Chapter 74: Dems Village (5)

 

Climbing the hill to the north of the village, she was always there waiting for me.

 

“Bell! Hurry up and come!”

 

There was a warmth that came just from the way she called my name. If I could hold onto this feeling forever, it felt like I could overcome any challenge.

 

“...”

 

Even though I clearly saw Sien yesterday, seeing her again felt like it had been ages.

 

Naturally, I approached her with open arms.

 

Seeing my gesture, Sien, who seemed eager, ran toward me with a bright smile.

 

She leaned strongly into my embrace.

 

I was once again thankful for having such a being by my side.

 

Perhaps I loved Sien even more than I loved myself.

 

For her, I would give up everything. Even my own life.

 

While in my arms, Sien asked me,

 

“Bell, you didn’t see any other girls today, did you?”

 

Then, as always, I replied,

 

“I didn’t.”

 

Sien chuckled at my response.

 

“You can’t see other girls, okay? Because you have only me…”

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

The hands of Sien, who had been hugging my back, loosened for a moment.

 

Sliding up, her arms wrap around my neck.

 

Pulling me gently towards her, our foreheads touched.

 

Her beautiful dark eyes approached mine.

 

The playfulness vanished, replaced by a rising, deep emotion.

 

Neither of us looked away from each other.

 

For a long while, we simply stared at each other until Sien whispered a question.

 

“...Bell, do you love me?”

 

After confessing our love for one another, Sien sought affirmation of this fact every day.

 

For me, there was no simpler question.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“...............”

 

But words failed me, as if my throat had suddenly closed up.

 

I tried to force out a sound, but nothing emerged.

 

“...Bell?”

 

A hint of sadness crept into Sien’s expression.

 

Just a slight delay in affirming my love was enough to wound her so.

 

She was ever so delicate and pure.

 

Feeling her pain all the more, I tried harder.

 

I didn’t want to see that look on her face.

 

Seeing her hurt felt as if I was hurting myself.

 

I tried to muster more strength in my voice, but only a stifled moan came out.

 

“.......Ah....”

 

That strained sound was all I could manage.

 

Upon hearing it, Sien said,

 

“...Bell. I love you. I can’t be without you. Can’t you tell me you love me too?”

 

“.........”

 

“...Bell... I can’t hear you.”

 

My breath grew increasingly labored.

 

I had been trying to speak for so long that I forgot to breathe.

 

Yet I didn’t give up. I wanted to see Sien’s smiling face again.

 

“..........”

 

“....Bell...”

 

“........Lo...”

 

“Berg!”

 

With that shout, my eyes snapped open.

 

The breath I had been holding flowed freely again.

 

I gasped for air and hastily sat up.

 

“Ah!”

 

Ner collapsed onto my lap with a thud.

 

At the same time, I grabbed my throat, trying to regain my breath.

 

“Haah...haah...”

 

As the realization dawned on me that it had all been a dream, I clutched my face.

 

Another dream of Sien.

 

The vivid image of her in front of me dissipated like a mirage.

 

“Berg, are you okay?”

 

In the midst of my jumbled emotions, Ner looked up at me with concern.

 

Seeing her worried expression as she lay against my thigh, my emotions quickly settled.

 

“...I’m okay.”

 

Ner blinked at my response and then clarified, “...You were having trouble breathing...”

 

I cleared my throat and tried to explain, “...I dreamt of strenuous training.”

 

“...”

 

It was clear Ner didn’t quite buy my awkward excuse, but she didn’t press further.

 

Waking up from such dreams always left me wondering why I had them.

 

Was I still holding onto lingering feelings for Sien?

 

I had resolved to let go of such attachments when I decided to get married.

 

“...”

 

I recalled the voice of Sien from my dream.

 

Once, she truly said that to me...

 

... ‘I can’t be without you.’ Yet, she left.

 

Regardless, I shook my head, brushing off the thought.

 

Sien must’ve moved on from her feelings for me.

 

She was the one who said she’d leave and never come back.

 

For seven years, like a fool, I had remained stuck in the same place.

 

Now, with Ner and Arwin, it was time to move past my history.

 

Ner, with her ears perked up and a worried look, caught my eye.

 

“...”

 

I gazed at her for a while, forcing a small smile.

 

Eager to put Sien behind me, I focused on Ner, who was right in front of me.

 

I gently stroked her hair.

 

Seemingly embarrassed, Ner quickly pushed my hand away.

 

Subsequently, I slowly got out of bed.

 

Even though it was just a dream, I felt guilty towards Ner and Arwin.

 

I thought a drink of water might clear my head.

 

Leaving Ner on the bed, I headed out.

 

“........Where are you going?”

 

Ner’s voice, hesitant and soft, questioned me.

 

“...”

 

Her brief inquiry made me feel oddly out of place.

 

I turned my head to look at her.

 

Her yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.

 

“...What did you say?”

 

“....Where... are you... going?”

 

Only then did I realize the oddity of her question.

 

She was always someone who didn’t need to know where I was going, no matter where I was headed.

 

Ner seemed troubled deep down, unable to look me in the eye directly.

 

“...”

 

I was curious about this sudden change in her emotions.

 

Was it because she had waited for me all day without any promise of my return?

 

Or was it because I was abruptly leaving the bedroom after having a nightmare?

 

Regardless, I felt this was actually more natural.

 

“Isn’t this way more comfortable for you too?”

