Sharati walked with a thumping sound.

Until a moment ago, her head had been complicated, but as the heat slightly dissipated, she felt a bit dazed.

‘…I received a confession.’

It was an entirely unrealistic event, but she received a confession.

Moreover, it was from a completely unexpected person.

[This is not coercion or forcing. I just wanted to seize even the tiniest opportunity…]

Ashu knew Sharati as someone with a dreadful voice, body burn scars, and a doctor who hides her face with a hood, living in seclusion.

Nevertheless, Ashu confessed courageously that he liked her even though he had never seen her face.

‘It felt like a lie because it was too surprising.’

Why did Ashu, who is the village chief’s son and meets all the criteria for Biréna’s ideal type, harbor feelings for a woman whose face he has never seen?

It was a confession that raised more questions than answers.

[May I continue liking you, Doctor?]

However, the bright red face and trembling voice were not a poorly made joke, a pointless prank, or words thrown like a challenge.

Without mentioning when he started liking her, why he started liking her, Ashu’s sincerity that he liked Sharati came across strongly and clearly.

‘He… likes me…’

Having received an unimaginable confession from someone who had never appeared in her dreams, Sharati was still bewildered.

While looking at Ashu, who had gathered all his courage and was trembling, the excited feeling and fluttering heart still beat faintly.

[Thank you.]

It wasn’t just confusion at the sudden confession.

It was the first confession she had ever heard. Rather than being embarrassed, she felt happy and awkward, yet excited.

If Ashu, who was timid but always kind, had not been excited by the confession, it would have been a lie.

However, Sharati couldn’t afford to give any opportunity or space for Ashu’s feelings.

Someone had already taken a place in her mind and heart.

Although Ashu’s confession may have been quick, the one who expressed his feelings first was someone else.

[And… I’m sorry.]

Sharati had neither the space nor the leeway to accept Ashu’s feelings.

Someone else had already taken a place in her mind and heart.

The confession may have been quick for Ashu, but the one who expressed his feelings first was someone else.

[Is there someone else you’ve put in your heart?]

Ashu seemed to have noticed as well and showed a calm smile.

After that, there was a long period of silence.

As if trying to hide the poignant smile, Ashu lowered his gaze, and with the last bit of courage, he spoke.

[Can I, despite my efforts, never enter your heart, Teacher?]

At that moment, Sharati couldn’t say a word.

The problem was that her heart didn’t move as she wished. However, she didn’t want to leave any room for Ashu with an uncertain answer.

Vain hope. Sharati knew well how sweet and cruel it could be.

[Because the presence of the person who entered my heart is too significant, even if that person disappears someday, there won’t be room for someone else in my heart.]

Too many memories with Ren were engraved in this narrow heart.
Ren gave too much, and the time spent with him was too precious. Even if Ren were to leave someday, memories would not be overshadowed by anything else.

[I can only handle this one heart that holds that person.]

Ashu’s confession was too much for Sharati.

She felt sorry and awkward for not being able to accept his kind heart.

‘…I should have answered more carefully.’

Sharati glanced at the bouquet of a hundred flowers held in her arms and swallowed a sigh.

She couldn’t accept the bouquet, intending to return it because it was too impudent.

[Please reject only my feelings. Flowers are a separate expression of gratitude from the heart.]

Ashu smiled as always.

It would have been better if he had refused Ashu’s feelings as kindly as his considerate demeanor.

If she had chosen a way to refuse more tactfully, perhaps Ashu’s bitter smile at the end might have been a bit different.

‘Did he really need to reject in front of the children, considering Ashu’s dignity?’

Children were sensitive to adults’ emotions. As if promising not to interfere with the important moment for Ashu, the children didn’t interfere with each other, surrounding Ashu and comforting him when Sharati finally rejected his feelings.

Thanks to that, Ashu left, surrounded by children, without giving room for gloominess.

‘By the way, I might have to leave tomorrow.’

Coincidentally, right after resolving the troubling matters, Brendd Hujak, the former doctor and Bryden’s lord, returned.

Fortunately, he received a pledge in return and even created an antidote for the bright red poisonous weed, so now Sharati had practically finished everything she could do in the Sepia Village.

“It would be better to leave before various things are said.”

Due to the awkward atmosphere caused by Ashu’s unexpected confession on the village road, quite a few residents felt embarrassed. Ashu, who was always cautious and shy, confessing openly on the village road meant that he was nervous.