To My Rude Darling with Multiple Personalities

Chapter 3

To talk about Sol was to go back to Monica’s time serving in the war. It wasn’t a very long story.

[The place where Monica had worked was a little ways from the front line, and wounded soldiers were brought in every day.

Among them, Sol was a man who had been brought in two months before the kingdom’s defeat. During the transfer, half of the young man’s dog tag had broken off and all that was left was a piece with the name “Sol.” He had been in the vicinity of a bomb detonating, and he had been hit by shrapnel.

Although he had been unlucky enough to have suffered an eye injury from shrapnel and had to have both eyes bandaged, he was clearly a beautiful young man. So the nurses had especially felt pity for him as he had lost his sight.

The young man was unconscious for a long time. Taking care of an unconscious patient was a difficult task for the busy nurses. In the end, he became Monica’s responsibility. The reason that had been given was that she was diligent, but Monica found that to be ridiculous. She wasn’t more diligent than the others; she had just gotten used to the work.

Nevertheless, Monica was delighted when the young man had miraculously regained consciousness. It was to the point that she didn’t care that the young man inevitably gave in to depression and slight aggressiveness.

“I knew you’d wake up! I had made a bet!”]

It seemed like it was just yesterday when she had said that.

“You’re Sol, right?” Monica asked the young man with wide eyes.

He frowned slightly. His bright blue eyes shining in the sunlight were like jewels.

“Ah.” Monica opened her mouth a little in realization.

Sol wouldn’t know who she was.

[Just a week after the young man regained consciousness, the kingdom declared its defeat.

All units stationed on the front line withdrew. Because the wounded had to be evacuated separately, the nurses were so busy that they could not sleep even after the declaration of defeat. There wasn’t time to wallow in sadness. The wounds of the injured were freshly wrapped, and they were sent away.

By the time she could even think about how she hadn’t seen Sol, his bed was already empty.

Since it had been such a busy situation, she thought someone must have sent off the young man in Monica’s place. She was sad that they hadn’t had a chance to properly say goodbye.

She also felt bad that she hadn’t been able to take off his dressing. She had grown quite fond of him as she had treated him.

While organizing his empty bed, Monica saw the young man’s dog tag and picked it up. How could they have forgotten to take his dog tag when he was a wounded soldier?]

That had been ironic, but perhaps it was also symbolic of defeat. Monica felt all those memories passing by in an instant and was happy to see the young man.

“It’s me, Moni. Arvid Hospital! Don’t you remember? You may not have recognized me because of your eye injury, but...”

The young man’s frown became deeper. Monica still thought it was because he didn’t remember her, and looked him up and down. The young man was very handsome and wore nice clothes. From a glance, he was wearing a luxurious linen cravat and a thick jacket made of a plain weave.

But what caught Monica’s attention even more than those things were the young man’s beautiful eyes.

“Back then, they thought you might not be able to see again! Are you all healed?”

“Uh...”

A confused sound suddenly came from between the young man’s lips. Monica blinked a couple of times. She then not only realized that he seemed troubled, but also simultaneously realized why.

Oh, my goodness. Monica was practically clinging to the young man’s collar and was pushing her face toward his. He was much taller than Monica, but was practically being pushed away by her.

In short, it was a situation where she looked far from modest, and if Mrs. Oran had seen her, she would’ve never hired Monica despite the excellent reference letter.

“Oh my! I’m sorry.”

Monica quickly let go of the front of the young man’s chest that she had been clutching. Her face was bright red. Yet, despite her embarrassment, her chattering didn’t stop.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you with your eyes open! Right after the defeat, I wanted to take care of you, but you had disappeared... Have you been doing well? What brings you to La Spez—?”

But the young man quickly raised his hand to stop Monica from continuing.

“My apologies, miss.”

His troubled expression quickly turned into a soft, faint smile, and he continued, “But I don't know what you’re talking about. My name isn’t Sol.”

“Oh my goodness!”

Monica’s face became twice as red. She’d thought that he was, without a doubt, Sol.

However, he really seemed as though this was the first time he had seen Monica, and even though he was smiling at her, he was unfamiliar with her.

Monica’s mind was racing.

They really looked similar, even though Sol didn’t have this kind of blond hair... There were many people whose hair turned gray because it had gotten damaged during the war. Sol also didn’t look this neat, had a long beard, and... also…

“My apologies...”

In the end, Monica apologized in bewilderment and took a step back. He isn’t Sol? Really? While she still wasn’t sure, the young man offered up an explanation.

“It’s fine. I’m sure there are many people who look alike in this world.”

As he said that, the young man displayed a well-mannered demeanor. It was clear that he had been born into and educated in a good family. In particular, placing one’s right hand behind their back when standing in front of a lady was the kingdom’s southern-style etiquette.

It was only then that Monica became convinced that the young man was completely different from the person she knew. Yeah, Sol is…

“My name is Louis. I must really resemble your friend, huh?”

“Ah... you do.”

His low voice even sounded like Sol’s.... When the young man saw Monica’s eyes shaking, he smiled.

“Oh dear, your expression is making me feel apologetic. It’s my fault.”