 

I asked.

 

“...Huh?”

 

“...We should at least know each other’s whereabouts.”

 

“...”

 

After a brief pause, Ner nodded.

 

“...Yes.”

 

In the end, we were those who blended cultures, choosing only the parts that were more convenient.

 

This way, I wouldn’t have to hold back from asking Ner where she was heading.

 

We were naturally creating our own set of rules.

 

“I was going to get some water.”

 

I then answered Ner’s earlier question.

 

Blinking for a moment, Ner said,

 

“...I want to come too.”

 

I smiled.

 

“Sure.”

 

****

 

By morning, Ner couldn’t lift her head.

 

She realized how embarrassingly she had behaved the previous night.

 

“Awake?”

 

Berg asked, looking at her.

 

She had thought about it all night as they went to drink water... she acted too impulsively.

 

She became freshly aware of how strong her own pheromone scent was, wafting from Berg’s body.

 

“..............”

 

Each time that scent wafted up, Ner’s face reddened further.

 

Berg’s body was filled with her fragrance.

 

It was her first time, so she didn’t know where to draw the line.

 

Even couples of the werewolf tribe, deeply in love, didn’t exude such a scent.

 

She acted too rashly because she was so mad at Kayla.

 

Had Berg not moaned in his nightmare, it might have been even worse.

 

Seeing in the clear light of day what she had done, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

 

“........”

 

At the same time, she felt an indescribable... emotion.

 

Seeing Berg, entirely covered in her scent, made her heart race.

 

The fact that she left her own mark on him deeply, scratched her own dark desires that she didn’t even know existed.

 

Was it because she had never possessed anyone before?

 

She couldn’t take her eyes off Berg, who felt like he had become hers.

 

“...Why are you staring at me like that?”

 

Berg, unable to detect that scent, looked at her quizzically.

 

Saying something like, ‘It’s because I’ve marked you with my scent’ was obviously out of the question.

 

Ner jerkily lowered her head and stood up.

 

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

 

“Let’s go eat.”

 

Berg suggested.

 

Ner nodded.

 

-Creak...

 

The bedroom door opened, and Ner’s heart sank.

 

It was the moment when everyone would see the embarrassing thing she had done.

 

Berg was unaware of this shameful act.

 

She lowered her head and headed outside.

 

Berg followed her.

 

Village Chief Nox, seeing their state, asked with a smile,

 

“Did you sleep well last night?”

 

But Nox, taking a sniff, quickly closed his mouth.

 

His expression tensely stiffened.

 

“...Hahaha...”

 

Heat rapidly rose to Ner’s face.

 

It was clear what caused his reaction.

 

“...Why are you acting like that?”

 

Berg, unaware of the situation, asked.

 

Nox waved his hands dismissively around them.

 

“Oh, it’s nothing. What will you do for a meal? Will you eat at the inn today, or here...?”

 

“We’ll eat at the inn.”

 

“Very well.”

 

“Where is Arwin?”

 

Berg inquired.

 

“She should be sitting outside.”

 

Nox answered.

 

As Berg started to step outside, the person Ner was waiting for appeared before them.

 

“Dad, Berg-nim is up...”

 

Kayla, coming down from the upstairs, suddenly clamped her mouth shut, much like Nox had.

 

This time, Ner didn’t lower her head.

 

Even in embarrassment, she stood her ground.

 

She intently watched Kayla, observing her reaction.

 

Though she might have overdone it... it was a warning for Kayla, who underestimated Blackwood.

 

Ner had heard that the unique scent exuded by Blackwood bears an intimidating presence.

 

Through Kayla’s reaction, she realized that the hearsay was true.

 

Kayla, unusually subdued, averted her eyes.

 

She looked visibly flustered.

 

Her long ears drooped back.

 

“...Are you going to eat?”

 

Berg casually asked Kayla, as if inquiring about her well-being.

 

Kayla, deep in thought, looked over at Ner.

 

Ner fixed Kayla with a sharp gaze.

 

“...Ah, no. I... I’ve eaten.”

 

Kayla responded.

 

A smile formed secretly within Ner.

 

Berg, seemingly satisfied with the answer, continues walking.

 

As he opened the door to leave, Ner tasted a small victory.

 

It was always a given, after all.

 

Who would dare approach the mate of Blackwood?

 

“...Finally, it’s over.”

 

Berg muttered.

 

It seemed like a comment regarding Kayla.

 

Watching Berg let out a sigh as if he was shrugging off an annoying acquaintance, Ner felt even more satisfied.

 

Although he already had two partners, Berg truly appeared to look only at his chosen mate, much like the werewolf tribe.

 

He didn’t cast a glance towards anyone else, except for herself and Arwin.

 

This fact brought Ner nothing but joy.

 

To that extent, things were alright.

 

If he only looked at two people, she could handle it.

 

“...?”

 

Suddenly, Ner wondered what she had been thinking.

 

What did she mean by ‘handle’?

 

Regardless, Ner drew closer to Berg.

 

She put her complicated thoughts on hold for a moment.

 

Then, stealthily, she inhaled Berg’s scent.

 

Mixed with the scent she had left on him, his natural fragrance blended in.

 

This new mingling of scents intoxicated Ner.

 

She might have overdone it with the pheromones last night... but she thought that maybe it wasn’t so bad.

 

A genuine smile touched her lips.

 

With that smile, she couldn’t take her eyes off Berg.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –