Chapter 6

The man looked like an entirely different person now that he was clean.

All he had done was take a shower, yet an unmistakable aristocratic elegance radiated from him. There was also the refined sophistication unique to city dwellers—something utterly foreign to this quiet countryside.

The collar of his shirt had loosened slightly, revealing straight, well-defined collarbones. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric taut, making the muscles of his chest and arms stand out even more prominently.

His waist was lean, his legs long and powerfully built. Every part of him was perfectly proportioned.

He’s perfect, Annette concluded.

Is that because he’s a soldier?

She found herself staring at him before suddenly snapping back to reality.

What am I even thinking?!

Pull yourself together, Annette! What would Sister say if she saw you right now?

The image of the nun crossing herself with her eyes tightly shut, praying for forgiveness for their sinful thoughts, flashed through Annette’s mind.

A quiet laugh escaped her lips.

Elliot had been organizing his thoughts when his gaze drifted toward the woman before him.

Annette seemed to be lost in thought as well. Her eyes were directed toward him, but they weren’t really seeing him.

Her face flushed pink.

Her eyes widened.

Then her expression turned solemn.

Moments later, she smiled to herself.

Quite expressive.

Apparently unaware that he was watching, Annette adopted another determined look.

She certainly wore her emotions on her face.

“Ahem.”

At his deliberate cough, Annette abruptly returned to reality.

“Is there somewhere I can get a newspaper?”

She burst into laughter.

“Of course. Thankfully, civilization has reached even this place.”

“I see. Then… could you get me the latest edition of the Blaite Times?”

“Certainly. But while I’m gone, you’re going to sleep. Promise me.”

Faced with Annette’s firm command, Elliot nodded with unexpected seriousness.

Just as she reached the door, he spoke.

“Elliot.”

“Hm?”

She turned around.

“My name.”

“Oh! Elliot! I suppose your identity isn’t classified anymore?”

She smiled brightly.

A moment later, through the window, he watched her pedal away on her bicycle.

The exhaustion and pain he’d managed to forget suddenly returned, accompanied by a pleasant drowsiness.

She’s a cheerful woman.

As he lay back down, Elliot thought to himself.

Then he realized something.

Despite having absolutely nothing to smile about…

He was smiling.

What could have happened to him?

How did someone end up with injuries that severe?

As Annette sorted through the newspapers at the street stand, the questions lingered in her mind.

Among the foreign papers stacked in one corner, one from the Blaite Empire caught her eye.

After purchasing it, she skimmed through it while cycling home.

The Blaite Empire…

To Annette, Blaite was a country filled with nothing but pain and bitter memories.

Though those memories belonged to a distant past now—so distant they had almost faded away.

The newspaper contained little more than gossip about the Grand Duke of Blaite’s divorce, diplomatic affairs, and business news.

Nothing particularly noteworthy.

She flipped through several more pages.

There was nothing about war.

Nothing that seemed like the sort of news a man like Elliot would be searching for.

The sound of bicycle wheels gradually drew closer.

Elliot lifted his head slightly and looked out the window.

There she was.

Golden-haired Annette, returning with a basket full of newspapers attached to the front of her bicycle.

She’s back.

He quickly straightened himself and shut his eyes.

The front door opened.

Soft footsteps crossed the wooden floor before his bedroom door creaked open just a little.

She was checking whether he was asleep.

Satisfied, she quietly closed the door.

Silence settled over the house once more.

Only after quite some time had passed did Elliot sit up.

In the stillness, the creak of the bed sounded unusually loud.

“Are you all right?”

Annette stood in the doorway, watching him awkwardly struggle upright.

The instant he saw the worry written all over her face, a mischievous impulse surfaced.

He deliberately frowned as though he were in terrible pain.

Startled, Annette hurried over and slipped one arm beneath his.

Almost cradling him against herself, she supported his back with one hand while gripping his arm with the other, straining with all her might.

Looking down at the woman nearly pressed against his chest—

…Damn.

Elliot squeezed his eyes shut.

He had only meant to tease her.

