The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 7

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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 7】

Despite drinking strong alcohol, her mind was perfectly clear. It must be because she was alert.

Following silently behind him, she noticed that the Grand Duke made almost no footsteps.

He was like that on the battlefield too.

Was this his natural habit? Or was it some kind of aftereffect left by the war?

She thought she knew Victor von Bayern quite well as a ‘commander’ and ‘Grand Duke.’ But about him as a man who had set aside such positions… Ebel knew nothing at all.

She only understood that his back looked very straight and his posture was proper. That wherever the moonlight that had settled cast its glow, the muscles beneath his thin shirt were clearly visible.

And that he was extremely courteous to ladies.

Even if that ‘lady’ was dressed as a man.

“…I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality.”

I really can’t tell.

A little while later, Ebel came out of the small bathroom attached to the room and lay down on the bed with both arms stretched out.

Everything seemed so crazy that she had drunk too much, yet her eyes were wide awake.

Sleep just wouldn’t come.

‘A comfortable bed and meals I can eat to my heart’s content…’

It’s unbelievable.

When she woke up, it would still be the battlefield, and several officers she used to joke around with would come over to check if she was still alive.

If she told them about this dream, they would laugh until their stomachs hurt, saying it was ridiculous.

‘That was my reality.’

Pulling the rustling blanket up to her face, she let out a small breath.

War, surgery, bombardment. And… the warm wine she had just drunk.

It felt like standing at the boundary between reality and unreality.

As groundless anxiety crept over her, Ebel immediately grabbed her pillow and took deep breaths.

Wondering if his night was like hers.

Victor, who had let Ebel in, spoke quietly without even looking back.

“Starting tomorrow, investigate Abel Claren. He should be somewhere in Lindau’s gambling dens.”

“Understood.”

Matthias, who had followed with documents, bowed his head.

This was someone who had never once acted eccentrically since he began serving him.

He was always someone who devised rational and practical strategies and gave concise orders.

Since this was the first time seeing his master like this, Matthias couldn’t quite adjust to it.

‘I couldn’t dare eavesdrop on my master’s conversation, so I stayed back.’

But I’m dying of curiosity. What kind of conversation took place in there.

Who exactly is that person that they’re dressed as a man, and why does it look so natural.

And how did they know that Morse code!

It was definitely a specially made Morse code that even he couldn’t read.

‘Ah, could they be an elite agent from the intelligence agency days?’

It wasn’t strange for Matthias, who had been reasoning earnestly, to reach such a conclusion. There was nothing else that would make sense to a human mind.

“Um, what should we do when we find this Abel Claren fellow?”

“It seems he needs to come to his senses.”

“Ah, yes! Understood!”

Although industrialization was happening everywhere and a new era was opening these days, not all the dark corners of the country had disappeared yet.

Matthias, who understood the Grand Duke’s true meaning, bowed and withdrew.

Thinking that if His Excellency said someone ‘needed to come to their senses,’ whoever it was must have lived a really wretched life.

* * *

“What, what! You guys…! Mmph! Mmph!!!”

Several days later, in a back alley of some gambling den in the port city of Lindau.

Abel, who had blown all the money he’d extorted from his sister and was sleeping collapsed on the street, was subdued by several strong men and loaded into a carriage.

“Is, is it about money? Who is it. Noswick? Or Coran?”

He had borrowed money and run away without paying it back several times.

Abel, who was spitting out loan shark names as he remembered them, rolled his bleary eyes looking for an escape route.

They were twins born from the same womb.

Graduating top of the university that his sister had achieved? That was nothing, he could have done it too if he had put his mind to it.

He was always drunk on alcohol or drugs, but that was because he was too smart. But the world was stupid. That was frustrating. That’s why he was addicted to gambling.

Although various excuses were attached as footnotes, anyway, it was an undeniable fact that Abel was just as sharp as Ebel. Only he chose to use it in bad ways.

