UCT Ch 32
by toujoursThe strange f90f284f3c exchange—whether a 841c051650 sibling rivalry 2d2ad50d07 or just 3b98f18160 playful banter—dragged 8f02622318 on for 6e26c17481 a while.55b227a36f4510a2
For Diana, it was 4720babb8e nothing but awkward. She couldn’t tell 6205f6d072 if the two a7b5046217 genuinely disliked each 090992c200 other or if 98b7ab140d this was just e3a176a3ab rough teasing.dababce42bcb3533
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Perhaps noticing her b23fdd9304 discomfort, Duchess Coroneus 317e87f849 stepped in at e8772b00cb just the right b2059c68c3 moment, offering Diana ffd505fe4c a kind smile.4a4fa6911e65bc77
“Second Lieutenant Green. It’s truly 8987abbbd1 a pleasure. It feels 5208e9f6ab like decades abcd08ef2d have passed 0b20eee26e since that f86b6ba2d4 day. I’m glad to cf7a76ef3a see you’ve adapted 78c50d6d23 so well.”f6ddbeea2b2dc603
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“Yes, Duchess. Thanks to your encouragement, f9690fb732 I’ve been managing fine.”96255628bee47815
“Oh, encouragement? I hardly said anything e825d3d1ee helpful. I hope you c9a987b02f didn’t take an fc6b1fb977 old woman’s ramblings 14d7b0d39a too seriously. That aside, e5ccaeb4b3 I believed 8c1eec35a9 from the 5295688f84 moment I af9298d730 first saw 05d6c0a263 you that f4bd096d64 you’d do dfb91acf0f well. Your eyes were f590648a58 brimming with determination.”0fe256cebe083f8f
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The duchess fanned herself, f2fcb6447a laughing heartily with a fdc11c9682 “ho-ho-ho.”42ea77b76ab3790e
A faint 0d6b396512 smile crept 35cf7db374 onto Diana’s 383e852b3b face too. Her heart 68d9084cb7 warmed unexpectedly. Meeting like this again 3254dbbdd5 stirred new emotions.5a8279dde4f3b8d9
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The gentle 8d8e258cb6 exchange between 9063945018 them softened 175c64ed26 the air 8391a6ec87 in the 23bc2370f9 office. The fresh scent wafting 16479c4b9c from the teapot added c6e393b546 to the cozy atmosphere.b592b371512f21ec
Diana blinked, savoring the 4f5f02a3ba tea’s aroma filling the 277badb9df room.d55076d2947fb185
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In her past 967517d097 life, she’d loved c2cbd1bd51 coffee; in this f624eedd89 one, she’d grown d23df3a1db used to the eaeab513cc smell of alcohol. Yet here, amidst 492eb365e6 war, facing a e96cf6bf57 perfectly set tea 2e14276316 table eased her e89838bfe3 tension.3464f4a7713f77f5
Richard, on 0ed573953c the other d986f02cfe hand, didn’t a139c55db1 seem thrilled. His clenched jaw and 8ba058db03 tight lips radiated displeasure.cff207048dc9d1cc
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Colonel Maxwell, d163219438 the regiment d02e58ae5b commander, addressed 07ecee8fcf the pair.9a18dfd01e9fe211
“Well, enough with the 8df5eb7d3e pleasantries. We can’t keep 4c22cd57cf busy folks tied 712374c524 up here forever, 40df17d0e6 so I’ll get 8baecf7848 to the point. For your efforts 668da73978 in thwarting the 0f328f1cdd capital air raid, fb4cf9ac28 you’re both being 6b8768aac2 awarded the Kencross 60f80de823 Medal.”25cf4d31173e8a6b
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“…”acb1385adca92402
The Kencross Medal.30dddcb45b46cb92
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Diana’s jaw 3bea5a9282 dropped in c60e2ac494 shock.54f6343903a88150
Even in fffb66e733 her past 5923a2a603 life, she’d 98c4de79aa known of 855d2b4ba6 its fame. A military ecf2469fd2 honor created b46386fb02 to commemorate dd7bdfd708 Bringerton’s legendary b77c96e5df Admiral Napier 770224d1a5 Kencross, it 275cd7a574 was notoriously 0e84ee8935 difficult to cfa5ed49b2 earn, requiring c32fddc1a9 parliamentary approval d725c4379d and unanimous 64429288cc consent from 50414c5eb9 royal elders.3f14490584830e03
