151. Royal Straight Flush
The child's cries, awakened from sleep, echoed throughout the quiet barracks.
Erna, who was putting firewood into the embers of the waning brazier, jumped up in surprise. The sharp pain in her bandaged arms and waist soon subsided.
Erna swallowed a quiet groan and hurried to the crying child. The hands she used to gently comfort the child she held in her arms were now much more skilled than before.
“Get some rest now, Miss. I’ll take care of the child.”
A middle-aged woman, who had been observing other groaning patients, looked at her with concern. Erna shook her head slightly and smiled.
“Madam is suffering much more than I am.”
“I’m not hurt anywhere, but I’m worried because you’re not feeling well either.”
“I’m okay, I didn’t get seriously injured.”
“We should all be able to get to the hospital by today.”
She took a deep breath and returned to the old woman she was caring for.
Erna blinked vigorously, shaking off the sleepiness mixed with fatigue. As the child in her arms stopped crying, the sound of the wind shaking the barracks became clearer. It was a noise that brought back memories of that terrible accident.
Erna and Lisa tumbled through the collapsing train, clutching each other. Erna, who had lost consciousness amidst the excruciating pain that felt like her entire body was being torn apart, opened her eyes to find the overturned train lying on the ground. The walls, with their broken windows, had transformed into a ceiling.
Erna, realizing what had happened, dragged Lisa, who was still unconscious, out of the train. She had been pushed to a spot near the passage between the carriages. She couldn't quite remember how she had managed to lift and support Lisa, who was much larger than her. The thought that she needed to escape this dangerous place as soon as possible was what drove Erna at that moment.
Another landslide struck just as Lisa was lying on the edge of the tracks. A world-shattering sound and a thick cloud of dust enveloped Erna's back as she embraced Lisa. After a long while, she finally raised her head to see the train, now in even more horrific condition. The passengers who had barely escaped burst into tears without a word.
From then on, she just moved and moved with a blank mind.
The cries and screams of the injured began to be heard, and Erna, along with other passengers, rushed to the train. While the strong men pulled survivors from the rubble of the landslide, the women carried the injured to safety. Meanwhile, Lisa woke up. Fortunately, her injuries were not serious, though her leg was broken.
“Your Highness.”
As she lay the sleeping child back down and turned around, she heard Lisa's voice, just waking up. Erna quickly hid the hand that had been stroking her throbbing arm behind her back.
“You couldn’t even catch a wink of sleep, did you?”
“No. I slept. I just woke up a little while ago.”
Erna approached Lisa with a smile on her face. It was true that she'd occasionally dozed off, so it wasn't a lie.
After examining Lisa's leg, Erna rummaged through the relief supplies and retrieved a water bottle and chocolate. Lisa, sobbing, handed it to her.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m supposed to protect you...”
“You already protected me. Even getting hurt in my place.”
“It’s not even worth it. It’s thanks to Your Highness that I survived.”
“Then we protected each other.”
As Erna smiled happily, Lisa burst into tears.
Erna stretched out her arms and hugged Lisa, who was crying quietly. "It's okay." The words she whispered over and over again were almost like a self-incantation.
Even after rescue teams arrived after hearing news of the accident, the situation didn't improve easily. While there were many injured, there was a severe shortage of transportation and personnel to transport them to hospitals. The best approach was to prioritize and transport the most critical patients first.
Erna and Lisa were sent to a temporary barracks filled with relatively minor wounded women and children. They were given first aid and food, but that was all. They had no choice but to help each other and endure.
It's okay.
As Lisa calmed down, Erna repeated the spell once more.
She corrected the missing names on the list and learned the rough transport plan. They said the patients waiting in this tent would be able to be transported to the hospital by today at the latest, so all she had to do was hold out until then.
So, it's okay.
Erna stood up, clutching her trembling hands tightly.
First, she'll get some more firewood, change Lisa's bandages, and when she gets out of here, the first thing she'll do is contact her family.
Erna, struggling to prioritize her tasks, suddenly looked toward the entrance to the barracks with dazed eyes. "Family." The moment the word evoked a vague image of the face it conjured, another child woke up and burst into tears.
Erna reflexively turned towards it.
As they turned the corner where rescue equipment and supplies were piled up, they began to see a barracks where rescuers were gathered waiting to be transported.
Bjorn paused for a moment, gazing at the faint light beyond the fluttering snowflakes. The breath that had been building up in his throat from his frantic run spilled out like a hot breath.
Erna is safe.
His mind, which had seemed paralyzed, finally realized the truth clearly.
In that light, there is a safe Erna.
