The Marriage Ritual
The conversation at the dinner table was led primarily by Gibson, Adam, and Gidin. A gentle atmosphere and light laughter accompanied the meal. Amidst it all, Neir glanced at Berg, who sat directly across from her. As if to prove Laila’s words true, he remained stoic, not uttering a single word. The greeting they had exchanged at the beginning was the end of it. He simply followed the speakers with his eyes, merely feigning interest in the conversation.
Neir was still trying to calm her racing heart. The sensation of his lips against the back of her hand felt vivid. A tingling sensation still lingered there. She didn't know how to describe her feelings at that moment. A sense of repulsion made her skin crawl, yet a faint sense of relief accompanied it. She hadn't seen the monster she had conjured in her mind. He didn't seem like a cruel, ruthless man who hated women. Of course, she hadn't discarded the possibility that his current demeanor was merely an act.
“Neir. Eat more.”
As she stared at Berg, she had neglected her own meal. At Gibson’s prompt, everyone’s attention shifted to Neir’s plate. Berg looked at her bowl as well. This time, his gaze felt cold again. Somehow, every time he directed his attention toward her, she felt uncomfortable, and she wanted to hide her plate. With trembling hands, Neir picked up her knife and fork and focused on her food. She wished for Berg’s interest to fade quickly. Furthermore, in all honesty, she had no appetite. It was impossible for food to pass her lips when the person she wanted to distance herself from was sitting right in front of her.
Neir didn't look at Berg, but she could feel his gaze sweeping over her body. Once again, she felt a chill, and the fur on her body stood on end. It was fortunate that she was sitting on her tail to hide her emotions; she had nearly been caught in her repulsion. Neir continued to act as if nothing were wrong. While she was cutting a small piece of steak, Berg spoke for the first time.
“...What do the Wolf-kin like?”
Gibson showed interest in Berg’s first question. “Could you repeat that?”
“The food. What do they eat well?”
His voice was a low, resonant baritone. While Berg’s gaze was fixed on Gibson, Neir stole another glance at him. She wanted to read him, but she truly couldn't fathom what he was thinking. Since he didn't reveal his emotions through his expression, she couldn't even make a guess.
Gibson answered lightly, “Well, it differs from person to person. Even among humans, tastes are quite varied, aren't they?”
“...”
Berg nodded slowly, then began to eat his food again.
“...”
Was he judging her for not eating properly? Neir was already thinking that she and Berg would not get along. Even in his table manners, Berg showed signs of being unrefined. He didn't switch his knife and fork when different courses were served. He didn't cut his food into small pieces; he put large chunks into his mouth and chewed. The way he held his wine glass was strange, too. He didn't enjoy the aroma of the wine. His use of the fork was awkward; he only handled the knife well. It seemed as if he wasn't enjoying the food, but merely fueling his body with nutrients. Simply put, she didn't like any of it. And the fact that she couldn't show this frustration was the most stifling part. The situation was pushing her into a corner, and she was also afraid of Berg. This kind of coercion was always the most suffocating thing.
As the conversation flowed on, Neir felt as though she were left alone in a remote space once again. The topics themselves were hard to follow—only stories of battles and monsters. Berg remained silent again. As time passed, whether because of her own anxiety or the subject matter, she felt as if she might choke. It might also have been because she hadn't eaten in a while. Carefully, she set down her fork and placed her hands demurely on her lap. She didn't want to eat anymore.
-*Squeeze...*
“Ah...!”
At the same moment, Neir felt a sharp pain on the top of her foot. Gidin’s heavy boot had crushed her foot. Neir looked up at Gidin, but he continued the conversation without erasing his smile, as if nothing had happened. Gidin was signaling her not to ruin the atmosphere of the meal. Neir swallowed hard and reached for her fork and knife. She suppressed the nausea that made her feel like she might vomit. It seemed she would have to force the food she didn't want into her mouth. In the current situation with Berg sitting right in front of her, she lacked the courage to defy Gidin.
-*Clack.*
But at that same moment, Berg set down his cutlery. Much of the food near him had already disappeared. He wiped his mouth roughly with the cloth placed before him, signaling the end of his meal.
“Hm? Berg, are you finished already?” Adam asked from beside him.
He replied to his captain, “Yeah.”
“It seems the vice-captain has no appetite. Or perhaps the food wasn't to your liking?” Gidin asked, and Berg shook his head.
“...I’m full.”
“...”
Neir watched him, swept up in a strange sensation. Thanks to Berg setting down his utensils at such an exquisite moment, Neir no longer had to continue eating. She didn't have to force any more food down her throat. She placed her hands back on her lap and thought: *Was it a coincidence?*
“...”
