Anastasia was laying down on her bed while wearing a pajama and her long hair was spreading all over the pillow when the commander showed up suddenly in front of her tent.
- C...COMMANDER?
She panicked and tried to stand up immediately without thinking of her injured ankle, but she ended up tripping. Fortunately, the commander was quick. He wrapped his strong hand around her waist and prevented her from falling.
At that moment, her face was too close to his. That was the first time she could notice that his eyes were dark gray and not black. The commander kept gazing into her eyes, which made her heart beat so fast and her face red. She looked away:
- Is...Is there something for you to come personally here?
The commander put her gently on the ground, then he grabbed her injured leg.
- I came to take a look at your leg.
Anastasia wanted to pull her leg, but the commander didn't let go.
- It...It's okay, you don't have to do such a thing...I'm...I'm... fine.
- I'm not asking. It is an order...
Anastasia didn't have a choice but to accept:
- As...as you wish...
He took off her shoe, then the bandage around her ankle carefully. Anastasia kept staring at him non believing what was going on.
" Why is he doing this? He is on his knee while checking my leg...This is very embarrassing. "
The commander checked the wound carefully, and then he noticed the scars on her foot.
" Is this why she refused to show her ankle to the doctor? But what are those scars, she is a Count's daughter. "
He pretended that he didn't see anything, then he took out an ointment from his pocket and put some of it on the swollen part:
- This medicine will help your ankle to heal faster.
Then he started applying it gently, at that moment, Anastasia pulled back her leg while her face was extremely red.
- I...I will do it...Th...Thank you.
The commander gazed at her again then he reached his hand toward her.
" What's going on? "
He removed her hair away from her neck, then he put some of that ointment on the cut.
- It will heal that cut too...
Anastasia's heart was about to burst, but she managed to keep herself calm in front of him.
- Thank you...
He backed off and gave her what was left of the ointment.
- Apply it as much as you can, unless you want to slack from the training.
- I will make sure to heal fast.
He stood up and was about to leave, but then he asked her:
- Can you recall how did you fall?
- I remember that someone used his leg to make me stumble.
- Who is it?
- I don't know, it happened so fast that I couldn't recognize who did it.
- Alright, I will leave you to rest.
- Wait!
- What's wrong.
- Can I know your name? Actually, it feels kind of awkward that I don't know my commander's name.
- Vladimir.
- What?
- My name is Valdimir.
After saying his name, he left. Anastasia was very confused after what did happen.
" What did just happen? "
During her past life this life as well, she used to treat her wound on herself. No one helped her except for Lucia.
" Why he did all of this? Was he worried about me, or maybe he felt guilty...So, his name is Vladimir, I thought that he will scold me for asking such a question. "
She lay down again while her heart kept beating so fast.
" What is going on with me? This is the first time I feel like this. "
Lucia came again:
- What he wanted from you?
- He gave me this to apply it...
- He did?
- Yeah, I told you he is not a bad person. Maybe he looks rough, but he cares about his soldiers.
- Well, that's a relief...Come on, let's sleep, it is getting late.
That night, Anastasia couldn't sleep a wink, she kept thinking about Valdimir and how he treated her.
" If I ask him to marry me, will he accept? What if he refuses? I think I must tell him first what did happen in the past. that's the only way to convince him. I feel that I have more chances to get closer to him. I must try my best, but I should control my emotions in front of him. "
After a couple of days, Anastasia's ankle completely healed.
- Finally, I'm back to training.
She wore her uniform, tied her hair, and went to the training ground.
- Anastasia, you came? Is your ankle okay?
- Good morning, Zach. Yeah, I'm fine, now.
She looked around and then she noticed the absence of the nobles:
- Where are the nobles? Did something happen while I was absent?
- They left the camp.
- Really?
- Yeah, they couldn't handle the hard training and just left.
- Well, that's something predictable. I think that's what the commander wanted since the beginning.
- Speaking of which, he came.
As usual, the commander came to start the training. Anastasia became excited when she saw him again.
She headed toward him to greet him.
- Good morning, commander, I will restart my training today.
The commander passed by without even looking at her:
- LET'S START...
He started the training without saying any other word to her. It was like she didn't come at all.
" What's wrong with him, why he is ignoring me? "
She tried to forget about him and focus on the training, but she couldn't. She was kind of flustered, which distracted her.
The commander noticed that. So, he gazed coldly at her:
- If your ankle still hurt, you can leave. You are hindering us.
- Oh, no I'm completely fine.
- Then you should focus on your training. I don't want any other injuries. Is that clear?
- Yes commander.
" I was such an idiot thinking that we can get closer. That night, he just wanted to heal my wound so I can go back to training. that's all. "
She also ignored him and continued her training. By the end of the day, he left.
Anastasia was kind of disappointed.
- Lady, Are you okay?
- I'm fine, Lucia.
- How was your day?
- As usual, nothing new.
- Oh, by the way, I heard that the commander will take some soldiers to an expedition near the city.
- Really?
- Yeah, Sergio told me so. He asked me if I need anything so he can buy it from the city.
Anastasia's eyes became so excited:
- THE CITY! I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE...LUCIA! I WANT TO GO.....