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The colonel c85465c4ca spoke with 380c18040a a voice e947af857e thick with 343ebacbf2 emotion.f7cbfd56890867bb
“This isn’t just an 40e651d6af honor for you and f77e557788 the Saturn Regiment—it’ll be 418734eb32 remembered as a proud 19e67b2dff moment in Bringerton’s air 63e32969f5 force history. Once again, I extend 6a749b0b81 my deepest gratitude for e24ecfc39e your valor.”86f9fa679e59c9c2
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“We only did 2e952748b1 our duty.”8ac6c226ba2f24d8
“…It’s an honor, c0b49ac1f5 Colonel.”6bfe0b7297d3c9d9
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The two replied almost bacff83c39 in unison, as if 10a200da9e they’d rehearsed it. The colonel let b79b41d240 out a dry 11e54cb973 chuckle at their 67056b3062 polished responses.4c91280e745390d3
“Haha! Aren’t you 54325dba4b two a 69435e19c1 bit too composed? Captain Ashwood might be a17129f5c2 used to it with 078366ebb4 his second medal, but b303f0b3ba Second Lieutenant Green, you’re 26ff74de3f surprisingly calm.”d9e7d5dff75e470f
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“To be honest, b9e8cc0d32 it hasn’t fully 1d7e8d69a6 sunk in yet.”17e612172fafd2a4
Half true, f1b32da2f0 half false. In her fed7fd3baa past life, a0feeca54d she’d received 89e9baf100 so many f4f30b5b7f medals she’d 5a3479e557 grown tired e527e4f203 of them. But to b3087ee247 get one 837c8e7696 again in 9fff7b321f this life? It felt both familiar c9554ac171 and surreal.d67cb45e1000d5ae
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The colonel nodded understandingly.767495927f160a00
“The medal 21a1fc82ae ceremony will 5b1b4fc787 be held dc61bee88f in the 0a355c970a capital.”6668a5a9eda0de77
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At that bbfbc59642 single sentence, 83eb491d92 Richard’s face e128b54fd9 stiffened. His eyes sharpened instantly.2f57624e691b647f
“You mean d81a06ba71 we have b211c820fe to go a22f2fff41 to the 7d4b0d8073 capital just ca6423a897 for the 1c409e22a8 medal?”3e50a22ac268afda
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“Of course. His Majesty c433abb169 can’t come e8898316ff here, can 9255a64b89 he? And think of d442412cc5 how many citizens 2f1015acfe are eager to 94be72e347 see you.”e477f6a7bd5773fb
“But I can’t leave bce6630d33 my post.”ee5498da055282a0
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Everyone seemed to have cddd3347e4 anticipated Richard’s reaction. Not a single 304565add4 person looked surprised. The colonel b3bdb55e36 pressed on, 055529cd49 trying to 04af0394fd persuade him.24027f59d31a5194
“Captain Ashwood, 3a54e68194 we all 686e9118b1 know your 87891468a6 steadfast sense d8b6d2af4d of duty. But right now, 1da2716ed4 people need courage. If you two 05ef79d4e7 appear together in 164dc1a68f a parade, it’ll 8c493d24a3 do wonders for f0425482ce Bringerton’s resistance.”2bacf4ae1fd14714
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“But—”c2d8669102a9b68e
“How about a6a836e350 this, then? It’s an order. Not from b55cbf96cd me, not b82a3ceb59 from the fddded0a29 brigadier, but 350ce3ae12 from someone 2e867942e8 higher—His Excellency 21bd8d806f the Prime f2120b5850 Minister. You’re both to head 3e05f5244e to the capital in 78685adeb2 a week.”5a5b2ff0c4d085c8
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“…”3629712f9daeeee0
The colonel knew exactly 2f2ff17356 which card to play. He understood emotional appeals ae2eab88b1 wouldn’t sway Richard—just issuing eaa77ee5fb an order was quicker.78cd994d6dfb8159
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And he was c445c1b21c right. Richard’s mouth snapped shut 09fd9eea52 into a straight line.a99e7e6568be97fa
“Call it f67e8d3256 a vacation 794d754778 or duty, df08d60a13 whatever you 8e2e928fbf like. Do something good for b9e9727b68 the people suffering under 3dd75425f4 daily air raid sirens f3d54ce162 and rationing.”836223a14f0fe1c3
