At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 172
Jiwoo playfully punched Tevon on the back as he teased her. When he pretended to run away, she chased after him.
“Ow, ow! Just let me off this once!”
Tevon, acting like he was in pain, made Jiwoo forget about her anger and quickly laugh. Still, she swore never to come back here again.
However, despite Jiwoo’s promise, this place eventually became a secret dating spot for her and her husbands.
* * *
The dessert Jiwoo had planned took about five days to make. It was a dish where ingredients were boiled with sugar, pickled, and then cooled repeatedly.
Since some of the husbands were away for a while, it worked out perfectly for when they would return.
“How is it?”
Jiwoo first presented it to the seven people who helped her, including Lanceil, Helka, Callan, Enci, Tevon, and additionally Marron and Night.
“I was thinking of making several dishes, but since you all helped, I decided it would be best to focus on giving just this one.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Callan marveled at the gift, before packaging it.
“It really looks like a jewel shaped like a chestnut.”
“It’s called Marron Glacé. I’m lucky I know how to make it.”
“The tree probably helped with that too. You’ve connected with it.”
She hadn’t expected it to turn out so well. Perhaps it was because she used Ellandos chestnuts, but the result was much more beautiful and larger than she had imagined. The sugar-coated surface sparkled in the sunlight, looking just like a jewel, as Callan had said.
“Well then, please take care until everyone gathers. I’ll start wrapping the gift.”
Jiwoo gave her instructions and sent Callan off first.
Initially, she had planned to fill the table with chestnut dishes alone, but with the increased variety of dishes, she needed help. Aside from the gifts she prepared, it seemed she would rely on her husbands to handle the rest of the party preparations, just like usual.
“Then prepare it well.”
Tevon, holding Jiwoo from behind, waved to Callan.
“No, Tevon. You come out.”
While Callan watched the exchange while smiling, he stepped forward, grabbing Tevon and pulling him inside.
“Why? I’m going to wrap with Jiwoo.”
“You’ve been around the Illusion Mushroom colony, right? For now, staying near Jiwoo is forbidden. You come too.”
Tevon, caught off guard by Callan’s words, hesitated and mumbled excuses.
“No… it’s fine, Jiwoo isn’t affected by poison, so it’s okay.”
“What if Akarna’s power suddenly disappears?”
Lanceil, who had been watching Tevon disapprovingly, chimed in.
“When are you going to learn?”
“…..”
Tevon, having nothing to say, clamped his mouth shut. Lanceil grabbed his ear and dragged him out.
“Come on, follow Callan.”
“Ah! Let go of me!”
Tevon slapped Lanceil’s hand away.
“…Anyone who touches my ears isn’t going to get away with it, except Seo Jiwoo.”
He growled with a low voice. His expression was fierce, almost as if he was a wild animal about to attack.
“I won’t let this go!”
“When are you going to grow up?!”
Thud. Thud.
…It didn’t work.
Tevon, who had been hit hard by Callan and Lanceil, ended up pouting and was driven off. Seeing him being dragged away, it seemed like Callan was going to lecture him for quite a while.
Jiwoo watched it for a while, felt a bit embarrassed and cleared her throat.
“…But in the end, it turned into a normal party.”
“Aren’t we sharing this? Then it’s a special occasion after all.”
Enci carefully handled the completed chestnuts, trying to avoid any scratches on the delicate parts. It seemed like everyone was satisfied with just helping with the preparations, even though Jiwoo thought it was a good gift.
Enci wrapped it with clean paper, Lanceil folded and packed the box, while Jiwoo and Helka chose the wrapping paper and added the ribbons.
A normal party for the husbands was a gathering they regularly held when living in El Ragneil after their marriage.
It wasn’t a grand occasion like an anniversary despite being called a party. It was just a time when everyone gathered together for a day as a large family. If one were to define it, it was more like a family reunion.
Since some people often went out on trips, and everyone had different schedules, they rarely all gathered unless the time was set precisely. For example Jiwoo often went on business trips.
Now that she thought about it, this was the first time since Lofrel had visited.
So much had happened back then.
Jiwoo smiled softly, remembering the husbands who had desperately prepared, thinking she would leave with the female manifestation and head to the capital.
“I always thought I was just the one receiving, but this time I’m glad I have something to give back.”
“Your presence is the greatest gift.”
Jiwoo lowered her head, focusing on wrapping the gift, as Lanceil casually said those words. Her face flushed.
The husbands often said sweet things to Jiwoo, but from her perspective, they always seemed kind and polite. Sometimes, she felt like they adored her so much, though it was just the right amount that didn’t make her feel overwhelmed.
‘I’m not even the female manifestation.’
Even though she had received a wonderful gift this time, Jiwoo had learned a lot from this business trip. Though she had only met the female manifestation twice, she now had a better understanding of what that entity was.
If she had been that person, she might have been able to do even more…
“Hey, Seo Jiwoo.”
Lost in her thoughts while wrapping, Jiwoo looked up at Enci’s voice. For some reason, he seemed a bit upset.
“I was debating whether or not to say this.”
“Hmm?”
“Could we not let Helka do it?”
That’s when Jiwoo noticed the ribbon Helka had been handling. Lanceil also glanced subtly at Enci, and the two exchanged a silent, knowing nod.
Jiwoo paused to find the right words and simply said,
“Helka… just focus on moral support.”
“…Understood.”
Eventually, a downcast Helka put the wrapping aside and just focused on supporting them morally.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
