Chapter 207
I reflexively looked at Luwen. He was also looking at me with a surprised expression.
“You know what this dream is about.”
Oh no. I turned my head, startled by her confident tone.
‘What should I do? Should I pretend not to know…’
I couldn’t be certain if my sister would believe me. She might dismiss it as nonsense and oppose my going to the battlefield even more vehemently. But pretending not to know felt like deceiving her.
As I hesitated, unable to make a decision easily, Luwen quietly placed his hand on my shoulder as if encouraging me. His gentle grip conveyed that he would support whatever decision I made.
This calmed my unsettled heart. My mind began to work again.
This was my sister, not just anyone. She was also involved in this matter, and if she was sensing something rather than knowing nothing, it was right to convey the truth to her.
‘Even if… she opposes, I’m still going.’
This time, I absolutely could not bend my will.
“Fei. What do you know?”
My sister asked again. Before opening my mouth, I looked at Luwen once more. After confirming with my own eyes that he nodded, I turned my gaze back to my sister and spoke.
“Do you believe in reincarnation, sister?”
I’d started the conversation, but she probably wouldn’t believe it. Irene was a practical person, and if I hadn’t experienced it directly, I too would have scoffed at the idea of dreams outside of bed. Nevertheless, my sister lowered her eyes with a rather serious attitude, as if trying to interpret my meaning.
After a brief silence, she spoke.
“You wouldn’t say something far-fetched in this situation…”
Her deep purple eyes looked directly at me.
“There’s something I don’t know about.”
Her tone, filled with certainty, was underlined with trust. I nodded with a slightly trembling heart. Then I slowly related what I had experienced and what Luwen knew.
Though she could have interrupted me, my sister listened to the story with serious attention.
“…So the dream you had, sister, was also something that actually happened. I saw the same thing.”
Thanks to her, I was able to finish the entire story. Her finger, which had been tracing the rim of the water glass, stopped abruptly.
“My Fei, you must have been struggling alone.”
“…Huh?”
Her first words went in a completely different direction than I expected. I thought she would talk about whether I should participate in the war, ask curious details, or dismiss it as nonsense…
“Oh, no. It wasn’t that difficult for me.”
My chest seemed to fill with warm light. As relief made my body relax, a smile naturally formed.
“But you believe what I’m saying?”
“Of course.”
“This easily? Doesn’t it sound too far-fetched?”
My sister laughed, making a deflating sound.
“You’re right. But I know you well. There’s no need for unnecessary stories at a time like this. Above all.”
The violet eyes that looked directly at me seemed to have the power to penetrate everything. It was a gaze that seemed to have noticed everything I hadn’t said.
“You described scenes I hadn’t mentioned in detail. You did that on purpose, right?”
I nodded honestly. Having shared the truth with Luwen before, I had deliberately explained more meticulously, just in case.
“To be honest, it sounds impossible. But I believe in you, Fei. So I believe it.”
“…Thank you.”
I was happy to be trusted. That she would believe everything I said, even stories that diverged from her common sense, simply because I was the one saying them. I was grateful for the blessing and luck of having such people by my side.
“What’s there to thank? Let’s get back to the main point, shall we?”
“Ah. Y-yes!”
Will she still oppose? I didn’t want to deceive my trusting sister and go secretly…
“I still don’t want Fei to go with us.”
So that’s how it is… Understanding her desire to keep me in a safe place, I was a bit at a loss for how to persuade her.
“Just as we know the enemy’s information thoroughly, they likely know ours as well. There will be spies they haven’t managed to filter out.”
While I was inwardly tilting my head, wondering what spies had to do with me, my sister continued.
“So they will know about you too. That your body is weak, that you live as a doctor. Above all, that you’re my brother and the lover of Luwen, the only Ora Master.”
I unconsciously looked at Luwen before coming to my senses and looking back at my sister.
“If they judge that they cannot stop the Ora Master, they will try to use you to stop Luwen. Whether it will be effective or not is something they can determine after taking you hostage.”
“…Ah.”
“So originally, I wanted to take you to the Imperial Palace.”
Perhaps because the Imperial Palace, which becomes even more heavily guarded during wartime, would be safer than the mansion that would be emptied as the entire knighthood is mobilized—even spies who infiltrated the capital couldn’t easily reach me there.
