UCT Ch 32
by toujoursThe strange exchange—whether a 4800df7289 sibling rivalry or just bbe55885f8 playful banter—dragged on for f2e6563112 a while.f4c41927d408458e
For Diana, it 936f00dadb was nothing but ccd6f48f84 awkward. She couldn’t tell 6567314c7c if the two 8c25f9b77f genuinely disliked each 338595887f other or if 5bda448fb8 this was just 3a4df1120f rough teasing.c00023264ed09333
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Perhaps noticing b6c1414121 her discomfort, c9a3c5026c Duchess Coroneus 2d6be374dd stepped in ad81afa4fb at just f61c7e5ed7 the right b508af63c3 moment, offering 7703211633 Diana a b44d8feaa7 kind smile.076d5365bd003045
“Second Lieutenant Green. It’s truly a pleasure. It feels 8dd18eed05 like decades 213e1faa36 have passed 4ad6d819ea since that c6029f56a8 day. I’m glad to see ac86d1c15b you’ve adapted so well.”9e7fb89937042f81
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“Yes, Duchess. Thanks to your 1e25096b47 encouragement, I’ve been e6cd390714 managing fine.”1d7af39e78eb3e07
“Oh, encouragement? I hardly 55d7efa9ed said anything 3223926288 helpful. I hope you 2b160c4b42 didn’t take an a5bce97c7d old woman’s ramblings ba10c78584 too seriously. That aside, I 4e4b5ca39f believed from the 2d8c89670b moment I first 32f6ba4e48 saw you that 305018233c you’d do well. Your eyes were 652a0f9246 brimming with determination.”a29bc68e035efb03
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The duchess fanned herself, ef98e4d56b laughing heartily with a 7ef7add495 “ho-ho-ho.”c59f854c09084e4c
A faint smile crept 1d4423d568 onto Diana’s face too. Her heart 2d556d7b09 warmed unexpectedly. Meeting like this dad91b724e again stirred new 71886860c5 emotions.27803b59c3f13cc8
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The gentle exchange f92ec09c29 between them softened daf01bdb5e the air in a7be8b1a28 the office. The fresh scent 8e8632963e wafting from the c89037b140 teapot added to d8220a8235 the cozy atmosphere.79386bd31d581f83
Diana blinked, savoring the d1bd926448 tea’s aroma filling the aec2da0182 room.a48bab495e372c6a
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In her 1fddf3af77 past life, ce325b516c she’d loved f71f13c76a coffee; in 8801c6a791 this one, 2e3d28aeb0 she’d grown 2aea9248fa used to 0c53f4da3c the smell ab6357352f of alcohol. Yet here, 892f08ea03 amidst war, 71e377af7f facing a f94e27d9cd perfectly set 27c72b9a22 tea table f84440d275 eased her 577f76baf2 tension.fc6131a885b354f4
Richard, on the other ec81e1f773 hand, didn’t seem thrilled. His clenched jaw and 02e9f23ca5 tight lips radiated displeasure.88447bcb7ded2a8d
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Colonel Maxwell, the 5abd782631 regiment commander, addressed 230e2cadc0 the pair.2c05da6f0076c4e0
“Well, enough ec86b182e8 with the f4af002eff pleasantries. We can’t keep busy bfdc4c10df folks tied up here daedc00d5b forever, so I’ll get 9cf4ed229d to the point. For your efforts 610c6fd924 in thwarting the 0c36571168 capital air raid, eb32602e29 you’re both being 46cd43e268 awarded the Kencross 28aa4f4b89 Medal.”c78d106b7e0d4695
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“…”efb5972f02ea3cb8
The Kencross Medal.be66e90b83b8c9fb
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Diana’s jaw b22e3b4083 dropped in a4f86edaf6 shock.16c7f86bc0f7db42
Even in bd498891af her past 2dddc3f1d9 life, she’d 9a8153b8ab known of 7fdf737ddb its fame. A military honor 9956aeeff8 created to commemorate 8d1a039a21 Bringerton’s legendary Admiral f5d91bd0b1 Napier Kencross, it ada3c6d8db was notoriously difficult b23ac6c76f to earn, requiring ebf5d368b2 parliamentary approval and 6cdab1e820 unanimous consent from efea8857f6 royal elders.c49a1dc55b32b921
