Chapter 4 – Part 4

Anne paused in front of a window in the first floor corridor. There was much to be gleaned from the conversations of the smoking medics.

Nothing was more accurate than the stories of the soldiers on the front lines.

“Hey, are you crazy?”

“What’s wrong? We always joke around like this.”

Anne Riley listened to the conversation as she watched the two men fooling around by the window, burning cigarettes.

“Hey, by the way, did you hear the rumor?”

“Huh?”

“You know, the patient who came in recently, the one whose head was nearly blown off. He said….”

“What did he say?”

Nearly blown off? It must have been a severe injury. Usually, such patients spouted nonsense.

“He said we’re going out on a mission soon, and that we’re all going to die. He warned us to be careful. That guy, he came in with a head injury, so he’s probably really lost it.”

“…Let it slide. He’s just trying to warn us.”

“Yeah, we need to take better care of him.”

It wasn’t a particularly informative conversation.

Listening to the situation outside, it didn’t seem any better or worse than yesterday.

However, focusing on managing the wounded and running the treatment center could save more lives.

Outside, a small sandstorm mingled with injured soldiers and combatants.

Anne grabbed the collar of a man who seemed in decent shape and asked.

“Which unit?”

“Martin Hedges, Medical Corps.”

The man saluted, his face stiffening as he recognized her. Noticing his reaction, Anne smiled slightly and asked.

“Why? Does it bother you to state your rank and name?”

“…Not really.”

Well, she was not wearing the medical corps uniform and her rank was unknown, so it was understandable.

“Lieutenant Anne Riley. I’m with the Medical Corps.”

“Apologies! Please give your orders.”

“At ease. Gather all available personnel and bring them to me. We won’t leave the wounded unattended anymore.”

Martin stared at Anne, who spoke without taking her eyes off her papers.

The constant blowing of sand in her face should have stung a bit, but she didn’t seem to mind at all.

Frustrated with Anne’s focus on her work, title aside, and her refusal to look at his face, Martin said in a harsh, gruff tone.

“If you’re going to give me orders, shouldn’t you at least look at my face?”

“Martin Hedges. What brings you in here, a man with nowhere else to go like me? Or did you set out to do some honor?”

Anne asked without thinking, assuming it was the latter.

“…If it’s the former, shall I pity you? If it’s the latter, shall I look at you admiringly?”

Anne looked at Martin calmly.

Unlike Kyle and Hans, he seemed to have a deep darkness inside him.

There was a deep loneliness and quiet anger in him.

Anne put a hand on his shoulder, chin up.

“Whatever the reason, as long as you don’t forget our purpose, it’s fine.”

“…Purpose?”

Martin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Anne.

“To save lives. Martin Hedges, won’t you help me? That’s what I’m dedicating myself to.”

“Do you really think this medical unit, known as a morgue, can become a place for treating people?”

Anne replied tersely.

“Of course.”

Martin nodded in agreement, surprised by the charisma of this unlikely woman.

Martin had come here to honor the Han family.

But it was frustrating to be pinned down in a castle, fighting a battle that was neither winning nor losing.

This woman is going to change that.

Anne Riley.

As he etched the lieutenant’s name into his mind, Martin responded.

“Yes, Lieutenant. I will trust and follow you. You’re the first person to say something like this to me.”

Anne smiled and shook his hand, and Martin exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

“I’m honored!”

Anne asked as they walked through the jumble of wounded soldiers writhing in pain, trash, and sand.

“What rumors are circulating these days?”

Martin replied, nudging the trash away with one foot as it was a bother to Anne’s gaze.

“There are rumors that an unusual battle will break out again. For now, it’s just about holding the line on this wall, but we can’t keep doing this forever. We might really go out to battle soon.”

Martin had a point.

Commander Evan Davis might not be giving out all the information, but they were here because it was strategically important.

So the rumors of an imminent battle were almost certainly correct.

“We need to set up a medical support system before that happens….”

“…Are you really going to run an emergency infirmary here?”

Anne lifted her head and looked at Martin. Martin waved his hand in embarrassment and whispered quietly.