“Oh goodness! I didn’t mean to disconcert you.”

As she said those words, Monica hurriedly waved her hand and took a step back. She felt like she had been overly rude during their first meeting when she hadn’t intended to be. Although it had been because she had bumped into him as she changed directions... At that moment, there was a sudden shout.

“Get out of the way!”

“Danger.”

The man pulled Monica lightly aside, as she was about to step back.

She unexpectedly found herself being grabbed and embraced by the young man who had said his name was Louis.

In the midst of her shock, Monica saw a group of sailors with a large load of luggage. One of them even glared back at her when they made eye contact.

“Are you all right?”

Only after the young man had whispered that, did Monica flinch and pull away.

“Pardon me. I didn’t have time to think, so I...”

“No, no. You saved me.”

If the sailors had bumped into her, she could’ve gotten crushed by the luggage and severely hurt. In the rush to avoid that, she had ended up in his arms, but it was actually something to be thankful for.

Monica was embarrassed, and she separated herself much more cautiously than before. Louis held out his hand, and the two walked up the path next to the port’s waterway.

“If you step outside of this path, the road is full of people and horses coming and going.”

“Ah, I see... I didn’t know.”

“This is no place for a lady... Are you perhaps lost?”

At his question, Monica nodded her head. “Yes, I meant to go to the train station, but...”

“No wonder.”

Louis laughed. Monica’s heart started thumping at the hearty laughter.

“This area is connected to Argent Square, so first-time visitors easily get lost. Since us meeting like this is fate, if you don’t mind, I’ll escort you to Argent Square.”

“Argent...?”

“Ah. It’s the name of the square in front of the train station.”

“Ah, yes! That’s the place I was looking for.”

The young man led Monica very skillfully. Thanks to this, Monica was able to pass the area where the wet sails and piles of rope had been laid out to dry, as well as the walkway over the sewer where salty, dirty water constantly gushed out. They then finally made it to the dock where a hot wind was blowing.

“By the way, my full name is Louis Verfeil.”

“Ah, I’m Monica.”

Louis raised his eyebrows. If he asked her for her last name, Monica was going to say that she didn’t have one. Monica reflexively clenched her skirt, but instead of asking, the young man held out his hand to her again.

“Careful.”

“Ah.”

There was a net spread out on the street that had either been used and thrown away, or was just being dried. Monica held Louis’ hand and lightly jumped over the net.

“Perfect,” the young man complimented lightly.

Not long after meeting Louis and finding out his name, Monica found out his age, his hometown, and why he was in La Spezia. He lived in a nearby city that was a little further north, but he was here to find somebody he knew.

“Did you find who you were looking for?”

“No, but I could’ve been mistaken.”

“I see.”

Louis was a man who knew how to make pleasant and enjoyable conversation. That was why Monica felt comfortable telling him that she’d traveled there to become a governess, after being introduced to the position by her friend, and that she had only arrived just this morning. The sun was stinging her, but her mood wasn’t that bad.

“A governess, huh? It suits you.”

“Oh? Do I look like a governess?”

Monica enjoyed the feeling of her loose hair fluttering in the sea breeze. Louis reached out and smoothed out her hair in a familiar way.

“No, it’s because you have the most sparkling eyes I’ve ever seen on a young lady.”

“I’ve often heard that I look smart.”

“Haha. That’s true too, but…” The young man squinted his blue eyes. “You also look like you have a lot of curiosity.”

Monica’s cheeks suffused red. He must’ve noticed her inability to control her curiosity as she looked around the port while following him.

“It’s just because it’s my first time in a port city.”

“Of course. There are indeed a lot of interesting things here.”

Louis lightly squeezed the hand he was holding. It was a signal to be careful of the palm-sized waterway in front of her feet. Monica hopped across it, and when she did, she gasped. She realized that she was already in the square in front of the train station.

“Wow, we’re here already!”

“Alas, we are.”

Louis pointed to the right side of the square. It seemed like that was where Monica’s inn was located. He then pointed to the opposite direction and told her that if she continued along that road, she’d reach a district full of mansions. Monica shyly expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you for your help, Louis.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Louis, who gave her a southern farewell, closed his blue eyes and smiled. He was truly a very handsome man. She suddenly wanted to say something she never thought she would say—if she could see him again. But the young man was one step ahead of her.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t that what you were wondering?”

At his mischievous smile, Monica opened and closed her mouth slightly. As if he didn’t want to hear Monica’s answer, Louis bent down and lightly kissed the back of Monica’s hand, which he was still holding. It was truly perfect southern etiquette.

“While I wasn’t the man you knew, the next time we meet, I will be a man you know, Miss Monica. That makes me happy.”

“My goodness.”

Monica couldn’t hold back, and said the words that she had kept thinking about.

“Louis, you’re quite the womanizer, aren’t you?”

He winked and smiled at her. Louis didn’t deny it. On the contrary, he said goodbye to her with a cheerful and exaggerated gesture that seemed to indicate that he was so happy at her words, he could fly away with the wind.

When she bowed to him as a goodbye, she thought, I don’t know which household he’s from, but he seems like a real womanizer. I need to stay away from him!