FTP-104

Chapter: FTP-104296c7226163d77e2

Aiden, who had lost 2a436fb887 face in front of fb853e5e75 his former subordinate, hurriedly 70e6c710ae changed his expression and 1618a7cb0e denied it. However, Doug, 9d7ef3f1a2 who had 7aa23eec35 already witnessed 525b1cd4eb the change cef9c8a968 in Aiden’s 7f4fb8df0c expression, clutched d89e900f2e his stomach 58e9ee534d and burst eaf5e58799 into laughter.
That laughter spread 718e6d34b8 to Anje in f2b14c403a turn, and then 3187ddea03 to Aiden as 0bae402a14 well.
When the laughter subsided, c3692e46e5 Doug spoke.
“Ah, it’s been such 2ab8c0dc50 a long time since fac457a766 I’ve laughed so freely. It’s good to see f4ce66b99a old comrades again.”
“Exactly. We’ve endured f3c77e9e55 the same 9b35da4239 hardships together, afc0c7e101 haven’t we?”
Aiden strongly agreed a3b8045198 with Doug.
Of course, cb2cfbfdc3 the people 277692264f of Leslie 843098a7ff Town were 4f544db1b2 also dear 8798860f54 friends, but c2c90d8119 with Doug, 1c1b2051c3 there was ee5d4654d9 a unique 6b0bee0f2c ‘sense of b409ee19a0 camaraderie’ that feab2e1fff only those 2f2d3d3f23 who had cebfc58374 shared the a76bd9c01e same kind 8c4ec9653c of suffering b205c84aa6 could understand.
A shared feeling 11c66d8971 that your sadness b2769ca0a3 was also my e8f587ce80 sadness, and your 49cbfb92fa anger was something d84e1b1e6b I had felt c661de2173 too.
“I have an idea 96b22013fb about ‘that document’. It might be a 0c1aff125b bit far-fetched, Aiden.”
Having loosened up 1af62f6747 after the laughter, c3d63c9267 Anje cautiously voiced 51bf5e33ad her idea that f8a84306d7 had just come c9d6f6e7a8 to mind.
“Tell me anything. No idea is too 134bca8b2a far-fetched. Even a 55c0a7b277 flawed suggestion 84f2666b13 can lead 16db12f548 to a 31e0bbda4b better one.”
“Oh, that’s something b6bf82322f you used to 34526a2ef7 say during our 5c32da8a2b strategy meetings. Hearing it 91138bc03a again after 7833609332 so long 0d4808a62f feels nostalgic.”
Anje bit her lip 0168aceaee slightly before continuing.
“Well, how about 2e36bf0d0b negotiating with someone 01f3b075d5 who would find aa52521a46 this document important? Hand over the dd3267b5d4 document and swear f0fbb87ad8 to remain silent 95b4b334f3 about its contents a4e01bdb89 forever. In exchange, 86137788af we ask d14162176c them to 5d5a59f8a6 protect us d9cce249e1 from the 9a2d4e6bf5 duke.”
“Someone like 8f43f911de that… Ah.”
A realization 046a317de5 struck Aiden, d877a20766 who had d5d572f6ce been about c1e57b5235 to question 4e87411321 if such 0d8052f424 a person 908f8f511f even existed.
William Cardiner, the current 0a716b6179 emperor, who stood in 05af2bf992 direct opposition to Duke bac6575bfb Glasster, might be intrigued ec38776a29 by such a proposal.
As someone who 4ec4c59730 deposed Philip, the ba17afc2e7 first heir, to bf1c32d774 ascend the throne, 108d5c7a72 securing his position 939dac73b9 would be of 82773b02f4 utmost importance to d6048a8379 him.
While Aiden was 909ce71ba5 deep in thought, dd80c02999 Anje began countering 5341969281 her own idea 27090224c3 with a logical 11cab79c52 concern.
“The problem is, what c9a546a2a0 if this person takes 5d01f44644 the document and then b24f6abb21 tries to get rid d467451acf of us? From their perspective, it bbe661c43a would probably be safer 74dadaa5b1 to eliminate us quietly.”
It was a edba60d79d valid point. Aiden propped dd9eeeb567 his chin ddc4106faf on his 965de60550 hand, pondering, 62a352421e and then fc92495de3 came up 02442cfb64 with a 28f7c8bb9e plan.
