Novel Bin Chapter 81: It Must Be Nice To Have Two Wives.
Chapter 81: It Must Be Nice To Have Two Wives.
Um, but why are you here, Ms. Tacchia?
Why am I here? You were sprawled out asleep in the front yard of the place I moved to, so I brought you here.
You mean I was sleeping?
Dont you remember what happened last night?
What happened last night
Yes, I dont remember the dream I had before, but I do recall some of yesterday.
I definitely rejected Merilyns confession, then didnt know what to do, so I closed my eyes, and then I felt a soft touch on my lips
After that, I dont remember much. Maybe I blacked out from drinking?
If you dont remember, then its fine.
As I was trying to recall it, Tacchia moved away from my side.
Then, standing by the door of the room, she concluded the conversation with a blunt attitude and beckoned me, saying,
If youre awake, come to the kitchen and eat. Ive prepared the food.
Ah, yes
Well, Ive already realized that Tacchia is that kind of person.
For now, lets eat the food she prepared and think. After tidying up the bedding and thinking, I immediately followed her to the kitchen.
Though she moved, the layout of the house was no different from before.
Exiting the room and going left led to the workshop. In the middle stairs, there was a bathtub leading downwards, and further on, there was the kitchen where Tacchias prepared meal was waiting.
The difference from then was that a familiar face was there to greet me.
Good morning, Hyo-sung~
Ms. Merilyn?
Ahem!
Why was Merilyn in Tacchias home?
As I was bewildered by this, a cough from the opposite side drew my attention, and I saw a red-haired woman sitting opposite Merilyn with a blunt expression.
Hyo-sung, good morning.
Ms. Airi, too?
Unlike Merilyn, who smiled at me, Airi sat at the table with a polite attitude, waiting for me to sit.
Though I was with Merilyn until last night, I hadnt expected Airi to join us as well.
Could she have sensed something happening to me through a prophecy and come here?
Come on, dont just stand there. Come and sit down~
Before I could ask about it, Merilyn pulled my arm and led me to the dining table.
After I unwittingly sat next to her, I noticed Airi, seated across from me, staring intently at me.
Hyo-sung, you seem quite comfortable sitting next to Ms. Merilyn.
Huh?
I heard she was an acquaintance you met before. It seems youve gotten quite close in my absence.
Startled, my gaze shifted to the side.
There, Merilyn sat beside me, smiling broadly.
Despite Airis glaring, Merilyn seemed unconcerned, even indifferent, as she focused her attention on me.
Ah, no, I mean, thats
Oh, right~ Come to think of it, are you two a couple?
Merilyn tilted her head, sensing my discomfort.
Meanwhile, her characteristic eye-smile widened slightly, revealing her amber-colored eyes towards Airi.
Certainly, if you were a couple, perhaps you wouldnt be so keen on having another woman sitting so close. You think the same, right, Hyo-sung?
No, that Airi and I are not exactly like that
Oh my~ So youre not quite a couple yet?
Her voice was higher than usual, and her smile brightened even more.
While the relationship between Airi and me was indeed ambiguous, Airis eyebrows rose as if displeased by my current statement.
Hehe, if youre not a couple, then theres no problem with me sitting right next to Hyo-sung, right? Youre okay with that, arent you, Airi?
Merilyn, seemingly indifferent, hooked her arm around mine.
Despite clearly noticing Airis feelings, her bright smile seemed almost provocative.
No, it wasnt just seeming like a provocation; it was indeed one.
Somehow, unbeknownst to me, she seemed to have developed some sort of wariness against Airi.
Well, it doesnt really matter to me.
Airi seemed displeased by Merilyns actions, but only for a moment.
Regaining her composure, Airi spoke to Merilyn in a composed voice.
Its better to sit facing each other rather than side by side.
Along with this, a soft and gentle smile appeared on her lips.
Sensing something from this, I started to feel the grip of Merilyns arm around mine gradually loosen.