Neir wondered what on earth she was thinking. There was no way a man who was stoic, cold, cruel, merciless, and strict would have been so delicate as to look out for her. It must have been a coincidence, of course. She had to consider the perfect timing a stroke of luck. With even Berg having finished his meal, the atmosphere signaled that the dinner was nearing its end. Accordingly, Gibson brought up an important topic.
“...So. How shall we proceed with the wedding tomorrow? The humans must have their own customs as well.”
Adam responded to Gibson’s words with a question. “How do the Wolf-kin hold their weddings? I am aware that there is a tradition called the Soul Binding.”
Neir bit her lip in secret. As the term *Soul Binding* was mentioned, the ritual became something that clearly had to be performed. She had hoped he wouldn't know. She had hoped they could skip the Soul Binding ritual altogether. But this, too, became a stubbornness she had to abandon.
Gibson said, “It is not that we call the wedding a Soul Binding, but rather that there is a procedure of Soul Binding within our marriage process.”
Adam expressed interest. “Ah, I see. How does it proceed?”
“It is the final stage of a Wolf-kin wedding. It is a ritual that must be performed by the two of them alone at night. Deep in the forest, with a tree they have chosen together as their witness, they kneel, intertwine their tails, and swear an oath to the moon. It is a noble vow to be each other’s strength and to love only one another, no matter when or where.”
Gidin added an explanation from the side. “Each tree has a different meaning. A pine tree signifies straight and unchanging love; an oak tree, unwavering trust; a birch tree, flexible consideration and concession... It depends on what the couple deems important after the marriage.”
Adam laughed. “That’s wonderful. But... what about a partner who has no tail...?”
Gibson answered, “All problems that arise during the Soul Binding process must be solved by the two who are to become husband and wife. It is a tradition that also contains the deeper meaning of solving future problems together... Therefore, that part must also be left to Berg and Neir tomorrow.”
Gidin spoke again. “When I performed the Soul Binding with my wife, a bear jumped out of the forest. I killed it for her sake.”
Gibson took back the conversation. “In any case, then, what is the human custom...?”
“We hold a feast. We share food with many people and receive their blessings. Also, we swear to love each other in front of all those people, place rings on our ring fingers, and, well... we have our first night.”
At the words *first night*, Neir’s heart sank. She couldn't breathe properly. She quietly took shallow, repeated breaths.
“Rings on the ring finger... Hmm. Is there a meaning behind it?”
“I understand it signifies a vow of love. It is an old tradition, so I have never thought about its deeper meaning.”
“I see. In any case, the Wolf-kin also proceed to the first night after the Soul Binding.”
“Then, perhaps we should hold the wedding in our way first, and then perform the Soul Binding? Since our cultures overlap afterward, there shouldn't be any problems.”
Gibson nodded. “Let’s do that.”
As the situation progressed smoothly, Neir’s heart grew heavier than ever. Adam said, “For your reference, given the circumstances, I don't think we can hold a grand feast. It will likely be limited to sharing simple snacks and a glass of wine.”
“That part is a human custom anyway, so I will leave it to you without objection.”
“Haha, that’s good.”
Given the situation, Neir hadn't expected a grand wedding either. She was being sold off, after all. The wedding was merely a process for that. There was no need to spend a fortune. However, Neir, too, had once had romantic dreams about marriage. It was heartbreaking and painful that she had to hold a wedding in this manner. No, in truth, if the partner was that human mercenary, it would have been the same regardless of the type of wedding.
Once the plans for tomorrow’s wedding were finalized, Gibson said, “Well then, shall we end the meal here?”
Adam nodded. “Let’s. Since tomorrow is the big day, it would be better to rest early.”
As the conversation ended, they rose from their seats one by one. Neir stood up quietly as well. Berg and Adam, who were the guests, decided to leave first. Adam bowed his head slightly and offered a greeting. “We shall take our leave. Thank you for inviting us to dinner.”
Gibson replied with courtesy. “It was a pleasure.”
Neir stole another glance at Berg. And then, she made eye contact with Berg, who had been staring at her. Neir flinched. But Berg, with his stoic expression, merely bowed his head briefly. Soon, he turned away. Adam and Berg left the room.
When only the three of them remained in the dining room, Gidin let out a long sigh. It was a sigh that, even at a glance, contained many emotions.
“...You could have shown your distaste a little more clearly.” He sneered.
“...Gidin. Stop that.” Gibson tried to stop him, but Neir’s eldest brother didn't stop.
“Pulling your hand away from the person greeting you. Not saying a single word throughout the meal, and sitting there with a face like you’re about to cry. Does anything change if you do that? You might as well have said you wanted to break the engagement and see the Blackwood family ruined.”
“Gidin...!”
At Gibson’s stern call, Gidin finally shut his mouth.
“...”
