Chapter 13
Erich processed the piled-up approval documents and leisurely organized his things, dragging out the time.
No doubt she was curled up under that blanket, her heart pounding with anxiety. A mischievous urge crept up to make the woman even more uneasy, more agitated.
It was amusing, and in some ways, boring because it didn’t stray from expectations.
After watching her motionless back for a while, Erich set down his fountain pen and picked up a sheet of paper from the desk. It was the prescription the military doctor had submitted and left just moments ago.
‘Helmut Ausgunt…’
The signature was neat, but perhaps due to the force in his hand, the scratches were vividly marked with irritation. He recalled the guy’s face stiffening the moment he entered the tent.
‘That damn bastard.’
Until now, Helmut had been an irritating presence, but one he could keep at a consistent distance.
Above all, since Erich had never been seriously ill and greatly disliked painkillers or sleeping pills, there weren’t many occasions to frequently seek out the military doctor.
Having to face Helmut Ausgunt several times a day like this made him thoroughly uncomfortable.
Even though Helmut had his own barracks that doubled as a medical office, the reason Erich had insisted on moving her back here was because the guy’s oddly dazed expression had strangely gotten under his skin.
Tsk, Erich crumpled the prescription and threw it away. Without his permission, he wouldn’t tolerate even a handful of sunlight touching her.
Whether it was out of concern that it might ruin his scheming plans, or due to some twisted possessiveness, he didn’t think deeply about it.
In any case, Helmut irritated him.
Rustle. The sound of her shifting under the blanket reached him. It seemed she was pretending to wake up slowly.
Like a naughty child deliberately messing up a neatly set table, a wicked smile spread across Erich’s lips.
He completely covered the unfinished documents and began unbuttoning his uniform jacket one by one.
“It’s hot.”
He said it loudly, so if she had ears, she must have heard. Even if she couldn’t see with her eyes, she’d be perking up her ears to the sound of fabric brushing.
Thud, Erich tossed the jacket aside and undid half the buttons on his shirt as well.
“Are you going to keep hiding under the blanket like that?”
Even as he approached leisurely and sat down at the foot of the bed, the lump under the blanket just lay still without responding.
“Yulaina, I have something to say.”
Muttering, Erich glanced back slyly over his shoulder. In that instant, something gleaming flashed, aimed at his back.
“Don’t move!”
Yulaina burst out from under the blanket, surging up and growling fiercely.
“Ah.”
The moment the cool tip of the blade poked into his back, Erich suppressed the laughter bubbling up inside him.
“Yeah, I surrender.”
***
“Shut up, I said don’t move.”
Her voice was trembling, but Erich grinned and played coy.
“But it’s hot. Let me finish taking it off.”
Ignoring the sharp blade poking insistently at his back, Erich undid the remaining buttons on his shirt without a care.
The shirt slipped down from his angular shoulders, revealing his finely sculpted muscles without an ounce of excess fat.
Yulaina’s gaze wavered dramatically. She’d never seen a man’s body her age before.
Seeing a body that seemed impervious even to a stab, making not a single scratch, suddenly made her chest feel constricted. No matter how hard she struggled or fought, it felt like she’d never be able to overpower this man, and the thought suffocated her.
“Why so surprised? Didn’t expect this?”
“Be quiet.”
Gritting her teeth, Yulaina gripped the knife harder. But when Erich suddenly turned his body, Yulaina flinched in shock and scooted back.
Hah, with a scoff, Erich pulled her hand toward him.
“I’ll teach you. Right here.”
Guided by Erich’s hand, the knife pressed firmly just below the sharp angle of his left jaw. As pressure built on the blade’s tip, the bulging vein throbbed visibly.
“Put your strength here. Stab.”
Erich closed his eyes playfully and smiled brightly.
“Then it’s over. Make sure to try it next time. Preferably with something sharper prepared.”
The knife slipped limply from her grasp and clattered to the floor with a clang. Her face, flushed bright red, remained crimson even as Erich picked up his shirt and stood.
“I’ll be back soon, so rest well. Won’t be long.”
Erich, now fully in his jacket, turned and looked down at Yulaina.
His hand reached out unconsciously toward her hair but withdrew naturally, as if nothing had happened.
***
The meeting didn’t end until well past noon. Helmut, who had been waiting outside the tent for quite a while until the officers all exited, lifted the flap and entered.
“You called for me.”
The archduke, focused on a report, only nodded his head.
“Sit.”
