Chapter 11 – Part 3

Meanwhile, Kyle had met Hans at the National Military Hospital. Hans had decided to persuade those who had been moved from the Carl Hessens Field Hospital to the National Military Hospital to prepare for the upcoming bloodshed.

He also received documents comparing the medical supplies provided to the two hospitals, which clearly showed the poor conditions of the field hospital.

Returning to Vanesaga, Kyle thought of his next plan. Although he said he would go to the Duke’s manor, he was unsure how to infiltrate it. Should he just go and say, “I want to work as a servant”?

While pondering this, Carly, who was standing in the hallway, spoke up. “Kyle, I can write a recommendation letter for you. Do you know how to cook?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s simple. Move with me for now. I’ve met Evan’s sister a few times at balls, so we are acquainted. I’ve heard there’s a nanny in the Duke’s manor who is very fond of Evan Davis. What was her name? Mila? Anyway, you can explain the situation to her.”

Carly extended her hand to Kyle, adding, “Let’s go together.”

Though it was a handshake, symbolizing they were in the same boat, Kyle felt he wasn’t worthy of shaking her hand. “Please retract your hand. I’m not someone who should be casually touching a lady’s hand.”

The surname Elman was commonly used by wanderers. Someone like him, shaking hands with a lady of the Dehart family?

With a stern expression, Kyle turned away from her. Carly, who had been left standing with an incredulous look, quickly ran after him and grabbed his hand, scolding him with a bright smile.

“Oh, come on. Do I seem like the type to care about that? Then… that would be really disappointing.”

“People will point fingers at you.”

Carly laughed at Kyle’s words. “This really shows how similar Anne and Kyle are as friends. I don’t care how others see me anymore. I’ve… experienced too much to worry about such things.”

Smiling nonchalantly, Carly changed the subject. “Let’s go, Kyle.”

Kyle, with a hesitant expression, reluctantly nodded.

Soon, the two boarded a carriage that was already prepared.

Kyle couldn’t bring himself to let go of Carly’s hand.

As the sunset brightly illuminated the scene, darkness quickly enveloped the streets.

Clunk.

There was a loud sound of something breaking, along with the noise of a wheel falling off. Kyle, who was holding Carly tightly to prevent her from falling, shouted.

“What happened?”

“Oh no, what do we do? A sharp rock got stuck in the wheel…. There’s a place nearby where it can be fixed, but it won’t be quick.”

Kyle looked around.

Even though the war was over, bandits still roamed the roads, making it dangerous.

“It’s still a two-hour walk to the duke’s residence. It’s difficult to find another carriage at this hour, so it’s better to find an inn until the carriage is repaired.”

Hearing Kyle’s suggestion, the coachman spoke with relief.

“Then, I’ll fix it by morning and return here.”

Carly nodded.

Upon arriving at the shopping district, Kyle entered an inn.

Though shabby, the warm air inside provided comfort against the chilly evening.

“We’d like two rooms.”

“Ah, there is one room suitable for two people.”

“No, we need two.”

“Well….”

“Excuse me, I see two keys remaining over there?”

The innkeeper, looking a bit troubled, glanced at a nearby elderly woman, who shook her head and spoke.

“A gentleman reserved a room and said he would return. So, there’s only one room available now.”

Kyle turned to Carly and said,

“Let’s walk a bit more and find another place.”

As they were about to leave to find another inn,

“You won’t find rooms anywhere else. The people who arrived earlier said other inns were already full. Since the war ended, everyone is returning home….”

“Then, we’ll stay here. Are there two beds in the room?”

“There’s one bed, but I can give you extra blankets.”

Reluctantly, Kyle took the key, unable to find another solution.

The sound of their footsteps echoing in the hallway felt strangely loud.

“Are you worried?”

“…Worried about what?”

“I’m still a man. And I’m a commoner.”

“But you’re a person before anything else.”

Kyle sighed deeply as he saw Carly’s bright smile and entered the room.

Duke Evan Davis and Carly Dehart had this in common—this strange indifference to social status.

Any other noble would have found sharing a room with an unrelated man, especially a commoner, disgraceful.

“Kyle, don’t worry and rest today. We have a lot to do.”

“…Why are you doing this? From the beginning, you weren’t close to Anne, so why treat me like this?”

Kyle sincerely asked about the familiar feeling he had been experiencing.

Carly, unable to give a clear answer, smiled and brushed it off.

“I’ll tell you why once everything is fine. For now… please don’t doubt my intentions.”

Kyle calmed his mind as he heard Carly’s sincere response.

“I don’t doubt you. You don’t need to say more.”

For Carly, the word “okay” was oddly comforting.

The intense loneliness and solitude that began the day she lost Ferrell Klein hadn’t ended.

In this life too, Carly had clung to Kyle, asking about Ferrell’s whereabouts.

Kyle would never know how comforting it was to hear that someone else had confirmed Ferrell’s absence.

‘It’s not because you’re an important person to Anne, but somewhere along the way, I feel like I’ve become part of that field hospital too, Kyle.’

Lying on the sofa, Kyle looked at Carly and spoke.

“Get some sleep.”

“Kyle, when I came to you out of the blue and asked for help…”

“……”

“I was grateful that you were there. Even if I couldn’t find Ferrell, I wasn’t too disappointed, because you were by my side. To be honest, Kyle, his face is becoming hazy in my memory now. The more time passes, the harder it is for me to recall.”

“You don’t need to remember him.”

“But I still remember him. When you rescued the crown prince, the fact that Ferrell was alive was….”

Carly stopped talking.

Kyle, looking at the sleeping Carly, who quickly drifted off, recalled old memories.

It was a time of chaos when Anne left and the Carl Hessentz Field Hospital was in turmoil due to embezzlement charges.

Carly’s devastated expression as she clung to her own leg, begging for help, had been tremendously shocking.

At the end of her long absence, Carly had nothing but futile hope.

“Kyle, you know, right? About the Battle of Vorenia. I heard someone survived and crossed the border.”

“Who told you that?”

“A passing vagrant…. The person he described looked like Ferrell…. If I go to the border of the Kingdom of Bales, as the vagrant said!”

“Get a hold of yourself! How do you plan to go to such a dangerous place?”

“To the border…. Kyle, can I ask you something? Did you see Ferrell during that battle?”

Kyle cursed inwardly. How did she know he had been transporting the wounded during the Battle of Vorenia?

Kyle also remembered Ferrell, who had pushed the crown prince away first.

Ferrell had laughed bitterly while looking at the completely ruined Carl Hessentz Field Hospital?.

“I saw him.”

“He didn’t die?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t confirm if his heart stopped.”

“Then, does that mean there’s hope for me too?”

“Are you crazy?”

Kyle spat out a harsh curse. People were losing their minds because of this damn war.

“I have to go. That’s all that matters.”

“……”

“Thank you.”

“If you’re determined to go to the border, I’ll have to accompany you.”

However, they couldn’t make it to the border. Even though the war had subsided, it was still just as dangerous.

As they ran across the plains towards the border, the thought that they might be shot and killed at any moment crossed Kyle’s mind countless times.

Eventually, Carly’s voice, full of disappointment, was heard.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Let’s go back. I can’t put you in more danger, Kyle.”

From the moment Kyle realized that the always cheerful Carly was carrying more pain than anyone else, he couldn’t help but worry about her.

Kyle covered the sleeping Carly with a blanket and let out a deep sigh.

The reason Carly continued to struggle, even after confirming that the person she loved was dead, was probably just one thing.

She didn’t want to lose anyone else.

Kyle’s heart ached as he felt her pain.