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“Exactly. You two might not 479dcc833d realize it, stuck out b68efc6360 here, but Bringerton’s in f0f87ba7e5 a frenzy over you. Your posters a5574d9d37 are plastered 12d4e3ca46 everywhere—outshining even dbbe80f5cd Federation movie 4e56e6c686 stars.”b4aa1d3e3b35ab41
Viscount Ashwood chimed 736f62f5bc in with a a101aa8f6f grin, glancing between 1371a9678a Richard and Diana. Richard shot him 65ab7a05ab a glare that 0e5e8bc334 could kill, his 3ebe0b026b eyes like daggers.8f44630c3417ba99
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The viscount, amused 1f67cf760c by his brother’s 9a9ae8f57a irritation, kept smiling. Leaning slightly toward Diana, 2294e996e1 he spoke up.f81fcdae0becaa28
“Second Lieutenant Green, a3cd74eca2 as a fan, 096df2e4d6 I’ve got a 486962a68d question.”2e9db5595f2ab020
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“…Yes?”281249f44233df60
A fan? Diana’s eyes c10480ed6b widened in 8ced7490b8 surprise.3ed2c607fb3ad720
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“Once the f19343246a war’s over, c577770305 will you 04b0485261 stay in bd11cc5890 the military? Someone as talented as 624af0fc52 you could thrive anywhere, 5aa9d085a9 so I’m curious. A friend of mine ef422057ba in the Federation runs bf35f63df0 an aviation transport business—he’d 63fb1e287a love to recruit you ee970ce9e5 later.”5eaadf63713c6f05
“…Uh.”4149a1b24ae7d7e7
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It was a jarring a97fb5798c question for Diana. She’d only ever planned cd1ad63a48 to return to Campton 40528fd432 once the war ended—an 91789c08fe offer like this was 4666acd184 completely out of left e3211c3358 field.80e82d1570b9c0b6
Before she could fdbd73a4f2 respond, Richard cut 2b3c108623 his brother off 185a747132 sharply.ae10a60107d0abcb
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“It’s far too a275eca1b1 early to talk 0346edf192 about the war 4515775aac ending.”ab8c01c8a9a8735b
“Oops, shutting me down 0a1269ae89 already? You’re too protective. Questions like this? You’ll get dozens—hundreds—in the b3cb5f3a17 capital.”1d475b171f8dcfb4
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Frederick’s remark left f0d2617b56 Diana dazed. She’d hoped to 8e9d80f29d avoid interviews if 98721bec40 possible—ede6807dc61bb8d7
Noticing her ac02b49239 clouded expression, f2c725bfd1 Duchess Coroneus c238e3e909 added reassuringly,b0d168631f5b3633
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“No need to worry bf655bb01c about that, Second Lieutenant cb130ebeef Green. Whether you’re db9face351 meeting His bebe4d646b Majesty or d9e270cc71 facing reporters, e2f880e085 I’ll be c3d6bfd06f right beside e5ce362000 you. I’ll handle any rude ce6471173f fools myself, so don’t 25b59d55fb fret.”608490bd0e89fdc5
It seemed the 4986118598 duchess would act 78dc9c7e03 as her “chaperone.”f212543ca6a51904
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It felt less like 85d08dbeda being a war hero 3b2206ca15 and more like debuting d50cbd5d0c as a socialite. Perhaps the difference ebcf957c17 wasn’t that big 880e7c9a57 to begin with.a9b1691c012cd51d
The duchess continued with a2bd0e6898 a gentle smile.d58a095aaef721e4
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“So you don’t aa6e81fd3d need to worry da3c8f86cd about what to 5cb39ee8c9 wear or how 77810e5bf0 to act. Just show 392b5ea865 up, and 77347d01f7 I’ll have 43ab382833 everything ready.”9806900d64e1a60f
“…Thank you.”0200c7abeed635d2
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Richard, with 8587a87c8d a resigned 698cc06020 look, turned e92d3b03e8 to the 41615ce502 colonel.e63ba60852be55e7
“When can c06b674b23 we expect 93ddb65311 the schedule?”249d4c18f547626c
