TMRDWMP CH 3

Chapter 3

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Sol

The place Monica worked during the war was a bit distant from the front line, and the wounded were brought in daily. Sol was one of the men brought in about two months before the kingdom’s defeat.

During the transport, the young man’s dog tag was half torn off and worn, leaving only the name Sol and a part of his military number. He had been hit by shrapnel near where a bomb exploded.

Unluckily, the shrapnel had damaged his eyes, and both were bandaged, but the young man was undoubtedly handsome. Thus, the nurses felt much sympathy for him who had lost his sight. The young man remained unconscious the entire time. Caring for a patient without consciousness was overwhelming for the busy nurses. Eventually, Monica took charge of his bed, simply because she was known for her diligence.

It was ridiculous. Monica had simply become accustomed to it.

Still, Monica was delighted when the young man miraculously regained consciousness. So much so that she didn’t mind the inevitable gloom or slight irritability the sightless young man had developed.

“I knew you would wake up! I made a bet!”

To her, it felt like only yesterday.

“You’re Sol, right?”

Monica’s eyes widened but the young man frowned lightly. His bright blue eyes, shining in the sunlight like jewels.

“Oh.”

Of course, Sol wouldn’t know her. Less than a month after the young man regained consciousness, the kingdom declared defeat.

All units stationed on the front line withdrew. Because the wounded had to be evacuated separately, the nurses were too busy to even sleep after the declaration of defeat. They had no time for sadness, they re-dressed the wounds of the injured and sent them off.

Come to think of it… where’s Sol?

By the time Monica looked for him, the young man’s bed was already empty.

Amid the chaos, she assumed someone else had transferred him in her place. She regretted never properly saying goodbye.

What saddened her most was that his eye bandages had still not been removed when he left. She had grown quite fond of him during the period of his treatment.

Now, all those memories rushed back at once as she greeted at the young man before her.

“It’s me, Moni. Arvid’s hospital! Don’t you remember? You might not recognize me because your eyes were injured, but...”

The young man’s forehead furrowed further.

Maybe he doesn’t remember me.

Monica peered closely at him. The young man was very handsome and well-dressed. His luxurious linen cravat and the thick, plain-woven jacket were obvious signs. But what captivated Monica even more were the young man’s beautiful eyes.

“They said you might never see again then! You’ve completely recovered?”

“...I’m.”

A strained voice emerged from the young man. Monica blinked a couple of times

But why does he look uncomfortable?

Good heavens! Monica was practically clutching the young man by the collar and thrusting her face toward his. The young man, who was much taller than Monica, had just stumbled back as if pushed by her.

In short it was a far cry from decorum, a sight that would definitely make Madame Oran refuse to hire Monica, recommendation letter and all, if she saw it.

“Oh, my! I’m so sorry.”

Monica instantly released his lapel at once, her face turned bright red. Yet embarrassment only made her chatter more.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you with your eyes open! You disappeared when I tried to look after you right after the defeat... How have you been? How did you end up in La Spezia...”

But the young man quickly raised his hand and gently stopped her.

“I’m sorry, miss.”

The embarrassed look on his face quickly melted into a faint smile.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean. That isn’t my name.”

“Oh!”

Monica’s face turned twice as red. She was certain he was Sol. But the young man looked at her as if he were truly seeing her for the first time. Her mind became more confused.

But they really look alike, even though Sol’s hair wasn’t this blond back then... there are plenty of people whose hair turned grey from the grime of war. He wasn’t this clean-cut, and he had a full beard, but... uh... well...

“I’m sorry...”

Confused, Monica eventually apologized and stepped back.

Was it not him?

She was still unsure, but the young man offered an excuse on her behalf.

“It’s alright. There are any number of people who look alike in the world.”

The young man’s demeanour was very proper. It clearly showed the manners of someone educated in a good family. In particular, the way he stood with his right hand behind his back in front of a woman was a Southern kingdom custom.

Only then did it convinced her that the young man was a completely different person from the one she knew. Because Sol...

“My name is Louis. It seems I look very much like an acquaintance of yours, miss.”

“Oh, no, well, yes...”

The low tone of his voice. Even his voice was similar to her... Monica’s eyes wavered, and the young man smiled more, crinkling his eyes.

“My, you look so apologetic. That is my fault entirely.”

“Oh! I didn’t mean to make you flustered.”

Monica hurriedly waved her hands and stepped back further. In any case, she has been overly rude to him on their first meeting. Besides the fact that she bumped into him when she suddenly changed direction.

“Move!”

“Watch out.”

