Even if the Dawn Abandons You - Chapter 29

The following day marked Anais’s visit to the hospital in Rue for her treatment. Marcel had gone home early in the morning with Marie, who had fallen asleep. Unexpectedly, only Anais and Leonard remained at home, and a problem arose between them.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Anais shouted, her voice piercing through the air.

Leonard, who had intended to leave, suddenly said, “I will accompany you to the hospital.” Anais was taken aback. It was more astonishing than when Philip met Leonard and confessed his opposition to the execution of the imperial family.

However, Leonard stubbornly insisted on accompanying Anais, disregarding her anger.

“It doesn’t make sense for someone who may collapse at any moment to go all the way to Rue alone.”

“I believe it makes more sense than Your Highness going to Rue,” Leonard replied.

The Rue General Hospital had been temporarily converted into a military hospital for the government army, as the term “revolutionary army” was no longer officially used. Although it also received civilian patients, most people were unaware that the second prince had escaped death. There was no guarantee that no one in or around the hospital, such as Auguste, knew the truth and recognized Leonard.

“I’ve been there a couple of times already, and I had no problems.”

“You ran into Mr. Philip.”

“Nevertheless, I’m still alive and well.”

Leonard’s encounters had been purely fortunate. He acted as though he had been extremely cautious.

“Don’t you think I’ll secretly follow you if you leave me alone?”

It was a declaration that they would go together or separately, regardless. Faced with this crude remark, Anais tried to think as rationally as possible. Logically, it would be less conspicuous and risky for Leonard to travel alone than with a famous companion like her. So, if he planned to follow regardless, it would be better for him to do so alone.

On the other hand, unbeknownst to Anais, she couldn’t bear the thought of Leonard being discovered by government forces in her absence. Her imagination conjured terrible scenarios, but if Leonard were wrong, she hoped that until the very last moment, she could make every effort to save him.

Anais was torn between the sensible and rational choice and her irrational and dangerous desire. Under normal circumstances, she would undoubtedly choose the former. However, as a feeble patient, her exhausted mind was infinitely vulnerable to her desires.

“Will you disguise yourself…?” she hesitantly asked.

“If you want,” Leonard calmly replied, concealing the fact that he had been in disguise when he was caught by Philippe. In truth, he was somewhat happy. He was glad that Anais didn’t hesitate to accompany him for reasons other than the possibility of ‘getting caught’.

Leonard wanted to quickly redefine their current awkward relationship. He wanted to make sure that Anais hadn’t turned on the Republicans out of disappointment or resentment towards herself. Although Anais had been expressing her wish for his safety since their reunion, Leonard hoped that it was not merely an expression of guilt.

“…I’ll get ready and come down. Please wait a little bit.”

“No matter how long.”

Leonard smiled at Anais, who spoke with determination while clutching her shawl over her indoor dress. Yes, that would be enough.

If they could start anew from this point, it would be satisfactory for him. Setting aside the words he needed to hear and the answers he desired, he would deceive himself as if they had returned to the way things were before.

? ? ?

The Office of the Presidential Palace of Roth Esher.

“It seems that the resistance has attracted the Kladiev forces?”

President Enjolras Remicourt’s questioning echoed throughout the office upon receiving Edmond Lambert’s report. Edmond nodded in response.

“They have indeed attracted their attention. It’s not ‘the same’ anymore.”

“Catherine de Vasbourg, is that so…?”

“Isn’t it one of the scenarios you had anticipated anyway? Getting too worked up isn’t good for your health.”

Edmond poured hot tea into Enjolras’s empty cup and pushed it towards him. Enjolras leaned back in his chair, resting his hand on his forehead as if the thought caused his head to throb.

“If we seek assistance from abroad, the civil war will escalate on a larger scale.”

“But we can’t let go of the yard that has already attracted Kladiev’s attention.”

“Most likely, Wisteria will attempt to contact us soon. Perhaps they are already aware and preparing.”

“We might have a chance to contact them first, but…”

“In that case, it may appear as if the government is blindly trying to escalate the civil war.”

