ANR Ch 12

I hope no unnecessary trouble comes from this…

To resolve this matter, Claude would have to be portrayed as uninvolved. Even the father would have no choice since they were implicated together like in a joint punishment system. Yves decided to stay quiet for a while to not provoke his father further.

First, he wrote a letter to Louis Thiers, to be delivered through Jacques to Madame Payet. He explained that his movements would be restricted for some time, which would disrupt their plans.

Then, he instructed Madame Evermont to prepare his bathwater. He asked for lunch to be brought to his room and advised everyone not to disturb him as he planned to nap all afternoon.

Starting tomorrow, he intended to lock himself in the study. How much tobacco was left? Yves headed towards the parlor to check the box. His time was passing slowly.

✧ ✧ ✧

One month after the incident, a small commotion occurred at the Mars Barracks guard unit. Early that morning, when Claude visited the Third Battalion’s barracks, he saw his fellow soldiers looking dazed, as if they couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“What’s with everyone’s reactions?”

Claude waited with one hand on his hip. After a brief moment, they all started speaking at once, as if it had been planned.

“What? Wait, Captain. What do you mean by ‘quit’? Are you saying you’re leaving the army altogether?”

“What’s going on all of a sudden? Did you get sacked?”

As the soldiers gathered around him, murmuring, Claude shrugged affirmatively.

“Well, something like that.”

This answer escalated the reactions around him.

“You got sacked? Why? Did you cause trouble?”

“What could the captain have done? Did that captain get you sacked?”

“Wasn’t he supposed to return from leave today? Did you get the wrong message about returning to the officers’ room?”

There were many nosy questions. Claude set down his bag of belongings as he answered:

“I’m quitting on my own, so don’t have any strange misunderstandings. And watch how you talk about the captain.”

“What? Come on… It’s not like he’s here. Who cares? Why are you doing this? Did you really get sacked?”

“You said the military was your calling; something must have happened.”

“Well, sort of. I’d rather not go into the details.”

Claude showed signs of being troubled by the endless questions, but the soldiers seemed unwilling to back down. It looked like he needed to give some kind of excuse to end this.

“It’s nothing big. My sister’s health is deteriorating, so I want to move to the outskirts for some fresh air.”

Yet, the skeptical looks didn’t fade away. He had no choice but to throw in another excuse.

“Actually, I think the job of an officer’s aide isn’t really for me.”

Only then did they look like they understood.

“Well, that makes sense.”

“Yeah. Serving those noble brats can’t be fun forever. I get it.”

“But still, quitting so suddenly? What are we supposed to do without you?”

“Yeah, we were waiting for the captain to come back to our platoon. Damn, who’s going to take care of our Easter bonuses now?”

Their candid remarks made Claude laugh. Despite what they said, he knew they were worried about him. He hadn’t expected to leave the military he’d served for six years this easily.

But wasn’t there no other choice? Claude had sensed this outcome might happen ever since that incident at the Duke of Bonnal’s mansion.

After the event at the mansion, Yves hadn’t come back to work for a while. Lieutenant Mirabeau had only relayed the order for Claude to return to his original unit since the captain was on extended leave. He tried visiting several times, but the mansion’s doors were no longer open to him. Given the implications of that incident, this wasn’t much of a surprise.

That day at the duke’s banquet, someone had intentionally drugged Yves. It seemed Claude’s presence was part of the plan as he was also knocked out with drugs. When he woke up due to the commotion, they were both half-undressed. He tried to wake Yves in haste, but the witness who came to inform them about the arrival of the carriage had already run out. And Claude was promptly expelled from the mansion.

Who, why, and for what reason did they do this?

At the time, it was said in jest, but perhaps Yves had indeed made enemies. Considering someone had hidden in the room, it was evidently a well-planned scheme. Political intrigue? A power struggle? An affair? With Yves, all three were possible.

The perpetrator seemed to have achieved their goal. Yves went into seclusion for a while, and a few days later, someone from the Ferrie family came to see Claude. They warned him to watch his mouth and mentioned his sister, Catherine, as leverage, though there was no need to threaten him since he was already on the captain’s side. However, revealing such personal feelings could be poison, so Claude kept quiet.

The matter was buried like that. Just as Yves had said, if power could make even events disappear, Claude realized how formidable the Ferrie family’s influence was. No one was curious about the truth.

And on the day Yves returned a month later, Claude was summoned by the colonel and was immediately dismissed from his position. It seemed the decision had already been made; there was no grace period. He didn’t hear the reason for his dismissal, but he could more or less guess. However, Claude had been waiting for the day Yves would return, so this left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Wouldn’t one day be enough?

His heart, which had been excited to see him since morning, was now shredded by disappointment. He thought about defying orders out of spite but decided against it, fearing it might cause trouble for Yves. He never thought the position he had strived so hard to maintain by his side would vanish in an instant.

Perhaps it would have been better to be dismissed by the captain himself back in Saint-Michel when they had their big argument. At least then, he might have stolen a kiss. This absurd thought made Claude laugh.

“Seeing such a strange expression, you must have had a hard time. Even so, you should say a proper goodbye. If the captain leaves like this, it feels like we’ve been abandoned.”

One of the soldiers pulled out a bottle of rum from under the bed and shook it, suggesting they have a drink. Everyone gathered around Claude, giggling. It would be a shame not to have alcohol on such a day. Even the corporal joined in to make things awkward for him.

“Victor, are you going to do this too?”

“This is the first and last time I’ll disobey the sergeant’s orders. Please hang out with us today. We’d be too upset to let you go like this.”

“Yeah, on a day like this, we really should drink. Otherwise, it’s like we’ve all been abandoned.”

“Right. The captain abandoned us.”

They attacked Claude with this nonsensical logic. Half-convinced, Claude reluctantly approached with his arms crossed.

“Then let’s go around once with one drink each.”

At his permission, the dozen soldiers cheered and passed around the glasses.

One drink turned into two, then three or four. Tales of their exploits flowed, and Claude’s achievements were exaggerated and celebrated. Unable to end the gathering, Claude set down his bag of belongings and sat on the iron bed, getting drunk on the stories they shared.

The good times became snacks, endlessly discussed. Most of them were unruly, but Claude knew it wasn’t intentional. He always understood their circumstances and sided with them. The soldiers, still feeling sorry, kept offering him drinks.

About an hour might have passed when suddenly the door was opened by someone.

The soldiers at the entrance saluted in a flustered voice upon seeing who it was. Even the soldiers drinking were bewildered and stood up hesitantly. It wasn’t someone who would usually come to such a place. Claude, sitting opposite them, turned around and understood.

“Captain.”

Yves, with a face full of anger, surveyed the barracks. The interior reeked of alcohol, looking a mess even to the soldiers themselves. Knowing they deserved a reprimand, everyone fell silent. Yves’s gaze soon fixed on one person.

“Sergeant Veil.”

Claude felt the alcohol evaporate instantly. It had been a full month since he last saw that face. Despite the cold, stern look, his heart raced with joy at seeing him again; perhaps he was indeed insane.

“Come out with me now.”

Yves left those words and walked out first. The soldiers, now frozen in place, looked at Claude apologetically. Some scratched their necks, thinking he would get scolded for the drinking party, and returned to their seats. Others patted Claude on the shoulder as they passed by, feeling bad that he had to deal with this even on his last day.

It wasn’t like it would matter much for someone who was quitting anyway, but they felt guilty for making their captain go through this on his last day. Corporal Victor stepped up to carry Claude’s bag for him.

“Take care. I’ll keep this for you.”

Claude nodded and immediately followed Yves.

Entering the officers’ building, Yves headed straight to his office. He dismissed the two soldiers guarding the door, instructing them not to let anyone in until further orders. Glancing back at the following Claude, Yves entered his office.

After confirming that the soldiers were descending the stairs, Claude quietly opened the door. The air in Yves’s office, which had been vacant for some time, was chilly. Even after the door closed, neither spoke. Yves leaned against the edge of his desk, his expression stern as he looked at Claude, seemingly waiting for him to speak first despite having much to say.

However, Claude’s situation was different. He was too busy taking in every detail of Yves, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. He thought the newly trimmed hair and the white officer’s coat suited him well. The twitching eyebrows when angry and the habit of chewing on one corner of his mouth were still there. He didn’t know why Yves was so angry, but he wasn’t scared at all.

Isn’t this fortunate? He got to see his face again, even if it was like this. The thought made him smile without realizing it.

“You’re laughing? Can the aide laugh in this situation?”

Yves scolded him with a serious tone.

“Sorry. It’s not for the disrespectful reason you might think, so please forgive me.”

“What isn’t it? Did you feel relieved after submitting your resignation, so you’re laughing because you’re in a good mood?”

Yves raised his voice, soaked in a sense of betrayal.

Ah, so that’s how it was handled.

Claude started to say that he hadn’t submitted a resignation, but he paused. Since his father would be behind this, there was no point in changing the situation now, and he didn’t want Yves to worry about unnecessary things. So, he decided to go along with their narrative and say he resigned of his own accord.

“I’m sorry.”

“Without even discussing it with me…”

“I didn’t have time to tell you. And honestly, even if I had discussed it with you, nothing would have changed. I clearly made a mistake towards you, and I’m resigning to take responsibility for it.”

“A mistake? Did my aide make a mistake towards me? If you want to play the hero by yourself, stop it. We both know nothing happened that day.”

Yves’s voice was heated, and his pale eyes even trembled with anger.

Why was he this angry?

Claude was puzzled by his unexpectedly intense reaction. He thought Yves would feel relieved with the troublesome guy gone, but instead, he was reprimanded.

Could it be because he confessed his feelings and then backed off so easily, making Yves miss him? Or was it simply because his pride as a superior was hurt by how the matter was handled without his involvement?

Claude took a step closer to him.

“I apologize for not informing you earlier. I tried visiting the mansion several times, but they wouldn’t let me in.”

“…”

Yves frowned but seemed to feel guilty after hearing that, as he didn’t press further. Tapping the edge of the desk while thinking for a moment, he proposed a solution.

“I’ll speak with the colonel again so we can pretend the resignation never happened.”

Claude shook his head in disagreement.

“That won’t do. Even if we do that, it doesn’t erase what happened that day.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? That incident has already been settled with my father. Do you think I was on vacation for a month just for the fun of it? There’s nothing for you to take responsibility for, so return immediately.”

“I might not be able to return.”

“What?”

“Because my resignation must have been part of the deal you made with your father.”

“Ha…”

Yves covered his forehead with his right hand and looked away, understanding what he meant. Claude waited, giving him time to sort out his thoughts.

In fact, there was no need to lie about resigning voluntarily. But if he left the army of his own accord, he could receive some pension. He didn’t explicitly say he was dismissed because he didn’t want Yves to feel unnecessarily guilty, hoping he would think it ended well.

Even if he was a nuisance, they had spent time together, so wouldn’t Yves be a little concerned? He also wanted to entertain that illusion.

Ah, so that’s why he seemed so endearing. This was the first time he had received such attention from Yves. The impulse to kiss him right then, seeing Yves so furious about his resignation, must have come from that.

“You don’t seem to be troubled at all in this situation. Well, after a month, that passion would have cooled down, I suppose.”

Yves’s voice was clouded with gloom. It seemed his pride was hurt by the idea that he was the only one throwing a tantrum while the person concerned was so calm. Seeing the look of resentment in Yves’s eyes, Claude felt wronged.

“Not at all. This is a matter of my livelihood. If my passion had cooled, there’d be no reason to leave so willingly.”

“Then disobey. I’ll have you reinstated in your original unit, and you can stay quiet for a while.”

“I’m not too keen on that either. It would feel like the same punishment since I wouldn’t be by your side. It’s cleaner just to resign, and who knows, even if your father is thorough, if rumors leak out, I might find myself in trouble within the unit.”

“What rumors are you talking about? You didn’t even touch a hair on my head, yet you speak as if we’ve made history or something.”

“Exactly. If I knew this would happen, I should have done what I wanted without holding back.”

Claude’s response, whether joking or serious, made Yves stare at him intently. Instead of getting angry, asking what nonsense he was talking about, Yves was strangely quiet. He seemed to be holding back his words, turning his gaze away to ask another question.

“…Do you have any job prospects after leaving the military?”

“Well, I’ll have to think about that from now on.”

“Resigning without any plan, are you out of your mind? I’ll give you a month’s grace period to find a job. Let’s talk again after that.”

“Do you really miss me?”

“What?”

“If it’s not that you miss me resigning, why are you so concerned? So, honestly, I feel quite good right now. Even if it’s an illusion, receiving so much attention from you makes me think I did well to resign.”

“Ha… You’re making me laugh in disbelief. Fine, do as you please. I won’t concern myself with the aide’s affairs anymore, so live as you wish, whether you starve or not. Now, get out.”

Yves made a disgusted expression and tried to leave.

Cold. First, he shows concern by getting angry, and now he’s pushing me away so quickly.

In essence, he had staked his livelihood to protect Yves, but the reward was too meager. Yves didn’t even look him in the eye while telling him to leave. Even when sending away a dog you’ve raised, there would be some reluctance, but being dismissed so coldly sparked a bit of defiance in him.

This can’t be the end for us.

Claude suddenly grabbed Yves’s arm.

“If I leave now, when will I see you again?”

“Who knows, why don’t you start an illegal protest in front of Tuileries Palace? At least I’d see your face when you get arrested.”

“Will you come to arrest me yourself?”

“If that’s your wish, I’ll grant it. Let go of this.”

However, the pressure on the grabbed arm increased slightly.

“Do you know? My resignation was probably processed this morning. So now, I’m practically a civilian.”

“What does that matter? Let go and talk.”

“Don’t you understand what I mean? I’m no longer your subordinate.”

“What are you trying to say?”

As Claude grabbed his other arm as well, Yves raised his voice, trying to break free, but he couldn’t overpower Claude’s determined grip.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s a bit unfair that nothing happened that day. If I resign like this, it’ll just look like I quit for no reason. So, I’m going to create a reason to get fired now.”

Yves’s eyes flickered with a hint of realization. As Claude came close enough to touch noses, he spoke quietly.

“And now, there’s no reason for me to obey your orders anymore.”

“What are you trying to do…”

Before Yves could finish his sentence, Claude kissed him. His waist was pulled forcefully, making him bend, and his entire body stiffened. The sudden act left Yves with wide eyes and a blank mind.

“Hmph…!”

Then, a tongue invaded. It pushed in so intensely that it felt like his spine was tingling, moving languidly as if it would reach his throat. Claude sucked on Yves’s tongue, pulling it with such force it felt like he was trying to uproot it.

“Haa… Haa…”

It was a dizzying, brief kiss. After forcibly ending the kiss, Claude whispered from very close.

“I put my tongue in with the resolve to get it cut off, but I tasted paradise.”

The words snapped Yves back to reality, and he pushed Claude away, simultaneously hitting him in the face with a punch.

Claude wiped the blood trickling from his split lip and smacked his lips.

“Oh… Was it that bad?”

But Yves didn’t respond. He was still frozen, covering his mouth with his hand, apparently in shock from being forcibly kissed. Despite it only lasting a few seconds, his face was flushed as if he had been burned.

“…”

He tried to say something but couldn’t, closing his mouth instead. His fist, which had moved instinctively, opened and closed as his gaze wavered.

“What to do? Seeing you so flustered for the first time, I don’t feel much guilt.”

It was understandable. Yves’s lips, taken by force, were so soft and the mingling of their tongues and saliva was so sweet it felt like his brain was melting. If a punch was all it took to pay for it, he’d be willing to get hit hundreds of times for another chance.

Yves, irritated by Claude’s shameless attitude, turned his gaze towards the window. He then wiped his lips with a handkerchief that had been on the desk, trying to dismiss it as nothing, hastily hiding his earlier flustered expression.

“The aide really… always does whatever he wants.”

He didn’t scold further, leaving much unsaid with that comment.

“Yes, so let’s say you’ve dismissed me because you didn’t like it. With this, isn’t everything settled? There’s no one wronged here.”

“I should have sent you to the brig, but now you’re a civilian, so even that’s not an option.”

“Think of it as charity to a pitiful man.”

“Charity, after forcing a kiss like that.”

“Then shall we start over from the beginning?”

At Claude’s playful provocation, Yves turned away, looking tired. Dust came in through the open window; it seemed the soldiers from the 1st Battalion were returning from their morning duty. Yves knew further pointless conflict would be futile.

Claude Veil had resigned from the military.

It was now an irrevocable fact.

His father’s will to separate them must have been involved. So there was nothing he could do. Despite knowing this, Yves had been angry at him for deciding to quit so easily, and he had tried to assert his authority.

The month of confinement had been dull for Yves too. It was just a string of days without purpose or vigor. He had expected Claude to come to his office upon his return, but all that awaited him was Claude’s resignation letter on the desk.

Deciding to quit, who the hell decides that on their own!

He slammed the desk in a moment of rage. Without thinking, he went straight to the barracks where the soldiers lived. Seeing Claude casually drinking made him so furious he couldn’t control himself. He threw a tantrum and, as a result, got his lips stolen.

The shocking part was that the brief kiss was too intense. Even though it was not at all honorable to be kissed like that by his subordinate, he didn’t feel unpleasant.

No, he was even afraid that his pounding heart might be heard. He had never experienced such hot, passionate breathing from someone. If it had lasted a bit longer, he might have unintentionally moaned. Yves wiped his lips with his sleeve once more.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Though he had ordered no one to enter without his command, the message came urgently from outside that the colonel was looking for him. It was his first day back, so he should have gone to his superior’s office first, but he had rushed to the barracks instead. Now that he had calmed down, he realized he needed to sort things out.

Yves looked at Claude, who was standing straight and looking at him. His gaze was intense.

“Leave now. And keep a low profile for a while. I’ll send someone later.”

Catching on that he had to leave, Claude quickly added a comment.

“Really? If it’s just empty words, please retract them. Otherwise, I’ll be waiting for your contact forever.”

“Ha, Claude. Could you stop with the annoying talk now?”

Yves deliberately avoided his gaze, turning his head, signaling for him to leave without looking at him further.

“Understood. If no one comes, I’ll come looking for you myself.”

Claude gave a final salute.

“It was an honor to serve you. Stay well.”

Then, without looking back at his superior, he turned and left.

As Claude opened the office door to leave, the soldier waiting outside was startled and rushed to salute. Claude, now a civilian, smiled gently instead of returning the salute and patted the soldier’s back before heading downstairs, crossing the returning 1st Battalion’s formation to return to the barracks. He grabbed his bag of belongings and left the Mars Barracks.

Watching Claude’s figure disappear from the parade ground through the window, Yves was still touching his lips. His subordinate had knocked several times behind the door, but he hadn’t left his spot easily.

Finally, when Claude’s figure completely vanished from view, Yves drew the curtains and turned around. The hot summer air filled the office.