At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 136
“Guess I wasn’t a good teacher?”
“Well, you can’t explain it from our perspective. Our physical structures are different anyway.”
Jiwoo wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but it seemed there were more differences than just their ears.
“So, can you pronounce the name of the female manifestation correctly?”
“Maybe? If you just tell me…”
From his reaction, it seemed that the female manifestation didn’t readily share her name.
While Jiwoo was lost in thought, Enci’s voice began to lower gradually. With that soft tone, it almost sounded like a growl.
“But isn’t that irrelevant right now…”
“Ah, right.”
She had almost forgotten they were discussing the situation of the ‘gifts’ until just now.
And based on Enci’s response, she concluded that refusing was probably the best choice.
Just as she turned to relay her message, Enci grabbed the sleeve of her shirt, spinning her around.
“Hmm? Why?”
“The, the answer! You didn’t say it!”
Oh dear.
Even though Jiwoo knew Enci had a more sensitive personality than he appeared, she often forgot that detail.
“Alright. Come tonight. I’ll be waiting.”
With others listening in, Jiwoo pulled Enci close and whispered in his ear, which had been quivering with anticipation.
Finally satisfied, Enci let her go.
In fact, she had felt a little warm since hearing his voice. According to him, auditory stimuli tend to leave a deeper impression on the mind. His voice felt different now, too.
This was also why she had firmed up her decision to refuse the gifts.
It was clear that she wasn’t entirely comfortable with integrating another person as a husband. However, she had resolved to accept the situation, not just to learn a new language to impress Jiwoo.
After sorting out the matter with Lofrel regarding the gifts, she found it hard to shake off thoughts of her husbands until they met again.
‘So that’s how it is.’
It was closer to confirming her own feelings than theirs.
She did care for her husbands. She had made the decision to accept them. Yet deep down, Jiwoo thought she might not be able to love any more in the future. In some ways, she felt resigned, as if she was just accepting everyone who approached her.
Perhaps that was why she could only think of two options they might take.
If they showed possessiveness and tried to drive her away, Lofrel had said she should be cautious.
However, Jiwoo felt that if they blindly accepted her decision, it would likely hurt their feelings even more.
Neither option felt satisfying. It was contradictory, but there was nothing she could do about it. Emotions don’t always split cleanly.
Yet the outcome was neither.
Even if the idea of gaining a new husband didn’t sit well with her, the ability to learn the old language made it a decision she could suppress her jealousy over.
And as soon as she realized where that decision came from, the heat rising within her didn’t fade easily.
Jiwoo wanted to embrace and roll around with someone. How could anyone be this lovable?
* * *
The village was built around the house where Jiwoo lived. Her home cradled the roots of the Ellandos tree, and other trees grew in a circle around it. Each tree served as a residence for one husband.
So, when Jiwoo looked down from her upper floor, she could easily see what her husbands were up to.
For a place where one would think there’d be nothing going on, simply watching them made the time pass quickly.
Although Jiwoo had always thought of couples living together as a given in marriage, she found she could adapt to this lifestyle.
In fact, having so many husbands would mean she wouldn’t have much left of energy living in the same house, regardless of how spacious or cramped it was.
The tense atmosphere in the village from Lofrel’s visit seemed to have eased considerably.
‘But what exactly did they prepare?’
Though the mood was one of tidying up, Jiwoo still wasn’t quite sure what they were preparing.
They hadn’t organized a grand banquet, nor was there a performance or a hunting competition. They were just secretly planning…
It was clear there had been misunderstandings due to the lack of communication, and it seemed to have ended as a minor incident. Jiwoo wanted to lightly joke about it, but ironically, no one came to visit today.
It seemed that word had already spread that Jiwoo had invited Enci over. Normally, her husbands dropped by casually, but on days she invited someone, they tended to respect their time together.
At first, she found this kind of situation unfamiliar and a bit embarrassing, but now she thought, ‘What does it matter?’
As Jiwoo gazed down, observing what her husbands were doing, she was suddenly jolted back to reality by a climbing vine appearing right in front of her.
They often used these plants to announce visits. Everyone was good at making them grow, except for young Tevon, who seemed to struggle. Even that was cute, further solidifying her affection.
“Enci.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No…”
As she replied, Jiwoo wrapped her arms around Enci’s waist. The minty scent that had been wafting from the flowers announcing the visit grew even stronger.
Caught off guard by Jiwoo’s sudden embrace, which was unusual for her, Enci flushed red.
“You called me because you had something to ask, right?”
“Did you already know?”
“Of course. I can hear your heartbeat…”
“Well, then you know what I want to do beforehand, right?”
Enci lowered his head instead of answering. Jiwoo closed her eyes and pressed her lips against the sweet and refreshing scent.
“Uung…”
With a rough breath, Enci intertwined his tongue with hers. The door clicked shut behind them, and Jiwoo was pushed back against the wall.
Trapped between Enci’s firm chest and the wall, she received a passionate kiss.
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