Chapter 227: Mixing Races (3)

“…”

She seemed completely lost in thought, as if her mind had been consumed by something else entirely.

And it wasn’t hard to figure out what was occupying her thoughts.

To put it bluntly, there was no harm in deepening our relationship tonight. However, I couldn’t deny wanting to do so under more stable circumstances.

With that thought in mind—hoping to calm Ner’s growing restlessness—I leaned in and whispered to her.

“…Ner. Don’t you think it’d be better to wait until we’ve built a proper home before…taking that step?”

After all, the current situation wasn’t exactly ideal for openly acknowledging that I was married to multiple wives.

While we weren’t nobles, and there was no reason to overly concern ourselves with the abolishment of polygamy, it was undeniably easier to keep such matters discreet.

I wanted to avoid any chance of the villagers guessing the nature of our relationship, especially if certain…sounds happened to escape from the room.

Even if it was something I could choose to ignore for Ner’s sake, I still had a small hope that such things could be avoided if possible.

I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks to our current happiness.

Of course, the fact that we were taking turns entering the same room might already raise some eyebrows.

But there’s a world of difference between people being unaware of what’s happening in that room and them overhearing sounds that leave no room for doubt.

“…What?”

Ner suddenly looked at me, startled by my words.

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

Blinking rapidly in embarrassment, she stammered out a response.

“W-Who said anything about doing that right now? I was just saying you should…get some rest if you’re tired…”

“…?”

It was then that I realized something about her demeanor.

Ner didn’t seem to be aware of just how bold she was coming across.

Was it because her mind was so focused on one thing? Or perhaps…was this a side effect full moon?

I wasn’t entirely sure.

****

After finishing our meal, I headed off to wash myself.

Thud!

That’s when Ner appeared out of nowhere and grabbed hold of me.

“B-Berg. Are you going to wash up?”

“…Yeah. Why?”

Ner swallowed hard before hesitantly making a suggestion.

“C-Could you…maybe not wash today?”

“…?”

“I…I like your scent. It’s…nice.”

Seeing her say this, red-faced and fidgeting, it was clear she wasn’t just saying it casually.

She was genuinely earnest, pushing past her embarrassment to express herself.

I chuckled softly.

For my wives, there wasn’t much I couldn’t do.

Still, I wanted to at least rinse off the dust, so I offered her a compromise.

“…Then I’ll just rinse with water, okay?”

“…Okay.”

Ner swallowed again, her gaze filled with something akin to anticipation.

Her white tail wagged gently, full of excitement and hope.

.

.

.

After washing up, I bid farewell to Sien and Arwin.

“Goodnight.”

“…”

Arwin shot me a long, unreadable glance before retreating to her room.

“...Remember what I said.”

Sien left me with a warning before turning away.

Thud.

Their doors closed in unison, leaving me standing awkwardly in the hallway for a moment.

“…What are you doing?”

That’s when Ner peeked out of her room, her head poking through the barely open door.

She was clearly signaling for me to come in, her subtle gestures filled with urgency.

With a small sigh, I walked toward her room and stepped inside.

The moment I entered, a distinct fragrance caught my attention.

It was a fresh yet familiar scent—one that unmistakably belonged to Ner.

But there was something oddly alluring about it, something that made my thoughts waver.

Perhaps it was because I already knew her intentions, or maybe my own mind was being subtly influenced. I couldn’t be sure.

Making one last effort to resist, I turned to her and said, “Ner, like I said earlier…if possible, I’d like to wait just a little longer.”

Ner blinked at me, caught off guard, before replying hastily.

“I-I wasn’t suggesting we do anything tonight either!”

Her voice rose as if to defend herself, but the disappointment was evident. Her tail, which had been raised moments ago, drooped noticeably.

Slowly, she climbed onto the bed, brushing her hair aside with a few awkward strokes before speaking again.

“Was…was I acting weird today?”

“…”

“Berg, you should know… Actually…”

“I know. It’s your mating cycle.”

“…Yeah.”

Ner nodded, admitting it without hesitation. She continued, her tone almost apologetic.

“It’s not usually this bad, but…for the past two years…during every mating cycle…you weren’t there to help me through it. So now, it’s just…”

Her voice trailed off as she looked up at me, her eyes filled with longing.

It was as if she were silently asking if I intended to leave her unresolved after all this time.

“…”

That captivating gaze sent a shiver through me, threatening to break my resolve. But with a deep breath, I managed to suppress my impulsive thoughts.

Ner went on, her words tinged with vulnerability.

“…So that’s probably why I’ve been acting so strange. I know it’s hard to understand, but…I hope you can.”

“I do understand. And honestly… I’m grateful.”

“...Grateful?”

“Because it shows you love me.”

“…”

Her silence lingered for a moment. When I glanced at her, she was staring at me with unflinching eyes.

I could see the flicker of desire reigniting beneath her gaze, as if my words had fanned the flames.

Letting out a deep sigh, I tried to shift the mood.

“Let’s just sleep for now. We have to get up early tomorrow.”

“…Okay.”

Her response came after a noticeable pause, her voice reluctant but understanding.

I took off my shirt and climbed into bed. The moment I did, her tail wrapped snugly around my thigh, and she pressed herself close to my side.

Without hesitation, she buried her face against me, inhaling deeply.

“Ahh… This scent. I love it so much.”

“…”

She no longer even tried to hide her actions, breathing in loudly as if finding peace in the act.

“I’m happy, Berg.”

Her words broke the silence, and this time, her tone was more serious, her raw emotions bleeding through.

