The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 44

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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 44】

 

No. That’s the kind of person he is.

 

Victor looked at his friend with sunken eyes.

 

In this life, may he be able to travel to his heart’s content to that distant country he so loves.

 

So he planned to send Lucas abroad before conscription began.

 

“What’s the farthest country you’d like to visit?”

 

“Uh… well. I haven’t been to Ailarcha yet. It’s so far and it’s an island.”

 

Ailarcha, where one island matches the size of a continent.

 

There is no civilization in this place.

 

Swift-footed Ingris had led a fleet to invade and planted the king’s flag, causing divided opinions in international society.

 

“Then I’d like you to visit there for a while. About, 4 years.”

 

“What? That long?”

 

“You don’t have to stay only in Ailarcha. But I hear it’s incredibly vast. Officially, we need a local agent to study the natives’ way of life and find out what Ingris is up to.”

 

Since it was something he had prepared in advance, the words flowed smoothly.

 

Besides, Victor was naturally skilled at lying.

 

“I hear there are creatures that only live in Ailarcha. Very uniquely shaped fellows. Don’t you like that sort of thing.”

 

“Uh… well, that’s true. If it’s necessary, I suppose I should be the one to go.”

 

After all, 4 years was quite a long time. And it was a distance that would take three months by ship.

 

Since this came up suddenly without any prior mention, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

 

“Ingris is showing ambition, after all.”

 

Victor watched Lucas, who seemed to be trying to convince himself as he muttered, and gently raised the corners of his mouth.

 

“I’d be grateful if you could leave right after attending the wedding.”

 

“My goodness. If you’re saying that much, it must really be necessary. Alright, alright. I’ll go.”

 

In the end, Lucas decided to give up thinking about it.

 

It wasn’t like he was being told to go to the East.

 

Besides, being able to go to an unknown country with Bayern’s support was honestly an appealing prospect.

 

“But you have to give me plenty of funding.”

 

“Of course.”

 

That settled it.

 

Even if war broke out again, Lucas wouldn’t die twice.

 

How could they conscript someone who wasn’t even in the country?

 

Victor was satisfied with this.

 

Since he had no intention of dying young this time either, he would be able to watch his friend grow old.

 

‘The rest of the members will arrive in Bayern soon too.’

 

It was a strange feeling, both bitter and somehow joyful.

 

And right at that moment.

 

A short gasp escaped from Ebel’s lips as she had not yet fallen asleep.

 

“!”

 

They say when people are too shocked, they can’t even speak.

 

Ebel froze in her hair-brushing position and was overwhelmed by the scene unfolding before her eyes.

 

It was a large hourglass surrounded by golden rings.

 

Inside was filled with powder as dazzling as ground stars, and looking closely, each grain had numbers embossed on it.

 

Not only that, but unreadable letters were carved on the upper and lower edges of the hourglass, so brilliant that it was difficult to even reach out to touch it.

 

‘What is this? All of a sudden.’

 

Her mouth went dry. Ebel swallowed and stared at the hourglass with trembling eyes.

 

How long had they been facing off like that?

 

As if it couldn’t wait any longer, the hourglass slowly approached her.

 

At its swaying motion, as if asking to be petted or asking to be recognized, Ebel had a big question mark floating above her head.

 

It was clearly an inanimate object, yet it moved as if it had will, which was strange… and its attitude of seeming to want affection was also odd.

 

But the strangest thing was herself.

 

‘Why do I want to pet it so much.’

 

What she felt from the hourglass was an emotion similar to longing.

 

Glad, happy to see it again. So please recognize me quickly.

 

At the warm yet yearning emotion being conveyed, Ebel finally reached out and caressed the rim.

 

“Ah.”

 

It’s warm.

 

It felt like recovering a memento lost long, long ago.

 

After an indescribable stirring brushed through her chest, the hourglass scattered like powder and seeped into her.

 

Slowly, as if worried it might startle her.

 

“Regression. And an hourglass…?”

