I Became A Married Man in Another World
Chapter 102
102 A Small Jealousy
Jewel-like shimmering particles enveloped the unicorn and the horned rabbit.
It looked as if a messenger of God had descended upon the earth. Beautiful and sublime.
Anet took a step forward without even realizing it.
‘My goodness. This is…’
She had seen a painting like this when she was a child. She wasn’t sure who painted it or exactly what the painting was, but she only remembered that it depicted a beautiful beast with glowing red horns and a man.
‘I see. That man and Juhwan were the same.’
The man in the painting wasn’t as large as Juhwan. In fact, he might have been a bit smaller.
But that man also had black hair and black eyes.
Yes, that was it. She had only seen it once as a child, but for some reason, it remained in her memory. She had thought the black-haired man standing next to the magic beast with glowing red horns was so beautiful.
‘Why didn’t I realize it sooner?’
Anet placed a hand over her chest. Thump, thump—her heart was racing. It beat so violently that it felt as if it might burst if she didn’t press down on it.
‘Juhwan is the person my father talked about.’
She remembered it because her father, who was usually nothing but strict, had smiled softly at her then. Looking at the man and the magic beast in that painting, her father had said:
[This is a painting of Rudolph and his master. I happened to come across it by chance. It is a work to be presented to His Majesty, but yes, if you ever see a man with such a beast in the distant future, you must bring him to me. If you grow up to be as beautiful as your mother, such a possibility might exist. Grow up beautifully, Anet.]
Her mother was so beautiful that everyone wanted to possess her.
However, her daughter, Anet, did not take after her mother much. She had disappointed her father with her plain appearance.
Her father, who had high expectations for her looks, was disappointed and eventually married her off to an old man who could benefit the family. It seemed that was the only use he could find for her.
Rather than disappointment toward her aged husband, her father’s discouragement saddened her more. Her heart withered at the fact that she could not satisfy her father’s expectations, and she lived without being able to give her affection to anything.
Perhaps that was why she had fallen for Kyle. Her eyes were drawn to Kyle, who somehow resembled her father.
“….”
She felt like she might cry. Anet watched Juhwan holding Riji. It was that man. That was the man her father had spoken of.
She wasn’t seeking her father’s love now. She knew far too much now about the ugly side of the father she had craved as a child.
But if she could possess that man, she would surely be able to get her son back. She would be able to gain more than just a meeting.
Anet watched Riji smiling in Juhwan’s arms.
‘I’m sorry, Riji.’
She didn’t dislike her. If she had to choose between disliking or liking her, she would probably be on the side of liking her.
Riji, with her quiet personality that didn’t cross others, was a similar type to herself. Unlike other people, she didn’t feel uncomfortable being with Riji.
However, as Kyle said, Riji was an ordinary person. She didn’t suit a special existence like Juhwan.
’Not that I’m necessarily the right woman for Mr. Juhwan either.’
Still, at the very least, she would be a better fit than Riji.
“….”
The image of her father staring quietly at the painting came to mind. Under the dim candlelight, her father’s eyes had been sparkling.
‘An existence everyone covets.’
Anet didn’t know what the future held. But thinking of her father, Juhwan would meet countless nobles in the future. He might even receive a summons from the King.
In such times, the person who could support and be of help by Juhwan’s side was not Riji. It was herself, who had lived within aristocratic society.
She would definitely be of help.
Anet quietly turned around and went inside the office.
Adventurers and guild staff alike had all gone outside to see the glowing magic beast. Chatterbox was alone in the office.
Chatterbox, who was grumbling while organizing documents, looked at Anet.
He asked as if it were strange.
“Everyone else is making a fuss, aren’t you going to watch? It’s a rare sight. You probably won’t see something like that again for the rest of your life. I was surprised too. To think the horns would glow. I didn’t know a thing called a Rudolph was so unusual. If I had a bit less work, I would’ve kept watching too. Haah, the Master really needs to get back soon. The work has piled up too much.”