As his thoughts reached that point, his legs moved before he could even think about it. His body, already pushed to its limits, staggered as if it were about to collapse, but Bjorn simply ran, staring at the light.
Please.
That was the only word his parched lips could say.
Please. Erna, please.
Bjorn opened the barracks door, muttering a desperate prayer. His gaze, glimmering from the lantern, immediately drifted to the wounded lying there. It was only when his gaze landed on the leftmost bunk that he heard a clear, soft voice.
“Bjorn...?”
The woman who had been caring for the patient there turned around. Bjorn, his bloodshot eyes filled with her gaze, let out a self-conscious chuckle.
For some reason, the name he'd been frantically screaming all night wouldn't come out. All Bjorn could do was stare at her, his breathing ragged and his laughter intermingled.
Deep anger and joy intertwined. The woman before him was as resentful as the immense fear and despair he felt. His heart, infinitely humbled, felt as if it were sinking into the mud, but within her beautiful eyes, the torn throne was rebuilt, and the crown shone.
He was both a servant and a king of that small and beautiful kingdom.
The blue eyes that had been observing him widened as those emotions, which could not be defined as one, became entangled and formed a hot lump.
“Oh my god, Bjorn!”
Erna's startled scream echoed through the barracks. The bandage she had dropped from her hand rolled across the floor and landed at Bjorn's feet. Erna, unable to speak properly, simply blinked her large eyes slowly.
A self-deprecating smile appeared on Bjorn's calm face. She drove people crazy and then, so perfectly, played the role of a nurse. It was astonishing, yet at the same time, so utterly Erna-like, it left her feeling disillusioned.
“What happened? Yes?”
Erna's voice trembled slightly as she pressed on.
It was hard to believe that the man standing before her, his face a mess, was Bjorn Dneister. But he was staring at Erna with eyes that could only have been Bjorn's.
She knew those eyes, cool and soft, like his body temperature.
Knowing that gaze, Erna never once confused the twin Princes. Even when she was confused enough to tilt her head, she knew when their eyes met. It was him. Just like in this moment.
“You, what the heck...”
Just as she finally regained her composure and took a step forward, Bjorn, who had been frozen, strode forward. Without a moment's hesitation, he embraced Erna. While Erna floundered in confusion, Bjorn tightened his grip on her arms. The warmth and unsteady heartbeat in his embrace stopped Erna from pushing him away.
“Bjorn...”
When she called his name, he slowly raised his face. With a faint smile, Bjorn raised both hands and carefully cupped Erna's face.
Those cold, wounded hands were trembling.
It was hard to believe, but it was definitely true. Bjorn looked at Erna with blank eyes, unsure of what to do, and trembled anxiously, like a lost child.
“I’m fine.”
Erna grabbed Bjorn's hand in a hurry. Before she knew it, Erna's eyes were red as well.
I missed Bjorn.
Erna faced her feelings, which she could no longer hide, with resignation.
The thought that this might be her death filled her with regret, the day they parted ways, for not having given him a single, affectionate goodbye. She should have smiled. She should have waved. She should have told him she forgave him. Thinking about the scars that moment, which might be their last, would leave on him broke her heart. It was foolish, but Erna did it. She no longer hated herself for it.
She wanted to love even if it meant getting hurt.
If she could see Bjorn again, she thought, she wouldn't run away anymore. No matter how much she tried to ignore or push him away, he was a man she couldn't abandon, a part of her life she had to live with.
“Look. Really?”
Erna smiled, her face almost tearful. She wanted to reassure him, but she couldn't find the right words.
“Uh... that was a big accident, but luckily...”
"I love you."
Bjorn's soft whisper stopped Erna from continuing her explanation.
Erna looked at him with blank, dreamy eyes.
She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Something was clearly wrong, but Bjorn just stared at Erna with hardened eyes.
“I love you, Erna.”
Bjorn gazed into the beautiful eyes he had so desperately sought, and told her the name of the emotion he now knew. He had a premonition that he would remember this joyous surrender for the rest of his life. It was one of the most splendid and sweetest moments of his life.
Erna, who had been staring at him silently, burst into tears without a word. Bjorn hugged the lovely woman tightly and closed his eyes.
Straight flush.
It was a love born from the luck of the draw. So, he was confident he had a winning hand. But Bjorn now seemed to understand. That was nothing more than a miscalculation, a failure to properly read his opponent's hand.
I love you.
Bjorn willingly whispered the confession, without further hesitation, over and over again.
My royal straight flush.
Like a sweet tribute to the beautiful victor who conquered him.
