Manmulssang was, as the name suggests, a person who sold all kinds of goods.

Due to the nature of their job traveling all over the country, Manmulssang was not easily encountered. Mountain trips were particularly difficult, so visits to mountain valleys were especially irregular.

Even Sharti had only met Manmulssang earlier this year.

“Oh my, thank you for the water, young lady. I drank it well.”

Manmulssang entered the log cabin, laughing heartily as he put down the water glass.

About the same height as Sharti, Manmulssang had a belly as prominent as the load on his back, a face full of hair on the lower part, and an eye patch on his right eye.

“But are you feeling unwell? You haven’t used any written communication at all today.”

At Manmulssang’s question, Sharti hid an awkward smile under her hood.

With his characteristic perceptiveness, Manmulssang immediately changed the subject.

“Ah, right. About that ointment you made, it’s incredibly popular. As expected, my eye for quality can’t be fooled.”

Manmulssang pulled out a money pouch from his chest.

“So this time, I want to buy quite a lot. I’ve been spreading word about its effectiveness, and quite a few people are asking for it.”

Sharti unknowingly clenched her fist tightly.

As they were not easily met, Manmulssang carried a lot of money and paid well accordingly.

‘How much did Manmulssang pay earlier this year? It must have been over 10 silver coins.’

It was incomparable to home treatments or selling gathered herbs.

Manmulssang was the biggest customer among the people Sharti had met.

‘I could buy more food ingredients or magic stones.’

Sharti’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

As it was an opportunity to sell the medicines she had made so far, Sharti quickly went into the herb room.

Eagerly lifting an armful of goods, Sharti let out an internal scream without taking a single step.

‘Ah, it hurts…’

The aftermath of writhing from hallucinations still lingered in her body, pulling at all her muscles.

Sharti grimaced as she moved her fingers.

She had gripped something so tightly that her fingers were stiff and difficult to move.

‘Of all times, he visits when it’s hard to communicate in writing. Moreover…’

Sharti glanced outside furtively.

She was concerned about Ren hiding in the utility room.

‘…He looked angry.’

Flinging open the bedroom door without knocking was very unlike Ren.

The image of Ren’s face, revealing raw emotions that had finally burst out, lingered in her mind.

Sharti squeezed her eyes shut.

Her heart was still pounding at the memory of the fireball rising from the fireplace.

‘It’s fortunate that Manmulssang came at just the right time.’

As Ren had expected, Sharti was intentionally avoiding conversation with him.

Even if it was a cowardly and unpleasant attitude, she had no choice.

‘Showing symptoms of delusion, having seizures, …and my face was seen.’

How much more would be revealed to him? How many more weaknesses would she show here?

She should have comforted the surprised Ren, but she chose avoidance.

She felt ashamed and afraid.

[The fall of Krianet is still circulating secretly among enthusiasts, I hear. You must be careful, Sha. Nothing related to Krianet should be revealed. You mustn’t give people any reason to associate you with it, even in jest.]

Bireta’s warning echoed like an echo.

Sharti made a sad face.

She couldn’t say anything to him. Even if secrets and weaknesses were revealed, she couldn’t disclose her past.

“…”

Suddenly, the pale yellow flower she had received from him came to mind.

Sharti swallowed the emotion welling up in her chest.

It wasn’t Ren who deserved to be treated like trash. While she had suspected Ren of being a wanted criminal, a sinner, the real sinner was her.

“Young lady, are you not done yet?”

As Manmulssang peeked into the room, Sharti snapped back to attention.

Sharti rubbed her stinging nose and sniffled quietly.

‘Come in.’

Sharti invited Manmulssang into the herb room.

She was embarrassed to show the messy room, but it was better than suffering from muscle pain.

“So this is your workshop…”

Manmulssang’s expression was unsettling as he looked around the disorganized room.

Especially sharp was his gaze as he examined the medicine formulas and the effects written on each medicine bottle.

“Hmm…”

Lost in thought, Manmulssang swallowed hard and wrinkled his large nose.

Sharti watched his reaction with a tense face.

“You said you’ve never attended an academy, right?”

When Sharti nodded, Manmulssang let out a dry laugh.

Sharti swallowed her nervousness at the incomprehensible reaction.

‘Does it show that I’m an unlicensed doctor after all?’

