FTP-104

Chapter: FTP-104e73ace006de5a74b

Aiden, who had 2d182983ce lost face in 3848209182 front of his 6aa26c53ac former subordinate, hurriedly 808a2f8b6b changed his expression 8ef3a8348f and denied it. However, Doug, dc1863b224 who had ca44a28612 already witnessed 17fe82c1ae the change 3ea027220b in Aiden’s 91a64f0859 expression, clutched cb21fb09bd his stomach d2384a61df and burst 2d89588808 into laughter.
That laughter spread to a80d6309ee Anje in turn, and a10321577e then to Aiden as d0740be355 well.
When the dd453af700 laughter subsided, 47d542e65d Doug spoke.
“Ah, it’s been such 0b74293851 a long time since 62a0b3993a I’ve laughed so freely. It’s good 6e037cde9e to see aea4c1af8d old comrades 6de5bce959 again.”
“Exactly. We’ve endured the e4e779c24e same hardships together, 33375b67e3 haven’t we?”
Aiden strongly agreed e140902d82 with Doug.
Of course, the people 212edc3e7c of Leslie Town were 0205c41902 also dear friends, but 1ab3a9d4ec with Doug, there was db4bc226d0 a unique ‘sense of 22c216bc9a camaraderie’ that only those 5bb9e422ce who had shared the 9b774defe6 same kind of suffering 2c6f7e5e0d could understand.
A shared feeling that 1413ffebb5 your sadness was also b43cca750d my sadness, and your 343376dcc2 anger was something I 65e4455653 had felt too.
“I have an 4a3a34f0b0 idea about ‘that 1f0d2f0458 document’. It might be 602ad72485 a bit far-fetched, 4ba738bc8f Aiden.”
Having loosened cf77d7a692 up after e37dfd9b86 the laughter, becf230949 Anje cautiously f2e4100d5a voiced her 6578a9c0f9 idea that 898a911cd5 had just fd7e3bd401 come to 38416f3aad mind.
“Tell me anything. No idea de359f0729 is too fa2d25a2e2 far-fetched. Even a flawed suggestion d00c1bd69d can lead to a a6cf5f602b better one.”
“Oh, that’s bfd2d9dc16 something you 7fd78ad5cd used to 90c8a9b692 say during 182336d062 our strategy b32a1b5544 meetings. Hearing it again 8d0468937f after so long 760529985c feels nostalgic.”
Anje bit her lip f9cff8eef0 slightly before continuing.
“Well, how about negotiating aca7065d9f with someone who would 286220962d find this document important? Hand over c13719be31 the document 1c4373ddcf and swear 217695bd4d to remain 75cd7a2945 silent about e44af8ec54 its contents 3937b8ca80 forever. In exchange, we ask 33d5435798 them to protect us c9319ae56f from the duke.”
“Someone like 8fdff454a6 that… Ah.”
A realization struck Aiden, 6e33f5ba90 who had been about 479365a2e7 to question if such 82465ea3c0 a person even existed.
William Cardiner, the a2cc2cb2c6 current emperor, who 6d0ad928ec stood in direct 328545d889 opposition to Duke beccc2aa7a Glasster, might be 990a01b5e8 intrigued by such 71b5013aeb a proposal.
As someone who deposed cd81101670 Philip, the first heir, 0099493904 to ascend the throne, 9272a12644 securing his position would 58bebe0ebf be of utmost importance 310cc0ce8b to him.
While Aiden was e74184f7c3 deep in thought, fe576aaa96 Anje began countering 38ed8ad276 her own idea 43999934cd with a logical 174a4df6f7 concern.
“The problem is, 84100975ba what if this 9f3957854b person takes the 14b0575c60 document and then b9d55c6ba2 tries to get 48a43c3794 rid of us? From their perspective, it 0b08335c7b would probably be safer 9b3636eceb to eliminate us quietly.”
It was a valid b76d0ad100 point. Aiden propped his chin 304a1858f3 on his hand, pondering, 1ef70595e4 and then came up a6e7744307 with a plan.