The child's cries, awakened from sleep, echoed throughout the quiet barracks.
Erna, who was putting firewood into the embers of the waning brazier, jumped up in surprise. The sharp pain in her bandaged arms and waist soon subsided.
Erna swallowed a quiet groan and hurried to the crying child. The hands she used to gently comfort the child she held in her arms were now much more skilled than before.
“Get some rest now, Miss. I’ll take care of the child.”
A middle-aged woman, who had been observing other groaning patients, looked at her with concern. Erna shook her head slightly and smiled.
“Madam is suffering much more than I am.”
“I’m not hurt anywhere, but I’m worried because you’re not feeling well either.”
“I’m okay, I didn’t get seriously injured.”
“We should all be able to get to the hospital by today.”
She took a deep breath and returned to the old woman she was caring for.
Erna blinked vigorously, shaking off the sleepiness mixed with fatigue. As the child in her arms stopped crying, the sound of the wind shaking the barracks became clearer. It was a noise that brought back memories of that terrible accident.
Erna and Lisa tumbled through the collapsing train, clutching each other. Erna, who had lost consciousness amidst the excruciating pain that felt like her entire body was being torn apart, opened her eyes to find the overturned train lying on the ground. The walls, with their broken windows, had transformed into a ceiling.
Erna, realizing what had happened, dragged Lisa, who was still unconscious, out of the train. She had been pushed to a spot near the passage between the carriages. She couldn't quite remember how she had managed to lift and support Lisa, who was much larger than her. The thought that she needed to escape this dangerous place as soon as possible was what drove Erna at that moment.
Another landslide struck just as Lisa was lying on the edge of the tracks. A world-shattering sound and a thick cloud of dust enveloped Erna's back as she embraced Lisa. After a long while, she finally raised her head to see the train, now in even more horrific condition. The passengers who had barely escaped burst into tears without a word.
From then on, she just moved and moved with a blank mind.
The cries and screams of the injured began to be heard, and Erna, along with other passengers, rushed to the train. While the strong men pulled survivors from the rubble of the landslide, the women carried the injured to safety. Meanwhile, Lisa woke up. Fortunately, her injuries were not serious, though her leg was broken.
“Your Highness.”
As she lay the sleeping child back down and turned around, she heard Lisa's voice, just waking up. Erna quickly hid the hand that had been stroking her throbbing arm behind her back.
“You couldn’t even catch a wink of sleep, did you?”
“No. I slept. I just woke up a little while ago.”
Erna approached Lisa with a smile on her face. It was true that she'd occasionally dozed off, so it wasn't a lie.
After examining Lisa's leg, Erna rummaged through the relief supplies and retrieved a water bottle and chocolate. Lisa, sobbing, handed it to her.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m supposed to protect you...”
“You already protected me. Even getting hurt in my place.”
“It’s not even worth it. It’s thanks to Your Highness that I survived.”
“Then we protected each other.”
As Erna smiled happily, Lisa burst into tears.
Erna stretched out her arms and hugged Lisa, who was crying quietly. "It's okay." The words she whispered over and over again were almost like a self-incantation.
Even after rescue teams arrived after hearing news of the accident, the situation didn't improve easily. While there were many injured, there was a severe shortage of transportation and personnel to transport them to hospitals. The best approach was to prioritize and transport the most critical patients first.
Erna and Lisa were sent to a temporary barracks filled with relatively minor wounded women and children. They were given first aid and food, but that was all. They had no choice but to help each other and endure.
It's okay.
As Lisa calmed down, Erna repeated the spell once more.
She corrected the missing names on the list and learned the rough transport plan. They said the patients waiting in this tent would be able to be transported to the hospital by today at the latest, so all she had to do was hold out until then.
So, it's okay.
Erna stood up, clutching her trembling hands tightly.
First, she'll get some more firewood, change Lisa's bandages, and when she gets out of here, the first thing she'll do is contact her family.
Erna, struggling to prioritize her tasks, suddenly looked toward the entrance to the barracks with dazed eyes. "Family." The moment the word evoked a vague image of the face it conjured, another child woke up and burst into tears.
Erna reflexively turned towards it.
***
As they turned the corner where rescue equipment and supplies were piled up, they began to see a barracks where rescuers were gathered waiting to be transported.
Bjorn paused for a moment, gazing at the faint light beyond the fluttering snowflakes. The breath that had been building up in his throat from his frantic run spilled out like a hot breath.
Erna is safe.
His mind, which had seemed paralyzed, finally realized the truth clearly.
In that light, there is a safe Erna.
