Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Night the Savior Fled
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A rough envelope was thrust into Beth's hand, which hesitated to accept it. Half by her own will, half against it, her fingertips clenched around the letter. She crumpled it tightly in her fist and clasped her hands together.
Forcing a smile to maintain decorum, Beth quickly left the spot.
The only one left behind where Beth had departed was Arthur.
"Get a grip, Arthur Manor."
He gripped the hem of his shirt at his chest hard, then released it. The once impeccably crisp fabric was now a wrinkled mess. Perhaps it was his heart that was crumpled instead.
Something he had to hide.
Something that mustn't grow any further.
"Get a grip. Please."
His self-admonishment felt utterly powerless. Forcing his steps away so he wouldn't look at the spot Beth had passed through, his footfalls grew heavier.
"Beth! Why do you look so out of it?"
Sophia lightly shook Beth's arm. Snapping back to reality, Beth shook her head, insisting nothing was wrong.
Sophia looked worried at this unfamiliar side of Beth, who was usually as quick and efficient as Aines when working, but Beth just smiled brightly and threw herself back into organizing supplies.
The two were doing a final inventory check in the medicine storeroom. It was almost time to leave the hospital behind.
With the war's end, supply routes were wide open without restrictions, and transport vehicles came and went several times a day. Even the most critical wounded were being sent back to Wayne first—the end was visibly drawing near.
He must be busy.
The thought that she hadn't seen Dever for days flitted through her mind. It was only natural. She couldn't know all the army commander's duties as a mere nurse, but the rumors said he was in final negotiations with the enemy forces.
Everyone joked that it wasn't negotiations but Dever Cliff grabbing the Kovah Emperor by the collar, but Beth couldn't laugh.
"Huh? The count doesn't match here."
Sophia called out to Beth.
In front of the shelf stocked with painkillers and sedatives, Sophia frowned deeply, glancing back and forth between the paper in her hand and the shelf.
"Look at this. It's off by quite a bit. Did someone forget to log it?"
The spot Sophia pointed to was the sedative Dever had been after. Beth had never forgotten to record it whenever she dispensed it for him.
Fiddling with the necklace hidden under her nurse's uniform, Beth pulled a pen from her pocket.
I think I took some last time and forgot to record it.
The unfamiliar lie left her mouth dry for no reason.
"You forgot, Beth? Was there a patient prescribed this...? If they needed this much, isn't it serious? Shouldn't we save a spot on the afternoon transport?"
That patient was already transferred. I don't remember the name.
Sophia nodded easily at the hastily scribbled words. In such a hectic wartime hospital, even Beth made mistakes sometimes—that was all she thought.
Unaware of her friend's thoughts, Beth bit at the corner of her lip. Her head throbbed from the ill-fitting lie.
How did I take it without a key? I should have just asked someone to get it for me.
Come to think of it, a few days ago that night, he'd said there was no medicine too. She felt pathetic for being so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she'd neglected him.
Whenever such regrets surfaced, she threw herself into work. The hospital's busy atmosphere was actually a relief. Even Dixie, who had pestered her several times, had gone quiet after seeing her subdued demeanor.
She knew avoidance wouldn't solve anything, yet as the sun set and night deepened, a sense of relief washed over her.
After everyone was asleep, quietly opening the window by her bed had become a habit. She couldn't even explain to herself the feelings that came when she did it. She wished that man was there, yet also hoped he wasn't.
She longed to see him, but dreaded the answer she'd have to give if she saw his face. The letter she'd crammed between her mattress was still unread.
"Tomorrow, we'll all finally head back to Wayne."
Early in the morning, the lady smiled at the medical staff gathered in the hospital director's office. Collins, who had stayed to help with the shortages, laughed heartily. "Finally escaping this godforsaken place!"
Beth finally realized the end had come.
The sleepless nights felt like a lie now, and her already-decided heart was calm. Before heading back to the barracks, she deliberately stopped by the medicine storeroom. Seeing it now empty made her heart flutter faintly.
'The armistice with Kovah was finalized last night.'
That was the hint Gail had given her during the day. It meant her commander would come for her tonight.
Beth ran her hand over the now-empty shelf. A chill rose up.
"It's all gone."
