The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 12】

“Ebel will be delighted to hear that.”

Victor swept back his black hair as he dismounted from his horse.

The Secret Hideout was built with excellent soundproofing since security was a priority. So there was no way to know what Ebel was doing inside.

‘It hasn’t been long since I last saw her, yet it feels like quite a long time.’

Standing at the entrance, he paused just as he was about to turn the door handle.

A very faint sound of violin was coming from inside.

‘Did she know how to play the violin?’

That was unexpected.

But the violin’s characteristic melancholy melody and the delicate trembling resonance of the strings suited her quite well.

“Oh my! Your Grace, I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Banya.”

“Konrad, it’s been a while too.”

Banya and Colonel Konrad naturally knew each other. He was the son of her distant relative.

Having had frequent exchanges with relatives since childhood, Konrad treated Banya almost like his own mother.

He had received her help often while growing up.

“Now, now. Both gentlemen, please listen to the young lady’s performance. Give her some applause too. This Banya has never seen anyone play the violin so magnificently, and I’m no musician myself.”

The old woman, tying her apron strings tightly, hummed as she headed to the kitchen, and the two men went to the Drawing Room to wait for dinner.

They were also intrigued by Ebel’s performance.

“She’s quite talented.”

Before peering into the Drawing Room with its door half-open, Konrad smiled and looked back at him. Victor replied in a lowered voice.

“I should play a grass flute alongside her. She’d like that.”

“Oh my, how could I add the sound of a grass flute to such a magnificent performance?”

“She’d really be delighted.”

The Ebel he knew was someone who didn’t express her emotions greatly. But if you looked closely and long enough, it became visible.

How the corners of her eyes trembled when she was happy, how her lips twisted in a particular way when she was displeased.

She was a more transparent person than expected, and he was pleased by that.

Despite having such a revealing personality, others didn’t know about her purity.

Perhaps this was like earning a piece of a very proud cat’s heart.

“…”

Not wanting to interrupt her performance, he stood at the doorway watching her.

The sunset light settled on her round face. Her long hair swayed with her increasingly rapid hand movements.

Unfortunately, since they had arrived in the middle of the performance, it was already nearing its end.

When she put down her instrument, Victor entered while applauding.

“Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2. It was a wonderful performance.”

“Your Grace.”

“First, let me introduce you. This is Colonel Konrad von Eberstain.”

Ebel’s shoulders trembled slightly.

So faintly that you wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely.

Then, she approached with careful steps and greeted him.

“…Nice to… meet you. I’m Ebel.”

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

Ebel straightened her knees and gazed intently at Colonel Konrad. Just before the Colonel could look at her with puzzlement, she gracefully averted her gaze.

“Banya said today’s meal preparation would take a long time. If it’s alright with you, may I play one more piece, though my skills are lacking?”

“They weren’t lacking at all. I don’t think there’s any lady of the same age who isn’t a violinist who could perform at that level.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

They say a person’s true nature cannot be hidden when performing.

Because personality gets embedded in the melody.

Konrad, too, was born a noble and had heard countless performances, learning refinement. His ears were well-trained, so to speak.

Therefore, when this well-mannered lady took up the strings again, he couldn’t help but admire Ebel’s wit and ingenuity.

No, it would be more accurate to say he was completely captivated.

“Schubert’s Military March! My wife and I are very fond of this piece.”

Though he lowered his voice considerably to avoid being disruptive, Konrad’s shoulders were already swaying.

This incredibly cheerful piece was often performed at festivals and was typically the first piece countless soldiers taught their children.

Moreover, when a performer plays a military march in the presence of soldiers, it’s considered the highest form of respect.

“It contains the joy of meeting the Colonel.”

“Yes, I can feel it. She must have chosen this piece because I’m a soldier.”

Konrad chuckled heartily and looked at the future adopted daughter with eyes full of affection.

He continued to address her with honorifics because, even as an adopted daughter, she would become the Grand Duchess.

‘It would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried, but I trusted that His Grace would arrange things well. My wife also emerged from her depression upon hearing she’d have a daughter.’

But this lady… no matter how he looked at her, she far exceeded Konrad’s expectations and hopes.

‘How can she be so composed? Her upright posture makes it seem like she’s served in the military.’

Though he had stumbled backward onto the truth, there was no one to confirm it. It was only Konrad’s private thought.

After pleasantly listening to the short performance, Konrad proceeded to dinner with a twitching smile at the corners of his mouth.

‘Thank goodness. Everything went according to plan.’

The atmosphere that followed was naturally warm and friendly.

Ebel, who had been maintaining various social conversations throughout, felt somewhat sentimental seeing the living Konrad.

‘You loved military marches the most. You always played them on your grass flute.’

That’s why she had prepared within that month’s time. She wanted to dedicate that piece to him as soon as he arrived.

Since she wasn’t good at embarrassing words, conveying her feelings through music was the best she could do…

‘I think he understood.’

Konrad’s wrinkled eyes kept curving, and his mouth beamed with excitement.

In the end, it was Victor’s job to put the flushed, drunk Colonel to bed.

Eventually, Victor approached Ebel, who was cooling off in the Garden, and spoke quietly.

“Are you ready?”

“More than enough.”

“Well, there’s nothing you can’t do, after all.”

“That’s right. I even went to war pretending to be a man, so what’s this?”

Taking care of a wild boy was nothing.

She’d try it first, and if it became truly unmanageable, she’d ask the Grand Duke for help.

She believed that the Victor she knew would listen carefully to her words and provide solutions.

She had that level of trust in the man whose wife she would become, so what was there to fear?

Though her entire life would change completely, she wasn’t giving up her dream of medicine, her partner wasn’t some pot-bellied old man, and she wouldn’t be unable to earn money later, so Ebel was fine with everything.

“Come to think of it, about your favorite colors and flower types that you answered earlier.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Was it all true?”

Even in the darkness, his blue eyes were clearly visible. Perhaps it was because his gaze held power beyond that of ordinary people.

Having such idle thoughts, she nodded.

“I like dark navy blue with low saturation and brightness the most. I also like orange jasmine.”

“Did you grow orange jasmine at home?”

“There was one tree. I cherished it dearly, but one day it withered and died.”

Ebel’s profile as she spoke was emotionless.

Victor, who had been watching, asked carefully.

“Did someone kill it deliberately?”

“Abel did. My brother.”

“I see.”

That conversation topic ended there.

After exchanging a few more words, both headed to their respective bedrooms to sleep early.

At least, that’s what Ebel did.

Victor had agents he could deploy even in the late hours of dawn, and what instructions he gave them… would become clear in a couple of days.

* * *

The carriage journey to Bayern was less awkward than she had worried it would be.

The Colonel, Banya, and aide Matthias had decided to come separately, and she rode alone with Victor in the large carriage, which indeed felt luxurious with its excellent ride quality.

The two of them were generally quiet, but when they occasionally brought up topics, it was almost always reminiscing about their shared memories from the regiment.

It made for good conversation since there was such a big difference between her perspective on the war and his.

“That war will eventually happen, won’t it?”

“I will prevent it.”

“Can you stop the King of France from mocking our King?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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