Chapter 3
A hand kiss.
For a fleeting moment, Tracy felt as though she had returned to her days as a noble lady.
But the instant reality set in, wariness crept into her heart.
His formal gesture certainly suited the elegant dress she wore, yet the discomfort it stirred completely overshadowed everything else.
She pulled her hand away from Valentin as though snatching back something that had been stolen.
He didn’t seem surprised.
In fact, he looked almost… disappointed, as if he had expected her reaction.
Tracy subtly took a step backward.
“My savior.”
“I’m sorry, but I’d rather you didn’t call me that.”
Unable to meet his eyes, she retreated another step.
“I may be dressed like this, but I’m still a soldier. At least for now… I’m not a noble anymore, so there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Ah… if I offended you, then I sincerely apologize.”
“…”
She had expected to feel irritated by someone of higher rank speaking so politely.
Instead…
His excessive courtesy left her speechless.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness, Colonel.”
“No, I—”
“I’ll take my leave.”
Leaving him before he could finish speaking, Tracy once again chose to flee.
Her thoughts became hopelessly tangled.
The more she replayed the encounter, the more everything felt strangely out of place, like threads twisted into an impossible knot around her heart.
I saved his life…?
When…?
Even if I did… after hearing who I am, shouldn’t he be disgusted?
Then why did he look at me like that…?
Most people despised her as a traitor.
She had fled her homeland of Hakot, crossed into its enemy, Sahiris, killing soldiers along the way to survive.
Then she had become a sniper for Sahiris and slaughtered Hakot soldiers.
She had done it simply to live.
If she hadn’t accepted Todd’s proposal when he found her at the border—
Marriage in exchange for survival—
Both she and her younger sister Sadie would have died there.
Ironically, the very skills she displayed killing Sahiris soldiers before her capture earned her recognition as an exceptional marksman.
She became a sniper almost immediately.
Yet no one in the Sahiris army truly welcomed her.
The allied soldiers from Alstow regarded her with the same unease.
At first, she assumed Valentin’s attention was nothing more than idle curiosity.
But the warmth in his eyes…
The gentle smile that genuinely seemed happy to meet her…
Caught her completely off guard.
Especially…
The way his gaze had lingered on her left earring.
Why was he looking at my earring?
As though he recognized it…
We’ve never even met before.
Her mother had been the woman who captured Duke Blackburn’s heart.
When he proposed, he gave her jewelry crafted from sapphires matching the color of his own eyes, surrounded by diamonds.
After her mother died giving birth to Sadie, the earrings had been passed down to Tracy.
There had originally been a matching pair.
But she lost one while crossing the border to survive.
She had never worn the remaining earring during military training or on the battlefield.
Only after being captured by her homeland’s army and later rescued by Todd did she begin wearing it again.
The earring was her mother’s keepsake.
Around her neck she always tied her late brother’s handkerchief.
Both reminded her why she had to keep living.
Now…
For the first time in years…
She became strangely conscious of the earring.
Walking toward a quiet corridor where no one else was present, Tracy absentmindedly touched her left ear.
No matter how hard she thought about it…
She couldn’t understand Valentin.
His warm gaze toward someone everyone else avoided.
The attention he paid to her earring.
His respectful manner.
Even…
The unmistakable kindness that almost seemed to radiate warmth.
Why…?
The earring that had accompanied her through countless battlefields had long since lost its shine.
Its once-brilliant gemstone had become dull from neglect.
Yet someone of his standing had noticed it.
Her brows knitted together.
What exactly does he see in me…?
Why did he look so… proud?
“Ah…”
Clink.
The earring slipped from between her fingers.
The sapphire, the same color as her father’s eyes, disappeared into the dim corner of the palace hallway.
Startled, Tracy hurriedly looked around.
“Damn…”
Unable to help herself, she gathered her skirt and crouched down.
Carefully searching across the rough carpet and polished marble floor, she tried to find the tiny piece of jewelry.
But it was nearly impossible.
Footsteps echoed nearby.
Someone was approaching quickly.
She immediately stood, brushing her long ebony hair behind one ear before turning toward the corner.
Then—
Her eyes widened.
Instinctively, she grabbed her skirt.
Rustle.
The hem of her dress had already been caught in Valentin’s hand.
He was kneeling on one knee beside her.
The long scar across her back throbbed painfully, making her hands tremble.
“Colonel?”
“I-I’m sorry. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“There was no improper intention.”
“I thought something had gotten caught in the lace of your dress.”
Speaking apologetically, he carefully untangled something from the hem before placing it in his palm.
Then he stood and held it out to her.
