Sharti widened her steps and quickened her pace.

“Anyway, be careful what you say in the village. Surveillance was strict even when I was alone, but if I bring Ren along, they’ll surely seize on even the smallest flaw.”

Having been through quite a lot, Sharti emphasized repeatedly.

She couldn’t even catch her breath or take a sip of water easily.

The atmosphere in Ashu’s village felt so heavy with rejection that it was palpable in the air.

Ren, who had been staring blankly at Sharti, hurried to catch up with her.

“At this rate, they might not believe I’m your assistant.”

Sharti immediately glared at Ren. Her eyes said she hadn’t wanted to bring him along for this very reason, and Ren pretended not to notice.

Sharti sighed.

“It can’t be helped. Because Ren suddenly jumped in, I’ve already introduced you as my assistant.”

Sharti felt just as helpless.

It was fine to introduce him as an assistant when just greeting people, but once the treatment started, Ren’s ignorance would be glaringly obvious.

“I did get a crash course from the little doctor.”

Ren had indeed received a crash course on an assistant’s duties and demeanor from Tein before departing.

It was due to his pride.

He had been introduced to Ashu as an assistant, and he didn’t want to appear incompetent by failing to assist Sharti in front of him.

“I’ll handle things as much as I can on my own, so don’t worry, Ren. Since it was originally a job I did alone, your assistance might actually look more awkward.”

“Then they’ll be even more suspicious. Last time you came alone, and you managed well by yourself then too, so why bring a useless assistant along this time?”

Sharti swallowed a groan.

“Then I’ll have to use the same excuse as last time. That I took in a runaway slave, and now I’m bringing Ren along as an assistant to protect his status.”

It was a useful excuse.

Even if it seemed suspicious, there was no way to verify it immediately, so if they played it right, they could get away with it.

‘Then Ren’s clumsy actions won’t raise too much suspicion either.’

Meanwhile, Ren looked at Sharti with a thoughtful expression.

If becoming a runaway slave would help Sharti, he could kneel before her as a slave without hesitation.

That was something he could accept naturally, regardless of pride or anything else.

However, Ashu still bothered him.

[An assistant?]

He didn’t know why that man bothered him so much, but in any case, Ren found Ashu irritating.

He disliked everything from Ashu’s sidelong glances at him to the way his eyes sparkled when looking at Sharti.

Ren frowned and cracked his neck from side to side, loosening his muscles.

“…There’s another way. A more natural setup that would necessitate bringing an assistant.”

“What is it?”

As Sharti looked at him, the surrounding mist dispersed in the wind.

In the situation where they could see each other more clearly, Ren took Sharti’s hand.

“…!”

Sharti was startled, but Ren pulled her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.

Sharti drew in a sharp breath as Ren’s breath clung to the back of her hand.

“We can make them assume the same thing the general store owner did last time.”

“W-What?”

Her mind, which had momentarily frozen, stumbled as it traced back through her memories.

Recalling the general store owner’s assumption, Sharti’s face turned bright red.

Ren glanced at Sharti’s reddened fingertips.

A tickling sensation spread from his solar plexus to his chest.

“W-What nonsense are you…”

Sharti immediately pulled her hand away, her voice cracking.

Unlike the flustered Sharti, Ren stared at her intently, as if he didn’t understand.

Sharti took deep breaths to find her inner calm.

“I’ve already introduced you as my assistant to the village chief’s son. Who would introduce their husband as just an assistant?”

“Couldn’t we say you were flustered at the time, or that you hired me as an assistant but we’ve recently become involved?”

It was a complete stretch.

Sharti narrowed her eyes and glanced at Ren.

‘Surely he doesn’t think that would work?’

And he had called it a natural setup.

Sharti shook her head firmly.

“It absolutely won’t work. No one will fall for it. The general store owner said that on purpose because he had ulterior motives. Who would see Ren and me that way?”

“…”

Ren raised one eyebrow.

It was the opposite of the rejection he had expected, but her outright denial left him feeling quite disgruntled.

“…Right. I was just throwing it out there.”

Ren turned his head away.

He had really just meant it as a suggestion, but now that he felt upset, he looked sulky.

Sharti glanced at Ren and rubbed the back of her hand where he had held it.

‘Did I react too strongly?’

But husband and wife? Who would see Ren, who looked perfectly normal, and her, looking like this, as a couple?

Sharti bit her lip.

“But in this state, no matter what relationship we claim or what identity I take on, no one will believe us.”

“…?”

“Think about it. Whether assistant or slave, who would treat someone like this?”

Ren looked at Sharti with serious eyes.

If they couldn’t go with the couple setup, they at least needed to close the distance between them. He needed to show that he himself was closer to Sharti than the village chief’s faraway son.

His blue-green eyes shone with determination.

“Sha, you need to treat me roughly.”

“What?”

Despite Sharti’s bewildered response, Ren nodded, unperturbed.

