Chapter 11 – Part 5

“You like him, don’t you?”

“Yes. Hearing that you knew him when he was young made me very curious.”

Mila was convinced Anne was a naive girl, unaware of the ways of the world.

“Change quickly. I’ve prepared a maid’s outfit for you to disguise yourself as one of the Duke’s servants.”

“…Alright.”

Taking the clothes with a somewhat cold demeanor, Anne followed Mila.

When they reached an empty room, Mila looked back at Anne.

“We don’t have much time, so you must change quickly.”

“Yes.”

Anne quickly changed and glanced at the large portrait hanging on the wall.

‘Evan’s mother.’

Mila had brought Anne to the room once used by the former Duchess.

No one visited here, and Mila had the only key, making it the perfect place for Anne to hide.

Evan’s mother also had lush, wavy blonde hair. Her smile reminded Anne of Evan.

Anne, standing in front of the Duchess’s portrait, made a vow,

“I will save your son… I promise.”

Mila, overhearing Anne’s muttered words, looked surprised but said,

“Let’s go.”

“…Alright.”

As Anne followed Mila, her heart began to race at the thought of meeting him soon.

‘What should I say when I see him? Would it be strange to say I missed him right away?’

Feeling anxious, Anne sighed quietly.

They stopped at the most ornate door they had passed. Mila spoke firmly,

“Once you open this door, you will be incriminated too. Frankly, I don’t even know what you can do. If you plan to act like a fleeting acquaintance, you should stop now. That would be….”

“Mila, don’t worry. Thank you for helping. We’ll repay your trust.”

Anne interrupted, holding Mila’s rough hands, realizing how much she had endured and why she was so guarded.

Anne left Mila behind and opened the door.

“Commander Evan!”

The Duke, Evan Davis, was sitting at his desk, looking bored as he gazed at a book. His eyes turned to Anne.

Sunlight seeped through thick curtains, making his golden hair shimmer. Evan blinked in disbelief at the woman before him, his posture faltering.

“Why… are you here…?”

Anne ran to him.

“I missed you.”

“…Anne?”

She kneeled in front of his chair, hugging his waist tightly, not letting him escape.

Evan looked down at her, recognizing her despite her maid’s attire, her red hair peeking from her bonnet, and her delicate features confirming her identity.

Realizing she was really here, Evan felt his blood freeze and his stomach churn with fear and longing.

‘Why are you…?’

Afraid the past would repeat itself, Evan’s vision darkened. Yet Anne’s warmth soothed his long-held yearning.

Even in the royal dungeon, during sleepless interrogations, he had despaired at her illusions. The sweet strawberry scent confirmed she was real.

But the joy was short-lived. Evan felt torn between despair and joy.

“…Lady Vanessa, go back.”

“No.”

“You have to. You can’t stay here.”

Evan coldly pushed her away, not knowing how to make her give up on him. He looked at her with icy eyes.

But Anne, ignoring him, started unpacking her things. Confused, Evan asked,

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m moving in.”

“Stop acting like a child.”

Anne turned back to Evan, their eyes meeting intensely. Though slightly thinner, his graceful demeanor and sparkling blue eyes remained.

Despite a soldier’s rough edge, Anne boldly sat on his lap, hugging his neck.

“I’m not a child.”

“…To me, you’re just a fledgling with ink barely dry on your papers.”

Evan whispered in her ear, his voice lower.

But his hands trembled near her shoulders, unable to touch her.

Anne buried her lips in his neck, leaving a deep kiss mark next to his adam’s apple, reminding herself she was much older in spirit.

“Does a child do this?”

“Lady Vanessa.”

Evan’s clear eyes widened, showing his confusion at Anne’s assertive behavior.

Evan’s reproachful tone made Anne feel momentarily wronged. Who was at fault for all this, anyway?

“Then you shouldn’t have seduced me.”

“What?”

Yes, it was all the fault of this handsome commander who followed her around, saved her in times of danger, and clearly showed his interest in her.

Anne’s cheeks reddened; her expression was pouty but visibly embarrassed.

Evan cautiously tried to push Anne away by holding her shoulders.

But Anne, determined, tightened her arms around his neck.

“Don’t send me away. I didn’t come here on a whim.”

Everything still felt like a dream to Evan, and only then did he realize the gravity of Anne’s actions.

“You know the charges I’m facing, don’t you?”

“That’s why I’m here. I believe you’re innocent. I want to help you.”

Evan frowned as he replied,

“The war is over. I’m struggling with the aftermath….”

“Wait.”

Anne interrupted him.

She got off his lap and rummaged through the bag she had placed on the floor.

