Chapter 50: The Second Wife (2)

 

As we stepped into the elven territory, a subdued wave of applause met us.

 

There was no raucous celebration — no cheers and flower petals rained down on our way, as the werewolf had done in Blackwood.

 

Instead, they solemnly, almost ceremoniously, clapped for us. It seemed to be their own form of etiquette.

 

However, upon closer observation, I noticed something else. Although their applause conveyed gratitude, their eyes ...also held fear.

 

Our arrival, as a race often labeled uncivilized, savage, or barbaric, clearly unsettled them more than their polite applause let on.

 

Frankly, it made sense given our appearances alone.

 

Adam Hyung, the captain, was covered in blood, and the rest of us were in no better condition.

 

The blood we shed, along with that of the monsters, stained the white stone paths the elves had crafted.

 

Just by moving, we left our marks on the elves’ streets.

 

I also decided to ignore their gazes.

 

I was satisfied that these so-called arrogant elves were applauding us. And it wasn’t as if we had come here seeking their applause in the first place.

 

Our sole objective for this trade was clear-cut.

 

Hence, I just admired the surrounding landscape, shaking off my thoughts.

 

It was the first time I entered the elves’ territory, and it was beautiful enough to be described as radiant.

 

Buildings and roads were constructed from pure white stone. Trees had been strategically planted to create lush landscapes, and vibrant flowers adorned artfully designed bridges throughout the territory.

 

And then, before me stood the World Tree.

 

Looking at that tall and upright tree, I simultaneously felt its grandiosity and magnificence.

 

Now, I could understand why the elves believed that the world would come to an end if the World Tree died.

 

“...”

 

I chose to ignore the voice that once again resonated in my mind.

 

‘...Did I ever think I’d see all of this without her?’

 

Beside me, Ner kept stealing anxious glances in my direction.

 

When I raised an eyebrow in question, she averted her gaze.

 

“...?”

 

A sense of unease began to well up within me at her sudden change in demeanor. Worried, I asked her...

 

“What do you think, seeing the World Tree?”

 

...now my companion.

 

Ner glanced at me sideways.

 

“...I’ve seen it before, a long time ago.”

 

She spoke with a firmness in her voice, yet she couldn’t completely hide her melancholy.

 

“...”

 

In the meantime, Adam Hyung made eye contact with some older elves at the end of the road.

 

They were most likely the elders. And even though there was no announcement about subjugators or subjugation, they must have been watching all of our actions from atop their walls, anyway.

 

As we got close to them, Adam Hyung dismounted, and the rest of the Red Flames - except for the injured -  followed his lead.

 

I extended my hand to Ner so she could dismount as well.

 

After a moment of hesitation, she took my hand and climbed down.

 

I could feel the warmth of her hand.

 

The Elders greeted us in their customary fashion, lightly touching their foreheads with their hands. Adam Hyung nodded in return, acknowledging their gesture.

 

Ascal, the Elder who’d been riding with us, also dismounted and joined his fellow Elders. Their faces showed visible relief as they exchanged brief words.

 

Then, standing in a place slightly ahead of the others, Ascal turned to Adam Hyung and spoke.

 

“On behalf of the elves, we extend our gratitude to the Red Flames.”

 

It was a formal statement.

 

It felt somewhat amusing that Ascal, who had been beside us just moments ago, would act this way, but it was a necessary formality.

 

“As a gesture of our appreciation, we will give the hand of my beautiful daughter, Arwin, in marriage. I hope that vice-captain Berg will cherish her.”

 

I gave a brief nod.

 

At this, Ner’s gaze once again met the side of my face.

 

Taking another look at her, she didn’t seem to be in high spirits.

 

Her white tail was weakly touching the ground.

 

“...”

 

Even if she had no feelings for me, her aversion to polygamy seemed noticeable.

 

Of course, she had accepted it...but it was not without a sense of reluctant agreement for the sake of the elves.

 

Hadn’t she said she couldn’t turn her back on the elves for personal reasons?

 

She too had made a difficult cultural choice.

 

It seemed like I needed to take better care of her.

 

“Let’s discuss the details later. Right now, I think everyone would like to rest.”

 

At that, Adam Hyung, draped in fatigue, nodded in agreement.

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“Although we don’t have much to offer at the moment, we’ll treat you all with the utmost sincerity. Preparations for bathing and refreshment are underway. Thank you once again.” Ascal declared.

 

And then he and the elders bowed their heads in our fashion.

 

Once again, applause erupted from the square, echoing across the landscape.

 

And in that moment, it truly sank in: this work was truly over.