“Lieutenant, honestly, the higher-ups won’t like it. It takes at least three soldiers to care for each wounded man, so it’s more advantageous to leave those who seem likely to die. That’s how it’s always been.”

In other words, the soldiers were nothing more than expendable.

“Who told you that….”

“Who? It’s a known fact. Military hospitals, no, even field hospitals only take those who have a chance to survive. That’s why morale among the soldiers isn’t great.”

“Nonsense.”

Anne took a step back in disbelief.

In retrospect, it made sense.

Few of the men who came to the Carl Hessen’s Field Hospital were unhappy.

So, actually, Martin was right.

It hit her like a ton of bricks to the head to realize that was probably why Martin had ignored Anne in the first place.

‘But the commander was different.’

He had turned a blind eye to black market dealings and had not held back in supporting the wounded even here.

Anne turned to Martin, her voice steady.

“That won’t be the case from now on. Gather the medics and get the place stocked and ready for what I have planned.”

Anne opened the warehouse door with the keys in her hand. Martin’s eyes widened in surprise as the door opened.

Despite the dust, it was a large space.

“…We’re going to use this place?”

“It’s not ready yet. It will take a long time, as we have to treat the wounded while setting it up, but it’s necessary. We can’t afford to lose more precious lives.”

Martin, who had never undertaken such a significant task as a medic since the war began, looked at her with a stunned expression.

* * *

Time passed, and Anne’s infirmary blossomed into a faint smile.

The now-organized infirmary was a hot topic of conversation among the soldiers. Many soldiers, showing injuries they had been enduring alone, received treatment.

Attempts at blood transfusions were also successful.

The war, however, was a different story, with daily reports of defeats, and despair seemed to deepen everywhere.

In this frustrating situation, Evan’s eyes were filled with worry..

It was a late hour with a high half-moon. The dusky night air pierced deeply into Evan’s lungs.

Evan leaned against the wall of the staircase leading up to the castle and looked over at Anne, her face worn with exhaustion.

Her face was lined with worry.

‘She must have heard various rumors by now.’

“Anne.”

Anne’s head snapped up at Evan’s call. She looked up to see Evan staring back at her with his arms folded, and she knew what he was going to say.

Anne responded with an awkward smile.

“Yes.”

“I believe I gave you an order….”

It wasn’t as if Anne hadn’t seen the note.

This morning, there was a note on her bedside table telling her not to leave.

After seeing his handwriting adding the word “order,” she had written a reply at the bottom saying, “Calling it an order is unfair,” and left.

“I can’t just lie still.”

“…I meant for you to rest for a while.”

“I can’t do that.”

Evan moved closer to Anne and wrapped his arms around her waist. He spoke in a hushed voice.

“Just being here will be a great honor in the future. I brought you here with that thought in mind. I initially opposed the idea of you showcasing your talents here. The situation is worse than I expected.”

Anne should have felt devastated, but she did not.

Their gazes locked on the staircase, the moonlight illuminating them softly.

His serious gaze locked with hers.

Somehow this felt familiar. Anne relaxed her legs and put all her weight on his arm around her waist.

If he let go, she could fall down these high stairs to her death at any moment.

Evan pulled her to him angrily and held her tightly.

“Why on earth are you doing this?”

Anne smiled slightly.

“You’re a competent commander who can grasp my every move even when the situation is bad.”

“I know you’re avoiding the answer.”

Was she the only one who felt this moment didn’t seem real?

“It feels like bringing you here was a mistake.”

“Excuse me? You should think you’ve gained a lot by bringing me here. Did you see the report on the success of the blood transfusion?”

Evan gave her a dirty look.

“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Are you alright?”

“Are you worried about me?”

After a long, long silence, Anne put her hand on his cheek.

It was Commander Davis who visibly shrank back. Seeing him so subdued, she felt a pang of sympathy.

For once, she felt like she had the courage to approach him.

Anne smiled brightly and whispered.

“Do you want to stay with me tonight?”

Evan’s eyes flickered at her question.

Evan forgot the reason why he was angry at her as she touched his neck and shoulder.

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I’m not a child, Evan.”