Ms. Merilyn?
Its nothing~
Hehe, Merilyn chuckled, giving a sideways glance at Airi.
Airi also smiled slightly and tilted her head, but even so, the gazes of the two didnt seem to stray from each other.
Whats going on? Did they have a fight without my knowledge?
Could it be that they fought over me, causing such a huge uproar that it could have destroyed an entire city, leaving an aftermath that lingers even now
Nah, surely not.
Briefly entertaining that thought, I soon brushed it off with an ambiguous laugh and proceeded to get ready for the meal.
After all, that couldnt be it.
Airi was a fortune teller, and Merilyn was a minstrel. Both were frail and uninvolved in fighting, so it was unlikely they would fight so fiercely over me, right?
Yet, the lingering thought that it might be true probably stemmed from the fantasies I had when I was still nave.
Even though Airi and I had become close, our relationship wasnt confirmed, and there were many awkward aspects to it.
Hehe, Hyo-sung.
But was it because of that that I was too conscious of Airi?
I felt that Merilyns behavior, which was always playful when facing me, was particularly burdensome at this moment.
Come on, open up~ Ahh~
Um, Ms. Merilyn. Hold on.
Oh dear, why are you saying that~? I fed you like this during dinner yesterday too~
Crush!
The sound of flesh being crushed came from the other side.
Seemingly noticing that, Merilyn paused with her fork dipped in salad and looked towards the other side.
Oh my, whats the matter, Airi? Is there a problem with my behavior?
Are you asking because you dont know?
Hehe, surely Im asking because I dont know? If theres something Im overlooking, why dont you tell me directly?
As her emotions seemed to intensify, the spoon she was using to scoop stew began to tremble.
Yet, Airi controlled her emotions and scolded Merilyn in a calm voice.
Ms. Merilyn. I think such behavior is not appropriate when dining together, even if it might be fine when we are alone.
Not good? Are you talking about the act of feeding each other?
Of course, its obvious. Dont you even have that basic common sense?
Hmm, strange. Yesterday, Hyo-sung also fed me like this at the restaurant. Does that mean Hyo-sung is also a person without common sense?
Zap!!
My body froze instantly under the icy glare.
No, I mean Airi. I know it sounds like an excuse, but I thought yesterday it would be okay.
You must have foreseen it, Airi. I thought you knew everything I would do and sent me off thinking it was okay.
Oh, have you never done that before? Especially since youre close enough to live together~?
Merilyn burst into laughter, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the air.
Her smile seemed more mocking than playful.
It was clear, even without details, that Merilyn didnt have a good impression of Airi.
Huh, huh.
But it seemed like Airi felt the same way.
Airi, hiding her composure with a laugh, soon continued in a soft voice, calming the tremble in her voice.
Yes, well. I happen to approach people carefully, so Im quite clumsy at making active moves towards someone like Merilyn does.
Oh my, is that so? Then
Of course, I have served Hyo-sung my cooking before.
Twitch.
Merilyns body twitched in response to Airis words.
Not missing her reaction, Airi chuckled and rested her chin on her hand.
No, it wasnt just serving. When Hyo-sung returned home earlier than me, he would cook, and we even made meals together and shared them, right, Hyo-sung?
Uh, um, yes, thats true
Ahahahahahaha~!!!
Laughter exploded before I could even answer.
The unexpected sound of Merilyns laughter, usually so quiet, left me with a bewildered expression as I turned to look at her.
Thats right, thats right. Since youre living together, its only natural to prepare meals together~
Um, Ms. Merilyn, please calm down
But despite being that close, youre saying youre not a couple?
Despite my attempts to calm her, Merilyn stood up from her seat, continuing the conversation.
Her fists were clenched tightly, veins popping, yet her face was still adorned with a beaming smile.
That could be the case. After all, both Hyo-sung and I have missions that we must focus on right now
A mission, huh? Thats a convenient excuse for someone living off others.
E-excuse me?
Well, isnt it? If youre interested in someone, just go ahead and date them. But putting it off, saying its not the right time, youre just setting up a scenario to change your mind later and move on to another man.
Merilyns unexpected tirade crossed the line.
Yet, she continued without restraint, even more assertively, glaring at Airi with wide eyes.
And to say such things so brazenly in front of someone whos already caught.
Airi, I didnt see you as someone who manages your fishing ground so artistically~
Thud!!
Finally reaching her limit, a fist swung out.
Airi, who had abruptly stood up, began shouting at Merilyn.
Dont talk nonsense! I swear to the heavens, Ive never seen Hyo-sung in that light!
Ahaha~ What meaning is there in a vow to the powerless heavens? If taken literally, it means you could betray Hyo-sung for your mission. How can such a person be trusted as a woman towards a man~?
Aha, yes. Good point about trust! You who swore such grand trust, what were you doing before you met Hyo-sung?
Hey, thats a completely different story, isnt it?!
Different? How is it different? The kind of person who would put on their shoes backward the moment things dont go their way
Bang!!!!
A heavy impact intruded amidst the heated atmosphere.
The two, who had been arguing, turned to glare at the intruder, but soon swallowed their words, trembling.
Hey, you two.
Tacchia Pheloi.
As she placed the sizzling grilled meat on the table, her eyes, even hotter than the dish, turned towards the two of them.
You dont like the food I made?
No, no, its not that.
At the moment of her fierce voice, a hiccup was heard from both sides.
Merilyn, one of the sources of the sound, started to sweat profusely as she averted her gaze from Tacchia.
Ah, haha. We were a bit noisy, werent we?
Airi showed a similar reaction.
While Tacchia, who had been watching her politely apologize, lifted the meat-cutting knife she brought with the grilled meat and said,
If youre at the table, just eat quietly. If you make noise again, Ill really crack your heads open this time.
Slice! The grilled meat was sliced entirely with the knife.
The oil, melted from the seasoning, dripped down, turning both their faces pale.
W-were sorry.
Yes w-well be quiet.
Merilyn and Airi sat down tremblingly and obediently.
The fear that overwhelmed them, even their anger towards each other, led them to continue their meal in silence.
What exactly was going on?
Did they fight in the front yard at dawn and get scolded by Tacchia?
After the meal, the first thing Tacchia did was kick Merilyn and Airi out of her house.
The reason was that having both of them in the house would only make things noisier
It seemed like something had happened while I was unconscious, but even now, in the backyard with Tacchia, I had no chance to know the full situation.
After finishing the meal as usual, I just wanted to spend time asking about my recent circumstances, as always.
By the way, theres something I want to ask.Follow 𝒏ew stories at n𝒐velbin(.)com
Oh, yes. Please go ahead.
As I waited in the backyard following her call, she soon put a lit cigarette to her lips and asked me a question.
Whos your wife?
What?
Which one of the two is your wife?
Both of them?
No, no. Thats not it.
It wasnt a lie.
Even though we cared for each other, neither Merilyn nor Airi could yet be considered in that relationship.
From what I saw at the dinner table, it seemed quite intense.
Ahaha, that was just how things turned out
Surely, I wasnt completely oblivious to why such a scene unfolded, would I?
But aside from that, Tacchias reaction was somewhat concerning.
Um, does it bother you?
I would have thought shed be indifferent to such matters, considering her usual detached demeanor.
To my speculative question, Tacchia exhaled smoke and promptly responded.
Of course I care. I have nothing else to care about but you.
What?
Enough of that; just tell me about your recent happenings as usual.
Ah, yes
Tacchia was attempting to brush off the previous conversation and move on.
Her words were somewhat concerning, but I decided to drop the matter and engage in the conversation with her as usual.
No, surely that couldnt be it.
Others might, but would Tacchia do the same?