Even if the Dawn Abandons You - Chapter 42

As a foreigner who came to cover the Léans Revolution, Andrew knew that, according to the information announced by the revolutionary army, there were eight members of the royal family who should have been imprisoned in the East Tower. However, when he entered the room with the revolutionary forces led by Edmond Lambert just before the execution, only seven people, one missing, were waiting for them there.

It was also clear to him who was missing. The second prince, Leonard, was not there.

If the crown prince’s young children had been missing, it would have been understandable that the revolutionary army had decided to show mercy to those young children. However, they were just crying out of fear while hugging the Crown Princess, who was standing upright, pretending to be resolute.

Andrew Layton bit his lip. Did that person also know this fact? If they did, why did they ask me to cover it? Is the exclusive report they entrusted to me not only about the terrible fate of the nobles but also about the mysterious whereabouts of the second prince?

Andrew hadn’t initially thought to ask this question as soon as he came down, but now, he suddenly realized it. He suppressed his emotions and decided to ask one question at a time. He would start by letting the person over there speak for themselves.

“Anyway, who are the two people who opposed it?”

“Auguste Germain, and Anais Belmartier.”

For a moment he wondered if he had heard something wrong. Towards Andrew, who blinked as if asking if it was really true, Arianne nodded her head kindly once again with a look in her eyes that showed she knew he would react that way this time as well.

In fact, Auguste Germain would have made sense. According to Andrew’s preliminary research, he is a lawyer and has a long history of opposing the death penalty itself. That’s why it was said that he became an evil spirit to the imperial family and nobles. So his opposition was understandable.

What surprised and confused Andrew was Anais Belmartier. The Anais Belmartier he knew had lost her family and narrowly escaped execution at the hands of Prince Henri. According to his investigation, she had every reason to despise the nobles. So why did someone like her oppose the execution? While everyone else was in favor?

And in the next moment, he remembered the woman with silver hair who had been sitting next to Charlotte Bernard in the corridor at the top of the tower, burying her face in her hands. Could that woman be Anais Belmartier?

Andrew had another realization. Even though he had infiltrated with a disguise and could have interviewed her, he had missed the chance to see her with his own eyes. In fact, he had always been most interested in Anais Belmartier among the famous revolutionaries in Léans.

“Why… did Anais Belmartier oppose it?”

“That’s my homework for our dear journalist.”

“It sounds like you don’t want to tell me everything.”

“Don’t you think it would be too brazen to ask for everything?”

Arianne Champleign’s golden eyes curved beautifully as she clenched her fist and tapped her own forearm with her fingers, as if emphasizing her point.

? ? ?

The town house where the three of them live is located in a convenient area, so it was not a problem to walk with a child to the district where shopping malls are concentrated.

During times like these, Marang’s idle chatter about how fortunate it was that they weren’t asking for double the rent they were currently paying, and Stephanie’s relief that the rent was cheaper than expected for the location, were all thoughts that Anais had heard as she walked along the well-maintained sidewalk, holding Marie’s hand, thinking about ‘times like these’.

The southern region of Léans had been peaceful for nearly a century. It had once been a tumultuous area with frequent conflicts on the border, including the construction of a fortress where Count Basbourg sat, and the deployment of elite garrisons. However, there were no longer any people who remembered those times.

But now, unexpectedly, this place, which had at least been peaceful compared to others, was exposed to the horrors of a sudden civil war. Anais wondered which period the people here would find more painful: the reign of Antoine XIII or this period of civil war after the revolution.

The times when you plow and exploit the land, not knowing when a storm would blow around you, were no different from the times when you still plow and exploit, not knowing when a bomb might fall on your head.

She thought that the latter might be more painful for people because it was the result of people standing up and criticizing the former. How does it feel to have to watch helplessly as the world you thought would change is slowly falling apart? The expression ‘still the same’ made Anais infinitely miserable. It shouldn’t continue the same way. It shouldn’t be any more painful.

When Anais unconsciously bit her lower lip, Marie looked up at her.

“Doctor?”

“Uh, yes, Marie.”

“Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

A face that looks like it’s about to cry. In reality, Anais had no intention of crying, and she smiled and stroked Marie’s head with her other hand, the one not holding Marie’s hand. And she quickly shifted her thoughts away from that.

Finding a clothing store with the door open in the Saint Cordet commercial district, which they had arrived at after a short walk, wasn’t too difficult. Most of the closed stores were high-end clothing shops that took orders for custom-made clothes, and there were still many shops selling ready-made clothes.

Anais walked along the street where small clothing stores were gathered, and Marie’s eyes were drawn to the store where she stayed the longest. Then, on her second lap, she entered the store first. Anais smiled inwardly as she watched Marie’s face light up a bit. It was a smile she hadn’t noticed herself.

“Welcome, customers!”

“I’ve come to look at some winter clothes for my child.”

The shopkeeper, who was excited to have a customer after a while, quickly guided the two to the section with children’s clothes upon hearing Anais’ words. Marie’s keen eye was truly remarkable; even to Anais, who knew very little about fashion, the displayed clothes looked pretty enough and seemed sturdy. As the colorful clothes hung in a row, Marie began to examine them carefully with sparkling eyes. Anais watched her with pride without saying a word.

“Mother… … I don’t think so. Are you sisters?”

“Oh, no. She’s my friend’s sister, and I’m taking care of her for a while.”

“Then would you mind if I give a compliment that your child is really cute?”

“No, of course not.”

“I thought so. You seem to cherish her a lot.”

Is that so? Anais smiled a little awkwardly. Then the shopkeeper nodded repeatedly and continued speaking.

“Our shop has a lovely selection of adult clothing, both stylish and warm. We also offer custom tailoring services. While the child picks out clothes, why don’t you take a leisurely look around as well?”

Anais was embarrassed by the words of the store owner, who seemed to be chatting but had now become more focused on his job, and just said yes… … And she just nodded.

Of course, she didn’t really intend to buy her own clothes. Thanks to her winter clothes being safely stored in her townhouse while she lived as a recluse, most of her winter wardrobe remained intact. Besides, she wasn’t someone who frequently bought clothes. The shop owner, seeing through Anais’s lackluster response, gently teased.

“Oh my, Miss, you seem rather unenthusiastic in your response.”

“Oh, Doctor! Marei!”

A cheerful voice, now somewhat familiar, rang out from behind along with the jingling of bells. Anais turned her head, and Marie, who had been meticulously inspecting clothes, also turned her head towards the door. A stylishly dressed woman with rich, chocolate-colored hair, tied neatly in a single bundle, walked briskly toward Anais and the shop owner.

“It’s nice to see you here! Did you come to buy clothes?”

“I came to buy Marie’s clothes. It’s winter now.”

“Are you only here for Marie’s clothes? What about yours, Doctor?”

Stephanie Valli, a journalist from the Phlana Kingdom, expressed her disappointment as if truly heartfelt. The shop owner standing beside her immediately chimed in. Stephania was not only beautiful but also had a slim figure, so any clothes would suit her perfectly. As she continued to encourage Anais to choose at least one outfit for herself, Anais felt a bit flustered.

“I-I’m really fine. I already have enough winter clothes.”

“Doctor, in my hometown, not obtaining at least one new outfit for every change of season is considered a dereliction of duty as a civilized person. Where can you find someone like Mr. Serdieu? I’ve never seen a handsome man like him in my entire life.”

The conversation swiftly shifted to Leonard, and it all happened in the blink of an eye.