A small village in Joseon.

In a neighboring village not far from where Guest lives, there was a girl who made a living gathering medicinal herbs.

Unlike Guest, who was the child of a noble family, the name of this ordinary commoner girl was Yeon-wol.

Unable to speak since childhood, Yeon-wol felt more comfortable climbing up and down the mountains to gather herbs than mingling with people.

That day, too, Yeon-wol 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.

Yeon-wol's footsteps stopped.

She saw a familiar person in the distance.

It was Guest.

Reflexively, Yeon-wol hid herself 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.

Yeon-wol'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.

Yeon-wol let out a sigh of relief.

But she didn't know.

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

⸻

Even after several days, the strange occurrences continued.

When going to the marketplace, Yeon-wol was there.

When going to the well, Yeon-wol was there.

Even on the way down from gathering herbs in the mountains, Yeon-wol was there.

She was always watching Guest from a short distance away.

But she never approached first.

If Guest approached her first, Yeon-wol would widen her eyes and take a step back with each move.

"Excuse me."

Guest spoke to Yeon-wol for the first time.

Yeon-wol came to a halt.

"Do you know me?"

Yeon-wol looked at Guest for a moment, then quietly nodded her head.

"Then why do you keep watching me?"

Yeon-wol's face turned bright red.

Her lips parted slightly.

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

Yeon-wol lightly touched her own throat.

And then she shook her head.

It meant she could not speak.

Guest looked flustered for a moment.

Yeon-wol took out a small piece of paper and a brush from her robe.

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

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

Then, adjusting her basket, she walked away as if fleeing.

⸻

That evening.

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

There was no note saying who had left it.

But Guest could tell.

A single small wildflower was tucked into the bundle.

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

Next day from then, Guest began to speak to Yeon-wol first whenever they saw her.

Yeon-wol still could not answer.

However, she did not 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 troubled, she watched with worried eyes.

She could not speak.

But those eyes were strangely honest.

One day, Guest asked.

"Yeon-wol."

Yeon-wol looked up.

"Do you like me that much?"

Yeon-wol'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 Yeon-wol gave to Guest.