Chapter 51.2

Chapter 51.2

Ara let out a faint laugh and dropped her eyes to the box in her hands, missing how the tips of his ears had started to burn red.

“You gave me something, so I’m giving you something back. I won’t consider it a debt, so don’t feel burdened. Just take it.”

Was it shallow sympathy? Awkward fondness? Or maybe a goblin’s unshakable code of paying back what’s owed?

Ara tried to guess what this act of kindness meant. In the end, she gave up.

Because now she understood.

Whatever he might feel, whatever his reasons were, it wasn’t the same as what she felt for him.

“…Alright.”

He would probably never know what it felt like to soar at a single word from him, only to crash to the ground the next.

“Thank you.”

Ara gripped the edge of the small box tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping her from falling apart. She summoned every ounce of strength she had not to cry. Silently, she reached out for the one person who might have once stood on her side, now gone from this world.

‘Grandma. What should I do?’

‘I think… I’ve fallen for this awful goblin.’

***

As soon as Ara stepped into her room and saw her bed, she collapsed face-down. She hadn’t done anything particularly strenuous, but her whole body felt like it had been drained.

“Oof, my aching bones…”

She groaned like a tired old grandmother and slowly rolled onto her side. That was when she noticed the mountain of shopping bags piled in front of the wardrobe.

Everything she’d spent the day collecting stood in a neat row like a fully equipped squad, ready to march into battle.

“Seriously, how did I buy this much? I think I bought all the clothes I’ll ever need in one day.”

Muttering under her breath, Ara forced her tired body upright.

From now on, no more “I’ll save it for later.” Throw out every single thing you were wearing. Clothes, bags, shoes—gone. If not, be ready to walk around naked starting tomorrow.

That was what Seol-do had said the moment they returned home, pushing her straight into her room with a terrifying threat. Apparently, he was worried she might stubbornly cling to her worn-out clothes despite all the new ones he’d picked out for her.

“I still think it’s a waste to throw them away…”

Ara sank down in front of the wardrobe.

To avoid the horrifying fate of going out in public naked, she had no choice but to follow orders, even if she wasn’t feeling it. A goblin’s word was as good as a contract, and Seol-do would absolutely make good on every syllable he uttered.

After pulling her old clothes out of the drawers, Ara began opening the shopping bags one by one. There were so many items that just unboxing everything took a while.

Underwear, tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, socks, bags…

As she sorted through the most luxurious items she’d ever owned, her hands suddenly stopped moving. Her gaze drifted off and landed on something sitting quietly to the side.

It was the eco bag she was about to throw away.

More specifically, what was inside it: Seok-kyung’s gift.

Ara hesitated, then slowly reached for the paper box and opened it. She picked up the necklace nestled inside its case. The cold, delicate metal curled against her fingertips with a prickling sensation.

You’re a pretty decent housekeeper, Na Ara.

Even after hearing something that cutting…

It’s not just anyone.

She had still let herself hope, clinging to that one line.

Looking at it now, her hopes and desires were no different from weeds. The more she tried to stamp them out, the tougher they grew. No matter how often she pulled them out, they always came back.

“You like him, don’t you? Our king.”

When Seol-do had asked her that, she’d been so sure the answer was no.

She’d told herself it was just his looks. That he was unrealistically handsome, and that was why she kept wanting to see him.

“What the hell is wrong with me…?”

Ara clenched her fists and knocked herself hard on the head. She flailed like a child throwing a tantrum in the toy aisle, punching anything within reach and venting in furious silence.

That was when it happened.

Thunk.

Something unfamiliar fell out of the eco bag and rolled across the floor.

“…Huh?”

Ara picked up the object that had fallen to the floor.

It was small and square; a wallet, the kind usually carried by men.

Was it Kim Seok-kyung’s? Or maybe Lee Cheong-seon’s or Hong-seon’s? No, but… why would one of their things be here?

Frowning at the absurd thought, Ara opened the wallet. Her expression grew even more bewildered than before.