Grumbling, Chatterbox suddenly noticed Anet’s face.
“Anet. What’s the matter? Your face is stiff.”
“It’s nothing. By any chance, could I see the information sheets kept for the staff?”
“Hmm, which ones do you mean?”
“The ones that collect information about the situation in each territory or other countries.”
“Ah, you mean the ones sent from the main branch once a month.”
“Yes, those. Could I possibly see them too?”
“…Of course, since you’re a staff member, it’s fine for you to see them, but…”
Chatterbox looked at Anet quietly and sighed. He rummaged through the documents inside and pulled out a stack of papers tied with a string through holes.
“This is the most recent one. Tell me if you need other things too. And while it’s fine to look at it inside the office, you must not take it outside. As you well know.”
As he handed the stack of papers to Anet, Chatterbox sighed deeply once more.
“Anet, I won’t ask why you need these documents or why you’re suddenly asking for something you usually have no interest in. I have no right to interfere in your life.”
“….”
“But you know. You’d better think carefully. You’ve already made a wrong choice once. Don’t repeat the past again.”
“….”
Anet turned around without a word.
Chatterbox threw words at her back in a low voice.
“Don’t tear down what you’ve built up in this office, Anet. A bad reputation attracts bad things. Once it collapses, it will be out of control.”
She knew. Having already experienced it once, she knew it well enough to die.
If she was going to live alone and lonely for a day, a month, a year, ten years, and then die alone in her room—if she was going to live and die miserably without even seeing her son’s face once—what would be so bad about struggling one last time?
Everyone dies. There is no one in this world who does not die. Living itself is the act of moving step by step toward a predetermined death.
If it’s a cliff named death where muddy water flows, there’s nothing wrong with struggling to grab a branch extended at the last moment. If the branch she grabbed breaks there, she will simply die as originally intended.
Anet sat in her corner seat and began to quietly read through the information sheet.
She didn’t think she would get Juhwan’s attention within a day or even a few days. She wasn’t a great beauty, and unless it was a situation like falling in love at first sight, it was impossible.
‘It’s a long game. I have no choice but to steadily build up feelings over a month, two months, like that.’
Living together, one or two points of dislike are bound to arise. Both Juhwan and Riji, being human, will surely be that way. That’s the time to strike.
‘There’s no need to be impatient.’
The longer it takes, the less likely she is to be discarded when she succeeds. If he is a man who finds it hard to discard Riji, he will similarly love the woman who comes after for a long time. A person’s nature does not change.
Anet read through the unfamiliar information sheet, tucking the details away in her mind.
Once the red horns were seen, everything proceeded smoothly. He was immediately registered as Santa rank and received a temporary necklace. He was told that a proper one, including one for Rudolph, would be made and sent later.
Other than that, there wasn’t much. He had wondered if something grand would happen since they made such a fuss about Santa rank, but it seemed it was just the necklace.
Feeling a bit strange, he asked what was good about becoming Santa rank, and Percel grinned.
“Money. There’s a huge gap between 1st and 2nd class, but there’s an uncrossable river between Santa rank and 1st class. You can name your price.”
“….”
It was exactly what Chatterbox had said. Hmm, well, it wasn’t that he was claiming money wasn’t important. But something felt a bit unsettling.
With the Guild’s work finished, Riji met a craftsman who handled magic beast hides through an introduction from the purchasing staff.
The workshop that processed magic beast hides was on the outskirts of town. It was a secluded place with almost no houses nearby.
Juhwan watched the two of them from a short distance away, and the craftsman refused without even properly listening to Riji’s request.
He said he couldn’t just teach his techniques to anyone.
Well, that was only natural. Riji said a few more words, but the craftsman waved his hands and went inside the shop. It was a complete cold-shoulder.
The story ended there. He felt bad for Riji’s dejected face, but it couldn’t be helped.