Instead, he was the one suffering.

Her fragrance engulfed him without warning.

Should he just pin this woman to the bed to escape this torture?

He took a slow, deep breath.

Desperate to free himself from the intoxicating scent surrounding him, Elliot forced every ounce of strength into his body and managed to sit upright on his own.

“I bought the newspapers. I also picked up the previous few days’ editions, so you can take your time reading them.”

Completely unaware of the turmoil raging inside him, Annette spoke gently.

She even remembered to place a cushion behind his back.

Leaving Elliot alone with nothing but his conflicted thoughts, she lightly stepped back into the living room as effortlessly as she’d come.

Just as he’d expected…

There wasn’t a single article mentioning him.

The Empire wasn’t searching for its missing Commander of the Border Army?

As Commander, Elliot ranked third in the military hierarchy.

Third in name only.

Even the two officers above him treated him with the utmost respect.

He belonged to House Erminus.

Even the Emperor himself handled the Erminus family with caution.

If the Duke of Erminus had gone missing, the entire Empire should have been in chaos by now.

The newspapers should have been overflowing with headlines.

Yet three days after his disappearance…

There was nothing.

Which meant only one thing.

His assassination attempt hadn’t been the work of a lone enemy bearing a personal grudge.

Someone powerful had orchestrated it.

Elliot spent the entire day turning possibilities over in his mind.

It couldn’t have been His Majesty.

The Emperor had been his father’s closest friend.

Nor the Crown Prince.

Nor the Grand Duke.

They were as close as brothers.

Could it be… Trevina?

Yes.

If it were her…

She was more than capable of doing something like this.

Beyond that…

He couldn’t think of anyone.

Knock. Knock.

As though interrupting his increasingly dark thoughts, someone knocked on the door.

He looked up.

Annette was peeking inside.

Having his train of thought abruptly broken irritated him.

“What is it?”

His cold tone clearly caught her off guard.

She instinctively shrank back.

“It’s just… you’ve been so quiet. I haven’t heard a sound from you all afternoon…”

Her words prompted him to glance outside.

The sun was already sinking below the horizon.

How many hours have I been thinking?

Seeing Annette’s sheepish smile, Elliot let out a bitter laugh.

While one woman is trying to kill me…

Another is trying to save me.

Elliot and Karl glared at each other.

Why is this country bumpkin so openly hostile toward me?

Elliot wondered.

“How are your injuries?”

Karl asked through gritted teeth.

“Karl! Why are you being so rude to someone who’s hurt?”

Karen quickly scolded him.

The redheaded girl with freckles is more reasonable.

Two members of the quartet Annette had mentioned earlier now stood before him.

So that dimwit is Karl… and the freckled girl must be Karen.

Despite grumbling under his breath, Karl carefully rewrapped the bandages around Elliot’s body.

For an idiot, he was surprisingly skilled.

He had even brought several changes of clothes.

“We’re about the same size, so these should fit you perfectly.”

Elliot looked down at the young fool speaking through clenched teeth.

The boy was at least a hand shorter than he was, yet somehow managed to put on an air of confidence.

Elliot silently made himself a promise.

Once I return to my unit…

I’ll find a way to recruit this brat into my command.

Then I’ll train him properly.

“Annette, that man is dangerous.”

From his bed, Elliot heard the irritating voice of that foolish boy.

The three of them were whispering just outside his bedroom door.

I can hear every word, you idiot.

“No, Karl. He’s not dangerous. But Annette, you’ll be in danger if you’re here alone! At least let one of us stay with you.”

What in the world…?

Elliot frowned.

Just what were these siblings talking about?

In the end…

They were both saying exactly the same thing.

“That man lying in the bed is dangerous.”

Elliot shook his head.

He decided then and there that one day he’d make both of those annoying redheads pay for this.

“No, you two. He isn’t dangerous at all. Stop worrying so much.”

Annette’s cheerful voice floated through the doorway as she saw her friends off.

Soon the front door closed.

The two noisy troublemakers finally left.

Silence returned to the little house once again