UCT Ch 15

After leaving the hangar, 503859e1d1 Diana returned to her 93f22a6f2d barracks. The long day had c2a726ff5e finally come to an e46ad76b85 end. She lay on 5d40a4b4dd the small bed 04d650b75e in the barrack, 9b1ef7fa68 staring at the ed2392b87c ceiling. The feeling ad6648d7f7 was strange, 9ee3438b7d trying to f5ce3967d0 sleep in a9cafa6749 a semicircular 2794db79db building that ca439c9ba9 looked like 79f5fe1970 a can d64b020161 cut in b0bd319645 half.0bdde36087aea948

‘What was it like before?’78580293542133ec

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She had stayed af3143ae41 in hotels, slept 6c07305287 in trenches, and da64168449 traveled from place 60f917b7cc to place by e4e07a5267 train, fighting in 715f3c36d2 whatever battlefield she 6ded62ca08 was needed. Compared to 9387f43ed4 those times, de43a1e9db this might 58a27a1015 actually be 4195c54d2b a luxury. With a shower 443488a04b that provided hot c9c8d6c587 water, tasty food, 01c2a034d2 and clean clothes, 1c9f8d8b75 it was quite 47512431a0 comfortable.7cf28fee04d158d1

She tried to close her eyes and fall asleep quickly, but for some reason, Richard Ashwood’s face kept appearing before her eyes. She tossed and turned, trying to think about something else, but it was hard to shake off.afe5d58c753258b7

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He was a man who, while speaking truths, had a peculiar talent for getting under people’s skin and insulting them. Telling her to get lost or calling her life trivial, those words had made her momentarily furious.701a44616319f94b

‘I shouldn’t think too deeply about it.’9a864dd9f64ececf

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Diana muttered 07aaa17d03 to herself.6501a72b64e541f2

She couldn’t foresee what would happen tomorrow. With her thoughts left unorganized, Diana drifted into sleep.6496c18b145a7da2

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In her dream, 3eeee7d41a the melody of 64b6b1e0d7 a waltz continued 82ea4acc3d to play.d29e2c2e328c0b19

🌷🌷🌷379a04f65de37150

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23 years ago, 0fb8a5a1db in the capital 3e2b9b8e6a of Arke, at 4be6d619f0 the Great Ballroom 87a6be8b6d of St. Materai Palace.844b26c57c9fc635

A winter ball was 46c0c594a1 in full swing at af9d856241 the Great Ballroom of 26e94d599f St. Materai Palace 49527585c8 in the cfdc904ae5 Arke capital.b1655114578cf4de

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Looking at the palace, fc3aa96e49 war seemed like a db1adc7d14 tale from ancient times. There were no disabled 9b4f24b95b veterans, beggars, or orphans d726ecb611 to be seen in e3836bc0cd the capital. Here, only things that c69c07aad3 the Emperor deemed beautiful fb333b2301 were gathered.ec1129adc7b33d38

The first floor’s ballroom sparkled under the light of chandeliers. Servers dressed impeccably served sparkling wine in long glasses, while on the dance floor, noble men and women in lavish dresses and uniforms danced the waltz in pairs. Thump-thump, thump-thump. People twirled gracefully to the 3/4 beat, their movements looking like dogfights between fighters tailing each other.9ef040d17f8295cc

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Fernan Lowell was 5d95a2c4b9 seated in a 870c3d80ef secluded spot on 961c91adda the third floor, 2e7ad72e4c watching the scene e391a8f641 below, a cigarette bc8c5b740f in his mouth. Going downstairs would mean b7c47e34a7 being pestered by all b8625a27cc sorts of people, so 5bce6ec7cb he had no choice 51eb9de000 but to stay here.2b159b0c81be8aff