However, as they headed to the market to buy supplies, Riji asked Juhwan in a slightly low-spirited voice.
“Could we come back here again around this time tomorrow?”
“Are you planning to meet the craftsman again?”
“Yes, I really want to know how to process magic beast hides.”
“….”
He wondered if she really had to go that far. Riji looked up at Juhwan slightly and asked.
“Juhwan, am I being too rudely stubborn?”
“Well.”
“But… I want to at least try talking properly. Today, he wouldn’t even listen.”
“Do as you wish. Who knows? There’s a saying about ‘three visits to the cottage’.”
“Three… what?”
“It means things might go well if you speak with all your heart several times.”
“…I hope it turns out that way.”
It was rare for Riji to be this stubborn. Perhaps it was the first time.
“It would be good if you could learn.”
When Juhwan spoke, Riji smiled a little.
After that, they went around the market to buy things needed for the cabin. However, as they picked each item carefully, it took more time than expected. It seemed they would have to set aside a few days to make the purchases.
*
Anet’s lessons were being held in a rented warehouse behind the inn’s dining hall for a small fee.
A warehouse where extra food and supplies were piled up was all there was, with an old table and chairs set out for the number of people.
Since it wasn’t a place where people normally lived, the wind whistled through the walls. It was quite cold.
It would have been nice to have a better space, but the room they were currently staying in had no space just with the bed in it, and the dining hall was too noisy, so there was no suitable place.
Riji put charcoal, which she usually made from wood, into a brazier and placed it in the warehouse. Doing this didn’t mean it wasn’t cold. But at least it would prevent their hands from stiffening. If hands get too stiff, even writing letters doesn’t work properly.
Anet sat in a position facing Juhwan and Riji, giving Riji a dictation.
When Anet said a word, Riji wrote it down. Occasionally, Riji groaned a little as if there were words she couldn’t remember.
But she would say the word several times under her breath and immediately write it down again. The method Juhwan taught her seemed to be effective.
Checking what Riji had written, Anet said as if slightly surprised.
“There are no mistakes this time. Well done, Riji.”
“Thank you.”
Riji smiled shyly at Anet’s praise.
“Let’s study this today.”
Anet wrote several words on a piece of paper and then pronounced them slowly.
They were words Juhwan already knew. However, there was a slight difference in accent. Juhwan muttered along, following what Anet said.
Dorothy, who was sitting on the chair next to Riji, was also moving her mouth and following along diligently. Perhaps because the atmosphere of her mom and dad was serious, or because she had studied with Juhwan for a few days, she was quite well-behaved today.
After Anet explained the new words to Riji, she turned to Juhwan.
While Riji wrote and memorized the newly learned words on her own, Juhwan studied different letters with Anet. He was studying words separately that commoners didn’t often use.
Since Riji and Juhwan’s levels and study speeds were different, it became this way. It cost more money, but it was the most effective method in the current situation.
Anet spoke with a bright smile.
“I heard Mr. Juhwan doesn’t know our country very well yet. Shall we talk about our country and the enemy nation, Tairon, today?”
“Is that okay?”
It was different from usual. At other times, she would just list words and quietly repeat them.
Having studied together for a few days, he had learned that Anet didn’t seem to like talking to someone very much. It wasn’t very obvious, but even when she was doing her work as a Grand Reader, she didn’t speak unless it was necessary.
“Of course it’s okay. I thought this way Mr. Juhwan could hear various words mixed together, and it would be good.”
“It’s certainly helpful for me.”
She knew more than he thought. He had heard that women in this country, even if they were nobles, received a different education from men. He heard there were even women who had never seen an accurate map of the country they lived in.
But Anet seemed to know the situation of this country and the enemy nation quite accurately.
Talking for a while, it seemed Riji had memorized everything. She put the pen down next to the paper and looked up.
Anet was still in the middle of talking about the enemy Tairon Kingdom. Since it was a point where it was a bit awkward to cut her off, Juhwan looked at Riji while listening to Anet.