“But… the moment I heard you say that Luwen or I might die in this war, I changed my mind. War is a place you go prepared to die. That doesn’t scare me.”
My sister, who smiled with a sigh, spoke with eyes that somehow seemed sad.
“But… I think I’ll keep worrying about you. I’m afraid you might not take proper care of yourself because you’re worried about us.”
“Then, can I come along?”
“Fei Vinter cannot. Officially, you will remain at the Imperial Palace.”
“…And unofficially?”
“The medical corps will be tough. Will you be okay?”
I nodded, smiling brightly.
“Yes!”
“Good grief. You’re probably the only one who’s happy about going to a dangerous place.”
“Because you and Luwen will be with me.”
Even if we were in hell, if those two were with me, that place would be heaven for me.
* * *
A week passed after finishing my conversation with my sister. Although there had been no official declaration of war yet, most citizens of the Empire felt that war was imminent. Perhaps because of this, the air in the capital was very heavy.
I went to the clinic as usual, then closed it and visited my master.
Upon hearing the news of my participation in the war, my master asked if the conclusion I reached after much deliberation was correct. When I answered without a moment’s hesitation that it was, he said he understood and waved his hand. I thought he would strongly oppose, but surprisingly, he gave in easily.
‘A person who became a doctor for someone’s sake ultimately stays by the side of those they want to protect. Just come back safely, you wretched disciple.’
‘When I return, I’ll come to see you first, Master.’
‘Hmph. You always speak well.’
‘Come on, have I ever broken a promise?’
‘The problem is you’re always whining!’
I received a sharp flick on my forehead. As I rubbed my forehead with both hands, making a sad face, I was chased out by my master. His eyes were more moist than usual, so I reaffirmed my determination that all three of us would return safely. As a disciple, shouldn’t I live longer than my master?
And another week later, I received a new identity as Raynely Feilun. A viscount’s adopted son with some medical knowledge.
‘Sister really thought of everything.’
Since the medical corps was mostly composed of commoners, no one could say anything if I slipped away at difficult times. It was a status that even the head of the medical corps couldn’t treat carelessly. It was perfect for leaving my post in the middle if needed.
Luwen, as an Ora Master, was given an independent position. Due to his young age and lack of experience, rather than appointing him as a commander, they gave him independent authority to move freely across the battlefield.
Naturally, Luwen declared he would move with my sister, and I also enlisted as a medical corps member in my sister’s unit.
‘His Majesty actively supported it, so it passed easily.’
The Second Prince’s intentions were obvious. He would feel more at ease if the strongest person in the Empire was by my sister’s side. Knowing we both wanted the same thing, I didn’t worry much about this aspect, and it went as expected.
As time passed and summer ended, around the time the leaves changed color, the Emperor declared war against Tuaso. Armies moved across the entire Empire.
It was the beginning of the war.
* * *
I stood around awkwardly, twirling my unfamiliar brown hair with my finger. None of the busy medical corps members had given me anything to do, and I wasn’t exactly the diligent type to volunteer for menial tasks.
“Hey! Help move these supplies over here!”
“I’m dying of busyness—you do it!”
“I’m short-handed too!”
Voices were raised to the point where it seemed like they might be fighting. Then both of them looked at me at the same time. I was the only one with free time, after all.
I glanced at the load they wanted moved. It looked large and heavy. Though I hadn’t been asked directly, I thought it would be better for everyone to finish quickly and rest together, so I started to take a step, but…
“Never mind. I’ll do it all. This is nothing for me.”
“I’m twice as strong as you, you know? Let this big brother handle it. Didn’t you ask for help?”
They suddenly started boasting about their muscles, both insisting on doing it. Did they change their minds so abruptly because I made them uncomfortable?
Feeling awkward for trying to help, I naturally turned away and shifted my gaze. In the meantime, tents had been set up. The largest and widest tent in the center was my sister’s, and next to it…
‘Oh? It’s Luwen.’
My eyes met directly with Luwen, who was just coming out of his tent. I wanted to wave, but since Fei Vinter was supposed to be at the Imperial Palace, I couldn’t acknowledge him.
‘Hm? Why is he coming toward me?’
Weren’t we supposed to pretend not to know each other?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