 

She felt around her body, but nothing particularly different could be felt.

 

Tilting her head in confusion, she lifted her front garment and checked down to her chest.

 

‘There’s definitely a connection.’

 

Why did this suddenly appear?

 

And precisely on this day when Lucas came to the manor…?

 

“Hourglass.”

 

She tried calling it once, but it didn’t appear.

 

It had definitely been absorbed into her.

 

“Clock…? Maybe not this.”

 

Even after calling for the hourglass in various languages, it didn’t show itself again.

 

Ebel, who had been racking her brains while waiting for Victor to come, lay down on the bed and recalled the scene she had witnessed earlier.

 

‘There were unreadable characters.’

 

What could they be?

 

What on earth…

 

But the conversation seemed to be running long as Victor didn’t come, and the next day arrived.

 

It was a day with no time to spare due to full-scale wedding preparations.

 

“Be careful there!”

 

“The fabric is too heavy, help me!”

 

As soon as the sun rose, loads of fabric and ribbons to decorate the ceremony venue arrived.

 

Ebel tasted each dish to decide what would be good for entertaining guests, and selected types of cake.

 

After spending a hectic morning and filling her stomach with smoked salmon sandwiches, it was time to look after Damian.

 

After that, she briefly examined Angelm, and just when she thought she might be able to catch her breath.

 

Victor approached and called her.

 

“Ebel. Dominique and Florian. And Guevre have arrived.”

 

“Ah.”

 

The Twelve. Among them, the 7 people she had felt particularly close to.

 

Commander, Victor von Bayern.

 

Colonel Konrad von Eberstain.

 

Captain Lucas Steiner.

 

Heinrich.

 

Dominique.

 

Florian.

 

Guevre…

 

People who could be called friends.

 

They had come here.

 

Without knowing why.

 

“I’m thinking of having tea time. All three are showing signs of fear, not knowing why they were summoned, so I’d be grateful if you could join us.”

 

“I will, Victor.”

 

That’s right.

 

Colonel Eberstain and Lucas had already known Victor for many years. Even if not Heinrich, his high status meant they knew each other through various connections.

 

But Dominique, Florian, and Guevre.

 

These three were forcibly conscripted, being either low-ranking nobles or commoners.

 

They would have come because the Grand Duke ordered them to, but they must be worried.

 

‘Good. The hourglass I saw last night might appear again.’

 

With a glimmer of hope, Ebel headed to the drawing room with Victor.

 

As they passed through the corridor, the two exchanged conversation in low voices.

 

It was about Lucas’s gunshot wound and the hourglass.

 

If she went around telling just anyone about the hourglass, she would likely be treated as insane, but Victor was fine.

 

He too was someone who had experienced the same miracle as her.

 

“The gunshot scar I hastily operated on? Lucas has something like that remaining?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But he has no memory of it… How strange.”

 

What exactly were the rules?

 

Though she didn’t voice it aloud, there was something Ebel feared.

 

What if she regressed again from this current life?

 

She was living stably and happily enough… if she lost it, it would be unbearable this time.

 

Regression being convenient didn’t mean it would only activate when she lived unhappily.

 

“If my death is the reason for going back to the past.”

 

After hesitating for a moment, Ebel whispered.

 

“Victor. If I happen to die in this life…”

 

When her words reached that point, Victor quietly cut her off.

 

“Let’s find out together.”

 

He had tied up the sentence she couldn’t finish, worried that words might become seeds.

 

Ebel raised her head to look into his blue eyes.

 

Strangely, the anxiety that had been gripping her heart felt somewhat relieved.

 

The reason would be, yes. Because she wasn’t alone.

 

Sunlight poured in through the window.

 

The shadows of the two people stretched long across the floor.

 

Side by side.

 

Not overlapping, but facing the same direction.

 

Ebel, who had been looking at that, suddenly thought.

 

If time were to flow backward again, she hoped to be with him then too.

 

It might be selfish, but she felt she could endure anything if that were the case.

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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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