Beth slowly lowered her hand from the shelf. The familiar sound of military boots approached steadily.
"A bit disappointing, isn't it?"
She couldn't turn her head even as the voice drew close to her ear.
"It's been a while, and you won't even show me your face?"
A long finger tapped idly on the empty shelf. Beth stared piercingly at that finger in his stead.
Hmm. Dever's low hum halted abruptly.
"Tomorrow, we head back to Wayne."
He gently grasped her stubborn shoulder that refused to turn. He pivoted her toward him, her eyes fixed on his shoe tips.
"Have you thought about your answer?"
Beth took his hand from her shoulder and lowered it.
I'll come to your barracks tonight.
Dever's mouth twisted. He tilted his head slightly to read her expression.
"What's your scheme? Planning some grand rejection?"
Beth smiled silently. So even he was worried about rejection. Of course, no real concern laced his voice, but it made the man before her feel almost ordinary.
Her eyes sparkling, Beth shrugged playfully.
It's the last time.
"What are you—"
The last time here.
Quickly adding the rest, Beth hurried toward the door.
She glanced back once, but the man still stood there by the shelf. Avoiding his gaze first, Beth walked briskly to the barracks—then broke into a run.
By the time she arrived, her breath came up to her chin, her head pounding. Without pausing, she went to her bed and collapsed onto it. She pulled out the letter she'd avoided and tore open the envelope.
This loathsome yellowed paper.
This horrific handwriting she could never get used to.
As Beth slowly read what could barely be called a letter, her small jaw clenched.
Her hand dropped to her knees with a thud, the thin paper slipping limply from her fingers.
『Dever Cliff. You haven't forgotten your mother, have you?』
Having opened the most horrific page, her heart strangely calmed. The mind that had wandered so long finally reached its conclusion.
"Beth, something good happen?"
Aines asked Beth, whose face had finally brightened on the last night after days of groaning like a sick person.
Even as everyone packed, the barracks buzzed noisily. Bursting laughter and overlapping chatter warmly filled the winter night.
"Come on, spill it."
Dixie, who had monitored Beth's mood for days, sidled up slyly.
Later.
"Really?"
Dixie, who had nagged endlessly before, now sounded disbelieving.
"I mean with the duke."
Whispering into Beth's ear, thinking she hadn't gotten it, but the response was the same. A straightforward promise to tell all.
"Why the sudden change? You hid it so tightly."
With the surroundings so noisy, Dixie gave up whispering and tossed out the question without a subject.
Beth pondered with pen in hand, then her lips curved along with the moving tip.
Because I like him.
Dixie's eyes widened as she glanced around and quickly covered the paper. Beth laughed at the sight for a good while.
Unable to comprehend, Dixie could only assume Beth had fallen hard for the duke.
To turn the unshakable Beth Jens like this. Ah, sure, the duke was handsome, but still.
Dixie nodded, turning her assumption into fact.
Gazing at her own response, Beth quietly rose. With everyone busy packing and moving things, no one noticed her. She slipped outside in the gap.
Now even breathing sent out puffs of white steam. The heavy snowfall erased all footprints, turning the surroundings into a vast white field.
Everyone was preparing to leave for Wayne tomorrow morning, so Beth was the only one out. Walking the empty forest path held no fear. Perhaps because of the man at its end.
Sporadic laughter kept escaping her.
She walked on, repeating silly smiles and pauses, until one unmistakable figure appeared even in the darkness.
"I was coming to get you. Why'd you come alone?"
At the gentle question, tears threatened for some reason, so Beth just let out another laugh. Grasping the hand before her, warmth spread through her.
Dever gripped her hand firmly.
Their footsteps fell side by side on the once purely white snowfield.
Entering the barracks, the warmth flushed Beth's cheeks red. Sitting naturally in the chair by the side table, she quietly gazed at the man across from her. On the first day they'd met, they'd faced each other just like this.
So many days had changed since then.
Dever pulled a neatly folded paper from his breast pocket. Beth knew exactly what it was without asking.
"Sorry it took so long to return it."
The now-meaningless death benefit certificate. How many wishes packed into this single paper.
The weight of unfulfilled wishes painfully pressed on her chest. Beth dropped the certificate onto the side table and gently pulled his distant hand toward her.
Do you trust me now?