The young man lightly pulled Monica, trying to step back. Monica was inadvertently pulled into the arms of the young man who introduced himself as Louis. Even in her surprise, she looked back and saw sailors loaded with luggage rushing past. One of them even glared at Monica when their eyes met.

“Are you alright?”

Only after the young man whispered to Monica was she startled and pull away.

“Please excuse me. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Oh, no. You saved me.”

If she had been hit by the sailors, she would have certainly been crushed by the luggage, and maybe she would have been injured. Although she had ended up in his arms while hastily avoiding the danger, she was still grateful for it.

Monica was embarrassed and pulled away much more cautiously than before. Louis extended his hand, and the two stepped onto the walkway beside the harbour canal.

“Outside these poles is the path where packhorses and people constantly come and go.”

“Oh, I see... I didn’t know.”

“This doesn’t seem like the place for you, miss. Are you perhaps lost?”

Monica nodded.

“Yes, I was heading to the train station...”

“I thought so.”

Louis chuckled. Her heart pounded at his refreshing laugh.

“This area is connected with Argent Square, newcomers easily lose their way. Maybe this is fate, but if you don’t mind, I’d be happy to escort you to Argent Square.”

“Argent...?”

“Oh. That’s the name of the square in front of the train station.”

“Oh, yes! That’s what I was looking for.”

The young man led her very skilfully. Monica was able to pass through the jumbled piles of wet sails set out to dry, rope coils, and the sidewalk above the drain that constantly spat out salty, dirty water, and emerge onto the hot, windy pier.

“My name is Louis Verfeil.”

“Oh, I’m Monica.”

Louis raised an eyebrow.

If he asks for my last name, I’ll say I don’t have one.

Monica unconsciously gripped her skirt, but the young man extended his hand to her instead of opening his mouth.

“Careful.”

“Oh.”

A fishing net lay on the ground, whether discarded or merely set out to dry. Monica took Louis’s hand and lightly jumped over the net. The young man gave her a light compliment

“Excellent.”

It didn’t take long for Monica to learn Louis’s name, age, and even his original hometown.

“I lived in a city a little further north but close by, I came to La Spezia to find an acquaintance.”

“Did you find the person you were looking for?”

“No, but I might have been mistaken.”

“I see.”

Louis was a man who knew how to hold a very pleasant and cheerful conversation. Thanks to him, Monica was able to share her story about coming here to become a governess through a recommendation and that she had only arrived this morning. The sun was hot, but she didn’t feel bad.

“A governess. I thought as much.”

“Oh, really? Do I look like one?”

Even the feeling of her coiled hair fluttering in the sea breeze was pleasant. Louis reached out with practiced ease, tidied Monica’s hair.

“No, because you are the young lady with the most sparkling eyes I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m often told I look intelligent.”

“Haha. That, of course, is true as well.”

The young man winked his blue eyes.

“But you seem to have a lot of questions.”

Monica’s cheeks flushed. He must have seen her looking around the harbour, unable to contain her curiosity, even while following Louis.

“It’s just that it’s my first time in a port city...”

“Understandable.”

Louis lightly squeezed and released her hand, signaling her to mind the narrow canal ahead. Monica hopped across the waterway. After hopping crossing, she was already at the square in front of the train station.

“It’s the square already!”

“Unfortunately, so.”

Louis pointed to the right side of the square. The street leading to Monica’s lodging. Then, the young man pointed to the opposite side.

“Following that road would lead to the district full of grand mansions. Monica shyly expressed her thanks.

“Thank you, Louis.”

“My pleasure.”

Louis, who offered the Southern style of greeting again, smiled, crinkling his blue eyes. He was truly a great handsome man. Suddenly, she wanted to say something she had never said before in her life. To ask if they could meet again. But the young man spoke first.

“We’ll see each other again soon.”

“Pardon?”

“Wasn’t that what you were wondering?”

Monica slightly opened and closed her mouth at his playful smile. Without waiting for an answer, Louis bowed and lightly kissed the back of her hand. It was a perfect southern etiquette.

“Although I wasn’t the man Miss Monica knew, I can become the man Miss Monica knows when we meet again. That is a joyful thing.”

“Oh, my.”

Monica finally couldn’t hold back and uttered the word she had been thinking all along.

“Louis, you’re quite a flirt...”

He laughed, not denying it in the slightest, and gave an exaggerated farewell bow light enough to be carried away by the sea breeze. Monica bowed back.

Heavens. Whoever that idle nobleman belongs to… I must absolutely avoid getting involved with him.

Chapter 2

Chapter List

Chapter 4