Sharti rubbed her arms.

As she tensed, her muscles ached dully.

“Last time, you know, since we hadn’t been trading for long, I only bought samples to try selling. And well, it was a huge hit.”

“…?”

Manmulssang turned his head sharply and stared intently at Sharti.

His eyes blazed as if he had a treasure before him.

As Sharti stood there blankly, Manmulssang pulled out a money pouch from his chest.

“At first, I sold ordinary headache medicine. Then cold medicine, fever reducers, and sedatives in stages. And would you believe it, the buyers who experienced the effects went to nearby pharmacies asking to buy the same medicine.”

He began taking out 1 silver coin at a time and piling them on the desk.

A sense of elation could be felt in his chuckling voice.

“But! They couldn’t make or obtain medicines with the same effects as yours! Hahaha, how delighted they were to see me visit again.”

The silver coins he had stacked surpassed 10 and were approaching 20.

“Of course, I sold the medicine formulas to pharmacies like hotcakes. I couldn’t sell the actual medicines because I didn’t have enough stock.”

Manmulssang, who had stacked a total of 30 silver coins, laughed, his cheeks jiggling.

The joy and praise in that laughter was palpable.

Manmulssang spread his arms towards the medicines Sharti was about to show.

“I’ll buy all of your medicines, young lady.”

Sharti blinked her eyes.

And she realized the meaning of the 30 silver coins Manmulssang had stacked.

‘He’s giving three times more than last time?’

It made sense to pay three times the price since the quantity was more than last time, but Sharti couldn’t believe it.

‘Even if I sold all of this in the village, I’d be lucky to get 2 silver coins at most.’

To begin with, she found it strange that Manmulssang would be so honest about the sales volume of the medicine and offer to buy it.

Of course, Manmulssang wasn’t doing business at a loss.

The promotion of Sharti’s medicine had already succeeded, and demand was still growing. However, there was a limit to Sharti’s medicine supply, so naturally, the market price of Sharti’s medicine would rise.

So what was needed now was to maintain a friendly relationship with Sharti.

“I’m proposing a long-term deal with you. Preferably on a regular basis.”

“…?”

What difference would that make?

If he wanted exclusive sales rights, Sharti was planning to refuse.

She had sold the medicine formulas hoping that anyone could make the medicine and that more people would use it to avoid getting sick.

Noticing Sharti’s suspicious attitude, Manmulssang laughed good-naturedly.

“I’m not saying I want to monopolize your medicine. Besides the general medicines, I’d like to request the manufacture of medicines that aren’t easily available on the market. Periodically, of course.”

Sharti frowned. Could he be talking about medicines used for illegal purposes?

As Sharti was about to draw a firm line, Manmulssang scratched his plump cheek and said shyly.

“For example, um, can you make a medicine that improves relations between couples?”

“…?”

“Since you’re an adult, you must have heard of it. The bedroom kind, you know.”

“…!”

Belatedly, Sharti’s face turned bright red.

At twenty years old, she was technically an adult and had unintentionally learned some things from the villagers.

She wasn’t entirely clueless about such matters.

What Manmulssang wanted was a medicine to increase stamina.

‘I can’t do that!’

Sharti shook her hands and head quickly.

At her intense reaction, Manmulssang took out one more silver coin.

“This is in high demand, but none of the medicines currently on the market have all three aspects: safety, duration, and effectiveness. With your manufacturing skills, it’s guaranteed!”

Manmulssang tried to persuade her with embarrassingly strong confidence.

Pleased to have her skills recognized, Sharti nevertheless refused desperately.

“Well, since you’re unmarried…”

Faced with Sharti’s unyielding resolve, Manmulssang clicked his tongue in disappointment.

But he still paid the 30 silver coins.

“How about making a nutritional supplement that’s good for skin beauty? Something that’s good for moisturizing too, or that women would use often. You can make it as a trial.”

Cooling the heat in her face, Sharti nodded slightly.

She already had a skin ointment that she made for Birena every time.

’30 silver coins. No need to worry about material costs.’

As Sharti responded positively, Manmulssang became excited.

Skin ointments using herbs as the main ingredient would be popular among women who use harsh cosmetics. Especially among nobles rather than commoners.

These days, Manmulssang was also popular in noble households, so it was a good opportunity.

