Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 47: Scene XLVII

Her appreciative words were ignored by Aslak as he watched the woman’s hands take the cord from him and turn it around her waist to eventually tie it in a well-kept knot.

Then, he followed her motion with an attentive eye as she slightly bent to take a laying cotton that would touch her face lightly with some powder he ignored, doing no change whatsoever in her humble beauty even with the gain of whiter shade.

Using a pinkish translucent oil, she dipped the fingertip of her ring finger in its curiously small bowl and traced her own lips with its shade while looking inside the glass that reflected her image.

’... What’s... What are those things she’s using??’ — Tilting his head in crossed arms, the man wondered at the never seen actions he was witnessing from his Wife. And once she walked to the armoire from where she would retrieve a cloak to wear over her dress, Aslak stepped forward to sniff the rosy cream that had gone on her lips.

’Smells like nothing...’ — Aslak thought as distorted lips in disgruntled demonstrated his confusion at the object.

"? Haha... What are you doing, Spouse of mine?" — Playful, Ewelina came back to face him as she flickered the cloak to cover her shoulders, amused at the ways to learn her curious husband had.

"Are you ready?"

Displeased at being found, Myrkzver straightened to repel her query.

"Yes... Is my attire proper?" — She answered, easily granting his evasion for she found it likeable. Asking instead what she did wish to learn. — "... Will it please your people?"

"... It’s fine... Although that shouldn’t bother you."

"....."

The wish to know why that was the case was only conveyed by the unsure glance she gave in quiet. And he who had noticed, answered while retrieving his own cloak. Continuing to reach for her limb to commence their way down to Kleifar.

"It doesn’t matter if it pleases them. You’re also their Lord. You can cut their throats if you want."

"!? I would never do that."

His wild utterance shocked her. More so with the wicked expression that enjoyed saying it, along with the awareness that even though the example was extreme, his words probably held truth to them.

"You wouldn’t. At least not now. But there are times, woman... That the savage’s ways will need to be used in these Lands."

The severity of his warning was candid. Therefore, Ewelina felt a shiver traverse her core, for she could imagine that a time would come for her to perform such actions.

They had halted on their way to her chamber’s entrance at the need of the man to convey the urgency of such truth. Yet grasping the hand of hers in firm hold, he pulled her to wake from the impact the news took on her mindset. Coming closer to face her, and told to reassure the waver of the woman.

"Don’t overthink. This place is cruel... But cruelty is also sometimes done in sights for compassion to the one remaining."

"..."

"Crave that in your head... This place is not like the North... But that doesn’t mean it’s bad."

’... The North... It was not that nice towards me...’ — Ewelina lowered her head in contemplation of his words.

"If anything... Woman. We are free here."

A wicked smirk in the fierce eyes of her Spouse flared up, envisioning a sight she has not witnessed yet.

The amber in his hues appeared to be looking at sceneries and experiences only he who belonged to those nooks could entertain.

Therefore, before the intriguing gaze of the man, she fell mesmerized by what she ignored.

Ewelina’s eyes shined hopeful to learn and act as the Archduchess she had become. Finding pride in being the partner of the distinct man that impulse by excitement was now dragging her around the corridors, further down their Residence, to reach the last room that would enable the path down the boulder it was located on. Nonetheless, as lost as the woman had become on fantasising, she recalled her duties. Immediately asking within the rush of his long strides.

"! Ah... Husband, wait... Has everything been prepared to attend our guests? I have not supervised the Castle today so–"

"Everything’s been dealt with~ You can just forget about that pair."

"!... Alright."

The nice tone he used to answer her concern conveyed the good mood her Husband had at the moment, provoking a shy smile to appear on the wife... Unaware that the source of entertainment in his sound was not the expectation of reaching the destination they had in sight, but the fate the Baron must have encountered shortly after leaving his walls.

Going down confusing corridors and stairs, a time came for her Spouse to speak. Vigorously, as the room they ultimately needed to reach was closing nearer with each of their steps.

"I’m guessing Uth didn’t show you these corners?"

"! Yes... I ignored they existed..." — Amazed by the concealed places they were crossing, Ewelina flinched at his comment that surprised her as she attentively looked around the corridors they walked, yet she rushed to follow, anticipating how the place they were reaching would enable them to go down.

It was a nook whose light was only granted from a few torches lined on the walls, obscure in a deep blue that imitated the light of the moon colliding against the dark stone the crag flaunted.

However, in an instant, the light changed.

Further ahead, white and thick lighting like the clouds entered from an arch that stood as the entrance to the last nook of their Residence.

"You liked the view of the village, didn’t you?" — Aslak then asked, expectant of what was soon to appear the more they walked before her eyes.

"? Yes."

The intrigue to his question made Ewelina blink in wonder.

"... I suppose we’ll have to see if you like this one..." — Taking a moment to consider if his next question should be asked, the arch had already appeared before them in their steps. Hence, discarding the words, Aslak simply shrugged mumbling to himself. Yet letting her listen.

The release of a malicious whiff followed his words and leaving her hand alone, he crossed the curved arch of grey rocks.

"Drig."

"Humh?? The Lord is heere eearly?... Humuuh? Our Illustrious Madamee is heere too." — The man seating comfortably on the floor said with a unique tone of speech.

Pinkish rubor covered his face while white dishevelled hair and beard popped up stiff, dirty by the sweat as he moved his hands, tangling threads to make thick ropes.

Standing below the arch, Ewelina glanced aghast at the room he guarded.

A room... devoid of walls... Which’s ground was connected to the ceiling by cater-cornered pillars from which intersections nature was growing, waving to the strong wind hitting the platform-like space.

"G–Good Morning..." — Ewelina managed to utter a salute to the man tilting in interest to catch better sight of her.

Aslak glanced at his Wife indifferent to her nervous awe and continued to speak to the seating guard.

"... How has the wind been?"

"Humumh..... The bastard’s going mad. Been pushing my back at timees... Tha fall will be quitee a prizee, Lord. Huahua!"

Drig informed the Archduke thrilled as he told in naughty expression the difficult track today’s venture would be.

His challenging gaze made his Lord pleased, and veering around, facing Ewelina who could not move from her spot under the entrance to admire the thrilling sights, Aslak finally introduced to his wife... the place they had reached.

"This is the Falling Lane... We’ll get down from here."