Chapter 22
Beth merely fidgeted with her hands.
Devert was simply following Wayne’s etiquette that was ingrained in him. Unlike Beth, who was expressing her awkwardness with her whole body.
Cassius, with his pride in the family and almost pathological obsession with cleanliness, allowed no blemish on his son. His belief was that the Cliff family must be strong, never lose to anyone, and always excel beyond others.
People whispered about Debert, calling him ‘war maniac’ and ‘reckless,’ yet none dared to say anything to his face, largely because of his impeccable manners.
The young ladies, rather than being put off by Debert’s mixed reputation, were often charmed by it, though Debert himself was oblivious to this.
“Take my arm.”
His voice was somewhat commanding.
Beth quickly turned and walked ahead.
Though the man was surely being formal, even a simple social gesture like linking arms felt unfamiliar to Beth, especially when the person involved was Debert.
No one would likely see them arm in arm this early in the morning, but the thought of it made her uneasy.
Beth was the first to climb into the vehicle designated for officers, quietly waiting for Debert.
She wished this uncomfortable outing would end soon, but the man seemed to be in no hurry, his every movement exuding a leisurely calm, almost as if he were teasing her.
Seated in the driver’s seat, Debert paused before starting the engine, fixing his gaze on Beth. The uneasy silence made Beth’s throat dry. There was no escape in the confined space of the car, so she tightly clutched the hem of her light blue skirt.
Only when Debert finally started the engine and the rumbling filled the space between them, did Beth’s tense shoulders relax.
He remained silent as they passed the hospital and barracks, heading towards the forest path. The steady noise and the easing tension made her eyelids grow heavy.
“Why are you going?”
Beth quickly straightened her head, which had been drooping. She thought she heard a slight laugh, but it must have been her imagination.
“I asked why you’re going.”
The drowsiness that had been clouding Beth’s mind vanished instantly.
What should she say? She hadn’t read the letter, so he wouldn’t know about her uncle. Should she lie? Jumbled questions raced through her mind, and suddenly, she felt nauseous, possibly from motion sickness.
The forest path from the barracks to the village market was travelled only by Nexus soldiers, so Debert as he drove occasionally glanced at Beth’s face.
Whatever was in that scrap of paper had driven her to a place she had never visited before; her dishevelled appearance was a clear sign of it.
Her uncle and Koppel—how could she possibly uncover the connection between the two? Yet, this rare curiosity piqued Debert’s interest.
Determined to get an answer, Debert turned his gaze back to Beth. Sensing his stare, Beth estimated the distance to the village. It was still a long way off. Reluctantly, she reached into her handbag, pulling out paper and a pen.
“Forget it.”
Debert suddenly frowned as if the matter had become bothersome. Beth was taken aback, though relieved that he wasn’t going to push for an answer, which would have required her to lie.
Am I really that frustrating?
Her spirits sank as if weighed down by a heavy stone. Even writing that letter last night had taken such an effort that she guessed the man might be too irritated to hear her answer.
Feeling more disheartened, she stared out the window, when suddenly a cold breeze rushed in.
The man had rolled down the window and was signalling something. His gesture was directed at a military vehicle trailing them.
So, we’re not going alone. The realisation that someone had been watching them brought a flush of embarrassment to Beth’s face.
Surely they hadn’t seen her clinging to him for support?
“Even if you don’t speak, it’s clear from your face.”
Beth blinked at the unexpected words.
“You wear your thoughts on your face.”
Although he couldn’t decipher even her simplest handwriting, the perceptive man didn’t need to ask for an answer.
“I need soldiers to guard me. My corpse can’t be allowed to fall into enemy hands.”
Beth couldn’t believe her ears. His voice was so dry that she almost doubted what she had just heard.
“If the commander’s body were to be displayed on the frontlines, it would devastate Nexus’s morale.”
The unusual, almost considerate explanation left Beth’s lips slightly parted in surprise.
His expression remained calm, as always, showing no fear or hesitation.
How could someone talk about life, their own life, so casually? As if dying didn’t matter at all.
She knew he lived a harsh life, that his path wasn’t an easy one.
Perhaps that’s why she had always found herself observing Debert, the man behind the rumours, without even realising it. Whether it was her nature or because she knew his secret, she couldn’t tell.
He was the kind of man who would simply acknowledge his death when it came. So different from herself, who had spent her life desperately clinging to survival.
Beth closed her eyes. The weight of his words made her already heavy body feel even more burdened.
After watching the woman lean against the window for a while, Debert said nothing more.
* * *
Debert and Beth walked side by side, with several soldiers in civilian clothes maintaining a reasonable distance behind them. Their coats seemed thick, likely hiding their weapons.
The place they arrived at was a secluded rural market on the outskirts of Nexus.
Desperate to survive, the impoverished villagers had not left, even amid the war.
While the bombardment had yet to reach their village, the main reason they stayed was that the war had actually made life a bit more bearable for them.
Noble officers from the front and other visiting nobles provided them with much-needed income.
Whether running errands to Wayne or serving as messengers, the villagers earned a decent living from the scraps they were thrown.
Beth, who had visited this place once before, was focused on finding the alley from her memory when she suddenly stopped, startled by a black-clad figure blocking her path.
A hunched old woman stood before Debert.
“What’s this about?”
Despite his cold question, the old woman didn’t seem intimidated. Instead, she flashed a sly grin, revealing the gaps where her teeth were missing.
“Since such a lovely couple has come all the way from Wayne, I thought I’d show you this.”
The old woman held out a cheap, gold-painted trinket. When she opened the round metal piece hanging from it, a small portrait was revealed.
“How about gifting this to your angelic wife?”
From their well-dressed appearance, anyone in the village would have assumed Debert and Beth were a young noble couple.
Debert glanced at Beth, who peeked out from behind him.
“How long does it take to draw?”
“Just ten minutes, my lord.”
The old woman, sensing a sale, bowed even lower, nearly touching the ground. Beth looked at Debert in bewilderment as he reached into his inner pocket, seemingly about to make a purchase.
Debert handed the money to the old woman. Her drawing skills, though briefly observed, didn’t seem too bad. She would likely produce a decent likeness.
“It’s pretty. Keep it.”
Beth had no chance to protest as the old woman started scrutinising her face up close, leaving her with no choice but to stay silent.
This was hardly the time for such things, and the man’s relaxed demeanour only made Beth more anxious.
After being briefly detained by the old woman, Beth quickly hurried along.
As she passed through a few alleys, her steps suddenly slowed.
She turned toward an alley where a familiar, sharp smell of cigarettes wafted through the air.
The man puffing on a cigarette seemed to already know her purpose. He extended his hand as she approached.
“You know you have to pay for the delivery, right?” (T/L : Oky, this man will deliver her letter to her uncle.)
His tone was curt.
The man’s eyes narrowed as he scanned Beth’s appearance. She looked like a rich young lady, yet here she was, in this backwater village, using a courier.
Clearly, something discreet needed to be passed along.
The man licked his lips. In these tough times, who would have thought money would walk right up to him?
“But the road is so rough these days. You’ll have to give me extra money.”
Beth’s expression darkened.
“If you can’t pay, then the deal’s off.”
The man played his card.
As Beth hesitated, a dark shadow loomed over her.
“What business do you have with my wife?”
The man, who had been dismissing Beth, cursed under his breath at the imposing figure that suddenly appeared—her ‘husband.’ The man who had been lounging against the wall quickly straightened up.
“I said there’s a risk premium.”
“Oh, no. I just meant that sometimes it’s necessary.”
It was obvious that this man wasn’t just any ordinary noble. The courier knew that if he made the wrong move, he’d end up with more than just a loss of money—he’d be in deep trouble.
“Then just deliver as promised.”
“Yes, my Lord. Haha.”
Debert snatched the wad of cash and a yellow slip of paper from Beth’s hand. The slip was torn, leaving only the address intact.
“I hope you do your job well enough that I won’t have to come looking for you again. My wife and I have a lot to do here.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll be on my way now.”
The man swiftly disappeared around the corner.
“I helped you.”
Beth nodded slightly in response to Debert’s gruff statement. He was right. Without him, she might have been swindled.
“Ungrateful, aren’t you?”
Debert muttered to himself as he walked past a beggar lying in the corner. His sharp eyes didn’t miss the rough, unwrinkled hand peeking out from beneath the ragged blanket.
Too thick and unlined to be a beggar.
“Damn it.”
Debert grabbed Beth by the shoulder, pulling her along. They had to get out of the alley.
Beth, unaware of the reason, allowed Debert to drag her in his urgent direction. Their pace quickened.
Suddenly, a deafening gunshot echoed through the alley.
Debert immediately pulled Beth into his arms and drew his gun from his coat. The sound of the approaching guards’ footsteps grew louder.
“Run.”
Beth, clutching Debert’s hand, followed him as they raced through the alleyways. The increasing gunfire, the curses of men, and the screams of the villagers overwhelmed her senses.
At some point, they emerged from the labyrinthine alleys, finding themselves at the entrance of the market where they had first arrived.
“Get in the car!”
Debert shoved Beth towards the vehicle before sprinting off in the opposite direction. The guards ran towards him, leaving Beth unprotected as she dashed towards the car.
Debert was engaged in a fierce battle behind a pile of collapsed crates.
“If we can’t get Debert, grab the woman!”
Beth heard the enemy soldiers shout in desperation, deciding that capturing Debert was too difficult.
Debert’s eyes darted to Beth. She should have already been inside the car, but she was still struggling with the door.
“Damn it.”
Clearly, someone had tampered with the car while they were meeting the courier in the alley.
A Kovach soldier was already aiming his rifle at Beth from a distance.
“Commander!!”
Beth held her breath. A sudden weight pressed down on her shoulder.
The gunfire that had been ringing in her ears grew muffled as she found herself in Debert’s arms.
No, this can’t be.
Thick, warm liquid dripped down Debert’s arm. (T/L: Man, at least let them enjoy their outing peacefully..ugh.)
