At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 140

It was natural to ask such questions, especially since Enci had the most interest in them. Jiwoo expected him to ask, but she felt a bit hesitant to share this information.

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

“Lofrel suggested waiting a bit longer…”

They had talked for quite a while about what to do with the newcomers. Jiwoo had decided she would send them away, but in the end, she changed her mind at the last moment. Additionally, she had concerns about what would happen if they were taken away.

When she asked Lofrel if it meant they would be killed before being sent off, Lofrel didn’t give a straightforward answer. However, considering the nature of the female manifestations, it seemed they wouldn’t receive very good treatment even if they were taken along.

“So for now, they’re staying in the village.”

As she said this, Jiwoo observed Enci’s expression. Wouldn’t it be odd to have someone new join when she already had her existing husbands? Though she had said she would adapt and live here, she still felt awkward whenever cultural differences became apparent.

“Do you not like it?”

“…Hmm. Not really. It’s probably better to stay from a distance.”

“I was asking how you feel about it, Enci.”

Enci let out a soft, surprised sound, as if he hadn’t expected that question.

“Well, well, if we’re being technical, it’s a good thing.”

Yet his response was still ambiguous. While his ears didn’t show signs of discontent, his expression suggested there was more he wanted to say.

“Is it because you want to learn the language I used to speak?”

“That’s a different matter…”

Enci paused abruptly, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

“I was surprised that you could refuse the offer. Ultimately, you didn’t refuse, but they are somewhat different beings.”

Somehow, Jiwoo had ended up encountering both her husbands and the female manifestations twice. Based on how the children of Ellandos had behaved around the female manifestations, they seemed somewhat fearful of them.

“And I felt relieved and pleased that Seo Jiwoo is that kind of person.”

Enci, with his delicate sensibilities, understood what kind of concerns Jiwoo had.

In the beginning, she had felt flustered and uncomfortable with the idea of exchanging people as gifts. Even though she was curious about the new men, she was also wary of them. As her heartbeat shifted from rejection to discomfort, the change in rhythm became apparent when Jiwoo glanced at her husbands.

Jiwoo was adapting here and trying to embrace the culture. If she had rejected the newcomers outright, it would have meant she wasn’t adjusting well.

The children of Ellandos held that kind of position in this context.

However, if Jiwoo was truly that kind of person, she wouldn’t have chosen her husbands, including Enci.

“I’m glad that even living here, you still chose me, Seo Jiwoo.”

Jiwoo felt Enci’s fingertips tremble as he caressed her body. She playfully asked.

“Enci, don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“What?”

Enci responded immediately, and as soon as he realized, his face turned bright red.

“I, I don’t know? What… again… you know everything.”

“Why? We already wrote our marriage certificate.”

“You.”

Enci perked up his ears, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

“How could you say something like that so casually?”

“Kim Enci. My husband.”

“…!”

Jiwoo turned around and hugged Enci tightly. With a splash, the sound of shallow water filled the air, and Enci’s voice complained softly about getting his clothes wet.

Then, from above, she heard him breathing heavily, and in a much softer voice than before, he said,

“…I, I love you.”

As Jiwoo lifted her head to reply, Enci, seemingly shy, showered her with sweet kisses.

However, it was only later that she would fully understand what the ’gift’ really meant.

* * *

As soon as Jiwoo opened her eyes in the morning, she found a letter had arrived.

A large, colorful bird was perched outside the window, and as she reached out to take a look, the bird dropped a piece of paper and flew away.

When she opened the note, she was surprised to find it was written in the imperial language of Caranazion. It wasn’t a language used here, but it was one that Jiwoo could read.

It seemed that this visit during her solitude wasn’t merely a coincidence.

The note contained a few lines of lofty greetings typical of the Empire’s nobility and a request from another group to take the time to help treat their Ellandos.

‘I was planning to discuss the issue of those two today.’

Jiwoo always consulted with Helka and Callan about such matters, so she began wandering the village to find them—and the two newcomers as well.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t even know their names.’

However, unlike usual, Helka and Callan did not appear at all, even though they usually showed up promptly when Jiwoo pretended to search for them.

So, Jiwoo had no choice but to grab Lanceil, who happened to be nearby, to ask.

Lanceil was not alone. He was accompanied by two others who were close friends, named Lanset and Arven.

The three often went hunting or kept watch together, so they were frequently seen together. When Jiwoo called out to them, they approached, adjusting their clothes and hair.

“Have you seen Helka or Callan?”

“They’re probably a bit busy right now. Because of the ‘gifts’…”

Ah, right. That was another issue that needed addressing.

Since Helka and Callan would likely have a better understanding of it, Jiwoo thought it would be okay to leave it to them for now.

With that in mind, she decided it would be best to discuss the letter with her husbands right away.

“What do you think about this?”

“Hmm…”

“Should we not go?”

Since entering El Ragneil and saving her husbands’ trees, she had gone to help treat Asilion’s tree, and this had made her husbands a bit worried about this matter.