22-14

EP.14 1. (Pre-Livestock Female University Student Lee Sol-ah) - Lee Sol-ah Declares Her Livestock Name as Mimi (14)

Oppa and I went to the courthouse to file for marriage registration and surrender my rights.

Oppa drove, and I held the necessary documents. My heart wasn't at peace.

Marriage should be a happy occasion, a moment when love is sealed.

I once wanted to marry someone on an equal footing, but I've lost that right.

In despair, I met Oppa. He truly cared for me and was a perfect owner.

I wanted to accept becoming a livestock with a calm heart, smiling brightly as I surrendered my rights.

But it didn't go as planned. The humiliation awaiting me at the courthouse was overwhelming.

"Dad, I'll be strong."

Dad pointed to the livestock grade on the registration form.

"It might be different now, but they'll probably strip you and conduct various inspections."

Dad couldn't continue speaking, but I had a rough idea of what he meant.

Livestock grade. Sale.

From the documents, it seemed there would be an inspection at the courthouse to determine my value as a livestock.

After marriage, the initial owner of a livestock is required to have children. A female livestock that has borne two children can be sold by her owner, not divorced, but sold outright. The fate of a woman who becomes a livestock is reduced to being a product that can be bought and sold.

The surface reason is infertility. The husband also has a duty to have children. If they don't have a child within a certain period, they face a huge fine.

However, even if the wife—livestock—is infertile, the duty remains. They must acquire a new, fertile livestock.

But legally, marriage to a livestock can only happen once in a lifetime. It's the only chance to own a woman as a livestock for free.

Livestock transactions are expensive, especially for high-grade, fertile ones, which can cost more than a house.

Infertile livestock can be kept, but selling them is common because buying new ones requires money.

Infertile livestock are often sold to places where women with rights don't want to work, such as restaurant staff or caregivers for the elderly. Some are even sold to work as janitors, masseuses, or hostesses at bars.

This means that appearance and physique are crucial in determining grades. I would be stripped and subjected to humiliating inspections.

Dad was worried about me undergoing such inspections.

"Dad, don't worry. I'm fine. I've prepared myself."

I hugged Dad to reassure him.

But as the inspection drew near, I felt anxious again. I had endured it by saying it was okay, but I couldn't anymore.

"Sol-ah."

Oppa took my hand, and my trembling stopped.

"If it's hard, we can come back another time."

Oppa was truly kind. He had rushed the wedding preparations, causing chaos in our schedule.

But he handled everything without complaint. Even now, he suggested delaying the registration if I was struggling.

I didn't want to be such a burden.

Tears fell as I held back.

"Oppa...I'm sorry...I'm causing so much trouble..."

"It's not your fault. This is a hard thing for you. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't have been able to handle it either."

Oppa's grip on my hand tightened.

"Thank you, Sol-ah. For enduring this difficult reality and trusting me."

"Oppa..."

"I don't want you to suffer. I can wait until you're ready to accept me."

He was a truly kind person. I felt lucky to have him as my owner.

"It's okay, oppa. Let's go in."

"Are you sure you're not struggling?"

"I'm fine. I've already caused you enough trouble."

I steeled myself. This wasn't a tragedy; it was a happy day.

I remembered a friend's mother who lived in a doghouse, treated like an animal.

I wouldn't end up like that. Oppa would treat me like a person, even as a livestock.

So, I should be happy. I should be joyful about becoming a livestock for such an owner.

"Oppa, let's go in."

"...Okay."

I was destined to be a livestock. I was grateful to have such a good owner.

There was no more fear. The trembling stopped.

Our car entered the courthouse parking lot.

"Please submit the marriage registration form here."

The clerk was a woman with a lifeless gaze. I wondered why she looked so unenthusiastic, despite having rights as a courthouse employee. At least she didn't look at me with pity.

"Your marriage registration is complete. As requested, it will take effect three days from now, immediately after the wedding."

She handed us a printed paper.

"You have a hearing at Courtroom 25 at 11 AM for the declaration of rights surrender and grading inspection. Please wait there with this paper."

The term "wife" would soon become obsolete for me.

We walked to Courtroom 25 without a word. It was ten minutes before 11 AM.

In ten minutes, I would surrender my rights and undergo a grading inspection.

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

Oppa was concerned about me. I didn't want to worry him anymore.

"It's okay, oppa. I'm fine now."

I smiled brightly in front of the courtroom. Oppa's face slightly contorted, then he smiled back.

"Thank you, Sol-ah. Really, thank you..."

"Mr. Jo Joon-seok and Ms. Lee Sol-ah, please enter the courtroom."

I held Oppa's hand tightly.

"Oppa, let's go in."

"Are you sure you're not struggling?"

"Yes. It's completely fine. Today is a truly happy day."

I pulled Oppa into the courtroom.

It's a happy day. A joyful day. Today is really a happy day.

I'm being reborn. Human Sol-ah is dying, and I'm becoming Oppa's livestock.

The courtroom was simple, with a male judge, a clerk, a stenographer, and just us.

"On February 21, 2562, we proceed with the 10th declaration of rights surrender. Mr. Jo Joon-seok, who will become Ms. Lee Sol-ah's husband and owner after the wedding on February 24, 2562?"

"Yes."

"Do you accept all responsibilities as Ms. Lee Sol-ah's livestock owner?"

"Yes, I accept!"

"Very well. Ms. Lee Sol-ah, do you swear to devote loyalty to your owner as a livestock after the wedding on February 24, 2562?"

"Yes, I swear."

I had steeled myself, so I could respond immediately.

The judge handed a paper to the clerk, who then gave it to me.

"This is the declaration of rights surrender. Please read it thoroughly. This declaration will be recorded as proof of your rights surrender."

"Yes..."

I read the declaration. I knew its content.

"I, Lee Sol-ah, swear to surrender my rights starting from February 24, 2562, and live a life of loyalty as the livestock of my husband, Jo Joon-seok. I surrender all rights to life decisions to him."

"The declaration concludes here. As of the wedding on February 24, 2562, Ms. Lee Sol-ah's name and rights registration number will be erased. After the grading inspection, you will be assigned a barcode, livestock registration number, and grade."

The judge's words were indifferent, but each one struck my heart.

Livestock registration number...barcode...grade...

I was no longer human but a livestock.

My body trembled, but I managed to keep my composure so others wouldn't notice.

"Mr. Jo Joon-seok, you haven't provided a livestock name for Ms. Lee Sol-ah."

"Can't we use the same name?"

"It's legally impossible. Please provide a livestock name for Ms. Lee Sol-ah here. Remember, human names cannot be used for livestock."

Oppa looked at me, and I nodded.

"Whatever name Oppa gives me is fine."

Oppa stared at the courtroom ceiling for a moment. I understood what it meant. He was feeling the same pain as me.

"...Let's call her Mimi."

"Like the Mimi from 'Do-Re-Mi'?"

"Yes."

"As of February 24, 2562, Ms. Lee Sol-ah will be renamed Mimi as a livestock. The 10th declaration of rights surrender is concluded. Please follow the clerk to the inspection room."

"I'll be right back, oppa."

I smiled at Oppa, who looked at me with sad eyes.

"Smile. It's a happy day. The day I become yours."

Oppa had a complex expression, neither happy nor sad.

"...Be careful."

"Thank you, oppa."

Oppa smiled at me for the last time. I felt reassured and turned around.

Only then did tears fall.