As the war dragged on, Tessi Province was ultimately shrouded in the shadow of conflict. The train station was filled everywhere with assembled Marleyan troops, boarding trains here to rush to the front lines.
The midday sun was brilliant. Under its glow, Annie's golden hair shimmered brightly, her slender fingers restlessly rubbing the ring in her hand.
Sitting in the waiting area, Annie looked extremely nervous, completely ignoring the ice cream Ramzi handed to her.
Ramzi was puzzled. Didn't Annie love ice cream? What was wrong today?
Ramzi's grandfather was here as well, holding a small bundle of threads and twisting them into rope. It was a craft unique to them, and the ropes they made were popular decorative items among them.
After staying at Ramzi's home for several days, Annie had announced today that she would go to the train station to pick someone up before leaving, thanking them for their care during these days.
Ramzi's family warmly tried to persuade her to stay and even prepared many local specialty gifts, but Annie politely declined them all. In the end, they could not change her mind. However, Ramzi's grandfather insisted on personally escorting her to the station. He had heard that Marley was at war with someone, and letting a young girl like Annie go alone would be too dangerous.
Another train pulled into the station. Annie immediately raised her head and carefully watched the passengers getting off. From morning until now, every train that stopped had drawn her full attention.
Most of the people disembarking from this train from the capital were Marleyan soldiers in uniform. Armed and neatly lined up, they boarded new trains in batches under the shouts of their officers. The crowd gradually thinned. Annie lowered her head. Yago still hasn't come back? They agreed it would be today.
But just as disappointment filled Annie, she saw two figures step off the train. One of them was Yago, whom she had been worrying about all along. The other person Yago was supporting, leaning on a cane and limping slightly, was reflected in Annie's eyes.
A mist instantly welled up in her pale blue eyes.
Ramzi was licking his ice cream when Sister Annie beside him suddenly stood up and ran.
Yago, supporting Mr. Leonhart, had already noticed the figure running toward them.
As the distance closed, Yago saw the glistening in Annie's eyes. His heart tightened slightly, a pang of tenderness rising within him.
Yago let go of Mr. Leonhart's hand and opened his arms, preparing to give Annie a loving hug. But Annie swooshed past him in a flash, leaving Yago staring in stunned disbelief.
Caught off guard, Mr. Leonhart was suddenly embraced by his daughter. He appeared at a loss at first, but soon heard her slightly choked voice.
"Father..."
In an instant, Mr. Leonhart's eyes reddened as well. Trembling, he reached out to stroke his daughter's head and said through tears,
"Annie, child, you've grown taller. I almost couldn't recognize you. You've suffered all these years. It was my fault, child. It was all my fault back then."
The reunion between father and daughter was deeply moving. Though Yago had felt a little awkward earlier, watching Annie and her father weep in each other's arms, he lowered his hands and smiled knowingly. Now Annie could finally be at ease.
Ramzi and his grandfather also came over. Seeing the emotional reunion, they were surprised at first, but after Yago explained, they understood. They warmly invited Yago and the others back as guests, but Yago had neither the mood nor the time, and politely declined.
Ramzi's grandfather did not insist. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he prepared to take Ramzi home. But Yago called Ramzi over and led him aside to say a few words.
Yago stuffed a large handful of cash into Ramzi's pocket. Ramzi hurriedly took it out to return it.
"That's not allowed. Grandpa said Annie and you, Uncle, are our friends. We can't take your money. And Sister Annie often buys me sweets."
Although helpless about still being called "uncle," Yago smiled and patted Ramzi's head.
"Do you want your family to live in a big house?"
Ramzi's eyes lit up. "Yes!" Of course he did. Who wouldn't want to live in a big house? Especially as Indis people living in Marley.
"Then don't refuse me. Didn't your grandpa say we're friends? With this money, your family can live in a big house. And when Annie and I visit in the future, we can stay in that big house too, right? Don't you want Annie to stay in a big house when she visits?"
Ramzi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes!"
"Good. Then keep this money safe. It must be a secret. Don't tell your grandpa. After you get home, give it to him, alright?"
"Alright!"
"Then let's make a pinky promise!"
"Pinky promise!"
Yago cheerfully coaxed Ramzi until his grandfather loudly called him home.
After waving goodbye to Ramzi and his grandfather, Yago turned around—only to see Annie throw herself into his arms the moment he did.
A soft, fragrant warmth filled his embrace. Breathing in her scent, Yago felt utterly content.
"Thank you, Yago." Annie narrowed her eyes. For the first time, her heart felt completely at peace. Her father and her beloved were both by her side. The barriers in her heart vanished entirely. She had never felt this light before.
"Is that so? And how are you going to thank me? Maybe..." Yago whispered something into Annie's ear. In an instant, Annie's face flushed red.
Seeing her hesitation, Yago feigned helplessness.
"Ah, if you're unwilling, forget it. I shouldn't have asked for something like that~" His tone sounded sour.
Annie: "!?"
Mr. Leonhart watched his daughter's shy demeanor in front of Yago, feeling somewhat gratified. It seemed Annie truly liked this young man.
But the next moment, a shocking scene unfolded before him. No one knew what Yago had said, but Annie first blushed, then wrapped her arms around Yago's neck, her rosy lips actively approached his.
Young people these days... Mr. Leonhart shook his head and sighed.
Meanwhile, Yago felt lightheaded, savoring the softness of her lips and the faint sweetness lingering there.
After a long while, their lips parted. Yago was reluctant to let go, but with so many people at the station—and Mr. Leonhart beside them—he did not dare ask for more.
...
At the same time, on another train departing from Marley's capital, besides Marleyan soldiers and ordinary passengers, there was also a group of young Marleyan officers from old noble families.
These young officers were talking animatedly on the train, gesturing about the situation on the front lines, acting as if they could handle it themselves—claiming the frontline officers were trash and that the Ministry of National Defense should have sent them long ago.
In a corner of their carriage, one young officer stood out as different. He quietly read a newspaper alone, his shoulder epaulets bearing the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.