Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 226: Scene CCXXVI

“Ah...Yes... It is easy to tell our people apart, Haha... It is as expected of yourself. Nonetheless, fights are to be found certainly where he headed, was that not in Yngve’s interest? Vinka and Auflulk appear to have joined the Myrkzver you did not follow.”

“... I do what I want.”

“Right... Nevertheless, it is nice to see you. Hopefully, the travels we are to take are not forcing your will, Yngve.”

“I want to go. Heard it’s tha Veneer Female’s birthlands.”

“Yes, we will be heading to my Mother’s lands, in Arbeumore. The sights are different to those at Sortnaferigr...”

“Ma’am, we are ready to depart. Grant your word and we shall.” — Then Gilead came to her side, respectful to the Archduchess wearing the cape that was to protect her visage as it had been arranged so no one if possible would learn of her departure.

The steed that was specially prepared for her to use was brought instead of the carriage she was offered by the King, for in her position and beliefs, comfort like such would be disliked. For in her travels with the partner to these grounds, carriages were not for them of tough and treacherous roots and resistance to resort to.

“... Tell the men to mount, we will leave immediately.”

“Yes, Your Illustrious Grace.”

As she saw the guard do as told and dismissing the savage with a nod so his mount would also be ridden, Ewelina gave a last glance to the high building and terrains she was leaving. Reminiscing on the events experienced and she never imagined would occur when she arrived before these walls... much less could foretell a departure such as this concealed one.

— You are taking a recovered Grey with you, don’t hesitate to send word if anything happens in your way. —

— The King is too kind, I shall do so if I see myself in the need... Although a robust troop is sent along to protect myself. —

— I cannot do less than that... You are my family also, Ewelina. — 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

‘... For him to be a King... this Kingdom is blessed...’ — Ewelina contemplated as she recalled the words shared in a farewell with Jollveld.

— I desire from my very depths... that once Aslak returns, your problems will be talked about and solved, cousin. May your travels be safe. —

With fondness in her heart, Ewelina’s departure was reigned by a burning sun. Accompanied by a child, a guard she doubted and yet still confidences in, as well as the savage she found difficult yet simple; the wife started the journey a spouse had also travelled partially, going in the direction he once said he would take her... Yet on her own, the earth had decided for her.

Good weather was allowed by nature to aid the travel. Lands she did not know were crossed as well as some fairly familiar.

Villages and towns were the spots where slightly better rest could be granted... However, dreams were not to permit Ewelina’s true rest, for a long past her soul unconsciously desired to recall vividly in the realms of slumber. Procuring to make her more aware that a long life had been experienced by the soul... solely for a purpose that grew stronger the more she suffered... the more she died... the more she lived...

— An orphan you say you are, girl? —

— Myself lacks a father and a mother from birth. The great-grandmother took myself as a baby. She shall be called the orphan’s mother. —

—... Said grandmother is the one sending the girl to the river? —

— ... The source of our food can be found in the stream. —

— Was I to help... would the girl have time to look at myself while we converse? —

— Why would the man help? —

— ... Time is there for the man. —

“........ Certainly... he had the time...” — Waking to the unsettling sensation that first encounter invoked, Ewelina woke in the fourth night of travel, having seen other pieces of that life and other lives every night of her journey.

A void opened to know so clearly how that life had gone in every awakening, feeling disgusted once recalling how the first man to have her broke to her soul the news that made her soul’s wish impossible.

— The physician said your womb cannot give life. —

— ??? S-such cannot be... —

— ... It is... Hence, no marriage will happen between us. —

— ?! Yet my purity! I have- You have already taken it from myself! —

— You gave it... Thou cannot be my woman when no child will be born. —

Closing her lids to the echo of a distant man she had followed in another life to be abandoned, Ewelina sighed with a sense of irony in the lift of a lip’s corner. Thinking about the difficulties she had to bear after his hurtful forsaking. — ‘... a shame I became to the great grandmother... and outcasted I became from the village I thought I was dear to... And yet... illness did not take long from bringing myself to death after learning he married another girl...’

In the cruelty of it, Ewelina still felt such life had ended with mercy towards herself. Abandoned by the man she thought to love... However, comparing the hurt she had experienced once truly in love, was then that the woman found odd delight in the sense that life had concluded.

— Sleep... you may be younger than this old woman... yet rest is what you need, girl... may we meet in the heavens... where a better life will be granted to you next to your parents... —

The life she was leading now made her smile in wonder at the words of the old woman. For no such heaven received her and never did she meet a dead one after dying. However, the love of the grandmother warmed her soul, for such death was one she was fond of as even after experiencing difficulties under the grandmother’s good care, her wrinkly and elderly hand held her weak one until death.

“A good life it was... frustrating... yet vast knowledge was earned...”