Episode 2: Becoming the Enemy’s Nurse (2)
At the end of the second-floor hallway, the room that had been used by the military doctor Alphonse was now empty.
When Alphonse left the field hospital due to pneumonia, the room became available, and they decided to use it as a patient room.
Given the nature of a field hospital, even the staff accommodations only had enough space for a bed and a small table.
This is going to be cramped, Agatha thought to herself as she stood at the end of the hallway, dreading the thought of being stuck in here with him all day.
She reluctantly knocked on the door of the room. Since this was a patient room, there was no need to wait for a response. Pulling the door handle, she walked in.
The man was sitting on the bed, as if waiting for her to enter, and their eyes met. Agatha clenched her fist at his confident, almost arrogant gaze.
“From today, I’ll be your personal nurse, Natalie,” she said.
“Natalie, it’s a pleasure. I look forward to working with you,” he said in an upbeat tone, as if they were meeting for the first time.
Agatha didn’t look away and stared straight at his face. He was smiling warmly, like sunlight. But she knew his true face, and she wasn’t fooled.
Agatha gave a cold nod in response. The reaction was so indifferent that it caused a bitter smile to appear on his face—the exact look she had been waiting to see.
It was then that Agatha finally realized what she needed to do in this place.
Meeting Gloucester at the field hospital was a gift from fate. She had to make sure to cause him more than just small wounds; she needed to inflict terrible and painful suffering.
Once she made up her mind, Agatha’s lips tightened. She no longer felt burdened by the tragic past. The desire to fulfill her new goal was now what kept her heart burning with determination.
The patient’s lunch was a stew made with potatoes and vegetables.
Agatha had to stand by the bed until he finished eating. Of course, she didn’t look at him while standing there. She stared out the window when a soft voice interrupted her.
“Don’t stand, sit down. Your legs must be hurting.”
“It’s fine,” Agatha replied.
“You look like a servant standing like that. Sit down.” He motioned toward the sofa with a slight nod.
Agatha blinked and looked at his face.
The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to make his face glow, almost blinding her with how handsome he was—just on the outside, of course.
She quickly wiped away any expression on her face and spoke coldly.
“My legs don’t hurt. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll step out for a moment.”
“I told you to sit on the sofa. You’re here to stay with me, right?” he said smoothly with a smile that sent chills down Agatha’s spine.
But Agatha had already seen his true face, so she could maintain her composure. Still, as she stood there, he mumbled to himself, “You’re not listening.”
His words were barely audible, but Agatha heard them clearly.
He ate his stew in silence, finishing it without leaving a drop, even though it surely didn’t suit his noble tastes.
When she handed him his medicine and a glass of water, his polite voice thanked her.
“Thank you, Nurse Natalie.”
Agatha just nodded lightly in response, her eyes lowered.
“What was the medicine again?” he asked.
Agatha quickly lifted her head and looked at him as he smiled while holding the pill in his hand.
“It’s Mecapen,” she replied.
“An anti-inflammatory, I see,” he said, almost whispering, then took the pill with the water. His eyes remained fixed on her, and Agatha quickly turned away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. She had to clean up the empty dishes and leave the room.
Agatha was assigned to care for Captain Gloucester from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Her routine started with taking his temperature and helping him wash up at 7 a.m.
After his breakfast at 8 a.m., she would give him his medication, clean his wounds, and change his bandages.
Then, after lunch at 1 p.m., she would take his temperature again, give him his medicine, and take him for a short walk in a wheelchair to get some fresh air.
After the walk, she would help him nap, then check on him again after he woke up.
At 7 p.m., after dinner, she would give him his last dose of medicine, check his condition again, and help him prepare for bed.
Although she was given half an hour during lunch and dinner, she couldn’t leave the room except to go to the medical room.
Agatha didn’t mind, though; the room she was staying in was much bigger and more comfortable than expected.
Alphonse’s old room was simple but cozy.
The room had a small sofa, a side table, and a chair, with a washbasin and a small mirror on the wall.
Agatha gathered the necessary medical supplies and stared down the hallway toward Gloucester’s room.
She hesitated for a moment but then took a deep breath and walked towards him.
As she entered the room, Agatha noticed a sergeant talking to Gloucester, and the sergeant turned around as she entered.
She nodded politely to him.
“Hello,” Agatha greeted.
“Ah, aren’t you the one?” the sergeant asked.
“Yes, I’ve been assigned as the Captain’s personal nurse,” Agatha replied with a smile, in a friendlier tone than usual.
“Do you two know each other?” the sergeant asked, glancing at Agatha but looking at Gloucester.
“We met when the Captain was brought into the hospital,” Agatha explained, recalling their first meeting.
The nurse had been distant and cold back then, but today she was much friendlier and warmer.
Sergeant Miller figured that the Captain had been in critical condition back then, and that was why the nurse seemed so standoffish.
As their eyes met, Sergeant Miller smiled widely.
“Miller, do you have something to say?” Gloucester asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Eh? Oh, no, I’ll leave now. I’ve passed on everything I needed to,” Miller said, realizing it was time to leave. He saluted Ashley before nodding to Agatha and exiting the room.
Agatha smiled softly as she approached the bed again.
“I guess I was a little late getting back,” she said, her voice warm as she neared the bed. Gloucester’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her, noting how she had moved closer and smiled.
“Did something good happen?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“The weather is nice today. It’s time for a walk. Would you like to go out?” she asked.
Gloucester’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing something was off.
He had learned to be cautious about taking everything the nurse said at face value.
After all, Agatha had already shown another side of herself. He decided to ignore the odd feeling and simply enjoy the walk.
“Alright, let’s go for a walk.”
“Trust me, you won’t regret it,” Agatha replied, a glint in her eyes.
She put away the disinfectant and bandages, preparing a wheelchair for him. After helping him sit in the wheelchair, she gently pushed him forward.
Agatha looked up at the early summer sky. The sky was clear, with not a cloud in sight, and the breeze from the forest felt refreshing, cooling her nerves.
After walking a while, Agatha paused to catch her breath. Gloucester immediately noticed and commented.
“You’ve brought me quite far.”
“I thought you didn’t like noisy places,” Agatha responded, though the area was empty. They were near the front lines, and Gloucester, being a high-ranking officer, could have been a target.
But Ashley didn’t point this out. He realized Agatha wasn’t acting as she did before. She was definitely up to something, but he would pretend not to notice for now.
“It’s nice and quiet, but I think it’s you who’s doing most of the work,” he said.
“It’s my job, so it’s not a problem,” Agatha replied, turning the wheelchair back, signaling it was time to return.
“Wait, Natalie,” Gloucester called.
“Yes?” Agatha asked, turning to him.
“Let’s rest for a bit,” he suggested.
“Here?” Agatha asked.
“Yes, please stop,” he said.
Agatha stopped the wheelchair, and he stood up slowly, turning to look at her.
She had been in his thoughts as they walked, and now he was curious about her face.