Helmut cautiously sat across from the archduke.
Only the sound of pages flipping and the pen nib scratching busily across paper filled the air. Having called him first yet giving no particular instructions, stray thoughts naturally began to bloom in his mind.
‘I wonder if that woman is okay.’
Stealing glances at the archduke seated opposite, Helmut doubted his eyes when he spotted the red mark on his neck.
It was precisely where the carotid artery ran. Since it was a dull knife for opening envelopes, no serious injury had occurred, but from the mark, it was clear considerable force had been applied.
‘What on earth is going on between those two?’
Yesterday, he’d discovered strangulation marks on the woman’s neck. It was painful enough to see the fragile, small woman’s body covered in wounds, but to think her neck had been choked too.
Helmut felt a strong revulsion. And after reading Yulaina’s notes, a wave of pity had just started to well up…
When Erich had barged into the barracks out of nowhere and ordered him to move the woman to his tent, he couldn’t hold back, and nausea had risen in his throat.
After sending her away, he’d spent the night tossing and turning, blaming himself. Fortunately, she seemed unharmed, but when he found the knife in the bed, he unconsciously pretended not to see it.
Helmut’s gaze swept over Erich’s neck again.
‘Did some foul act lead to a fight? Has he already done it? Is that why she aimed the knife… Then, right now, she…’
“Major Helmut, Major Helmut!”
The sound of the pen tip tapping the desk snapped him back to attention. Erich’s eyes were boring into him.
“You’re spacing out.”
“…My apologies, Your Highness.”
Helmut quickly straightened his posture.
“To think the razor-sharp Helmut Ausgunt has moments when he loses focus.”
Erich covered the documents, interlaced his fingers, and rested his chin on them. His gaze, somehow feeling aggressive, fixed piercingly on Helmut.
“About that woman.”
“You mean Yulaina.”
“Ah, yes. Yulaina.”
A subtle silence flowed. Seeing Erich’s lip twitch, Helmut swallowed dryly.
‘He knows I’m concerned.’
Sweat beaded coldly in his hands, neatly placed on his knees.
“I’m taking her back to the homeland. How’s her condition?”
“To the homeland?”
His voice trembled slightly in the question. He hadn’t expected him to actually take her…
“Is there a reason not to?”
“So, why her.”
“Why are you curious?”
As the sharp gaze returned, Helmut hastily adjusted his words.
“Ah, no. Rather,”
Despite the tension, Helmut carefully voiced his convictions. The desire to save Yulaina somehow took precedence.
“I’m aware the return march schedule is tight. The woman is exhausted both physically and mentally, so for long-distance travel by carriage…”
“So, I’m planning to depart entirely based on her recovery. How long will it take?”
‘Why? Why is he so attentive to that woman?’
The red mark on the archduke’s neck began to irritate him again.
After hesitating, Helmut cautiously spoke.
“It’s impossible right now, and she needs at least three days of complete rest and stability. There were also signs of concussion…”
“Good.”
Erich capped his fountain pen and smiled. Then, with emphasis as if warning, he said,
“Take good care of her treatment.”
“Yes.”
Though one corner of his heart felt uneasy, Helmut quietly stood.
Worrying endlessly about why the archduke was treating her with such special regard.
***
“Um… Lady. A special meal is prepared for dinner, but for now, a simple congee would be fine.”
The young soldier twisted his body awkwardly while using the utmost respectful address toward her. Overnight, everyone was treating her with exceptional care.
It was strange, but not something to dwell on deeply. She just thought, ‘That crazy man must have given some weird order again.’
The thin oatmeal porridge had a savory aroma. It was surprising that food could smell appetizing even in this situation. After forcing down a few spoonfuls, warmth spread to every corner of her body.
“Sob…”
She thought her tears had all dried up. Yet as she scooped vigorously, tears rolled down her cheeks in drops.
“You’re eating well.”
Erich strode into the barracks.
“If you cry that much, you won’t need to drink water separately.”
Was that supposed to be a joke?
Yulaina didn’t respond. Erich watched her rubbing her eyes for a moment, then sat at the end of the bed.
“Now, a good opportunity has come up, so I came to tell you. You were about to become a lifelong punching bag for my frustrations, but luckily, a chance to prove your value has arrived.”
His voice felt a bit softer than in the morning. When he’d come with the military doctor earlier, he’d seemed on edge for some reason.
“I’m taking you to Norden.”
“…To do what there?”
“Marriage.”
The spoon slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
