At the time, he hadn’t been in the right state of mind to properly pay attention to his second nephew.
Back then, he had been standing in the very center of a political battlefield.
The king was incompetent, and the queen had descended into madness.
Industrialization was accelerating, the era changing by the day, and as a Grand Duke, he had been forced to understand everything, weigh everything, and make impossible choices.
Day after day passed without a moment to breathe.
He vaguely remembered Genevieve’s incessant complaints and how he had told the butler to find an appropriate hospital and handle the matter.
Then—
“Y-Your Grace. I swear on my life… but the Second Young Master is still only a child. Surely that would be going too far…”
The image of the old servant came back to him—the man squeezing his eyes shut as he forced himself to speak.
Victor silently added the butler, Willen, to the list of people he intended to keep around.
“I will not send him to a hospital.”
“Good. I’m glad you’ve come to your senses—wait, what did you just say?”
“I said I won’t send him there. He’s still a child. Suggesting a psychiatric asylum already—is that truly a sane thing to say?”
Genevieve froze.
After his second nephew had been sent away to a mental institution, the eldest boy had started going wildly astray.
Victor had never forgotten it.
The boy, who had inherited the calm temperament of the Bayern bloodline, had transformed into something monstrous—screaming at the top of his lungs, hurling bitter accusations with hatred burning in his eyes.
I can’t repeat the same mistake.
This time, he would live differently.
The words he had spoken to Abel in his final moments had all been sincere.
If he ever had to go to war again, he would do so carrying the honor of Bayern.
But—
It would be far better if he never had to go at all.
“Well, you’re the head of the family. If that’s your decision, there’s nothing I can do.”
Genevieve tucked her long hair behind her ear and grumbled.
By the time the meal ended in silence, she spoke again.
This time, her tone was much softer.
“So, when are you heading back to the capital?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Aren’t things busy there? I can’t even remember the last time you visited the townhouse. While you’ve been away, I’ve been raising the children and managing the estate all by myself. I’ve hardly had a moment’s rest.”
Victor watched her quietly as she subtly praised her own efforts.
Then he tilted his head.
“I’ll have to leave briefly, but after that, I don’t intend to return.”
“What?”
“It seems my vacation will be quite a long one.”
That was right.
Officially, Victor had come down to the territory on leave.
The complicated situation involving the mad queen was hidden beneath that convenient explanation, but there was no reason anyone else needed to know.
Strangely enough, the moment it became clear he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, a tiny crack appeared in Genevieve’s expression.
She quickly covered it with a smile.
“Yes, well, you deserve some rest.”
Victor ignored her and picked up his napkin.
It’s been a very long time since I looked after my family, hasn’t it, Victor Bayern?
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
He had long suspected that his aunt’s behavior was suspicious.
The only reason he hadn’t confronted her was because he lived in the capital while she remained here in the territory.
No—
To be precise, it had simply been a lower-priority matter.
And there had always been higher-priority matters demanding his attention.
Lower priorities remained lower priorities.
Victor Bayern was always busy.
During the previous king’s reign, he had overseen intelligence operations.
Under the current king, he had devoted himself to understanding the rapidly changing global landscape.
There had always been a clear reason to ignore the state of his household.
Besides, if he drove his aunt away, who would raise the two slightly insane children who hadn’t even reached ten years old?
His gaze drifted toward the marigolds decorating the dining table.
Their color reminded him of someone.
Abel.
The most rational and steadfast person he had ever known.
Even when a delirious soldier foaming at the mouth had charged at him, Abel hadn’t flinched. He had simply struck the man on the back of the neck and knocked him unconscious.
As Victor pictured that calm, clear face, he silently added a condition to his plans.
If I can find him.
“I intend to marry soon.”
“What? Marry whom?”
“There’s no need for you to concern yourself with that. And Aunt…”
Victor smiled faintly.
“Perhaps it’s time you got some rest as well.”
Benefits:
Requirements:
Special Notes:
※ Former military doctors welcome.
Yvel froze while reading the morning newspaper.
Three days had passed since she had realized that she had somehow returned to the past.
She had been certain she died after that blinding flash of light.
Perhaps it was because she had witnessed so many impossible things on the battlefield.
A blessing—or a curse.
Either way, she had accepted the miracle with surprising ease.
If I’d returned to my first year at university, I would’ve cursed God.
Thankfully, she had returned after graduation, at the point where she had just opened a small local clinic.
Before work.
A cup of coffee sat beside her on the table.
Her amber eyes remained fixed on the absurd advertisement dominating the front page.
“No way…”
It might have been pure delusion.
But Yvel couldn’t shake the feeling that this bizarre advertisement was meant to find her.
The insistence on an internal medicine specialist.
The note about former military doctors.
Who else could possibly meet every single one of those conditions?
At this point in time, no less.
If the Grand Duke returned too…
It was an absurd thought.
She shook her head.
Then hesitated.
Still…
Maybe it wasn’t impossible.
They had died together, after all.
The thing that troubled her most was the requirement that applicants be female.
Did he realize I was a woman?
She had always thought her disguise was flawless.
Of course, at this point, the Richter–France War had not yet begun.
Technically, she hadn’t violated military law.
Restlessly pacing around her kitchen, she reread the advertisement.
Absolute protection from the Grand Duke’s household during employment.
She had no idea why Victor Bayern was looking for her under the title of Contract Grand Duchess.
But the offer was undeniably tempting.
And besides—
If he already knew she was a woman, perhaps the other officers had known as well.
If so, the reason she had never suffered any of the uglier things that happened to women in wartime might have been because of Victor Bayern’s protection.
There had been little things.
An extra piece of bread somehow finding its way into her hands.
The way he would suddenly appear whenever she was surrounded by male officers, quietly watching from nearby.
Should I trust him?
It’s only a contract, anyway.
There’s no burden of becoming a real noblewoman.
And honestly… what future do I have staying here?
Tap.
Tap tap.
Her fingers drummed against the newspaper before finally stopping.
If—
Just if—
He had really returned as well…
Then it would prove she wasn’t insane.
Even now, she could hear artillery fire ringing in her ears.
Every time she closed her eyes, dying soldiers replayed before her.
Which was why she hadn’t completely dismissed another possibility:
That she had simply gone mad.
That she was hallucinating.
After all, returning to the past made no scientific sense whatsoever.
I’ll know once I meet him.
But first, I need to deal with that bastard pounding on my door.
“My beloved sister! If you don’t open up, I’m going to piss right here!”
Yvel sighed deeply.
Unbelievable.
She opened the door.
A wave of alcohol fumes immediately crashed into her.
A man with the exact same face as hers stumbled forward and collapsed at her feet.
“My glorious little sister! The sister who stole her elder brother’s name and ran away!”
“If you need money, take it and leave. And shut up while you’re at it.”
“How do you always know exactly what I want? Truly, you’re the only one who understands this brother’s heart! The only one!”
And just like that, her morning was ruined.
