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However, after hearing the story, Auntie Laura had strongly urged her to keep her mouth shut and just spend the first night with this man rather than revealing the secret to others.
But the man was currently very troubled.
Iris briefly recalled what Auntie Laura had said.
'Iris, men sometimes torment women for their whole lives over trivial facts. And they say that lord is the child of a demon, right? So you must spend the first night with that man. And then, you must bite your pinky finger...'
Iris knew that there were often men who tormented women relentlessly.
Even Mr. Cote at the lower village blacksmith always suspected his wife.
But somehow, she felt this man would never be like that. Of course, Auntie Laura had told Iris, 'You're too kind-hearted and trust people too easily,' but...
Still...
Iris swallowed and spoke.
"Um, actually... in my childhood... I already left my first footprint."
'First footprint.'
It was a subtle metaphor for the drops of blood a woman must shed on her first night.
Auntie Laura had told her never to say those words.
'Men are such creatures. They have eyes red with desire just to lure girls into the forest during the Spring Festival, yet they are pathetic wretches who obsess over their wife's first footprint.'
That was why she had strongly urged Iris not to tell the man she would be living with.
How would the man react?
Rahan's eyes widened. Iris felt relieved the moment she saw those Red Eyes.
Because within the man's pupils, there was only bewilderment at hearing the sudden confession.
There was no moral condemnation or absurdity directed toward a woman who had decided to take priestly vows but was actually not pure.
Iris continued.
"Um, when I was young, I fell to the ground while climbing an apple tree behind the monastery."
"..."
"At that time, I saw blood on my underwear and went to Father Sorell while sobbing, and the Father told me that it was something that happened often. When Auntie Laura heard that, she said it must be the 'first footprint,' which holds deep meaning for women."
"...I see."
"I was very surprised then, but after I grew older and saw blood every month, I realized it really wasn't a big deal. It's quite funny, isn't it?"
Why was it?
As she spoke, Iris suddenly realized that she was talking unnecessarily much in front of this man.
Her heart was also pounding strangely. Really, why was she acting like this?
The question was solved quickly.
It was because of Rahan's casual response in the next moment.
"No, it's not funny at all. Of course you'd be surprised if you suddenly bled, damn it."
"..."
"And now I understand why you were in such a hurry."
"..."
The man scratched his head a couple of times as if annoyed and said,
"I'm sorry. I must have scared you."
Iris was surprised.
The man's words sounded blunt at first glance.
But Iris could tell. He had guessed everything she had thought and worried about until she spoke those words.
'I might be condemned for not being a virgin. And this marriage arranged by Abbot Wilbert might fall through.'
'Does he not like me?'
'This is the only path for me...'
All those things she had worried about.
In the next moment, Iris unconsciously covered her nose and mouth with both hands.
Was it because she felt too relieved?
Her eyes suddenly grew moist, and tears overflowed.
At the same time, she realized the emotion that had been dominating her since yesterday without her knowing.
I see.
I was scared.
One day, Iris had suddenly become Iris Achen.
A girl who had wanted to live in Wind Rock Monastery her whole life, waiting only for her priestly vows, had to become the wife of a strange man overnight.
Her husband had changed twice, and although it was a setup, she had been kidnapped.
Even while smiling and undoing the ties of her dress with her wedding attire all wrinkled, Iris hadn't realized she was afraid.
She had simply thought it was a relief that a handsome man was her groom, and she had summoned the courage to think she could share a bed with this man.
Naturally, she had no hesitation in confessing to him that she had already bled as a child.
But, in truth, she was scared.
Truly.
It would have been natural for him to be bewildered seeing a woman suddenly start shedding tears with a shocked face, but surprisingly, the man looked at her quietly and reached out to wipe her cheek.
As if it were only natural for Iris to cry.
That must be why.
"Iiiing."
Iris unconsciously walked forward as if whining and buried her face in the man's chest. Then, she cried with her face completely crumpled. Like a child.
"Iiiing..."
Shedding both tears and snot.
The man let out a light sigh and awkwardly patted Iris on the shoulder. Even then, Iris could feel him struggling not to touch her too much, and despite her tears, she thought to herself:
Is he a womanizer or not? I'm dying of confusion.
At a glance, the man seemed rough, but he was unexpectedly kind to her, a complete stranger. Even within his violent manner of speaking, he did not belittle Iris or get angry with her.
His personality was one that made his reputation as a womanizer entirely understandable.
Even she might have fallen in love with a man like this if he were around.
Surprisingly, however, his actions were far from those of a womanizer.
Usually, a flirt would try to wedge themselves into the gap when a woman became this vulnerable. But the man seemed to have no desire to do so at all, leaving Iris truly bewildered.
It took a long time for Iris to stop crying. Until then, Rahan did not rush her; he simply comforted her quietly. If she could, she wanted to cry and wail like this forever.
But Iris knew better than anyone that there was no time. She rubbed her face against the chest she was clinging to and looked up.
Then, with a puffy face, she asked.
“Um, excuse me.”
“…Speak.”
“I had a dream once.”
The man frowned slightly. Seeing that frown, Iris felt she could understand why Priest Marid had been so triumphant with her.
This man was handsome even when he frowned!
Iris opened her swollen eyes wide, trying to admire his face for just a moment longer, and spoke.
“Would you kiss me?”
Rahan flinched and frowned even deeper. Since he looked completely baffled, Iris quickly added:
“Because I feel like you're a good person.”
Now the young man looked absurd. But Iris was sincere.
‘Iris, what do you want to be when you grow up?’
Priest Wilbert had often asked Iris about her future aspirations during her childhood. Her answer was always the same.
‘I want to be a wonderful priest, just like you, Priest Wilbert.’
Of course, it wasn't an answer Priest Wilbert liked. Priest Marid was the same.
‘Oh, Iris. Why do you want to be a priest so badly? There are so many more interesting things in the world.’
But Iris had always wanted to be a priest. Life at Wind Rock Monastery was enjoyable, and while it was boring at times, that was synonymous with being peaceful.
Above all, she wanted to be like the priests of Wind Rock Monastery who gave her love.
But that dream was shattered. Iris could not become a priest.
‘I don't want to! Can't I just take my formal vows?’
To the weeping Iris, Priest Wilbert had shaken his head.
Even if she became a formal priest, there was no way the Achen Ducal House would leave her alone.
Iris was the daughter of the Achen Ducal House, and it had been less than six months since she realized she had to live a life entirely different from what she had dreamed of.
If so, how should she live?
Iris fell into deep thought.
In truth, it was a problem with no answer. Because for Iris to contemplate her way of life, marriage was ultimately not something that depended on her alone.
Therefore, Iris could only hope that the person who would become her husband was a decent person.
That he would be a good person.
At the very least, even if he were indifferent to her, that he wouldn't be a bad person.
And the man standing before Iris was a good person.
It was truly a relief.
So, Iris wanted to hope for a little more.
That this man would like her.
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