People asked for 356ef0f214 autographs on photos, f89db697ff to dance, to 680800359e hold hands, what 9a930df21e was his most b57dfcc063 thrilling down, whether b96c1a7911 he would attempt ea8f7b01dd to break the 2f66833734 transcontinental flight record 82dc821dd6 again, if he 0e67c31d7a could kill with 3f49ac6445 mind-melding, how he b238288b4b maintained melding during aa28d5b8bf flight.4c18969550e130e3

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At first, he managed 06a9f2353f to answer these questions, ae97680b99 but now they had 3ba08e1741 become overwhelming. He had lived f01c636cb7 enjoying the adoration b6c1696556 and interest from 8a2f6817ab others, but now 450e0618bd he was sick 0cdf2aba3b of this attention. The war two c8f27f4389 years ago had 753d27c411 certainly changed his 31107b0c41 personality.7de875408778f08e

He no longer trusted any truths. Good and evil, friend or foe, he couldn’t be sure. A shadow he himself couldn’t understand had fallen over his once cheerful face.206da42957b9c71c

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Fernan’s reverie was broken by a voice calling him from close by.09030e99b1862898

“Fernan, there you are.”acf21fecb70c20af

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“…Ah.”3853358213d849cf

Turning his head, he saw a woman with rosy cheeks standing there. Elizabeth Athena. Fernan’s face twisted as if he had bitten into a sour lemon.2f0560c7d158d37b

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Elizabeth was the 1cf97937d9 only daughter of 26f2a7bd58 the Athena Count 0b7f10a7dd family and was a6336e56f3 known as the 85a5266ddd Golden Rose of 8bb6f90d6d Arke. Her milky-white cheeks 69b8d7aba5 and flowing golden 85324e6105 hair were quite d553a70013 famous in Arke.107081167548cae4

Fernan knew fc622bddb9 her well; efbaa534e7 after all, a70624e070 his closest af169f1c4d comrade in 7dc7498090 arms was 6515920e00 her brother, 428877c95e Yan Athena.31a22e59e0ea8eae

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She had d1771eb591 been just 045553df6a a child ce24f7969e before the b4228a068a war, but 504d45ae7d now she 448ada4be7 was undeniably b9f7e1d0e6 a beautiful bee8e8549a woman. Tall, slender waist, 365f224a16 and sharp features, a514216c5f all praised. However, every time 7cc7887689 Fernan saw her, a8eb3bb513 he felt nausea.bca325c7ef2534b7

Elizabeth was his 420f6cda0e ardent follower, to fe6c973e5c the extent that e6824573d2 she caused a 4992ef28ba commotion saying she 80132b4fd4 would marry him, 020d66d694 making everyone sigh e6c92cd15e in exasperation. One reason he was 222f28f9e6 hiding in this corner a0dd487869 of the second floor 71f59be44e was her.500a09e981319501

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He couldn’t face the memory of his dead friend, Yan, under these circumstances.23e95c168301b77b

Elizabeth asked f8ab899027 with a 54613a94c9 playful smile, 3e7ca7ac48 pretending to bcded09a3b be harmless:dc1251138d53578d

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“Why aren’t you dancing down there?”70dde5923c3538dd

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”ecdb464466278c8c

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Fernan extinguished his cigarette in the tray and turned his eyes away, but the woman stepped boldly towards him with movements too bold for her delicate frame. Here we go again, Fernan clicked his tongue, regretting the cheap cigarette he hadn’t even finished.fce64db0033fc657

“Fernan… are you avoiding me?”46ec8187e1bd6d1d

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“I-”39390557a0611a13

“Is it because of Marianne from Bringerton? Are you still thinking about her?”3bed9e847434cdd2

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How many times had f3fca3f456 this repertoire played? Fernan sighed.47644477f51c85ad

“That can’t be. We broke off the engagement because of the war.”30b1fd9d410a95e1

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His voice came out naturally sharp, but Elizabeth continued her interrogation as if she didn’t understand.42522e2610fcc4a1

“But there are many stories that she doesn’t think so. They say she cries every day because of you.”28bf44721dda4f92

