At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 243
“But, it, it hasn’t been long since I could even spend time like this. If I don’t leave something behind, what will be left of me? No one will even remember I existed.”
Tears suddenly welled in Skiass’s eyes as he spoke.
“Oh, no…”
For someone who usually barely spoke, pouring his heart out only to be met with rejection must have stung.
And Jiwoo hadn’t even said no. She had just asked how it would work.
“Why think like that? We’ll be together for a long time. We’ll live for ages.”
“Huh… huuh…”
Skiass’ golden eyes dripped with tears that wouldn’t stop when they began.
Jiwoo hugged him, comforting him softly while shooting Kaman a warning glance to stop. But Kaman only sneered.
“El, don’t spoil him. If all of us wanted to leave some mark on your body, would you let us all do it?”
Marks on the body.
Jiwoo suddenly pictured herself covered in thirty tattoos at once.
But would that be so bad? None of them would do it carelessly. With their keen sense of beauty, they’d probably make something stunning.
“I could allow that, actually…”
“…”
“…!”
Her calm reply startled Kaman, while Skiass’s tears dried up instantly.
Kaman cleared his throat, flustered.
“…Wa, wait. Am I the only conservative one here?”
“Why even assume that? If I couldn’t accept your world, would I have chosen to stay here?”
Sometimes her husbands spoke as if they were taking advantage of her. Maybe they still carried guilt of tricking an outsider unfamiliar with their culture into marriage.
By now, it wasn’t necessary, but whenever they requested something they themselves considered ‘too much’, they fell into that mindset.
While this kind of thing could be disconcerting in some way, but actually this wasn’t unreasonable after listening to the whole story.
“I only hate it when something important is hidden from me, or decided upon without me asking. But you’ve explained everything and asked first, so it’s fine.”
“…”
“…Yes. Right.”
Kaman and Skiass exchanged glances. She couldn’t quite point it out but they look oddly unsettled.
“…And besides, it’s not harmful to me. If it’s something meant to help me, then I have even less reason to refuse.”
Jiwoo looked at Skiass, whose face brightened, though his eyes were still wet. She gently wiped away the lingering tears.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll let me?”
“You still haven’t said why you need a tattoo.”
Skiass lowered his gaze. He was almost submissive under her touch.
“…It’s not something you can do without sensation. You said the process would hurt, right?”
He nodded.
“But I don’t want Seo Jiwoo to feel pain. So I’ll take it instead…. To do, do that, I need to connect to your nerves. That’s what the tattoo does.”
Skiass took out what he’d prepared. It was a pen-like tool with a sharp needle tip.
“It has to be inscribed on the person who will receive the sensation. If Seo Jiwoo just dips your arm in here…”
“Hold it, Skiass.”
Jiwoo stopped him in surprise, but Kaman pounced on the opening.
“So, you plan to spy on everything El feels for the rest of your life?”
“No, no! Just the pain…. That’s what I’ll take.”
“That’s even stranger.”
It wasn’t about sharing sensation, but more of isolating and absorbing pain alone.
“Is this permanent?”
“… It could be temporary.”
He admitted reluctantly. Clearly, Skiass wanted something lasting as a mark on her.
A tattoo, Jiwoo could allow. But permanent suffering? Never.
“No, nothing permanent. If you want a mark… I’ll give you something else.”
“Al, alright. Promise?”
His face lit up, thinking they’d finally reached a compromise. He was smiling though his eyes were still red-rimmed from crying.
“Then, Seo Jiwoo, just… dip your arm in. I’ll guide you.”
“You’re really going through with this? El, are you going to give in every time we cry?”
“Kaman. Hush.”
Jiwoo dipped her arm into the wooden basin as instructed. Skiass beamed, handing her the needle-like tool.
“Just draw anything. It won’t matter, it’ll disappear after.”
After thinking for a moment, Jiwoo drew a small heart on the back of Skiass’ hand. From the pattern she drew, intricate golden patterns bloomed from it. Like how Helka drew a golden magic circle in the air, as if Jiwoo had traced only the first stroke.
‘So it really didn’t matter what I drew.’
The result was surprisingly beautiful. She had drawn something roughly thinking it was going to disappear anyway..
There was a violet glow on Skiass’ hand. Before she could even ask if it worked, Skiass smiled brilliantly and nodded.
Then, gazing at the new pattern, he bent and pressed a reverent kiss to it.
But wasn’t he supposed to be feeling pain in her place?
With that eager look on his face, what was she supposed to do?
rivier
Sskiaassss~~~~ u r so cute like a puppy 😂😂