Fish Don't Know About Water - Chapter 21

Viett stared at the newspaper novel in disbelief. It didn’t matter that Phenelity had been calling him a ‘fool’ in her mind or that she felt sorry for him and shared a sense of camaraderie.

He was stunned by the realization that she had forgotten their promise and was planning to leave Costonia without a second thought.

“Wow, our Vivi has finally reappeared in the novel! Congratulations, Your Highness!”

Esca, who had been reading the novel over his shoulder, clapped and cheered. Without looking back, Viett stepped hard on Esca’s foot. A shrill scream echoed in his ears.

“Ow! Hey, it’s not like I said anything wrong…”

“Sh-shut up.”

Ignoring Esca, who was hopping around holding his foot, Viett continued reading the novel.

「After waiting for about 20 minutes, it was finally my turn. As soon as I walked to the counter, the staff explained in a tired voice.

— You can only buy one loaf of rye bread per person and three loaves of barley bread. Military personnel get one extra barley bread.

With five loaves of bread and some jerky from the camp, I should be able to manage until I reach the Caribou Republic. That is, unless I encounter robbers on the train to Caribou or lose my mind from hunger and eat all the bread myself.

— One loaf of rye bread and three loaves of barley bread, please.

I unfolded my crumpled assistant nurse certificate and showed it to the staff. After confirming the special military emblem on the certificate, the staff added an extra loaf of barley bread.

— Thank you!

As I paid and stuffed the bread into my bag, the staff who had been scrutinizing my certificate suddenly spoke up.

— You work at the special military camp? I heard they serve meals regularly there. Why are you buying so much bread?

— You’re not… fleeing somewhere, are you?

Another staff member glanced nervously at my large bag and asked.

— There’s no evacuation order that civilians don’t know about, right? Did they tell you to leave this area immediately if you want to stay alive…?

— Don’t worry, I’m not evacuating.

I reassured them as I closed my bag. An old lady standing behind me craned her neck and suddenly joined the conversation.

— Miss, if you’re not evacuating, why do you have so much luggage? Do you expect us to believe that?

— It’s not an evacuation, it’s a trip.

I smiled as I slung the bag over my shoulder, making everyone’s expressions even more puzzled. The old lady looked at me worriedly and asked.

— A trip? A young lady traveling alone during a war?

— Yes!

— Excuse me, but may I ask where you’re going?

— Caribou.

— Ca…ribou…? The Caribou Republic? At a time like this?

— Yes, I’m going to see the sea!

I explained excitedly and left the bakery. I stuffed the certificate into my coat pocket and took out an old postcard. On the back of the postcard was a picture of the beach in the Caribou Republic, famous for its tourist attractions.
Although it was a black-and-white photo, it seemed as if I could clearly see the blue sea and the golden sandy beach. (Even though I’ve never seen the sea, according to clichés, the sea is definitely blue, and the sandy beach is golden, right?)
I rubbed my cheek against the postcard, savoring the joy. Finally, I could go to the sea I had dreamed of. I had almost given up since there was no sea in Costonia!

— Oh no, I’m cutting it close to the train’s departure time.

I had to hurry to catch the last train. I had wasted too much time at the bakery.

— Well then, I’m off!

I blew a kiss towards the training camp that was faintly visible in the distance. Then, humming, I hurried towards the train station.」

Viett and Esca simultaneously lifted their heads. After exchanging bewildered glances, Viett gritted his teeth and crumpled the newspaper. Esca patted his shoulder in consolation.

“Admit it now. Miss Cochrun doesn’t care about you. This much is clear.”

Viett glared at the newspaper novel with a furious expression. So that’s why she told me to fix the necklace chain within a week. She must have needed time to escape freely before the wedding.

“Ca, Caribou…?”

Could it be that Dr. Law, that doctor, was waiting for her there? Did she choose to elope out of love to escape the arranged marriage with Viett?

Various speculations grew in his mind. His vision gradually darkened with rage. He didn’t even realize that Phenelity had left saying, ‘I’m off.’

For some reason, his pride was hurt. He thought he would feel completely relieved if that crazy woman disappeared from his sight. But that wasn’t the case at all. He felt such a painful sense of betrayal that he was almost shocked by it.

