I Became the Monster's Bride

Rescue, The Revealed Truth (11)

“She said that she was going to sleep and told me to leave, but the Empress didn’t really mean to sleep at all.”

“……then?”

“Her Majesty is actually waiting for you. There’s a lot of conversation to share after all. There’s a story that you need to hear from Her Majesty. In fact, Your Majesty also has something to confess to the Empress as of now.”

“……”

“Furthermore, you are being worried about the Empress so much that you couldn’t even leave the tent area.”

Lucy jokingly added before pushing Kergel towards the tent. He had been usually strong and now that he had already grown bigger, it was not easy to push him at all, no matter how tough Lucy truly tried.

However, Kergel was eventually forced to go towards the entrance of the tent by her strength. Perhaps it was obvious that his mind had helped Lucy to move him as well.

“Come on, come on! It’s the husband’s job to take care of a sick wife.”

Lucy stood in front of the entrance of the tent and gave a vigorous push against Kergel’s hesitating back once again. Then, Kergel slowly slipped into the tent.

“Phew… there we go. Anyway, the problem between a pair of husband and wife should be solved only by the couple themselves.”

Lucy muttered before gazing towards the tent.

Honestly, it was not because she had not been worried at all. Even she, herself, had momentarily paused at Kergel’s sudden change in appearance.

‘So, the Empress must have been very surprised since she didn’t know anything at all.’

But still, she believed that both of them could overcome it well.

If it were those two.

If it had been the feeling that they shared together.

Lucy nodded and turned around at once.

* * *

Kergel, who slipped into the tent while still being pushed by Lucy, trod a couple of steps and stopped right at that spot.

“……Roelin.”

He could tell as soon as he had entered the tent that she wasn’t asleep as all. Right at the moment she could hear Kergel’s voice, Roelin stuck out and clasped her hand tightly.

After a short period of time, Roelin, who had been lying on the cot, slowly rose herself up. The blanket that was covering her body soon fluttered downwards.

“……”

Pop pop. Roelin just stared at Kergel without saying a word whereas only the sound of wood burning could be heard faintly.

Roelin’s gaze shook again as she glanced at Kergel’s change that was reflected in the light over the shade on her face. Nevertheless, she soon fixed her eyes on him and clenched her lips hesitantly.

“……”

Still, there was no sound coming out of the normally chattering lips. Kergel just waited silently for her. Then, he could hear Roelin’s voice that seemed as though she had at least gained some strength from the pause.

“……really, is that you?”

“……”

“The man who is now in front of me…… Kergel, is it truly you?”

Roelin’s voice trembled. Kergel nodded slowly as he could feel the confusion that she was currently experiencing.

“Yes, it’s me, Roelin. It really is me.”

“Oh, how…… What in the world is that sort of look right now…?”

Roelin closed her mouth as she was unable to speak properly, just like she could not believe it at all.

“Roelin, I…… so, I actually……”

“Wait, please don’t approach any closer from there.”

Roelin quickly raised her hand and stopped Kergel when he could no longer stand his own nervousness as he eventually tried to take a step closer. Kergel’s face immediately contorted before the very apparent rejection.

Rather, it was quite fortunate that the darkness was rather dense as of now.

At least, she wouldn’t be able to get a closer look on his current face.

It must have been somewhat hideous because he had already transformed into the appearance of an animal with its fangs all protruded as well as those grown hair, plus it was also disheveled, so how terrible would it truly seem then?

He was glad that it had been night, but on the other hand, he still hurriedly stepped back and hid himself in the darkness where even light could not reach as he thought that his face would definitely be clearly seen under the light.

“Ke, Kergel. I…”

And this time, Roelin’s face became distorted instead. It was due to the fact that she could see him obviously stepping back at the sound of her words.

“It’s all right, Roelin. You don’t have to be sorry. It’s no wonder that you’d be so surprised. I’d just… like to have a conversation even at this distance.”

After Kergel had pacified Roelin, he remained silent for a moment.

He felt like he was being suffocated under the weight of the heavy silence. Now that he knew he had to speak up, he had no choice but to open his mouth somehow.

However, as he stood right in front of her, he was nothing more than just a mere coward.

After listening to her, he was afraid of the kind of eyes that she would be looking at himself with.

Kergel then clasped his hand tightly. The sharp set of fingernails dug into his palm and blood seeped through them in return.

That was also proof that he had not been an ordinary human being.

If he truly was an ordinary person, just by grabbing his hand like this wouldn’t have ripped his skin apart at all.

“……There’s something that I never told you before.”

Kergel spoke with much difficulty while suppressing the corners of his mouth from being wry. Then, he raised his gaze and looked straight at Roelin.

Although she had been treated, he could still see her being covered with wounds.

……what could he have done even if he did have such enormous power?

He couldn’t even protect his own companion.

He laughed helplessly at himself before closing his eyes and opened them after that. And he soon got down on his knees slowly.

“……!”

Then, he could feel that Roelin had heaved in surprise when she saw him like that. But Kergel just continued while still on his knees.

“I, no, in this body of mine…… the blood of the Ancient Wolves flows through.”

“……what, what?”

Roelin’s voice sounded trembling. Kergel opened his mouth again while looking at her once more as he clutched his thigh tightly with his hand.

“……I am a descendant of the Ancient Wolves. Not another ‘human’ like you. Just like those rumors about me, I am a monster.”

“Ke, Kergel. What do you mean…”

He could see Roelin’s blue eyes were wide open. Kergel spun his head and turned away from her because he was afraid to see himself being reflected in those eyes. Conversely, it was also the fact that he had been afraid to face the fear that might have lurked in her gaze while looking at him.

In the face of the newly revealed truth, Kergel was just infinitely shabby and cowardly.

All because of love—it was simply inevitable that he became utterly terrified.