Cunning Fish of the Forest - Chapter 4

So, my shock came from witnessing an event I had always observed from a distance suddenly becoming my reality.

It wasn’t just any ordinary foolishness. I had believed that when the day came, there would be thunder and lightning, the earth would split open, and a curse would strike on the land, killing dozens of goats. I used my head well.

I never imagined it would be on an ordinary spring day, with clumsy butterflies fluttering around every blooming path.

“Betrothals for most women are usually decided much earlier. Arox already has a fiancée.”

I knew that, but it felt unfair to compare me to Arox.

His situation involved childhood friends who knew each other inside and out, and she was indeed the woman Arox truly loved. It’s not often that a betrothal arranged at the age of three works out so well. My mother using Arox as an example to comfort me was hardly comforting.

“Your betrothed will be coming to Ludergeros in two months, Neth.”

My father cut to the chase, sparing us from my mother’s roundabout explanation. It was a wise move. I don’t want this topic to drag on any longer.

“However.”

Today, I let go of the appetite I had barely managed to find thanks to Aronis. I gave up on the plate with the crude bread and shook my clean hands free of crumbs. But truly, there was something puzzling.

Arox’s betrothal had been celebrated noisily by everyone. I knew that a woman’s betrothal wouldn’t be any different.

I can brush aside the news that my fiance would be arriving in Ludergeros in two months, and the sudden shock of realizing my freedom was temporary was my own to deal with. However, the ominous atmosphere, as if not a fiance but an enemy were coming, was perplexing.

“Who is the fiance?”

Relying on the love of my parents who birthed me and the prestige of our family, I had hoped at least not to be matched with a man so much older. Yet, time and again, there was a gap between my hopes and reality.

Even when I glared at my mother, there were no answers.

The thought that ‘it couldn’t possibly be’ has strangled people’s hopes more than once. At this point, I’m almost tempted to wring the answer out of Ahmet if necessary.

“Surely it’s not an old man?”

“Araneth, how could that be?”

Arox reprimanded me with a helpless voice at my mention of an old man. But the decision doesn’t come from Arox; it’s up to our parents sitting there.

What if they say I am to be betrothed to an old man on the brink of death?

“There’s no need to worry. It’s a distinguished family. The match was even arranged by the king himself.”

“Age?”

“He’s the same age as you.”

“What’s his name?”

“I hear he’s already taking swordsmanship lessons, something even Ahmet doesn’t…”

“Mother!”

Irritated, I stepped on Ahmet’s foot under the table. Whether the troublesome brother’s foot swells up is none of my concern. Being a woman, I felt as if I was standing at a crossroads of life and death.

“Neth. Calm down and sit up straight.”

“What’s his name? That should have been the first thing you said.”

“…That is.”

“Why won’t you tell me?”

Even if our family were in dire straits and had to marry me off to an old man, I deserved to be informed.

There’s a clear difference between walking into a prison knowing it’s a prison and being blindfolded and led into one. Whether the reality after removing the blindfold is worse than my imagination or not, I’m bound to despair for other reasons anyway.

I just wished to fully despair now while I’m still without a blindfold.

“Araneth.”

“Yes.”

Mother quietly passed the speaking right to father after making eye contact with him. Sometimes, father’s direct approach was preferable to mother’s considerate one.

I hoped my expression appeared somewhat composed as I looked at him. Father’s face was filled with sorrow. I wondered why he was so apprehensive about a boy from a distinguished family, my age, and supposedly more skilled in swordsmanship than Ahmet, though I can’t believe it.

“It’s the heir to the Leigro family. He’s their only child.”

This was largely my fault.

To understand the shifted political landscape, one should memorize the names of houses and know the historical relationships between them. However, history lessons were officially my nap time, meaning I lacked the knowledge to comprehend the grim expressions of my family.

What was so concerning about the boy’s family that they had to use all the good words to describe him? My father looked at me sympathetically, as if there was nothing he could say to a daughter who appeared so clueless.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions based just on what we’ve heard. It’s you who will be most affected by this, but… let’s wait for the meeting in two months.”

Two months wasn’t far off. My senses finally started to return when Arox took my hand. It seemed I had unwittingly caused a misunderstanding. Given the situation, I felt the need to speak up, even if it meant causing my parents to be taken aback.

“Father.”

“Go ahead, say whatever you need to.”

I felt like an odd duck out of the flock, aware of the potential ripple effects of my words yet compelled to speak.

“Leigro.”

“….Yes.”

“Who is that?”