Taming The Villainesses-Chapter 369: Peeling Off the Wrapping (3)

There are times when you become grateful for things you once took for granted.

In my case, it usually happens when I’m in pain somewhere.

When my throat swells up and it becomes hard just to swallow water—suddenly, I realize how precious those ordinary moments of drinking water really were.

Or when my legs hurt and it becomes difficult to walk. Then I’m struck by the fact that being able to walk and run wherever I please is something to be genuinely thankful for.

Why is it that we only realize these things after the fact? If we could appreciate them in our everyday lives, wouldn’t life feel twice as happy?

In that sense, I felt grateful to Elga.

“That’s a fine cane.”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

It was a dark cane, wax-polished wood with a gold-inlaid handle—something that wouldn’t look out of place in the hands of a count or high noble. And surely, it must’ve been just that.

It looked expensive.

Tap.

After adjusting the cane Elga had given me to my height, I tapped it against the floor.

Since I was experiencing intense pain in my right ankle and knee, I needed to plant something on the ground to support myself if I wanted to walk.

As I shakily lifted myself, Elga, watching me, gave a little scoff and turned her head away. Was it too painful to watch?

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I wish I were just being dramatic.”

I deflected her remark with a half-joke, then collected my robe and spell scrolls from nearby and equipped them onto my body.

Of course, it was difficult to do alone, so I had to rely on Elga’s help. Not even being able to dress myself showed just how bad my condition really was.

Still, if I keep living with the help of these young ladies, I’ll recover soon enough.

Maybe it was the effect of the Dracos’ massage and the tonic Elga gave me, but even though I was in pain, I felt strangely energetic. Maybe this is how butterflies feel after shedding their worn-out cocoons and spreading their wings.

Of course, my body wasn’t a cocoon.

Thinking that, I slowly moved my legs. As I stepped forward with the cane, I found it harder than expected to balance my weight. I wobbled side to side.

Crack.

After lying down for three whole days, my stiffened body let out a protest.

Muscles I’d never even noticed before screamed in pain, and ironically, that made me feel very much alive.

I was alive.

Right here.

As Teo Gospel of Angmar.

This wasn’t a dream or a fantasy—it was real.

Just as I was about to stumble out the door, Elga asked,

“Want me to carry you instead?”

“No, since I’ve been immobile for three days, even if I’m slow, walking on my own should help with rehabilitation.”

“You’re tougher than I expected. But if you move at snail pace like this, you’ll never make it to where Ayra is before the day’s over.”

“Then let’s just call it a leisurely date, Lady Elga.”

“What are you talking about.”

Maybe she liked the joke, because the tension in Elga’s worried expression relaxed.

We slowly made our way down the corridor and eventually stepped into the garden of Sandora City Hall. The cool evening breeze brushing across my face felt delightful.

At the same time, one by one, the people around us stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes toward us.

The workers sweeping autumn leaves, the elven gardeners picking fruit, the errand-running pages and nymph messengers—one by one, they stopped walking and looked at me.

What kind of emotions were in their eyes? I’d more or less expected people to look at me, but when it actually happened, it felt strange. At that moment, Elga quietly said,

“Just walk with your chest out. You won, didn’t you? If you won, then act like it. Forget what other people are thinking—just do whatever you want.”

Elga’s words were absolutely right.

I won.

***

As we left Sandora proper, the carriage began to rattle violently.

The hippogriffs pulling the carriage were galloping furiously, and the road leading to the nearby fortress wasn’t paved.

Rattle, rattle.

The ride was awful.

Of course, it wouldn’t be very manly to complain, “Every bump is making my muscle pain worse. I feel like I’m dying.” So I just silently looked out the window.

“So,”

Elga began in a calm, conversational tone.

“So you and Ayra are legally husband and wife now.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“But to be exact, it’s only legal on paper. Becoming real family, growing close as man and woman—that’s a different matter.”

That much was true. Like Elga said, Ayra and I were listed in the family register together for now.

Systemically, you could call us husband and wife. But if someone asked whether our relationship had developed into something truly familial, I wouldn’t know how to answer.

It made me wonder.

What does it even mean for a man and a woman to be married? I hadn’t updated the family register or held a ceremony with Elga, or the Draco sisters, or Stella.

And yet I already considered them my wives, and treated them as such. I could say we were already family.

But with Ayra, whom I was now legally married to, our relationship felt more distant than with the other ladies. It was hard to describe, but maybe it would become clearer when I met her face to face.

I said,

“This time I’m not going to see her as a court entertainer or palace mage. I’m going to see Lady Ayra as her husband. I don’t know how she’ll react, but still.”

