At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 203
“Umm.”
“I don’t really want to imagine something so unsettling…”
They both referred to it as something ‘unsettling.’
“Why is it unsettling?”
Jiwoo remembered having a conversation like this before. She had once mentioned that if one of her husbands accidentally hurt her feelings, another husband would try to console her, soothe her, and show affection to help her recover quickly.
Since they had already discussed such things, she didn’t bring it up again.
“Um, Seo Jiwoo. We don’t get new family members unless something really significant happens, right?”
“Yes.”
Usually, when someone got married and accepted others into their group, that was it. The family would remain the same.
Being a female manifestation or an Akarna, Jiwoo didn’t partake in reproduction, and this was considered the healthiest and most complete state. It wasn’t something that needed to evolve or be treated. It was the most natural and normal form.
That’s why Marron and Night were the rare case of family expansion.
“If, in such a situation, a separation were to happen, you would immediately become alone.”
“Separation?”
Jiwoo was surprised by the word she never expected to hear.
“…So, does that mean you’re always considering the possibility of separation?”
“Well, that is…”
Lanset seemed flustered and couldn’t continue. Thankfully, Arven, who was more composed, stepped in to explain.
“Please don’t misunderstand. We don’t mean that we’d separate because our feelings faded. It’s just that nothing in life can go without a hitch. You never know what might happen. Accidents can occur unexpectedly.”
After all, El Ragneil was a place constantly struck by miasma-related disasters. Accidents could happen in an instant.
“If something were to happen and you were left alone, I think it would be incredibly sad.”
This wasn’t about a separation between lovers.
It was more like imagining the possibility of losing the only remaining family member in the world. The kind of loss one might feel if a deeply ill family member were to worry about leaving their only blood relative behind.
“In places like the far-off continents where there are more people and other societies to belong to, it might not be the same. But here, it’s different.”
Even if something lonely or painful happened, it could be endured because there were other family members. This might be a form of love that had emerged because of El Ragneil’s unique social structure.
So, it couldn’t easily be said to be right or wrong.
“Then the reason you don’t like me meeting other groups is…”
“Yes, that’s it. It’s because we’re worried you might get attached to another group and settle there.”
Lanset asked teasingly.
“Would you?”
“No…”
Whenever she had these kinds of conversations with them, it felt like she was getting drawn in, but it wasn’t something that made her feel bad.
“So, the concept of separation here is…”
“You leaving.”
“Or us losing our lives.”
For them, separation only meant death.
Who could call the shared love between spouses something light?
It was a weight that could never be thought of as light.
“So please, don’t say things like that.”
“If you take interest in another group, I’ll be sad.”
“I, I won’t…”
Perhaps the conversation pleased them, because Lanset and Arven leaned in and pressed their lips to Jiwoo’s hand and gradually got closer.
It didn’t take long before it turned into a deep kiss, leading to a more intimate contact.
15. Gift from the Sea
The next day, Jiwoo, dressed in the clothes that Lanset and Arven had thoroughly dried, surveyed the area around the cave.
Though there was no immediate danger, they were still stranded in the cave.
Jiwoo knew that in order to contact Solmih again, they first needed to understand the layout of the cave and let him know they were here.
“Seo Jiwoo.”
Jiwoo turned at the whispering voice directed toward her. Lanset and Arven were on the opposite side of the cave, so it seemed they hadn’t heard it.
Jiwoo moved toward the edge of the cave, scanning the area, and eventually located the source of the voice.
“Hello.”
A gorgeous person she had never seen before stood there.
The reason it took Jiwoo a while to find him was that he was half-submerged in the sea, his upper body just above the water.
“…Who are you?”
His silver hair, which waved like soft ocean waves, held a subtle, elegant light, like the inside of a seashell. Whenever the sunlight hit it, it sparkled more brilliantly.
His scarlet eyes shone like coral in the sea.
What stood out the most were his ears.
Though they were roughly the same length as Jiwoo’s husbands’ ears, his ears ended in a blunt shape, unlike her husbands’ sharp-tipped ears. And unlike her husbands, who never adorned their ears, his were decorated with extravagant jewelry.
“I introduced myself before.”
He casually tossed his hair back and showed off his profile, including his ears.
Perhaps he’s showing off his best angle…
“Petar.”
“Petar?”
Jiwoo couldn’t help but be surprised by his introduction.
“Wait, the person in the black robe? The one who guided us?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Oh my…”
Just as Jiwoo was admiring him, she heard the hurried footsteps of Lanset and Arven approaching from behind.
In an instant, Lanset and Arven stood on Jiwoo’s both sides, and after seeing Petar leaning with his arm on the edge of the cave and resting his chin, they became immediately cautious.
In the best spot where the sunlight reached, Petar had been showing off his good angle with his chin resting on his arm.
“I knew it.”
“…We really should have brought a club.”
To their surprise, Petar completely ignored their words. He simply continued to observe them, still leaning with his arm resting on his chin. He hadn’t moved his upper body from the water.
“Stop doing that and come out.”
“…”
Petar didn’t respond. He just arrogantly lowered his gaze and turned his head.
What’s with this power struggle…?
It seemed like the situation would continue, so Jiwoo decided to step in.