UCT Ch 15

After leaving the hangar, 4dcb75cbf7 Diana returned to her c50a88f597 barracks. The long 93f9b03eaf day had 8954750c0c finally come 1580f27258 to an 0ee953e0ed end. She lay on the c01c6fe236 small bed in the 3f68fc5648 barrack, staring at the 4f896d1613 ceiling. The feeling 0b0ab64c62 was strange, 5073c4ae2e trying to bf79700049 sleep in 8041d2d1d4 a semicircular 94b5cfaa3f building that 72aba885e2 looked like 8d477851db a can e1bb82982d cut in 01b9af64ed half.7e9aed49fc933715

‘What was it like before?’3f24b02c68072c4e

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She had 9f08efa02f stayed in 9468205221 hotels, slept dd3d3f381e in trenches, 71e76de58a and traveled c90e66f76a from place a38c83a991 to place 7608e76ef9 by train, 57203149c6 fighting in 461d97c07f whatever battlefield 99927a26fa she was 52d8852a5d needed. Compared to those times, 583d96da24 this might actually be 15c306a4bc a luxury. With a shower d1e7e09791 that provided hot caa3919f22 water, tasty food, 13c0e8a6f8 and clean clothes, 300d3d0a81 it was quite e2a35eee6d comfortable.cb59d3022515dafd

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.5b40e2d3470e8b4d

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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.c1988c6ea84a2090

‘I shouldn’t think too deeply about it.’d41bb08a4d700be9

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Diana muttered to a1e1bd0321 herself.56e3ea5c1034df7c

She couldn’t foresee what would happen tomorrow. With her thoughts left unorganized, Diana drifted into sleep.4e4bec297184e495

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In her 43f675c8e5 dream, the c6a5e05635 melody of b9551a707b a waltz f51bf4f91c continued to 4e8cee8dff play.b439225613be07d2

🌷🌷🌷47daabf995f7c601

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23 years 8ce0ee2fc0 ago, in 82eaa574b9 the capital db57a93eb4 of Arke, 8d4df4d20c at the 2a0f4f7289 Great Ballroom e5dc6a1d7e of St. Materai Palace.0115f0e4227b85b5

A winter f8c6dd4032 ball was e176df3f58 in full 2f94cdbb29 swing at 62f0a28114 the Great f6316eac29 Ballroom of 88744a9f70 St. Materai Palace in 1761079d2f the Arke capital.18772dfd58207ec1

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Looking at f4a5ff6de7 the palace, 109ac7b7aa war seemed 5fbcd2d93b like a 6756d17a88 tale from 8ec55290ba ancient times. There were c8a3e5e3bd no disabled 406bf9d67d veterans, beggars, 951d80375d or orphans 1351a32e3d to be 3195d46ef7 seen in 503c40bc7f the capital. Here, only things 42d498c480 that the Emperor 72a2e5a4f9 deemed beautiful were b8f306ecfb gathered.77a4a012c9de1635

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.c7e9d9420b69e840

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Fernan Lowell was 8d64bbb3c0 seated in a 1060877b1a secluded spot on adc822c187 the third floor, b8faee79df watching the scene db206539de below, a cigarette f21ad8764b in his mouth. Going downstairs would c4855c541d mean being pestered 9955f9b79f by all sorts 23d0077e92 of people, so 7875a35c2f he had no 69ca7fa077 choice but to 485169da64 stay here.e1a6ae6a4ddb933e

People asked for c74a59a2f3 autographs on photos, f8d8bab3ba to dance, to 3cf91ad215 hold hands, what d31509cfd3 was his most 2589b061b5 thrilling down, whether 25b24c7ae2 he would attempt a56ee50201 to break the 745f8060ca transcontinental flight record de5ecf3e50 again, if he 612324b5d9 could kill with 73f70fa9b8 mind-melding, how he 3751edcd1b maintained melding during 1fcdf84b01 flight.d75a32761df26158

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At first, he managed a0d8c42329 to answer these questions, fa625106ce but now they had dbfec652fc become overwhelming. He had efad5005a5 lived enjoying 9e623bd69b the adoration adfcbe258f and interest ec6ca1ea6d from others, 4e27cabcc5 but now 4e2b9c3622 he was 7196bfaf82 sick of d121947596 this attention. The war two 4c37b2f90b years ago had 58e1e3b02b certainly changed his 92dcdb3b11 personality.27fbce4eb1ff564a

