Chapter 208: Arwin’s True Feelings (5)

 

Arwin sat in her room, watching everything unfold with Berg through the bluebird.

 

It had been days since their argument.

 

An awkward tension still lingered between them.

 

No matter how many tears Arwin shed or how desperately she pleaded with Berg to run away, she knew he wouldn’t listen.

 

The same went for her request for him to accept her lifespan.

 

Nothing she did could force him to follow her wishes.

 

Perhaps that was why she had avoided approaching him these past few days.

 

Whenever she was in front of him, tears seemed to flow uncontrollably.

 

The thought that Berg was once again planning to sacrifice himself, that she wouldn’t be able to spend centuries more by his side, tormented her.

 

But Arwin was also aware of the unbearable weight pressing down on Berg.

 

If she compared him from a few years ago to the man he was now… Without needing words, she could see how much happier he used to be.

 

It was painfully clear how he was slowly grinding himself down for the sake of others.

 

Arwin knew that Berg had been offered a chance to escape with the Dwarf family beyond the estate.

 

She wished he would accept the dwarves’ offer.

 

For once, she hoped he could act selfishly, even if it meant abandoning everyone else, and choose the safer path.

 

After all, everyone only has one life.

 

Berg had crossed countless lines between life and death… but that fact never changed.

 

If he died, everything would come to an end.

 

While Arwin was still lost in these thoughts, Berg let out a deep sigh and began to move.

 

Arwin, through the bluebird, kept a relentless watch over him.

 

Today, more than ever, she wanted to know his every move.

 

‘...Perch on Berg’s shoulder.’

 

Chirp! Chirp!

 

Obeying Arwin’s request, the bluebird landed softly on Berg’s shoulder.

 

Berg smiled warmly, as he always did, and gently stroked the bird before continuing on his way.

 

He first went to where Sien was.

 

While many had recovered, there were still plenty of patients remaining.

 

Berg moved methodically, checking each patient one by one.

 

It was as though he was measuring the value of his life through the lives entrusted to him.

 

With a deep sigh, he eventually entered Sien’s room.

 

Arwin’s bluebird, Lua, flew freely around the room as soon as it entered, finding a suitable perch to settle.

 

“…Sien.”

 

“You’re here?”

 

Thanks to Ner’s sacrifice, Sien’s health had improved significantly.

 

Though she hadn’t completely shaken off the plague, it was now only a matter of time before she fully recovered.

 

Her recovery was so visible that one could see her body growing healthier by the day.

 

Along with it, her pregnant belly was also starting to show.

 

Berg sat beside Sien and placed his hand gently on her belly.

 

“…Nothing unusual happened, right?”

 

He asked softly.

 

Sien nodded.

 

“…No.”

 

“…”

 

Berg silently stroked her with a firm expression.

 

Even Arwin could sense the anguish weighing heavily on Berg.

 

“What’s wrong...?”

 

Sien, seemingly noticing the difference as well, asked Berg.

 

Instead of answering, Berg smiled.

 

But Arwin, who knew everything, understood what Berg was truly doing—he was evaluating Sien’s condition, assessing if she could endure the long journey ahead.

 

And yet, Arwin already saw the answer.

 

It might be possible, but the burden it would place on Sien’s body would be immense.

 

“…It’s nothing.”

 

So, Berg simply smiled brightly again and gently stroked Sien.

 

Then he held her close for a moment, remaining silent and still.

 

“It’s time for your medicine.”

 

The Blackwood nurse entered the room and reminded them.

 

Berg nodded at her words and rose from his seat.

 

After placing a soft kiss on Sien’s forehead, he walked away.

 

Arwin, who had witnessed everything, couldn’t even put into words what she was feeling.

 

Every expression, every movement from Berg seemed to convey his innermost thoughts.

 

She could understand why it would be so difficult for him to choose to run away with Sien in her condition.

 

“…”

 

Next, Berg moved to see Ner.

 

Ner was once again battling against a relentless fever.

 

Sweating profusely, she let out soft groans without realizing it.

 

Berg politely asked her sister, Lan, for permission before sitting by Ner’s side.

 

He held Ner’s hand, sitting there quietly for a long time.

 

Berg’s expression remained hard.

 

Only his sighs grew heavier.

 

Arwin understood the situation all too well.

 

She knew why Berg couldn’t simply abandon Stockpin, despite how easy it might sound.

 

The plague victims, Ner and Sien, the homes and farms he would have to leave behind, even the cemetery…

 

So many of the things Berg loved still had to remain here.

 

The things he wanted to protect were still here.

 

“…”

 

Yet, even knowing this, Arwin couldn’t bring herself to support Berg’s determination.

 

Her mind kept circling back to the thought of Berg as one of those “Warriors of Solitude,” the kind who met death the moment the war ended.

