The thought of her belly button clock that had been rumbling loudly after missing two meals made her dizzy.
Realizing the cause, embarrassment and shame heated her face.
‘He heard everything!’
Back then, she hadn’t recognized his gaze as one of concern about her meals. She had thought it was a scrutinizing look, monitoring whether she was being careless with her treatment.
Sharti’s face reddened with surprise.
“Sha, take it. Think about your legs that worked so hard today.”
Patricia, who had taken Tein in her arms instead, whispered.
Since yesterday, Sharti had been limping due to overexertion even before the sun set.
While Sharti was examining the injured patients, those around her were also watching her.
‘…Come to think of it, I don’t deserve to receive this.’
It was Sharti who had lured them here, who was the fundamental cause of their danger, who was the reason they were injured.
That’s why she didn’t hesitate to treat the injured patients.
Despite her fear and avoidance of the Neweiton Empire’s soldiers, guilt alone prevented Sharti from avoiding them.
‘But these people don’t know me. Perhaps this is natural between strangers.’
It was pure kindness they could offer because they didn’t know her identity.
Sharti felt a bitterness on her tongue.
She felt miserable at her own inability to trust others’ kindness and accept it genuinely.
‘I won’t see these people again anyway. As long as I don’t get caught and cause trouble for these soldiers, it should be fine, right?’
Sharti glanced at Tristan and the soldiers.
The gloomy atmosphere that had persisted all morning was gone, along with the painful groans that had filled the inn.
Though still showing signs of worry, the soldiers’ expressions were bright.
After deliberation, Sharti firmly embraced the box with both arms.
The light weight of the box felt substantial.
Sharti bowed her head deeply to express her gratitude.
<I’ll prescribe a sleeping medicine. Give it to them early since they need sufficient sleep. Please try not to wake them.>
She also remembered to give Tristan the note she had prepared in advance.
“Since it’s getting dark, let’s go up together.”
“Yes, Sha. The sun has set. I’ve always worried about you climbing the mountain without a torch.”
Patricia tapped Sharti’s arm, saying it was a good thing.
Sharti quickly shook her head.
“I’ll take Tein. The soldiers also said they wanted to express their gratitude.”
Sharti glanced at the box with a troubled face.
‘I was planning to share the meat with Virena before going home.’
She had intended to reciprocate for the bread and fruit jam.
Unable to think of an excuse to refuse, Sharti eventually had to climb the mountain with Tristan.
She climbed diligently, limping.
A sense of fulfillment spread in her chest at the thought of soon being able to feed the man.
‘I’ll go alone from here.’
As soon as the old log cabin came into view, Sharti stopped walking.
She didn’t want to cause anxiety to the man hiding in the house by showing him the soldiers.
“Will you be able to come down to the village tomorrow as well?”
Sharti nodded emphatically at the natural question.
Having received the meat, she intended to fully fulfill her duty as a doctor.
After hearing Sharti’s answer, the soldiers thanked her once more before turning back.
When Tristan disappeared from view, Sharti took a deep breath.
‘Finally, they’re gone.’
Looking up at the sky that had grown dim, Sharti relaxed her shoulders.
Only now could she breathe comfortably.
It had been such a long day. Her muscles were stiff from moving around tensely all day.
‘Huh?’
Just then, Sharti turned her head abruptly.
As she examined the space between the trees and bushes swaying in the wind, Sharti stepped back. For an instant, she felt an unpleasant sensation sticking to her cheek.
A creepy feeling made the mountain atmosphere suddenly seem eerie.
‘Let’s hurry.’
Ignoring the pain in her legs, Sharti ran toward the old log cabin.
Seeing no light in the log cabin, she grew increasingly anxious as she thought of the man.
‘Is he still hiding in the room?’
With growing urgency, Sharti flung open the wooden door.
The house was quiet.
After carefully closing the door, Sharti looked around the house. Still, only silence prevailed with no sign of life.
‘Why isn’t he here? …He must be hiding?’
Trying to calm her racing heart, Sharti listened carefully. When she couldn’t hear even a breath, she grew anxious.
‘Did he run away? Or did he remember something and leave?’
Her heart, which had been pounding with anticipation and anxiety thinking about the man, grew quiet.
Sharti finally opened her bedroom door.
‘…He’s not here.’
The man was still nowhere to be seen. A dejected sigh escaped her.
The box she had carefully carried suddenly felt too heavy.
Rustle.
“…!”
Startled by the sudden noise, Sharti whirled around.
‘The wardrobe?’
She crept toward the wardrobe in the bedroom. Swallowing hard, Sharti slowly opened the wardrobe door.
“……”
Haah. A weak laugh escaped Sharti’s lips.
There was the man, hiding among Sharti’s clothes as if buried in them.
Wearing and covered in a mess of clothes, he was sleeping while leaning against the wardrobe wall.
‘And what’s with the needle?’
In his hand were a needle, thread, and the clothes he had been wearing. It seemed his clothes had torn again while waiting for her.
Sharti’s legs gave way and she crouched down in front of the wardrobe.
‘That startled me.’
Yet Sharti wondered.
Why was she startled? Shouldn’t she feel relieved and unburdened if he had left?
Having been wary of him earlier, now her heart was actually racing with anticipation.
‘No. Even if he leaves, I’d want to feed him first before sending him off.’
Pushing away the random thoughts, Sharti gazed up at the man.
Although he occasionally furrowed his brow as if wandering in dreams, his sleeping habits were gentle. There was no trace of the dangerous first impression in the peacefully sleeping man.