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.6761d2e8741bf698

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Fernan’s reverie was broken by a voice calling him from close by.aadcc022aa22b21d

“Fernan, there you are.”ab73d3ca10bfdf63

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“…Ah.”1536bf642d44fe14

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.a657a369cea00db2

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Elizabeth was the only 7c85d8fe88 daughter of the Athena 1b95fe2e47 Count family and was 45d60e46bc known as the Golden bfbcc51618 Rose of Arke. Her milky-white cheeks and 5d7c562747 flowing golden hair were 2aefd2e53d quite famous in Arke.07f26a833438049f

Fernan knew dabc816f09 her well; 0567acd372 after all, a8ec3ebe99 his closest 6f828fa8b0 comrade in 17f6db2af9 arms was 5b1805eec7 her brother, 80702151b3 Yan Athena.93764700e5a43dec

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She had 12b827f86c been just dc8dd26174 a child f61eda05e1 before the 2d95114595 war, but 969df3294e now she 562c411a20 was undeniably 34329238bc a beautiful a6afdf70d8 woman. Tall, slender waist, 0e5f2ae62e and sharp features, 34a388d26f all praised. However, every time 4eb516e0de Fernan saw her, 0a82bd6803 he felt nausea.249bfef0a01d2e6a

Elizabeth was his ardent 7abc21b29e follower, to the extent c0ec5f634d that she caused a 8f12a624c1 commotion saying she would 8a493405d6 marry him, making everyone 117c7bbbe0 sigh in exasperation. One reason b4c417e7d0 he was d3c47fae3a hiding in 64b2476d01 this corner b80401e4bd of the c77090dcbe second floor 18a6c20556 was her.bc778e8959eb8642

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He couldn’t face the memory of his dead friend, Yan, under these circumstances.7ab00360e4b54145

Elizabeth asked with 97f54fa271 a playful smile, 9e4d1e0b55 pretending to be d13b8c892b harmless:efda0269c3e92c58

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“Why aren’t you dancing down there?”57abe2c67154c5f9

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”2652fb2475bcc943

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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.378733c95854f9d3

“Fernan… are you avoiding me?”2dd8c92ea88efb9d

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“I-”e13117bfe0bbc803

“Is it because of Marianne from Bringerton? Are you still thinking about her?”c93523787aab0e4a

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How many times b71e6fed71 had this repertoire 3772026923 played? Fernan sighed.87740c5c7bb282a2

“That can’t be. We broke off the engagement because of the war.”e3f4031790e57159

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His voice came out naturally sharp, but Elizabeth continued her interrogation as if she didn’t understand.c74eb9a46fec6937

“But there are many stories that she doesn’t think so. They say she cries every day because of you.”9421ffd257604f38

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“…”b69e0a413032a1a6

“Even now, I get goosebumps. If you had followed her to Bringerton, oh.”ecc0970dea3c62e1

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Elizabeth dramatically ba08f3f654 twisted her 478bcae65f body, taking 1607cdb1cf on the c2a6520eca role of f07f4cd51a a tragic e2d4159675 heroine. When had c443b9e56f it started? Her unrequited 3fecd13621 love had 5fe6a36e7a now entered cb8f7d3bd0 the realm 25df9da061 of madness.c9f4b72bddc89bb5

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.1ab481fa72a129c2

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Not only was 66874de683 she the daughter f0fcafee86 of Count Athena, 1157af3142 but she was 69b6536900 also the fiancée bf11eda9e9 of his dear 0033c138cb friend, Raelle Farnace.48625c09f9af43ea

For Farnace, who 19f3b0e568 had risen from d172569fd1 a fallen noble 2e24dc902a family with his 893e9c33d3 exceptional mind-melding abilities 6f6fdebc7f and piloting skills, 67494cd72e the engagement to 34d986a733 Elizabeth Athena was f4bbd15b27 a lifeline for 6000a003ba social advancement.ff9363874d5e4088

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Therefore, he was extremely aa37658d54 devoted to this mad f3e0eb4f2d woman, ignoring her obsession c5989a68ce with Fernan.319bb2067e2944da

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.1ac44220d728f08d

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‘How unfair.’7a3044858f808c64

Fernan sighed without 4429612892 hiding his displeasure. He muttered in a 74317bf139 cold voice again:37ad668539f3c755

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“Don’t you think I might want to escape to Bringerton because of you, Miss Athena?”f7da3c787fb77bb4

