At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 173

After a while, Jiwoo, with the help of three people, carried all the wrapped gifts to the village square. As she approached, the sound of people chatting could already be heard. As soon as she got closer, everyone turned to look at her.

Even though she was the one giving the gifts, her heart was racing. The simple act of giving something felt so joyful. It had been a long time since she felt this way.

“Did you arrive?”

As Jiwoo got closer, Solmih, who had been waiting at the front, reached out a hand. Jiwoo placed her hand on top of his and entered the square, which had already been set up as the party venue.

Who should she give the gift to first?

‘It should probably be Solmih, right?’

He was known for being quick to catch on, so he might have already guessed it. Her heart was already beating with anticipation.

Jiwoo handed him the gift box first.

“This is a gift.”

“Is this for me?”

Solmih, who had been smiling like a picture, immediately unwrapped the gift to check the contents. But, contrary to Jiwoo’s expectations, the smile on his face disappeared the moment he saw it.

“…Why are you giving me this?”

“Eh?”

Jiwoo, who had been thinking about when to say the prepared words, was taken aback by his unexpected reaction. Unlike what she had expected, Solmih’s expression didn’t seem pleased at all upon receiving the gift.

Was this not a good gift?

She was sure everyone would like it.

No, that couldn’t be it. The people who received it earlier were really happy. Maybe it was just that the explanation was lacking.

“It’s the Ellandos chestnut I brought back from my last trip. I made it myself because I wanted to gift it to you. Don’t you like it?”

“…No, it’s a very nice gift. I’ll cherish it forever.”

“You don’t have to go that far. I made it to be eaten. Please enjoy it.”

Since it was the Ellandos chestnut, it wouldn’t rot or spoil even if kept for a long time, but Jiwoo hoped they would use it according to the purpose it was made for.

However, Solmih didn’t seem to be planning to eat it anytime soon, as he was holding the box for quite a while.

After a brief silence, he calmly asked.

“Is it alright not to give it to the others?”

“The others? Oh, yes. It’s fine.”

After confirming the people Solmih was pointing to, Jiwoo answered with an awkward smile. They were the ones who helped prepare the gift this time, such as Helka and Calan. They had tasted it right after the gift was made.

Since the quantity was correct, they each had one already, so there was no need to give them more.

Jiwoo explained that she had already taken care of them, but Solmih seemed to understand it differently.

He nodded knowingly and sighed, then spoke.

“Well then, when will you be leaving?”

“Leaving?”

“I would like to thank you for everything… and I hope you’ll give us time to say goodbye.”

Jiwoo was surprised. She thought they were talking about her next business trip, but ‘goodbye’ sounded different.

“…What do you mean?”

It seemed like Solmih was assuming Jiwoo would be leaving completely.

Jiwoo looked around at the husbands who had gathered. If Solmih was thinking this way, then the others likely shared similar thoughts.

As expected.

They were all watching her with a tense expression, treating the gift she was about to give as if it were some kind of bomb.

But Jiwoo knew that what she had prepared was something they valued dearly. The ones who had received their gifts earlier had been very satisfied and pleased. Enci, who loved sweets, had even gone as far as to keep it for later instead of eating it.

So, it wasn’t the gift itself that was the problem. It was the act of giving it that seemed to make them uncomfortable.

“Why do you think that?”

Jiwoo had expected this to be a good day when she planned the party, and now, if these misunderstandings continued, it could end badly.

“Ah.”

It seemed that Solmih, after seeing Jiwoo’s reaction, realized that he had misunderstood.

“…Aren’t you leaving?”

Solmih’s expression, which had seemed relieved, now showed signs of hesitation, as if he wasn’t entirely sure.

Leaving?

‘Did I not clear up that misunderstanding?’

Thinking back, Jiwoo hadn’t explicitly addressed it. This gathering was the first since the time when the female manifestation appeared with the tree in the village.

“Do you still think I’m going to leave for the capital?”

“Well, I didn’t mean specifically the capital…”

Solmih trailed off, covering his mouth with one hand.

“Since you’ve been close with just a few people after returning from your trip, I thought you’d choose to take them with you.”

“No, that was just to prepare for this gift. It took a while to make, and I wanted to give it to everyone during this gathering…”

Now that Jiwoo thought about it, she hadn’t actually said she wasn’t leaving while everyone was gathered.

But, what had happened during that time?

After her power as Akarna faded during the trip, Jiwoo had rushed back. Helka, worried that Jiwoo might get hurt, had immediately taken her to his home. Afterward, she had only interacted with those involved in preparing the gifts.

She had avoided contact with the other husbands, so it was understandable that there might be some confusion.

They had shared everything about Jiwoo before, but this time, she hadn’t shared any of this on purpose—it seemed she had kept it a secret.

“…So, you’re not leaving?”

Kaman, who had been hanging around closest to Jiwoo, asked cautiously.

At this point, Jiwoo understood. The children of Ellandos tended to rely on their appearances when it came to certain matters. It was like how when Asillion’s group showed interest in Jiwoo, they had brought Enci as a countermeasure.

Of course, they had sent out the most attractive one they thought could represent them.

Thinking along those lines, Jiwoo could now understand why Solmih and Kaman had appeared when she and Calan had discussed the party preparations.