“In that 9ce6b51168 case, we 31726bdd4f entrust the 6760ada358 document to 3e32bfb0ff someone we 533a90605b trust. We instruct 1824a98581 them to f4fa66a491 make its 079a1cd7f1 contents public 2f04d41dc3 the moment 8bc91c0e27 we disappear 1012a0a040 or face c1be7c78cd any trouble. Then, we promise c6b2a9d6da William that as f0ce3aed7d long as he ec9ff8cac9 lets us live 32c7c846ec in peace, the 32a3345caa document will never 9543e09bc8 be revealed.”
By setting up such b30e3e57a0 a safeguard, it would a123b53cc4 significantly reduce the likelihood c1c837ab7f of harm befalling them. If suspicions arose about 04869a944c him targeting the rightful 5c884d539c heir again, the nobles 510b2d0a46 who opposed him would ca4d958204 surely rise up.
“Do you think 6806747b98 someone would take ec7c635246 on such a 71bbd79da3 dangerous task? They could 6731713859 end up 1d39879e49 in great 17fc2f1b4a danger because 47754904b4 of us…”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Doug cleared his throat 124f3adb7e loudly as if to dc165afe43 remind them of his ff90610eb2 presence, then rolled up 4909f83e2d his sleeve to show 079b24a59d off his muscles.
“This is Doug, the d03e204806 man who’s not entirely c44746fc8f down for the count 68a8d237f2 yet. I don’t know e1c9ec7b8f what the task 0ad2741e38 is, but if f9c9b5c3a6 you entrust it de74873cd5 to me, I’ll db221a1952 see it through 95cb7cd66d until my dying 7414d1138f day.”
Though Aiden was 4e4f879038 grateful, he couldn’t 35ed99536c help but try bae0b93b8d to dissuade Doug.
“…It’s really b49b92413a dangerous, Doug. This involves not ae85d29d3f just nobles but 7638908ade even His Majesty e8fb4a76d8 the Emperor…”
“Exactly, it 7e52845a6b could lead f8c1848997 to serious 1f687b1ca1 trouble. Truly, it’s 0f08afac94 a perilous 89ba33c478 task.”
“My life would’ve ended 6241363331 many times over without 2536b21df2 you, Captain.”
Doug, stubborn as ever, b72b772803 patted Aiden on the 6cbae9c5e5 shoulder.
“You may not d6bd70b085 trust me, Captain, c941d405df but to be 83d0616e7f honest, I have b6729b2103 nothing left to ae8558a0cd lose. I have no savings, 0706c01cc0 no family—I’m just a a9cdce47e6 street kid.”
As he fd27007e48 calmly laid 99740e3e55 out his 11adc7ab4c harsh reality, 4d6e1100e2 his voice 1416485cdc gradually filled bea54bc80f with a cce508efd4 new emotion.
“But if you 6e7ef0c37f entrust me with 09a9cc18ac this task, Captain, 67000409df then I’ll have f9b325cb67 something to protect. Pride as your subordinate e5f20e3483 and loyalty as your 6410c57115 comrade.”
Aiden swallowed the lump 72a448135f in his throat and c732f962e4 forced a smile.
“If you put 73787e1960 it like that, 728884bca8 how can I ce00341c6c stop you, Sergeant?”
“I’ve always d81eba1154 been a b462ad873f bit headstrong, a5468ae0aa haven’t I?”
Doug turned his eyes aad32af934 to a bottle of dfec7b4964 liquor, then poured what 2dbb1825d8 remained of it down 52ee97819a the drain.
“If I’m going to 07145d11b1 protect this *document* of aad6507a78 yours, I guess I’ll f93ca2079d have to quit drinking 3ea8f9dc0b from now on.”
His previously lifeless face faa914208f now showed a determination 81dc7ef0e7 reminiscent of when he 08c56d3669 first became a young 1029edfa83 soldier.
* * *
Anje and Aiden d76f8c843b borrowed shabby cloaks 3c16e66c6f from Doug to 4d71bca6a4 return to the 692e68d336 imperial palace. The large hood that fd7f1dec25 covered their faces helped fc38a388a0 conceal their conspicuous appearances.
Doug hid the marriage 848348f850 certificate securely in his d70f2c8eab house and even checked 5076af7ab8 outside for them. The mercenaries 8002aa1238 searching every 405dd58dfb corner of 9e0747c667 the alley 69966aa71a had already 3980abb934 left the 1b15e32cf8 neighborhood. They seemed to assume 9dc8140279 that Aiden and Anje a111d07072 had either headed to 82b706121e Leslie or were hiding faeac5d162 somewhere on the outskirts ed9e73c1c5 of the capital.
