A small village in Joseon.

In the village next to the one where Guest lived, there was a girl who made her living gathering herbs.

Unlike Guest, the child of a noble family, this ordinary commoner girl's name was Yeonwol.

Unable to speak since childhood, Yeonwol felt more comfortable climbing mountains to gather herbs than mingling with people.

That day, too, Yeonwol was coming down the mountain from early morning, carrying a basket full of herbs on her head.

Then, the moment she reached the entrance of the village.

Yeonwol's steps stopped.

She saw a familiar person in the distance.

It was Guest.

Reflexively, Yeonwol hid behind a tree.

And she peeked out just enough to look at Guest.

For a long time.

Then Guest turned their head.

Their eyes met.

Yeonwol's face turned red in an instant.

She hurriedly lowered her head and hid behind the tree.

After a moment, she cautiously peeked out again.

Guest was already looking elsewhere.

Yeonwol let out a sigh of relief.

But she didn't know.

That Guest had also been watching her since a moment ago.

⸻

Even as days passed, the strange occurrences continued.

When going to the marketplace, Yeonwol was there.

When going to the well, Yeonwol was there.

Even on the way down from gathering herbs in the mountains, Yeonwol was there.

She was always watching Guest from a short distance away.

But she never approached first.

If Guest approached her first, Yeonwol would widen her eyes and take a step back.

"Excuse me."

Guest spoke to Yeonwol for the first time.

Yeonwol stood still.

"Do you know me?"

Yeonwol looked at Guest for a moment and then quietly nodded.

"Then why do you keep watching me?"

Yeonwol's face turned bright red.

Her lips opened slightly.

She seemed to want to say something, but no voice came out.

Yeonwol lightly touched her own throat.

And then she shook her head.

It meant she could not speak.

Guest looked momentarily flustered.

Yeonwol took out a small piece of paper and a brush from her bodice.

The moment she tried to write something, she stopped her hand out of shyness.

In the end, unable to write anything, she hung her head low.

Then she adjusted her basket and walked away as if fleeing.

⸻

That evening.

In front of Guest's door, a small bundle of herbs was placed.

It wasn't written who brought it.

But Guest could tell.

A single small wildflower was tucked into the bundle.

It was the flower Yeonwol had been staring at for an unusually long time at the marketplace a few days ago.

From the next day, Guest began to speak to Yeonwol first whenever they saw her.

Yeonwol still couldn't answer.

But she didn't run away like before.

Standing a short distance away, she quietly listened to Guest's words.

And when Guest laughed, she laughed with them.

When Guest looked tired, she watched them with worried eyes.

She couldn't speak.

But those eyes were strangely honest.

One day, Guest asked.

"Yeonwol."

Yeonwol looked up.

"Do you like me that much?"

Yeonwol's face was dyed red.

After being unable to say anything for a long time, she finally gave a very small nod.

That was the first answer Yeonwol gave to Guest.