Sharti rubbed her cheek.
The sound of her startled heartbeat was still pounding in her ears.
‘The hood wasn’t removed and there were no signs of it being touched.’
Upon entering the bedroom, the first thing she checked was her hood and robe, which weren’t particularly disheveled.
Of course, she momentarily feared that Ren might have secretly examined her while she was asleep, but if he had touched her, she would have woken up immediately.
Due to the trauma from five years ago when she was dragged to the Krianet Palace, Sharti would still snap awake whenever someone made contact with her, even from deep sleep.
‘Besides, he also massaged my leg muscles.’
Her upper body felt a bit stiff, but strangely, her legs felt light after his massage.
‘When Ren offered to massage me, I was so shocked I only thought about refusing.’
Ren’s massage, which he began while carefully observing Sharti’s reactions, was careful and thorough.
When he diligently worked out her muscles, it was only natural that her tired mind quickly fell into sleep.
His decision not to wake her after she fell asleep on the sofa was also a kind gesture.
‘I should have left a thank you note too.’
The note she had left in the kitchen only mentioned that she had prepared plenty of meat soup for him to eat.
Sharti felt ashamed as she belatedly realized her gratitude.
‘I’ll try to return early today.’
She also worried about Ren eating alone. Doesn’t one’s appetite decrease when eating alone?
Since she had gone through the trouble of obtaining meat, she hoped Ren would enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal.
Sharti hastened her steps to ensure an early return.
‘First, I need to visit the herb shop.’
Upon arriving in the village, Sharti went to the herb shop to sell the herbs she had collected in the mountains the previous night.
The payment for the basket full of herbs was only 20 bronze.
“Good job.”
In a mountain village, the valuation for herbs and wild vegetables was relatively modest.
The shopkeeper said he was being generous because she had brought many rare herbs.
“Haven’t you made more of the ointment you used to treat the soldiers yesterday?”
<I didn’t have enough time to make extra for sale.>
She only had enough ointment to give separately to the soldiers.
The herb shop owner clicked his tongue in disappointment, as he had planned to sell Sharti’s ointment to the soldiers.
<Let me know if you need any herbs. I’ll look for them.>
With 20 bronze in hand, Sharti headed to the clothing store.
When she approached the clothing store she had always passed by, the owner happily opened the door for her.
Upon awkwardly entering the shop, she saw the clothes on display.
‘The size…’
All the visible clothes were too small for Ren to wear.
‘…5 silver for one pair of pants?’
Sharti’s mouth fell open when she checked the price tag.
She hesitantly checked other clothes as well.
There was a variety of price ranges, but she couldn’t find any clothes in her affordable range.
“The clothes that arrived this time are waterproof and don’t tear easily. Perfect for living in the mountains.”
Since it was early and there were no other customers, the clothing store owner approached her.
Then, noticing that Sharti was only looking at men’s clothing, the owner showed a surprised expression.
“Why, are you buying a gift for someone?”
Everyone in the village recognized the doctor who wore a robe with a hood covering her face.
It was also no secret that Sharti lived alone in an old log cabin in the mountains.
<I want to buy a few sets for patients.>
Sharti wasn’t flustered and offered her prepared excuse.
The shop owner, who had been gazing curiously with sparkling eyes, nodded with a somewhat disappointed expression.
“Then choose from those clothes over there. They’re well-ventilated and thin, which is good.”
The clothes he recommended were thin and inexpensive indoor clothes.
If Ren only stayed inside as he did now, they would be suitable.
However, he couldn’t wear indoor clothes forever. Since the soldiers would soon leave the village, she needed to purchase clothes for Ren’s eventual outings.
<Do you have fabric? Something thicker.>
Given her financial situation, she gave up on ready-made clothes.
Instead, Sharti bought thick fabric suitable for the chilly weather.
‘With this, I can make a top and bottom, one set. And I’ll need to remove the buttons.’
Recalling the buttons that kept popping off Ren’s chest, Sharti chuckled.
What was the use of being depressed? She decided to think positively.
In reality, Sharti’s daily routine was already tight with collecting herbs in the mountains and making ointments. She didn’t have time for sewing.
‘I’ll just have to be a little more diligent, sleep a little less.’
Sharti felt motivated at the thought of making clothes for Ren as a token of appreciation for his massage.
With the thick fabric in her arms, Sharti left the clothing store and went straight to pick up Tein.
“Doctor!”
She coincidentally ran into Tein, who was heading to the inn.
“I’ll help you again today, doctor!”
Tein exclaimed energetically.
Sharti amicably held Tein’s hand and as soon as they arrived at the inn, they encountered Tristan.
“You came early.”
With dark circles under his eyes from organizing search parties with the soldiers throughout the dawn without proper sleep, Tristan looked tired.
Fortunately, his expression was bright.
<Did you use only the amount of painkillers I gave you?>
“Yes. I instructed them to use it only for soldiers complaining of excessive pain and to endure as much as possible otherwise.”
He added that he was surprised by the immediate effect of the sleeping medicine Sharti had prepared.
Sharti instinctively thought of Ren at Tristan’s words.
‘Ren had developed a tolerance, so it didn’t work well on him.’
Consciously trying to shake off the recurring thoughts of Ren, she focused on Tristan’s words.
As they climbed the stairs, following the familiar scent of herbs, the soldiers recognized Sharti and Tein and greeted them.
Tein, wiggling his cheekbones, went around to check on the injured soldiers before Sharti did.
“Does it hurt when I press here?”
“Ugh, I only have feeling up to my palm.”
<That’s because the cut was stitched. The medicine is working, so don’t try to move your fingers forcefully.>
Tein asked questions, and Sharti carefully gave prescriptions accordingly.
Most of the injured soldiers were improving.
‘Hmm, I definitely have more time than yesterday.’
The time spent rushing back and forth had decreased.
The mental burden was also lessened.
<I brought extra ointment that I gave you yesterday. Apply it three times a day – morning, noon, and evening.>
“Understood!”
The soldiers willingly accepted, as the effectiveness of Sharti’s ointment had already been proven.
While changing bandages for the soldiers and giving new prescriptions:
“Doctor! It’s time.”
“…?”
Following Tein, who was poking her arm, Sharti moved to see a solitary chair placed on the first floor of the inn.
“From now on, you need to sit here and rest. That soldier over there approved it too.”
Tein grinned and pointed at Tristan.
Sharti sat in the chair, hiding her awkward smile.
Thanks to Ren’s leg massage, she didn’t really need to rest, but Sharti obediently sat down.
If she worried Tein, Vireta might follow Virena’s example and visit her old log cabin out of concern.
“Then I’ll go check on the soldier misters! The soldier misters can’t wrap bandages as well as I can.”
Tein beamed continuously at the thought of demonstrating his skills, which he hadn’t had the chance to show off before.
As Sharti watched Tein climbing the stairs, Tristan approached her.
“Doctor. How many of them are capable of moving around?”
Sharti immediately understood what he meant.
‘He wants to leave.’
However, Sharti frowned.
<Most of them can manage daily activities. But less than half of them can immediately travel down the rugged mountain trail.>
“I see.”
Not differing from his expectations, Tristan smiled with furrowed brows.
“I shouldn’t have brought such inexperienced young men.”
It was a bitter lament.
Tristan was lost in thought for a moment.
“Doctor. We plan to leave the village at dawn tomorrow.”
Contrary to his words, Tristan’s eyes showed that he wanted to leave right away.
After swallowing a short sigh, he looked at Sharti.
“Could you please take care of the soldiers who remain behind?”
Sharti nodded, and the relieved Tristan’s facial muscles relaxed.
After expressing his gratitude, Tristan was about to leave but turned back to Sharti.
“Since you’re staying in the mountains, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about a recent rumor.”
Rumor?
Naturally, Sharti was out of touch with rumors.
The only recent rumor she had heard was that the Grand Duke of the Neweiton Empire would return after ending a long war.
Seeing Sharti’s reaction, Tristan’s lips moved slightly.
Though he seemed to be deliberating whether it was appropriate to tell her, he eventually spoke.
“There’s a deserter on the run who allegedly killed dozens of our men before fleeing.”
“…!”
Sharti’s heart began to beat ominously.
‘…Ren.’
When Sharti first met Ren and treated his wounds, she had made various speculations about his identity.
Among them, of course, was the possibility that he was a soldier.
Sharti’s complexion grew increasingly pale, but Tristan couldn’t notice due to her hood.
