Salvation Equation - Chapter 18. War

Cornell Arlington was born the eldest son of an aristocratic family, earned a degree in Vienna, and served as a medical officer after the war broke out.

He continued his clinical research while running a nearby hospital. The man calmly told his story in front of Madeline.

Madeline bit her lower lip as she looked at the teacup she had not been able to take a sip from. The man appeared at a moment too exquisite to be a coincidence. It was as if he had been waiting…

“Would my husband also be a case study for the clinical research for the doctor?”

Madeline’s straightforward words made Arlington, who had been quietly sipping his tea, raise his head.

He was faced with a woman of bluntness. The look of someone who realized something very unpleasant. Arlington’s mood was not much better.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to use your husband as material for clinical research.”

“…….”

“I too am a country person who likes movies.”

Of course, he didn’t expect Madeline to believe those words verbatim.

Arlington was a well-known man in pathology. It was said that he published outstanding writings in the field of psychology. He seemed more appropriate for clinical research than as a physician. In particular, he stood out in the field of war neurosis.

The baronetcy he held was an incidental halo. The Barony of Arlington. It was a family that Madeline had heard glimpses of and knew. The Arlingtons were in circumstances similar to those of ordinary country aristocratic families who became poor as they entered the late 19th century.

But few people cared about such things now. After all, it was a time when personal achievement was more important than family lineage.

People called him Dr. Arlington rather than Baron Arlington. And he himself considered it more honorable.

* * *

The Count had been silent after his fall. Madeline could not speak either. She could not speak to him with half-hearted consolation. How embarrassed he must have been. How much regret and resentment must he have felt? It was beyond comprehension.

The mansion sank back into that deathly silence of long ago and began to sink into darkness.

* * *

– Madeline at 17 years old. (The present)

Madeline had a big argument with her father. It was natural. The baron was furious, he didn’t understand why Madeline didn’t accept Ian Nottingham’s proposal.

It was as if Madeline was sentimental and naive, and if her father and her starved to death now, it was all her fault.

Madeline said nothing in response. She only stared at her father with cold eyes.

She still thought her father loved her, but when the veil of ignorance was lifted, she began to see everything clearly.

The man before her, her father, did not love her.

To him, Madeline Loenfield was nothing more than a trophy to fill his vanity. Even that could be sold at any time if the situation became difficult.

The passionate love he had with her mother was only a thing of the past that had already passed him by.

But it didn’t matter anymore. It did not matter if he hated her or was disappointed. Because she and Ian had ended that way. She could not be with him again.

She ignored the slight headache that was once again pressing down on her temples.

* * *

On June 28, two gunshots rang out in Sarajevo. Two shots killed Austrian Crown Prince Ferdinand and the Crown Princess.

Madeline opened the newspaper and slowly looked at the print. There really wasn’t long until the war. In the end, it came to this in the same way.

Of course, now the majority thought that nothing like a war could ever happen. If war did happen, they think things would be sorted out shortly. Serbia would comply with Austria’s demands, and that all of this would not spread into anything important.

Madeline wanted to laugh. She also wanted to cry. Soon the declaration of war would follow and people would expect a brief surprise war.

If Madeline remembered correctly, everyone welcomed the war. Everyone was patriotic and condemned the cowards who did not enter the war and passed the feather with their vouchers.

In her previous life, Madeline thought so too. She appreciated the men’s willingness to defend their homeland, even if ambiguously. She remembered buying national bonds in a poor situation.

But if the price of that patriotism was the blood of young people….

She felt goosebumps all over her body. Her father’s cries were no longer significant.

When did Britain declare war? She could not recall the exact date.

But if she let all these facts be known, wouldn’t she be treated as the ancient Greek prophetess Cassandra? Resisting the urge to let everything out, Madeline began to pack the furniture of the Loenfield mansion.

She had to make sure everything was presented in a clean condition. If there were even the slightest defect, she would have to sell it at a discount.

On top of that, after selling the furniture, she had to greet the buyers who were coming to see the Loenfield mansion that was for sale. The most promising potential buyers were a young American couple. They were in the grocery business and were looking for a home in England.

It had to be sold before war broke out. Madeline didn’t want Ian’s help.

No, actually…it’s true. She wanted to get Ian Nottingham out of her head. His exuberant and arrogant young appearance. And the burning eyes that stared at her.

Her heart seemed to tighten unbearably as she thought of him walking onto the battlefield like that.

Madeline’s cheeks grew paler and paler.

* * *

Time passed mercilessly. So much happened that everyone was oblivious.

Austria declared war.

Germany declared war.

Russia, Great Britain, and the United States declared war. About 40 countries lined up to inspect each other’s muzzle flashes and the war began.

Apart from that, Madeline Loenfield’s life was going somewhat according to plan. The plan was to live a life of peace and not relate to everyone else.

The Loenfield mansion was sold. Fortunately, they signed a contract before the war and received a fair price. She was already planning to use that money to rent a small house in the suburbs. With the little money she had left, she was thinking what to do with it during the war.

Was there anything she could do? The time was approaching when women would enter society more and more, but she was a helpless limited class in front of the currents of her time.

She had neither the ability to type, nor the ability to make a living, such as preparing accounting books. Even when she did business, she did not have any skills.

That did not mean she could rely on her incompetent father. The Baron became a drunkard. Anytime he got drunk, he would say again and again Madeline should have had to accept Ian Nottingham’s proposal. It was disgraceful that his neat, middle-aged face turned red from the alcohol.

Madeline stared at the drizzling raindrops. Soon the train station would be filled with people. People would be waving flags to see off their sons and lovers.

‘I’m… yeah. If only I had said one more thing….’

Madeline’s lips twitched. She blinked and cracked her knuckles.

“…….”

She closed her eyes and opened them.

‘If this is really the last time, shouldn’t I say something?’

She couldn’t get any more involved with him anyway.

* * *

It was a day of downpouring rain. It wasn’t late at night, but it was dark outside.

The Count of Nottingham (Ian’s father) was in critical condition. His sons had chosen to join the army, and people were eroding in grief and foreboding.

The Countess of Nottingham was in great grief. It was also a shock that her two beloved sons would choose to enlist themselves, and she knew she could not stop them.

Honor was more important than life, but in the end it was nothing. It was a value that the Countess could never ignore.

Besides, the Countess, like most people, did not know much about war.

She expected the battlefield to be a place where people could go to chapel on the weekends, not to fight piously, and where they could sleep at night and be entertained from time to time.

But she couldn’t help the ominousness and heartache that sometimes overtook her, and the mansion was shrouded in gloom.

Ian Nottingham had fully prepared. The only thing left was to move his body.

There was no reason for even the second son to join the army now that the eldest son had entered the war, but Eric was completely buoyed by enthusiasm. Of course, he was making a fuss about how he was a true man only if he gave his life when it was necessary.

Ian did not have that much enthusiasm, but there was a sense that it was the responsibility of the aristocracy to be willing to take action if necessary.

Only Isabel was screaming and stopping them.

She said that if they went out to the front line and died, it would be just a dog’s death. But Ian was only cynical about what she said.

It’s a path no one could choose anyway. If she couldn’t avoid the requisition, she just wanted to do it right.

Ian stared out into the storm, feeling a slight headache. He wanted to protect his father’s last days, even if he left.

He wanted his father, who had not been well for a long time, to close his eyes in peace.

The Count’s life had reached the point of vigilance. Funeral arrangements had already been prepared.

The funeral was to be a simple affair. Time was of the essence, and so was the Count’s request. His own death had taken too long and he did not want it to be any more exaggerated.

They had to fully respect his wishes. Ian sat in his chair with his head leaned back. There were many other things to be concerned about. How would the business be run and who would lead the family while Eric and he were away?

He knew that Isabel would do well. She was well educated and was exceptionally spirited and intelligent.

However, there was one thing that continued to concern him. It was the man who attached himself like a viper to his sister’s side. Zachary Milof. On top of that, he (Ian) was worried about Isabel’s hot temper.

Was that all he was worried about?

“…….”

Finally, Ian thought about a woman. Madeline Loenfield. A blonde woman who looked like the sunshine had melted.