Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 262: Scene CCLXII
Given the words and the sight of the gems he once searched conveyed, Aslak finally understood that the wife was to be listened to this time, feeling hopeful that the affection they once shared could also come back as his gift did to its rightful place by the woman’s own hand... Eventually taking out the seed the earth had granted, so the man could show it to the woman; ready to tell what he risked his life for in exchange for this hope.
“Ewelina... This here... it’s what I went to the depths of Sortnafeigr for.”
“This?... A seed?”
“I met the earth’s core there... the message forecasting destruction to our territory was solved the moment I met it.”
“Ah... that is a relief... that means Sortnafeigr is safe...”
“Ou... yet this seed is for you to have.” — Extending his hand towards the cautious wife the man said, staring purely sincere into her umber hues.
“For myself...? Why is that?” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
“... It’s... so the womb I withered will blossom fruitful again.”
“...”
“I asked the earth... From the beginning, this was my aim when going to the core... even before you learned about it... I was planning on telling you and seek the core to redeem the harm...” — Unable to look at her, Aslak felt ashamed of his doings more so after he learned the immense importance the wife held for becoming a mother. Lowering his head while recalling the suffering the earth allowed him to learn of her past, continuing to show the seed on his trembling hand to the stunned Ewelina. — “With this... even if it’s not with me... you will be able to bear children again.”
“... what?”
“Uhm... what I say is that... if you take this-”
“That is not what I am asking about. Why would you imply I would have children with someone else?”
“... Because I hurt you... so maybe you wouldn’t want that.”
“...”
“That’s... what I thought...”
“... I am your wife... For you to even think I would dishonour our marriage... hurts myself further.”
“...”
“I apologise.” — At his submissive silence, showing a conflicted expression as he had no words to reply, Ewelina then sighed at her own self, sorry to the sight and annoyed at her own mouth. — “... I am lying when saying that... it is not because of our marriage... but because it is with you that I wanted children with... my rage made myself tell what I did not feel again...”
“...”
“... I am sorry... yet do not say something like that again... please...”
“... a’ight.”
“...”
Silence fell upon them right after, for the woman’s words were sweet within the tension to the man and slowly the ambience commenced to soften thanks to the quiet and slow cooperation between them. Being her one step closer that was to melt the remnant uneasiness of both.
“Therefore... Y-you say this seed is for me to take...? How am I to take it?”
“... I don’t know.”
“... You do not know?” — Surprised she looked up at him careful not to touch the seed, yet resting lightly her fingertips on the man’s hand.
“The earth only gave it... maybe I should ask Alsvartr about it.”
“Alsvartr?... Who is that?”
“A Jazhara.”
“... a Jazhara?”
“Ou.”
“... You still tell what you believe is enough, haha~” — At the little information the man gave, Ewelina could not help but laugh. Staring at the seed while the man fell entranced in the melody of her laugh and sole dimple, troubled to know he should not act impulsively as his soul desired at her sweetness. — “It is so like yourself...”
“...”
“...”
“... Are you not going to take it?” — Aslak then asked as she would only stare at it, provoking the brown of her hues to blink before lifting to meet his curious amber. Pondering on his inquiry for a moment to properly craft the words to convey the motives behind her hesitation.
“I do want to take it... Nevertheless... You do not want children.”
“...”
“If you did, you would not have withered my womb to begin with... What we fought about would not have happened... therefore... Has that wish changed?”
“...”
“I would like to know... for I will not have children with someone that is not my spouse.” — Against what her desperation to accomplish such dream her soul had overcome within its eternity, the woman... gingerly honest told the spouse... for the time apart had been long enough for her wishes to change... for her desperation to find resignation and for the soul to truthfully seek what once was told to the servant of her old household that was now of the Archduke. — “Doing such... would not bring myself happiness...”
Conflicted, the eyes of the Archduke fell on the seed his palm kept offering to the woman, and the sight of new lives his journey showed while blinded were recalled, taking a moment to ponder in his tired state what his mouth would tell impulsively fast.
“It changed... I want children.”
“...... Y-you do?”
“Before... I didn’t want them because of what they would have to do given the tradition. Killing our parents for the position... I didn’t want that.”
“... w-what? Wait... W-why would you-”
“It’s a tradition. The dress you wanted to wear and I told you not to was the one Mother wore when Father killed her.”
“.....”
“I then fought him out of rage... that’s what he wanted... Even though I wouldn’t win he needed me ta do it since if he found me good enough, he would let me kill him and I would be the Archduke as it’s supposed to be... I didn’t want my kid to kill me. I didn’t want to die like that... and then I didn’t want you to die... but... but if they only kill me it’s fine.”
“?! We don’t need to follow such tradition!” — Coming to hold his head so the eyes could meet hers, Ewelina told the spouse, terrified by the reasons he concealed for so long. Saddened by the past he had to endure and starting to understand how come the idea was despised enough to wither her womb secretly.