For some reason, Riji’s face was a bit clouded. Was her head still hurting because of the hangover?
When their eyes met, Riji hid her expression with a bright smile again. It was a bit strange. No, it seemed it had been a bit strange since a while ago. For some reason, from around the time the lesson started, she had been a bit low-spirited. Even when she smiled, she lacked energy.
‘Is it because of the magic beast hide craftsman?’
Juhwan took Riji’s hand under the table. Her fingers had become quite cold. Even with the brazier, it was indeed too cold. Tomorrow, it would be better to put a bit more charcoal in the brazier.
Anet suddenly looked toward Riji and smiled, her lips curling slightly.
“I’m sorry, Riji. Did you wait?”
“Then, shall we see if you’ve memorized it all?”
Anet smiled elegantly and reached out her hand. She looked at the characters Riji wrote and corrected the parts where the shapes were strange.
“Try writing this part like this.”
Riji wrote the letters, hiding the paper from Juhwan as if she were a bit embarrassed.
He caught a glimpse of Riji’s handwriting. The letters drawn with force like a child’s writing were a bit crooked. They were only smaller in size than the letters Dorothy wrote next to her, but similar.
“….”
Even the letters were cute. And Riji’s appearance trying to hide them was even cuter.
When the lesson ended and Anet left, Juhwan went up to their room holding Dorothy.
On the stairs going up, Riji suddenly asked in a small voice.
“Anet was pretty today, wasn’t she?”
“Huh?”
“Her hairstyle was different than usual too.”
“Was it? Wasn’t it the same?”
“Oh!”
Riji stopped climbing and looked at Juhwan. Juhwan stopped his steps too. He was in a bit of a predicament. Was Anet’s hairstyle different today?
Juhwan suddenly remembered something that happened on Earth and became a bit anxious.
A girlfriend he used to date once asked him, “Is there anything different about me today?”
In Juhwan’s experience, if you’re not sure, you should talk about the hairstyle. Because while everything looks the same to men, women think their hairstyles are a little bit different. They didn’t know how or where it was different, but they would express it as, ‘today is a mess,’ or ‘today it’s collapsed.’ So, when he didn’t know, he praised the hairstyle. He had always gotten by like that.
That day too, Juhwan looked at his girlfriend’s hair and answered, “Did you get a perm? It’s pretty.”
The result was a disaster; he immediately received a breakup notice. She didn’t even answer when he asked why.
A week later, her friend called on her behalf, and it turned out she had worn a wig, so her shoulder-length hair had suddenly grown to her waist. It was true she had permed hair, but the length was wrong.
But honestly, if you ask men what their girlfriend’s hairstyle was like yesterday, there would be few who could answer.
Recalling that memory, Juhwan hurriedly checked Riji’s hairstyle. It was the same as yesterday. Unlike Earth, there was no way wigs would be common here, nor was there a hair salon. Riji’s hair was the same every day.
‘I don’t think I’ve made a mistake.’
He wondered if her outfit had changed and checked, but clothes are precious items here. There was no such thing as wearing different clothes every day. Riji’s clothes were the same ones he saw every day.
Besides, she had put these clothes on in front of him this morning.
Thinking that he hadn’t done anything wrong, Juhwan spoke honestly.
“Sorry, Riji. I really don’t know what Ms. Anet looked like. Was there something I should have known?”
“….”
Riji looked at Juhwan’s face quietly, then suddenly smiled brightly.
The expression that had seemed dark until a moment ago had vanished.
“No. Nothing.”
Riji spoke in a light voice and turned around. She lightly climbed the stairs, hop-hop. He didn’t know what it was, but it seemed he had given the right answer.
‘Could it be… she thought I was interested in Anet?’
There was no way he would be.
A smile was already on Juhwan’s lips. It seemed Riji had been jealous of Anet.
‘It’s a happy thing if she shows possessiveness.’
His wife was just too cute.
