Episode 3: Becoming the Enemy’s Nurse (3)
The cool breeze made Agatha’s hair, neatly fixed under a headscarf, flutter out in golden strands. She looked up at him, confused.
“Let’s walk over there,” Ashley said, pointing towards a tall linden tree stretching up toward the sky. Its long branches hung down, providing a nice, cool shade.
Agatha didn’t understand why he wanted to do this. He hadn’t fully recovered yet, and she definitely didn’t want to walk alongside him. But he turned and waved his hand, signaling for her to follow. Feeling uncomfortable, Agatha finally decided to walk with him, looking up at the clear sky.
Ashley waited for her to catch up before continuing to walk ahead. Agatha hesitated, glancing behind to check if she needed to get the wheelchair, but then Ashley’s voice came from ahead.
“Leave the wheelchair there.”
“Isn’t walking difficult for you?” she asked.
“As you can see, I’m fine,” he replied.
True to his word, he walked without stumbling, even though it was a bit slow. He reached the tree before her and looked back, watching her approach.
Agatha felt a twist in her stomach as his gaze lingered on her body. He tried to appear dignified, but she knew the cruel, ruthless ruler inside. She didn’t avoid his gaze this time and walked closer, feeling her lip tighten as she bit it.
“It seems like I’m the one struggling, not you, Natalie Nurse,” he said with a slight smirk.
“I think we should turn back now,” Agatha replied, wanting to go back to the field hospital. Being alone with him and his piercing gaze was starting to make her uneasy.
“Let’s rest for a moment,” he suggested.
Without responding, he sat down on the ground, and Agatha reluctantly sat beside him, leaning against the tree. She watched him in silence.
“Don’t just stand there, sit down,” he said, tapping the spot next to him. Agatha didn’t want to sit next to him. She had walked a little further to avoid the attention of the soldiers, but now he was making it difficult to stay distant.
“I’m fine standing,” she answered stiffly.
“Your legs must be hurting,” he said, motioning again to the spot next to him.
Agatha turned her face away, stubbornly refusing to sit. He chuckled softly, covering his mouth with his hand but still laughing.
She couldn’t figure out why him rejecting her refusal was so amusing to him. Maybe Captain Gloucester was crazier than she thought.
Her throat felt dry, and she had to force herself to calm down. She had intended to be a good nurse and gain his trust, even if she hadn’t yet. But now, she realized it was going to be harder than she thought to keep her resolve. She took a deep breath and sat down next to him.
“I thought you said standing was more comfortable,” he teased.
“I’m sitting because my legs hurt,” she replied.
“Of course, I figured as much. Next time, don’t be so stubborn and just do what I say,” he said with a smirk, tilting his head.
Agatha’s ears buzzed as his words tickled them. She couldn’t ignore him, so she just stared straight ahead, sitting stiffly.
“Your hair…” he said, reaching out to touch it.
Agatha flinched back, startled by his movement, her eyes wide as she watched his hand hover near her head.
“It’s sticking out,” he said, pointing to the strands of hair that had escaped her headscarf.
Agatha quickly brushed the stray strands behind her ear, but she couldn’t hide the awkwardness on her face. Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t calm down.
Ashley watched her closely, taking in every detail. He noticed how her face turned even paler and how she struggled to catch her breath.
They walked back to the field hospital without saying a word. Agatha pushed the wheelchair, not really looking at him, and Ashley didn’t ask her to go any faster. He knew that even if the wheelchair fell, he could handle it with ease, so there was no need to hurry.
Back in the hospital, Agatha approached Ashley to take his temperature.
“I’ll take your temperature now,” she said, lifting his shirt and placing the glass thermometer under his armpit.
After waiting a moment, she checked the thermometer and then looked back at him.
“Excuse me,” she said softly, placing her small, gentle hand on his forehead. She quickly withdrew her hand, taking a deep breath.
“Uhm…,” Ashley murmured.
“Natalie Nurse?” he asked.
“You have a fever,” she said quickly.
Agatha was in a rush, looking frantic as she opened the door and stepped out of the room.
‘A fever,’ she thought, her green eyes filled with concern. Ashley noticed the anxiety in her eyes, but little did she know, he would soon be fighting for his life.
It had become difficult to ask Hout for medical help now that the wounded soldiers had been transferred. Until a new doctor arrived, Hout had to take care of all the patients alone, which meant Agatha could only convey the patients’ conditions verbally.
“Give him some fever medicine and put a cold towel on his forehead.”
“Got it,” Agatha replied, nodding quickly.
She didn’t say anything more but hurriedly turned and walked upstairs. Just as she was about to reach the top, she turned toward the open front door and saw a little boy, around six years old, running toward her with his arms wide open.
Without thinking, Agatha stepped outside to the front yard, and the boy quickly ran up to her, out of breath.
“Are you a nurse?” the boy asked, his bright eyes reminding Agatha of someone. She bent down to meet him at eye level, feeling a pang in her chest.
“Yes, I’m a nurse. What are you doing here? Did you get hurt?” she asked gently.
“No, I’m perfectly healthy!” he replied with a big smile. Then he added, “My dad is a farmer.”
“Really?” Agatha said, surprised. It seemed like he was the son of a farmer who supplied food to the nearby village.
“You’re pretty!” the boy said, looking up at her with sparkling eyes.
Agatha blushed and smiled, “You’re brave and handsome too!”
“Really?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, really,” she answered, smiling.
The boy’s face lit up. Agatha smiled as she rummaged through her pocket, relieved to find a small candy left.
“Would you like this?” she asked, offering him a strawberry candy.
“Wow, strawberry candy!” The boy jumped in excitement and took the candy from her hand.
“Thank you, Nurse!” he said, giving a polite little bow before unwrapping the candy and putting it in his mouth. Agatha watched him with a loving smile as his cheek puffed up from the candy.
From the window of the second floor, Ashley watched them, his face hardening as he took in the kind and friendly nurse with the young boy. He bitterly swallowed his smile, remembering how easily she smiled at the boy, just as she had done with him before.
Agatha quickly went back to the medical room to get the fever medicine and returned to Ashley’s room.
He had been the one to carry the patient all the way outside, even though he was still recovering. He had only recently been brought in from the battlefield, gravely injured.
Ashley was leaning against the window, letting the cool breeze in.
“No cold air,” Agatha said as she placed a hand on his arm and pulled him away from the window, quickly closing it.
“Captain, take your medicine,” she urged.
“I’m not going to die right away, so take your time,” Ashley replied with a teasing tone, but Agatha quickly handed him the glass of water.
“Thank you, Nurse Natalie,” he said politely.
Despite his fever, he still maintained his gentlemanly mask. He needed the medicine, but he didn’t seem to care much. Agatha looked at him, her worry clear in her eyes as she handed him the medicine.
His gaze remained on her, his blue eyes studying her every move, capturing everything.
