Chapter 1 – Part 10

“I would like to speak with Lieutenant Anne Riley in private to discuss this matter in earnest….”

Anne jumped at the chance to speak to Evan alone, realizing that this was her chance to get the blood transfusion off the table.

However, as she looked around the lulled field hospital with a worried expression on her face, Kyle pushed her on the back and said,

“You know they didn’t mean to never listen to you; don’t worry about us and go.”

Anne nodded, glad for Kyle’s reassurance.

“Yeah. I will.”

* * *

With Evan’s arm around her shoulders, they walked slowly to the single-patient room, Anne speaking rapidly and eagerly.

“What should we do first? Should we write up the execution plan and get it approved? Oh, no. Should we start by getting consent forms right away…?”

“I thought you already wrote a report eight months ago, detailing what a blood transfusion is, how to do it, and how it could be used in the future?”

Anne nodded, remembering what she’d done as soon as she’d been promoted to lieutenant.

It was a long time ago, and at the time, she hadn’t even thought to try. She’d written a report when she was required to write a periodic performance report.

“How did you know?”

“I received a letter from the administration recently.”

Anne’s face paled at his words.

“Fortunately, it was handled by our administrative officer.”

“Our side? Do we have a faction?”

Evan looked at Anne’s blank face and sighed.

“They dismissed it at first, saying it was the work of a witch.”

Evan shrugged.

“But it is too early to implement it right away. To attempt a blood transfusion for the entire imperial army.”

“Wow, that’s great!”

“Great?”

Evan was annoyed by Anne’s recklessness.

But he couldn’t be angry, and the way she smiled, her lips parted in the shape of a heart, left him speechless.

All he could think was that he wanted those soft lips madly.

As Anne tried to gently place the injured Evan on the bed, she couldn’t let go of him in time and ended up in bed with him.

She tried to sit up, but his hold on her prevented her from moving further.

“Anne Riley, can I kiss you?”

She looked down into his eyes, confused by his words.

“Now, wait a minute, you don’t mean to tell me this since we kissed the other day…we can, right? Now is not the time for that!”

He replied with a wry smile.

“Yes, it is the right time. Didn’t you take my virginity?”

Anne retorted, her cheeks flushing red at the absurdity of the statement.

“You were the one who asked if you could kiss me first!”

“Yes, it was me.”

At his meek acquiescence, Anne pointed a finger at him and exclaimed.

“T-that’s right. That’s exactly it. It was just a momentary agreement between us. It’s like the effects that come from being on the battlefield, where lives are at stake.”

His blue eyes widened for a moment. Then, as if he didn’t like her every word, Evan stood up quickly and locked eyes with Anne.

“Yeah. I’ve never felt such camaraderie.”

Unfortunately, he seemed intent on picking on Anne.

“…Commander?”

‘You’re not supposed to move yet…! ’

Anne was trapped in Evan’s arms, but she managed to slide down and poke at his wound.

As soon as she touched him, he let out a guttural moan.

“Oh, God…! I told you not to move. Your wounds have reopened.”

“…Even under these circumstances, you.”

“My duties as a medic come first.”

Evan smirked and nodded.

“Your duty comes first…. Then, Lieutenant Riley, may I make you a proposition?”

“A proposition?”

“Yes.”

Anne’s head lifted slowly.

She wasn’t sure what he was suggesting, but she had a premonition that she was about to be dragged into this man’s intentions.

The reason for this was so pathetic that she couldn’t help but laugh.

It was just that this man bothered her.

“I’m going to need a military doctor to scout the Calohas region soon, and I was wondering if you’d like to come along. That way, we can discuss that transfusion management thing you mentioned in depth….”

Anne barely opened her lips to reply to Evan’s offer.

Not because his fingers were tangling in her hair.

Evan smirked as he brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.

The look on his face made Anne think she might be possessed by a demon.

“…Well, wasn’t it already decided that Captain Roman would go?”

Captain Roman had already been scheduled to go to the Calohas region.