“What? You want to go with me? Oh, Fernan. I’m so happy. An escape of love.”a9cfa656a6ecc53f

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It was suffocating. The misunderstanding 7943604b24 spouted by 4fa65a0b27 the woman 834b4e1ab9 with her ecc286c29f gray eyes 1cc37140c9 sparkling was d0676254f4 overwhelming. Fernan clenched his jaw.16787b65f2f7dc30

“…How many times do I have to tell you to stop?”03190fed0c8c24d7

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“Why? What do you want me to stop doing?”c48e0f7e213424af

“These antics. Aren’t you ashamed in front of your father and fiancé?”5e1c7615436cafbb

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“That doesn’t matter. They decided everything without my consent.”f2dad20382030db2

“…”e868a83496e0d8e3

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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:e3cba2fd55fed435

“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.”c8ef0ff1e9b40115

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“No, I’m different from those fools who just squawk after you!”696c402f4613edc2

Fernan laughed bleakly at Elizabeth’s protest.324ad23069726b6e

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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?”8168ae41ec8403d0

“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.”24204cd1d5a1db01

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The woman glared bf6e7c701c at Fernan with d4b0fce4b6 eyes wide open, 524601537f filled with passion 1a0397888c that made Fernan ee0b2d7ef9 feel completely disgusted.8c62b7d4884f3ff0

‘There’s no getting through to her.’84d2143e3dd4756a

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Somehow sensing his c79cdce24b contempt, Elizabeth cried 5596eeec74 out louder and f6331b1fa5 threw herself at 8cd9c0a937 Fernan.1614c9b3b0291b44

“Please, don’t abandon me, Fernan.”229df23334fed3c0

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‘This won’t do.’39bee02a8442a0f7

Fernan quickly made e06224c0ff up his mind. There was d0121da116 only one 059fa171da way. He used c9026d5cfa mind-melding to 0296da4049 sharply reprimand 9bee13e0e7 the approaching 2bbeace35f woman.b436d9f5609dad5f

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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.78438bc42ec43fe9

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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.e40e68638b7fc425

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Fernan laughed. His reflection in her badfb20a23 gray eyes looked crueler 9e3e3437dd than ever.675e7f1f5593be9e

[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.d33b8750495c23b2

Hurrying down a small 469a6ef4dd staircase to the back 9b5f21f8d6 door, the cold winter 14c7e52d3d air filled his lungs, 36efa3fc76 making him short of 7a5560a09c breath. Since when had his 3ed6a4f480 breathing, his lungs, deteriorated 58777276e5 so quickly? It had been 75e4a49e0c getting worse since f378a923fc he inhaled a 8bb4c9bcc6 lot of smoke 9da3391615 from a burning f71ff3732a airplane engine.1bc7948f4ba1b3f3

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“Damn, I guess I can’t smoke anymore.”da58beab2582c779

Stepping out into 4d26fadcf5 the small garden e6d458275d behind the ballroom, 4d5690515c he felt both 99287995b0 relieved and an 78b25ecc1d immense loneliness. He thought he e68808a7bd was completely free 7162dc6c34 after the war, 2432ea7f24 but now he 1de36449b3 felt bound by ecf75c51d4 another chain, this 18b91ea46b one called Duke e54bdfe2fd Lowell. Moreover, the 938c2b35a1 Emperor had 75a34914db no intention 7e192f39d8 of releasing 10cea8216c him from 1225f481ec the chains eaa8beffd2 of service.2e765fe70989f25f

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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.61baf68e102df6df

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‘In the end, many more will die.’8c551a2acdac3e10

Perhaps he was becoming 18ac6e1691 a coward. Or maybe 68bd8f1dee he was f6bb746a25 always one. The knights 4874f5e89b in the d7cbf0f0ae novels he c22dbcc94c read as 92d62afb38 a boy 502aff8079 never had 5d1bd286f1 these sordid 7575fc2a35 concerns.be97d35ae6982fe5

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While he was walking a382421657 around the garden with 510fa9b206 these thoughts, he noticed 0e2ac69e84 a shadow moving in c26afa5965 the bushes.651786eabe6a5e7e

‘Is it a black cat?’3011e41be578a415

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At that moment, 1d6f6df805 the small shadow 28c1263e75 that had been 7e6b78d564 moving jumped out 7210634c15 in front of 6bd534b758 him.795fef8260ecbd97