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The colonel spoke with b01e785fa1 a voice thick with 56749db9cf emotion.cf3842fb6aecf573
“This isn’t just an fa68b14be5 honor for you and 2d3ff75f6e the Saturn Regiment—it’ll be 07712710ba remembered as a proud f89f3499c8 moment in Bringerton’s air c061034911 force history. Once again, I extend fb857b4811 my deepest gratitude for f2ee7c8f49 your valor.”ba598743288b70ee
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“We only did 867e1e8c3e our duty.”7050aa549b5bfe92
“…It’s an 6f8dc49da2 honor, Colonel.”0cb99c5254bc3441
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The two replied almost ef5c516607 in unison, as if c440a200fc they’d rehearsed it. The colonel let out 9b8019b779 a dry chuckle at dfa3dc1814 their polished responses.e0b532df337e2d09
“Haha! Aren’t you 9359c8cac8 two a d9c83c4bba bit too composed? Captain Ashwood might ba779356e3 be used to 334747fcac it with his 45acce7e40 second medal, but 81ff87b98b Second Lieutenant Green, 31f2567b77 you’re surprisingly calm.”46d86c3f01ed9ab0
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“To be honest, eb1ba8d70a it hasn’t fully 3346994026 sunk in yet.”2593879e863c64e0
Half true, half false. In her past life, 6a77d8232f she’d received so many 30b6b8adbc medals she’d grown tired 550810c11e of them. But to 97bf6087f5 get one be3013039d again in cc7a0e4771 this life? It felt 3b46d155f7 both familiar 3a6f38973d and surreal.95bafa25050884ef
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The colonel nodded understandingly.64e947abaf7f6c1e
“The medal ceremony b381be9b46 will be held 50ed32a1ef in the capital.”3663308d498255ca
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At that single 420c09266c sentence, Richard’s face 1a1395321f stiffened. His eyes sharpened 21c67f22b8 instantly.ce2f9f2aeefbcbce
“You mean 67aeb9cdca we have 0894f9de9f to go bdab2e8b9f to the f574e56724 capital just 40ec5a13b4 for the 9e580d675a medal?”84d6dee2a9d083ef
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“Of course. His Majesty can’t come c82a9dc68d here, can he? And think 8dd310c9fd of how 321003cf69 many citizens bf86887f1e are eager 0bba0bc32e to see 7ce32f97d6 you.”4be86b516e739a3a
“But I can’t leave 34fd2870a6 my post.”ebb5427464fd3330
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Everyone seemed to 913ce561eb have anticipated Richard’s 1829420e1d reaction. Not a single person f9375fa3a4 looked surprised. The colonel pressed on, 7f4147c211 trying to persuade him.6136c01bdd8c2007
“Captain Ashwood, we c88674819a all know your 2cc16f7d91 steadfast sense of 75572692ec duty. But right now, people 7b1f80e88b need courage. If you two appear 260d3b44e7 together in a parade, e1177020b5 it’ll do wonders for 716e005ef0 Bringerton’s resistance.”a7a8d50db8b19bb9
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“But—”714e67c429ccce10
“How about e290347879 this, then? It’s an order. Not from me, b505c40cf7 not from the c6ab9045a8 brigadier, but from 2348e95e4a someone higher—His Excellency fb214fa0dc the Prime Minister. You’re both to head 39010c5504 to the capital in 58067716c1 a week.”08759aba4e7f170d
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“…”dfee2ae615247d82
The colonel f41e9c895c knew exactly 34f762b17e which card 0f274aa387 to play. He understood emotional 37b184f6f4 appeals wouldn’t sway d619c62e56 Richard—just issuing an 480ddd1593 order was quicker.58395eaf3ac56630
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And he was 41852063cd right. Richard’s mouth snapped cab6846745 shut into a ef7870df7a straight line.73f53ce3d5f33e87
