580 The preorder bride
Jun Ye Rim appeared behind them. She averted he gaze and nervously said, âCan I talk to Vincent alone? He has something he wants to hear.â
Nick and Clair agreed, and the two of them left Vincent and Jun Ye Rim alone.
[You are acting a bit peculiar, Jun Ye Rim. What do you need to tell us? Is it about the marriage thing? Hehe.]
âDonât mind, Kazumi. I am willing to hear anything you wish to say. I hope you can look at me without feeling bothered and tell me what is on your mind.â Said Vincent with a reassuring tone.
Jun Ye Rim nodded once while her hands held her skirt. âI canât take your begging anymore for me to marry you, so donât mind becoming your Mirey since you desire me this much.â
âHowever, remember that you can have my body, but you will not...â Jun Ye Rim averted her gaze and nervously continued, âI will not like you. Or anything like that.â
[Haha. Then how about we call the deal off, Vincent?]
Vincent nodded and joked, âYeah. I guess it would be better to call the marriage off. I donât want to force anyone into such life-changing decisions.â
âBut you wanted me badly! Donât you want me anymore?â Jun Ye Rim exclaimed angrily. It was obvious from her expression that she didnât like Vincent and Kazumi abruptly ending the proposal.
.....
Vincent and Kazumi laughed at Jun Ye Rim. They knew from her words that Jun Ye Rim was interested, yet her words always meant the opposite to avoid getting hurt for telling the truth and being rejected.
[We were joking, Jun Ye Rim.]
âYeah.â Vincent looked at Jun Ye Rim with a warm gaze and said, âI donât care about your past. I donât care if you are exiled or not. I donât care if you have nothing to offer. I donât care if we will be the only people to accept you for who you are.â
âMy past?...â *Gulp* Jun Ye Rim looked at Vincent, and her body trembled. She stiffened her body, and her lips slowly began to move.
âAfter awakening at an early age, I had to hide my class from the world. If I got discovered as an early awakener and as a Soulmancer at that, my family would have kicked me out many years ago, and I would have had nowhere to go nor the ability to save money for traveling.â
âMy grandmother had the same unfortunate class. She was locked in the basement of our property to avoid shame. I mustered my courage to visit her when I was at witâs end. In the end, it was the best decision I could make.â
While Jun Ye Rim was recounting her past, she looked the happiest when her grandmother was mentioned. It was obvious Jun Ye Rimâs grandmother had become the most precious person to her in the entire world.
Jun Ye Rim became sad all of a sudden. âHowever, my parents discovered what I was doing a few years later. They forced me to take the awakening test in front of an inspection gemstone. Because I couldnât refuse... my class was found out.â
Jun Ye Rimâs eyes started to tear. She soon felt a warm hand reassuringly touching her shoulder. She looked at Vincent and felt the courage to keep talking about the past she wanted to forget.
*Sniffle* âThank you, but I am not feeling sad. The air is too dry today. My eyes need to lubricate with tears. thatâs all.â Jun Ye Rim made an excuse before she continued recounting her past.
âMy family didnât want my identity to be known, so I lived with my grandmother until this year. After the academy requested my attendance, they informed the authorities that I had escaped from my home.â
âMy parents...â Jun Ye Rim shook her head. âThose people gave me my things, not one thing more and not one thing less, and kicked me out with a shady ticket to leave the continent. Unfortunately, my grandmother wasnât allowed to leave with me.â
Vincent extended his hand forward. âThank you for sharing your past with us. Take ahold of my hand if you are interested in being my bride. You will be one of my people. You will be a person I will treasure and need to protect. I can also do my best to free your grandmother one day.â
Jun Ye Rim looked at Vincent. She couldnât believe he was willing to save her grandmother if she desired to.
Jun Ye Rimâs conflicted gaze said it all. She had accepted Vincent unconsciously, yet her personality made her feel hesitant. She could still be betrayed.
The more Jun Ye Rim got to know Vincent and his family, the more fear she felt of being betrayed because she learned the hard way how, the more trust one puts in, the devastated one feels after being betrayed.
