Chapter 45
From early dawn, the faces gathered in the hospital director’s office were visibly weary. The lingering effects of the party that had ended past midnight were still apparent, with yawns and the occasional groans of hangovers punctuating the room.
Barden, in particular, took advantage of Lady Molly’s absence by boldly resting his head on the table, trying to catch a nap. It was a poorly kept secret that he had been sprawled out, drunk, in the hospital’s flower bed the night before.
Even Ines, who was usually as sharp as a knife, had a drowsy expression, a sign of the shift in routine.
The post-war atmosphere had clearly relaxed everyone.
“Everyone’s screws seem to have come loose, haven’t they?”
Lady Molly’s sudden entrance startled everyone, causing them to snap their eyes wide open. Barden, who had been slumping over, quickly straightened up, pretending to be alert.
Lady Molly, seated at the head of the table, flipped through the charts, casting sharp glances at the faces gathered around. Whenever her keen eyes landed on someone, they instinctively lowered their heads toward the table.
“Pull yourselves together. We’re in the process of finishing our work, not finished yet. Remember, our mission ends the day we completely vacate this place and leave for Wayne.”
Her stern reprimand elicited a subdued response. Ines and Beth, who were still the most composed, handed over the documents detailing the remaining patients and supplies. Lady Molly’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly in approval as she glanced over the paperwork.
Beth, who had been the top student in nursing school, and Ines, who had been second, were Lady Molly’s pride and reliable successors. These young women had not disappointed her on the battlefield.
In fact, they had often exceeded expectations, so much so that it occasionally brought a lump to her throat.
“Hmm, good job. It’s clear that the end is near.”
The previous night, Ines and Gale had visited Lady Molly to announce their engagement. Despite Gale’s injuries, it seemed possible that they could marry by late spring after proper surgery and rehabilitation in Wayne.
As she closed the documents, Lady Molly subtly glanced over her glasses at Beth. The girl, as always, sat there with a composed expression, showing no signs of emotion.
Beth’s official sponsorship from the Molly Ducal House had ended when she became an adult.
Lady Molly had cautiously offered personal support, but Beth had firmly declined, volunteering to be the first to head to the battlefield hospital.
The constant outbreak of war around the time Beth graduated from nursing school might have been a stroke of luck for her.
The girl she had reunited with after several years had grown stronger, more mature. While this brought some peace of mind, it also left a pang in her heart.
“I feel like I’ve already received ample reward just knowing that none of you have become casualties.”
Lady Molly’s calm voice drew everyone’s attention as she concluded the meeting. Her brown eyes, now free of her gold-rimmed glasses, warmly observed each person in the room.
“Surely, everyone has their death certificates. I hope no one is disappointed not to have had to use them.”
A light laugh spread through the room at her small joke.
“If you take the certificates to Wayne Imperial Bank, a bonus for the medical staff will be issued. Don’t forget to pack them along with your belongings. That’s it for today’s meeting.”
As Lady Molly left the director’s office first, the room grew a little more lively. Remembering the forgotten bonus, everyone began eagerly discussing their plans.
Some planned to use the money to secure a better market stall for their mothers, while others considered it as a marriage dowry for their lovers who had fought in the war. The uses were as varied as the people themselves.
It was a long-awaited reward.
“Beth, what will you do with yours?”
At Sophia’s bright question, Beth tilted her head slightly. She had thought about it often, but for some reason, nothing came to mind now.
When the war is over…
When the war is over…
She had repeated these words like a mantra for years, but now she couldn’t think of anything.
Through the foggy haze in her mind, one face stood out clearly.
Right. He has my death certificate too.
The thought that something she had clung to like a lifeline had left her hands brought a wry smile to her face. It wasn’t him who had lost his mind; it was her.
[I’m not sure.]
It was an honest answer.
**
As Barden subtly sidled up to Beth, revealing his plan to open a tavern, Dixie curtly dismissed him, saying, “Don’t get carried away, Barden.” She also didn’t forget to sternly warn her friend, “Beth Jane, don’t lend him money carelessly.”
With Barden grumbling and the others showing a slight buzz of excitement, they all began to disperse to their respective places.
As the three of them descended to the first floor to make rounds in the barracks, a strange voice stopped them.
“Miss Dixie Coleman of the Coleman family.”
A man with an ill-suited moustache called out to Dixie. With a slightly sour expression, Dixie greeted him and politely asked, “Do you have something to say?”
The man, as if waiting for this, burst into a hearty laugh.
Ines subtly signaled Beth, quietly leading her to a corner.
“He’s one of the two men who fought over Dixie last night.”
Ah, Beth nodded, scrutinizing the man. Judging by Dixie’s expression, she didn’t seem particularly fond of the fellow.
“Did you get back safely last night?”
“With the lodging so close by, of course.”
“There are many dangers for a lady who’s been drinking.”
“It’s those who make things dangerous that are the problem, not me. Besides, I handle my drink very well. Exceptionally well, in fact.”
