Please Forget Me - Chapter 238

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

When I woke up the next morning, Killian was back to his usual self. We had breakfast together and even took a bath as we always did.

‘Is he okay now?’

He seemed fine, though the redness at the corners of his eyes was a clear trace of the previous night. As he pulled the laces of my corset from behind, I watched him in the mirror and asked,

“When are we going home?”

“Today.”

“Today?”

“Right away. Today.”

Killian even emphasized ‘right away’ as he placed a straw hat on my head.

He wants to leave immediately? I’d thought he’d call his brother to come pick us up and wait here for a while. Still, this was better for me.

I tied the ribbon of my hat under my chin and nodded cheerfully.

“Alright.”

I wanted to leave this place too. The sooner we got away from this military base, from the battlefield that had brought so much pain to my husband, the better.

A couple of hours later, I was in the car again.

“All the documents you’ll need are in here.”

Lieutenant O’Brien handed Killian an envelope as he helped me into the back seat.

‘Do we need documents just to get home?’

Maybe they were like ID cards or travel permits.

“…It should only take three or four days, but just in case, I made it valid for a full week. Within that period, you both must report your whereabouts to the local military office. Of course, if you need more time, Sir, you’ll easily get an extension.”

Listening to the lieutenant, it did sound like a travel permit.

‘But why are there so many?’

I watched curiously as Killian checked the thick stack of papers, but then I felt someone staring at me.

It was the lieutenant.

When our eyes met, he lifted the brim of his cap and gave a polite nod. Since Killian had whisked me straight out to the car, we hadn’t said goodbye, so I realized the lieutenant must have been waiting for his chance all along.

‘Still… what’s with that expression?’

The lieutenant who’d been so awed when we first arrived now just looked flustered to see us go. Maybe he’d hoped we’d stay a bit longer.

“It was a short stay, but thank you, Lieutenant.”

“Oh—no, thank you! It was an honor!”

I smiled and thanked him. Just then, Killian quickly stuffed the documents into the envelope and extended his right hand to the lieutenant.

“Thank you for everything.”

“No, the honor was mine.”

The lieutenant grasped Killian’s hand, leaning in to whisper something only he could hear. At the same time, he kept casting anxious glances my way.

‘What are they talking about, and why am I being left out?’

I could only guess at their conversation when, with a sigh of relief, the lieutenant said,

“I’m glad to know we didn’t treat you poorly.”

He must have been worried we were leaving because we were uncomfortable here.

“Thanks to you, we were able to rest well, Lieutenant.”

“I’m glad to hear it. But if so, would you consider waiting here just another day or two?”

‘Wait? For what?’

“Marquis Mansfield is on his way…”

Clunk.

The lieutenant was mid-sentence when Killian, without a word, closed the car door. The sudden, rather rude action left both the lieutenant and me a little stunned.

From behind the closed door, I could hear snippets of conversation between Killian and the lieutenant, but only a few words made it through:

“…the marquis…”

“…if you miss each other…”

Wait, Marquis? Who was Marquis Mansfield?

It wasn’t a name I remembered. Maybe it was someone important, but the name didn’t ring any bells. I tried to recall if Killian had ever mentioned it, but I came up empty.

Whatever the conversation, soon the lieutenant was all smiles again, opening the car door for Killian and sending us off with a flourish.

“It was truly an honor to meet you. Have a safe and pleasant journey home.”

As soon as Killian got in, the car took off. After a short drive down country roads, we arrived at a small train station. The northbound train to Falkland was already there.

“The only trains that cross the Argen River are military ones.”

The officer explained as he escorted us to the platform. Sure enough, the platform and the train itself were full of soldiers in uniform.