“First, it should look natural for you to be waited on. As my master, you shouldn’t find it difficult to order people around. Even when communicating through writing, you need to be careful with every gesture, every subtle glance. Sha, you need to see me as a slave before those villagers do.”

“That’s…”

“You can never change it just by thinking about it.”

This time, Ren shook his head firmly.

“I’ll try my best starting now.”

Sharti answered, reflexively clenching her fist.

But Ren stopped completely and stared at Sharti.

“More than effort, we need practice. Starting now.”

“…How exactly?”

Ren crossed his arms and pretended to ponder, swallowing.

In response, Sharti also tensed up and racked her brains.

“First-.”

Checking Sharti’s reaction, Ren cleared his throat and began.

“You should start by speaking informally to me.”

“…?”

“Speak informally to me from now on, Sha.”

Sharti tilted her head and blinked.

‘What does that matter?’

She won’t be able to make a sound in the village anyway.

Speaking informally is enough through written communication, so why start now?

Sharti looked at Ren with incredulous eyes.

To achieve his goal, Ren put on a shameless face and shook his head with a calm expression.

“You don’t understand. Just speaking informally itself is practice in narrowing the distance between us.”

“…”

“It feels much more comfortable. As it did for me.”

When Sharti hesitated, Ren walked ahead, leaving her behind.

Belatedly, Sharti followed him.

“I’ll speak more formally too. So I don’t slip up and cause you trouble, Sha.”

“…”

Ren’s resolve, as he spoke while staring straight ahead, was very firm and gentle.

Sharti rubbed her sleeve.

‘Speak informally, he says. Of course, it’s not a difficult thing, but will it really change how I treat him?’

Sharti was skeptical.

Already feeling awkward, Sharti hesitated.

“If you have no objections, then let’s practice starting now.”

“What? …Eek!”

Suddenly turning around, Ren scooped Sharti up into his arms.

Finding herself suddenly airborne, Sharti yelped and clung to Ren’s neck.

“Ren!”

Sharti glared at Ren from under her hood, as he had acted without warning for the second day in a row.

Looking at her, Ren raised the corners of his mouth.

“Yes, master.”

“…!”

Sharti pressed her lips tightly together.

Seeing that Sharti was still not used to the “master” title, Ren swallowed a laugh.

As his Adam’s apple bobbed, Sharti punched his shoulder. This only made his Adam’s apple move even more noticeably.

“I’ll carry you like this.”

“I’m wide awake now. I can walk on my own. I’ll walk quickly.”

“I only listen to my master’s words.”

It meant he wouldn’t listen or treat her as master unless she spoke informally.

Sharti swallowed a sigh.

With Ren being like this, there was no point in continuing to argue.

‘If I don’t say a word, Ren will put me down first.’

Actually, speaking informally to Ren wasn’t that difficult.

It was just uncomfortable to feel closer to him, as he had confidently predicted.

‘Even at this distance, my heart is fluttering.’

Sharti pressed down on her chest area.

The unfamiliar sensation of tingling, then stinging, then buzzing was uncomfortable.

Quietly nestled in his arms, Sharti glanced up at Ren.

‘Ren doesn’t seem to be thinking much of it though.’

Sharti carefully studied Ren’s features.

Unlike her, Ren wasn’t wearing a hood, so his deep, distinct eyes and lips, and his straight, high nose bridge were clearly visible.

His bangs, touching his eyelids, slightly obscured his blue-green eyes as they flickered.

“My cheek itches, master.”

“…!”

The moment their eyes met, Sharti squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her head.

This time, Ren let out a small chuckle.

Caught peeking, her face burned hot.

‘I didn’t hear anything. I’m not thinking anything!’

Desperately avoiding him, Sharti shut her eyes and ears.

Then, as fatigue washed over her, Sharti instantly fell into sleep.

“…”

Hearing her soft, regular breathing, Ren carefully held her more tightly in his arms.

To ensure she could sleep as comfortably as possible, Ren moved quickly, careful not to jostle her.

As much as he wanted to go as slowly as possible, he didn’t want her to arrive late at Ashu’s village and face criticism from others.

Ren ran without making a sound, as if melting into the mist.

As time passed, Sharti, awakened by the sound of insects, stirred in Ren’s arms.

‘Uh…’

Rubbing her eyes still heavy with sleep, Sharti moved her stiff body this way and that.

Perhaps because she was still drunk with sleep? The surroundings were pitch black.

Everywhere she looked, there was only darkness.

“…Ren?”

“Are you awake?”

At Ren’s calm voice, Sharti came to her senses.

Confirming that she was still cradled in Ren’s strong arms, Sharti hurriedly raised her upper body.

“D-Don’t tell me you’ve been walking this whole time?”

“Ah. I was running until just now, but I slowed down when I thought you were waking up.”

“It’s night!”

Sharti was shocked.

