Chapter 6 – Part 3

Evan’s nose wrinkled as he looked at Anne lying there with a pale face. He swallowed hard and sat down beside her.

The warm early summer sun glinted off the broken stained glass and a chirping bird song echoed in his ears, but his gaze remained fixed on Anne.

“Anne. When you close your eyes, I’m afraid you’ll never wake up.”

I wanted to see her so badly, but I couldn’t bring myself to move closer to her.

The reason he had kept his tender feelings at bay and avoided her was that he didn’t want her to love him.

One of the biggest events to come was the defeat of the Terran Empire.

Evan recalled the last document he had seen about Anne Riley before his regression.

It was nicely organized, listing her work at the Carl Hessen’s Field Hospital, running a clinic in the Calohaas region, and proposing the introduction and widespread use of a blood transfusion system.

She may have been a lieutenant, but these were big things, hardly the work of a commoner woman.

If Terran were defeated and these papers were turned over to the Kingdom of Vails, Anne Riley would be more than just a prisoner of war.

Her safety could only be guaranteed by preventing the end of the Terran Empire.

Moreover, it was Evan himself who had provoked Anne into traveling to the Calohas region.

Anne’s death in her previous life had been his fault.

Evan sighed deeply.

He had vowed never to approach Anne again, for her death was caused by his presence, by the love he had given her.

Today, that vow was broken…….

Whenever Anne was in danger, Evan couldn’t stand still.

The memories of her past life resurfacing sent chills down his spine.

The words she had spoken before falling from her horse still haunted him in his nightmares.

‘I hope you can forget about the unfortunate death you left behind, because I’ll carry all those feelings with me….

‘I loved you, please, don’t look back.’

Evan repeated these heartfelt words over and over again, and each time he was saddened to death.

‘I-I’m sorry, this is my fault. Please, Commander, you must go back and….’

In both his previous and current lives, many had treated Anne poorly just because she was a commoner. Evan wanted to protect her from those people.

‘I need to find a way.’

It was then.

Anne groaned and opened her eyes, slowly looking around. She seemed to realize what was happening and tried to get out of bed.

Her long eyelashes were wet with tears.

“Wake up, are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Evan laid her back down on the bed and smoothed her disheveled red hair.

“…Commander, are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Ha, good.”

Evan’s throat tightened at the thought of how far this woman must have traveled on horseback.

‘Even lying here, you worry about me.’

He stroked her cheek and whispered.

“In the future, if something like this happens, you’ll either avoid it or call me.”

Anne’s eyes opened wide.

It sounded almost like a confession of love. Her cheeks flushed red.

He might run away again today. So, Anne grabbed his wrist with both hands.

“Um, you know what!”

Anne’s face flushed.

“What?”

“I know this might be really outrageous, and you might think, how could I think something like this, but I’m really curious.”

Anne, holding his wrist, fidgeted with her fingers and bowed her head deeply.

“…….”

Evan’s puzzled expression gradually turned into a smile. He couldn’t believe she was talking to him….

It would be nice to be able to talk to her once in a while.

“Do you like me by any chance?”

“W-what…!”

Creak—

Evan, startled, pushed his chair back and stood up abruptly. In his haste, he shook off her hands and covered his mouth with the back of his hand.

Being involved with her wouldn’t be beneficial.

But her sweet strawberry scent wafted past his nose, bringing back memories.

Evan froze, then let out a soft moan.

‘My dear Ann Riley. How could I not love you?’

His feelings for her were indeed like a ticking time bomb. He thought he had hidden them well…

Evan lowered the hand covering his mouth and answered.

“No.”

Anne looked away from him, embarrassed.

She had a small hope that his behavior might indicate that he liked her.

But she couldn’t stop herself from feeling disappointed at his denial.

So, she couldn’t help but ask the other question she had prepared, just in case.

“So, do you want to sleep with me?”

“…….”

Evan’s face turned blue at her question.

He pursed his lips and hesitated.

Looking into his wavering blue eyes, Anne fumbled with her fingers at his unexpected response.

Embarrassed, she stammered, slightly averting her gaze in shame.

“Oh, uh… what I mean is!”

“There’s absolutely no chance of that happening! How could that… be appropriate?”

Anne’s lips parted, she watched him hastily put on his robe.

‘What? Huh? Why is he reacting like I’m some kind of degenerate?’

As she stared at him, Anne’s eyes caught a glimpse of the thread beneath his arm.

