.

 

The residents of Stockpin were also swept up in her ambiance, treating her with cautious respect.

 

After all, a being of longevity and nobility like her wasn’t someone they came across easily.

 

Her uniqueness became a source of pride for the Red Flames Group.

 

After all, Arwin was one of us.

 

No one grumbled anymore about her being a mere compensation for our expedition.

 

All of this was surely thanks to her efforts for me.

 

Had our relationship seemed poor, such a perception would never have been possible.

 

From a distance, Shawn teased me.

 

“Vice-Captain, I get you’re close, but maybe let go of Arwin-nim’s hand.”

 

“Why?”

 

I asked, and he chuckled in response.

 

“It’s obvious that Arwin-nim is getting annoyed.”

 

I turned to look at Arwin.

 

Her posture radiated a serene dignity.

 

Her expression was full of composure.

 

Her eyes glanced at me, yet her hand firmly gripped mine.

 

Her aloof expression contrasted with her clingy hand.

 

Walking around hand-in-hand with me, almost childlike, seemed to create an awkward contrast with her usual demeanor.

 

“…”

 

As my hand, interlocked with hers, began to sweat, I loosened my grip.

 

There was no need to continue like this.

 

-Squeezing tightly.

 

However, she gripped my hand even tighter, her expression unchanging.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

I chuckled at her response and held her hand again.

 

Looking up at Shawn, I responded.

 

“I’ll handle it.”

 

Shawn didn’t stop there, teasing me further.

 

“Haha, I hadn’t realized it before, but you seem to have quite a possessive streak. You don’t need to show off; the whole village already knows.”

 

‘Possessiveness, huh.’

 

I shrugged my shoulders and moved on, with Arwin following suit.

 

****

 

Arwin gazed at Berg.

 

His expression was unchanged, surveying the village.

 

Their hands remained joined.

 

“...”

 

Arwin felt a slight embarrassment, feeling as though her heart had been exposed just moments ago.

 

It was she who had suggested walking around hand-in-hand.

 

And she who had insisted on not letting go.

 

So, the person with possessiveness Shawn mentioned wasn’t Berg, but herself. It was she who had wanted to show off.

 

If Berg had said something like, ‘It was Arwin’s idea,’ she would have been embarrassed... But sure enough, Berg shrugged and walked on.

 

Perhaps, in some way, Arwin had anticipated this situation.

 

She wanted to give the impression that she was inevitably receiving Berg’s love.

 

It might have been a pride she didn’t realize she had as an elf.

 

Being a short-lived human, a commoner, admired by someone who was a long-lived elf, a noble, could be embarrassing.

 

Apart from all that, she also wanted to hide her joy in holding hands.

 

That was why she had stiffened her expression even more.

 

She acted as if this display of affection wasn’t her idea.

 

Shawn was just one of many who had fallen into that trap.

 

“…Berg, thank you.”

 

Thus, Arwin whispered.

 

“For not telling the truth earlier.”

 

This was something she could say because it was Berg.

 

He was the only one she wouldn’t feel embarrassed about revealing her weaknesses to.

 

There was no one else who understood her pain more than Berg.

 

No one else who empathized with her as much.

 

Berg chuckled at her words.

 

“What’s there to thank me for? Even if it was your suggestion to hold hands, I was the one who asked to pretend we’re close. If anything, I should be the one grateful.”

 

Arwin shook her head.

 

“...Even so.”

 

Looking up at the kind Berg, Arwin further praised him.

 

“For bearing with the talk about possessiveness for my sake.”

 

Berg laughed softly in response to her words.

 

Arwin felt puzzled by his laughter.

 

“...?”

 

Berg then spoke.

 

“...It’s not that I was holding back, Arwin.”

 

“Really?”

 

“It’s not like Shawn was wrong.”

 

With a smile, Berg looked straight at Arwin.

 

“I do have a possessive side.”

 

Arwin’s heart skipped a beat.

 

But feigning calm, she gently asked back.

 

“...Is that so?”

 

Arwin’s mind raced with thoughts.

 

Did that mean... the movement they fell deeper in love, the more he would want to monopolize her?

 

What would it feel like to be monopolized by Berg?

 

Even the thought made her feel a warmth rising within.

 

Watching Berg turn away with a smile, Arwin murmured to herself again.

 

“...I see.”

 

As they walked on, they encountered an elderly person holding a child.

 

Berg asked,

 

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

 

“Thanks to you, Vice-Captain...”

 

Then, Berg spotted someone.

 

He waved a greeting.

 

Ner, from a distance, waved back.

 

Arwin’s eyes met Ner’s sharp gaze for a moment.

 

“...”

 

Receiving that look, Arwin held Berg’s hand even tighter.

 

Possessiveness...

 

Arwin thought that perhaps she, too, might have a strong possessive side.

 

“Alright. Arwin, go and rest.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I’ll go see Adam Hyung.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Berg then let go of her hand.

 

Blood started to flow back into Arwin’s pale hand, beginning to tingle.

 

It was sweat-soaked from how tightly it had been held.

 

It felt strangely... thrilling.

 

“Yes.”

 

But, once again hiding her feelings, Arwin nodded her head.

 

She watched Berg’s retreating figure.

 

****

 

Arwin returned home with Ner.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Lately, there had been an awkward atmosphere between them.

 

It might be due to the changes arising in Arwin’s heart.

 

Ner’s diary had put a distance in their relationship.

 

Sometimes, it felt like they engaged in unnecessarily long eye battles.

 

“...Are you okay with the hangover?”

