NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13 - First Morning
The next morning, Diarmid observed Brigid with a gloomy expression.
Brigid was peacefully asleep beside him in the same bed, completely unaware of his presence as a man.
(I couldn’t sleep at all… What does this mean?)
Diarmid sighed, feeling both uneasy and irritable. His wolf’s instincts grew more ferocious.
(It can’t stay like this. It’s probably best to wake her up.)
As Diarmid tried to rise from the bed, Brigid stirred, and her hand inadvertently brushed against him.
Diarmid flinched, startled. Ordinarily, he would’ve shrugged it off without a second thought, but this was different with Brigid.
(There’s something different about Brigid…)
The uneasiness that had been building within him seemed to melt away from the parts of their skin barely touching each other.
Diarmid gently attempted to smooth Brigid’s messy hair, realizing that, for the first time, he wanted to touch someone other than his family.
Brigid shifted, and in his surprise, Diarmid withdrew his hand.
“Hmm… I like scrambled eggs in the morning… It’s more salty than sweet…”
Brigid mumbled in her sleep, and Diarmid couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Well, I’ll prepare some ‘early morning tea’ for you.”
With that, Diarmid got up and left the couple’s bedroom.
Diarmid appeared annoyed, while Brigid seemed lively.
Observing them, the priest couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “It seems you had a good time last night.”
Brigid enthusiastically replied, “Yes!”
Diarmid, on the other hand, responded with exhaustion, “…Well…”
Satisfied, the priest offered them a blessing for a happily everlasting marriage.
The first night’s ceremony had received the church’s approval, making them husband and wife.
Brigid and Diarmid visited the orphanage where Nisha was staying, arriving as a couple once more.
The orphanage director welcomed them warmly and handled the necessary paperwork.
Without delay, they went to collect Nisha.
Upon seeing Brigid, Nisha ran towards her with perked ears and a wagging tail.
Brigid couldn’t help but be thrilled by Nisha’s adorable appearance. She had thought that Nisha would be shy in Brigid’s presence without her glasses and with her hair down.
Nisha clung tightly to Brigid’s skirt, voicing her concern. “I was worried. Didn’t the scary old man get mad at you?”
Diarmid suddenly appeared from behind Brigid, startling Nisha, who yelped and cowered with her ears and tail drooping.
Yet, she quickly raised her head, positioned herself in front of Brigid, and looked at Diarmid as if protecting her.
Though he said, “Don’t bully your sister,” his ears hung low, and his legs trembled.
Brigid couldn’t help but hug Nisha, who looked rather peculiar in this situation.
“Nisha-kun, this person isn’t a bad uncle.”
“Really?”
Nisha tilted her head, slightly to the right this time, leaving Brigid puzzled.
“Yes, this person was Nisha-kun’s uncle and your father’s younger brother.”
“Uncle…?”
This time, Nisha tilted her head to the left, and Brigid chuckled.
“Ah, Nisha. I’ve come to take you as the heir to the Marquis Hrozevitnir family.”
“Am I going to this uncle’s house? Can I still see my sister? I don’t want to leave her.”
Nisha looked at Brigid with a plea in her eyes, her blue irises shimmering with moisture.
Brigid gently patted Nisha, who seemed anxious. “I’ll be with you, so don’t worry.”
“Is your sister coming too?”
“Oh, Brigid is my wife.”
Diarmid answered for some reason, a smug expression on his face. Nisha’s face immediately turned pale.
“Sister… did you get married?”
Seeing Nisha’s worried expression, Brigid crouched down to be eye level with her.
“That’s right. I couldn’t become an adoptive mother until I got married. Now that I’m married, I can become Nisha’s mother!”
Brigid answered with a broad smile, and Nisha’s pale face flushed with color.
“Your sister is my mom?”
Brigid blinked, overwhelmed by the sudden transformation in her relationship with Nisha.
(God…!! Is it okay to be this happy?)
Brigid clasped her hands together, thanking God.
“Yes! I’m your mom.”
“Really!? I’m so happy!”
“If it’s for you, Nisha-kun, I’ll do my best!”
When Brigid replied, Nisha nuzzled her cheek against Brigid.
“Mom, I love you!”
“I love you too!”
“I love you more!”
“I love you even more than that!”
Seeing the interaction between the two, Diarmid felt strangely uncomfortable.
Brigid had never given him the same forlorn smile that she bestowed upon Nisha. Somehow, it made him feel defeated.
“Brigid!”
Diarmid called out in frustration.
“Huh? What’s the matter?”
Brigid looked up at Diarmid with an annoyed expression.
Diarmid flinched, not expecting that response.
When Nisha rubbed her cheek against Brigid, her expression transformed into one of pure joy.
Nisha spread her scent on Brigid for a moment before turning back to her. “Mom, I want you to stop calling me that.”
She looked at Brigid with pleading eyes, her ears drooping and tilting her head.
Brigid placed a hand on her forehead, swaying a bit. “I… I can’t believe you’re asking me that… but okay…”
Nisha squeezed Brigid’s hand, who was on the verge of hyperventilating.
“Is that okay?”
Brigid wiped away tears and nodded, “Yes, Nisha…”
“Happy!”
Nisha’s angelic yet mischievous smile made Brigid surrender to her wishes.