Chapter 6. This Will Stay in My Memory for a Long Time
As the alcohol washed away the blood, the gruesome wound was laid bare. The mark Aaron had left yesterday was deeper than expected.
“You wouldn’t be suffering like this if you hadn’t run. Tsk. If you’d just gotten caught right away, none of this would’ve happened.”
Despite gasping in pain, the woman shot back defiantly.
“If it were you, would you just sit and wait to be captured by the enemy?”
“I wouldn’t need to run. I would’ve killed them all.”
“Psycho.”
“Now, now. That’s no way to introduce yourself.”
Aaron replied lazily, recalling the conversation he had overheard earlier. Last night, she must’ve been too busy running to avoid the military’s search. And today, she was likely on the move all day, scouting the area. She’d been hiding, avoiding imperial troops, treating her wounds without any time or peace to scream in pain. Thinking about the woman’s recklessness, Aaron’s grip unconsciously tightened.
“Well, no sane person would launch a mission like this against the Imperial Army anyway.”
Still held by Aaron, the woman lowered her head wearily. Clicking his tongue, Aaron gently pushed her golden hair back to examine the wound closely.
The mingled scents of blood and alcohol were dispersed by the cool air seeping in from outside.
“Ah—Commander.”
A military doctor stepped into the tent, parting the entrance flap, and froze in shock. The two were so close their breath could’ve mingled. The heat that filled the tent—what kind of situation was this? Did I interrupt something? The doctor’s face instantly flushed red, and he bowed hurriedly.
“S-Sorry, Commander! I didn’t realize it was… that kind of situation.”
Just as the flustered doctor began to retreat, Aaron’s low voice stopped him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Come in. It’s not what you think.”
The military doctor tilted his head in doubt. Sure seems like that kind of situation. Still suspicious, he cautiously stepped inside.
“Then, may I ask why you called for me?”
“Why else would I call a doctor? Someone’s injured. Come take a look.”
At Aaron’s nod, the doctor approached. He winced at the strong smell of blood and quickly examined the wound on the woman being held by the commander. It was serious—clearly untreated and left too long.
“What happened…?”
The doctor, who had been stammering, grew sharp once he saw the injury.
“This looks old. Treating it might be tricky.”
“She was injured yesterday, around midday.”
Yesterday? But it’s already late tonight. She went all this time without treatment? The doctor, frustrated by the absurdity, burst out.
“Wait, are you telling me you left her in this state until now?!”
“That’s why I called you. Now treat her.”
Shaking his head, the doctor opened his medical bag. He picked up a surgical knife and gently pressed the wound. Thick, dark blood oozed out. Yet he didn’t even blink, focusing solely on the wound.
“Let me go.”
Even as the woman weakly struggled, the commander held her firmly while the doctor continued treating her, unfazed.
“It looks like a gunshot wound. The bullet fragments are lodged deep.”
“I shot her.”
Focused on the wound, the doctor responded absently.
“Ah, that explains it. Hit by your bullet, Commander. Makes sense—”
Then he froze and looked up in shock.
“Wait, what? You shot her?”
“Yes.”
“You want me to treat someone you shot? If you were going to treat her, why did you shoot her in the first place—?”
“She kept running. I needed to make sure she didn’t.”
The doctor paused, scalpel in hand, puzzled.
“You go through all that trouble to shoot her, then you treat her… Why?”
Aaron glanced at the unconscious woman, her blue eyes now hidden under closed lids.
“I just don’t want her disappearing from my sight again.”
He had gone through all this trouble to catch her, only for her to try and escape into death. She wasn’t prey to be caught just to die. Aaron tilted back the liquor bottle and drank.
“And… I’m curious.”
“About what?”
“About her.”
The doctor sighed at the commander’s strange reply. This man was beyond his understanding—but orders were orders. He swiftly sorted through his supplies.
“Understood. I’ll treat her, sir. But most of the medical supplies were taken back to HQ. I can only do emergency treatment here.”
“What about anesthetics?”
The doctor raised his hands in surrender. His gesture made the situation clear. Aaron’s expression twisted in disappointment.
“They took those too?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Aaron frowned.
“Then it’s going to hurt a lot.”
“Yes, but we’re already late. Delay any further, and we risk infection—or she could lose the arm. Worst case, she could die.”
Aaron looked down at the woman. Even the cleaning had left her limp. Fevered, clearly weakened—this was no time for hesitation.
“Then we have no choice. Let’s do it.”
He gently untied the woman from the post and lifted her. The scent of brandy clung to her skin—spicy and sweet, like her. Aaron carried her to the bed in the tent and laid her down. He tied her uninjured arm to the bedpost.
“Let me go. You think I’ll just let you have your way?”
Though too weak to even sit up, the woman resisted. Aaron clicked his tongue in disbelief and placed a hand on her shoulder. With that alone, her resistance crumbled.
“No! I said no—mmph.”
Though clearly not in her right mind, she tried to object. Aaron pressed a hand over her mouth to silence her. With her resistance neutralized, he gave the doctor a nod.
“Begin.”
The doctor, who had sterilized his tools by lantern light, came forward and examined the wound. A day old, the bullet shards were embedded deep. With a grim expression, he pressed the scalpel to the skin.
“Mmngh—!”
The woman’s thoughts were wiped away by the pain. Even just clenching her teeth was a monumental task. Her body twisted reflexively, cold sweat beading on her brow.
“You’re doing well. Just hold on like that.”
Aaron smiled, watching her bite down on his hand to endure. If left alone, she might’ve shattered her jaw or teeth. Even as she bit hard, he looked on with a strange fondness.
“It’ll be over soon. Just a bit more.”
The doctor dug out the fragments. The scent of blood filled the air again. Sweat dripped down the doctor’s forehead. Feeling the woman’s pain through his blade, he grumbled.
“What kind of man shoots a lady in the arm…?”
“How would I have known she was a lady?”
The fragments were deep, forcing the scalpel in further. Her body trembled, unable to bear the sensation. Aaron gripped her shoulder tighter to keep her still.
“This’ll leave a scar.”
“It can’t be helped. At least she’ll remember who caught her.”
Unbelievable. The doctor shook his head and continued. Eventually, he stitched the wound closed.
“Just hang in there a little more. Almost done.”
Aaron’s voice soothed her gently. The woman let out a faint groan, tears collecting in her eyes. At last, a drop slid down her cheek.
“All fragments removed, wound closed.”
The doctor wiped his sweat away. On the woman’s forehead, sweat mingled with her tangled hair. Aaron covered her with a blanket to keep her warm, brushing her hair aside.
“You did well. It’s all over now.”
As Aaron spoke softly, the woman closed her eyes as if fainting. Her pale blue irises vanished, and the world seemed a shade darker. Clicking his tongue, Aaron muttered,
“You brought this on yourself, running like that.”
The doctor watched him with disbelief, but continued his work. Taking out gauze, he offered a warning.
“She’ll need to be careful for a while. Any infection before the wound heals could be serious.”
He sterilized the area, covered it, and wrapped the arm with practiced ease.
“She’s also malnourished. Make sure she eats well—recovery needs strength.”
Aaron tucked her in and arranged her hair neatly on the pillow. As the doctor packed up, he mumbled with dissatisfaction.
“She’s the enemy, right? I’ve never worked so hard to treat a prisoner.”
Aaron brought his hand close to the lantern to inspect the bite marks she left. The tent still reeked of blood. His prey, once so nimble, was now in his trap. Shot, captured, and caged. Everything had gone as planned. So why this lingering thirst?
He glanced at the sleeping woman, took a swig from the bottle.
“Next time, don’t shoot people you plan to save,” the doctor muttered.
Aaron chuckled.
“Even if I went back, I’d shoot her again. And I’d still treat her.”
As the Supreme Commander, shooting enemies was only natural—but letting her die?
He was far too curious about her for that.