“Cheer up, Your Highness. There isn’t just one woman in the world, right?”

Esca, noticing his state, patted Viett’s shoulder. Only then did Viett realize that he had been making a hurt expression. He was slightly flustered and immediately put on a stoic mask.

“F-fine. That, that kind of woman. Whether she leaves or not, I-I don’t care.”

“Right. It’s not the first time you’ve been rejected by a fiancée. Just consider it a strange farce.”

“You bastard. A-are you comforting me or mocking me?”

“You. Do you know you only speak clearly when you’re cursing? Give me the newspaper. Let me read it again.”

“Get lost.”

They were pulling the crumpled newspaper towards each other in a sharp nerve-wracking battle when they felt a presence behind them. The young interpreter who had handed them the newspaper had somehow run up behind them.

“Commander! Don’t be disheartened!”

The interpreter, panting heavily, shouted with a flushed face.

“Today’s novel continues on the back page. The Little Lady hasn’t abandoned you, Commander…”

“Hey, let him read it with his own eyes so we can all enjoy it!”

A colleague who had hurriedly run up covered the interpreter’s mouth. Viett stared blankly at the interpreter being dragged away to the information headquarters, then, with Esca, opened the crumpled newspaper again.

As they unfolded the back page, the latter part of the novel appeared as the interpreter had said. Though it was only a few paragraphs, today’s installment was slightly longer than usual.

「Just before boarding the train to the Caribou Republic. Amid the loud whistle sound, a soft voice was heard.

— Pepe.

I quickly turned my head towards the sound. My mouth dropped open. (Oh my gosh! Am I dreaming with my eyes open again?)

— Doctor? Is it really you, Doctor?

A familiar face stood there, waving. It was definitely the Doctor. He even had a large bag at his feet.
A man with an unfamiliar face stood next to the Doctor, glaring at me. He was a handsome old gentleman with silver hair under his fedora, a silver cane in his hand, and silver eyes looking at me. (Actually, he was too young to be called an old gentleman, and too old to be called young.)

— Wow! Doctor, what brings you here?

— Miss, I’m glad to see you in good health.

The Doctor gave a gentle smile and took off his hat. Seeing his short, neatly trimmed hair made my eyes widen again.

— Oh? Doctor, you didn’t enlist, did you?

— I did enlist. I applied to be a military doctor in the special forces where you are.

— Really? Did Father allow it?

The Doctor nodded silently with a smile. How unexpected. When did he change his mind from shouting, ‘A family doctor should dedicate himself to the family, not the state!’?

— So you came to keep an eye on me, huh?

Realizing the truth, I looked at the Doctor with discontented eyes.

— Father sent you, didn’t he? Didn’t he?

The Doctor just smiled without saying anything. His lukewarm reaction, neither affirming nor denying, drained my energy.

— I thought if you enlisted, you’d go to the rear…?

— Costonia is my birthplace. It’s fortunate for me to watch over your married life and visit my hometown.

— Why don’t we move to a quieter place instead of chatting in this secluded spot?

The man standing next to the Doctor clicked his tongue and interrupted the conversation.

— Do you intend to prevent us from catching up?

The Doctor glared at the man discontentedly and approached me. He took the bag full of bread and other items and smiled gently.

— How about we have dinner together first? I’m starving to death after the long journey.

I alternated between looking at him rubbing his stomach and my train ticket. What should I do? I want to talk to the Doctor whom I haven’t seen in a long time, but I also want to go to Caribou and see the sea.

— Miss, are you getting on the train or not?

The ticket inspector who had approached leisurely spoke to me in a rough tone.

— This is the last civilian train. For the next week, we’ll be focusing on transporting military supplies, so civilian trains will be suspended.

— Really?

— Right. If you don’t go now, you won’t be able to leave Costonia.

The ticket inspector suddenly extended his large hand towards me. He raised his eyebrows, indicating that I should hand over my ticket and board the train immediately.
What should I do? The captain said this would be my first and last vacation!
I anxiously looked at the train with desperate eyes. If I don’t leave now, I won’t even dream of seeing the sea for a while.