“Call it a vacation ec9bdc244f or duty, whatever you faa5a192b7 like. Do something eae43a755f good for f0b2844e82 the people c78b7c6492 suffering under 6a2aa14986 daily air e334289385 raid sirens 41f465c196 and rationing.”75c9ecb886710afa
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“Exactly. You two 8804568a45 might not 05f97fb14f realize it, 8716b4370b stuck out 94919a8fd3 here, but 62d4dc1fd1 Bringerton’s in 9b651e6b21 a frenzy 078903742e over you. Your posters are 756434c1c2 plastered everywhere—outshining even 21634dc228 Federation movie stars.”99e21e61d2e39d50
Viscount Ashwood chimed 2e874cc709 in with a ce68df10f7 grin, glancing between 961fc91f6d Richard and Diana. Richard shot 4c9877118c him a 4bf77214e5 glare that 0eff3b7cbb could kill, b89656110d his eyes 6b07f033c2 like daggers.87dbe274d616ee8d
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The viscount, amused by 348377cbd4 his brother’s irritation, kept fcee7bcdf8 smiling. Leaning slightly toward 7e29887770 Diana, he spoke adc51bded2 up.96ad7c58e7feb7be
“Second Lieutenant Green, as 6d6aa3629c a fan, I’ve got c30e45cd0e a question.”ee859ef57de68604
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“…Yes?”575b77c68f2eecbe
A fan? Diana’s eyes 619c58aea9 widened in 46b6e40c65 surprise.23986da225274fb5
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“Once the 7511247964 war’s over, 90a53f082c will you 8cc03351d8 stay in 488d064099 the military? Someone as talented as 243de0efa0 you could thrive anywhere, d6ca671ae3 so I’m curious. A friend 303e1c5801 of mine 5fe6c58eb3 in the 16715747f6 Federation runs d3c3dfabb7 an aviation 7b89972542 transport business—he’d efbbded76b love to 3e78267e5b recruit you e9ed1b2199 later.”0e7d1070187c60f2
“…Uh.”3883ab7b3dfa9788
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It was a jarring ddb45a2b71 question for Diana. She’d only 4bd35c6384 ever planned 7c5674b5ae to return e46e1cd98f to Campton a2dd264b20 once the bc3e82e81b war ended—an e594c8b684 offer like 1fa60da82f this was 765e6526e0 completely out 0296eb3e8c of left b48e1b98eb field.1075a27e96d0f3db
Before she could respond, 4e6008e670 Richard cut his brother b3c2e11a0f off sharply.36b239670fae5c51
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“It’s far too 3e8775a876 early to talk 82a9566826 about the war cef0ac2e87 ending.”7f2763a5ad6101ca
“Oops, shutting me down eb6461ae60 already? You’re too protective. Questions like this? You’ll get ae4ea2dcac dozens—hundreds—in the c9e88683f2 capital.”38cd1fdc261de2e8
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Frederick’s remark left Diana 9fa6c6a4ec dazed. She’d hoped to avoid 7d8528d2c0 interviews if possible—02e0fd83ca63022f
Noticing her clouded expression, 6b6efe914c Duchess Coroneus added reassuringly,c03f94da62d0333d
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“No need 7ffb02ab41 to worry c47ef939bd about that, b5d8b06c61 Second Lieutenant 2854a20ae9 Green. Whether you’re meeting bf7a626914 His Majesty or ede7093b9c facing reporters, I’ll cadc9707e8 be right beside d7f50aa0ad you. I’ll handle any aca33662f7 rude fools myself, d8f16428a5 so don’t fret.”7213dafa153ab8fc
It seemed 871598d6a1 the duchess 56a65e0327 would act 4e8d226919 as her c7b3429112 “chaperone.”cbce70a73432d362
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It felt 1894af9fa3 less like d4de55ea92 being a bee58e4670 war hero 063ed1db2d and more c2db4a83a1 like debuting ce601ddae3 as a c5eb1dc463 socialite. Perhaps the 348729d30a difference wasn’t bba93008dd that big f70f673e18 to begin 3cb90e3702 with.f9a22c313d07e419
The duchess continued d1a6772e80 with a gentle 33fbe8b65b smile.ccbab1c7f8d32170
