“So, what do you think? Do you want to run away again?”

Anne swallowed hard. Before she could even consider Howard’s suggestion, Evan opened his eyes.

He rose smoothly, like someone who had been resting rather than sleeping, and grabbed Anne’s wrist.

“Don’t run away.”

“……”

“Stay by my side. Or rather, let me stay by yours.”

With his disheveled hair and natural demeanor, Evan’s heartfelt plea brought a blush to Anne’s cheeks.

Trying to maintain her composure, Anne replied,

“I won’t run. Let go.”

“Yes.”

Flustered, Anne turned her attention to her work. She grabbed an antiseptic from the metal tray to treat both men’s injuries, starting with Evan’s bruised nose and split lip.

“You didn’t fight each other, did you?”

Her question hung in the air as she moved towards Howard. Suddenly, Evan embraced her from behind, making her forget her unanswered question.

The mix of musk and the sweet strawberry scent from Evan, reminiscent of her favorite candy, made her head spin.

“Don’t go to that guy.”

“He’s my patient.”

“Even so, don’t go.”

Howard, amused, interjected,

“Duke Davis, are you sulking?”

“…If you don’t like what you see, look away.”

“Ha, unbelievable.”

Howard was at a loss for words at Evan’s childish rebuttal.

“I’d prefer not to see this either.”

“Well, if you had told me in time, none of this would have happened.”

Anne looked puzzled and asked,

“Told me what in time?”

“……”

“……”

Both men avoided her gaze, knowing they’d get scolded if she found out.

“But Anne, didn’t you agree to date me?”

“What? Oh, right.”

She had completely forgotten amidst the chaos. They were supposed to pretend to be ‘lovers’ on the surface.

“Right?”

“Because I showed that token to someone else…”

Evan smirked and asked in a low voice,

“Someone else?”

Howard answered for her,

“Unfortunately, Anne started a new relationship.”

Worried about how Evan would take it, Anne bit her lip. Evan intertwined his fingers with hers and said,

“I don’t believe it. You couldn’t possibly leave me. Isn’t that right? Unless it was all an act because of that d*mned token.”

Anne sighed,

“Ah, you caught me.”

Howard’s hands clasped behind his head, leaned back against the bedhead, looking content.

‘She seems happy.’

Does Anne realize she keeps glancing at Evan?

Howard observed her, aware that she might not see the futility of further investing in an unwinnable situation.

‘Just want to have a little fun.’

At that moment, someone entered the room.

A woman with elaborate golden hair – unmistakable.

‘Director Garnet Styroph.’

Anne, worried about appearing unprofessional while wrapped in Evan’s arms, tried to break free but failed. In the end, she greeted Garnet with a slight bow.

“Hello, Director.”

“Anne, I’m aware of the situation, so don’t worry too much. However, haven’t you both achieved your goals? If so, could you please leave my hospital?”

Garnet’s patience had reached its limit.

She hadn’t expected a brawl in her hospital, especially between a prince and a foreign duke. Public knowledge of this incident would damage not just the individuals involved but the hospital as well.

Howard frowned at Garnet’s suggestion.

“We’re injured. Where should we go?”

“This hospital specializes in long-term care, not trauma.”

“Weren’t you funded to handle trauma patients as well?”

Howard’s expression showed that he found her statement absurd. His seemingly simple question was actually a clear threat.

Garnet felt her anger boiling but restrained herself.

One day, a man came to the hospital, offering a large donation. Initially, she was thrilled at her good fortune.

To Garnet, the donor’s arrival was a blessing, especially as she sought to expand the hospital. Even if the benefactor was an unfamiliar noble, she accepted the donation without further investigation.

‘A poisoned chalice.’

Howard had contacted her shortly after he was discharged, asking to keep Anne Riley out of sight for a while. While skeptical of the prince’s request, Garnet couldn’t refuse due to past favors from Howard.

She wondered if the prince had any intention of hiding his relationship with Anne or why she still needed to work at the hospital, but she followed Howard’s request nonetheless.

She had reluctantly given Anne a forced vacation.

Then, Duke Evan Davis visited the hospital. Garnet never imagined this would lead to such chaos.

Though unclear on the specifics of their conversation, the bloody brawl between the two men was now widely known within the hospital.