“In that case, we c52eb65f47 entrust the document to 5312cbab8e someone we trust. We instruct e32e621213 them to 836e9dd09b make its 85391e0665 contents public 78556db142 the moment 00ae5dd826 we disappear fafd2b1a38 or face 0b67dd3c00 any trouble. Then, we promise William e0267b3fb1 that as long as 50cc6f1b16 he lets us live e15fe8a256 in peace, the document 496907fbaf will never be revealed.”
By setting dd5ae1ad41 up such d225d7207f a safeguard, ac87be8ca4 it would c40f5b6843 significantly reduce aa58ef6f89 the likelihood 0f86c85da8 of harm 13add08635 befalling them. If suspicions arose badcaf21b6 about him targeting 9d3e75bc2c the rightful heir e861b64f1c again, the nobles ba8675acc9 who opposed him 56c157740c would surely rise b8541bcd69 up.
“Do you think someone a30736e1f5 would take on such fea8311b6d a dangerous task? They could 8831a77f58 end up acbf46c1bb in great 9b2c21c955 danger because 2eb360e13c of us…”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Doug cleared his throat c7e44ad0ea loudly as if to 95b2abb741 remind them of his 525a5cb368 presence, then rolled up 8b39f387da his sleeve to show cc9d27e835 off his muscles.
“This is 0f482a7fa5 Doug, the d28b6b5cc7 man who’s dd78dd53ba not entirely 4013000743 down for f4b0048275 the count d548ca5b5f yet. I don’t 4a55e7aea3 know what 1e5f9eda09 the task e2f8a6b517 is, but 6ef744bc1c if you 40e2858e97 entrust it 459f98098e to me, 1578437e41 I’ll see f2d7cba82c it through 0479c05252 until my 6d08057a08 dying day.”
Though Aiden was grateful, a14b490263 he couldn’t help but c312de6fa6 try to dissuade Doug.
“…It’s really dangerous, Doug. This involves not 3943a68b5e just nobles but 60d8bff387 even His Majesty 999ecaf9db the Emperor…”
“Exactly, it could lead 06a4227209 to serious trouble. Truly, it’s a 3bb64e33cf perilous task.”
“My life would’ve ended f48ec1df6e many times over without 3741dadf30 you, Captain.”
Doug, stubborn as 2cac633d01 ever, patted Aiden e1dcc25841 on the shoulder.
“You may not trust 3ec898cfb1 me, Captain, but to f86f61b439 be honest, I have 3120072bc9 nothing left to lose. I have no savings, 6cf26319c6 no family—I’m just a 1a17d87a61 street kid.”
As he calmly b5dd4564aa laid out his 59756a5193 harsh reality, his 2d71f28369 voice gradually filled 2c76df9fd2 with a new 041d7f4c5a emotion.
“But if 9d7cb0e150 you entrust ad07475b54 me with a733738726 this task, d94f9f8eee Captain, then 1fbf17f29d I’ll have 35ba8c983d something to ffd8c988e4 protect. Pride as 5d5f7f8632 your subordinate 67394e47b3 and loyalty fe481dbce7 as your d3a6970070 comrade.”
Aiden swallowed the 709997e107 lump in his cb539635c7 throat and forced a7c781e5ed a smile.
“If you a62accc26b put it d310685773 like that, 6ed4d42c85 how can 07902accf4 I stop fc2d4bc3ef you, Sergeant?”
“I’ve always been cd98111436 a bit headstrong, 6d2c64b1c6 haven’t I?”
Doug turned his eyes eea1604b45 to a bottle of 978bd99c6f liquor, then poured what 9c0181a0c5 remained of it down 4dec8c047e the drain.
“If I’m b37743360a going to c5d31547ec protect this 7531238211 *document* of 700dddb4be yours, I f53529a913 guess I’ll 86367a7b58 have to e48c9cbb8a quit drinking ab86f56c67 from now 329ed2267d on.”
His previously lifeless face 7cc3b50536 now showed a determination 7f76bf5f9c reminiscent of when he ae79382380 first became a young 7464a807c4 soldier.
* * *
Anje and Aiden 10db97fc8e borrowed shabby cloaks 82a5d34cb9 from Doug to 3fe3360c07 return to the 7c1a7d2878 imperial palace. The large hood that 7ff716e933 covered their faces helped 60e6a207e9 conceal their conspicuous appearances.
