Chapter 136
“Your name is… What might I call you?”
While Jaha’s guard crumbled before a voice that perfectly matched her taste, the man’s self-introduction passed right by her. She didn’t catch it properly, but it was an incredibly long and complex name. She’d believe it if someone told her it was the names of seven people, not one.
“Ah. My name is Yoo Jaha, but…”
Jaha responded reflexively and quickly added:
“Yoo is the surname and Jaha is the given name. Where I lived, most people have one-character surnames and two-character given names, and we put the surname before the given name.”
“Yoo Jaha.”
A smile spread across the man’s lips.
“Yoo Jaha, I see.”
Ah, blinding.
Jaha squinted at the unbearable halo. They say the ultimate therapy is handsome-guy therapy, and she even felt like her soul was being purified.
Wait, could this actually be heaven? Did I not fall into another world but actually die and come to heaven? Is this guy an archangel or a god?
While Jaha couldn’t get her bearings from the consecutive attacks of his voice and appearance, the man made a proposal.
“I know this is a bewildering request, but if it’s alright with you, would you come with me?”
Those absorbing blue eyes. The man was still kneeling on the ground, so his eye level was lower than Jaha’s. Maybe that’s why she had the illusion that his upward gaze seemed particularly fervent and earnest.
Jaha, who had almost nodded without thinking twice after getting swept up in the atmosphere, barely managed to regain her reason.
“I’m grateful for the offer, but may I know why you’re inviting me?”
“I’ve always been interested in what lies beyond the sea. What kind of world exists there, what kind of people live there. If you stayed at my residence and told me such stories, I would be more than delighted.”
There was no way not to be swayed when a sculpture-rivaling handsome man was giving such explanations with a picture-perfect smile. The man didn’t stop there.
“Since it would be difficult to trust me at first sight, I’ll guarantee your safety on my family’s honor. I also promise you a comfortable life.”
The sound of people gasping could be heard from here and there.
This man’s family seemed to have quite a bit of power. Ordinary people wouldn’t react like that just because someone staked their family name.
Jaha felt a bit more confident. He seemed to have high status, and since he’d made this declaration in front of others, he probably wouldn’t carelessly abandon his family’s honor.
“I have one request—could you grant it?”
“I will.”
Jaha had thrown it out there with the mindset of “nothing to lose,” but she was inwardly surprised by his too-willing acceptance.
What does this man think I’m going to demand? What if I asked him to give me his liver or something?
“As you know, I crossed the sea to get here, so I don’t know anything about this place. Please help me learn about the customs and culture here.”
“I’ll gladly cooperate.”
It was an immediate response without a moment’s hesitation. As if that wasn’t enough, the man was somehow examining Jaha’s expression with anxious eyes. As if he was worried that Jaha might change her mind.
‘Where have I seen this look before…?’
The faces of business partners’ employees who had been eager to get contracts signed quickly flashed through her mind for a moment.
Back then it was because Jaha’s company had the upper hand, but why was this man acting like this when he wasn’t even the weaker party? Was he that curious about the world beyond the sea?
Either way, it wasn’t a bad thing for Jaha. The more desperate the man was, the more she could get out of it. She’d been dropped into a world where she didn’t know a single person without a penny to her name, so she had to take advantage of everything she could.
Jaha decided to follow the man. She didn’t completely trust him yet, but there was no better alternative. She could only hope it was the right choice.
“Thank you. What should I call you to avoid being rude?”
The man’s eyes curved pleasantly.
“You can call me Rikanan.”
And so Jaha ended up following this mysterious handsome man named Rikanan.
The carriage was unexpectedly comfortable. The seats were extremely plush, and there was barely any shaking.
Since she was prone to motion sickness, Jaha had mentally prepared herself before getting in, but the surprisingly smooth ride made her relax.
“This must be a good carriage. It’s not bumping around at all.”
“It’s enchanted with magic.”
At Rikanan’s answer, Jaha was surprised and pressed down on the chair she was sitting in for no reason. A magic carriage—not even Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. She never thought she’d have this kind of experience in her life.
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