“He said he didn’t want to go if there were other applicants. Oh, he’s been ranting for a while about not going at all. Lieutenant Anne Riley, why don’t you take this opportunity to get everything you want?”

A strange undercurrent heated the air without pause.

“You mean to win?”

“It means I officially have a reason to take you by my side. Now, try to achieve all the status, fame, and money you want. Because you deserve everything.”

Evan’s bright blond hair bounced slightly in the sunlight. His sculpted hands ran through Anne’s hair.

Ever since she’d met him, a red blossom had bloomed in her heart that looked like it would soon burn out, and she already knew that nurturing a flower that would soon die was hard enough to kill.

“I don’t know what kind of idiot you’re being beaten by, but you don’t deserve it.”

Anne’s eyes welled up with tears at the sound of his voice.

Evan had given her recognition, and love had blossomed in her heart, though she was dimly aware of it. Anne chewed her lip and thought.

‘I shouldn’t be crying…. ’

She hadn’t heard that in her previous life.

The words, “I deserve everything,” burned into her heart.

It was a phrase she wanted to hear over and over again, ever since she’d been a miserable graduate student.

‘You know you can do anything, right? ’

She felt so helpless that she couldn’t even respond to those words, and she had told herself that she was beyond help.

But no one had ever said such warm words to her before. It was as if he was making amends for the past.

“Did you say that I… deserved it?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you before, and I know we’re on a tight schedule, but you have to understand. I can’t let a competent subordinate play around, so take it.”

‘What the hell is he up to? Is he letting me fly just to see how far I’ll fall? And what the hell is this man?

His long, thick index finger touched the corners of Anne’s moistened eyes.

“I didn’t expect you to cry like this.”

“Me neither; I don’t want to cry; I just….”

Evan chuckled and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of his hand.

“I always feel like kissing you at times like this, and I expect you’ll be confused and want to avoid me again.”

“What?”

His lips brushed against hers.

Rolling the bed sheets in her hands, she had to follow his lead, smelling like candy she didn’t know where she’d eaten.

His cold fingers caressed her where she was weakest, at the base of her neck.

Evan chuckled and whispered in her ear.

“Sweet? You ate a candy similar to what you gave me.”

Evan’s tongue flicked across her teeth again, as if to taste it. Anne pushed him away slightly at the wickedly sweet touch.

“Sleep, just a moment.”

He whispered, his lips parting for a moment, a smile on his face.

“If you don’t want to, just say so.”

Anne flinched in surprise at the sensation of their thighs touching, but Evan didn’t miss it. Anne widened her eyes at his intense gaze, momentarily speechless.

Realizing that Anne wasn’t going to object to anything, Evan leaned in to kiss her lips again.

His tongue darted inside her mouth, relentlessly pursuing her.

The deep kiss was enough to send her reeling.

Evan intensified the kiss as if to tease her, raising the stakes.

Evan grabbed her waist, pressing his lips against her neck.

Anne’s dark red hair, dishevelled on the hospital bed, shone brightly as a reflection of his desire. Evan let out a deep groan.

He groaned deeply at the uncontrolled lust that had overtaken him.

He loved the look on her face and the way she was so overwhelmed by this feeling, this sensation, without realizing what it was.

‘Have I ever wanted someone so badly? ’

Evan chuckled at the thought of his past, where social niceties and choosing suitable companions for the benefit of his family dominated.

How sweet it would be to be stuck with this woman, covered in sweat and blood, in wartime, when he might be in the rear and his head could be blown off at any moment.

He was sure the noblemen would click their tongues at the sight of this, calling it “filthy,” but he couldn’t hide his growing desire.

Evan bit his lip and slowly rose to his feet when Anne shuddered against him as he kissed the nape of her neck.

“Not yet.”

“What’s that….”

Evan stroked her hair and whispered as Anne shivered at the fierce look in his eyes that threatened to consume her at any moment.

“I was too hasty.”

“No, you weren’t.”