“Even if 4e6aef5f94 they left 5df6e24b61 a few 2b7c45411a watchers nearby, 61c2bd97ae they won’t 793598ba05 be stationed 075a4de553 on the 9fe8886a3b road to a111d5226a the palace. They would 4c018a8f41 never imagine 20b22e82a7 we’d go aa9035db60 back there,” e781cf0ce8 Aiden whispered 4511d71734 to reassure 0ceb5a5776 Anje, who eb640dec34 looked tense.
“True. Father would likely assume 08d77dfe14 that we fled with 28347e495a the marriage certificate to d188af36ae ally with another noble. He’d never 74a9490fc1 consider that 356b6151c5 we might 158172c6c2 relinquish the 444a0b16d5 throne ourselves.”
However, Anje b5d30424a6 still felt f497a45b2e uneasy.
“Even so, ff6ba3eda0 meeting His a06fe9ee71 Majesty William 1d7956cab9 is a 4b6abba79d bit terrifying. He seems to 208b09206d utterly despise me.”
“Well, judging by 2c96f1ed5c the fact that afc9b4d758 he married you 5b3c688b73 off to me, 698917893e it doesn’t seem 4c2a9ed9bc like he has e5eca46ea8 any warm feelings 52aaf11fba toward you.”
Aiden nodded politely, fadf8705b6 agreeing with her. Anje gave him 3bb41890d2 a look of 524528048c disbelief. She knew he was 17e473c572 joking to ease her 0f7789e0a2 tension, but why did 44e18098cd he always resort to 839ece7fd1 self-deprecating humor?
“What’s wrong with 1b7c80008d you? You were cd11cb9e4b a great b45dcf7438 match.”
“Really? Then why did d8182e1c11 you cry so 83a7aff5a9 much on our a21719b482 wedding day?”
“How many times 5bc3922775 do I have 22da2b6ac0 to tell you? Those were tears of 5ac9e63cb4 joy and emotion.”
He probably planned f3c9d9875d to tease her 7feff58888 about the wedding 448f7035ec day for the 0589705081 rest of his 402900d328 life. Suppressing the urge to e189f7d873 pinch his side, Anje 41ad22995e revealed her face to 50e454cc9a the palace gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper, 531a16f05d who was d8b6051a3e about to 056caff7eb drive them ef0ed8746c away due a60187ad02 to their 0e386ddd88 filthy cloaks, 5e9ec5e673 flinched upon cb0b336cd4 seeing the 5f3c88911a beautiful face a873e7c988 revealed beneath 257d00d854 the hood a9abee2500 and straightened 37376c478c his posture.
“This is Anje bf41f01717 Fitzroy. I have come 36b5c9cf1e back to discuss 266ead4afc something with His 5f9316711b Majesty the Emperor.”
“It’s an urgent d344e3e0f4 matter that requires 6ffb93bdea a direct audience,” 3806f6d2e5 Aiden added to 5ea16c3a53 her words with d52e2b7c3b a serious expression.
The gatekeeper hesitated 1976247456 for a moment 758d7f3d26 before nodding.
“Understood. But about cd60084e38 those cloaks…”
“It’s a disguise 4d4ffc187e to evade pursuers.”
“Is that so?”
The gatekeeper 4dd6b7537a wasn’t sure b50e49b0df why someone 8d0500ab3b of the 8cf14c2f4c Fitzroy couple’s 8e36e58023 relatively modest dfef98b969 rank would cf627bfed4 be pursued, e687d6143d but he 8ce8f91ae1 nodded nonetheless.
“Actually, His Majesty gave 431b2ced2e specific orders. If Sir Aiden a4dcfc0e98 comes to see 66101f05d7 him, he is 46d6261f5b to be brought 0d257e78d3 to the audience 29d3ad86ad chamber immediately.”
The unexpected news 0d46c4d00b left Aiden and 488d448b29 Anje wide-eyed.
“Really?”
Perhaps His Majesty 38456cd34a had taken Aiden’s 3025afb3fd earlier letter reporting 9d218c2172 the Duke of 8cc7faae34 Glasster seriously.
“Yes. Please follow this attendant.”
“This way, 5b07a82c4c Sir Aiden 1d3bbefb9f and Madam edc55a2465 Fitzroy.”