Ren had been calmly walking all this time through the mountains where there wasn’t a speck of light.

No matter how good his night vision was, wasn’t this a matter of stamina?

“P-Put me down! Have you had any water? No, have you rested at all? Ren! Put me down right now.”

“…”

Though Sharti struggled, telling him to stop, Ren just glanced at her and kept walking, staring straight ahead.

Then, remembering what Ren had said earlier, Sharti let out an exasperated sigh.

‘S-Stubborn fool! This obstinate mule!’

Sharti widened her eyes and raised both hands.

“Ren-!”

Sharti grabbed both his cheeks with a sound like “zzzak-“.

Surprised, Ren stopped, and Sharti took a deep breath.

“Put me down! Right now!”

Ren blinked and obediently set Sharti down on the ground.

Having been put down so easily, Sharti continued to hold Ren’s cheeks and looked up at him.

‘Your face is cold.’

Usually, his body temperature was high, but now he was even colder than Sharti.

Yet Sharti’s own body temperature had risen. It was evidence that she had been comfortably and warmly sleeping in his arms until now.

Feeling upset, Sharti tensed her eyes.

“Stay still.”

Strangely quiet, Ren nodded obediently.

As his body heat transferred, a flush appeared on Ren’s cheeks, and Sharti let go of his face.

As Sharti busily moved to make a bed, Ren, who had been standing still, immediately reacted.

“This is my job to do.”

“…Alright.”

Knowing Ren’s stubbornness, Sharti reluctantly let go.

Ren instantly laid out a blanket and made a bed.

“Hold this in your hands first.”

Sharti gave Ren a magic stone to use as a hand warmer.

But the ridiculously small hand warmer was hardly enough to warm Ren’s ice-cold body.

“…Come over here, this way.”

Sharti quickly sat Ren down beside her and covered them both with the blanket he had taken out.

However, due to Ren’s large build, the blanket was awkwardly short. Even with two blankets overlapped, sitting shoulder to shoulder, it was still too short. It wasn’t enough to warm their bodies.

After trying to adjust the blanket this way and that, Sharti became determined and stood up abruptly.

“Sha?”

Sharti first covered Ren with the thickest blanket.

Then she wrapped the remaining blanket around her own body.

“I’m telling you in advance… don’t be surprised.”

Belatedly embarrassed, Sharti muttered and fidgeted.

Seeing her hesitate and struggle before taking action, Ren raised an eyebrow.

“Sha, no, master. You’ll catch a cold if you stay like that. Sit down. I’m fine, so you should use this blanket too.”

Worried about Sharti standing alone, Ren moved to give the thick blanket to her.

Finally, Sharti moved, her patience wearing thin.

“…!”

Sharti sat down with her back against Ren’s chest, leaning into his embrace.

Taken aback, Ren’s heart skipped a beat, and his thoughts came to a halt.

Meanwhile, Sharti wriggled her bottom between Ren’s legs, pressing close to him.

“…”

“D-Don’t be surprised, I said.”

Only then did Ren creak his neck to look down at Sharti in his arms.

Though wrapped tightly in her robe, Ren could tell Sharti was tense.

“Just for today, just this once!”

As Sharti hugged her knees and shouted, Ren came to his senses.

Ren quietly draped the blanket over their shoulders again and snuggled a little closer to Sharti.

“…Alright.”

Ren wrapped his arms around Sharti from behind, protecting her from the cold wind.

The awkward atmosphere gradually subsided as a warm heat began to rise.

Sharti looked at Ren’s interlocked hands in front of her and lightly hit his forearm.

“What were you thinking, risking catching a cold?”

“This much won’t make me sick.”

Their speech had returned to normal, but neither of them paid attention to it.

Sharti let out a deep sigh of frustration.

She couldn’t see his face since her back was to him, but she could picture his nonchalant expression even with her eyes closed.

“There are other things to be stubborn about. This is reckless.”

“I learned from my master, it seems.”

It was a cheeky retort.

Sharti fell silent, at a loss for words.

Once the chill had mostly left Ren’s body, Sharti took out some dried sweet potatoes and they shared them.

“Today, let’s set a different condition. No, let’s set.”

Sharti said she couldn’t offer her lap as a pillow like before, and Ren nodded readily.

If he insisted any further here, he was likely to face pushback from Sharti.

“I’d like to hear a story.”

Ren wanted to hear about Sharti’s experiences from her medical trips, and Sharti was fine with anything as long as it wasn’t using her lap as a pillow.

Feeling Ren’s gaze on the back of her head, Sharti slowly opened her mouth.

“On a snowy day, I set out on my first medical trip-”

As Sharti unfolded her stories, the night deepened.

[This is the timeline separator]

Saving every moment of rest, they crossed large and small mountain peaks, finally reaching their destination.

Sharti and Ren stood before a village surrounded by walls made of logs.

“It’s like a fortress.”