Edmond sharply pointed out, adjusting his glasses. Furthermore, they couldn’t disregard the public’s anxiety about foreign troops entering the country.

Currently, the conflict was confined to the south, and people in other regions treated it as someone else’s problem. However, the Kladiev Empire and the Wisteria Republic were two of the most powerful nations on the continent, along with Léans. If they became involved, it could escalate into a nationwide civil war.

Moreover, if Kladiev and Wisteria were entangled in the civil war in Léans, it might attract the attention of other countries and prompt their participation. It was crucial to prevent this civil war from igniting a continental war.

The outbreak of the Continental War would only be recognized as having occurred ‘due to’ the Great Léans Revolution, no matter what.

With that thought in mind, Edmond, who had his own considerations, turned to leave after finishing his report. However, the president’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Edmond.”

“Yes, Mr. President?”

“You haven’t told me everything, have you? Among the things that need to be said.”

Edmond Lambert tilted his head for a moment. What did the president mean by “what should be said but not said”?

Edmond had lived for a long time, and there were many things he hadn’t mentioned. His greatest skill was molding and delivering information in a way that suited the situation. His second-best skill was deciding what should and shouldn’t be revealed.

Of course, he held back some information from the president. He only conveyed what he believed was necessary. If there were other things he didn’t disclose, it was because he judged it appropriate to keep them hidden.

For example, the destination of the Magic Air Corps that had departed from the Kladiev Army Air Corps.

Edmond classified it as information not to be reported to Enjolras. He believed that this intelligence shouldn’t be known by anyone, not just the president. He had no guilt in making that decision.

However, he wasn’t the only one selectively sharing information.

For instance, Enjolras Remicourt had concealed the fact that the civil war in Basbourg was unlikely to end anytime soon, that it was brutal and likely to intensify. Even if he feared that the child he loved like his niece might willingly descend into hardship, he, too, had chosen not to be honest with the world.

Even if it’s discovered later, no one can blame him for being dishonest.

? ? ?

“You see, it didn’t matter.”

“You were just lucky…”

Anais murmured, almost sighing, as she and Leonard walked side by side around the hospital. Leonard wore a blonde wig, a bowler hat, and glasses, trying his best to blend in without looking suspicious.

Fortunately, no one recognized Leonard. It was as if Auguste and Celine didn’t exist within the hospital. Leonard navigated the hospital confidently, as if he were familiar with every corner, making Anais slightly uneasy about his apparent solitude.

Then, Anais suddenly realized that she was walking “side by side” with Leonard Antoine de Charleroi.

In the past, they had been friends, but they had never walked side by side. If Anais didn’t follow Leonard, he would follow her as she impulsively rushed to help those in need. During their walks, Anais always trailed half a step behind Leonard. But today, they walked together as equals, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Who had changed? Who had become slower, and who had become faster? Could this be the “unnoticeable change” Marcel had mentioned?

Lost in her thoughts, Anais headed towards the hospital entrance alongside Leonard.

Suddenly, a loud noise, resembling the pounding of a massive drum, reverberated through the air three times at regular intervals. The ground beneath them shook with a resounding thud.

People in the hospital began to tremble, some sitting down, others bending over, and a few even screaming. At that moment, Leonard quickly pulled Anais into his arms, protecting her.

Anais, thin and exhausted from her treatment, felt like a fragile paper doll in his embrace. The vibrations continued for a few seconds before finally subsiding.

Was it an earthquake?

But what had caused the sound preceding it?

Even after the shaking ceased, Leonard held onto Anais for a while longer, his head scanning their surroundings. Meanwhile, Anais, only then realizing their intimate contact, buried her face in her hands, trying to hide her blush. However, Leonard mistook her actions for fear and, believing it was her own, gazed at her with even deeper concern, holding her tightly.

How much time had passed in this embrace? Suddenly, a soldier burst through the hospital entrance and shouted.

“Bombing! Kladiev’s bombs have fallen all over Belize!”

At the mention of “all of Belize,” both Anais and Leonard turned pale. Belize was right next to Rue.

Including Verduis… and Dunang.