Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Selling Firewood - 8
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Selnia hated Sian.
Putting aside the family situation, she was displeased that Elsia had become someone's concubine, and she couldn't stand Sian for monopolizing her like that.
Even while keeping Elsia as his concubine, the sight of him parading around with other women was repulsive. She worried about how much anguish Elsia must feel from such treatment.
But it was all just her delusion.
"Sian-nim, it's grown even bigger."
"Can't be helped. Elsia turns me on too much."
No matter how hard she tried, Selnia could never satisfy Elsia, but this man named Sian casually drove her mad with just a few thrusts of his hideous cock.
'She never reacted like that with me.'
To Selnia, who had never seen Elsia so disheveled, the sight of her blissfully happy as Sian's wife was a shock.
It made the love they'd shared as girls seem like mere child's play.
Only then did Selnia realize.
Her role in this moment, and why Elsia had turned Sian's heart to buy her freedom.
"Ngh..."
Selnia fiddled with her pussy with her fingers. Frantically, at that.
There was no helping it if she wanted to sort out her feelings steeped in defeat.
"Haaah!"
The reason Elsia had agreed to Selnia's plea was simple: to sever ties with her.
She conveyed it through this passionate affair with her current husband.
It was a declaration that she no longer clung to their past, a sign that her feelings for Selnia were gone.
And realizing this, Selnia masturbated relentlessly, overcome by irrepressible emotions.
What if she had been a man?
Would things have been different if she'd satisfied Elsia?
Or had it been doomed from the start?
Regret was pointless now. Elsia was Sian's concubine, and Selnia was reduced to selling her body for firewood.
All she could do was comfort herself like this.
Sian was momentarily taken aback by the sight of her, but that was it. He had no feelings for her whatsoever, not even a shred.
The only thing that irked him was her connection as Elsia's ex-lover.
He was possessive. He wanted his wives to look only at him.
"Elsia! Feels good?"
"Haangh! It feels amazing!!"
"I love you!"
"I love you too!"
So he fucked his wife Elsia over and over right in front of Selnia, making a show of it.
Each time, Selnia grew more aroused and masturbated even more furiously.
And when they whispered their love to each other, her heart ached so much that tears welled up in her eyes.
Sian's possessiveness savored Selnia's reactions like spicy seasoning, driving him to ravish Elsia even more fiercely.
...
"You're awake?"
Morning came, and Elsia was performing her morning service.
I felt her mouth enveloping me and released refreshingly first thing.
"Hoo... Good morning."
"Good morning to you too, Sian-nim."
Elsia's expression didn't change even after swallowing my morning load. She glanced at me cautiously, then suddenly bowed her head in thanks.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For indulging my selfish request."
"Oh, that."
The "selfish request" she meant was helping Selnia. Sure, there was the excuse of prostitution, but still.
For some reason, Elsia still harbored feelings for her ex. Maybe because she was a woman, or because it was before she became my concubine, but I felt a twinge of jealousy as her husband—though I didn't dwell on it.
I knew better than anyone how much Elsia loved me.
Jealousy over the past after this kind of morning service would just make me an ugly husband.
"It's fine. I needed to cum anyway, and it was no real burden. As long as it eases your mind."
"That's not it."
"Hm?"
"Selnia can repay her debt with her own body."
Elsia spoke coldly, even though she was talking about her ex-lover. As if those feelings had vanished long ago.
"The selfish thing I meant was you fucking me in front of her."
"That, huh..."
Honestly, it had been unpleasant.
Sleeping with a woman I had no feelings for.
But I'd gone along with having Selnia there entirely for Elsia's sake. She'd made it clear that's what she wanted.
"So, why?"
Truth be told, I'd done it out of curiosity for Elsia's request.
What could be weighing on her mind so much that even she would ask for something like that?
The answer was straightforward.
"I wanted Selnia to stop clinging to the past."
"The past?"
