I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 34

“Now he’s even bringing in Northern women.”

The woman straightened up and gestured for Lene to sit down.

“……”

Lene quietly stared at the arrogant woman’s actions. The woman then chuckled softly.

“You understand a little of our language, don’t you?”

Her speech slowed down. It seemed she assumed that Lene was bad at the Tazetra language.

Lene looked at the woman for a moment and chose to sit in the chair next to the one the woman had pointed to.

“Yes. Unusually, I know a bit of Tazetra.”

“Oh?”

The woman’s eyes widened in surprise.

Her already large eyes, reminiscent of a cat’s, became even more exaggerated with her astonished expression, making them almost overwhelming.

“What? How do you speak so well?”

The woman scrutinized Lene up and down, making a sound of surprise.

“You’re not mixed-blood, are you?”

There was no malice, but there was also no courtesy.

Lene knew how to handle such people.

All she had to do was point out their rudeness directly.

“I find this culture a bit strange, but is being so rude during a first greeting customary here?”

The woman paused for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“You’re amusing. This bride.”

“It’s not the time for you to find this amusing. If you have nothing to show me, I’ll take my leave.”

“How cold.”

As Lene stood up, the woman reached out her hand to grab her wrist and pull her back.

Thud.

As Lene swatted the hand away, the woman blinked in surprise.

“Is it part of your culture to touch someone without even introducing yourself?”

Just as she was about to sharply retort, a middle-aged man emerged from the entrance behind Lene.

“Oh dear… I apologize. My daughter has been rude.”

He approached his daughter, who was sitting in the chair, and gently tapped her head.

“I told you that if you act this way, I won’t bring you along anymore.”

“Tch.”

It was strange.

At the man’s words, the woman, who had just moments ago been engaging in a battle of wits with Lene, transformed into a docile lamb.

“What did I say? I only remarked that it was interesting.”

The man sighed at his daughter and then turned his gaze back to Lene.

“I’m sorry. I lost my wife and have raised my daughter with great care… she has no manners.”

Lene glanced between the man and the woman.

“Well, it was rude enough that I can’t just say it’s fine.”

Both of them paused for a moment and then chuckled softly.

“This bride is certainly different. That’s why Lord Kazen personally reached out, I suppose?”

“Tch. What’s so different about her? The only difference is that she’s Northern.”

“Quiet.”

The merchant scolded his daughter with a stern face and then extended his hand in greeting.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am the merchant Sarman Kasha. This is my daughter, Roxana Kasha. I apologize for my daughter’s offense.”

Lene offered a formal smile.

“It’s fine, as long as it doesn’t happen again.”

“Haha, I heard you’re not someone to be trifled with, and indeed, you live up to your reputation.”

“Is that so?”

Lene shrugged as if she had little interest, prompting Sarman to express his admiration.

“By the way, you speak Tazetra fluently. It’s truly the first time I’ve met a Northern person who can speak it to this level.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Lene gave a face that suggested she wanted to move on from the praise and cast her gaze at the items he had laid out.

“Are these items you brought?”

“Yes. Every time I visit this region, I make sure to stop by this pond garden to show these items to the brides. They are all things that women like.”

This merchant… is really something else.

Unlike his daughter, he was polite and even added honorifics, but still.

His subtle references to past brides showed that he wasn’t considering Lene at all.

‘Both the daughter and the father are the same.’

“This scented pouch is especially popular. It’s very effective for insomnia.”

“I see.”

Lene glanced at the red pouch he handed her, then set it down and looked at other items.

At that moment, something caught her eye.

“Is this… from the Ecaron Kingdom?”

“You recognized it right away.”

Sarman smiled brightly and took out a dried flower from a small ceramic jar.

“This is dried ‘Hyangran.’ It’s a specialty of Ecaron that brides always seek.”

“So, you call it Hyangran here.”

“What do you call it in Ecaron?”

Lene was puzzled by his question.

‘If he has Ecaron goods, he must be a merchant who travels between the two countries, right?’

If that’s the case, he should know the true name of Hyangran.

“…It’s called Lunadel.”

It felt a bit uncomfortable, but she answered nonetheless.

