Chapter 48
Beth stayed awake all night, her eyes wide open. Whenever she felt herself drifting off, her mind would suddenly become alert again.
Despite her genuine desire to sleep, Debert didn’t wake up once throughout the long night.
However, whenever Beth so much as stirred, he would instinctively tighten his grip around her.
At first, Beth awkwardly fidgeted, but eventually, she gave up and relaxed in his embrace.
It was a short night for sorting out her thoughts. The loud wind rattled the tent, but the warmth of the man holding her made the night far from cold.
Through the thin blue light seeping into the tent, Beth realised that dawn was approaching. She carefully took hold of his hand. Seeing his grey eyelashes lying quietly against his face, it was clear he was still in a deep sleep.
As Beth had hoped, Debert’s hand slid from her waist. She raised herself up, relieved that she could finally move freely, and he didn’t stir.
How can he sleep so soundly?
Her shoulders and back ached from spending the night in such an awkward position, but Beth ignored the discomfort and studied his face.
Dixie’s admiration of Duke Cliff’s handsome features came to mind. If he weren’t burdened with the heavy responsibilities of a military commander, he could easily make any woman’s heart flutter.
Beth’s hand unconsciously reached toward his face but stopped in midair. His unguarded expression reminded her of a face from her memories.
Stop it.
Beth scolded herself silently. There are people who cross boundaries and people who must respect them. Beth knew where she stood.
With a slightly detached feeling, Beth got up and quietly attempted to leave the barrack.
But before she could take a step, a hand with a grip too strong to be asleep grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed.
“Where are you going?”
His deep, husky voice was rough and cracked.
Beth, immobilised by his powerful grip, held her breath. She gently tapped his arm wrapped around her waist to signal that she needed to leave, but Debert ignored her.
“Where are you trying to go without me?”
Debert’s lips brushed against her shoulder blade as he murmured in a low voice.
“I kept my promise, so what’s the problem now?”
Frustrated by his irrelevant words, Beth scratched his arm sharply.
[There’s a morning meeting.] She mouthed the words silently.
“Anyone who’s going to survive will survive, no matter what.”
Despite the irresponsible tone, his voice was still thick with sleep.
Beth more firmly tried to free herself from his grasp. This time, Debert let her go, but he didn’t release her wrist.
He let out a low groan and collapsed onto the bed.
Even with his broad shoulders, the small cot felt cramped. Beth suddenly realised how little space they had shared throughout the night.
It was early in the morning, but she needed to return to her quarters before anyone saw them.
“I’ll take you back.”
Beth shook her head stubbornly.
Debert, struggling to stand, seemed oblivious to the dilemma. His head drooped onto her shoulder, his hair playfully brushing against her neck.
“Don’t leave me behind.”
There it is again.
Beth cursed herself for agreeing to stay the previous night when he had made such an unreasonable request. If anyone saw her leaving a barrack early in the morning with a barely awake commander, they’d jump to conclusions.
“I’ll let you go if you promise.”
Beth nodded dismissively, but he still didn’t let go of her wrist.
Debert picked up the blanket neatly folded in the corner and wrapped it around Beth’s shoulders.
He couldn’t give her his uniform, as it would be too obvious that she had spent the night with the commander, so the field blanket was all he could offer.
His sharp eyes, now fully awake, locked onto hers. The man who had been playfully demanding earlier had disappeared, and an inexplicable tension filled the barrack.
“Promise me you won’t leave me behind.”
His words had a hint of threat.
Beth, her face growing tense, saw him smirk.
“It’s nothing serious. Remember when you left me behind on the battlefield last time? That nearly ended in disaster.”
Beth finally understood his meaning and nodded. It was an unforgettable day.
Debert knew she wouldn’t forget that day, just as he knew that it was that day that made her see him fully now.
Sometimes, he loathed his own cunning nature, but right now, he was satisfied with everything.
“Promise me you won’t leave me behind.”
Beth quickly nodded. There was no reason not to. The war was over, and there was no longer any danger of him being harmed because of her.
“Alright, that’s good enough.”
Debert, with a nod, gestured towards the entrance of the barrack, as if urging Beth to leave quickly.
When Beth hesitated and glanced back, he added, “If you wait any longer, you might run into the patrol,” prompting her to swiftly disappear outside.
“She certainly moves quickly.”
His voice, tinged with amusement, lingered softly in the tent.
* * *
As Beth turned the completely shattered door handle of her accommodation, she felt an unexpected sense of gratitude for the poor conditions.