‘See?’
This is why I didn’t want to bring you here.
Sharti frowned and wore a bitter smile.
Despite talking about responsibility, the truth was loneliness.
An orphan abandoned even by blood relatives. A face she couldn’t show to anyone. An empty house.
She had always been alone.
[Sharti, child. Will you live with us?]
She had refused partly because she didn’t want to be a further burden to Vireta, but also because being within a solid family fence felt awkward and shabby.
And so she had continued to be alone.
…Until she met the man who had lost his memory.
Sharti reached out and lightly grasped the hem of his clothes.
Looking at him sleeping, Sharti moved her lips.
‘I’m sorry.’
For being late. And for making you wait…
“Thank you.”
Even after delivering her barely audible words, Sharti couldn’t leave the front of the wardrobe for a long time.
****
Clatter. Clink. The man opened his eyes to the small noises waking him.
Having fallen asleep while crammed into the wardrobe with his large body, he reflexively frowned as he moved his stiff muscles.
The wardrobe door was open.
“…!”
He rushed out of the bedroom urgently.
Turning his head toward the light, he saw a figure cooking in the kitchen.
Light entered his previously gloomy blue-green eyes.
Clatter. His shoulders heaved greatly as he spotted the familiar robe.
His dry lips moved, but he couldn’t bring himself to call her as he stood there blankly.
Just then, Sharti, who was inserting a magic stone into the table lamp, noticed him.
‘Come and sit down.’
A soft light illuminated Sharti as she gestured.
The man walked over as if entranced, his gaze fixed on her, and sat down at the table chair.
“…Why…”
His voice came out low, perhaps because he had been asleep.
The man furrowed his eyebrows and cleared his throat.
<Drink water first.>
Sharti brought out cool water and offered it to the man.
He emptied the glass instantly.
After emptying the water glass three times, the man put it down and looked at Sharti with furrowed brows.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
At his accusatory tone, Sharti tilted her head.
‘Shouldn’t the first question be why I came back so late?’
He seemed to realize his mistake and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
“I mean, well…”
Looking at the man who seemed not fully awake, Sharti turned around again.
Misunderstanding her action, the man stood up abruptly.
“I waited.”
“……”
“But you didn’t come, so I, well…”
Sharti set a bowl in front of him as he trailed off incoherently.
It was a stew full of meat pieces the size of fingernails.
“……”
The man’s eyes didn’t leave the plate, now familiar with the savory smell of herbs.
Gulp. His Adam’s apple moved significantly.
Filled with apologetic feelings, Sharti pushed a note toward him with both hands.
<I should have left some food for you before leaving. I’m sorry. I was in a hurry.>
“Why is there only mine?”
The man pointed out that there was nothing placed at the seat opposite him.
Sharti quickly brought her own plate as well.
But the man still seemed displeased, frowning.
“This is quite different, isn’t it?”
Unlike the man’s stew that was filled with plenty of meat, Sharti’s stew had only carrots for substance.
Sharti ignored his persistent gaze and sat down.
<I don’t like meat.>
“Then I’ll pass too.”
He stubbornly pushed away his plate and crossed his arms.
Wondering if this was the kind of food protest even Tein wouldn’t make, Sharti frowned as well.
She had received the meat despite her embarrassment to feed him. She didn’t want to argue with him and spoil her mood.
Sighing, Sharti wrote firmly on a new note.
<If you’re a patient, eat what you’re given.>
His lips pressed shut tightly.
Sharti glared at the man who was being oddly stubborn.
<You need to eat to recover faster.>
“Look who’s talking.”
The man muttered and gave a small snort.
<I’ll take you outside for a look around when your wounds heal.>
“Should I be going out?”
<The soldiers will soon leave the village. As long as you’re careful around the villagers, there’s no problem with going out.>
His expression wavered at the mention of going outside.
Sharti pushed the bowl toward him again.
<The mountain paths here are rough, so I’ll guide you along the paths I use. Then, you can walk around the mountain without worrying about people’s gazes.>
“…Then can I accompany you?”
“…?”
“Alone would be, well, dangerous.”
The man trailed off with an awkward expression.
Feeling sympathetic toward the man who would be anxious about even going outside, Sharti nodded.
He immediately brightened.
<So eat, please.>
Sharti even scooped up a chunk of meat with her spoon and held it out to him.
Just as she wondered if he would be stubborn again, he promptly ate it.
“…!”
Sharti was surprised, having expected him to say he would eat with his own hands.
To her surprise, the man brazenly opened his mouth again.
After feeding him one more bite in confusion, Sharti put down her spoon when she saw him trying to suppress a smile.
‘You’re teasing me!’
As Sharti quietly huffed, the man finally laughed out loud.
“I just ate what was offered.”
He shrugged nonchalantly and began to eat the stew himself.
Seeing the man filling his hungry stomach with a faint smile, Sharti lost the desire to engage in childish bickering.
She glanced at him and began eating as well.
‘I made plenty, so tomorrow’s meals won’t be a worry.’
Even without meat chunks, the stew boiled with meat was delicious enough.
Although the aftertaste was slightly bitter from the herbs used instead of seasoning, the man’s bowl was quickly emptied.
‘Would you like more?’
When she tapped the table, the man declined.
“I’ll get it myself.”
The man got up and served himself another bowl of stew.
The only chunks were potatoes.
“Eating a balanced diet will help recovery better.”
