UCT Ch 30

Diana read and reread the last paragraph of Carol’s letter several times. Her brows naturally furrowed in annoyance.

{There are rumors that you and Captain Ashwood are… well, not exactly lovers, but there’s talk about a romantic relationship.}

“What’s this?”

It was not only hard to understand but also hard to believe. That she and Richard Ashwood were dating?

‘Is there really such a rumor?’

Now she remembered the altercation with Captain Corington a while back. Even then, they had picked a fight with her, calling her the lover of a demon, asking if she was okay at night.

“Such stories really exist…”

A slight headache crept up her neck.

Guessing the origin of these rumors, she thought it might be from that interview. The day she was called by the squadron leader for her role in thwarting the capital’s air raid and was promoted two ranks.

‘He praised me a lot that day…’

“…I hope we can fly together a lot in the future. Your talent will be of great help to Bringerton.”

It was an interview without any personal motives, but it seems it was interpreted differently by some.

She wanted to go to each person and set the record straight, but there was no way to stop those who were determined to let their imaginations run wild.

Pairing up celebrities is a long-standing folk game among the people of Bringerton, isn’t it?

Finishing her shower, Diana groaned softly as she ran her fingers through her wet hair.

“Still, this is a bit troublesome…”

If they were close friends, perhaps they could figure out how to respond. But she and Richard were far from lovers; they weren’t even friends in the strictest sense.

No, they couldn’t be friends in the first place. To her, he was just the squadron leader of Delta Squadron and her direct superior.

Of course, delivering messages to the Captain at the base was always her task.

Also, whenever he had an idea about strategy or tactics, he would discuss it with her first (and for that reason, Bryce and Owen had claimed that Diana was the person closest to Richard in the flight squadron).

But Diana could never agree with that. The two were nothing more than ‘colleagues’ who had the best mind-meld chemistry in battle.

You could say they were in a professional relationship where they cooperate for a greater cause. But once they were off the battlefield, well…

If she had to describe it, perhaps ‘somewhat friendly’ would be the term.

Come to think of it, even that was a significant improvement from their disastrous first meeting. Back then, she hated the man so much that all she wanted was to show him who was boss.

But now. Honestly, Diana didn’t dislike Richard Ashwood. Of course, she acknowledged that he was eccentric and self-centered.

But he wasn’t the bloodthirsty demon people described.

‘Maybe I’m thinking too well of him. Well, I tend to interpret his words in the best light.’

For instance, ‘You did well for you’ could be translated as ‘You did very well. I will report your achievements to the higher-ups,’ and ‘What a foolish mistake. I’m disappointed’ could be translated as ‘You almost got into big trouble. Be careful not to get hurt.’

Maybe that’s why. To others, they might have seemed quite close.

Whenever anyone needed to pass a message to Richard, they started summoning her.

For example, the squadron leader’s orders to submit a report were relayed through her, and so were the maintenance results of the Delta Squadron’s planes. It was quite an annoying situation for her.

Fortunately, the lack of sorties in recent days had given her a break from such errands.

‘Come to think of it, if there’s no sortie, there’s no chance to even talk to him.’

They would see each other once at the morning briefing, once at the hangar, and after that, there was no chance of encountering him all day. Again, they were strictly in a ‘professional’ relationship.

Since there was no sortie, naturally, there was no mind-melding either. Mind-melding with the man always left her with extreme fatigue and lingering heat. His energy was fierce and refused to be tamed.

Diana couldn’t be sure if she had ever seen such pure energy in all her past lives.

‘If he had trained since childhood, he might have surpassed Dietrich.’

Diana set aside the thoughts of mind-melding that came to mind. She interrupted the flow of her consciousness and focused on the problem she needed to ponder right now.

‘But does the captain know about this rumor too?’

…Probably, she thought. Even if he was a man with no friends around, he must have some outside the base. Sweat began to form on the hand holding the letter. She was at a loss for how to face Richard starting tomorrow. But she didn’t worry for long.

‘…He’s so popular in social circles. Would it matter if he got involved with someone like me?’

Convinced by her own reasoning, Diana sighed in relief.

‘That’s right, just act like nothing happened.’

Anyway, once the war was over and some time passed, everyone would forget about it. It was just gossip, not worth worrying about.

Diana carefully tucked Carol’s letter under her pillow and then used a knife to open the envelope of the second letter sent by Anna. At the same time, the door of the barracks swung open.

“Diana, want to have a drink together?”

“…Why didn’t you knock? You startled me.”

Startled, Diana confirmed it was Bryce at the door and sighed. She was only wearing pajamas, planning to go to bed after organizing her letters. The military-issued pajamas were too large for her, revealing her chest.

Bryce pretended to cover his eyes and apologized.

“I didn’t know you were in your pajamas. Sorry, so please put down the knife, Green.”

“…Fine. Just close and lock the door quickly.”

With a click, Diana lowered the knife she had raised.

Bryce sauntered over to her bedside.

“A letter?”

“Can’t you see?”

“Why are you so touchy? Our little tomato-faced sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me by weird nicknames.”

Diana raised her eyebrows as if to say, “What nonsense,” and Bryce chuckled. He seemed relaxed, like he was with a close friend.

Over time, Diana, Bryce, and Owen had grown quite close.

In a way, it was only natural. The three of them were of the same rank and had similar backgrounds.

Moreover, fortunately, Bryce and Owen treated Diana quite kindly. They could have been jealous of the attention she received, but they weren’t. She was grateful for that.

Bryce still didn’t like the squadron leader, Richard, but at least he didn’t openly rebel against him. So, the atmosphere in Delta Squadron was pretty good.

Bryce poked Diana in the side with his finger.

“Anyway, are you coming to [Horsehill Lounge] for a drink or not?”

“…If we go out now, we won’t make it back before curfew.”

“It’s fine.”

“I won’t fall for the devil’s temptation.”

“Is the ‘Saint of Bringerton’ afraid of a little devil?”

Bryce massaged Diana’s shoulder.

“We just have to get back right before curfew.”

“Didn’t you hear what the regiment commander said the other day? No drinking 12 hours before a flight.”

Diana said with a stern face. Bryce just shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter. We probably won’t be flying tomorrow anyway.”

“How do you know that? Can you read the future?”

Bryce cupped his hands around Diana’s ear and whispered conspiratorially.

“Didn’t you know? I actually have the power of prophecy.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Save the drinking for when we’re on leave.”

Diana pushed Bryce away with her elbow.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. The two of them panicked, and a familiar voice came from outside.

“Lieutenant, open the door.”

It was Richard Ashwood.

As Diana hurriedly tried to change her clothes, Bryce stopped her.

“Just open it. It’s not like you’re naked.”

“…Why is he here all of a sudden?”

“How would I know if you don’t?”

Diana’s mind was filled with questions.

Why was this man, who was rarely seen even in the dining hall, knocking on her barracks door at this hour? She couldn’t think of a good reason.

While Diana was frantically trying to change, an impatient cough came from outside the door.

Diana finally gave up. She pushed the letters under the blanket and wrapped her wet hair in a towel. She held the collar of her pajamas tightly with one hand.

When she opened the door, Richard Ashwood was standing there with his arms crossed.

The smell of cigarette smoke and cold wind wafted into the barracks. Diana unconsciously frowned.

Richard was a heavy smoker. After the morning briefing, he would always stand far away and smoke. It seemed like he smoked not to relieve stress but to pass the time when he wasn’t flying.

And now, there were several cigarette butts at his feet. He must have been smoking for a while before knocking on the barracks door.