The high price he paid Sharti was nothing compared to the profits he would make in the future.

“I might come back a bit sooner next time. These sell so quickly.”

Manmulssang laughed as he left the room with his bag stuffed full.

Showing satisfaction, Manmulssang suddenly let out a small exclamation.

“You might not know since you’re always in the mountains, but the atmosphere in the Empire is ominous these days. We need to earn while we can.”

“…?”

As always before leaving, he shared various pieces of gossip with her, and today it was about the grim rumors circulating within the Empire.

Manmulssang looked around unnecessarily and whispered softly.

“They say that Duke Gwendhill, who was returning after ending the war, was caught plotting treason.”

“…!”

Sharti’s face turned pale at the unexpected subject of the rumor.

She thought she heard, like an auditory hallucination, the low, monotonous voice that had echoed through the pitch-dark Krianet palace five years ago.

“Gossipmongers say that the Duke’s treasonous plan was revealed as he was about to attend the homecoming ceremony, and the Duke was executed along with the rebellious group. They say His Majesty the Emperor, worried about the chaos it would cause in the Empire, wants to keep the Duke’s death quiet for a while.”

Sharti swallowed hard.

It was too heavy and distant a story for her.

‘Treason… A person of such high rank as a Duke?’

Above all, wasn’t the Duke a close associate of the current Newton Emperor?

Perhaps their amicable relationship was just for show?

Sharti quickly shook off her idle thoughts.

‘There’s no need to be concerned.’

Whether the Duke of the Newton Empire committed treason, disappeared, or died, it was of no consequence to her.

Perhaps she should be glad. After all, he was the one who had ordered her to burn down the Krianet palace with her.

Yet strangely, she felt a lump in her throat.

“Oh, by the way, young lady, have you ever thought about marriage?”

Sharti blinked rapidly at the sudden question.

When the flustered Sharti didn’t answer immediately, Manmulssang’s eyes lit up, expecting a positive response.

“The world is harsh these days, and living alone in the mountains like this must be difficult and scary, right?”

“…”

“Especially since this mountain is famous for its many wild beasts. It’s too dangerous for a woman to live alone.”

Sharti’s eyes narrowed.

“If you want, I could introduce you to a man.”

“…”

It seemed Manmulssang was moonlighting as a matchmaker these days.

Although Manmulssang seemed to have no ill intentions, it was an overreach.

Sharti shook her head firmly, as if she didn’t need to hear any more.

“If it’s because of your face, don’t worry. There are many men with unique tastes, so I can…”

Living with a hidden face seemed to be a unique taste for some.

Just as Sharti was about to express her displeasure, it happened.

“Not interested.”

The door flung open and Ren came out of the room.

Sharti turned around in surprise to look at Ren.

‘A towel?’

Ren had a towel draped over his head, covering his face.

Then Sharti’s gaze slowly moved downward.

‘Why is he shirtless?’

He was wearing the pants she had made for him, but nothing on top.

Ren shook the towel briefly as if shaking off water and took a big step forward.

As the suddenly appearing large figure approached, Manmulssang’s cheeks trembled. Though his face wasn’t visible, Manmulssang, intimidated by Ren’s angry muscles, hugged his bag tightly.

“Not needed.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Right?”

Ren turned his head sharply to call Sharti.

Sharti reflexively flinched at the flashing blue-green eyes.

“Do you need two men? Am I not enough?”

“…?”

For a moment, Sharti’s thoughts froze at his question.

As she mulled over his words, Sharti suddenly came to her senses.

Wasn’t that a statement full of potential misunderstanding?

“Oh, oh my, you have a husband!”

“…?”

“…!”

“I heard you were unmarried last time… Are you newlyweds?”

Apologizing profusely while bowing repeatedly, Manmulssang didn’t notice that Sharti and Ren in front of him looked dumbfounded.

The expressions of the two, hidden by the hood and towel, were changing moment by moment.

“I’ve never seen your husband before, so I misspoke. I apologize, young lady. No, madam.”

“…”

“Ahem…”

Belatedly coming to their senses, Sharti and Ren’s faces turned bright red.

Unlike Sharti, who was speechless with disbelief, Ren quickly regained his composure after a brief moment of embarrassment.

Husband, he thought. It was quite a nice title compared to runaway slave.