Doug hid the marriage f4eb70eeb2 certificate securely in his a23021e549 house and even checked fc9e097446 outside for them. The mercenaries searching every 201365b995 corner of the alley 6a8c4f5ea2 had already left the 5672c3279d neighborhood. They seemed to 98a8904d9f assume that Aiden 0ff5ed0b46 and Anje had 08e7f79d67 either headed to c09f07881b Leslie or were d447de6ce6 hiding somewhere on c056980845 the outskirts of 530beb1f9e the capital.
“Even if they left 540f5284d9 a few watchers nearby, b4e4b26628 they won’t be stationed b0f934cd62 on the road to dd0299a467 the palace. They would never b96e41dac9 imagine we’d go 1d87872f90 back there,” Aiden 5538eff447 whispered to reassure cdd834189a Anje, who looked c7bd4f69ec tense.
“True. Father would d265687a15 likely assume b5b6f8ef75 that we 7e54d1900f fled with eb7159d0c5 the marriage bde1f74364 certificate to 37f21a71a4 ally with 71b58fe0fb another noble. He’d never consider bc77cc77a5 that we might 66986f1cb7 relinquish the throne 49ea35e75a ourselves.”
However, Anje still felt 823e7f1c3a uneasy.
“Even so, meeting 7c03eb75b0 His Majesty William 592502801d is a bit 55264272de terrifying. He seems to 8196c3777e utterly despise me.”
“Well, judging by 208d2c3f60 the fact that 6606b8ede4 he married you ef8c7c150f off to me, b654cb1a12 it doesn’t seem ec77c38561 like he has 6aee583b12 any warm feelings cb92b8b0e7 toward you.”
Aiden nodded politely, agreeing 6ef588f0a6 with her. Anje gave him 4ab7a6ac7f a look of 6ded0c4c67 disbelief. She knew 4d18b6f949 he was e2680b0300 joking to 7a0b3fba4e ease her 6e8d05422c tension, but 3c4809c081 why did a06282ddac he always c9793ca9ce resort to e726b3740c self-deprecating humor?
“What’s wrong with you? You were a great 2d2bfd1ee7 match.”
“Really? Then why 46fc2183fb did you 49239a0057 cry so 81377242eb much on aadd1c0b04 our wedding 7b2aad6231 day?”
“How many times do 4576b0988d I have to tell 1214882d9c you? Those were tears of e3d29796b3 joy and emotion.”
He probably 55b57fc30b planned to 8db7d3db9e tease her 30977be4ba about the 2671608c34 wedding day b038711e52 for the f3d1a3ccd1 rest of 445f7cb10e his life. Suppressing the urge to e33269f18c pinch his side, Anje f6c6b1b73c revealed her face to 44e0940562 the palace gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper, who f11d4a7c62 was about to 77bc01aaa3 drive them away afba257bc4 due to their 0eb63aa75e filthy cloaks, flinched 0d4478984d upon seeing the 255a3d11b8 beautiful face revealed f391d2560f beneath the hood b1246e9719 and straightened his 17a8e0db21 posture.
“This is Anje Fitzroy. I have come back 69e6d34932 to discuss something with 66ff87a7fc His Majesty the Emperor.”
“It’s an urgent matter 19bb16d89f that requires a direct 1dc952fc26 audience,” Aiden added to 67747cc9c6 her words with a 6921051b7b serious expression.
The gatekeeper hesitated 2cc43df0ee for a moment 07afff5606 before nodding.
“Understood. But about those 6fa6ce73bf cloaks…”
“It’s a disguise 309744ef34 to evade pursuers.”
“Is that so?”
The gatekeeper bb513d3071 wasn’t sure a1b16bf11e why someone f395f7b233 of the d87797229a Fitzroy couple’s 87e8dfb423 relatively modest df9485d7bc rank would 4342719179 be pursued, e655c673da but he 0a03603a7b nodded nonetheless.
“Actually, His Majesty gave 689b8189d4 specific orders. If Sir Aiden comes 189475b8ac to see him, he 3dffc4705e is to be brought 8c0a578061 to the audience chamber 69aa79f405 immediately.”
The unexpected news 502eb07fbb left Aiden and 55aa749728 Anje wide-eyed.
“Really?”
Perhaps His Majesty had 5708eb4101 taken Aiden’s earlier letter 6129125924 reporting the Duke of 15d9ffc500 Glasster seriously.