“Luna… doesn’t it mean ‘moon’ in an ancient language?”

“That’s right.”

“Is it a flower associated with the moon?”

For some reason, she felt like he was asking questions he already knew the answers to.

So, even though she knew the answer, she refrained from pretending to know.

“Well, I only know that it has been called Lunadel for a very long time.”

Lunadel.

That flower, which has a mild paralyzing poison, is often used as an edible ingredient.

When taken in moderation, it can uplift one’s mood and help forget pain.

However, taking it in excess can lead to hallucinations.

Strangely, those who consume too much of it tend to babble incoherently upon seeing water and jump into it, claiming that the goddess of the moon, who emits a strange light, is calling them.

Thus, for a very long time, people have referred to that flower as meaning “beautiful moon.”

“I see. Do you know the effects of this flower?”

As expected, he continued to probe despite knowing the answer.

Lene tilted her lips slightly and asked Sarman.

“Touching it barehanded must make your hands quite numb.”

“Haha, you seem to know the effects of this flower well.”

“It’s not common, but it is occasionally used as a medicinal herb in Ecaron.”

“I see. So it’s used as a medicinal herb there.”

“How much do you have?”

“How much do you need?”

“The fact that you’re asking back implies you have a considerable amount.”

Sarman chuckled softly.

“Indeed, you are quite different.”

As another comparison to previous brides was about to come up, Lene quickly stated the amount she wanted.

“Do you have about one sack?”

“More than that.”

“Then let me change the question. How much can you sell me?”

“You’re quite sharp.”

Seemingly enjoying the conversation with Lene, his smile didn’t fade.

“I can part with about three sacks.”

“I’ll take all of that.”

“You’re quite bold.”

“It’s not my money.”

“Hahaha.”

As he laughed heartily, the merchant’s daughter, Roxana, who had been sulking nearby, muttered.

“Lacking common sense, just like the other brides.”

Lene brushed off her comment lightly and examined other items.

However, there was nothing that particularly caught her interest, like jewelry or decorative powders.

“I think this will do.”

“I’d like to recommend some more, but after our brief conversation, it seems you’re not someone interested in such decorative items. So, I’ll take my leave.”

“Herbs from Ecaron are always welcome.”

“I’ll be sure to bring some next time I visit after finishing my business in Ecaron.”

He bowed his head and began to organize the items he had spread out on the table.

Then, as he was putting away a bracelet adorned with red jewels, he seemed to remember something and exclaimed, “Ah!”

“I almost forgot this. I give it as a gift to the other brides every time, so I thought it would be sad not to give one to you, Leneta.”

Once again, the mention of “other brides” came up. Lene only moved her lips to give a formal smile. Then he pulled out a small wooden container.

“What is this?”

“Open it and see.”

Inside the container, there were several smaller containers, revealing something remarkable.

“It’s a precious item, so the packaging is quite extravagant.”

Finally, a wooden container the size of a grown woman’s fist emerged.

‘This is…’

The corners of her mouth, which had been raised formally, dropped down.

Did he misunderstand her expression change as being nervous? Sarman laughed heartily and took out a bit of what was inside the wooden container, placing it in his palm.

A scent reminiscent of grass, mixed with an earthy aroma, wafted faintly.

“This is a specialty called ‘Bunna,’ which only grows in the southern part of the Tazetra Empire. It’s made from the seeds of a fruit. The fragrance is quite nice, isn’t it?”

“……It is.”

Lene carefully picked up a light green grain with her fingers.

“Ah! But you shouldn’t eat it like this! You need to roast it well, grind it, and then steep it in water before consuming.”

“I see…”

Listening to the explanation, Lene placed the green grain called ‘Bunna’ in her palm.

“It may not look like much now, but when prepared the way I mentioned, the aroma becomes wonderful. That’s why the previous brides always sought it out.”

“…The previous brides enjoyed this?”

“Yes.”

Lene stared intently at the Bunna grain.

Hyangran and Bunna.

It’s quite a malicious combination.

Lene’s gaze shifted to the merchant, who was smiling brightly.

‘This is a combination that should never be consumed together… Did he not know and gift this to the brides?’

Or did he know and still do it?