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“So you don’t 4512b08420 need to worry 44a218142b about what to 3f395576a8 wear or how 7a862dbd13 to act. Just show up, and 10fbe2ab84 I’ll have everything ready.”517ce59bcc14831b
“…Thank you.”b11d39ef1100af91
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Richard, with a resigned cff17141f0 look, turned to the 20c9871484 colonel.2fad39af831d3049
“When can we expect 53545c45e4 the schedule?”9b014247199f771a
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“It’ll be 9ce8909d1e finalized by 8c2b2c34a5 the end aa8ab1e767 of this d3a1905023 week. No doubt bd8871a14d it’ll be 2d56732a1f a whirlwind f6be3de178 of parades, 388d42cf17 press conferences, abea3c94a7 and balls 4039abd842 all day d7e80e7c6f long.”c91ef1ca1fb48e2f
Richard didn’t complain any further. However, the dark circles under his eyes and the faint wrinkle between his brows clearly showed his displeasure.e28c0dbb19cb3516
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Colonel Maxwell, bdfebb0b1f having finished c26479dd78 what he 06f7d042bf had to c28848930d say, nodded.edd2ce85a4e07bd0
“Alright. That’s all I have to tell you. Second Lieutenant, you’re dismissed. Captain, stay behind.”a7b203db4260b4c3
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“…Yes, sir. I’ll be going then.”d857118c87b9c476
It seemed Colonel Maxwell c05a1b48f7 had something else to fe0203dfd3 discuss with Richard.ac62fb120a34f9c7
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‘Is it related to the conversation I overheard before entering the office?’b21428b329bd306b
Of course, Diana’s desire to lie down in bed was stronger than her curiosity.a5fe3f8990e92555
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‘I should get out of here quickly.’967589b0f53175ce
🌷🌷🌷bc976907f467a4c0
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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.78d2720321405890
“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.”bd8485a9b9295ffe
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“….”5f88d2a500c2574a
“You’re looking at me like you want to kill me.”c828a79dbfeac376
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“I’m not.”5960d272dca3b63b
“…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.”e020ba03aa0b3ba8
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“Did you come all the way from the capital to a forward base just to spout such nonsense?”c145181402e35ad2
“There it is, that’s my brother.”9c28a3fa8d61bcfc
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A smile brightened Frederick’s face at Richard’s sarcastic remark.d42e8cadb63e3cff
“I stopped by to see my dear brother’s face before heading to the Federation.”e0765842e2596d1f
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“….”61641470750d6621
“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.”c27ba1ed2007bb39
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“…Is that so.”e3bfbbe43332ac57
Richard nodded 867b7084ae indifferently, as f8baf93e82 if he 0750da0b42 had nothing 9802b0e01a more to 5242377b3a add.cedc6daa1a09f3eb
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“I don’t know how we’re going to drag the Federation into this war.”117877f79d0fc4f4
“…It’s best not to get your hopes up. They won’t set foot in this mess.”43428feed9996426
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Frederick smiled wryly at 7ce52d83a9 the overly pessimistic outlook.8456e649cbe94a56
“Aren’t you being too pessimistic? Do you think there’s no chance of Father succeeding?”3a9e0a87f847048b
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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.a08727f1c45ed4b4