Chapter 5

Treat his wounds.

Feed him.

Once he recovered, send him back to where he belonged.

The task had seemed so simple, so straightforward.

Now, somehow, it had become unbearably complicated.

Annette carefully lifted one of the man’s arms and guided it through the sleeve of the shirt. Since he couldn’t raise his own arms, she practically had to embrace him just to help him get dressed.

And why did this shirt have so many buttons?

Even while fastening them one by one, she couldn’t escape his unwavering gaze.

“There! All done!”

Annette declared brightly with a satisfied smile.

“What about the trousers?”

“Ah!”

He was definitely enjoying this.

Otherwise, how could he so casually ask a woman he’d only just met to dress him?

And trousers, of all things!

Absolutely not.

Annette answered firmly.

“My friend is coming tomorrow. He’ll help you put those on.”

“You’ll be staying in bed today anyway, so you’ll just have to endure one day without them.”

Afraid he might make another outrageous request, Annette hurried toward the door.

Before she could leave, the man spoke.

“Your name?”

She stopped and turned back.

“Annette.”

“My name is Annette.”

“So your first name and your surname are both Annette?”

She laughed.

“You’re funny.”

“Well then… good night.”

As she turned to leave, she had the distinct feeling he was smiling behind her.

After Annette left, Eliertz stared silently at the closed bedroom door.

Annette…

So she’s the woman who saved my life.

She had blue eyes that sparkled like polished sapphires.

Though she wore plain, colorless clothing, she was remarkably beautiful.

Her thick golden hair was tightly wrapped beneath a simple scarf.

Whenever she came close, a delicate fragrance surrounded her—a scent unlike anything he had ever encountered among the ladies of high society.

His thoughts drifted there…

Then sleep quietly claimed him.

Her scent lingered in the pillow and blankets.

Wrapped in that warm, comforting fragrance, a pleasant drowsiness overtook him.

For now, he decided to sleep.

Tomorrow, once he woke, he would figure out exactly what kind of situation he had found himself in.

The cheerful chirping of birds tickled his ears.

Eliertz slowly opened his eyes.

It was early morning.

The dawn air felt so refreshing that it went beyond simple comfort.

He tried to sit up.

A sharp pain shot through his side.

“Hng…”

He barely swallowed the groan before lying back down.

Moving was still difficult.

After taking several deep breaths, he pressed one hand against his wound and slowly forced himself upright.

Still… this is better than yesterday.

He listened carefully.

The cottage was silent.

Quietly opening the bedroom door a crack, he looked into the living room.

At the far end, curled up on the sofa, a small blonde woman was asleep.

Annette.

He slowly bent down despite the pain and gently pulled the blanket back over her where it had slipped away.

He stood there watching her for a long moment.

Then he quietly made his way toward the bathroom.

Although Annette had apparently cleaned him before, an unpleasant smell still clung to his body.

Suppressing a groan, he carefully unwound the bandages.

Between his navel and his side, the stitched wound stood out clearly.

Fortunately, it was closer to his flank.

If one of his own subordinates had stabbed an enemy like this…

He would have scolded them mercilessly.

Were you trying not to kill him?

That Venderf bastard…

I’ll make sure he pays for this.

“Ugh…”

His thoughts stopped abruptly as he braced himself against the wall.

Water touched the wound, and agony flared through him like fire.

Steadying his breathing, he continued washing while organizing his thoughts.

He couldn’t simply return to his unit just because he’d regained consciousness.

This village couldn’t be far from the border garrison.

He had escaped while half-dead with a sword through his side.

There was no way he had made it very far.

By now, his entire force should already have searched this area.

The Supreme Commander of the Border Army had disappeared.

It was inconceivable that they wouldn’t be looking for him.

More importantly…

He still didn’t know who had orchestrated the attack.

Returning in his current condition without knowing who wanted him dead would be reckless.

Annette said I’d been unconscious for two days.

His entire body still burned with pain, but his thoughts gradually sharpened.

First… I need to understand the situation.

The steady sound of running water echoed through the cottage.

Hmm?

Who’s awake this early?

Annette opened her eyes.

The clock pointed to six in the morning.

She quickly sat up and instinctively looked toward her bedroom—the room she’d surrendered to the mysterious stranger.

The bed was empty.

Just then, the bathroom door opened.

She turned her head.

Standing in the doorway was the tall, dark-haired man, wearing Karl’s white shirt and checked trousers.

“Good morning.”

He greeted her with a polite smile.

Karl was considered tall.

Yet somehow, on this man, Karl’s clothes looked almost too small.

For a brief moment, Annette’s heart seemed to stop.

He was simply… breathtaking.

“Ah… g-good morning.”

Good morning?

Really? That’s all you could say?

She silently scolded herself.

“I found these clothes on the desk.”

“May I wear them?”

“Oh… yes, of course.”

Then she blinked.

“Wait… how are you even moving around by yourself?”

Drying his hair with a towel, the man lowered himself into a chair.

The instant he sat down, pain flashed across his face, his brow tightening ever so slightly.

“It’s difficult moving around alone.”

He smiled casually.

“Next time, would you mind helping me with my bath?”

Annette’s face instantly turned scarlet.

Seriously… this man!

The amused smile never left his lips as he watched her blush.

At the same time, beads of cold sweat formed across his forehead.

He quietly asked for a glass of water.

Don’t let him get to you.

Resolving not to be swayed by anything he said, Annette poured him a cup.

Only then did she realize…

She still didn’t know his name.

“Um… what’s your name?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”

“It’s classified.”

“Oh… I see.”

She nodded seriously.

“Then I suppose I’ll just call you… ‘Hey, you.'”

Eliertz barely managed to suppress a laugh.

She had accepted his excuse without the slightest suspicion.

Watching her earnest expression, he found himself strangely entertained.

This peaceful little exchange with the innocent village girl…

It wasn’t unpleasant.

Slowly sipping the water, Eliertz studied her face.

Then he asked her to tell him everything that had happened over the past two days.

“I’ll explain after you’re lying back in bed.”

“I think I can listen just fine while sitting.”

“You still look like you’re in a lot of pain.”

“Stop being stubborn over something so pointless.”

Reluctantly, Eliertz rose from the chair.

Annette hurried over and supported him as they walked back to the bed.

Once he was seated comfortably, she wiped the sweat from his forehead before beginning her explanation.

“This is a small village called Evlen, in the Kingdom of Solenea.”

Evlen lay almost directly on the border with the Bleyte Empire.

Besides Annette, only three others knew he was here—a man, another woman, and Sister Regina.

Just four people in total.

As she quietly whispered that she had made sure no one else learned of his existence, Eliertz almost felt the urge to pat her on the head.

She looked as though she were proudly sharing a precious secret.

“I serve in the Bleyte Empire’s Border Guard.”

He spoke calmly after listening to her story.

“You’ve probably guessed as much.”

“I was caught in… an unexpected incident.”

“I need a few days to understand exactly what’s happened.”

Annette listened without interrupting.

“So allow me to impose on your hospitality a little longer.”

“And during that time…”

“I’d prefer that no one learns I’m here.”

His voice was calm but resolute.

The determination in his eyes left no room for argument.

Almost without realizing it, Annette nodded.

Their conversation over, Eliertz turned toward the window, lost in thought.

Annette quietly watched his chiseled profile.

Until yesterday evening, he had been unconscious.

Now he sat against the headboard, composed and dignified, as though nothing had happened.

His body was still feverish.

Cold sweat continued to bead across his skin.

Even so…

He seemed like an entirely different person from the dying man she had rescued.

Is this… what it means to have the spirit of a soldier?