Hatred and Respect

Sigrid looked into Oliver's eyes and lovingly opened up to him. "You know Oli, you don't really need to prove yourself against anybody, and especially him, you are already one of the best mages in your family and the whole guild considering your age. Everybody recognizes your skill now, except just him." Sigrid cast her gaze on the wide back of Jerome who was slowly moving into the distance. Anger mixed with disgust was etched on her mesmerizing face. Yet, a slight hidden glint of curiosity sparkled in her emerald eyes as she watched her husband's rivalous bully walking in front of them. "Why do you need to prove yourself against him so much? It's hard for me to understand. Oli, I adore you the way you are - a caring, supportive and the most handsome man who follows his values and puts everybody before him." Sigrid knew that these words might insult her husband but she felt like she had to share these feelings which weighed down her chest for a long time with him. As Oliver stayed quiet listening to Sigrid, she gathered her strength and continued. "If it's just him I can protect you, he's just a condescending conceited loser who only thinks about himself. Why would you care what he thinks about you?." As Sigrid was about to open her alluring red lips again Oliver suddenly put a finger on them. 

Even if Oliver felt a little bit hurt by Sigrid's honest feelings, he appreciated that Sigrid shared them with him. That was one of the main pillars of their relationship - honest open communication based on unbreakable trust. Oliver smiled at the most beautiful woman under the sky, who luckily was his wife. This talented, powerful woman of otherworldly beauty showered him in love and care for the larger part of his life. He felt so lucky, that Sigrid attracted his attention from the first time he saw her and they both fell in love. Oliver would sometimes wonder if he was good enough for Sigrid, even if Oliver was from the most influential family in the guild and was a capable mage, he would sometimes doubt his worth. It was hard to say whether these feelings came from Jerome's bullying or some other influences in Oliver's life.

"Sigrid, I can well understand why you would feel like this, but I guess it's hard for you to understand because it's a man's thing." Oliver started explaining his side to Sigrid. "He is the only man who does not recognize my abilities, but not only that, he also made fun of me because I could not fight by myself, I understand that his reasoning is idiotic but..." Oliver's eyes momentarily flashed with pain. "making fun of me, humiliating me in front of you... I sometimes thought that he was right. I believed I would be able to stand up to him after all this time. But in the end... I hesitated and that's why you jumped in." Oliver conceded to Sigrid in a defeated tone. "But I will not give up, even if I don't understand why I want to prove myself so much… Is it to remove all the humiliation he cast on me? Or to become recognized by that bastard? Maybe I'm just jealous of him a little bit."

Sigrid's chest tightened, pain welling up in it as she listened to Oliver. She only got angrier thinking about the dark shadow Jerome had cast on her lover. After being with Oliver for so long Sigrid understood that Oliver had doubts about his masculinity. Not being able to fight on his own, just heal and support were words Oliver would sometimes tell her. "He still compares himself with that idiotic brute... " Sigrid tearfully smiled at Oliver and murmured. "I understand you Oli... some of the fault lies in me. More than once I have told you that I, on some level enjoy fighting against Jerome... Even if he darkens your days so much... I still feel like that... And seeing him now after 7 years." Sigrid embarrassingly lowered her head, a blush on her face and admitted her conflicted emotions to Oliver. "Seeing him.. after these 7 years, I immediately noticed my body's reaction to his change. I understand just how much stronger he has gotten... not only did his body become even more intimidating but the aura he gives off also feels like boiling lava." Sigrid suddenly grasped both of Oliver's hands firmly and raised her head to meet Oliver's conflicted gaze. Beneath Sigrid's seemingly depressed countenance, her dazzling emerald eyes sparkled in a hidden excitement and her voice sounded alive. "I want to challenge him again... That's why I jumped in... At that moment I felt selfish. I wanted to challenge him by myself... I'm very sorry Oli."

Oliver softly patted his wife's head, his hand feeling her soft hair. He quickly shook his head to remove the various thoughts from his head. "In this way, then, we are pretty similar I guess." Oliver finally smiled at his wife. "I get why want to fight him. It is probably the same reason I want to get back at him for all the shit he put me through." Oliver then smiled in a self-deprecating way and continued. "Even if he is a shitty person, His strength and presence are indeed remarkable, even if we hate him we still respect him for his strength, and just like me Sigrid, you don't want to lose to him. After all, he will probably be the next patriarch of the Bigge family." 

Noticing Jerome disappearing into the horizon after opening up to Oliver and getting to understand him a little better Sigrid felt like the heavy dark clouds which hovered over her heart had been split apart by Oliver's warm rays of light. With a new resolve and trust in herself and Oliver, she leaned in and kissed her husband on the lips. "Let's finish this quickly and get back home to have some fun." Sigrid suggestively chuckled in a charming sexy way. Oliver feeling his wife's enthusiasm and warm love, grasped her hand even more firmly. Under the warm rays of the sun, they started following the man who made them each feel myriads of complicated emotions. Looking towards the wide back of this man whom they both hate, yet at the same time respect Oliver and Sigrid hastened their steps.