As his thoughts reached that point, his legs moved before he could even think about it. His body, already pushed to its limits, staggered as if it were about to collapse, but Bjorn simply ran, staring at the light.
Please.
That was the only word his parched lips could say.
Please. Erna, please.
Bjorn opened the barracks door, muttering a desperate prayer. His gaze, glimmering from the lantern, immediately drifted to the wounded lying there. It was only when his gaze landed on the leftmost bunk that he heard a clear, soft voice.
“Bjorn...?”
The woman who had been caring for the patient there turned around. Bjorn, his bloodshot eyes filled with her gaze, let out a self-conscious chuckle.
For some reason, the name he'd been frantically screaming all night wouldn't come out. All Bjorn could do was stare at her, his breathing ragged and his laughter intermingled.
Deep anger and joy intertwined. The woman before him was as resentful as the immense fear and despair he felt. His heart, infinitely humbled, felt as if it were sinking into the mud, but within her beautiful eyes, the torn throne was rebuilt, and the crown shone.
He was both a servant and a king of that small and beautiful kingdom.
The blue eyes that had been observing him widened as those emotions, which could not be defined as one, became entangled and formed a hot lump.
“Oh my god, Bjorn!”
Erna's startled scream echoed through the barracks. The bandage she had dropped from her hand rolled across the floor and landed at Bjorn's feet. Erna, unable to speak properly, simply blinked her large eyes slowly.
A self-deprecating smile appeared on Bjorn's calm face. She drove people crazy and then, so perfectly, played the role of a nurse. It was astonishing, yet at the same time, so utterly Erna-like, it left her feeling disillusioned.
“What happened? Yes?”
Erna's voice trembled slightly as she pressed on.
It was hard to believe that the man standing before her, his face a mess, was Bjorn Dneister. But he was staring at Erna with eyes that could only have been Bjorn's.
She knew those eyes, cool and soft, like his body temperature.
Knowing that gaze, Erna never once confused the twin Princes. Even when she was confused enough to tilt her head, she knew when their eyes met. It was him. Just like in this moment.
“You, what the heck...”
Just as she finally regained her composure and took a step forward, Bjorn, who had been frozen, strode forward. Without a moment's hesitation, he embraced Erna. While Erna floundered in confusion, Bjorn tightened his grip on her arms. The warmth and unsteady heartbeat in his embrace stopped Erna from pushing him away.
“Bjorn...”
When she called his name, he slowly raised his face. With a faint smile, Bjorn raised both hands and carefully cupped Erna's face.
Those cold, wounded hands were trembling.
It was hard to believe, but it was definitely true. Bjorn looked at Erna with blank eyes, unsure of what to do, and trembled anxiously, like a lost child.
“I’m fine.”
Erna grabbed Bjorn's hand in a hurry. Before she knew it, Erna's eyes were red as well.
I missed Bjorn.
Erna faced her feelings, which she could no longer hide, with resignation.
The thought that this might be her death filled her with regret, the day they parted ways, for not having given him a single, affectionate goodbye. She should have smiled. She should have waved. She should have told him she forgave him. Thinking about the scars that moment, which might be their last, would leave on him broke her heart. It was foolish, but Erna did it. She no longer hated herself for it.
She wanted to love even if it meant getting hurt.
If she could see Bjorn again, she thought, she wouldn't run away anymore. No matter how much she tried to ignore or push him away, he was a man she couldn't abandon, a part of her life she had to live with.
“Look. Really?”
Erna smiled, her face almost tearful. She wanted to reassure him, but she couldn't find the right words.
“Uh... that was a big accident, but luckily...”
"I love you."
Bjorn's soft whisper stopped Erna from continuing her explanation.
Erna looked at him with blank, dreamy eyes.
She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Something was clearly wrong, but Bjorn just stared at Erna with hardened eyes.
“I love you, Erna.”
Bjorn gazed into the beautiful eyes he had so desperately sought, and told her the name of the emotion he now knew. He had a premonition that he would remember this joyous surrender for the rest of his life. It was one of the most splendid and sweetest moments of his life.
Erna, who had been staring at him silently, burst into tears without a word. Bjorn hugged the lovely woman tightly and closed his eyes.
Straight flush.
It was a love born from the luck of the draw. So, he was confident he had a winning hand. But Bjorn now seemed to understand. That was nothing more than a miscalculation, a failure to properly read his opponent's hand.
I love you.
Bjorn willingly whispered the confession, without further hesitation, over and over again.
My royal straight flush.
Like a sweet tribute to the beautiful victor who conquered him.
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