It was only then that she learned that the talented employee who introduced herself as Anne Riley was the protagonist of one of the most talked-about romances in the Terossa Empire.

Garnet spoke the lines she had prepared.

“Anne, you need to keep a close eye on them. I don’t want any more disturbances. Or would you prefer to stay overnight? I’ll even bring in an extra bed. That’s better. I’ll pay you double!”

“What?”

“I shouldn’t have put you on leave. You wouldn’t believe what’s happened in your absence…”

Garnet couldn’t finish her sentence. Her assistant had covered her mouth with one hand.

The assistant whispered,

“Confidentiality is a condition of our funding, Director.”

“Oh.”

Garnet sighed. Her reflection in the large mirror showed dark circles under her eyes, undoubtedly due to these two men.

Thinking about all she had endured in silence, she felt the confidentiality clause didn’t matter anymore.

She remembered an event from a few days ago.

* * *

[On the risk of infectious diseases in mild weather.]

[Legislative proposals for personal information protection in medical facilities.]

Garnet had spent considerable time reviewing reports written by the now-on-leave Anne Riley. Though she was hired due to a token, Anne’s work exceeded expectations.

Her proposals garnered significant attention among staff, particularly the latter.
Although he had somewhat long hair and a tired-looking face, his neat lips and solid physique were quite attractive.

“You’re here for a consultation, right? You look very tired.”

“…Yes.”

“Please follow me this way.”

“Ah, before that, I would like to know the procedure for donating to the hospital.”

Garnet smiled pleasantly. Since receiving support from the third prince, there have been nobles who have come to make personal investments under the guise of donations.

Garnet guided the man to the director’s office and kindly explained the donation process. The man listened attentively, a faint smile on his face.

“If you have any other questions, feel free to ask….”

“Where is Anne Riley?”

“What…?”

At that moment, Garnet recalled a clause from a contract that struck her like a blow to the back of the head.

– If any man comes looking for Anne Riley, send him away at your discretion.

It was a random clause in the confidential contract exchanged with the third prince. At the time, she thought the prince might be paranoid, but now that a man was actually looking for Anne, Garnet was stunned.

Sweat trickled down Garnet’s temple. Feeling uneasy, she decided to take the initiative.

“We don’t have an employee by that name!”

“I didn’t ask if she was an employee. I need to know if there’s someone named Anne Riley in the hospital.”

Garnet answered, trying hard to hide her surprise.

“…You’re right. I was too hasty.”

“Can I see the employment records of this place? I need to check for myself.”

Garnet glanced at her secretary with a rapidly darkening gaze. However, the secretary did not catch Garnet’s signal.

[Legislative proposals for personal information protection in medical facilities.]

At that moment, Garnet remembered a report written by Anne.

“Oh, our hospital has entered a review phase concerning the proposal for protecting personal information within medical facilities. As such, we are in a trial operation, and you cannot freely access the employment records.”

“The records that anyone could see until now are suddenly considered personal information?”

Garnet clenched her fists. Though she was in communication with other hospitals, none of them were concerned about this issue.

“…Yes.”

Evan smirked and said, “She’s here, isn’t she?”

“What?”

“The person who could come up with such an ingenious idea is likely the same person I’m looking for.”

“How can you be sure just by the name? You won’t find her.”

Evan was convinced.

He knew Anne was here.

“If the hospital is in a trial operation regarding this issue, there should be a related report. Is viewing that report also a violation of personal information?”

Garnet bit her lip.

There were no restrictions on viewing the hospital’s reports.

These ‘reports’ were publicly available documents meant for anyone to access to obtain information about diseases or to build trust in the hospital.

However, this man wouldn’t overlook any names written in the report.

“Just show me the report. I won’t ask for any other personal information.”

Garnet couldn’t think of a way to get out of this situation. In the end, she slowly walked to the room where the reports were kept.

Not knowing Garnet’s desperate wish for someone to come and stop this, Evan boldly opened the door to the document storage room.

When Garnet said she wasn’t sure where the report was, Evan and his aide began searching through all the documents in the room.

‘What is this….’

It was an incredibly reckless sight. She could tell he was a wealthy noble, but she was extremely fearful of what this man might do to her employee.

Garnet quietly closed the door, stepped outside, and grabbed her secretary.

“Send a message to the third prince immediately.”

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories