Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: What the Queen Wants!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Meracle was a bit rowdy. Not because of work, but due to purely personal reasons.
"Hey, you don't need to dress up this much just to go to a wedding."
I grumbled at Kim Yang as she adjusted my tie. She let out a sigh at my words.
"H-Hold still. J-Just... stay put."
"......You do it yourself then."
"Sh-Should I? Here. Y-You're fired now."
Kim Yang smirked faintly, playfully tightening the tie one last time before loosening it gently again.
I stared at her in disbelief, but she cheekily avoided my gaze and turned her attention to Reneah.
"How's it look? Not bad, right?"
"Y-Yeah, pretty."
"Ahem."
Reneah, all dolled up.
Those clothes, by the way, were borrowed as part of a styling service.
You never know who you might meet at someone else's wedding.
Thanks to that, I'd stuffed my pockets with business cards, and I was wearing a suit I hadn't touched since the early days of the business.
"I thought the same when we went to Cyber City last time, but it feels like your clothes are a bit loose now."
Maybe it's because I started working out again, but the suit that used to fit perfectly now felt empty.
It meant I'd lost fat, sure, but the baggy feel was still awkward no matter what.
'Too bad to buy a new suit.'
I don't wear it often anyway.
Kim Yang, who'd been staring blankly, nodded in agreement.
"It... is a bit big."
"Right? Sigh, even body changes cost money. Everything in this world does."
I just hoped I wouldn't have many occasions to wear a suit.
I left the office in Kim Yang's hands.
Reneah and I, who hadn't even had lunch, were now riding the bus together.
Today was Han Hyo-jae's wedding.
I'd planned to go alone, but Reneah had never seen a 3rd Floor wedding and tagged along.
We're not strangers to Hyo-jae, after all.
"Hoo......"
Reneah's expression was stiff.
I wondered if she was carsick from the bus, but that didn't seem to be it.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I'm just a little nervous."
"Nervous? We're just here to watch."
"I know that. But at my age, you can't help but feel tense going to someone else's wedding."
"......"
I couldn't argue since I'd never lived to 1,900.
Seizing the moment, I decided to ask something I'd been curious about.
"Did you attend elf weddings often?"
"Often? I was the Elf Queen. I officiated elf unions before the World Tree for over a thousand years."
"......"
"Sniff."
She did good deeds, so why was she crying?
I patted her back, and Reneah looked up at me with teary eyes.
"You're so kind to me like this. Thank you."
I pulled my hand away immediately.
"I'm your boss. You know that, right?"
"Your kindness really doesn't last three seconds."
Thanks to that, her tears vanished, and she grumbled while kicking her legs from her seat.
Back to the topic.
"How do elf weddings go? Or rather, how do elves date?"
Elves are long-lived, so they probably prefer dating and marrying among themselves.
For us, ten years is a long-term relationship leading to marriage as a given.
But I'd heard elves consider ten years as just getting past the early stages.
Reneah tapped her chin, recalling memories at my question.
"No big differences, as far as I know. Dating periods are longer, but they've been shortening since the Tower appeared."
"Really?"
"There are other long-lived races besides us, right? Especially some beastkin in the Old Martial World who live nearly as long."
"Fascinating."
It felt like listening to grandma elf's old tales. Elves were extremely rare at marriage agencies, so getting this info wasn't easy.
[Next stop: Baekja White Hall. Baekja White Hall.]
"Let's go. This is it."
"Hoo-wheep! Haaa!"
As we stepped off the bus, a building reminiscent of white porcelain appeared amid the still-chilly air.
Baekja White Hall.
A venue built after many nations vanished with the Tower's appearance, to house some refugees.
Neo Seoul in particular had lots of such native-style buildings and names.
A reminder not to forget our culture and identity.
This wasn't unique to Seoul—surviving places like America and China were similar.
The entrance was packed with office workers. Hyo-jae was a company manager, and the bride worked as an accountant at an SME.
Both had calm vibes and seemed perfect together, and sure enough, they matched great.
'Proud of myself.'
But where do I put the congratulatory money?
I was pondering since putting it in both felt off, when Reneah grabbed my lapel beside me and marveled.
"Ooh...... So extravagant. Elf weddings were only under the World Tree."
Hold on.
"Reneah, did you bring congratulatory money?"
"What's that?"
"......No food for you then?"
"What?! The boss said the buffet's why we're skipping a meal!"
Damn.
I briefly explained congratulatory money and pointed to the ATM.
"Y-You have a card, right? Withdraw there."
"I don't have a card."
"How don't you have one?"
"I'm a grandma. Don't know machines."
"......"
"......"
A staring contest began.
"It's to celebrate."
"I won't celebrate. Better if everyone but me gets married."
I stared in disbelief, and Reneah grumbled before heading to the ATM.
"My stomach hurts enough, now money too? What is this? Tch, shouldn't have come. Ah, I wanna get married."
What the hell was she mumbling?
Soon after, Reneah returned with cash.
We settled on 30,000 won each. I put mine in the bride's side, Reneah in Hyo-jae's.
After paying and getting our meal tickets.
"Gonna see the bride. Coming?"
"......I don't know her. I'll wait here."
"I've noticed since last time—you're pretty shy with strangers."
With Kim Juseon gone to the bride's waiting room.
Reneah gaped as she looked around.
High ceilings, ornate interior.
And bustling crowds.
Elf weddings were far more solemn.
They took place before the World Tree, demanding reverence.
Which was better? Too soon to judge.
But envy was certain.
A nervousness absent from elf weddings.
'All these people here just to celebrate their marriage?'
Not just the people.
Everything prepared solely to bless those two.
Reneah felt deeply, achingly envious.
Then—
"Reneah?"
Turning at the voice calling her, she saw Han Hyo-jae standing there, greeting arriving guests.
Handsome tuxedo, hair slicked back.
His previously neat, composed impression stood out even more.
"Long time no see."
Reneah greeted him casually, and he approached.
"Didn't expect you."
"I came with the boss."
"Meracle's president is here too."
Hyo-jae smiled faintly.
The cool aura from before had softened a bit.
"I considered sending you an invite but held off."
"To me?"
"Our talks changed my views on marriage completely."
"Me?"
Surrounding voices faded naturally. Reneah soon stared up at Hyo-jae, absorbed in his words.
"I saw marriage as business. But hearing your perspective—I realized I was wrong."
"......"
"Can't be too romantic, but can't abandon it either."
Hyo-jae smiled lightly.
"If I hadn't learned that, I wouldn't have married her."
"Glad I helped."
The bubbling jealousy settled calmly. It felt good knowing her words had helped him.
"And you, Reneah? How've you been?"
Mood soured instantly.
"A-Ahem! I'm... t-trying, you know. Hard!"
"......"
It sounded bad even to her. Hyo-jae paused, then spoke after deliberation.
"Can I be honest?"
"Hm?"
"It might hurt."
"Suddenly?!"
Reneah stepped back hesitantly.
Their talks had taught her much, but lessons always stung.
Yet he was serious.
"You cracked my rigid thinking. Your romantic ideals were the opposite of my rational ones."
"......"
"So I want things to work out for you too. If it's not overstepping."
"Urgh."
Reneah crossed her arms awkwardly. It'd hurt, so she didn't want to hear, but her resolve to do anything for marriage made her nod.
"Tell me."
"Maybe quit the marriage agency?"
"Don't punch me in the gut out of nowhere!"
The blow landed without touching her, bending her waist instinctively.
A strange bitterness ached.
The striker remained calm.
"You ultimately want romance, emotional connection. An elf like you wouldn't see marriage as a career like I did."
"R-Right."
"So what you want isn't marriage."
"......Huh?"
Then what—?
"Love, right?"
At the matter-of-fact declaration, Reneah stared blankly before yelling.
"You say that so casually?! I just got chills!"
"Hard to phrase otherwise."
Hyo-jae himself showed no shake.
That steadiness even calmed Reneah's emotions.
"Marriage agencies are calculated places. Meracle's different from others, sure... but that's the boss, not the clients. Clients like me judge by specs and ranks coldly."
"......"
"Any guys around?"
"One—no, two."
One was Meracle's president, Kim Juseon.
The other, the convenience store owner.
Middle-aged guy with two kids and a beer gut, nice-looking.
Barely a man, but adding him made zero look pathetic.
"Any you feel comfortable with?"
"Someone comfortable, yes."
"Feelings for him?"
"Feelings...? N-Not sure?"
"Makes sense after ages without such emotions."
"You a counselor too?"
"Married man here. Expert."
Hyo-jae pushed up his glasses with a 'ching!' and shrugged.
'Cocky bastard.'
Unaware of her inner curse, Hyo-jae continued.
"Try pure meetings outside agencies. Meracle's boss is sharp and quick... but he sees you as a client, so he won't point this out."
"......"
"Spend time alone with someone who seems okay. That's what I did."
Married guy effect?
His words carried odd conviction.
Hyo-jae bowed slightly, wrapping up.
"Probably my last advice. Hope you find good encounters, Reneah."
"......Later."
As he turned to leave, Reneah smirked.
"Come to my wedding for sure."
"Looking forward to it."
With Hyo-jae gone—
A moment later, Kim Juseon returned.
"Reneah, enjoying the sights?"
"Mm! Very meaningful. People, place, air—all blessing those two. So envious."
"......"
Juseon glanced at Reneah.
Her face seemed fine, but jealousy was inevitable.
I patted her back.
"Don't worry, you'll get married too. I'll introduce you to someone great."
"No intros for a while."
"Pardon?"
I'd assumed nonstop setups from now, but the opposite request flustered her.
"Need time for self-reflection."
"......Fever?"
Reneah glared daggers at Juseon checking her forehead, arms crossed and grumbling.
"Whatever. Let's eat."
"Sure. Got the meal ticket? That thing from earlier—"
Meal ticket.
The small paper scrap in his pocket brushed his hand.
But—
"That was the meal ticket? I tossed it."
"......Pardon?"
"Oops! Lost the ticket, no food now."
"Just ask for another."
"No conscience? How? Let's go. Eat outside."
"Tsk, dementia too? I have mine. I'll eat and—"
Grip!
Reneah yanked Juseon's suit, dragging him out.
"Nooo! Let's eat! Just us—!"
"No way?! Came for wedding, skip it but not the buffet!"
"Noooo! Just us—!"
"Wait! Suit ripping! Ah, damn! Fine! Fine, let go!"
Unable to beat Reneah's tantrum, Juseon sighed and tossed his ticket in the trash.
"Really wasted. 30,000 won."
"Why fuss over that! I greeted Hyo-jae, so let's go."
Reneah beamed, linking arms brightly.
Perplexed why, Juseon sighed and left the venue with her.