 

It was a possibility she desperately wished to avoid.

 

“…Please… Please, Berg.”

 

Through her tears, she whispered to Berg, though she knew he couldn’t hear her.

 

She wished he would choose to run away, just this once.

 

Why did he never know how to back down?

 

Why were others always his priority, never himself?

 

Arwin watched as Berg tended to Ner, who was too weak to even stand.

 

Suddenly, she realized just how lonely he looked.

 

At that moment, there was no one for him to lean on.

 

He had to protect both Sien and Ner.

 

The weight on his shoulders was enormous.

 

“…”

 

Finally, Arwin wiped away her tears and stood.

 

She began walking, leaving her room.

 

Descending the stairs, she made her way to Ner’s room, where Berg was sitting.

 

Creak…

 

The sound of the door opening didn’t stir Berg.

 

Only Arwin stepped closer to him from behind, speaking softly.

 

“…Do you really have to do this?”

 

“…”

 

“…Hic… Can’t you… choose to run away?”

 

Berg, as always, remained unchanged.

 

Thinking back now, Arwin realized it might have been this very unchanging nature of his that first made her fall in love with him.

 

Back then, he had fought the elven swordsman, Gallias, beneath the World Tree to protect her and had carried her out of harm’s way.

 

Even back then, he had been a foolish man willing to sacrifice his life for her sake.

 

Perhaps wishing for him to change was selfish in itself.

 

Swish.

 

Arwin wrapped her arms around Berg from behind.

 

Her flowing tears dampened the nape of his neck.

 

She clung to him as a realization dawned upon her.

 

Right now, Berg had no one to lean on.

 

With Sien and Ner both unwell, Arwin was the only one in good health.

 

…If that was the case,

 

If Berg was struggling this much,

 

…Shouldn’t it be her who lightens the load on his shoulders rather than adding to it?

 

If he wasn’t going to change, shouldn’t she at least support him?

 

“…”

 

Berg remained frozen, unable to make a decision.

 

Arwin slowly moved, sitting on Berg’s lap where he sat in the chair.

 

Placing her hands on his cheeks, she looked down at him.

 

“My love, do things truly have to be this way…?”

 

“…”

 

His wavering eyes.

 

“…”

 

Seeing the conflict in his gaze, Arwin thought to herself.

 

…Berg was someone she could never overpower.

 

She didn’t want to force something upon him that went against his resolve, only to see him regret it later.

 

At last, she understood.

 

She, who had always considered lifespan the most important thing, could now comprehend Berg’s perspective.

 

There were times when something more important than one’s own life existed.

 

…To Arwin, that something was Berg.

 

“…Alright, then.”

 

Arwin finally managed a smile.

 

“Berg… in that case…”

 

Drip… drip…

 

It was something she never wanted to say, but if she were to truly support Berg, she felt she had to.

 

“…In that case, Berg. I will be on your side from now on.”

 

“…”

 

“…Go and fight Krund.”

 

“…Arwin?”

 

“You’ve already made up your mind in your heart, haven’t you? But because of everyone’s opposition… you just couldn’t bring yourself to make the choice, could you?”

 

Berg’s eyes began to tremble.

 

Arwin understood better than anyone how difficult it was to be in a situation where you had no one on your side.

 

Even having just one person to affirm you could make a difference… yet there were often times when that one person was absent.

 

That was why she was trying to be Berg’s strength now.

 

Perhaps, deep down, she was grappling with her own selfish desires.

 

Berg, too, surely had a longing to exact revenge for Captain Adam.

 

If that feeling existed within him, he must have suppressed even that.

 

Arwin was lending her strength to such a man.

 

“When I think about it… you’ve always been this way. Always reckless… impulsive…”

 

“…”

 

“…And beautiful.”

 

Rational choices aren’t always the only right ones.

 

Sometimes, choosing a path that seems hopeless and succeeding in it can be more beautiful than anything else.

 

Choosing to be with the ones you love over a lifespan of centuries.

 

Choosing to stay and fight instead of running away.

 

Tap.

 

Arwin softly pressed her lips against Berg’s.

 

It might have been the last time.

 

Such an opportunity might never come again.

 

Berg was now preparing to head into battle.

 

Arwin had resolved herself to face his death.

 

The man who was more precious to her than her own life—she had steeled herself to lose him completely and still stand by his side.

 

As she pulled her lips away, she whispered.

 

“Berg. Go. And please…”

 

Holding back the overwhelming urge to cry, she added,

 

“…Please, come back to me.”

 

What she had done was ultimately just a small gesture of support.

 

She had gently pushed his back, which had been frozen in hesitation.

 

Yet Berg smiled.

 

The tremor in his gaze settled, replaced with a look of determination and relief more resolute than anyone’s.

 

“…Thank you, Arwin.”

 

He said.

 

“…This was what I needed.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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