Chapter 1 – Part 6

“Command….”

Evan cut off Anne’s words.

“You’re dealing with this place?”

“…Yes. It was to save patients. We needed to do that for them to be discharged without any problems.”

“And why do you care about that?”

“…….”

Still, looking at Anne like a mouse in a trap, Evan continued.

“What are you doing here without reporting to your superior?”

“I just needed supplies, like I’ve been doing….”

“Hey.”

Evan’s cologne was thick with musk. Anne replied calmly, the cold walls closing in on her.

“…If you want to get rid of it, I’ll take it.”

Feeling she had nowhere to retreat, Anne stretched out her arms. This time, Commander Evan Davis would have her dismissed.

Or so she thought.

“Get the supplies you need, and I’m with you on this one.”

“What?”

“What, are you not going to get anything?”

Anne lifted her head and looked at Evan. ‘What the hell was he thinking? ’

Then she realized that he was offering to cover for her misdeeds, so she quickly made her way to the storeroom, where the supplies she needed were, and said

“…Thank you. I’ll make sure to repay you for this.”

Evan nodded and followed her into the other room, turning to the man who had been pressuring her earlier.

“What happened to the information I asked for? Can’t we easily hear rumors from people near the border?”

“Oh, don’t even get me started; they’ve got these weird rules where if you look a bit suspicious, they’ll arrest you for spying, even if you’re talking to someone.”

The man poured a drink into a glass and offered it to Evan. Evan downed the strong drink in one gulp.

It almost tastes sweet now. As he popped one candy after another into his mouth, Evan spoke in a monotone voice.

“There is no benefit to prolonging this war. I need information.”

“What do we know? We just do what we’re told and try to survive.”

“If the war drags on here, the Empire will collapse.”

“I know, I’m trying to help because I want to live with my family, but it’s getting nowhere, and even when there are suspects, they’re like snakes!”

“…Take care.”

Evan took one of the cigarettes the shopkeeper had given him and lit it.

He didn’t want anyone to catch him mingling with the men in the back alleys.

However, the man who showed up for the appointment said, “Not now, I have a regular customer who deals in medical supplies, and there’s a sign that says she’s here, so I need to get to the shop right now. If you’re in a hurry, you can follow me!” and left Evan alone.

The mark on the wall, which the owner was looking at, was a picture of a strawberry.

‘They’re involved in smuggling.’

And so Evan followed the owner.

Ha. It turns out it was Lieutenant Anne Riley who was doing business with the owner of the back alley.

“As always, we’ll contact him through Jen, and if you don’t hear from him, you’re to run to the place I gave you.”

“Yes.”

There was a long silence at the end of the conversation. Evan pushed open the window to let the smoke from his cigarette escape.

Outside the window, homeless people who had lost their homes due to the war and refugees were bustling about, while women in colorful clothes wandered the streets.

‘This is the state of the world.’

He wasn’t feeling too pleased about the fact that she had come here alone to this dangerous place, without any escort whatsoever.

‘You have to limit your recklessness.’

Evan was getting frustrated that he couldn’t just leave Anne Riley alone with her annoying behaviour.

When Anne had finished gathering her things, she emerged from the storeroom and, under Evan’s watchful eye, she took out a large sum of money.

It was money that was secretly taken out of the budget and a little bit of money was added from her own salary.

Without even counting the items, the owner took the money and said,

“Don’t come back again. Even if you do, there won’t be any medicine.”

It was strange.

The owner’s demeanour had suddenly turned stern.

Whatever the reason, if they didn’t accept transactions in the future, there would surely be a big problem. Anne sighed deeply and said,

“…What the hell is wrong with you? You’ve been so good to me so far.”

The owner, who had bent over and opened his mouth in silence as if to say something, glanced at Evan slyly, then stood stiffly again.

“Isn’t that illegal?”

At this point, she could see that Evan Davis was the reason she could no longer do business with him.

Anne replied, trying to find another way out.

“Okay. I won’t come again unless it’s urgent.”

Evan put his hand on her head, squeezing it slightly as she lied.

“Just don’t come here again.”

Anne smiled sheepishly.

“Okay.”

“You’re lying.”

Evan looked at her sternly.

She was carrying a bag that must have weighed twice as much as she did, plus the disinfectant.

Crushed by the weight, she didn’t argue with Evan and turned to leave.

Leaving the building, Evan followed her as she strode briskly down the mouth of the back alley where the raggedy, merciless men stood.

“Hey.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I have somewhere to go before I head back to the base.”

“…I’m not going.”

“It’s a command. The situation is a bit difficult right now.”

Evan lifted Anne’s luggage with one hand and met her eyes and gaze.

Anne swallowed hard at the change in Evan’s demeanour, a far cry from the pretty smirk she’d seen before.

She could practically hear the tension in the air.

After taking over Anne’s bag and straightening it up, Evan smirked as he wrapped his hand around her waist, much to her embarrassment.

“Quietly follow me.”

“What are you doing?”

“I think we’re being followed. Don’t worry, it should be fine.”

Followed?

Who the hell?

Anne’s heart sank with anxiety; she’d never been followed since she’d been here.

But she didn’t have time to wonder.

Evan held her waist and spoke in a strange voice, as if they were a normal couple.

“What are you making for dinner tonight?”

Anne cupped her cheeks, her temper rising. It was obvious he was teasing her.

Anne bit her lip tightly and laughed.

“Honey, aren’t you carrying anything heavy?”

Evan looked a little surprised by her comment, but then he smiled.

“Of course not; you’re doing a good cause and I’m happy to help.”

Anne glanced around, placed her hand on his breastplate, and whispered in a low voice, not wanting her pursuers to hear.

“I don’t know if I look like a noble lady.”

It was the most fancy dress Anne had ever owned. The black dress, worn only on important occasions, was the minimum of decorum.

But she was sure it would look tacky to others.

“It’s all right, they’d think you had a hard time wearing a skimpy dress in these war barrels.”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, darling.”

Now… darling. Anne took a step back, startled.

Her heart, which had been pounding with fear at the tickling words, beat faster.

Strangely, this walk as husband and wife wasn’t so bad.

Even if they were being followed.

“Do you think they’re still following us?”

“Can you walk a little faster?”

“Yeah.”

Evan picked up his pace as soon as they entered a complex alleyway that branched off into several side streets. Anne wondered if he really knew the way.

Then it happened.

Suddenly, Evan grabbed her around the waist and jerked her up, causing her to almost yelp.

“Shh.”

He led her to a very shabby building. Evan lifted Ann over the wall.

“Can you hold on so you don’t fall?”

“Yes.”

As soon as Anne was standing on the fence and holding onto the second-floor window, Evan climbed over the fence in a single bound and pulled her into the double-decker hallway.

Anne glanced around and spoke.

“What if we get caught doing this?”

“I don’t think they’re following us to do us any harm to begin with, so if we stay here for a while, they’ll think they’ve lost us and give up.”

He pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door.

There was an air of nobility about Evan, dressed in a simple but fine suit rather than his usual battle dress.

His sharp features were the only glow in the dark corridor. If it weren’t for the war, he would have been the kind of man who would have set the hearts of society women aflutter.

Evan opened the door, revealing a small, dusty room.

“I’ll sit down for a minute.”

Sitting down on the worn bed, Anne tried to calm her racing heart.

“Do you want some water?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

Anne walked slowly to the window. As she peeked out the curtained window, the only sound was the occasional echo of the loud voices of those wandering the streets.

Evan stepped closer and grabbed Anne’s hand as she opened the curtain slightly.

“Don’t show your face recklessly.”