Inside the dishwashing room, the only sound was the gentle streaming of water.

Tears continuously slid down the corners of the young girl's eyes. Her shy cheeks were as flushed as ripe apples.

Like pear blossoms in the rain, her fragile appearance was both pitiful and moving.

Looking at Sari in this state, Moen couldn’t help but feel his heartbeat quicken.

"Moen, could you reconsider? Please?"

Sari clenched her fingers and nervously asked again.

As if invisible ripples spread outward, Moen's thoughts began to waver.

Sari was just so adorable.

So gentle and so caring.

She could make delicious desserts and meals.

And her figure was stunning.

If she were to become a partner, wouldn’t everything be so perfect?

So maybe… just maybe…

*“Smack!”*

The crisp sound suddenly rang out, startling Sari. Reflexively, she stepped back with wide eyes, looking at Moen in shock.

"What kind of lowly scum am I?!"

Moen exclaimed, slapping himself awake. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Enjoying what's in the bowl while eyeing what's in the pot? No way. If I’m going to be trash, I’ll at least be trash with principles."

A scumbag without principles—how different was that from a shallow playboy who thought only with his lower body?

Was he the type of vulgar creature that lusted after someone’s body? Certainly not.

"So, I’m sorry, Sari. I can't agree to your confession."

Moen rejected her sincerely again, but this time his tone was much softer, his attitude humbler.

To be rejected twice by the same person within two minutes—no matter how one thought about it—was absolutely devastating for a girl mustering up her courage.

Moen felt so ashamed that he wished he could hide himself inside a burlap sack and let someone beat him up.

He cursed at his good looks. Why did he have to be so handsome? If he were just a little more ordinary, he wouldn’t have found himself in such a predicament.

"I… I see."

Hearing Moen’s final answer, Sari’s face fell into heart-wrenching sadness.

She deeply inhaled, seeming to try and pull back all the tears. But instead, they streamed down even faster.

"It’s not… not your fault, Moen. It's mine for being too presumptuous."

Just like in a TV show where a failed confession turns a girl into a tragic loser, Sari forced out a smile uglier than crying as she slowly retreated.

Then, she turned and ran—almost colliding into a soft embrace.

"Oh my my?"

Anna, the upperclassman, had somehow appeared at the doorway. With a playful tone, she teased Moen:

"You really are something, junior. In just a few short minutes, you’ve managed to break another young girl’s heart?"

"If I had agreed, then that would truly be scummy, okay?" Moen chuckled bitterly, seeming unsurprised by her arrival.

"Fair enough."

Anna nodded, before lowering her head and pulling out a handkerchief. Tenderly, she wiped away the tears from Sari's face. As she cleaned, a fleeting glimmer sparkled in her hand.

"Don’t be angry, Sari. We won’t stoop to the level of that scummy guy."

"You’re still calling me scum, aren’t you? Come on!"

"Oh?"

Anna didn’t pay attention to Moen’s protests. Instead, noticing something during the process, she tilted her head in amazement and softly remarked:

"Sari, you’re so cute. Why do you hide yourself behind those unattractive black-framed glasses? Girls should pay attention to their appearance. You know, sometimes a small change might make all the difference to certain scummy guys."

"Hey! Senior!"

"I know a shop that customizes glasses for girls. Want me to recommend them to you?"

As she spoke, Anna reached to take Sari’s black-framed glasses, intending to clean the lenses blurred by tears.

*Smack.*

Sari suddenly grabbed Anna's hand.

Her head was down, making her expression impossible to see.

"No need, Senior. I appreciate your kindness."

"But—"

Anna frowned at Sari's grip.

Before she could say more, Sari stepped past her and ran into the nearby kitchen, slamming the door shut.

From within, rhythmic chopping sounds began. Accompanied by those sounds was Sari’s teary voice, trembling:

"Sorry, please don’t mind me. I just need a moment alone."

Soon after, muffled sobbing could be heard from behind the door—overwhelmingly sorrowful.

"Junior, you truly carry a heavy burden of guilt."

Listening to the crying, Anna sighed. Her gaze directed a meaningful glance at Moen.

Moen remained silent, offering only a bitter smile.

"Then… how about we leave?" Moen tentatively suggested.

Though leaving felt irresponsible, staying would only add to the awkwardness.

Perhaps giving Sari time alone was the best option.

"Fine." Anna nodded in agreement.

Her objective had been achieved, for better or worse.

Still, as they prepared to leave, Anna couldn’t resist casting a long, lingering glance at the kitchen's tightly closed door.

"Something feels… off."

Her eyes dropped to her wrist, where Sari had gripped her moments earlier. There, vivid red marks were imprinted.

"Junior."

"Hm?"

"Is Sari skilled in martial arts?"

"I'm not sure. She’s always seemed unremarkable. But since she takes martial arts classes, she shouldn’t be weak."

"I see…"

Anna withdrew her gaze and dismissed her thoughts. After all, seeing Sari’s heartbroken expression earlier—it seemed far too genuine to be an act.

Most likely, she was just overthinking it.

---

After Moen and Anna’s departure, Sari remained hidden in the kitchen, crying endlessly.

Her tears flowed and flowed, seemingly unceasing.

She was deeply heartbroken.

She had liked Moen so much. But despite her feelings, why did he reject her?

Was it because she wasn’t attractive enough?

Compared to the maid-dress woman from before, and Anna the senior, her appearance was far less striking.

She was neither pretty nor skilled at dressing up. And she always wore those ugly black-framed glasses.

Surely, Moen wouldn’t like someone like her.

“Oh, right.”

Mentioning the glasses, Sari seemed to remember something.

“I almost forgot. When there’s no one around, I should take these off.”

And so, she removed the tear-drenched glasses that had blurred her vision until it was impossible to see.

The crying stopped.

As if an invisible darkness spread outward, her demeanor changed abruptly—chilling as the night.

Through the water-filled sink, she stared at herself.

She stared at the reflection of herself, now smiling peculiarly—as if she were an entirely different person.

"Ah, ah. Why? Why did I fail?"

"The last attempt at mental suggestion worked so well. Otherwise, Moen wouldn’t have accidentally wandered to this place.”

"What a shame. As the heir to a noble duke’s title, if I could control him, it would be a huge advantage to the plan."

"Still…"

Sari’s mood shifted—not into sadness, but into gleeful excitement. She grinned widely, her smile unnervingly stretched to her ears, reminiscent of a snake spitting its venomous tongue.

"This is quite the stroke of luck. Earlier, after searching so long with no results, I almost got exposed by that silver-haired woman…"

She stared at her hands, trembling slightly as she recalled the tactile sensation of touching Anna's smooth skin. Folding her palms together, she murmured prayers:

"Truly, Great Moon. You are guiding me, aren’t you?"

"In that case, I swear to fulfill your expectations. I will bring your lost divine progeny before your throne."

"Wouldn’t you agree, Father?"

In the kitchen’s corner, a silent man repeatedly lifted and dropped a butcher’s knife.

Mechanically, he performed the same motion again and again.

On the cutting board before him, distorted shadows squirmed silently, only to be hacked into pieces—as if they were mere meat.

He picked up a fragment and placed it in his mouth.

Chewing.

Even though it was no more than intangible shadows, the sound of crushed flesh and shattered bone echoed chillingly.

Moments later, he grinned, revealing his pitch-black teeth.

"Delicious."