Hokuou Kizoku to Moukinzuma no Yukiguni Karigurashi

Chapter 46: The Husband, Loved by the Raptor Wife.

Volume 1 — The Temporary Snow Country Life of the Northern Nobleman and the Raptor Wife

Having heard my sudden confession, Sieg made a surprised expression.

“……”

“……”

Erm, that was, I made a wrong move.

At a moment like this, I have to have my eyes level to hers, but now I chose the unfortunate method of crouching down on the floor and looking up at my wife’s face to confess my love.

On top of that, Sieg was looking troubled like never before.

The always imposing Sieg was making a mysterious expression.

I really shouldn’t have confessed to her.

I had misunderstood her love.

She was only receiving my hugs and kisses because she felt pity for this lonely man in the snow country. She was just being earnest in trying to not let others find out that our life is a temporary one.

For Sieg, I was just like an undependable younger brother.

Her love for me was that of familial love. It was not a romantic feeling.

“……Sieg, erm, sorry. I didn’t mean to make you troubled. You said to wait for your answer, but I couldn’t.”

While saying that, I didn’t want to see Sieg who looked troubled, so I wrapped my arms around my head.

I’m impoverished, and I don’t have the qualities of a proper lord. I can’t provide my wife with a peaceful life then.

I have no right to be loved by such a kind, earnest and cute woman like Sieg.

Since I couldn’t stay like this, I looked up, to Sieg.

To spend the remaining time happily, I tried to laugh it off, but the usual smile did not form. I failed to smooth things over.

What came out instead were foolish words of a sissy.

“Please forget it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because, I want to stay as husband and wife at least until the contract is over.”

It’s okay. Everything will be back to normal after I sleep.

I quickly stood up and bid her good night, then quickly turned around.

“Wait.”

“!”

My body stopped regardless of my will. I was like a properly trained dog.

“Look over here.”

“……”

I turned around with my eyes still glued to the floor.

“Ritz, you are mistaken.”

Mistake, I wonder where. I tried to think long and hard, but my head did not comply.

“Did you think I am such a docile woman to let anyone kiss me on the cheeks?”

“……”

“Did you think that I wore the earring without knowing what it meant?”

Sieg might like me. I had denied that thought so many times.

People’s true feelings are shrouded in many things such as pity, mercy, and lies.

The more one ponders, the deeper the mystery gets.

“I see.”

“?”

“So you won’t believe it unless I say it directly or show it with my actions.”

“Eh, Sieg, wha……!?”

Sieg strode over here and tightly embraced me.

I was at a loss for words from her sudden action.

Some time passed while I was still being embraced.

There, Sieg broke the silence.

“Ritzhard Salonen Revontulet. ——I am in love with you.”

“!?”

“Please accept me as your wife.”

I doubted my own ears.

I thought that it was a dream. But her warmth around my shoulders, and her trembling fingers told me that it was all real.

I put my arms that were limp around Sieg and embraced her.

“……Thank you. I’m happy.”

“It’s fine if you know now.”

I was staying still, connected with her, but I felt that something was off.

“Sieg, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

I was always bothered about that, so I mustered up my courage and asked.

I asked why her breasts always felt so tough when I hugged her.

“Are you wearing something else?”

“Aa, a leather armour.”

“……”

It was a habit she has from her days in the military. She always wore armour under her clothes.

Her thighs were so pleasant and soft, so I thought that it was weird that her breasts weren’t.

And then I asked something more.

“Huh, even when you’re asleep?”

“No, I sleep naked at night.”

“!?”

I felt moved for some reason when I got that unexpected information.

It was also a moment when one of her mystery was solved.

“Shall we sleep now?”

“Alright.”

I won’t go over details as to what happened next.

◇◇◇

Though Sieg and I now had a proper wife and husband relationship, our life did not change that much.

“Morning, Sieglinde.”

“Good morning.”

As always, Sieg had went out on her morning stroll and was grinding coffee beans before I woke up.

When I’m surrounded by the scent of the roasted coffee beans, my drowsiness disappears before I know it.

I gave her a morning kiss on the cheek. Though I’ve been doing this for a few months now, she still made an awkward expression.

“You don’t like it?”

“……No, I don’t dislike it.”

Hearing that, I mustered up some more courage and kissed her on the lips.

She was sitting facing the table, so there wasn’t anything more though.

While I was slinking around the her, breakfast arrived.

“I’m going over to help with renovating the house.”

“I see.”

Today we are acting separately.

As for me, Emmerich was coming over tomorrow so I was thinking of visiting the house that is to be lent to him.

It’s been a while since I gave the keys to Aina, but I don’t think there would be a lot of change.

In addition, though Emmerich managed to get a holiday, he’s spending four days just for moving to and fro, and he’s staying only for a day. A strange trip I have to say.

To welcome him, I got a pair of shoes and a hat made out of rabbit fur, and a tradition clothing that I asked a crafter to make. I also thought of giving him a carpet, but after talking with Sieg it was decided that it should be done after learning his preferences.

I put the wrapped gifts in a leather bag and headed to the house in the outskirts of town.

The blood-red curtain, which was one reason why the house was called a haunted house was removed. What replaced it was a blue curtain with a lovely white floral pattern.

I went inside with a spare key and I was astonished by the change.

First, the dirty vase with the wilted flower was now a glistening vase with a fresh flower. There was also a square cloth with a floral pattern laid out beneath the vase.

The dusty hallways and rooms were clean, and was fit for living.

And inside the living room, there were fabrics with lovely embroidery.

On the table, there was fabric for the curtain, the tablecloth and for the sitting mats. Covered with cloth on the chair back, the living room coated in blue and white was like a house of fairies in the forest.

I was surprised that it was all made by Aina.

Then, Emmerich will be living here. By himself.

When I approached the drawers in the bedroom, I discovered cloth for the pillow covers, and for the blanket covers, all embroidered beautifully.

I realised at that point. It was not a house of fairies. It was the house of a newlywed couple.

……Let’s go back.

I pretended to have not seen them and left the room.

When I arrived at the entrance, I noticed the doorknob turn.

The face I saw was a completely unexpected one.

“IS IT YOUUUUU——!?!”

“!?”

I thought it would be Aina, but there was an old man pointing a gun at me.

He is Aina’s grandfather, and the best hunter in the village.

Next to him, Aina was there, shouting out to stop him.

—— C-Could this be a misunderstanding?