Even if the Dawn Abandons You - Chapter 33

Anais liked facing the determined eyes of someone else. So, there was a time when even looking in the mirror wasn’t bothersome. But how could she like such reckless determination? Even if it resembled the determination she had before coming here, it was still quite different.

Anais Belmartier came to Basbourg to die.

Hence, Anais understood Leonard’s heart very well. However, she couldn’t support him. Her life might end here, but his life shouldn’t. No matter what calculations or fairness demanded, it was inevitable. She desperately wanted to save Leonard, but there was no valid reason beyond the guilt of leaving his family to die instead of tormenting her to convince him.

“Life here… It’s not exactly the life I dreamed of.”

So Anais had no choice but to listen to Leonard’s following words silently. Leonard, leaning on the armrest of the sofa, clenched his fist. His dream was to become an emperor, and Anais knew that. Yet, knowing that, she still rejected him. Anais Belmartier would never forget the oath she had made to Leonard Antoine de Charleroi. That day was a solemn day for her as well.

“But in a way, it’s quite similar.”

Leonard wanted to become an emperor and create a country where people didn’t experience such pain. Or he wanted to be an emperor who cared for those in pain. Life in Basbourg wasn’t exactly like that, but it satisfied the minimum requirements for such a life. It made her think that living like this might be okay.

“Even if you believed it was the right thing, even if it actually was right, it was your people who stole my dream.”

However, now, in the current situation, she wasn’t so sure. In the life she thought had no future, there truly was no tomorrow.

After the Belize bombing, Leonard began to doubt his resolution to help those living in hardship and suffering. He wondered if his determination to die while helping them wasn’t similar to someone who always wished for a life of hardship and suffering. Of course, a world without such people would never come, but he started to question whether it was right to hope for such a world, even if it was just a thought.

“So, at least in this matter, I won’t listen to what you say.”

While thinking this way, the truth was that he didn’t truly mean it sincerely. But he knew that saying this now would resonate with her the most. Leonard inwardly scolded his cowardice and forced a smile.

As expected, Anais remained silent. He contemplated how he could convince her and gazed at her silver hair flowing down just above her small shoulders. A heavy and suffocating silence enveloped the small living room.

That’s when it happened. Someone cleverly knocked on the front door.

For a moment, Anais glanced at Leonard and then got up from her seat, walking towards the corridor that led to the entrance. She looked outside through the peephole in the middle of the wooden door. She did not tell anyone where this house was. She even did that to Philippe. Of course, Philippe might already know, and in fact, if the person on the other side was Philippe, she would have considered it fortunate.

However, the face she saw through the lens was that of the landlord, Marang Meuniere. Anais opened the door, feeling relieved.

“Hello, Mr. Moynier.”

“Sorry for dropping by suddenly, Ms. Belmartier. The thing is…”

The landlord’s matter was simple yet somewhat awkward. It seemed that the two short-term tenants living on the second floor of this house wanted to greet Anais as their new neighbor. Marang Meuniere apologized and continued.

“Last time, the three of us had a drink, and it seems that I got drunk and boasted that the owner of the third floor was a doctor. I’m really sorry.”

“Oh, no, Mr. Meuniere. Don’t apologize for something like that.”

She said that, but in truth, she felt a little resentful. Living in this house were Marie, who had lost her brother not long ago, and Leonard, whose identity had officially been erased due to his apparent death. Marie was one thing, but considering Leonard’s situation, he wasn’t in a situation to welcome any kind of attention right now.

Of course, the fact that Leonard was alive was top-secret even within the Republican government, and so far, his actions hadn’t been that of a fugitive who would avoid interacting with civilians. After all, hadn’t he been mingling well with people back in Dunang?

However, no matter how much she tried to comfort herself, Anais didn’t want to create situations where Leonard would meet people from outside. Listening to their conversation, it seemed that the two tenants on the second floor were more focused on the fact that their neighbor was Anais Belmartier rather than welcoming her as a new neighbor. Perhaps, even a simple greeting would be enough if it were only Anais who went?

