I Became a Barbarian's Bride - Chapter 169
“……”
Until now, every Katun had given much and lost even more for the sake of their kingdom.
They had brought victory in war.
Visions of the future that came to pass.
Knowledge of where hidden resources lay.
Secrets for crossing mountain ranges.
Wisdom to govern vast lands.
Each Katun chosen through the ages had given up pieces of themselves to bestow such gifts upon Xieman.
And Ulbach easily discerned what this Katun had come to bring to Xieman.
Abundance.
Life.
The woman before him had surely come to plant those very things in this barren, dying soil.
“…Kagan has truly found a precious one.”
The words slipped from Ulbach before he realized he had spoken.
This was something no one had ever achieved before, a miracle only the woman before him, sent by the oracle of Adin, could bestow.
“…She is precious.”
Kagan replied quietly, waiting for the light to fade.
He could see the cold sweat trailing down her cheek as her eyes remained closed.
Ulbach might have been watching the scenery transform into a riot of color, but in Kagan Xieman’s eyes, there was only her.
The sweat running down her skin.
The strain etched between her furrowed brows.
Emotions far too foolish for a king to harbor, yet Kagan did not find them unpleasant.
Only Nisha ever made him feel this way.
After a long while, Kagan tore his gaze away from her and looked around.
Crops had sprung up in abundance, filling the space around Nisha so quickly it was hard to believe this place had once been barren.
Ulbach was nearly in tears, overcome with awe.
The villagers who had crept in to watch gaped in astonishment, then slowly, one by one, fell to their knees and bowed their heads before her.
Even to him, it was clear this was not something human hands could accomplish.
It was a miracle, something close to divine.
Nisha probably had no idea what it meant for the proud people of Xieman to kneel and bow their heads.
‘When will this end?’
Thinking it was taking unusually long today, Kagan clicked his tongue inwardly.
He knew.
He was the king, and it was his duty to move for the greater benefit of the nation.
He knew, and yet, she was his only companion.
Whether forced or fated, she was still the only one.
‘If they knew what it costs for her to replenish that life force…’
He doubted they would be able to smile so brightly if they knew.
Kagan rubbed his face roughly as the thought crossed his mind.
The place where she stood was already filled with countless grasses and flowers.
The crops had ripened, and it seemed they could be harvested in just a few days without issue.
Unlike the other dry, brittle lands, the ground surrounding her had become moist and rich, even to his untrained eyes.
Nisha often called it life force, and indeed, it was.
If this overflowing vitality that nurtured life and spread across the land was not life force, then what word could possibly describe it?
“Ah…”
It was the moment Nisha staggered and tried to stand.
Kagan quickly stepped forward and reached out his arm.
As he caught her collapsing body in his arms, Nisha squirmed weakly before lifting her head to look up at him.
“I didn’t faint this time, just like I promised, right?”
The faint smile on her face, as if asking for praise, made something stir sharply in Kagan’s chest.
His lips stiffened, but after a brief silence, he let out a slow sigh and nodded.
“Yes, you did well. And thank you. Thanks to you, this place has become beautiful.”
Kagan spoke honestly.
Nisha was the kind of person who wanted acknowledgment for what she had done, who wanted to be praised.
So he knew he had to give her that.
Scolding her or expressing worry could come later.
“If you’re tired, you can sleep, Princess.”
“You’re going to scold me again, aren’t you?”
“I won’t. I only said that before because you always push yourself too hard. I’m just worried, that’s all.”
At Kagan’s words, Nisha fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“…I know.”
“You know?”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why it feels a little strange. You worrying about me… of course, Mary, Mash, and Rad do that too, but it feels a bit different when it’s you.”
Her tone was calm, as if she couldn’t quite explain what felt different. Kagan let out a long sigh.
Truly, she made him want to devour her whole.
“…Alright, just sleep.”
Kagan spoke bluntly and lifted his head.
“You really are like a goddess, Princess.”
He couldn’t help but think that as he looked at the unbelievable scene before his eyes.
Kagan slowly inhaled and exhaled.
Nisha, who had been giggling softly, let her head droop, and soon her steady, faint breaths filled the air.