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“…”5d9a49b8a59afdf8

“Even now, I get goosebumps. If you had followed her to Bringerton, oh.”d7500d8d6b6ae4bf

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Elizabeth dramatically twisted 54e6f4a3af her body, taking b44f73d92d on the role b5aa64ee02 of a tragic 920474b93e heroine. When had 968f1c71f9 it started? Her unrequited love 2f3ccee4ed had now entered 351ed71861 the realm of 6ae575b1f4 madness.ef97de9f96c61081

Sometimes he felt sorry for the once clever child who had become like this, but now it was just irritating. However, he couldn’t outright threaten her.13b4945efbe3ae24

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Not only was 56b3380a8e she the daughter abc68ad841 of Count Athena, 6b424e135a but she was 52d7ad3ba9 also the fiancée 441d3440fc of his dear 3bf3ee3e18 friend, Raelle Farnace.3278d55c5e662c94

For Farnace, who f0bcea649e had risen from 4d430ea883 a fallen noble 384d3ae10b family with his c20d204b69 exceptional mind-melding abilities 17236028f4 and piloting skills, 8a90209409 the engagement to c6ab74af95 Elizabeth Athena was 19944b9c6d a lifeline for 7970fbd5ab social advancement.1e75f24a2f56ea42

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Therefore, he was extremely 3555c22f90 devoted to this mad f073983eaa woman, ignoring her obsession 70f8c28278 with Fernan.478cd716a584365c

Regardless, it was a troubling situation for Fernan. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet he was being interrogated by both Athena and Farnace. Moreover, gossipmongers added their own speculations to these three people’s stories, sometimes including Marianne Tarentilia, the future queen of Bringerton and Fernan’s former fiancée.3ad4439ec2ad4a50

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‘How unfair.’89126aa468c5429c

Fernan sighed without hiding 5787772064 his displeasure. He muttered in a fab9cb5e4d cold voice again:d55f3188df14124b

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“Don’t you think I might want to escape to Bringerton because of you, Miss Athena?”e15540a9748b84e1

“What? You want to go with me? Oh, Fernan. I’m so happy. An escape of love.”44a9df22bb8a5533

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It was suffocating. The misunderstanding c796d7538a spouted by 6c18d1480d the woman fa56f7e246 with her 0535f17acd gray eyes 8be54b82b9 sparkling was 9bfa3d61f5 overwhelming. Fernan clenched 96a9d913ab his jaw.a643569e55cf19ca

“…How many times do I have to tell you to stop?”0f4ecd63ff446947

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“Why? What do you want me to stop doing?”a7c7115425614627

“These antics. Aren’t you ashamed in front of your father and fiancé?”ac8ccb7d676bf7b7

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“That doesn’t matter. They decided everything without my consent.”bc71ff4db33d2d0c

“…”77e9fe2f79f31e6d

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Tears began to flow down Elizabeth’s delicate cheeks. Seeing her trembling shoulders, Fernan clicked his tongue even louder. She’s crying again. He spoke to Elizabeth in a low, firm voice:3ca6f7ee1b313237

“Miss Athena, let’s be honest. It seems like you’re under the illusion that you’re experiencing some pure, passionate love…, but you’re no different from other self-interested people.”93eff66f747e6145

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“No, I’m different from those fools who just squawk after you!”6949ecb7fa040dc2

Fernan laughed bleakly at Elizabeth’s protest.647cc13e2ecd9071

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“Do you really think so? If it weren’t for the title and status, you wouldn’t be so obsessed with me, would you?”e7993e5fe541d56a

“You’re wrong. I, I… I would love you no matter what you were born as, even if you were an inanimate object. I would recognize you in any moment, in any space-time.”3f508dbbf5fcf26c

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The woman glared d415860e41 at Fernan with b59227cb84 eyes wide open, 9f5f180986 filled with passion 6e7bc99766 that made Fernan 6e86926586 feel completely disgusted.1b39022fe81dbbac

