Chapter 3 – The Little House at the Edge of the Forest

The journey back to the village was quiet.

Anaya walked a few steps behind Arjun, her damp clothes brushing against the wild grass lining the narrow path. The cool breeze carried the scent of wet earth and pine trees after the rain. Birds chirped from the branches above as though nothing extraordinary had happened.

To everyone around her, she was simply Anaya—the herb-gathering girl who had nearly drowned.

Only she knew the truth.

She was a stranger in another person's body.

Every few steps, villagers smiled at her.

"Take care of yourself, child."

"We'll visit after you've rested."

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Their kindness made her chest tighten.

She wanted to tell them the truth, but she knew she couldn't. Even she didn't understand how she had come to this world.

After walking for nearly twenty minutes, the houses became fewer and farther apart. At the edge of the village stood a tiny mud house with a roof made of straw. A small vegetable patch grew beside the fence, though many of the plants had withered from neglect.

"This is your home," Arjun said softly.

Home...

The word felt unfamiliar.

Before Anaya could answer, the wooden door flew open.

A frail old woman hurried outside with surprising speed.

"Anaya!"

Her cloudy eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her thin arms around the girl.

"You frightened me to death! They said you fell into the river. I thought I had lost you."

Anaya stood frozen.

Memories from the original owner surfaced once again.

This was Grandmother Mei, the only family the original Anaya had left.

The old woman had raised her since childhood after her parents died from illness.

Without thinking, Anaya gently returned the embrace.

"I'm sorry, Grandma."

The words came naturally.

Grandmother Mei pulled away and held her face in both hands.

"You must never go near the river after heavy rain again. Herbs can wait. Your life cannot."

Anaya nodded.

"I understand."

The old woman finally noticed Arjun standing nearby.

She bowed deeply.

"Hunter Arjun... thank you. I have no way to repay you for saving my granddaughter."

Arjun quickly shook his head.

"There is no need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same."

Grandmother Mei smiled sadly.

"No. Many would have been afraid of the current."

She invited him inside for tea, but Arjun politely declined.

"I still have traps to check before sunset."

Before leaving, he looked at Anaya.

"Rest well."

Then he disappeared down the forest path.

Watching his retreating figure, Anaya realized something.

He had not once mentioned the marriage.

Not because he had forgotten.

Because he didn't want to pressure her.

For someone who lived by such strict village customs, that quiet respect spoke louder than any grand promise.

She followed Grandmother Mei into the house.

The inside was even simpler than she expected.

A single wooden table stood in the center of the room.

Two stools.

A clay stove in one corner.

A shelf holding only a few bowls and cups.

A curtain separated the sleeping area from the rest of the house.

There were no decorations.

No luxury.

Yet everything was swept clean.

Grandmother Mei noticed Anaya looking around.

"We may be poor," she said with a smile, "but a clean house brings peace to the heart."

Those words reminded Anaya of something her own mother used to say in her previous life.

For a moment, she had to blink back tears.

Perhaps...

No matter the world...

Some kinds of love never changed.

That evening, the two of them shared a simple meal of rice porridge and wild greens.

It wasn't delicious.

It wasn't filling.

But as the rain tapped softly against the roof and Grandmother Mei chatted about the neighbors, Anaya felt a strange warmth settle inside her heart.

The modern world had given her convenience.

This small house offered something she hadn't felt in years.

Peace.

Yet deep inside, one question remained.

In three days...

Would she truly become the wife of the quiet hunter who had risked his life to save hers?

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