Since the Matab had a secretive connection with the Newton Royal Family, Shar-ti preferred to remain inconspicuous.

“Moreover, the village executives have heard about my identity. It’s better to be cautious. Anyway, once I’m out of sight, memories will become blurred.”

Although she had promised to protect her secret in front of Ashu’s grandfather and the village chief, it was a verbal promise. Even if she made a slip of the tongue at some point, there was no responsibility, just a verbal promise.

Sigh Shar-ti buried her waist deeply into the back of the chair.

“Come to think of it, he only avoids taking off his hood in front of them.”

Shar-ti had taken off her hood to persuade Ashu’s grandfather and the village chief, but in the end, she showed her face to the village executives.

“My identity is exposed to everyone.”

It was not a confession she had willingly made; rather, it was revealed without her consent. However, regardless of how it happened, those who knew her secret were not more trustworthy than Ren.

“Hmm…”

She felt uneasy.

And then she began to think.

“It’s ambiguous…”
Despite being cautious until now, I have already shown my face to Ren several times. Yes, having said that, each time, I urgently covered my face and trembled in front of him many times. Is this truly a meaningful behavior? “It’s probably because you shouldn’t show your face to someone of unknown status.” Ironically, even if the status is certain, it might be a more dangerous situation if the village executives, who know her identity less well, find out. At least Ren, considering the life she directly saved and the fact that he decided not to leave, inspired more trust towards Ren than suspicion. “…It’s a secret.” Sharti was afraid of trusting people. It wasn’t because of any memories of betrayal. Guarding against sudden happiness, Sharti, who had been accustomed to enmity and disregard since childhood, found the kindness of people strange and unfamiliar. She didn’t want to believe to avoid getting hurt. “…They won’t cause me pain.” Suddenly, the moment when I held hands with Ren came to mind. Ren’s warm body temperature, his firm grip as if not wanting to let go, confused my heart. While being careful with the absent-minded her, Ren’s embrace was wide and warm, as if to say he could embrace any distrust, hesitation, suspicion, wariness, and anxiety. Ren’s consistently smiling and making an effort to use kind words only in front of her made Sharti feel comfortable. “If someone has to bear my shameful secret, my past that I alone should endure, it would be Ren…” He might get angry on my behalf. With just the imagination, my eyes became teary. Despite knowing it was a futile hope, it was truly bitter and sad. “I’ll be back in just a moment.”
Carefully holding the distracted her, Ren’s embrace felt wide and warm, as if it could encompass any doubt, hesitation, suspicion, wariness, and anxiety. Ren’s consistent behavior of smiling only in front of her and making an effort to speak kindly made Sharti feel comfortable.

“My secret that I can’t openly share, the past that I alone must bear… If it were Ren…”

He might get angry on my behalf.

With just the imagination, her eyes became teary. Despite knowing it was a futile hope, it was truly bitter and sad.

“I’ll be back in just a moment.”

Sharti murmured softly while stroking the end of her gloves.

Coincidentally, beyond the curtain on the desk, the colorful lights from outside were cast. Laughter echoing on the walls was gradually growing louder and more diverse.

“….”

It was an unusual moment. Even with the colorful scene before her eyes, it was a repetitive daily routine where she couldn’t even reach out her hand, and loneliness had become familiar enough to resign herself.

However, there was something clearly different from before.

Without finishing her thoughts, Sharti, who had been taking off her gloves, suddenly stood up from her seat.

“If it’s Ren, he might be waiting for me.”

Unlike before, Sharti was not alone. Even if she chose to be alone, there was someone by her side with a different approach, aside from the cautious and spirited Viretta family.

Unlike the cautiously enthusiastic Viretta family, someone unreserved was by her side now.

“Sha-”

As soon as she opened the door and stepped out, Ren, who had been leaning against the wall, came into view.

Ren was inside the accommodation, waiting specifically for her to open the door and come out.

Unexpectedly, when Sharti opened the door and came out, Ren seemed surprised, loosening his fist and quickly approaching.

Sharti looked at the approaching Ren and weakly smiled, then bit her lips.

[Can you handle it?]

Her answer was still ‘no.’

Sharti felt overwhelmed with just her own emotions. She didn’t have the capacity to handle the feelings of others.

But now, at this moment, something else was ready.

[“I hope I was a person with many shortcomings. A person who continually strives to become better, feeling insufficient compared to her.
[I hope for a person who tells her she is precious and considers her precious.”
“Is it all over? Quickly spread out your hands. Any problems? Are you okay?”

Sharti nodded her head. Then, she lowered it again.

Ren’s expression stiffened as he looked at Sharti’s fidgeting and rambling movements.

“Surely not poison…”

Ren urgently grabbed Sharti’s hand.

Sharti, watching him carefully examine her hand from fingertips to palm, slowly opened her mouth.

“…I wanted to try.”

While Ren was checking her body instead of her seemingly problem-free hand, he raised his gaze with a startled expression.

“Sh- What did you just… say?”
Sharti scrutinized Ren, whose expression seemed surprised as if he heard unexpected words.

“I’m trying to handle it.”

“…Handle?”

Ren’s voice became lower than usual.

It seems Sharti is trying to handle something. With just her words, Ren felt his mouth going dry.

“My futile hope.”

“…?”

It was a moment when Ren’s lips twitched.

Knock, knock.

“Are you there?”

A cheeky tone echoed from beyond the accommodation door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Even the knocking sound seemed lively.

“They say there’s a mercenary magician acquaintance here who tormented our kids.”

“…!”

Is it the guild master?

Among those who might come to find Ren, who assisted Shukadi for the occupation of the workshop, and called magicians ‘kids’ with familiarity, only advanced magicians fit the bill.
In order to find Ren, who assisted in occupying the workshop for location dominance, among those likely to come, the only ones who could be called ‘kids’ among magicians were high-level magicians.

Sharti, attempting to go out on behalf, reached for the doorknob, but Ren was faster.

“Who are you?”

As soon as the knock was heard, Ren, wearing an eye mask, opened the door, revealing a man with long hair and fancy attire.

The man, with numerous rings on his fingers, stopped knocking and took out a scroll from his embrace as soon as Ren emerged from the room.

“We need to check the impression first, so would you mind taking off the mask for now?”

Declaring that he would compare it abruptly to the Montague, the man laughed in front of Ren, who raised his eyebrows in a defiant posture.

“I’ve never taken off the eye mask when bothering someone.”

“Is that so?”

The man, unfazed, lightly flicked his fingers.

Upon that, Ren’s eye mask automatically slid down.

“…!”

As Ren, bewildered, closed his eyes, the man put the scroll into his embrace.

“Bing Dash Go.”

Matapju’s smile deepened as he found the portrait of Leodelt Gwendhil, resembling the man like twins.