The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 341

Before they left, Citrine handed each soldier a bottle of medicine: some to stop bleeding, others for pain relief, and a few to keep you alive in the direst circumstances. The most precious of all, a single Vitaflux capsule, was carefully sealed in its own incubation case.

Citrine instructed Hastings to distribute them one by one.

“What’s this?” The soldiers examined the bottles, curiosity lighting up their faces.

“Captain, you’re nothing like the other instructors,” one of them remarked with a grin.

“Everyone else cranks up the training before a big exercise, but you— you give us a crash course in medicine and hand out half a pharmacy.”

Citrine looked over her squad, her voice calm but firm. “The bottles are for treating wounds—stopping the bleeding or easing the pain. But that capsule in the case is different. Remember, only open it if you’re hanging by a thread. And don’t break the seal until you need it; the medicine inside only lasts a day once it’s out of the solution.”

One of the soldiers weighed the tiny box in his palm, grinning. “Is this thing really that good? Will it actually save your life when you’re at death’s door?”

Citrine met his gaze and nodded gravely. “It will.”

After so much time training together, everyone in the squad knew Citrine’s temperament. Hearing her say this, they each tucked the precious capsule away without hesitation.

That night, the unit threw a party—tables piled with food and drinks, music and laughter filling the air. The whole squad buzzed with excitement for tomorrow’s drill. After all, every soldier dreamed of the day they’d see real action.

When no one was looking, Hastings slipped away from his table and headed over to Citrine’s. By then, everyone around her had had a little too much to drink—except Citrine herself, who sat quietly nursing a glass.

Finding her alone, Hastings looked genuinely pleased. He dropped into the seat across from her and fixed her with a searching stare. “You’re leaving after you finish training us, aren’t you?”

The alcohol had flushed Hastings’s cheeks, the faint pink glow unmistakable under the moonlight.

“That’s right,” Citrine replied, unfazed, not yet sensing anything amiss.

Citrine didn’t answer. Has he lost his mind completely? Why would he want to see her?

Normally, she wouldn’t have let an opportunity to tease him slip by. But with the big field exercise against Magnolia tomorrow, she couldn’t risk messing with anyone’s head tonight.

So she said nothing.

Hastings, still waiting for a response, let out a long sigh. “You’re a tough one, aren’t you?”

He reached up, unclasped the chain from around his neck, and leaned forward, trying to slip it over hers. “Here—take this.”

“What are you doing?” Citrine jumped up, startled, quickly backing away several steps.