The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 2

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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 2】

Knowing that the Grand Duke sometimes played such frivolous pranks, Ebel shook her head dismissively as if annoyed.

“Because he ran away to avoid conscription.”

Every word Ebel spoke was based on thorough calculation. She was careful not to let her true identity be exposed, mixing half-truths with half-lies.

According to what she’d heard, Victor von Bayern was skilled not only in psychological warfare but also in torture. He had received such training when he was head of the national intelligence agency during the previous king’s reign.

In any case, she had decided from the beginning to include half-truths rather than string together clumsy lies that wouldn’t work anyway.

“So I came in my brother’s place. Being a military doctor, I would be more useful.”

“I see.”

Victor von Bayern didn’t add any comments about her family situation.

Thinking that being tight-lipped was one of this man’s virtues, Ebel looked up at the night sky.

No matter how much it was spring, temperatures varied by region.

This desolate land became chilly once the sun set. Cold enough that even a heavy jacket laden with medals was precious.

“Which family did you say you were from?”

“I’m a commoner.”

Ebel answered curtly.

Since doctors were usually from the gentry class or low-ranking nobility, it was normal to have a family name.

But she stubbornly hid it.

After all, it would be better not to have such a damned family anyway.

Of course, if the Grand Duke wanted to, he could quickly find out that her surname ‘Claren’ belonged to a fallen noble family.

He would also learn that there was one son and one daughter, and that a second son didn’t exist.

But she didn’t think he would have that much interest in her.

Besides… she’d have to survive and return first before he could find out anything or not.

“Are you planning to marry when you return?”

At the unexpected question, Ebel’s face contorted strangely. However, the Grand Duke’s expression she faced was quite subtle.

Still indifferent and calm, but his jawline had hardened slightly.

Startled, Ebel ended up responding somewhat defensively and sharply.

“What marriage? It’s hard enough to take care of myself in this world.”

“I see.”

“Actually, no. Would you give me a lot of congratulatory money if I got married?”

“I’ll consider it.”

At her half-serious, half-joking remark, Victor raised the corner of his mouth elegantly.

Anyone watching would think this was a ballroom with that smile.

“So survive, Abel.”

“I hope Your Grace also returns safely.”

Ebel had used the name ‘Abel’ from the beginning.

It was her twin brother’s name.

‘Abel’ and ‘Ebel’.

Really, they didn’t even need to think when naming us.

Every time she recalled her own name, she could remember how indifferent her parents were to her.

‘Well, that’s why they didn’t notice for a whole week when I ran away from home.’

As soon as Ebel had saved enough money to leave home, she cut her hair short and headed to Royal Saint Elban Medical University.

If she had failed the exam, her life would have fallen into the gutter, but surprisingly, she passed and even graduated. As valedictorian, no less.

The family only realized Ebel had run away after she entered the dormitory and sent people to find her, but they couldn’t drag her out.

Royal Saint Elban Medical University, which had quite a few competitors, didn’t want to lose Ebel, who was the only perfect scorer on the entrance exam, and decided to dismiss the family’s protests about her stealing her brother’s identity as nonsense.

‘I was grateful to that greedy dean. Though that’s what led me to this battlefield…’

Would she be able to survive here?

Ebel chuckled at her idle thoughts.

She knew she was going to die, but now that she was actually facing death, it was scary.

“What would Your Grace do if by any chance you returned safely?”

“Well. I’d like to learn woodworking. I once asked my mother when I knew nothing. Why couldn’t I become a carpenter?”

Grand Duke Bayern carrying logs and doing carpentry work.

It was so unsuitable that she chuckled.

“Getting married and becoming a good husband wouldn’t be bad either. Taking care of a family… living like others do.”

“And?”

“I think of the nieces and nephews I left behind on the estate. I left them only with their aunt and couldn’t do much good for those children.”

His expression, which had been wearing a bitter smile, changed frighteningly after he saw a glinting light above their heads.

“Get down!”

BOOM!

An ear-splitting roar struck all around them.

And… shells fell like rain along with the flash.

* * *

“Are you alive?”

The man who had covered her with his large body asked quietly.

Ebel answered by coughing up blood.

Eeeeee—

An ear-piercing tinnitus rang out, shaking her brain. Even breathing was painful, and blood continuously poured from her mouth.

“Shh, it’s okay.”

Nothing was okay about the situation.

But strangely, hearing his low, calm voice as always made her want to believe it. As if everything really was okay.

“Grand Duke, Your Grace…!”

“You still have strength to shout. That’s fortunate.”

Ebel, who had barely regained consciousness, clutched her burning throat and raised her gaze.

She remembered that when the bombardment poured down, the man had embraced and protected her without hesitation. But if she was in this state… what condition was he in now?

What entered her vision as she panted and breathed roughly was his broad back covered in blood.

His always neat clothes were torn to shreds, and flesh had been carved away.

Moreover, a red fragment had penetrated his chest and pierced through to her as well.

“If you were alone, you could have avoided it.”

“Didn’t I tell you? It would be troublesome if the only doctor died.”

His dark eyes looked at her calmly, hiding his pain.

“Stop the bleeding, I need to stop the bleeding…”

Ugh.

Blood finally burst from his mouth as well.

Taking it directly, Ebel forced her arms up.

“Save your strength. It’s already too late.”

That damn king. That cursed pride war.

This war had started over a single incident where the king of Frantz mocked the king of Richter.

Ebel poured out curses that would warrant beheading for treason as she pressed firmly on the man’s chest.

As if that would make the god of death come a little later.

Actually… actually, she had been relying on him too.

In this place where everyone was losing themselves and going mad, Victor von Bayern alone seemed like a person from another world.

His angular jawline and upright eyes, and the dignity that made others solemn with just his quiet voice.

But what truly made him look different wasn’t his appearance.

He never lost his composure.

His thorough and disciplined personality.

A man who never spoke carelessly in any situation and didn’t easily reveal his emotions.

Even when countless others were stained with blood and hatred, Victor von Bayern never lost his human dignity.

He memorized the names of even the lowest soldiers, and didn’t complain even in leaking tents. Watching him, Ebel always thought he was an unrealistic person.

So she never thought he would die like this.

She had thought at least he would survive and return.

“You must live. You must survive… so this kind of thing never happens again…”

A deafening roar loud enough to make his ears ring echoed once more.

And then, everything seemed to end.

* * *

…When he opened his eyes, it was a familiar ceiling.

Not the dark, musty barracks reeking of mold and blood, but the Bavarian Estate mansion where he had grown up as a child.

The painting of the Great Saint and angels drawn on the ceiling of that study caught the man’s eye.

That can’t be right. Victor von Bayern muttered quietly.

How many people had he killed in the war? Enough corpses to pile into mountains, so the place he should be going after death was not heaven.

However, the timely bickering of the old gardener and servant coming from outside the window, and the peach fragrance floating in the air were so convincing. Convincing enough to make him want to carelessly believe this was reality.

‘What happened to Abel? What about the other officers?’

It’s confusing.

Raising his thick arm to his forehead, he then realized that what he was wearing was not a military uniform.

The thin, see-through muslin shirt was indeed one he used to enjoy wearing in summer.

‘For a hallucination or life flashing before my eyes, this is too vivid and lasting too long.’

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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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