 

Arwin broke the silence first.

 

“...”

 

Instead of replying, Ner slowly walked to the dining table, took out a teacup, and poured water into it.

 

After filling it with cold water, Ner took a sip and then replied.

 

“It’s still a bit hard.”

 

“...”

 

After a moment of silence, Ner asked.

 

“Arwin-nim, how come you were with Berg so early in the morning?”

 

Arwin recalled the morning and answered.

 

“I just followed him out when he left the house early this morning-”

 

“-I see. But why have you been holding hands so much lately?”

 

The question came suddenly.

 

Ner’s expression was one of genuine bafflement.

 

“...”

 

Arwin had no ready explanation to offer.

 

But before she could think of an appropriate excuse, Ner spoke first.

 

“...From a distance, it looks like you’re in love with Berg.”

 

Arwin blinked in surprise.

 

Ner asked in a mocking tone.

 

“Isn’t it foolish to love someone with such a short lifespan?”

 

Arwin wasn’t sure about love.

 

But if asked whether she liked or disliked Berg... without a doubt, she liked him.

 

Feeling hurt by Ner’s scorn for such feelings, Arwin also realized anew just how indifferent Ner was towards Berg.

 

In any case, this was more comfortable for her.

 

It was better to know Ner’s true feelings this way.

 

Arwin had no desire to maintain a position of advantage.

 

She played along with Ner’s rhythm.

 

“That’s true. It’s foolish.”

 

“...”

 

“The cultural differences are too vast.”

 

It wasn’t the first time she’d said something like this.

 

But saying it out loud now, she felt unjustly wronged.

 

So she continued.

 

“The cultural differences apply to you too, don’t they?”

 

Their eyes met for a moment.

 

“.................That’s true.”

 

Ner answered after a brief pause.

 

“Yes.”

 

Taking a breath, Ner seemed to recall something and asked.

 

“Oh, right.”

 

“...?”

 

“It just came to my mind... and I got curious.”

 

“Ask.”

 

“Arwin-nim, you’re free once Berg dies, right?”

 

“...”

 

Arwin’s expression hardened at the aggressive question.

 

Then, feigning nonchalance, she replied.

 

“...Yeah.”

 

“But didn’t you say the same thing to me?”

 

“...?”

 

“...That it might be better for me if this marriage ended early too.”

 

Arwin’s heart sank for a moment.

 

“What did that mean?”

 

Ner continued to press her with questions.

 

As Arwin tried to calm her startled heart, she grew curious about the reasons behind Ner’s change.

 

Why was she asking this? What was her purpose?

 

Ner, who was preparing to betray. Ner, who believed in a destined partner.

 

...Could she have started to wish for the end of the marriage?

 

But Arwin hadn’t yet thought deeply about it.

 

In fact, she was so happy now that she couldn’t help but smile even when sitting still.

 

So, naturally, she had no choice but to feign ignorance.

 

“Just as the words meant.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You’re hoping for this marriage to end, aren’t you? Since you have a destined partner.”

 

“...............”

 

“That’s why I said it. There was no other intention.”

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

A brief silence followed.

 

Arwin suddenly realized she didn’t understand why this situation had arisen.

 

All she knew was that she was increasingly disliking the time spent with Ner.

 

Eventually, Arwin changed the topic.

 

“...Polygamy should never have existed, right?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Then neither you nor I would have to be in this situation.”

 

If it weren’t for polygamy, Ner wouldn’t have been here.

 

Arwin felt again the harms of this harmful tradition.

 

Ner let out a short sigh.

 

The tension surrounding them lightened.

 

“...That’s true.”

 

It was a moment where their opinions aligned.

 

And so, they swallowed another silence.

 

Arwin, feeling weary, spoke up.

 

It seemed there was nothing more to discuss.

 

“...I’m going in, Ner.”

 

“Okay.”

 

As she was about to walk away, Arwin added.

 

“...I hope we both can be happy.”

 

“...”

 

“Even in this situation now, who knows how the future will turn out.”

 

Ner nodded her head.

 

Arwin spoke.

 

“...So, in the distant future, I hope you find your destined partner too.”

 

It sounded like a considerate remark, but Arwin was half-serious.

 

Ner’s eyes found Arwin again.

 

Soon, Ner smiled and responded.

 

“Thank you. I hope you find your freedom too, Arwin-nim.”

 

Her words were also filled with courtesy.

 

Arwin replied with a forced smile.

 

“...Thank you.”

 

.

.

.

 

Arwin sat by the window, chanting a spell.

 

- Chirp! Chirp!

 

Soon a bluebird flew in and perched on the windowsill.

 

Ner seemed to long for the end of her marriage.

 

It was always better to be cautious.

 

Arwin didn’t always talk to this bluebird, so she asked.

 

“Have you been well all this time?”

 

- Chirp! Chirp!

 

As Arwin smiled and stroked the bird, her expression suddenly turned cold.

 

“...So?”

 

She leaned forward.

 

“...Has anything happened to Ner lately?”

 

- Chirp! Chirp!

 

The bluebird indicated nothing had changed.

 

But sometimes it couldn’t approach due to a threatening scent.

 

“...”

 

Arwin nodded.

 

Then she sighed and said.

 

“...Keep watching her. I’ll ask again later.”

 

- Chirp! Chirp!

 

The bird, indicating it understood, then spoke to Arwin.

 

It remarked that she seemed to be on good terms with that male, which was nice to see.

 

“...”

 

Arwin’s face flushed.

 

Then playfully, she pushed the bluebird off the windowsill.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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