Chapter 9 – Part 2

“Focus. Lift your head higher, straighten your chest, and walk confidently.”

Anne bit her lip as she balanced a pen on her head. She was following instructions, but the pen kept falling.

She wondered if this was even possible.

“Madam Heas… I think it’s working now.”

Head Maid Heas tilted her head and adjusted Anne’s posture. The pen fell to the floor with a thud.

“When you’re startled and move, this is what happens.”

“That’s because I was surprised…”

“How odd. Even with your shoulders straightened, it’s not aligned properly.”

Finally, Heas gave up sipping tea elegantly and started adjusting Anne’s shoulder blades directly.

According to Head Maid Heas, Anne had a naturally good figure, and she looked quite cute when dressed up.

Thus, the head maid hoped that if she taught Anne well, she could dominate social circles.

However, seeing Anne’s clumsy demeanor, devoid of noble grace, made Haen sigh.

“Lady Vanessa, please sit down for a moment?”

“Yes.”

After a moment’s hesitation, head maid Heas took Anne’s rough hand.

“Do you think learning this is useless?”

“No.”

“…I know where you came from.”

Anne expected a scolding for her slow progress. However, Head maid Heas sighed and continued.

“Anne, there are things in life we must do, even if we don’t want to.”

“…….”

“Your unusual past is already drawing too much attention. How will it look if you can’t even maintain basic decorum? Baroness Vanessa doesn’t want you to be hurt. Please try a little harder for her sake.”

“…I understand.”

Anne reluctantly replied. Though she understood the maid’s intent, she found it embarrassing and strange.

It was no wonder. Just looking in the mirror and seeing herself adorned with luxurious accessories felt foreign.

But the maid wouldn’t know.

No matter how much etiquette she learned, Anne, who had rolled through battlefields countless times, still longed for the hospital folks.

Though it hadn’t been long, she already missed Kyle’s cheerful grumbling and Hans’s quiet smiles.

“Alright, let’s try walking again. You want everyone to be astonished by your grace at the ball. Elegant and dignified.”

“Yes.”

Anne drew her chin in, lowered her gaze slightly, and walked slowly.

She lightly held the edge of her dress and bowed slightly, finishing the routine as she heard Heas’s praise.

“See! You can do it well. Review this before the next lesson.”

As Anne bowed lightly, as taught by the baroness, she smiled and gathered her belongings.

“Madam, thank you for another beneficial lesson today.”

“Of course. Next time, I’ll bring some madeleines, and we can learn tea-time etiquette.”

“Ah… yes? Yes…”

Only after seeing her off did Anne slump down at the desk, her legs propped up and her arms hanging limply.

Her entire body ached so much that she missed the frantic days of running around treating wounds.

“I even miss the mess hall food.”

Anne muttered to herself without realizing it.

At that moment, she saw a bluebird outside the window.

When she opened the window, the bluebird hopped around the threshold before flying into the study. It then began exploring every corner of the room.

Watching the cheerful bird sing, Anne brought her fingers together and held them out. The bird sat still, watching her.

“Where did you come from?”

Ignoring the bird’s tilting head, Anne noticed a note tied to its leg and carefully removed it.

The bird, having delivered the note, happily flitted around the room again.

* * *

Joseph had been following Evan closely for the past few days. The upcoming noble council was a significant event.

They were to briefly discuss the war situation and then deliberate on future plans.

But the commander had refused to go, driving Joseph to the brink of madness.

“Why on earth are you refusing to go? You can visit Calohas afterward! It won’t take long!”

“Joseph, the decision is already made. It’s a waste of time.”

Joseph stomped over to Evan, who was arranging chess pieces, and slammed the table with a bang, shouting.

“You know it’s time to discuss a ceasefire, not to think about winning!”

“……”

“Commander, please reconsider. I know you call out her name every night in your nightmares.”

“Stop saying useless things.”

