Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Relief and Reunions
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From early dawn, the faces gathered in the hospital director's office were etched with exhaustion. The afterglow of the party that had stretched past midnight lingered, with yawns and groans from lingering hangovers echoing sporadically.
Barden, in particular, had boldly folded his arms on the table and laid his head down, as if seizing Madam Molly's absence to catch a side nap. Everyone knew the secret that he'd been sprawled out drunk in the hospital flower beds.
Even Aines, who was always sharp as a tack, wore a drowsy expression softened by the new rhythms of peacetime.
It was clear that everyone's mood had relaxed considerably since the war's end.
"Has everyone gone completely slack?"
Everyone jumped at the lady's entrance, eyes widening in surprise. Barden, who had been out of it, straightened up with surprising composure.
Madam Molly, seated at the head of the table, flipped through charts while scanning the faces around her. Each time her sharp gaze landed on them, they flinched guiltily and buried their heads.
"Pull yourselves together. We're wrapping things up here, not done yet. Remember, our mission ends the day we completely clear out this place and head to Wayne."
A subdued response leaked out under her stern reprimand. Aines and Beth, the most composed, handed over documents summarizing the remaining patients and supplies. A flicker of satisfaction toward the reports showed in the subtle twitch of the lady's eyebrow.
Beth, top of her nursing class, and Aines, second, were the lady's pride and reliable juniors. The two young women hadn't let her down on the battlefield. They'd exceeded expectations so often it tugged at her heart.
"Good work. I can see things are winding down."
The night before, Aines and Gail had come to her with news of their engagement. Despite Gail's injury, with proper surgery and rehab in Wayne, a late spring wedding seemed feasible.
Closing the documents, the lady stole a glance at Beth over her glasses. The girl's composed face showed no particular agitation.
Once Beth reached adulthood, official support from the Molly ducal family had ended. The lady had cautiously suggested personal sponsorship, but Beth had refused outright, volunteering first for the frontline hospital. The endless wars since her nursing school graduation might have been a strange blessing for the girl.
Seeing her again after years, the girl's face had matured, more resolute. It brought relief, yet a pang in her heart she couldn't shake.
"Just having no casualties among us feels like reward enough for me."
All eyes turned to the calm voice wrapping up the meeting. Her brown eyes, freed from gold-rimmed glasses, warmly took in each face one by one.
"Everyone has their death benefit certificates, right? I assume no one's lamenting not getting a death payout."
A light joke drew soft chuckles.
"Take those certificates to the Wayne Imperial Bank, and you'll get your medical staff bonuses. Pack your things, but don't forget those certificates. That ends today's meeting."
As the lady left first, the room grew lively. Remembering the bonuses, everyone buzzed with excited plans.
One would use it for a better stall spot for her mother's market stand, another as wedding funds for her veteran beau. Uses varied wildly.
It was reward for long waiting.
"Beth, what about you? What'll you spend yours on?"
At Sophia's bright question, Beth tilted her head. Well, she'd always thought about it, but now nothing came to mind.
When the war ends.
When the war ends.
The mantra she'd chanted for years like a spell—why did it draw a blank now?
Through the foggy haze in her mind, one face sharpened into focus.
Right. That man has my death benefit certificate too.
It had slipped her mind that the thing she'd clung to like a lifeline was no longer in her hands. A hollow laugh escaped her. Maybe she was the one out of her mind, not him.
[I don't really know.]
It was her honest feeling.
Barden sidled up to Beth, sharing his plan to open a tavern, only for Dixie to shoot it down. "Don't get any funny ideas, Mr. Barden." She didn't forget to sternly warn her friend: "Beth Jens, don't lend money recklessly."
Barden grumbled amid the slight excitement as footsteps scattered to posts.
As the three headed downstairs together for ward rounds, an unfamiliar voice stopped them.
"Miss Dixie of the Coleman family."
A man with an ill-suited mustache called out to Dixie. She greeted him coolly: "Do you need something...?" He burst into a hearty laugh as if he'd been waiting.
Aines subtly signaled and quietly pulled Beth aside.
"He's one of the two who fought over Dixie last night."
