At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 289

It was strange how simply tying his hair back changed his whole impression, though the deep scowl he wore, so unlike his winter expression, probably had something to do with it.

“Some people are strongly affected by the seasons.”

No sooner had Reed said it than Kelvar had to swat away another butterfly clinging to his cheek.

If insects crowded around him like that whenever his fragrance intensified, Jiwoo could understand why he might become a little irritable. Still, there had to be more to it for him to be this angry.

“Anyway, what happened?”

As Jiwoo demanded an explanation, Skiass, who had kept his mouth firmly shut until then, finally spoke.

“… El said she was upset because the crops failed this year. Eating nothing but bad food would make her unhappy, and then she might grow weak again… So I was trying to think of a way to give her something good to eat, and I came up with a suitable method. Kelvar happened to be perfect for it, so I asked him to help. He agreed, but then he decided he didn’t like the method and hit me…”

“What the hell, you lunatic! How is that my fault? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Kelvar lost his temper and raised his voice again. After glancing warily at Reed, however, he approached Jiwoo with an almost plaintive expression.

“Jiwoo, look at this.”

Still frowning, Kelvar rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm. His skin was red and slightly swollen. A tiny puncture sat at the center of each taut bump.

There were several of them, densely scattered across the places his clothing had covered.

“What happened?”

“I was stung by bees. Because of that bastard!”

When Kelvar jabbed a finger toward him, Skiass lowered his eyes with his usual gloomy expression.

“What’s so serious about that… You could’ve endured a little… It was for El…”

“Do I look like a perverted freak like you?”

A perverted freak…

Kelvar had voiced aloud the very judgement of Skiass that Jiwoo had only ever had privately…

“My scent only comes out in autumn… What else was I supposed to do right now…? You were the obvious choice… And my fragrance isn’t nearly as strong as yours… You agreed to help, so I don’t understand why you’re suddenly throwing a fit…”

“I didn’t know you were going to shove me into a beehive!”

“You should’ve anticipated some side effects… Unless you’re too stupid to think even that far ahead…”

“Hey!”

…The longer Jiwoo listened, the more she realized Skiass had a particular talent for provoking people.

“You see, El, floral fragrance directly affects the routes bees use for pollination… Certain aromatic compounds attract them…”

“Hey, make it short.”

Thanks to Narkreed’s intervention, Jiwoo was spared the full lecture.

The dramatic shift in fragrance that year had altered both the bees’ behavior and the composition of the honey. To restore their old patterns, they needed another stable scent capable of attracting the bees.

That was why they needed Kelvar, whose fragrance had become unusually strong. Naturally, Skiass had neglected to mention that the bees would swarm him as a consequence.

“That isn’t a side effect. You were planning to use Kelvar as bait.”

Reed said flatly after hearing the whole story.

And that was how they had ended up in this situation.

Since the whole thing had begun because they wanted to give her better food, Jiwoo couldn’t help feeling guilty.

“Ke, Kelvar, don’t be too angry. I’ll treat the stings. Skiass, you need to apologize.”

“Sorry…”

“…Unbelievable.”

As Jiwoo took Kelvar’s hand and gently stroked the swollen skin, he quieted and let out a sigh.

He continued glaring at Skiass as though to say, You’re only getting away with this because of Jiwoo.

His breath carried such an intense lilac fragrance that it was almost like walking around with an entire bottle of perfume.

“El, I’m hurt too…”

Seeing Jiwoo tend only to Kelvar, Skiass rubbed the cheek that had clearly been struck.

“Use this.”

“…What is it?”

“El is trying to make medicine with the Akarna’s power. It isn’t finished yet, it’s only a prototype. You don’t get treated directly. Use this and reflect on what you did.”

Skiass snatched the medicine from Reed’s hand, his eyes immediately lighting up.

“Ah… Then I’ll be El’s very first test subject? That’s… wonderful… Is this perhaps a reward…?”

“Can’t we just give that bastard nothing?”

Kelvar shouted while pounding his chest in frustration.

***

In the end, Jiwoo spent that night treating the bee stings covering Kelvar’s body.

They were minor injuries that healed after only a few kisses, and as she breathed in the fragrance that grew even stronger indoors, she gradually drifted off to sleep. They talked quietly about small things, including her concern that Helka still had not returned.

Just as he had done throughout the winter, Kelvar gave Jiwoo his arm as a pillow and fell asleep beside her.

Sometime before dawn, he woke up and gently shook her.

“Jiwoo. Jiwoo, wake up.”

“…Mmm?”

Jiwoo mumbled sleepily as she pushed herself upright.

“I think Helka’s back.”

“…Really?”

Jiwoo hurried outside after throwing on only a coat.

Several of her husbands appeared to have gathered near the village entrance to welcome them home.

“Why did you come back so late…!”

Jiwoo ran straight to Helka and threw her arms around him. The first thing she did was check whether he had been injured anywhere.