She hadn’t noticed it before, too focused on him following her around, but when he had held her, his embrace had been broad and warm.

As Evan’s hard muscles wrapped around her body, she felt more secure than she had ever felt before.

‘It was almost enviably peaceful.’

Noticing the way she was staring at him in fascination, Evan bit his lip tightly.

“Excuse me.”

He finally got the last word out and fled.

Left alone, Anne stammered, unable to close her mouth.

“Did he just say ‘excuse me’ to me?

What did she do?

Or didn’t.

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he said, but it still felt wrong.

Like he was a five-year-old kid and he didn’t deserve to run away like that.

Of course, Evan had been running away from Anne. But the shocking words she had just heard kept echoing in her mind.

‘There’s absolutely no chance of that happening! How could that… be appropriate?’

What on earth he meant, she couldn’t understand him.

Anne nervously opened the drawer, pulled out a strawberry-flavored candy, and popped it into her mouth. She munched on the candy with her teeth and thought to herself.

“Then what was he doing, following me around like that?’

* * *

Evan ran out of Anne’s room at a brisk pace. Outside the hospital, he clutched his frantically beating left br*ast.

What?

‘She asked if I liked her?’

How did she know that?

Evan went straight back to the cabin, confused. He sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands.

Evan had worked so hard to hide his feelings. So he never expected to hear such a shocking statement from Anne.

‘She’s not the kind of person who would say something like that….’

In his previous life, Anne had taken a defensive stance in their relationship several times.

Evan bit his lip, it could never go back to the way it had been, so why was it that she seemed to have taken a little interest in him?

He felt like he needed to avoid her even more thoroughly than before.

‘Though it was nice to see Anne’s face up close, even for a moment….’

Instead, he planned to ensure that Anne, whose health wasn’t good before heading to Calohas, would have a minimum safety net.

Evan stood up and walked over to his desk and began scribbling on a piece of stationery.

To. Baron Edwin Vanessa.

Regarding the matter from before, I now expect to receive my due compensation. Didn’t I clear your name while purging those related to the former Duke? I expect no refusal as I send this letter.

I recall hearing from you and Lady Vanessa about your lack of a child during our last conversation. Is that still the case?

If so, how about adopting a young lady as your daughter?

Conveniently, Lady Vanessa stayed with her family for a year 18 years ago due to health reasons. You can claim that she is the child lost during that time. If you present it this way, no one will doubt that she isn’t your child. As long as you handle it well with Lady Vanessa’s family. If you accept, I will prepare the necessary documents.

Consider it and get back to me.

Evan Davis

Evan looked satisfied as he finished writing the letter, stuffed it into the envelope, and stamped it with his seal.

Time was running out.

Less than two months until the reconnaissance of Calohas.

Furrowing his brow, Evan thought of the best cook among his soldiers, a mess sergeant named Hereis.

‘Before the regression, I had received reports that Anne had collapsed at the hospital.’

He opened a drawer and pulled out a document.

Evan smiled wryly as he checked the current food supply for the military.

It wasn’t as good as what the generals and officers were eating.

But it was much better than what the Evian family had been providing for the field hospital.

Besides, they were arriving at Evan’s expense.

They would be able to feed the field hospital staff even better.

Evan realized there was still plenty of time for dinner, so he set off at a brisk pace to reach the mess hall.

“Mess Sergeant, Hereis Eden.”

Hereis, who rarely had the chance to meet the Commander, saluted with perfect military bearing. Evan returned the salute and asked,

“I hope you’re not busy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How’s the condition of the recently arrived supplies?”

“They’re top-notch. It seems we’ve been supplied more generously due to the upcoming Calohas expedition….”

“And?”

“I think we’ll have a bit left over, if you include the ingredients we ordered earlier.”

Hereis, feeling reassured, smiled broadly, thinking the Commander would commend his resourcefulness.

Evan Davis smiled back and responded.

“Then why don’t you arrange with the nearest field hospital to feed the men who will remain here, while also coordinating with them?”

Hereis took a step back in foreboding.

Surely he don’t mean right now, he asked urgently.

“In… some time?”

“As soon as it is deemed practicable, of course.”

Relieved, Herrace replied loudly.

“I see!”

“Ah, but even so, with the recent recruitment of cooks, I’d like to see some desserts for the time being, to keep the troops’ spirits up.”

With that, Evan Davis returned to his cabin.

The rest of Hereis, unable to stop himself from cursing…. He stared into space and muttered low.

“I’m dead now.”