‘They’re wearing common workers’ clothes, but they’re new. Not just one person, but everyone including the coachman, there are no traces of mending or patching with other fabric. Especially seeing how shiny their shoes are, they bought these specifically for this job.’

In other words, the client must be of high status. They did this to hide it.

‘I don’t recognize any faces. I’ve been avoiding loan sharks for years now. Yeah, I’m certain. These guys aren’t here because of debt.’

As his life was in danger, Abel’s mind worked faster than ever.

Faster than when calculating what cards his opponents held.

“Oh my, gentlemen. Why are you doing this to a worthless fellow like me? Huh?”

First speaking with brazen familiarity, Abel secretly twisted his wrists.

His hands and feet were tied, but they hadn’t gagged his mouth.

Why? What was the reason?

If they were this thorough, they would have covered his mouth too.

“I’ve lived without causing harm to others. Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else?”

No answer came back. No one made eye contact with him.

‘So these guys came specifically targeting me. They must have been hired.’

Good, the alcohol was gradually wearing off too.

Even in silence, how much could be learned from it!

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have extorted more money from that girl. Yesterday I didn’t have enough cash and got kicked out in the end.’

Even in this situation, Abel was having such thoughts when he suddenly hesitated.

He had never thought in that direction, but could this possibly be—

“Aha, ahaha! Ebel. Ebel sent them, right? That bitch didn’t want to give money so she did this?”

It’s so funny it brings tears to his eyes.

Abel, who had been giggling with his waist bent for a while, shook his body back and forth and shouted.

“She’s been living by stealing my brother’s name, and now she even wants to kill me! Amazing, amazing. That’s what you’d expect from someone born from the same womb. She always pretended to be noble, saying she’d become a doctor and whatnot! As expected, she was rotten behind the scenes. Yeah, blood will tell! Ahaha!”

Cough.

The laughing man stopped breathing when the person sitting in front punched him in the stomach.

The shock was strong enough to momentarily cut off his consciousness, making his vision shake.

After a long while like that.

The carriage arrived at its destination.

At the entrance of a gray building, a sign reading [Greyhaven Mental Institution] creaked ominously.

* * *

“It’s my first time meeting you, Miss. I am called Banya.”

“Ah… Nice to meet you.”

“Please feel free to speak comfortably. I’ve been ordered to serve you comfortably.”

Early morning.

Savory bacon and fresh eggs, warm bread and expensive cheese. Even a salad full of fruits and olives.

After an unbelievably peaceful meal ended, someone came to visit Ebel.

The old woman with snow-white hair had a very good build and gave off a hearty, refreshing impression.

“I was a nanny for House of Bayern in my youth. I received basic training, so I also took on the role of protecting His Excellency in emergencies.”

“I see.”

“Now I’m the head maid at the main estate mansion. I took leave to come here.”

No wonder she had an atmosphere that put people at ease, she was a nanny.

Banya pulled the curtains open with a swoosh, then dusted off her hands and called out heartily.

“Well then, now I’ll help with Miss’s preparations. I bought several dresses on my way here, and I’ll see if any alterations are needed.”

Dresses…?

She couldn’t even remember when she had last worn such a thing.

Including the memories of war, it seemed like it had been a good seven years…

Once Ebel settled into the prepared bathtub, she received thorough care from fingertips to toes for two full hours. Her hair, being short, didn’t take long to dry.

“Actually, having it this short makes it easier to attach a chignon. Hoho.”

Ebel made a disgusted expression as she looked at the wigs placed on the trolley. Still, there was no choice. Now even dressing up was part of the mission.

“There, the makeup is finished too. How do you like it? This Banya has shown her skills after quite some time.”

When Ebel opened her eyes, she was slightly startled by her reflection in the mirror.

There was a completely different person there, so much so that she wondered who it could be.

“You have skill with makeup.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Before I became head maid… I served the late Miss Serena for a long time.”

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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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