Got Engaged to the Man They Call Ugly - Chapter 2
A museum suddenly popped up near her home one day.
【♤ Exhibition of Vishtar, Goddess of Beauty and Love! Free admission for all winners!】
And the advertisements for the exhibition were loud and flashy.
【Visit and receive an adorable Golden Apple◕ Keyring! ← Click here for reservation! ♤】
They claimed that just visiting would get you a golden apple-shaped keyring, so she had made a reservation immediately.
Of course, it wouldn’t be real gold, but she figured it’d still look cute dangling from her bag.
She had completely forgotten about it afterward.
Until one day, a message arrived:
【Hello, mortal! You have won free admission to the ‘Vishtar, Goddess of Beauty and Love Exhibition.’ You’ll receive a golden apple keyring as a souvenir when you attend.】
Since the museum was close to home, she decided to drop by.
Definitely not because she desperately wanted that keyring or anything.
『Vishtar, Goddess of Beauty and Love Exhibition』
As with most museum exhibitions, the atmosphere inside was quiet and calm. She verified the message code at the automated kiosk at the entrance and received a wireless earpiece.
As soon as she put it in her ear, a guide’s voice began speaking.
【Greetings, mortal. I am Monetta, goddess of memory, and I will be your guide today.】
‘Wow, this concept is amazing.’
Admiring their dedication, Elinne listened intently to the guide’s gentle voice.
【Vishtar, goddess of beauty and love, who once ruled Elysion through beauty, believed fair skin and slender physiques were the epitome of beauty. Thus, in Vishtar’s era, it was customary to openly reveal the body without reservation…】
Indeed, the statues and artifacts were all unabashedly nude.
It was hard to even focus on their faces.
With even their private parts so openly depicted, she found herself unsure of where exactly to look.
The most prominent among them was the proud male nude statue standing in the center.
【This is Kashayn, the god of pride, beloved child and rightful heir of Vishtar, goddess of beauty.】
As she glanced at it, the earpiece chimed in as if on cue.
【Renowned as the greatest beauty of his time, Kashayn’s unparalleled looks continue to captivate even today…】
‘Greatest beauty? I wouldn’t go that far.’
Elinne frowned skeptically as she gazed upward at the statue.
She had to admit, his face alone was stunning.
Compared to the other statues, his sharply carved features and detailed, porcelain-like skin stood out brilliantly.
But his physique was lacking.
Although partially covered by fabric, his shoulders weren’t broad enough, and though he was tall, his build wasn’t particularly impressive.
Even his arm muscles seemed purely aesthetic—thin and decorative. She doubted whether he could even wield the large sword leaning beside him.
He really seemed like nothing more than a pretty decoration.
Most importantly…
Without realizing, her eyes drifted downward.
…that crucial part was rather small.
Of course, she had heard that nude statues often depicted private parts smaller than real life so visitors wouldn’t stare excessively, or sometimes didn’t depict them clearly at all.
‘Still, isn’t that too small?’
Did they not know bigger was always better?[1]
Seriously, she’d never understand divine beauty standards.
She shook her head with mild disappointment.
【Vishtar, goddess of beauty, set herself as the absolute standard of all beauty. Thus, anyone different from her was deemed ugly and inferior. Therefore…】
Whatever. She just wanted to hurry up, finish this tour, grab her keyring, and go home already.
Thinking of the cute little keyring she’d seen in the ad, she forced herself to endure the guide’s monotonous explanations.
Her eyes gradually started aching from the chandeliers hung too low.
『Vishtar’s Golden Apple』
At the museum’s center stood a replica sculpture of a golden apple.
She idly wondered if it was actually made of gold, how many carats it might be—such mundane, materialistic thoughts—while peering into the display case.
—Bzzzzt.
The smartphone in her pocket vibrated quietly, its buzzing unusually loud in the silence of the museum.
‘That’s odd. I’m sure I put it on silent mode before entering.’
She quickly glanced around, feeling slightly embarrassed, and turned on the screen.
A single notification was blinking at her.
Curious, she clicked it without much thought.
【A Golden Apple has arrived for the mortal. —’Accept’!】
Author’s note:
[1] ↩
Hilale
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