Borrowing the Goddess's Name
Borrowing the Goddess's Name
A woman in love is quite frightening.
Even if nothing has happened, if there's another woman next to him, she'll be wary and try to push her away, and then she'll strive to solidify her own position.
Moreover, this is a world where Legal Wives and Concubines exist.
Perhaps because it's a world where a Harem is possible, they seemed even more sensitive.
Still, in my original world, monogamy is legally and morally restricted, so there would be a belief that such acts couldn't easily happen, but this world had no such thing.
Even with the system of monogamy, there are affairs, and furthermore, perhaps because of that, there are worlds where even morbid jealousy and possessiveness exist.
If that's the case, what does it mean to meet another woman in a world where one can immediately have a Legal Wife and Concubines?
Even someone not born and raised in this world could quickly predict it.
The fight between women, beyond simply claiming 'my man,' is about firmly establishing their own position.
A Concubine cannot defeat a Legal Wife. Of course, if the man says he'll sleep with the Concubine, he will, but in terms of rank, the Concubine is inferior, so even if the Legal Wife curses the Concubine, it would clearly be a difficult situation for the man to intervene and stop due to the hierarchy.
Perhaps that's why Linda and Agnes are so eagerly clinging to him, trying to appeal to his charms.
Knowing that showing a fighting side in front of Kylon would only reduce their points, they would surely be giggling and having a threesome in front of him, while behind his back, where Kylon couldn't see, they'd be engaged in a battle of wills.
But, isn't that actually the parties' own business?
I hadn't even said I wanted to fight, but being arbitrarily dragged into the arena and made to face them, I couldn't help but be horrified.
Like an uninvited guest, so to speak.
I might have been an unwelcome, uninvited guest to them, but I was also a guest who didn't want to be invited, so being forcibly dragged into a battle of wills was something I declined.
But if I decline, will they all just back off on their own? Since that wasn't the case, I could only groan.
"Saintess-nim, I saw it this morning... What is that mark on your neck?"
It was that question again. I didn't even know what was on my neck.
I didn't know what it looked like, so I couldn't fathom how I was supposed to answer that question.
Agnes's blue eyes scanned my neck.
Since I had changed from the Saintess's Robes into a short-sleeved top for my comfort, my slender neck would be clearly visible, and I even wondered if I had changed unnecessarily.
They weren't saying anything about the fact that the Saintess had exposed her neck, but rather about the mark, so I first needed to understand what this thing itself was.
As I was mumbling, *swoosh*, another person came in beside Agnes.
It was none other than Linda.
No, Linda, when Agnes is here, you should be next to Kylon, why did you come over here? Surely not to gang up on me too?
As I groaned, Linda silently exchanged a glance with Agnes, then untied her brown hair, which had been in a ponytail, and re-tied it.
"...What kind of mark is it?"
"It's no use trying to deny it."
"I really don't know..."
"Saintess-nim, you know very well that this isn't a mark that appears on its own."
"...What kind of mark are you talking about then..."
I thought they would just let it slide since I'm the Saintess, but this time, it seemed they couldn't easily overlook it.
So, what's on my neck right now must be a serious matter.
But it was truly unfair.
I didn't even know what kind of mark was on my neck, so in the end, I could only groan for a long time.
"Did Kylon give it to you?"
"...Why is the Hero-nim's name coming up?"
"May I ask what you did last night?"
"...All I did was sleep next to Flora-jamae-nim. I haven't left the room since then."
"......Is that so? Then I'll ask Flora too, did Kylon ever come to the room?"
"No, I don't recall."
"That's strange. So Kylon left a mark on the Saintess-nim's neck while she was asleep? Flora couldn't have done it."
A mark Kylon could leave on my neck, what could it be? The moment I thought that, my brow furrowed.
Even though I was a corner-dwelling loner with no friends, if I gathered all the knowledge I'd gained from the internet, there was a fact I could quickly deduce.
