Chapter 2 – A Marriage Decided by the Village

The murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples across the river.

"The elder is right."

"Everyone saw Hunter Arjun carrying her out of the water."

"If they don't marry, people will gossip for years."

Anaya sat frozen on the damp grass, her wet clothes clinging to her skin as the villagers argued over her future.

No one asked what she wanted.

No one even seemed to think it was necessary.

She lowered her head, trying to steady her breathing.

This isn't my world.

The thought echoed in her mind again and again.

The river, the mountains, the wooden carts, the villagers dressed in coarse linen—everything looked like a scene from an ancient drama.

Only hours ago, she had been living in a modern city, worrying about deadlines and rent.

Now strangers were discussing her marriage as if it had already been decided.

The elderly village head stepped forward and rested both hands on his walking stick.

"Arjun."

The hunter respectfully bowed his head.

"Yes, Elder."

"You understand our customs."

"I do."

"You carried an unmarried woman before dozens of witnesses."

"I had no choice. If I hadn't, she would have drowned."

"No one blames you for saving her," the elder replied gently. "But customs exist to protect a woman's reputation."

The villagers nodded.

One middle-aged woman sighed.

"If they don't marry, no family will ever accept the girl."

Another added, "People can be cruel."

Anaya listened quietly.

Although she didn't agree with their traditions, she could see they genuinely believed they were protecting her future.

This wasn't punishment.

It was simply the way this village had lived for generations.

The elder finally turned to her.

"Child."

She looked up.

"Do you remember your name?"

Anaya hesitated.

The memories of the original owner were still swirling inside her mind.

"...Anaya."

A smile appeared on the elder's wrinkled face.

"Good. We were worried the river had damaged your memory."

Damaged your memory...

Perhaps pretending to remember very little would be the safest choice.

She lowered her eyes.

"My head hurts."

Immediately, several women stepped closer.

"Poor child."

"She swallowed so much water."

"It's a miracle she's alive."

Anaya forced a weak smile.

Every kind word made her chest tighten.

They believed she was the girl they had known all her life.

If they ever discovered the truth...

Would they think she was possessed?

Would they fear her?

She pushed the thoughts aside.

Right now, surviving came first.

The elder looked toward Arjun once more.

"What do you say?"

The young hunter stood silently for several moments.

Finally, he answered in a calm voice.

"If Lady Anaya refuses, I will not force her."

The simple sentence surprised everyone.

Including Anaya.

He wasn't trying to take advantage of the situation.

Instead, he was giving the choice to a woman he barely knew.

For the first time since opening her eyes in this unfamiliar world, she felt a little less afraid.

She studied him carefully.

His clothes were patched in several places.

A worn bow rested across his back.

His hands were rough from years of hard work.

He wasn't handsome in the polished way actors from her world were.

But there was a quiet steadiness in him that made him seem dependable.

The elder turned back to Anaya.

"What is your decision?"

Her heart pounded.

Refuse?

Where would she go?

She remembered the original owner's memories.

There was only one elderly grandmother waiting in a tiny house.

No parents.

No brothers.

No money.

If she rejected the marriage, rumors would spread throughout every nearby village.

Life would become difficult.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

I'm alone in this world.

At least... this man saved my life.

When she opened them again, she nodded slowly.

"I... will accept."

Silence filled the riverbank.

Then relieved smiles appeared one after another.

"That's wonderful."

"It seems fate has brought them together."

The elder struck his walking stick lightly against the ground.

"Then the wedding will be held three days from now."

Three days.

Anaya nearly laughed.

In her old world, people spent months planning weddings.

Here, she was apparently becoming someone's wife before the week was over.

As the villagers began walking back toward the village, Arjun remained where he was.

He waited until everyone had gone ahead before speaking.

"I'm sorry."

She blinked.

"For what?"

"For putting you in this situation."

His voice was quiet.

"If I had reached the river sooner..."

She interrupted him with a small shake of her head.

"You saved me."

Those three words made him pause.

For the first time, the usually expressionless hunter smiled—a faint, almost shy smile that disappeared as quickly as it came.

"It was the right thing to do."

They walked toward the village together.

Neither of them noticed that the dark river behind them had finally become calm, as though it had quietly accepted the exchange of one life... for another.

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