No Time For A Husband

Wolf was at a loss. His wife of a few hours wanted an annulment already. He surreptitiously licked his lips, was she drunk? Hmm, he was aware his circumstances were not what one would call ideal but since she knew nothing about that, she should give him some reason.. Not that he could annul the marriage. He had already promised the General to protect his daughter all his life. And he wasn't one to break his promises. So, casually,he asked,"Eun-a, Is there a reason for this?We have just married..And if you had an objection to the marriage, then why did you agree to it?Do you have an aversion to me or marriage in general?"

Xie Eun felt at a loss. She had expected the man to be angry or aggressive not to calmly question her. Since he was being decent about it, Xie Eun decided that maybe she could explain herself. So she cleared her throat and explained, " I don't know you so I can't really have anything against you. However I do not understand how a grown man can marry a girl without even knowing her. But that is not my business. For me, I want to go around the world and not get married so soon!I am only eighteen!I have to study, roam the world, be wild!How can I get married so early in life?" By the end of her speech, Xie Eun's pitch had turned agitated and angry making Wolf note her concern and think that this really was important to her. But he also felt a sense of relief course through him. He had wondered if she was in love with someone else maybe. That would be bad for all concerned parties.

Because Wolf was not able to see her face, he did not realize that,in fact,Xie Eun was lying. She did have someone in her heart but she thought that Wolf would be offended at this and did not want him to risk refusing in case he got angry. And she consoled herself, She wasn't lying. She wanted all those things in life also but in reality she was just hiding her main reason.

Leaning heavily against the wall,Wolf casually stated,"Eun-a,all you have done is given me a litany of your aspirations which in no way precludes having a husband.You can do all those thing even as you are married to me!"

"No!I cannot!Any person would have expectations from a wife!And I won't have time to fulfill those expectations!In short I willhave no time for a husband!For arguments like this so having a husband is out of the question.!"

Realizing that the topic was agitating her,Wolf changed the question,"Then why did you agree to the marriage?"

This question made Xie Eun all the more angry.She had not readily agreed to the marriage.She had fought and pleaded with her father.She had threatened and cried but it was useless.her father had given her an ultimatum,"Marry the man he chose or go away!"

She knew he was dying and he knew that she wouldn't be able to leave him so in the end she had succumbed,hoping that it would take her father atleast some time to find a man of his liking.Mayne until then she would be able to confess her feelings to the one she loved.But her father had announced her marriage the next day.She had refused to meet the man.This was because she knew that this man too must have been forced by her father! And she did not want to hate a random stranger.It was better they seperated without knowing each other to avoid any awkwardness in the future if they ever saw each other. And she wanted annulment and not a divorce!She wanted the love of her life to know that she was untouched.

The kiss from a little while ago flashed in her mind but she shook her head and rejected the idea.She had not been a willing party in that."Liar" her mind screamed at her which she ignored.

Drawing in a deep breath,"He blackmailed me.That is the truth plain and simple. He knew that once I knew of his sickness, I wouldn't be able to refuse him. But he only made me promise to marry you not to remain married. I just need you to sign the annulment papers. Once he has..."

As if suddenly realizing her own cold-blooded ness, Xie Eun frowned and closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to overflow and continued in a considerably miserable voice,"Once he is gone, I will register the annulment.." Wolf noticed her stiff posture and body language. And now he realized why the General had made him promise to be true to his daughter. Because he had known that she wouldn't agree to a lifetime of promise but he would. And once he had made a promise, he would keep it. But, now was not the time to tell Xie Eun that he had promised to have and to hold her forever. She was his family now after all..