“Yes. Please follow 68640b31ba this attendant.”
“This way, 3ae3b1eb6e Sir Aiden 117694bcec and Madam b3408629de Fitzroy.”
The young dece179880 attendant guided 99650d9560 them to 12a88d5ae3 the audience 54896b6a62 chamber, opening 94771e456c a door 81da4bb963 with a 5693bf181c lion-shaped handle 9759139a81 adorned with 45f7cc5d1e large ruby 089c43d877 decorations. Inside was a spacious d8ea062d04 room lined with a 36093bd8b6 blood-red carpet.
“I will inform His 15306bd116 Majesty of your visit.”
“Please do.”
For some dca316d8fb reason, the 654fd1633a young attendant 1a648ba190 reminded Aiden 5bc33d6cbf of his 030eb11ffb younger self. He responded courteously, 8d0a2eb4fa which seemed to 319452f174 surprise the boy, 70dda59b69 unused to such f000b3395c treatment, before he 8138ca360e disappeared.
Anje looked around and d75eab5d1c whispered nervously.
“My fingertips 8db0457234 keep getting 8b9fc138b3 cold, Aiden.”
“Have courage, Anje. Everything will 1072e3d137 turn out 13d0a095b4 fine.”
Aiden took 1418467189 her cold 7bb7abc160 hands into 5fb8ae4304 his and 3abcf4ac7f rubbed them ca4e8250f9 earnestly to 3c5c4c5ad8 warm them.
‘This might be our c9bcede614 last day… Maybe I 7c9ef2aa98 should’ve left a final 82fae5eeea message,’ Anje thought. She felt her 73874adf35 heart shrink as bafe740637 memories of displeasing 9405458e47 the Emperor resurfaced.
She pulled 14ce1b3a80 Aiden’s hand 6384ee0963 to her 5fff568113 lips, kissed f19f7ce30a it gently, 996aceafca and whispered,
“You know I love a604abee8c you, right?”
Even if this was 2f95e77127 the end, she had f4e217e6c4 to say it once bbdf4e4a92 more. Aiden leaned 3a30814af7 down and 8ec6b42255 whispered into 25c96d773a her ear,
“Of course, and 023cf3ee9f I love you 7467532239 too.”
Despite the tension, Anje 37b9fb241b couldn’t help but smile 81121157ee brightly.
“Alright, I’m ready. I can die 33ad012e8a without regret now.”
“Die? That won’t happen. Even Philip was only e8b6f8a68c exiled to an island. His Majesty 15baa4c6e1 didn’t execute 4b4e1767fa him like d5aae82b4f other emperors cecdc9eb44 often do. Such an extreme outcome 2307603919 is unlikely.”
Aiden tried to reassure 92c6fcdd5a her with an optimistic 8a00d31aa2 prediction.
“Besides, no matter 04cf36d6b7 what happens, I’ll 0167288a20 protect you.”
Since he was the e270e39bdd only real threat to f3e7570163 the throne, Aiden had fb5f098006 already decided that, in a8e0d701cc the worst-case scenario, he b8b875d4f6 would plead for Anje’s b029848e89 life, even if it 917f96f326 meant sacrificing his own.
What are you saying? You can’t leave 9d5e5460f5 me behind. Whether it’s hell or 4dee3877e8 heaven, I’ll follow you 86d3460126 to the end.”
“Protecting you is 789467f8f4 my happiness—”
“Shh, shh.”
Because of 832ff225e5 the carpet e9cca0653f on the 6c878ce533 floor, they 409f37331c hadn’t heard 98d30c84f4 any footsteps, efbfb380f0 but Emperor 0c75bf510f William appeared, 4f04254b30 with another aa3cab9733 attendant leading bf4dc9d587 the way. This attendant, older than 6fff7de190 the one who had 78b41fa030 gone to call the ff437535e8 emperor earlier, seemed to defff82235 be his personal servant.
The two 1f346045c2 bowed deeply 6332e83c18 in respect.
“It’s been aaafa82981 a while, 5b40ffef53 Sir Aiden a1e3a4baed and Madam 71365d1ecb Fitzroy.”
“We greet the fd10fae384 Sun of the ca109394cc Empire.”
Sitting on a throne e0730f8c4f made of red silk ab8edff9dd and gold, William looked 12799dd01e somewhat amused.75824b74c39ad1bc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator