Salvation Equation - Chapter 30. Are You Going To Be Like This?

It was around the time Madeline was meticulously checking the patients for a long time. Turning her head to the sound of erratic steps, there stood Ian Nottingham.

 

“Ian.”

 

All the eyes of the patients and hospital people were on the man. The man dressed simply in his shirt and trousers staggered with his uncomfortable body to approach Madeline.

 

Those who were only lying on their beds would have never seen him before. The veiled Count. A hospital owner, war hero, wounded soldier. He was a man of several titles.

 

“Madeline.”

 

There was a hint of worry in his voice that could not be captured.

 

“…Oh, You must have already heard about the commotion earlier. It wasn’t a big deal.”

 

“…….”

 

The man silently checked Madeline’s wrist with his gloved hand. Then he carefully checked her neck and face. Ian’s deep green eye shook aimlessly. He spent a lot of time checking and concentrating.

 

“…….”

 

“Um…. I’m alright.”

 

The surrounding eyes were on the two people. Madeline, whose face turned red, shook her head and spoke.

 

“…….”

 

Only then did Ian’s cheeks turn red belatedly, when he noticed the gaze of the audience. Perhaps becoming aware of his indecent behavior, he dropped his head.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“…. Yes…”

 

Ian turned around again. Then he staggered his way out of the hospital room. Madeline stood there watching his tracks.

 

* * *

 

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s impossible to keep the hospital running.”

 

Eric blurted out a grumbling remark as he sipped his tea.

 

“But there are still patients!”

 

Isabel yelled and clenched her fist.

 

“Don’t you think it’s time to send them to a proper hospital? This is just a temporary hospital.This isn’t something that everyone can do.”

 

Eric sighed.

 

“There are many opportunities to do good things. It might be more productive to donate a portion of our wealth to veterans hospitals and the Wounded Soldiers Association.”

 

The eyes of the Countess shook. She bowed her head as if perplexed. She looked lost in her thoughts.

 

“I need more time to think.”

 

Isabel looked back at Ian. Please say something. Brother. This hospital was the result of the blood and sweat of Isabel and their mother. For her, it was not supposed to disappear in vain like this.

 

“…….”

 

Ian stroked his forehead. It was hard to know what he was thinking. After returning to the mansion a little while ago, he talked less and was highly unstable.

 

“Eric has a point.”

 

Ian spoke slowly. The man uttered another sentence before Isabel could open her mouth to protest.

 

“It is not something we can hastily decide.”

 

He threw some papers on the table.

 

“I’d rather talk about the business in America first. There’s going to be a ‘gathering’ soon.”

 

Eric’s expression brightened up in an instant. It’s a good sign that Ian, a dogmatic person, was discussing business. In addition, he also talked of the gathering. This, too, was a good sign.

 

On the other hand, Isabel’s expression was not pale but rather bluish.

 

“These men, being pretentious people, will try to steal what the women are doing.”

 

She murmured quietly.

 

“What are you talking about? It’s because it’s at the level of playing house. It’s not a proper hospital.”

 

“’Playing house?’ You call this playing house? How can you say that?”

 

“Let’s talk properly. Is it a proper hospital if a knife-bearing vagrant suddenly runs wild in it?”

 

“Enough.”

 

The quarrel between Isabel and Eric was interrupted by the angry comment of the Countess.

 

“Isabel, don’t stir up trouble. Even if times have changed, you are still a lady of the Nottingham family.”

 

“Mother….”

 

“And Eric. Even if you’re my son, you should refrain from making disparaging remarks about what us mother and daughter have done.”

 

There was a dignified anger in the eyes of the old lady. Eric looked back on his behavior and lowered his tail.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“Let’s leave the matter of the hospital to the adults. We’ve managed because of our private money, but…Now that it’s so big, it’s not just up to us anymore.”

 

“Are you going to listen to them? I don’t want to.”

 

“Isabel, watch what you say. There’s Holtzman, too.”

 

“I don’t care. Whoever comes, it has nothing to do with me.”

 

Isabel was very angry, so she immediately jumped to her feet and disappeared.

 

Ian watched the scene in silence. The war seemed to have changed women more than men.

 

Isabel’s spirit has now transformed into a fighting force to truly protect what was hers. She wouldn’t just live quietly or stand still either.

 

He closed his eyes to soothe his headache for a moment and thought of a woman.

 

Madeline Loenfield, who was interesting but hard to understand, was gently shining in a truly mature manner. It was amazing how a person could change in such a short time. If she used to be a pretty girl, now…

 

A beautiful woman. Thinking of her, pain welled up from the depths of the scar on his chest.

 

Beautiful things made him more painful. Because he was now ugly.

 

* * *

 

“It’s nice to go out for a walk like this.”

 

Madeline walked with Ian. At first, the man staggered with the newly tailored prosthetic leg as if it were cumbersome. However, he was now able to keep step as if he had gradually gotten used to it.

 

The best Italian prosthetic leg maker in Europe was very busy these days, but he quickly made it, saying that if it was Count Nottingham’s prosthetic leg, it would be an honor to make it.

 

The prosthetic leg was good and Ian Nottingham was athletic. He adapted quickly.

 

He had a busy daily life, but it wasn’t bad taking a slow walk like this. The wind was blowing gently.

 

The two spread out a mat and sat down in the field. Ian removed his prosthetic leg and caught his breath. Madeline watched the hilly area in silence for a while and heard the small chirping of birds.

 

“What are you going to do in the future?”

 

Ian, who was looking at wild flowers in the distance, asked softly. For Madeline, it was a topic that she honestly had never thought about. She hesitated for a moment, but her answer was fixed.

 

“I’ll have to go to another hospital. Where I can work.”

 

“…….”

 

The man listened to the words in silence. His eyes were still fixed in front.

 

“Don’t you want to go back to the Loenfield mansion?”

 

“Not really.”

 

Madeline hugged her knees. She really didn’t miss that place. It was a lot more rewarding and enjoyable right now than the boring life she had back there.

 

“You do look happier now.”

 

As he smiled, his scar subtly distorted. There were wrinkles that could be called attractive.

 

“Really? Well, the work is hard. But I’m still young.

I don’t regret doing it.”

 

“Is that so..”

 

Maybe it’s because his voice sounded lonely. Madeline turned her head to his direction.

 

By the way…..

 

“You still haven’t given me your answer.”

 

To her proposal. Madeline pouted her lips slightly. The man saw the figure and laughed. Now he was recovering well to the point where he could even laugh.

 

“…. The weather looks nice.”

 

“Are you really going to be like this?”

 

It’s so obvious that he’s changing the subject! Madeline frowned and pouted even more. Ian, glancing at Madeline, formed a gentle arc on his lips.

 

The two quietly faced the wind from the field.

 

* * *

 

When it was time to go back to the hospital after getting some fresh air outside. A group of people gathered in front of the hospital.

 

​​Sebastian and Charles and the male servants were desperately trying to stop them, but they were not enough.

 

“Gentlemen. You can’t do this here.”

 

When Madeline looked closely, the people were carrying something big. It was only later that she found out that it was a camera.

 

Ian caught Madeline who was stepping forward to find out what was going on.

 

The man holding a lighting pointed his finger at Ian and Madeline.

 

“Ah. Over there!”

 

Suddenly, people rushed toward the two and started flashing their cameras without warning.

 

Ian’s eyes hurt from the flickering lights, so he covered his face with his palm.

 

“Aren’t you Mr. Nottingham, the hero of the Som frontline?!”

 

“Besides Lieutenant Colhas, you also brought over 10 people back from the unmanned area, correct?!”

 

“What are you planning to do from now on as the Count’s successor?”

 

“Is the lady next to you your fiancée?”

 

When Ian began to get barraged with the pouring questions, he froze as if he was flustered. Madeline, who managed to come to her senses, stepped in front of Ian.

 

“What do you think you’re doing!”

 

Sebastian began to get angry in the back.

 

“Really, where are their manners!”

 

-Pop.

 

-Pop.

 

They took a few more pictures regardless, then quickly disappeared to the next scoop. The only ones left were the pale-faced Ian Nottingham and Madeline.

 

“…. Are you okay?”

 

Madeline asked Ian. She grabbed his hand. Perhaps because of the flashes, his hands were cold and trembling. Ian was in slight shock.

 

“They were really rude. Which newspaper do they belong to? I need to call their editor-in-chief.”

 

Madeline began to get angry, as she exaggerated her words.

 

“…….”

 

“Ian. Ian.”

 

The man began to break into a cold sweat. Madeline became anxious. She remembered the seizure in the chapel he had in her previous life. She tightly held the man’s hand.

 

“You’re safe. Focus on your breathing.”

 

“…. I’m okay.”

 

Ian caught his breath and nodded after a long time. He wiped his cold sweat with the back of his hand. Madeline did not relax until he went inside with his crutches. But the shame he must have felt was something she couldn’t bear.

 

*****