"Yes. She went astray because of me, so I wanted to take responsibility and set her straight."
"You mean when you two were together?"
"Yes."
Elsia recounted their history matter-of-factly.
"From childhood, my merchant father dragged me everywhere. I gained worldly experience traveling the vast, prosperous south, through bustling cities teeming with people, and their shadowy alleys full of vice and violence. But Selnia, born in a pure rural village, was different. Naturally, she fell under my influence easily, and I irresponsibly stood by and watched."
Apparently, Selnia had approached Elsia first. Even a woman could see Elsia was stunning.
But it seemed Elsia had been the one to deepen it beyond friendship.
"Is that all?"
"...Perhaps back then, I wanted to vent my frustrations."
"Frustrations?"
"My father ruined the business over grudges and we fell from the city to this village, Lugeron, overnight. I used Selnia as an outlet for my anger."
"I see."
"Are you disappointed?"
"In what?"
"My true nature isn't beautiful. Not bright like Sylvia, nor as open-hearted as Chloe, my principal wife. I approached you purely out of self-interest."
Considering Elsia's personality, it was surprising she'd say this. She always hid her true feelings to the end. Maybe she'd been brooding over it all this time and wanted to confess now? If so, I should answer honestly too.
"That's exactly why I like it more."
"Pardon?"
"I'm the same way."
There are no fairy-tale worlds of brightness and purity. In a place like this, it's often happier to live selfishly and spitefully than as some virtuous, innocent princess from a story.
You can't be good to everyone.
Just prioritize those precious to you.
"And."
I laid Elsia down on the bed. She'd taken care of my morning wood, but seeing her sad made me want to cheer her up.
"You agonized and chose me, right? That just means I'm that great."
"Sian-nim..."
"So choose me like always."
"Yes♥"
Elsia said no more.
As my concubine and woman, she'd devote body and soul to serving me.
...
"You look drained."
"Yes..."
By morning, Selnia was a different person. Gone was her usual fiery, arrogant demeanor; now her self-esteem crawled in the dirt.
Her tear-streaked face was so pitiful even I, who disliked her, felt a pang. Not that it was my concern.
"If you need anything, tell me. I'll help as much as I can."
"Pardon?"
"I intended to help from the start."
If Jace had come to me himself begging for aid, I would've helped. He was one of the militia, after all.
Firewood was trivial for me to procure. Sharing it cost me nothing, like a drop in the ocean. Even if I took a loss, it wasn't worth more than a person's life.
But he hadn't come himself. He'd sent his wife Selnia. I thought maybe he was too unwell the first time, but not the second. And offering his wife's body as payment? His mindset made me grimace.
As someone who'd thought well of him, I felt betrayed. Human rights might be lax here, but this crossed the line. Especially with his own wife... it went beyond disgust to revulsion.
"But if he sends his wife like this again, I'll rip him apart."
"......"
I meant it. If the men of Lugeron Village thought like that, I wouldn't raise kids here, wouldn't mingle with them, and would've left long ago.
"I'm jealous of Elsia."
Selnia replied weakly to my warning.
Almost like a lament.
"Very much so. My husband pulls stupid stunts dreaming of becoming village chief, while you love even your concubine Elsia without holding back. It makes me feel so small. We seemed so alike as kids—where did it go wrong?"
"No idea."
"Well, it's karma for not letting go of old attachments."
Selnia gave a bitter smile and looked up at me.
"So I'll repay every debt I owe you."
"Will you now?"
Her feelings sorted, Selnia spoke confidently to me.
"Yes. I don't want to owe you or Elsia anymore."
Like Elsia had, she'd probably have to shoulder the household finances in place of her disabled husband. She'd live calculatingly from now on, no more acting on impulse.
Of course, she wouldn't master it like Elsia overnight; hardships would pile up. Someday she'd complain about her misfortunes.
Not my problem. My family came first. Her life as a stranger was her own.
But
"Hang in there."
I could offer that much encouragement.