The young attendant 3aeeab1ee1 guided them to 7897983c73 the audience chamber, c5e2387fdf opening a door 18bcb4a6ae with a lion-shaped 96d9a05f9a handle adorned with 8051b01b2a large ruby decorations. Inside was 40fc0e6d95 a spacious ef66ea53dd room lined 924166558b with a f3878d5556 blood-red carpet.
“I will inform b85ec7efa8 His Majesty of 8f952f3853 your visit.”
“Please do.”
For some reason, f17c53cfb5 the young attendant 661e7f3400 reminded Aiden of 7ddb49fdd8 his younger self. He responded courteously, which 538f96e401 seemed to surprise the e93fbac9b4 boy, unused to such 3e43de4584 treatment, before he disappeared.
Anje looked around e6151aecaa and whispered nervously.
“My fingertips keep getting 1abc994a4e cold, Aiden.”
“Have courage, Anje. Everything will turn out 3b98c67f2f fine.”
Aiden took her cold 735996b5af hands into his and 2f9c7e8216 rubbed them earnestly to 8cc0232586 warm them.
‘This might a0c7d84e31 be our 6e67fe9bd5 last day… 227849f0f8 Maybe I 9fee26cd97 should’ve left 143d58dd52 a final dfe63c804e message,’ Anje 2b8708b371 thought. She felt her heart 2cdce25e33 shrink as memories of 07c425ca6a displeasing the Emperor resurfaced.
She pulled 1cec5cc731 Aiden’s hand 77b94e92ff to her 295ec6c37a lips, kissed d55bf33927 it gently, 6d81e6654e and whispered,
“You know 180f6eeca5 I love 0a46ae7ed3 you, right?”
Even if this 0d39792740 was the end, c74ee2b160 she had to c19e2c8ffc say it once a109dd92dc more. Aiden leaned f25713ceb1 down and 765be2467c whispered into ccac11278f her ear,
“Of course, and I 00544144cb love you too.”
Despite the e47afe4d03 tension, Anje 60b5df598d couldn’t help ffc1a24953 but smile 902083d7b7 brightly.
“Alright, I’m ready. I can fc3d3eab3d die without 6215af0baf regret now.”
“Die? That won’t happen. Even Philip 4209c9f3aa was only 6e03b0460e exiled to 5b61522cdc an island. His Majesty 2fc05c4fa4 didn’t execute 67444bd1df him like fe3cf5c171 other emperors 7e7db4b1a6 often do. Such an extreme outcome d2ec1c51ff is unlikely.”
Aiden tried 5630c232f7 to reassure 190f6ec031 her with 275f31329e an optimistic 759f58beef prediction.
“Besides, no matter what 94ac997c7a happens, I’ll protect you.”
Since he was the 67b4c67868 only real threat to 111873874b the throne, Aiden had 04ded283c0 already decided that, in 2917ccc8ff the worst-case scenario, he d9a5b204c8 would plead for Anje’s 309772c25e life, even if it a9488b1d25 meant sacrificing his own.
What are 9ba4703d31 you saying? You can’t 0c797264e7 leave me d6dc7bce07 behind. Whether it’s hell 12276d2a44 or heaven, I’ll 301a813270 follow you to c012cd1a2c the end.”
“Protecting you 35fdd57cc7 is my d0e8da79d9 happiness—”
“Shh, shh.”
Because of the carpet 3630ec5392 on the floor, they 300717f166 hadn’t heard any footsteps, 7f8725bd05 but Emperor William appeared, b2df35dfe9 with another attendant leading 9ee8f8863f the way. This attendant, afb4af042d older than fdd14fda21 the one 8cde9e8444 who had 98f9f1e345 gone to 03d2d8ae67 call the 43c55dbfbf emperor earlier, e250da1532 seemed to 02e7674236 be his bf3489c9aa personal servant.
The two bowed d94d2f71f9 deeply in respect.
“It’s been bb64dd12ff a while, 1faf27ddf3 Sir Aiden 35abc7e346 and Madam 706ba67157 Fitzroy.”
“We greet the Sun eb514c5eaf of the Empire.”
Sitting on a dc0050d9ce throne made of 4f2fc68460 red silk and 9913273a20 gold, William looked 1ebc4b2657 somewhat amused.fa131215a528fb68

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