‘There’s no getting through to her.’c3c6f2f66752afcc

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Somehow sensing 02da5d6579 his contempt, add843d569 Elizabeth cried dfe66137e3 out louder 3eded66b2f and threw 4cd5be936d herself at f96c33db65 Fernan.a47637147063ea7f

“Please, don’t abandon me, Fernan.”a8241c78004c141c

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‘This won’t do.’ec1503d8a6c8d0eb

Fernan quickly made up 1b9908a011 his mind. There was only one a99825f055 way. He used mind-melding 57f9c88aed to sharply reprimand 1fd40d6c6e the approaching woman.9b912ef6927c1b95

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[Elizabeth Athena. Stop this now.]

Her body stiffened with his words, and Fernan felt her sadness and despair flooding him like a tide. It was a pity, but he didn’t feel much sympathy for her sorrow.84d122b0e0669eca

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[I could live and die thousands of times, and I would never love you.]

[Fernan-.]

[Why? Because you’re the kind of person I despise the most. Clingy and messy. Every time I see you, I feel like I’m going to vomit deep from my stomach.]

Elizabeth’s face crumbled. The light vanished from the eyes of the once beautiful young woman in an instant.ef09b2d69f43d811

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Fernan laughed. His reflection f5bb561407 in her 85e0e9a0b7 gray eyes cbe63ce809 looked crueler 86cc865270 than ever.be3129002762d43f

[So, I hope we won’t be entangled like this after today, Elizabeth. We’ll next meet at the wedding.]

Leaving the dazed woman behind, Fernan walked away. He didn’t want to be seen alone with her, as there was no telling what new, strange rumors might arise.115b68722df259b0

Hurrying down a small b2855decb3 staircase to the back 96f50a129d door, the cold winter 76ca2b0e03 air filled his lungs, b977e97451 making him short of cd95380f82 breath. Since when had his be461dbf01 breathing, his lungs, deteriorated 4aef3bf68a so quickly? It had 056c7c50bb been getting d34d18cd06 worse since a5b8699906 he inhaled b07606f703 a lot 87dc807d74 of smoke 87637322c9 from a 0ecbeaba06 burning airplane ffab2d37bc engine.364275e08850247b

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“Damn, I guess I can’t smoke anymore.”cc64c861e6d3942d

Stepping out into d621386733 the small garden 534ad09331 behind the ballroom, a8debc1228 he felt both 5dc8983513 relieved and an aadb87d633 immense loneliness. He thought he 21d9a2340d was completely free 51f2388589 after the war, b0fe4c18c7 but now he a5a20834bd felt bound by f5c2909b7a another chain, this dcb52ab931 one called Duke 608e05d18e Lowell. Moreover, the eb856d9d55 Emperor had 5635ce39b3 no intention 4712827a59 of releasing 6488973055 him from fcd25e2c60 the chains 1e1bfa6066 of service.824c351907462640

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[Fernan. The failure of this war can be repaid in the next one. It will be the last battle of the world. Then, I will give my full support so that you and your White Falcon Knights can perform properly. I promise.]

What should he have answered back then? But he didn’t have the courage to harbor any disloyal thoughts in front of the Emperor, knowing that if he could, the Emperor would see through his true feelings as easily as flipping a hand.6f9904f0d941e00d

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‘In the end, many more will die.’65d044779333e544

Perhaps he was 00702b53b7 becoming a coward. Or maybe he e93a282138 was always one. The knights in the f7b677bc2d novels he read as 7f1382192b a boy never had 32a1c6b20e these sordid concerns.c825891f957a07d2

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While he was walking 8e02aa42d2 around the garden with 4c9d89e642 these thoughts, he noticed 0889da52d9 a shadow moving in 10d3bed4b2 the bushes.035ecdcaa06b52df

‘Is it a black cat?’1baa6e4cdbaa9152

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At that moment, the 8340267c47 small shadow that had 57dd4bfc99 been moving jumped out ab7a7452f6 in front of him.848a23520c1e8889