“Having a mate…it makes me so happy. It makes me feel so secure.”

“…”

“No matter what happens, even if the world collapses, I know you’ll always take my side. Even if everyone else turns against me, I know you’ll think of me. That makes me so happy… I feel like I could cry.”

Hearing her heartfelt confession, I leaned over and gently kissed her forehead.

Her pointed ears twitched slightly, betraying her emotions.

“Alright, let’s sleep now,” I said with a sigh, trying to bring the moment to a close.

But Ner wasn’t ready to end the night just yet. She whispered softly.

“Berg.”

“Yeah?”

“Even if we don’t…do anything tonight… A kiss would be okay, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“That…wouldn’t be too much, right?”

Her question alone revealed how pure and unguarded her heart truly was. Instead of responding verbally, I gently pulled Ner’s chin closer.

Then, I kissed her.

Her body flinched momentarily, but soon, she softened into the embrace.

“Mm…haah…”

Soft, breathy sounds escaped her as our lips met again and again. Slowly, her mouth opened, hesitantly revealing her tongue.

It was long and awkwardly tentative as it emerged, unsure of what to do.

I decided to take the lead, brushing my tongue lightly against hers.

It was soft yet sweet, hot yet slippery.

“!!”

The moment our tongues intertwined, her body stiffened once more, as though surprised by what she had been yearning for.

Despite having clearly wanted this, her reactions still carried a sense of innocent shock.

“Pfft…”

Finally, I broke the kiss and couldn’t help but laugh.

Realizing I was amused by her reaction, Ner’s face turned a deeper shade of red.

“…You’re so inexperienced at this. What am I supposed to do?”

“...?”

“Well, anyway. Let’s go to sleep now.”

I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her as I shut my eyes.

Her warmth radiated through me, grounding me in the moment.

She looked up at me briefly, chuckling softly, before nuzzling her head against my chest as if ready to fall asleep.

****

Or so I thought.

Before I could drift off into deep slumber, I became aware of her subtle movements.

Smack.

“I love you so much…” she whispered, her lips brushing against my neck.

Somehow, Ner had wriggled out of my hold and now clung to me, her lips pressing against my skin.

I groggily opened my eyes, calling her name.

“…Ner?”

“Shh, Berg. You must be tired.”

“Wait—”

Though she was the one keeping me from sleeping, she had the audacity to act like she was being considerate.

“Just a little more. Let me kiss you a bit longer, okay?”

“…”

Even so, it seemed like she was trying to show some restraint. Her kisses were light and tender—soft pecks that tickled my lips.

She kissed lightly.

She gently sucked my upper lip.

She softly flicked her tongue against my teeth.

Every touch was delicate, nothing overwhelming.

“…”

It was almost endearing how earnest her actions were, and I couldn’t help but find her adorable. Eventually, I closed my eyes again, letting her continue. Perhaps if I let her indulge just a little more, she’d eventually grow tired and fall asleep herself.

Or so I thought.

“Mm…haah…so good…”

Her quiet murmurs soon became an endless string of affection. She showed no signs of stopping.

“What…Berg? Why do you taste so good?”

At this point, I began to doubt whether this was truly the effect of her mating cycle. Perhaps it wasn’t her mating cycle at all but simply an excuse for her to act on her feelings.

When I opened my eyes again, I found her still fully engrossed, her lips showering me with love. Her expression conveyed an almost overwhelming amount of emotion, as though she couldn’t contain how much she cherished me.

“…Ner. It’s time to sleep now.”

I finally spoke up again, expecting her tail to droop in submission, as it always did.

But to my surprise, she frowned instead.

“…You’re mine.”

“What…?”

“You’re mine, Berg. I’ll do what I want.”

Her voice carried a stubborn determination as she climbed on top of me, pinning me down.

Then, she leaned in and pressed her lips against mine with even more conviction than before.

“…Don’t stop me. I haven’t seen you for two years, so I’m taking back all that lost time. Go ahead and sleep if you’re tired.”

Her lips moved passionately against mine, her tongue seeking mine with a fervent intensity that left me breathless.

In that moment, it became clear—she wasn’t going to stop until her longing was fully satisfied.

As my consciousness slowly returned, the desire I had been suppressing ignited into flames, no longer contained.

“Phaah…”

Ner parted her lips to catch her breath, a trail of saliva glistening between her tongue and my lips before dripping softly into my mouth.

Her gaze lingered on the sight, filled with tender affection, as she brought her face closer to mine. Pressing her forehead gently against mine, she whispered.

“My love…my darling…my everything…”

Her words carried an overwhelming depth of emotion, her entire being radiating with devotion.

“…Haa.”

I let out a deep sigh, steadying myself.

“Kyaah!”

Without warning, I placed my hands on her waist and spun her around.

Thud!

“…What?”

Ner blinked, momentarily confused by what had just happened.

Before she could react, she found herself lying on the bed, my figure looming over her. The sudden shift had loosened her tail’s grip around me, and it now lay softly beside her.

Her legs, which had previously been wrapped around my thighs, rested atop them now, creating a perfect, undeniable position.

“….!”

Realization dawned on her, her breath hitching as she swallowed hard. She seemed to understand exactly what was about to happen.

Looking directly into her wide eyes, I spoke in a low, steady voice.

“No regrets.”

Perhaps, as husband and wife destined to share long years together, it was time to show her who held the reins in this dynamic. If nothing else, it would serve to remind her not to climb all over me without understanding the consequences.

– – The End of The Chapter – –

 

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