“It’s not a confirmed rumor, but usually when such rumors spread, it creates a sense of fear, so checkpoints will be strengthened and searches will begin soon.”
It meant that soldiers might revisit after securing the mountain village, this time to control rumors.
Sharti’s expression showed dismay.
However, if the rumor about a deserter who had killed dozens of allies was true, the soldiers’ protection was indeed desperately needed.
“I heard that you live alone in the mountains, doctor. If you see anyone whose identity is uncertain, please report it immediately. They might demand valuables or threaten you for shelter.”
Sharti swallowed dryly.
‘I’m already sheltering an amnesiac patient…’
Moreover, when they first met, Ren was covered in terrible wounds.
Countless sword cuts. Large burn marks as if caught in a magic explosion. Old scars embedded in his body.
And hadn’t he pointed a sword at her, eyes as ferocious as a beast, at the slightest sense of her presence?
The more she pondered, the more her suspicions grew, so she stopped thinking about it.
Sharti pretended not to know and nodded.
“Of course, rumors tend to be exaggerated as they spread from mouth to mouth, so you shouldn’t worry too much, but…”
Tristan, who had briefly closed his mouth, added one more word at the end.
“—Be careful.”
After Tristan left, Sharti, now alone, rubbed her arm with an uneasy feeling.
‘Should I tell him about that rumor?’
Ignoring it felt unsettling, but sharing it seemed like it would only create anxiety.
‘Come to think of it, I felt something strange in the mountains yesterday.’
To be precise, it was the unpleasant sensation of being watched by someone.
Sharti clenched her trembling fingertips.
Whoosh-. At the ominous sound, Sharti stared out the window.
The outside wind was getting increasingly fierce.
She had a bad feeling.
‘This won’t do. I need to move now!’
Setting aside her growing anxiety and worry, Sharti focused on treating the injured soldiers.
She was also able to have lunch on time since she needed to feed Tein.
“Doctor.”
Tein, who was poking a nutritious mushroom with his fork, called Sharti, who was sitting next to him, in a small voice.
<What? Don’t you like mushrooms?>
Thinking that he might be trying to hide his picky eating by whispering, Sharti laughed inwardly.
However, contrary to her expectations, Tein popped the mushroom into his mouth and chewed while glancing at her.
“We need to hide the patient mister.”
“…?”
Not understanding what Tein muttered, Sharti tilted her head.
Tein then looked around vigilantly.
“I’ve been discovered!”
Even more confused by these words, Sharti blinked.
‘Is he talking about the soldiers? No, he referred to them as “soldier misters.”‘
Amidst her confusion, Ren’s words from the previous night crossed her mind.
[During the day, he came. He said he brought cookies.]
Sharti swallowed a small sigh.
Thinking back, since treating Ren in the cave, Tein’s “patient mister” had exclusively referred to Ren.
Sharti rubbed Tein’s cheek.
‘With so many injured soldiers, he must be worried about Ren.’
He was a thoughtful and kind-hearted child.
<It’s okay. The patient mister is well hidden.>
“Umm…”
Tein, who seemed to have more to say as he rolled his eyes here and there, reluctantly nodded.
Then he clenched his small fist.
“I’m on your side, doctor!”
Finding Tein’s resolute expression adorable, Sharti hugged him tightly.
Afterwards, Tein, who continued to mutter about the patient mister, quickly finished his meal.
Time passed mercilessly.
Late afternoon. Patricia, who had gone outside and returned, shivered.
“It’s really cold today. The wind is too strong for autumn.”
“It seems winter will come early this year.”
“That’s right. It’s fortunate it’s not raining. If it were raining too, it would be early winter already.”
Eavesdropping on Tristan and Patricia’s conversation, Sharti’s worry grew as well.
It was cold enough for Patricia, who was wearing several layers, to complain.
‘The mountain temperature will drop even more.’
Her concern deepened as she had no winter preparations.
Until now, she had somehow endured the cold with her meager resources while living alone, but this winter, she would be with Ren.
‘No money, limited food, and hardly any essential supplies… what should I do?’
There was a small stove, but she didn’t have enough magic stones to use it throughout the winter.
Chopping firewood and lighting a fire would solve the issue, but for Sharti, who still had seizures at the sight of fire, it was impossible.
‘I should do some house calls for treatment before the cold wave arrives.’
