Chapter 5 – Part 2

“You can’t live without it.”

The stranger said to Connor Johannes. He smirked and continued.

“Do you want it? If the Terran Empire collapses, you can easily get this.”

“D*mn it, when the hell is this war going to end?”

The man was holding a square box filled with red crystals that looked dangerous at first glance.

Herban? Mechat?

Both are substances that act on the central nervous system. From what she’d read, they were dangerous substances that gave users extreme pleasure and made them instantly addicted after a single dose.

People who were addicted to herbans or mechat would do anything for it, which is why they were called “dolls”.

It was so addictive that in the Terran Empire, trading or consuming it was punishable by death.

So why is the crown prince’s aide…?

“Did you get any more information?”

“What more? Oh, the crown prince is in the castle, which you can deal with if you get a chance.”

“Why is he there? Are you trying to trap us?”

Connor said impatiently, throwing up his hands.

“Didn’t everything I’ve been telling you fit together, giving us a chance to take out Duke Davis and his huge army all at once?”

“Assuming there isn’t another army. You know I can’t believe everything you say.”

“You don’t trust me? Neither the crown prince nor Duke Davis doubt me at all, and I want you to have a plenty of mechat at the ready if it comes down to it.”

Anne sucked in a sharp intake of breath at that.

If the reason for the recent setbacks of the Terossa Empire in the war was Connor Johannes, she had to inform someone about it as soon as possible.

But to whom?

Returning to the relative safety of the castle would help Anne live and spread the word.

However, going back now would mean Evan’s army would be surrounded and face certain death.

None of the choices were easy.

“Can I do a little here before I go?”

“You’re a d*mn nuisance.”

“Well, it feels good.”

Mechat was a forbidden substance that turned people into wrecks.

That one, too, could be quite a painkiller if used on a patient in severe pain.

But to think that people like them were the reason it was forbidden was infuriating.

Anne made sure the enemy man was gone and walked slowly toward the drunken Connor Johannes lying on the floor, then looked at everything he had.

Unfortunately, there was no useful information to be found.

She presumed he had passed on all relevant data about the upcoming battle. Anne sighed deeply as she looked back on the path she had walked.

There was nothing to do but call for reinforcements.

Anne quickly ran toward Dehart Castle. She fell to the ground and wrecked her knees, but she didn’t care.

She cursed herself for thinking she could keep up with a trained soldier, no matter how frantic she was.

Her frustration at her own slow pace back to the castle made her angry.

If she could find those who were planning to lead the army and attack from behind first, at least Evan might survive.

Anne ran and ran, oblivious to the tears that had begun to well up in the corners of her eyes.

* * *

Martin stood on the watchtower, gazing out at the distant mountains, and then he saw the wounded coming in and leaned helplessly against the wall.

As soon as Anne had left, Martin had intended to visit Carly Dehart, to at least fulfill his promise.

But he gave up after arguing with the gatekeeper, who told him he had to be of a certain status to be allowed up there.

“This is what aristocrats are for.”

Martin cursed to no one in particular, then turned to a familiar figure and jumped to his feet.

‘Lieutenant? ’

She didn’t look well, but she was instantly recognizable. Only Lieutenant Anne Riley had ever left the castle in such a small frame.

“Open the emergency door immediately. The injured person has arrived.”

As soon as the door swung open, Martin rushed to her aid.

As she gasped for breath with cuts all over her body, Martin exclaimed in disbelief.

“Looks terrible.”

“Take me to Lady Carly.”

Exhausted, Anne urged Martin, knowing she had to find Carly, but Martin shook his head.

“You don’t think you can make it up here in this condition, you’d better get to the infirmary and get some rest.”

He had been denied access himself, so why should Anne Riley be any different, and there was no point in shouting Lieutenant when she looked like this.

“It’s possible.”

The gidt he had given her. A small necklace with a ring she’d been hiding inside her shirt.

It was clearly an expensive item.

Anne’s bright emerald ring jangled in the air as she pulled it out.

Martin finally understood why Anne Riley could ascend so frequently. It was thanks to that.

“Please.”

Anne, half carried by Martin, stood in the doorway and spoke to the gatekeeper.

“You’ve seen my face several times.”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Anne ripped off her necklace in one swift motion, revealing a sparkling emerald ring.

“Is this enough?”

As she handed the ring to the gatekeeper, he hesitated before eventually opening the door. From now on, it was a race against time.

Martin picked her up and started up the stairs. He shook his head in disbelief at how she had managed to get up and down these stairs so many times before.

Anne patted Martin on the back and said.

“Will you listen to me for a moment?”

She wanted to share her innermost thoughts, which she hadn’t told anyone yet.

‘Please understand my heart.’

‘Support me.’

‘Tell me to be happy, just this once.’

Anne screamed inwardly.

“You don’t usually tell me anything personal, so why are you doing this to me?”

“Because I don’t think anyone else will listen to me now.”

Martin tried to playfully retort, but instead he spoke from the heart.

“Please tell your lover about it, it scares me to death.”

“…When I was younger, I was really unhappy, and I studied really hard because I couldn’t resist the pressure from everyone around me to get to the top.”

“…….”

“Then, I started to have problems with other people. The more I tried to resolve it, the worse it got, and…. I think I even thought about killing myself.”

As Anne reflected on her past, she realized that she didn’t know why she died, and a sense of wonder crept in.

What if she had made a bad choice and…. and then got a new life afterward, maybe God was trying to punish her.

Martin, who had been listening in silence, smirked and replied.

“You’re wrong.”

“Huh?”

“They’re the kind of people who should be put to death. Feuds? It doesn’t happen that easily just because one person works hard. That’s what humans are like. There are so many different people, how can we get along with each other? It’s their fault for making you want to die, Lieutenant.”

Anne smiled at the way Martin spat, as if it were his job.

“You’re right,” she said.

“If you want my advice, Lieutenant, my answer is this: If you’ve been unhappy in the past, live with the intention of being happy in the future.”

“Can I do that?”

“…I may not know much from afar, but you have someone who cares about you, don’t you?”

Yes.

Now she realized and felt sorry for herself.

Maybe Commander Evan Davis, who had shown the sincerest intentions, could bet everything on this.

‘If you and I were in opposite situations, you would navigate through difficulties wiser than me.’

“…Martin. When I come back, I will live happily.”

“Oh, please, please do.”

Anne opened Carly’s door with faltering steps.

For a moment, a strange emotion threatened to fill her eyes with tears, but she pressed her lips tightly together.

“Please summon the crown prince. I’m sure Lady Carly can do it.”

It was impossible for her, but it was something Carly Dehart could do.

She didn’t know who or what the Crown Prince was, but she did know one thing.

He is not a man to be met in such a dull manner.

Carly stammered, confused by Anne’s request.

“Miss Anne? What is this….?”

“Please. His Highness the Crown Prince must know. What battles we’ve been through… It may be different from what you’re trying to achieve using me… But I think I can be a chess piece right now.”

Anne hoped that her first and possibly last use of her would be for Evan’s benefit.

Carly let out a deep sigh and asked.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

It was bizarre that she should ask for the Crown Prince, given the rawness of her body and the exhaustion she felt.

However, in the earnestness of Anne’s plea, Carly found herself nodding unconsciously.

Anne wrapped her arms around her trembling body.

‘You have to speak quickly and go to him.’

Anne’s eyes were brimming with tears. He must be fighting an uphill battle…. Or maybe he doesn’t even have a chance to fight back.

Cursing herself for making the decision to return to the castle, Anne waited for Ailon Terossa.