However, during the time of hesitation, Jun Ye Rimâs hand gradually lifted to accept Vincentâs hand. Her body decided to accept Vincentâs hand as her mind was filled with turbulent thoughts.
Vincent grinned and grabbed Jun Ye Rimâs hand. âThe proposal has been accepted. Jun Ye Rim, you will be my preorder bride. Letâs get married after the situation is over. We will do our best not to make you sad or lonely.â
[Congratulations Jun Ye Rim. I am happy to have someone like you around us. Now my family has another person to talk to when this boring training fanatic spends most of the day training to become stronger.]
Jun Ye Rim blushed, shook Vincentâs hand, and nervously took a step back. With her face blushing brightly, Jun Ye Rim ran to her bedroom.
[Well, at least the hesitant Jun Ye Rim didnât decline. Additionally, she told us about her past, even if she still looked conflicted about what to decide. That is progress in my books, hehe.]
âAfter the previous situation to preorder Jun Ye Rim as my bride, I guess so.â Vincent looked in the direction of the mansion and continued, âNow, I hope the judgment by combat doesnât consume too much time. I want to make Jun Ye Rim stop feeling as if this situation is all her fault as soon as possible. I also would like to visit the elven lands and save her grandmother.â
[Hehe. Loverboy is so considerate. I can get a third person to talk to if we do that. That is a win-win in my books, hehe.] Kazumi cheerfully said.
âNevertheless. I canât believe Jun Ye Rim accepted after she not too long ago mentioned feeling disgusted when I thought about her.â Vincent pondered after thinking how difficult it was to comprehend a woman like Jun Ye Rim completely.
The Lionheart family was ready to leave the island a few hours later. Vincent had the busiest time out of everyone as he had to store all of Irisâs plants and trees. The others placed books and clothes into Esterâs bag of holding, and they were ready to depart.
Vincent, Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, Plow, Zero, and Jun Ye Rim said their farewell to Nick, Clair, Vivid, and Pussy before leaving and heading to the entrance.
As they expected, the students stared and gossiped at the view of maids walking into the academy when it wasnât the weekend. However, no one stopped them from asking. They merely observed until Vincent and those behind him left their sight.
On the way to the entrance, the Lionheart Girls discovered how Jun Ye Rim had accepted to become Vincentâs wife. Kazumi couldnât hold her tongue, and she used Soul Visit to tell Ester, Lupa, Iris, and Lilith about the good news.
The four women became thrilled for Jun Ye Rim and promised to look out for her as the new member of their sisterhood. It made Jun Ye Rim act uncomfortable, yet her cheeks were lightly red, and a faint smile didnât leave her face.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the academy. They didnât see a carriage. Instead, they saw Sofy riding one horse.
Sofy approached on the horse. She jumped down and apologized, âThe wheel was stuck. I went to Sakura for help. But I now know it was the worst decision to make. No matter how much time Sakura spends on the wheel, she keeps insisting the carriage is not fit to be used.â
*Sigh* âSakura and her perfectionist side strikes again...ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
[Yeah. Looks like we will need to walk home today.]
âDonât worry, hehe. We can use this opportunity to walk with our future sister. This date can not be more romantic than this.â Suggested Lilith cheerfully.
Hearing Lilith mentions this made the others agree with the idea. It was also a great opportunity to reduce the stress of the upcoming judgment by combat.
âSofy. We placed Zero in a bag because we didnât want to attract attention. Take Zero and return home while we will take a walk in the cold to help us cool our minds.â Vincent requested.
âOkay. I wanted to join you, but I still need to check on Sakura. I hope she will not change the carriage and make the horses hate pulling it.â Sofy said before placing Zero on the horse and heading back to the mansion.
Soon, the gang walked the noble streets casually as if they were on vacation. The first thing they did was to find a corner for Lupa to return to a wolf girl and wear her maid outfit.
Later, as they continued walking, Lupa cheerfully said while skipping, âMy mate, this walk is fun. Many people look at us as if they want to challenge us. Can I choose a human to fight?â