Pushing aside the book on the desk, she laid out the medical supplies she had brought.

A scrape on his cheek from being dragged across the ground during his arrest was still untreated.

‘They should have at least treated his handsome face!’

Anne silently cursed those who had taken Evan from the shrine.

Evan was startled again as Anne, leaning in close, began treating his wounds.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Treating you.”

Anne carefully touched his cheek, cleaning the wound with disinfectant and gently applying ointment with her ring finger.

Evan didn’t blink once during this time. As Anne was almost done, he sighed and spoke.

“You don’t need to do this. There’s a skilled physician at the estate.”

“…You dismissed him, saying you were fine.”

“How do you know that?”

“Are you going to keep using formal speech with me?”

Evan sighed again, looking at Anne, who changed the subject instead of answering.

He sat there like a stone, waiting for the treatment to end.

“W-Wait, Lady Vanessa!”

Just as he thought he should send Anne away after the treatment, she began unbuttoning his neatly fastened shirt. Evan jumped up in surprise.

“Stay still. I need to check if the previous wounds have healed.”

“…You shouldn’t do this.”

Anne replied nonchalantly,

“Come on, I’ve seen your bare skin plenty of times before. Why so shy now?”

Evan was at a loss for words, and Anne’s hands moved faster.

Finally, she finished unbuttoning his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders.

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence passed between them.

Anne couldn’t hide her sad expression as she carefully examined his body, avoiding touching his numerous bruises and lash marks.

“New wounds have appeared.”

“It would be best if you stopped looking at these harsh scars….”

Among all his wounds, Anne noticed the worst one on his shoulder.

A deep gash, poorly stitched, looked like it would reopen if left untreated.

Holding a medical needle and thread, Anne firmly said,

“If it hurts, grab onto something, Commander Evan.”

“Wait….”

Evan’s words dissolved into a deep groan that echoed through the room. The marks of torture caused him intense pain.

As Evan gripped Anne’s waist in pain, she was briefly startled but refocused on treating the wound.

It was the first time he showed such vulnerability.

Anne cleaned the wound with disinfectant, while Evan’s grip tightened due to the unbearable pain.

“Why on earth are you….”

“We’re comrades, remember?”

Anne’s tone was calm, but she made a silent vow in her heart.

They were comrades who had endured the hardships and horrors of war together.

She wouldn’t let him be condemned as a traitor and lose his life.

After treating the wound, Anne draped his shirt back over his shoulders and gently said,

“From now on, I’ll be here with you, eating, sleeping, and staying by your side.”

“…An unmarried lady sleeping in the same room as a man? What’s your real intention?”

Evan’s voice was desperate. As Anne looked into his deep blue eyes, filled with unknown emotions, she shrugged.

“Well. Should we run away together?”

“……”

“Or maybe we should actually commit treason.”

Anne playfully blew on her finger like a gun and smiled.

“…Be careful with your words.”

“You’re innocent. Let’s prepare for the upcoming trial together. I’ll be there as a witness.”

“You will not attend.”

Evan lifted Anne by the waist and set her down away from him.

Anne, pouting, said,

“Ha. Anyway, as your dedicated maid, I’ll be staying right by your side.”

“I’ll send you away.”

“Then I’ll be arrested too. There were so many soldiers at the estate, it was terrifying.”

Evan ran his hand through his hair in frustration. It didn’t make sense for her to be here in the first place.

Though he claimed he would send her away, he realized the best way was to hide her in this room until the right moment. This required outside help.

Evan looked at Anne, who approached him again.

Her green eyes seemed to hold a peaceful meadow, and her unique scent, even amidst the smell of fish, excited him.

Having Anne so close, Evan struggled to maintain his composure.

“I don’t know what gave you the courage to come here, but….”

Evan scooped Anne up and carried her to the bed with determined steps.

Evan carefully laid her down on the bed, her disheveled red hair spreading across the sheets. He climbed on top of her, bringing his face close to hers.

“Sharing a room with a man means this.”

“I don’t know wha—”

Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were captured by his.

Evan aggressively explored between her lips, his hot tongue sweeping over her delicate inner tissues.

“Mmm…”

Anne could only helplessly receive his insistent kisses.

She felt something hard pressing against her stomach and waist, but she had no time to pay attention to it.

As the kiss deepened, Anne found it impossible to keep her senses.

Evan stopped kissing and looked at Anne, who was panting and blushing with her eyes half-closed. She tried to hide her face with her hands, embarrassed by her disheveled appearance.

Seeing her like this made Evan’s lower body ache even more.

“Ah…!”