It was like a conversation between a spear and a shield.
From a few steps away, a youthful face was watching the entire exchange in dismay. Beth recognised the face this time.
He was the soldier who had asked Dixie for the first dance before Debert’s mad play began.
“Do you have any plans when you return to Wayne?”
“I do, but is it really necessary for me to share them?”
“Ha, well, it’s a bit awkward for me to say this myself.”
The man stroked his moustache and arrogantly tilted his chin. It was as if Dixie had seen something unpleasant, her eyes narrowing irritably.
“Some say my family is ruined, but I don’t see it that way. A family with deep roots never truly disappears.”
Dixie crossed her arms with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Let’s see where this goes.’
The clueless man continued talking.
“I know Mr. Coleman quite well. A rather wealthy man, isn’t he?”
Shee nodded as he emphasised the word “wealthy.”
“But I believe you understand that not everything in this world revolves around money. And I’m the only man who can fill your one ‘flaw.’”
Ha, Dixie’s ears turned bright red as she scoffed.
The sound of the thread holding Dixie’s temper together snapping was so loud that even Beth and Ines could hear it. Unfortunately, the only one unaware of it was the moustached man.
“Well, there may be plenty of ladies when I return to Wayne, but I want to cherish this connection we’ve made here. Surely, Mr. Coleman will be grateful for this good fortune.”
“No, listen—”
“You don’t seem to think that a lady should accept immediately. Very well. But I won’t wait long. Ha ha.”
“No—”
“There’s a lot of social etiquette for you to learn. I don’t think you’re slow to learn. My family—”
“Hey!”
Dixie couldn’t take it anymore and shouted with thunderous force, causing the man’s shoulders to jolt. She grabbed his shoulders, nearly seizing him by the collar, and the man blinked up at her with wide eyes.
Her fiery red eyes glared at him.
“Get a grip before I say something I’ll regret.”
At her low, growling voice, the man’s lips twitched.
“Why such harsh words from a lady’s mouth?”
“Take that nonsense about ‘a lady’ and throw it away.”
The man’s face visibly flushed red and blue. For a man from a humble, rural baron family, whose name was the only thing left of his lineage, his pride must have been deeply wounded.
Ines sighed and was about to step forward to calm Dixie down when—
“Hey! Look at this petty noble brat!”
A thunderous middle-aged voice echoed through the corridor. That voice—Ines’ face brightened as she quickly turned around.
“Uncle Collins!”
“Hey, brat! What’s with the ‘uncle’! You should be saying ‘Professor’ or ‘Teacher’!”
The hearty laughter made even the mustached man turn to look.
There stood a middle-aged gentleman with a broken gold-rimmed pair of glasses haphazardly taped together. His clothing, along with his tousled, greying hair, was quite dishevelled. Though he had a robust build, he didn’t appear to be the kind of wealthy man the moustached man would idolise.
“Uncle!” Dixie’s lips parted as well.
The middle-aged gentleman walked up to the moustached man and gave him a couple of hearty slaps on the shoulder. The moustached man grimaced under the force of the blows.
“Were you bothering our Dixie? Surely not, right?”
“And who are you to barge in like this?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, young man. I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Collins Morley.”
As the moustached man found his hand trapped in a firm handshake, his face suddenly turned pale.
Could it be? That Molly family?
“If you know Mr. Coleman well, you should know me too, right?”
“Well, I mean, that is…”
“Do you have anything more to say to Dixie?”
At Collins’ stern prompting, the moustached man began to sweat profusely, then hurriedly dashed down the corridor, muttering something about it being nothing at all.
Collins turned around and looked at the soldier who had remained frozen in place.
“A man should have some courage. Are you just going to stand there watching?”
“Y-yes?”
As Collins nodded towards Dixie, the hesitant soldier quickly ran over and handed her a bouquet of wildflowers picked from the forest path between the barracks and the hospital.
His face flushed red as he stammered, “I had a good time yesterday,” before bolting out of the room like a rabbit.
“Good grief, I’ve raised these boys well, and now the scoundrels are all swooping in.”
Collins laughed heartily, embracing Dixie as she rushed into his arms. Ines, on the verge of tears, joined them in the hug.
As Collins gently separated the two who had clung to him, he looked at Beth, who was still standing a few steps away.
His wrinkled eyes crinkled warmly.
“Our Beth has grown so much. Diana told me you’ve been through a lot.”
It was Collins’ way of acknowledging Beth’s hardships without making a fuss about them. Hearing the voice she had longed for, Beth’s tearful eyes blinked slowly.
Collins spread his arms wide.
“You’ve been through so much. Come with me to Wayne.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Beth ran into his arms. He enveloped her in his broad embrace, gently patting her back for quite some time.
“You’ve done so well. You’ve done so well. I always knew you could handle it.”
In the midst of his warm, comforting words, Beth finally broke down in tears.
Everything was returning to its rightful place.