“I will not! I don’t understand why you’re so eager to head back to the battlefield if you miss her that much.”

At that moment,

“It’s been a while, Duke Davis.”

The deep voice echoed through the tent, and Joseph bowed his head deeply.

“Baron Vanessa, it’s an honor.”

“Joseph, long time no see.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Evan’s gaze turned to Edwin Vanessa.

“What brings you here? I thought Lady Anne Vanessa had gone to the mansion.”

“The child is doing well. I’ve made sure she’s well taken care of, so there’s no need to worry.”

Evan nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

“But it seems your lieutenant called me here for this.”

“Yes. Please, stop him. How wonderful would it be to end this dreadful war? Duke Davis’s intervention would be invaluable.”

“Indeed, it seems the duke is also weary of the war.”

Joseph looked relieved. He thought the commander couldn’t possibly ignore the persuasion of the baron, who could become his future father-in-law.

“I plan to stay here and prepare for the Battle of Calohas.”

“Is that so? It would be quite helpful if you joined us.”

“Preparing for the battle is also necessary.”

Edwin Vanessa, watching Evan’s calm demeanor, inwardly clicked his tongue.

It hadn’t been long since the child was sent away…

Evan appeared well on the outside, but with Edwin’s experience, he could tell that Evan was not well.

The dark circles under his eyes indicated sleepless nights.

Edwin never imagined he would witness Duke Evan Davis being so deeply in love rather than being involved in numerous scandals, but one thing was clear.

“Before you proposed Anne Vanessa be adopted into my family, I persistently persuaded the nobles to attempt peace negotiations.”

“The Emperor won’t do anything that seems disadvantageous.”

Joseph cautiously interrupted.

“Commander, please attend the meeting.”

Evan pondered as he looked at the map.

The terrain of Calohas is laid out on the map. This upcoming battle wouldn’t be like the previous ones, where the enemy was mercilessly defeated.

Because there were now two people who knew the future.

However, these occurrences would continue.

Someone within the empire was continuing to scheme. It was pointless to catch small fry.

Eventually, the empire would head down the path of ruin. Focusing solely on the empire’s victory and keeping himself safe carried the risk of Anne dying.

That was why.

Anne was to stay in the safest place, while Evan faced the future alone.

The hope of stopping the war now was non-existent from the beginning.

The Emperor wanted to continue the war, and futile provocations would persist. This fact would not change.

Evan stood up, patting his man’s shoulder as he spoke.

“Baron Vanessa, remember this: not now. It’s better to remember that hastily expressing opinions could lead to a counterattack.”

It was still too early.

Ferrell Klein’s spy had yet to report, and the exact identity of the enemy remained unclear.

“I understand. In that case, I will lead the peace negotiations.”

Evan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at the determined tone of Baron Vanessa. Given that Anne was now his adopted daughter, he found the baron’s provocative stance unsettling.

“Of course, as a baron, you can propose a ceasefire. But for now, stay quiet. If your family falls out of favor, there’d be no point in sending Anne to your household.”

Edwin nodded, smiling slightly despite the visible hostility.

He understood that, for this man, Anne Vanessa’s safety was more important than any pretext.

Although he could politically use the child as his daughter, Edwin chose not to.

“Understood. Then at least attend the meeting. You need to stay informed about the state of affairs, don’t you?”

“I’ll accompany you to that extent.”

“A wise choice.”

Satisfied with the agreement, Joseph bowed repeatedly to Baron Vanessa, almost in tears with relief.

“Oh my, the lieutenant looks happy just to be away from the battlefield for a bit.”

Edwin joked, but he was well aware of the truth. Young men, who should have many dreams, were staking their lives on the battlefield, so this decision was indeed favorable.

“Of course! It’s been a while since we last visited the Imperial Palace, hasn’t it? There, we’ll have proper meals instead of this mess hall food. Please, put on your dress uniform, Commander!”

Evan chuckled at Joseph’s obvious disdain for the usual food.