Swan rubbed her hands together to maintain her warmth. She blamed her frail and thin body for being too weak, that’s why she couldn’t handle the cold even when she was in front of a fireplace.
She was scared that she would be a burden for Gale while in the cave, so she joined her hands in a praying position, staring at the burning logs. She prayed sincerely in her heart, ’Oh, Goddess, please make me warm throughout the night, so I won’t become a burden. And please, let me be the source of warmth for my husband as well, as he will have to endure his rut during the coldest night.’
’Let me be the burning log that could make him feel at ease, even if I have to die in the end,’ Swan added as she felt the prayer would be more effective if there was a risk in it.
"Swan?"
Swan stopped praying when she heard the familiar voice of her husband. She looked over her shoulder and saw Gale at the door. She smiled at him and asked, "How is the preparation going, Gale?"
Gale saw how Swan was covered in a thick blanket in front of the fireplace, which was a sign that she was really cold right now.
He got worried and as he approached her, he said, "Be honest with me, Sweetheart. Are you really cold now? If you can’t even handle the temperature in this castle, then I’m afraid you would..." Gale couldn’t finish his sentence as deep down, he selfishly wanted Swan to come with him even if it’d bring her pain.
It made him feel guilty because he was so selfish towards the woman he loved.
He kneeled in front of her, and held her hand, "Swan, I want you to come with me, as I believe that I can only pass my rut safely with you by my side. At the same time, I can’t bear to see you suffer. I think you should stay in the castle."
"No," Swan shook her head firmly. "I will go wherever you go, even if I have to jump into the depths of hell."
"You’re being foolish, Swan."
"And I don’t mind being a fool. If you need me there, then I will follow you," Swan said decisively. She was so certain with her decision that Gale couldn’t help but feel happy.
To be loved so sincerely by someone, he didn’t care even if he’d find his fated mate in the future, as long as he ended up with Swan in the end.
"Then I will try my best not to lose control over my body," Gale promised while holding her hands tighter. "I will never hurt you, wife."
"I know. You’ve proven it every single day," Swan smiled. She pointed at the drawer next to their bed and asked, "Husband, can you take the pearl necklace from the drawer? I want to wear it inside the cave."
"Wear it? But why?" Gale was confused, but he still got up and fetched the pearl necklace from the drawer.
Swan lifted her hair and signaled Gale to put it on her neck, "I want to look my best even if we’ll be stuck inside that cave for the whole night."
Gale smiled, "Anything for you, Sweetheart. If that’s your wish, then we will go."
"Hihi~ You’re so dependable, husband~" Swan hugged Gale’s arm and rubbed her cheek. She was being clingy and even a little spoiled because she wanted to savor this feeling.
She had a bad feeling about what would happen tonight, so she wanted to imagine if things went smoothly, she would be able to spend more time with Gale.
She never went anywhere in her life. She was trapped inside that small room in the maid quarter, and now she was stuck in this castle since she had her duty to accompany Gale.
Swan liked to imagine that she had a pair of wings. Possibly swan’s wings to fit her name. She would fly around and visit a lot of places all by herself.
She wanted to be free.
’My gut feeling told me that I will die tonight,’ Swan said in her heart. ’But if this is my end, then I hope I will be reborn as a wild swan. I want to live freely, have friends, and find love. I heard that swans only have one mate in their lifetime.’
Swan smiled as she closed her eyes, ’I’ll probably be a weird swan who falls in love with a black wolf.’
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