Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 174: Scene CLXXIV

The squeal of rats was heard, causing her lids to tighten as she felt the small creature run past and between her feet, swallowing the scream as she held tightly to the man in disgust at the sensation.

’Ngh! Good lords, please lead us out of here soon...!’ — Ewelina prayed in desperation as her limb shook off the unpleasant feel of small feet. Gripping her husband’s arm as a way to find comfort.

"... You weren’t as afraid even against Hœttr’s beasts. Rats do nothing, Fatædi."

"I... I dislike them... I... perhaps it is because they are small... I have had poor experiences with them..."

"... Like what."

’... Like them nibbling on my hair if I laid down and eating my little food... listen to their sound every night, eating the insects and even trying to live on my feet while I slept...’ — Thinking about some of the many reasons, Ewelina’s visage scowled in nauseating dislike, mumbling a simple answer for the man to have. — "Bad experiences... I do not want to recall."

"... Want me to kill ’em?"

"!? No, I... I only want us to leave this place..." — Aware that the man wanted to help she answered with conflict. — "I am sorry for this... it is probably a bother for you, husband..."

"..."

"..."

The stillness of the man who did not stop looking forward caused grief in the woman, concerned about his silence being a confirmation of her fears. Nonetheless, it was brief... For the man, although with a different answer, broke the tense quiet she felt.

"It’s a dead end."

"Uh?... Then..."

"This must lead outside. Fatædi, hold the torch." — Handing the heavy torch to the woman looking at the same wall before them, his hands started searching the edges of it for an opening. Even crouching to see if it was below from where it would open, like that one that pushed them there in the first place.

His hand then found a softer piece of rock on the wall, making him pause to look at the insects and little creatures that had rushed their opposite way.

"... Ewelina, stand behind me."

"?? Wh-what is it... did you find something?"

"This wall might open and these things could rush in. You don’t like them."

"... I-I understand... blessed thee earth, husband..."

Moved by his unexpected care, she followed his order, and immediately after, his hand pushed the piece, making the wall before them shake as it opened to let outside light come in.

As he warned, a few creatures rushed in and out making her flinch slightly.

He raised from the ground where he had hit the little creatures so his wife would not be reached, and his hand took back the torch from the woman, placing it on the wall to their side as its light was not needed anymore.

"!? It is the garden, husband!" — Ewelina energetically said as she found sight of the outside, rushing out of the passage to feel the clean air graze her figure.

"?!? Oi, don’t go on your own, woman."

"Haha! However, look Aslak! It is the fountain we saw yesterday. We made it out of that place and to such a colourful one no less."

"... It makes you that happy?" — The man asked, amazed at his wife’s change of demeanour, provoking a pause from the woman as she realised the fondness in the man’s voice.

"... Yes... I disliked it there..." — Turning on her feet, pacing back to meet the man who had remained at the exit as it closed, Ewelina controlled her alleviation to express her gratitude to the patient spouse she found smirking at her apparent energy. — "Thank you, my spouse... If alone I would have not known what to do..."

Tenderly, the feminine hand took the manly one, and the amber of the man appreciated the shyness of the woman before him who cautiously peeked at him from below. Causing her grin to deepen the dimple of the innocent Ewelina that, while on her toes and with the light pull of his man laid a kiss on the man’s cheek that also leaned to receive it.

"Thank you my l-... my reliable spouse."

"..."

This time the restrained impulse to call him her love was noticed by the wild man and a throbbing pain was sent to his core... aware that the same fear he felt was experienced by the loved wife.

— Don’t just rush out to say it! Make it special! I’ll tell you how to do it, Aslak. You won’t regret it. —

The words of his cousin resounded as wishes to say it invaded the man.

— You’ll have to say other truths too, so ya better make an effort so her heart won’t suffer as much. —

’... I won’t let her... I don’t want her to suffer...’ — Guilty to have hidden an important truth from the woman his determination to have no offspring was shaken after more was conversed with his cousin.

"... Husband?"

"..." — The pure brown of her eyes, ignorant of the man’s concerns looked with curiosity for his attention and so, looking around them he learned no soul was around.

The hands he had cleaned with a quick brush released the hand of the wife, solely to take her visage and tenderly squeeze the cheeks that blushed to his intense stare.

"Uh... um... husband?" — Nervous she softly asked again, taking with loving hold the wrists of the absorbed Aslak.

’... I love you Fatædi.’ — He practised in his head, feeling the warmth drown his mind and soul with effervescent delight... which pushed the man whose rejoice had manifested in colourful cheekbones to kiss the timid wife tightly in a pure seal of their lips... which continued as the woman closed her lids once more in a request of a repetition for his affection. Enchanting him further into saying more of the words he was to soon tell... 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

’I love you, my lung... Ewelina...’ — Breathless, many grazes were poured on the welcoming softness of his young wife. Whose smile remained untouched as his affection was enjoyed.