If the door could only be opened from the inside, she would have been caught red-handed staying out overnight.
She tiptoed into the room, where everything was eerily quiet. The old table by the door was littered with leftover biscuits and empty bottles, evidence that Collins and his former students had indulged in a hearty celebration following the end of the war.
Just as she was about to change her clothes and head to the hospital, something heavy bumped against her foot, making her gasp as she instinctively covered her mouth.
Although no sound had escaped, it was a reflexive action.
What she had tripped over was a leg sticking out from under the table. As she crouched down in disbelief, a figure began crawling out from beneath the table.
“What on earth…”
Dixie, her face twisted in a grimace, looked up at her from all fours. Beth met Dixie’s startled gaze, her own expression one of shock.
“You—”
“Beth? Where were you last night?”
Before Dixie could finish her question, the sharp voice of someone descending the stairs interrupted her.
Dixie narrowed her eyes, focusing on Beth, who was wrapped in a strange blanket and hurriedly searching for something.
Beth quickly began scribbling something on a piece of paper on the table.
Meanwhile, Dixie had straightened up, her eyes half-closed in a manner that eerily resembled Mrs. Molly when she used to scold her students.
Beth, her head bent over the table, and Dixie, crouched beneath it, locked eyes once more.
Without being noticed by the nurse at the bottom of the stairs, Dixie silently mouthed, *”Need some help?”* Beth, understanding, nodded involuntarily.
“Beth, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to share a drink with Mr. Collins last night because I left all my night duties to you!”
In truth, it had been Dixie and Ines who were on night duty the previous evening. However, Mrs. Molly had volunteered to take the night shift herself, understanding her former student’s wish to catch up with Collins.
Dixie had eagerly accepted the offer, but Ines, unable to leave her fiancé alone, stayed with Mrs. Molly through the night.
The only one who knew the truth, Ines, was now sound asleep.
“Oh? Really? You must have had a hard night, Beth. Get some rest.”
“That’s right! You must have had such a hard time last night!”
Dixie exaggeratedly batted her eyes.
Although Beth felt a pang of anxiety at her over-the-top performance, the nurse who had questioned her seemed unconcerned and soon left, saying she was going for a walk.
The room on the first floor fell silent again, with just the two of them remaining.
“Miss Beth Janes.”
Dixie, now seated on a chair with her chin propped up on the table, fixed her gaze on Beth. Her eyes, already sparkling with interest, clearly showed her determination not to let her prey escape this time.
*Let’s talk after I wash up. Please.* Beth wrote this down fervently, her last desperate plea, before trudging upstairs.
Dixie’s persistent gaze followed her until Beth disappeared from sight.
“Hurry up, the sun’s already high.”
Beth ignored Dixie, who was now clinging to her like a shadow, as she replaced the bandages on a wounded soldier’s head. Though her hands were busy administering pain relief, Dixie continued to pester Beth with questions.
As Beth left the ward with a sigh, she noticed a familiar soldier nearby. It was the same soldier who had once given Dixie wildflowers. This time, he was holding a small branch with red berries, a rarity in this winter season.
As Beth approached him, her eyes shining, the soldier, blushing furiously, hesitantly extended his gift.
“I, uh, had some free time and went for a walk in the woods. I found this, and, well, it reminded me of the colour of the dress Nurse Dixie wore the other day.”
“I really don’t need this,” Dixie sighed as she accepted the soldier’s gift. Seeing this as her chance, Beth quickly made her way downstairs. She knew she couldn’t avoid Dixie all day, but she needed some time alone to gather her thoughts.
Her mind was wrestling with the heavy guilt weighing down her heart, a guilt that kept her from letting her emotions take flight.
“Oh, Nurse Beth.”
Arthur’s eyes met Beth’s as she stood silently at the top of the stairs.
Since the day he had secretly confessed his wish to have Beth assigned to the field hospital, he hadn’t had a proper chance to see her.
Arthur quickly checked his expression, trying to manage a small smile.
“It’s been a while.”
Though his voice wavered slightly at the end of the greeting, he hoped she wouldn’t notice.
To avoid revealing the emotions he was struggling to hide, he quickly looked down, noticing the bundle of letters in his hand.
“I’m glad I ran into you early. Your letters have arrived.”
Arthur was relieved that he had been the first to receive the package that had arrived early that morning.
If he hadn’t, he might have shown her a more vulnerable side of himself.
He handed the letters to Beth, using it as a convenient excuse to speak with her.
“These are your letters, Miss Beth.”
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TRANSLATOR:
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