Ah, Beth nodded, eyeing the man. From Dixie's expression, he wasn't to her liking.
"Did you make it back safely yesterday?"
"My lodging's right nearby."
"A lady drunk is full of dangers."
"The dangers are the problem, not me. And I hold my liquor well. Very well."
It was like spear clashing with shield.
A young face watched anxiously from a few steps away. Beth recognized him this time.
The soldier who'd asked Dixie for the first dance before Dever's mad theatrics.
"Any plans when you return to Wayne?"
"I do, but must I share them with you?"
"Ha, well. It's awkward to say it myself."
The man stroked his mustache arrogantly, chin raised. Dixie's eyes narrowed as if she'd seen something distasteful.
"Others say your family is ruined, but I don't think so. Deep 'roots' don't just vanish."
Dixie crossed her arms with a 'what's this guy on about?' look.
The tactless man pressed on.
"I know the Colemans somewhat. Quite the magnates, right?"
He nodded, emphasizing 'magnates'.
"But the world doesn't run on money alone, as you know, miss. And I'm the man to cover your one 'flaw'."
Dixie scoffed, ears turning red.
Keep taking it nice, and this happens. The thread holding Dixie's temper snapped audibly to Beth and Aines. Only the mustached man remained oblivious.
"Well, plenty of ladies in Wayne, but I treasure connections from here. Surely Mr. Coleman will gratefully accept this fortune."
"No, listen."
"You see virtue in a lady not accepting right away. Fine. But I won't wait forever. Heh."
"No—"
"You'll have much etiquette to learn. You're no slow learner, I think. Our family—"
"Hey!"
Dixie's thunderous shout made the mustache flinch. She gripped his shoulders like grabbing his collar, his big eyes blinking at her.
Her crimson eyes glared like flames.
"Get a grip before I say something unladylike."
Her low growl made his lips twitch.
"H-how can a lady say such crude things."
"Drop that lady nonsense."
His face flushed purple. For a man from a humble barony whose name was his only pride, it stung.
As Aines sighed and stepped forward to intervene—
"Hey! Look at this petty noble!"
A booming middle-aged voice echoed down the hall. Aines whipped around, face lighting up.
"Uncle Collins!"
"Egad, girl! Uncle what? It's Professor or Sir!"
Hearty laughter turned the mustache toward the sound.
There stood a middle-aged gentleman with one side of his gold glasses cracked and taped roughly. Disheveled graying hair, good build, but far from the tycoon the mustache fawned over.
"Uncle!" Dixie's lips parted in shock.
The gentleman strode up, clapping the mustache's shoulders. The strong grip twisted his face.
"Tormenting our Dixie? Surely not."
"No, who are you to—"
"Oh, pardon me, young man. Late introduction. I'm Collins Molly."
Trapped in the big hand's shake, the mustache paled in realization.
No way, that Molly family Molly?
"If you know the Colemans well, you know me too?"
"Ah, no. That's. I."
"Anything more to say to Dixie?"
Under the stern prod, sweat poured; he bolted down the hall denying anything.
Collins turned to the soldier still standing there.
"A man's gotta have guts. Gonna just stand there?"
"Y-yes?"
Collins nodded at Dixie; the hesitant soldier rushed up, offering a bouquet of wildflowers from the path between barracks and hospital.
The flushed soldier muttered, "Last night was fun," and fled out the door.
"Raised 'em smart, and the scoundrels all steal 'em away."
Collins laughed heartily, hugging the embracing Dixie. Teary Aines joined in.
Pulling back from their welcome, Collins eyed Beth, still a few steps away.
His wrinkled eyes crinkled kindly.
"Our Beth's grown so much already. Diana told me. Said you worked hard?"
His casual downplay of her hardships was pure Collins. At the long-missed voice, Beth's teary eyes blinked slowly.
Collins spread his arms wide.
"You did great. Come to Wayne with Uncle."
Beth couldn't hold back and leaped into his embrace. For a long while, the big arms patted her back.
"You did great. So great. I knew you'd pull through."
In the flood of warm comfort, Beth finally burst into tears.
Everything was falling back into place.