 

****

 

Even by evening, Ner felt no energy return to her body.

 

She had spent the entire day sitting in the room the elves had provided. Berg, meanwhile, had been away for some time—first to bathe, and then to visit the wounded and pay respects to the fallen.

 

“...”

 

She couldn’t help but wonder if he was also discussing wedding arrangements with Arwin, learning the elves’ customs for marriage.

 

Ner realized that the heaviness that had settled in her heart a few days earlier seemed only to intensify.

 

The joy she’d felt at Berg’s safe return had been short-lived, replaced by unease over his impending marriage to Arwin.

 

Distracted, Ner idly brushed her own pathetic tail... the tail Berg had once praised as beautiful.

 

“...”

 

Then, she let out a short sigh. Despite her ruminations, her conclusion was always the same: her discomfort stemmed from a cultural difference she couldn’t easily bridge.

 

As a member of the werewolf tribe, where one should only love one person, the human practice of polygamy was a culture she found difficult to understand or accept.

 

She suspected anyone in her situation would feel the same.

 

- Knock, knock.

 

Startled by the sudden sound, Ner jolted. Simultaneously, she heard the door opening.

 

“Be...”

 

Assuming the only one to come looking for her would be Berg, she began calling his name. But the one who entered was Arwin.

 

“...Arwin-nim.”

 

For some reason, Ner felt disappointed as she faced Arwin.

 

“Do you like the room?”

 

Arwin asked as she entered.

 

Ner nodded her head.

 

Certainly, everything about their architecture, from the colors to the layout, was beautiful.

 

She didn’t know whether she felt that way even more after living in Stockpin for a while.

 

But today, Ner didn’t want to admire this beauty.

 

It was already hard enough to hide her heavy heart.

 

Ner wondered if she were really that pathetic.

 

Even though she was already considering leaving Berg, Ner couldn’t understand her own feelings.

 

Insisting that Berg have only her as a wife when she was planning to leave anyway was the epitome of something she shouldn’t do.

 

And she knew this, yet still, she felt that way.

 

“I wanted to apologize for earlier,” Arwin slowly said as she took a seat beside her.

 

The apology was most likely about Berg- About the question she had posed, asking what would happen to her if Berg were to die.

 

Ner lowered her head and replied, “It’s fine. You were just speaking honestly, after all.”

 

She deflected the conversation, merely being polite.

 

Arwin nodded.

 

“...I suppose I’ll soon be the vice-captain’s wife.”

 

“...”

 

“I hope we can become close in the future.”

 

“...I hope so too. I look forward to it.”

 

“Right. Like I said, it would be nice if we could get along and share our worries with each other.”

 

Ner nodded, seeing no issue with this proposition.

 

There was nothing wrong with getting along with Arwin. From the beginning, Ner had fond memories of her.

 

However, she hadn’t realized how candid she was until today.

 

“Is there anything I should be aware of?” Arwin asked, but before Ner could answer or say anything, she added. “I know a lot about human culture through reading, but experiencing it could be a different matter.”

 

After some thought, Ner answered, “Humans in relationships tend to... restrain each other, I guess.”

 

With that, she lightly lifted her left ring finger.

 

“Like this ring. It serves as evidence that I belong to Berg?”

 

“It’s a ring you always have to wear after marriage, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Even when you wash your hands?”

 

“You can take it off briefly then; it doesn’t seem to matter.”

 

“But it does feel constraining at times?”

 

“...Yes.”

 

Ner had grown accustomed to it recently, so she hadn’t given it much thought. But up until two weeks ago, she found the ring suffocating.

 

She hadn’t anticipated that such a small piece of ornament could make her so uneasy, especially when she attempted to grab something.

 

Of course, Ner had moved past that stage, but Arwin might not be able to do that.

 

Hence, she informed her about this first.

 

Arwin nodded and took a moment to look out the window.

 

Ner did the same.

 

“...”

 

A peaceful atmosphere continued.

 

It was hard to believe that Berg had risked his life in battle today. Despite, the fear she had felt at that time was still vivid in her heart.

 

Would she continue to feel this anxiousness if she stayed by Berg’s side?

 

For some reason, she didn’t like that thought; it felt like her heart couldn’t bear it.

 

“....How’s your night...?”

 

For a moment, Ner missed what Arwin was saying.

 

She refocused on Arwin, snapping out of her brief daydream.

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that. Could you repeat?”

 

Arwin took a slow, deep breath.

 

For a moment, her cold expression seemed to crack with concern.

 

“...How’s your night duty?”

 

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –