Shar-ti, carrying the now hefty basket, headed happily towards the log cabin.

She found mushrooms, fish, and, fortunately, some valuable herbs.

Shar-ti’s cheeks were tinged with a small excitement.

‘I wanted to gather more. Too bad.’

Shar-ti had a habit of unintentionally spending time gathering herbs whenever unexpected harvests occurred.

However, since she was now returning to Ren who was waiting at home, and this time with the clear purpose of obtaining ingredients for his meal, Shar-ti looked forward to the next harvest.

‘Huh?’

As Shar-ti approached the old log cabin, she caught a whiff of a burning smell.

Shar-ti squinted her eyes.

A faint smell of burning mixed in the air.

She tightened her grip on the basket.

‘…It’s okay. There’s no sign of fire anywhere.’

Shar-ti swallowed her dry saliva.

If a fire had broken out around the middle of the mountain cabin, it would have spread rapidly.

Only the fading smell of burning was dispersing in the air, and no signs of visible smoke were present.

‘It must have blown in from somewhere.’

Shar-ti tried to calm her trembling body and suppressed the rising anxiety.

Fortunately, as she got closer to the old log cabin, the smell resembling burning faded away.

‘Is Ren awake?’

As Shar-ti opened the log cabin door, Ren appeared.

Ren, who seemed to have just bathed, had damp hair peeking from under the towel he had draped over his head.

At the moment the cool breeze, which had stolen Shar-ti’s attention from Ren’s moist face, entered, she quickly closed the door.

“Sha.”

Ren quickly shook off the moisture from his hair and approached.

Approaching briskly, Ren took Shar-ti’s basket and placed it on the table.

The moment Shar-ti’s hand touched Ren’s, it was cold.

Ren’s lips stiffened.

Whether to say anything or not, Shar-ti, not getting the expected reaction from Ren, nervously fidgeted her fingers.

‘Does he dislike fish?’

Ren had been frowning since the fish unexpectedly appeared from the basket.

It seemed as if he was in some kind of battle with the fish.

Wondering if there was any aversion, Shar-ti was about to start cleaning the fish when Ren, who had been idly mumbling, suddenly seized the fish.

The grip holding the fish’s body was powerful.

“Did it jump into the water with its body?”

At the small growling question, Shar-ti slightly belatedly raised her head.

Ren raised an eyebrow. It seemed to convey the meaning of how she managed to catch it.

Shar-ti was about to pretend to throw a stone but hesitated.

‘My words have become short again.’

It wasn’t improving much.

But Shar-ti closed her eyes as if she didn’t hear anything.
If the way of speaking changes, surely the address would change too.

“No, it won’t do. Quickly go into the bedroom and warm up your body.”

Ren sternly spoke while tossing the fish into the basket.

As Shar-ti tried to say something, Ren brought a blanket and draped it over her shoulders.

Watching his actions, Shar-ti chuckled silently.

‘Grandma Viretta didn’t even pamper me this much.’

Although Ren seemed to have a rough appearance at first glance, Shar-ti thought he might display an overbearing attitude. However, he had never touched her without her permission.

Instead, he treated Shar-ti gently and cautiously.

‘People will get to know Ren’s good side if they don’t judge solely based on appearances.’

Shar-ti didn’t seem to want to find faults with Ren, who was about to leave soon. Perhaps that was why, a strangely bitter feeling welled up in her heart.

Without realizing it, her wariness towards him disappeared, and she found herself rather regretful about parting ways with him.

Shar-ti smiled, swallowing the bitterness.

“Let’s eat first.”

Her voice was slightly more comfortable than yesterday.

Ren seemed to have felt that too, and his pupils widened for a moment before returning to normal.

“Your body probably hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

“Who made the medicine? I’m fine now.”

As Shar-ti clenched her fist, a hint of a smile appeared on Ren’s lips.

The moment Ren’s expression softened toward Shar-ti seemed slow to her.

It was like watching a statue being breathed life into, a sight that moved her.

“I see. You’re a skilled doctor.”

At the word filled with trust, Shar-ti snapped back to reality.

‘Has the fever gone down?’

It was an unexpected warmth, and Shar-ti turned her body, avoiding his gaze.

“Ren, you should dry your hair first. You’ll be leaving soon, and you shouldn’t catch a cold.”

As she moved to wash the ingredients, the blanket fell.

“Who should worry about catching a cold? …Yo.”

Without giving her a chance to pick it up, Ren quickly approached and draped the blanket over her shoulders again.

It was when Shar-ti hesitated, feeling Ren’s presence right behind her.

“In that case, I’ll help too. …Yo.”

“…!”

“Master.”

The whisper-like words Ren uttered by her ear sent shivers down Shar-ti’s spine.

Suppressing the urge to turn her head abruptly, Shar-ti bit her lip. If she turned around, it seemed like she would expose the flushed face under the hood.