Quick to deny it, Anne turned her head slightly, realizing that their gazes were too hotly entwined.

“Now it’s time for an answer. It’s your chance to seize your desires. What do you want to do?”

The lust she’d been told she shouldn’t bring out, the desire she’d been told she shouldn’t have, and more, began to flare up.

When the war is over, Anne Riley will not be just another commoner with a good salary.

She could see a future where she would be recognized as a ‘war hero’ and given the honour she deserved.

Originally, she hadn’t even thought of such desires, but he had brought them to the surface.

“In giving me the chance to win it all, what do you want from me, Commander?”

Evan Davis looked surprised at the question, as if the answer was unexpected, and then he smirked.

He brushed back her flowing hair and replied.

“If I say I want something, will you give it to me?”

“I’d listen and decide if it was a good deal.”

“You must be very resourceful in business. How about we make it on one condition: I can see you whenever I want?”

Anne’s eyes widened at the mention of making herself available.

It had been a long time since Anne felt the sweetness of all of Evan’s care for her.

But the fear that he might suddenly turn his back on her after such a generous gesture sent a chill through her.

“I’m assuming this is a one-sided request?”

“Ah.”

Evan smirked, realizing the subtext of the question, and brought his lips to her forehead once more before correcting himself.

“You and me. I’ll let you see whoever you want whenever you want, then we’re equal.”

His smirk at her left Anne speechless for a moment.

If the letters she’d seen before were any indication, this man would be better than anyone she’d ever met when it came to how to charm a woman.

If it weren’t for the war, Evan would be treading the floor of an ornate marble ballroom, not this blood-stained hospital floor. Suddenly, Anne felt the gap between them.

“Very well, I’ll see you whenever you want, Commander.”

Anne was pleased to hear the affirmation and to have the security of knowing she could see him whenever she wanted.

Alas, she had already had the fierce thought that she wished Evan Davis were at her side.

“Now that I’ve heard your assurances, I’ll take you to your place.”

“I’ll… I’ll make sure to see to the wound first.”

At that, Evan smiled darkly, slid off her and lay down on his side.

“I’ll leave my body to your care, Lieutenant.”

Anne lowered her flushed face. She opened a drawer beside her and pulled out some disinfectant.

“You’ll need to rest for at least ten days to get better before we go to Calohas, and you’re absolutely stable until then.”

“That’s a problem.”

“No. If you let an infection slip through the gaping wound, you could end up sleeping here.”

At that, Evan burst out laughing.

“Oh, no. That’s a scary thing to say.”

“At least, I’m the most competent military doctor in this empire, so you should listen to me.”

Evan nodded meekly and whispered in what could have been considered arrogance.

“Then, will you be my hands and feet, because, as you know, Lieutenant, I can’t just leave my job unattended.”

Anne pursed her lips tightly.

This was the sort of thing he could get a subordinate to do….

“Not while I’m seeing patients. I’ll come over at some point during the end of my shift.”

“Do so, and while you’re at it, you might as well familiarize yourself with the Calohas region. When you see Cayman Laurel, one of my lieutenants, he’ll give you some material on the subject, and you can come to me with it.”

Anne turned her attention to disinfecting the wound as he spoke.

“And one other thing. There’s something I want to know.”

“What is it?”

“If you come to me, am I right in assuming you’re thinking of being intimate with me?”

Evan smiled lazily. Anne leaned her head back, remembering his deep kiss earlier.

If she didn’t answer right away, it wasn’t because she couldn’t think of an answer to his question.

Even before he’d spoken those words, she’d thought about kissing him again, maybe even more.

She was ashamed of herself for casually telling Evan that she would come whenever she could.

He grinned as he grabbed Anne’s wrist.

“I quite like you.”

What woman wouldn’t fall for that?

Even though she knew she shouldn’t dare to hope…

Even though she knew this act was as dangerous as eating a poisonous mushroom…

Anne’s lips moved on their own.

“I will. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay.”

With the courage to make that promise, Anne thought she was quite remarkable as she left the room.