It was…
Her earring.
“I noticed something shining…”
“I acted before thinking.”
“I should’ve spoken to you first.”
Tracy barely heard his explanation.
Instead…
Her attention was drawn to the sincere kindness reflected in his eyes beneath the faint hallway lights.
Not a trace of deceit.
Not a speck of malice.
For some reason, her face grew warm.
Quickly taking the earring from his hand, she lowered her head.
“Thank you.”
“I’m ashamed that I have nothing to offer in return.”
“I wasn’t expecting anything…”
“Then… please have a safe evening.”
His calm reply, as though he truly desired nothing in return, filled her with overwhelming shame.
He was far too pure.
She feared she might stain someone like him.
So once again…
She cut off the conversation and fled.
Because she herself was filthy.
I’ve walked quite a distance.
Why did he come all the way here…?
A lump rose in her throat.
She couldn’t tell whether it was anger or discomfort.
Anyone was free to walk around the palace during the victory banquet.
Yet…
For some reason, Valentin irritated her.
Her resentment even extended to Todd for having a friend like him.
She bit the inside of her cheek.
Unable to return to the banquet hall, she wandered outside into the palace gardens.
Partly to calm herself.
Partly because the gardens were so vast that Valentin would never find her.
Walking briskly, Tracy suddenly stopped.
Listening to the chirping insects while staring at the carefully laid stone path, she gave a bitter smile.
…You’re insane, Tracy.
Do you actually think he’s chasing after you?
He had merely come out later than she had.
She had spent quite a while searching for the earring.
There was no reason to believe he had followed her.
How arrogant of her to think otherwise.
Unless he intended to scold her for rudely cutting him off…
Why would he chase her?
Shaking her head, she frowned.
Get a grip.
Don’t jump to conclusions.
“…Sigh.”
Taking a deep breath, she looked up.
Fortunately, everyone was still inside attending the banquet.
The gardens were empty.
A little walk will clear my head.
Slowly she wandered through the palace grounds.
The cool night air and the chorus of insects gradually pushed thoughts of Valentin from her mind.
Then—
Fweeee—
A sharp whistling sound split the air.
Startled, Tracy whipped around.
For one horrifying moment…
She thought enemy artillery had somehow reached the capital despite the peace treaty.
Her body stiffened.
The color drained from her face.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Moments later…
Brilliant colors exploded across the black sky.
Fireworks.
Her silver-blue eyes widened to their limits as blooming lights blossomed overhead before fading away.
“Ah…”
“…Ah…”
She staggered before catching herself.
Her breathing came in broken gasps.
Her eyes grew hot.
She couldn’t tell whether the sound escaping her lips was a sigh or a sob.
Around her neck rested the black velvet ribbon Sadie had lovingly turned into a choker, replacing the handkerchief of her late brother after Todd suggested it.
The war was over.
She had already left the military.
Then why…
Why did she still feel as though she remained trapped on the battlefield?
A wave of misery washed over her.
Yet…
She couldn’t look away.
The fireworks celebrated the peace of an ordinary nation.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Even so…
She felt as though her heart were slowly dying.
Five minutes later…
The fireworks finally ended.
Still, Tracy continued staring into the dark sky, now scattered with stars.
She didn’t even know what she was waiting for.
She simply blinked from time to time, unable to move.
“Sergeant Tracy!”
Someone called her name.
She turned.
It was Todd.
His voice carried the slur of someone slightly drunk.
Suppressing her surprise, she asked quietly,
“Has… the banquet ended?”
“What kind of question is that?”
She blinked.
She hadn’t realized so much time had passed.
She no longer wore a wristwatch.
She really needed to be more careful.
Lowering her head slightly, she apologized.
“I’m sorry, Command Sergeant Major.”
“I stepped away because I had something to take care of…”
“Forget that.”
His irritation vanished, replaced by a sly grin.
“So…”
“We’re officially engaged now.”
“That means it’s okay, right?”
Confused by the hopeful look on his face, Tracy glanced at him uncertainly.
“Okay… what?”
“I’ve mentioned this before.”
“Do I really have to explain it?”
Frowning slightly, Todd wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
A chill crawled over her skin.
Suppressing the instinctive fear rising within her, Tracy answered calmly.
“We’re still only husband and wife on paper—”
“Fuck.”
Smack!
He shoved her violently.
Her body staggered.
Her left cheek burned as though it had been scorched.
Even the spot behind her ear where the earring’s post dug into her skin throbbed painfully.
Before she could even raise a hand to her cheek—
His curses came crashing down upon her.
“You’re more useless than a whore.”
To be continued…