At that, Elga let out a little scoff.

“Her husband, huh.”

Then she turned her head to look out the window. Her blue eyes reflected the crimson sunset, glinting beautifully like fire.

But with my half-fairy sensitivity, I could sense she was sulking.

“Lady Elga, seems like something’s bothering you.”

“I told you earlier. Why was Ayra the one to get on the family register first? To outsiders, it’s going to look like she’s your first wife.”

Elga was straightforward.

So I answered honestly too.

“But aside from the paperwork, you were first in almost everything. I didn’t think you’d mind something like this.”

“Those things actually matter more than you’d think. You don’t get it—the position of ‘first’ in a harem carries weight. That’s why you’re saying that.”

“Hm...”

“I’ll have to talk about this with the Draco sisters. They’ll probably understand better than you do.”

And with that, our conversation came to a pause.

But the timing was perfect—we’d just arrived at the nearby fortress and could now head toward the northern base beyond the barrier.

The "road" was barely more than a dirt trail cleared by chopping down trees. Just three days ago, this place had still been part of the wilderness beyond the barrier.

Torches lit the way.

Seeing them, I could clearly feel that Ayra really had led troops north and established a base. If we followed this road, we’d eventually meet her.

What kind of expression would she make when she saw me?

And what kind of face should I make when I see her?

I tried to think of a fitting scenario in advance, but nothing came to mind. Just then, Elga commented,

“There are monster corpses scattered all over.”

“Well, this is outside the barrier, after all. If anything happens, please try to stay inside the carriage. I hear these hippogriff carriages are built pretty sturdy.”

“Hmph, you’re one to talk, walking around in that ragged body.”

“A patient and a pregnant woman. Together we make up at least one whole person.”

Even as I joked, I felt a flicker of tension. Like I’d said—this was beyond the barrier. Nothing would be surprising here.

Looking at the scattered monster carcasses, I half expected one to lurch up and attack us.

But thankfully, nothing happened. Instead, blazing torches, planted stakes, and barricades came into view.

Shff.

Elga was the first to hop down from the carriage.

She approached the soldiers coming toward us and spoke.

“I’m Elga of Leones. And this guy—he’s Teo Gospel of Angmar.”

I followed Elga out of the carriage. As soon as the others saw me, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

—Is that really him? It’s my first time seeing him this close.

—Did he come to help?

—No way. He looks like he’s on death’s door.

—They say he’s Solomon’s heir. What if something happens while he’s out here beyond the barrier...

I’d already been well-known, but after everything that happened, I’d apparently become something else entirely. For the time being, I’d have to get used to being the center of attention.

Trying to ignore their gazes, I looked around.

It was the kind of forward base you’d see anywhere in Angmar’s borderlands. Tent barracks, barricades—probably about a thousand troops stationed here?

It was a bigger base than I expected. The strange thing was, it wasn’t just soldiers—there were tons of adventurers mixed in, making the atmosphere feel looser.

“Someone give Punchnoi more hardtack and sugar stars! I heard those are in our rations!”

“Hey, who the hell brought a nymph to the front line? She’s single-handedly eating a whole sack of sugar. Kinda cute, though, sounds like my daughter.”

“Shh, careful what you say. That’s not an ordinary nymph. That’s Punchnoi.”

For that reason, this felt less like a military base and more like... what to call it? A giant-sized adventurer campfire rest area.

Charming.

Of course, it wasn’t all romantic. From the lookout towers scattered around, archers were shooting arrows in every direction.

—Gaaack!

—Kreeegh!

—I’m out of arrows!

So yes, it definitely still had the feel of a battlefield.

Then Elga asked a female soldier,

“So, where’s Ayra?”

“The queen is in the command tent, holding a military meeting. But... we were ordered to keep all outsiders out for security reasons...”

“Do we ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ look like outsiders to you? Show us the way.”

At Elga’s words, the female soldier glanced around, then reluctantly turned and began walking.

We weaved through the soldiers and tents until we arrived in front of an enormous command tent big enough to hold a whole squad.

“This is it. Then, I’ll be off.”

The soldier scampered away like her feet were on fire. As we watched her retreat, Elga gave a little “ahem.”

Then she pulled open the tent flap and stepped inside. I followed right behind her. A wave of warm air greeted me, and the spacious interior opened up before me.

At the same time, countless eyes turned to me.

The one who caught my gaze above all was a woman in light armor, cherry-blossom pink, draped loosely over her uniform.

“Ayra.”

When I called her name softly, she furrowed her brow.

“Teo, this is a formal command tent. So please address me as ‘Lady Ayra.’”