If it was a mark a man could commonly leave on a woman's body, especially her neck, it would likely be a hickey.
I tried to think if there could be anything else, but seeing Linda and Agnes sitting opposite me, glaring as if they wanted to devour me, I had to conclude that was the most likely possibility.
But why do they think that's on my neck?
Of course, it might look similar, but there's no way it could have appeared on my neck.
My night hearing is quite keen, so if Kylon had entered my room while I was sleeping, I would have noticed immediately.
For now, it seemed like an unfortunate misunderstanding born from a lack of trust.
I didn't want everything to go wrong here because of me, so I cautiously opened my mouth to calm Agnes.
"...I'm sorry, but I think you're misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding? Are you saying the Saintess-nim received that hickey from someone else? That's not it, is it?"
But what came sharply was Linda's voice.
Seeing that Agnes didn't particularly restrain Linda's words, it seemed she also thought the same.
Even so, I'm not so naive as to allow another person's touch.
Even if I'm a loner, I draw the line, that's what I'm saying.
Well, there was no need to say all that, and furthermore, seeing them suspect and guard against even me, who already held the position of Saintess, there didn't seem to be anything to explain.
They should at least show me a mirror.
"...How about asking the Hero-nim? I don't even know what's on my neck. It could simply be a bruise, couldn't it?"
"There's no way a bruise would appear in that spot."
"Then, Agnes-jamae-nim, do you think I'm an easy woman who readily embraces other men? Does not asking Kylon mean you don't trust Kylon?"
I straightened my back and spoke, opening my mouth towards Agnes, and then towards Linda.
It was unfair; there could be nothing more unfair than having to provide evidence and prove that I didn't do something I didn't do.
So I merely stated it with confidence.
Since I had nothing to hide, I told them to look anywhere, to ask around.
I didn't want the Heroines' treatment to worsen.
But as long as Kylon didn't continuously sort out their positions, they would clearly try to tear each other apart again and again.
Next time, I definitely need to ask him to designate one of Linda or Agnes as the Legal Wife, or Flora would be fine too.
If that happened, then such fights over the Legal Wife position wouldn't occur afterwards.
Thinking about it this way, I wondered if it was my fault after all.
Agnes should have been introduced after Linda had first settled down and solidified her position, but because Agnes entered before Linda's position was firm, I wondered if this mess had happened, and it left a strangely unpleasant feeling.
Who could be held responsible?
If asked, shouldn't the blame be placed on me?
I let out a sigh, then spoke in a gentle tone.
"...If that is what you wish, jamae-nim, I will ask the Hero-nim separately."
Kylon will say he doesn't know anyway.
Why do they keep causing trouble?
They could just fight quietly amongst themselves, but being wary like this, fearing others might join in, is quite unsightly.
Besides, I don't particularly have any interest in Kylon, neither romantically nor sexually.
They should rather be wary of Flora, who is currently alone with Kylon.
No matter how unyielding Flora is, it's possible that if Kylon uses a talisman and a Hypnosis Tool right now, she might just fall for it.
I stated it softly, and Linda and Agnes fell silent at my confident demeanor.
That's because they had probably intended to find a reaction of being 'stung' after their suspicion, but seeing me confidently straighten my back, their own conviction was in the process of softening.
"...I apologize. It seems I suspected Saintess-nim with unnecessary words. What should I do about this sin?"
"It's alright. I am one who knows the Goddess-nim's benevolence. Therefore, I understand the hearts of Agnes-jamae and Linda-jamae well, and I am not unaware of their feelings. So, repent, reflect. If you do so, the Goddess-nim will watch over you, jamae-nim."
The means to return home must not disappear.
Kylon must, without change, remain the Hero-nim of this story.
For that to happen, these Heroines must not incur Kylon's hatred.
Therefore, I forgive them once more.
Not in my name, but borrowing the Goddess-nim's name.