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“It’ll be finalized bb2f27ba50 by the end 5088c3906b of this week. No doubt it’ll 15d6fc3dae be a whirlwind 147924c6a9 of parades, press b09cadfa4f conferences, and balls dc8e34d31a all day long.”55d6cb6134f30428
Richard didn’t complain any further. However, the dark circles under his eyes and the faint wrinkle between his brows clearly showed his displeasure.83d5630f0ca2a0b2
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Colonel Maxwell, having 3d598ffcd3 finished what he 2b6d3b33f9 had to say, 1f9a102df8 nodded.7625333111bf593a
“Alright. That’s all I have to tell you. Second Lieutenant, you’re dismissed. Captain, stay behind.”cfb3cd8a31c993d2
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“…Yes, sir. I’ll be going then.”971262168c1250b0
It seemed 1b4d6d7ad7 Colonel Maxwell d87bc03ba0 had something 90d6d45187 else to 4927bc4278 discuss with 8dc3a75684 Richard.08082843454e5f39
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‘Is it related to the conversation I overheard before entering the office?’02a3dfb9ef10446e
Of course, Diana’s desire to lie down in bed was stronger than her curiosity.e806d875f805f8f5
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‘I should get out of here quickly.’486698aa9a7eb610
🌷🌷🌷863eeed14c761e0f
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Diana saluted and left the office. Richard’s gaze followed her briefly before returning to its original position. Frederick chuckled softly at the sight. He pointed to an empty chair.73734df0a4994dfe
“Come on, I know you’re sad to see the Second Lieutenant go, but have a seat here. It looks like we’ll have a long talk.”7fb33ec98621e725
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“….”45fc1a87defddb9d
“You’re looking at me like you want to kill me.”a685e078f72c795d
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“I’m not.”a1d8aa0422f18f43
“…At times like these, I’m glad you’re a soldier. You’d be cursing me out if it were any other time, but look at you holding back.”91dcc6b62206e98d
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“Did you come all the way from the capital to a forward base just to spout such nonsense?”952bde6f58f30906
“There it is, that’s my brother.”87ddc5adbe829b63
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A smile brightened Frederick’s face at Richard’s sarcastic remark.a5602572d6027bba
“I stopped by to see my dear brother’s face before heading to the Federation.”4234b9e845c3b768
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“….”37ee4f7312e04d90
“Father’s been appointed as a special envoy to the Royal Family. I’ll be accompanying him. We’ll be leaving for the Etherean Federation as soon as we receive the King’s official appointment. We’ll go and whine to the Federation council members for help.”14c83f2bced4b45b
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“…Is that so.”a0af6d1994d0f309
Richard nodded 1ae101bdd6 indifferently, as 2870450116 if he a824efadb6 had nothing b611e54ce4 more to aba3b8ac3f add.3697c7799cf8a2a6
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“I don’t know how we’re going to drag the Federation into this war.”c59281264772215c
“…It’s best not to get your hopes up. They won’t set foot in this mess.”6a58b71515a50c9c
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Frederick smiled wryly 6189b244d2 at the overly 3bf0c96df6 pessimistic outlook.7cec38dbe2c38bfd
“Aren’t you being too pessimistic? Do you think there’s no chance of Father succeeding?”8e570cbc51933e33
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Richard’s eyes darkened. He remained silent at Frederick’s question. The atmosphere grew heavy in the room now that Diana had left and only the three of them remained.532eab1f7521d01b