Neir couldn't refute anything he said. She already knew. She hadn't been able to do anything throughout the meal. She hadn't been able to do a single thing to win his favor. But she couldn't help it. She was too afraid of Berg. With the person in question right in front of her, this absurd marriage felt even more real and even more agonizing. Furthermore, because he was so stoic, she couldn't tell what he was thinking at all. She was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and couldn't open her mouth. Just as the night before a typhoon is silent, his quiet demeanor seemed to foreshadow a rough future.
Neir could still vividly see his scarred forearms. How many fights and battles had he experienced to have so many scars on his arms? How many people had he beaten with those two arms? A mercenary could never shed the mark of a mercenary.
“...Both of you, go and get some rest.”
In the awkward atmosphere, Gibson dismissed them. Gidin let out a sigh and turned away first, and Neir followed behind him. Neir looked at her white tail for a moment. The tail that the maids had diligently coated with rose-scented oil looked truly pathetic. Once again, she felt useless.
As they exited the dining room, servants and maids attached themselves to the two Blackwoods. Neir wanted to return to her room quickly. She wanted to go back and pour out her difficult day to the moon, as she did every night. But since Gibson wasn't there, Gidin’s attack began again. Expecting it to some extent, Neir bit her lip hard.
“...Useless thing. I thought you might finally pay back a fraction of the cost of mother’s life.”
“...”
“You are always disappointing. The reason your other siblings hate you isn't just because of mother.”
“...”
“How long do you intend to live like that... If only you hadn't been born a Blackwood—”
-*Clack.*
At that moment, a sound of footsteps stopped Gidin, Neir, and the group of Wolf-kin following them. Neir looked ahead. And there, she saw a figure hiding in the darkness. The moonlight only illuminated his lower body, so she couldn't tell who was standing there. Gidin also watched the person for a moment, trying to identify him.
-*Step. Step.*
The dark figure walked out slowly. With every step he took, his upper body, which had been submerged in darkness, was revealed bit by bit.
“...Ah.”
Neir let out a small moan as she recognized him. It was Berg. He had left Adam behind and was wandering the mansion alone. Neir looked at Berg’s cold expression. *Did he hear everything?* Shame washed over Neir. There was nothing more infuriating than having a scene you didn't want to be seen witnessed by the person you disliked.
“...Vice-captain.” Gidin called out to him. “...What is the reason for your return?”
Berg looked at the two of them without answering for a moment. His eyes moved to Gidin, then to Neir, then back to Gidin. Once again, she couldn't tell what he was thinking. Berg maintained his silence, creating a strange atmosphere. Gidin spoke to him, “...Is there something you need?”
Gidin’s words were laced with faint emotion. Unlike the friendly dinner table, Gidin expressed his discomfort as if to warn him. It was a silent demand for Berg, who stood there without a word, not to interfere in family matters. Berg sighed and stepped toward Gidin.
“...I was looking for the restroom.”
Gidin said coldly, “Miles. Guide Vice-captain Berg to the restroom.”
A servant named Miles appeared from behind. “Please come this way, Berg-nim.”
“...”
This time, too, instead of reacting immediately, Berg continued to examine Gidin. The two engaged in a staring contest for a long time, which ended when Berg finally followed the servant named Miles. Berg walked away in the opposite direction. Neir watched Berg’s back as he moved away, following Gidin.
“...Vice-captain.” Then, Gidin called out to Berg. Berg looked back at them. Gidin spoke to him as if to shake off the remaining unpleasantness. “The Wolf-kin do not like it when others eavesdrop on or interfere in their family affairs.”
“...”
“...It would be best for you to keep that in mind.”
“...”
Berg remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. And then, he disappeared, following Miles.
****
After all the schedules were finished, Neir sat on her bed and looked at the moon again. Berg’s image kept flickering in her mind. Certainly, as much as she feared him, everything about him was etched into her mind too strongly. She had no idea when or how she would become close to such a person and uncover the key information of the mercenary corps. It felt as if a very bleak future was just waiting for her. Neir spoke to the moon. She was finishing another day.
“Just as Laila said... he was a cold, stoic person. I’m afraid I’ll find out about his cruel side later. It’s true that he hates women; he didn't even look at me. Should I call this a good thing, or a bad thing?”
If she thought of it positively, he might not pay her any attention, but if she thought of it negatively, she could become his target for venting his anger. Neir wrapped her arms around her tail out of habit. The rose scent blooming from her tail calmed her anxious heart. She steadied her breathing and closed her eyes. Then, the moment she was scolded by Gidin in front of Berg came to mind. She replayed that humiliating scene dozens of times before speaking to her fated partner.
“...If it were you, would you have protected me from my brother at that moment?”
The moon, as always, gave no answer.