“Well, so, if it’s just you who’s fine with it, would you like me to arrange a gathering with the people living in this house?”

“Oh, well…”

“That’s a great offer.”

Interrupting Anais, who was about to say that she’d excuse herself and leave, Leonard stepped in with his characteristic warm smile, turning away from the astonished Anais. Marang, happy to receive such a response, filled his face with a satisfied smile. Leonard’s sociability was truly remarkable, and the conversation progressed swiftly, excluding Anais entirely, as they decided to have dinner together on the first floor that evening.

After Marang left with a satisfied smile, Anais finally had the opportunity to express her discontent to Leonard with a voice full of concern.

“You shouldn’t casually say you want to meet the tenants!”

“People probably think that Leonard Antoine de Carleroi died just a month ago.”

Leonard’s response was straightforward, and Anais lost her words. Of course, that would be the case. There were hardly any civilians who memorized the faces of the aristocracy, and even if someone vaguely remembered, they might think Leonard was just a look-alike since it was reported that he had died.

If they didn’t intend to confine Leonard in this house for the time being, it might be more natural to have him get a facial disguise. Despite that, Leonard pointed out that part precisely to Anais, who still remained dissatisfied.

“The rumor that Anais Belmartier, the rider of the Dawnlight, lives in Saint Cordet with an unknown illegitimate man and a child is not pleasant to hear, and it might attract your comrades’ attention. Wouldn’t it be better to meet them directly, talk about what happened in Dunang, and be understood to some extent?”

“If that was the case, I could have handled it alone. I could say I rented an empty room to acquaintances I met in Dunang, who were going through tough times.”

“That’s…”

Come to think of it, that was true. Leonard had been pierced by her words this time. However, he shrugged his shoulders as if saying it didn’t matter and turned back towards the sofa. Yes, it was a promise that had already been made, whether she was right or he was right.

Unconsciously, Anais opened her mouth wide, and with a disappointed expression, she followed Leonard into the living room.

Of course, both of them at that moment had no idea who they would meet that evening.

? ? ?

Marie slept deeply until evening. When the agreed time with Marang approached, Anais and Leonard woke Marie up and went downstairs to the first floor. Anais felt uneasy about waking a sleeping child, but more than that, she felt the need to feed Marie with something proper since she had been eating hospital food all along.

In the restaurant on the first floor, Marang Meuniere, who had experience working as a chef in a fairly large hotel in Saint Cordet, had prepared the food. They were greeted by Marang and a young woman with thick, curly, chocolate-colored hair. Marang introduced the woman first, saying that the last person would be arriving soon.

“This is Miss Stephanie Valli from Phlana. Valli, this is Miss Anais Belmertier, the one next to her is Mr. Leo Sardieu, and the cute young lady next to him is Miss Marie Blanc.”

“Stephanie Valli, nice to meet you, Miss. It’s such an honor.”

Stephanie Valli, a lively beauty dressed in a delicately woven emerald skirt and a white blouse, seemed to have come from the Phlana Kingdom, and she greeted Anais in fluent Léans, extending her hand for a handshake.

As Anais shook her hand, Stephanie vigorously moved her hand up and down with a rhythm as lively as her demeanor. After the handshake with Anais was over, Stephanie turned her head towards Leonard with a flower-like smile.

“And this gentleman too. Mr. Sardieu, right? You’re such a handsome man!”

“T-Thank you…”

“And the little lady is so adorable! Can I call you Marie?”

Stephanie Valli was truly a vivacious young lady, and the restaurant quickly became lively. Startled by her exuberance, Marie grabbed onto Leonard’s clothes and hid behind him. However, Marie didn’t seem to be taken aback by Stephanie’s enthusiasm like Anais and Leonard were. Her reaction was just a little less cheerful than usual.

Then, the sound of keys jingling and the sound of someone opening the door to the common entrance were heard.