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chapter 02
Ibel, who knew that the Grand Duke sometimes played such pointless jokes, shook her head as if annoyed and brushed it off.
“Because I ran away to avoid conscription.”
Everything Ibel said was the result of careful calculation. She mixed half-truths and half-lies while making sure her identity wouldn’t be exposed.
From what she had heard, Victor Bayern was skilled not only in psychological warfare but also in torture. Back in the previous king’s era, he had been the head of the national intelligence department and had received such training.
In any case, rather than telling clumsy lies that wouldn’t work, she had decided from the beginning to mix in some truth.
“So I came instead of my older brother. Since I’m a military doctor, I’d be more useful.”
“I see.”
Victor Bayern did not comment on her family situation.
Thinking that his tight-lipped nature was one of his strengths, Ibel looked up at the night sky.
Even in spring, temperatures varied depending on the region.
This desolate land became chilly after sunset. Even a heavy jacket covered in medals felt precious.
“What family did you say you were from?”
“I’m a commoner.”
Ibel answered firmly.
Doctors usually came from the gentry or low-ranking noble families, so having a family name was normal.
But she stubbornly hid it.
That damned family—she was better off without it.
Of course, if the Grand Duke wanted, he could quickly find out that her surname, “Claren,” belonged to a fallen noble house.
He would also learn that there was one son and one daughter—and that there was no second son.
But she didn’t think he would take that much interest in her.
Besides… she had to survive first for him to even find out.
“Do you plan to marry when you return?”
At the unexpected question, Ibel’s face twisted oddly. But the Grand Duke’s expression was subtle.
Still calm and indifferent, but his jawline had slightly stiffened.
Startled, Ibel responded a bit sharply, defensively.
“Marriage? In a world where it’s hard enough to take care of myself?”
“I see.”
“Or what—will you give me a generous gift if I do marry?”
“I’ll consider it.”
At her half-joking remark, Victor slightly lifted the corners of his lips.
It was a smile that made it seem as though they were in a ballroom, not here.
“So survive, Abel.”
“Your Highness as well… please return safely.”
From the beginning, Ibel had used the name “Abel.”
It was her twin brother’s name.
“Abel” and “Ibel.”
They hadn’t even bothered to think when naming them.
Every time she repeated her name, she was reminded of how indifferent her parents were.
‘Well, that’s why they didn’t even notice when I ran away for a week.’
As soon as she gathered enough money, Ibel cut her hair short and headed to the Royal Saint Elbern Medical University.
If she had failed the exam, her life would have fallen into ruin—but surprisingly, she passed and even graduated.
At the top of her class.
Her family only realized she had run away after she moved into the dormitory and tried to retrieve her, but failed.
The university, which had plenty of competition, did not want to lose the only perfect-score entrant and dismissed her family’s claims as nonsense.
‘I was grateful to that greedy dean… though it’s what brought me to the battlefield.’
Can I survive here?
Thinking that useless thought, Ibel let out a small laugh.
Even knowing she would die—it was still frightening when death felt real.
“What will you do if you return safely, Your Highness?”
“Well… I was thinking of learning carpentry. When I was young, I once asked my mother why I couldn’t become a carpenter.”
The image of the Grand Duke of Bayern carrying logs and working as a carpenter was so unfitting 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 then?”
“I’m reminded of my nieces and nephews back in the territory. I left them with their aunt and didn’t do much for them.”
He gave a bitter smile—but the moment he saw a flash above, his expression changed instantly.
“Get down!”
BOOOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
And… with blinding flashes, shells began to rain down like a storm.
* * *
“Are you alive?”
The man, shielding her with his large body, asked quietly.
Instead of answering, Ibel coughed up blood.
A piercing ringing tore through her ears. Even breathing was painful, and blood kept pouring from her mouth.
“Shh, it’s alright.”
Nothing was alright.
And yet, hearing his calm, low voice made her want to believe it was.
“Your Highness…!”
“You still have the strength to shout. That’s good.”
Barely regaining consciousness, Ibel clutched her burning throat and lifted her gaze.
She remembered—at the moment of the explosion, he had pulled her in without hesitation to protect her.
If she was this injured… then what state was he in?
What came into her view was his broad back, soaked in blood.
His once neat uniform was torn apart, flesh ripped away.
And a red-hot fragment had pierced through his chest—into her as well.
“If you were alone… you would’ve avoided it…”
“Didn’t I say? It would be troublesome if the only doctor died.”
His dark eyes looked at her calmly, hiding the pain.
“We need to stop the bleeding…”
Cough.
Blood burst from his mouth as well.
Ibel, drenched in it, forced her arm up.
“Save your strength. It’s already too late.”
That damned king. That cursed pride.
This war had started over a single incident—when the king of Franche insulted the king of Richter.
Cursing in words worthy of execution, Ibel pressed hard against his chest.
As if it might delay death, even a little.
Truthfully… she was relying on him too.
In this place where everyone was losing themselves to madness, Victor Bayern alone felt like someone from another world.
His sharp jawline, firm eyes, and quiet voice commanded respect.
But what truly set him apart wasn’t his appearance.
He never broke.
Strict. disciplined. controlled.
A man who never spoke carelessly, nor revealed his emotions easily.
While countless others drowned in blood and hatred, Victor Bayern never lost his dignity.
He remembered even the names of low-ranking soldiers and never complained, even under leaking tents.
To Ibel, he always felt unreal.
Which meant… she never imagined he would die like this.
She thought at least he would survive.
“You must live… live, and make sure something like this never happens again…”
Another deafening explosion rang out.
And everything seemed to come to an end.
* * *
…When he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar ceiling.
Not the dark, foul-smelling tent filled with mold and blood—
But the ceiling of the Bayern estate, where he had grown up.
The painting of the great saint and angels drew his gaze.
“That can’t be…”
Victor Bayern muttered.
How many had he killed in war? Enough to build mountains of corpses.
The place he should go after death was not heaven.
Yet the sound of an old gardener arguing with a servant outside, and the faint scent of peaches in the air—
It all felt so real.
Real enough to believe.
‘What happened to Abel? The other officers?’
Confused, he raised his thick arm to his forehead—
And realized he was not wearing a uniform.
Instead, a thin muslin shirt—the kind he wore in summer.
‘Too vivid… too long-lasting for a hallucination or a dying vision…’
