UCT Ch 15

After leaving a99f83758f the hangar, 4d698720cb Diana returned a2298b5098 to her d05b6edfa7 barracks. The long day a98027a411 had finally come 67dd54965e to an end. She lay on the 1ab4a23f0a small bed in the bf6439b3a1 barrack, staring at the 983d6eed63 ceiling. The feeling was 31c57169ae strange, trying to 01168120ed sleep in a bb314109d0 semicircular building that 9c41a5ac90 looked like a 0e56a58a3e can cut in 05c3a02d7b half.d63c007ddb3845cb

‘What was it like before?’70b985feb1486656

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She had stayed in 6673f5e3ab hotels, slept in trenches, 8840fbde8c and traveled from place 93326bc98b to place by train, 7e4a04381a fighting in whatever battlefield 607f0dd0de she was needed. Compared to f40ef62b3b those times, 5f25430f62 this might 56aaf65951 actually be 80944b2f41 a luxury. With a shower 467963a452 that provided hot fb9aa560f0 water, tasty food, 11f26e6190 and clean clothes, ea0a463ac5 it was quite c4437f7bae comfortable.786f29151a8703bb

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.9286731454b5dd6e

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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.91bcb94db854b974

‘I shouldn’t think too deeply about it.’019a27674a8cd35d

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Diana muttered d2e12e530a to herself.7201dc884c9a3324

She couldn’t foresee what would happen tomorrow. With her thoughts left unorganized, Diana drifted into sleep.743d78697da351a3

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In her 1253e6e837 dream, the 2106da7b07 melody of b7c8957bf1 a waltz 4b6eadd49d continued to 7aa566d350 play.a6b244026de10ff5

🌷🌷🌷9ef52a4f51c3cfe4

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23 years ago, fdd6869925 in the capital df08c2b8a9 of Arke, at 1a51e5f76e the Great Ballroom a3f758335c of St. Materai Palace.992c384ebfc385e6

A winter f34a3aa0c1 ball was 95139f90f6 in full f2a7711707 swing at 19e7989a29 the Great 076d7df07c Ballroom of f7137a6718 St. Materai Palace 73ca8afe15 in the 1ffbff695d Arke capital.02f0a6bd0ed623d7

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Looking at the palace, b238c4ced8 war seemed like a ac31885d64 tale from ancient times. There were no disabled f2567d0101 veterans, beggars, or orphans 4ae64ffe1c to be seen in 47fa7ab841 the capital. Here, only a309c50819 things that 975daea9d9 the Emperor fcbada3fb1 deemed beautiful 605fa2f37d were gathered.cfe5e2dcac2de753

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.45509798ac08c697

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Fernan Lowell d6fc53831d was seated c31753d037 in a 7477a0b724 secluded spot f290fdeb19 on the 74ed1d5d0a third floor, d53bc077bf watching the 5b1e5d0bb3 scene below, 9f139cb986 a cigarette d99325c42a in his 13df79317e mouth. Going downstairs would a4ad55b8ed mean being pestered f230b48a3f by all sorts df4b6f4c57 of people, so 57dcbc0cf6 he had no 12516c30a1 choice but to 7bd447cc55 stay here.6813d7b77ccdb648

People asked for 5ae7deed84 autographs on photos, e4d188005e to dance, to 6cd698dc18 hold hands, what b380bf2966 was his most d776e0025a thrilling down, whether 66cceb9308 he would attempt b4869655c2 to break the 47689b29fa transcontinental flight record 00f24e2875 again, if he 48475fde04 could kill with e6194c2e2b mind-melding, how he d6b7ff085c maintained melding during 58e1e54813 flight.87c3acb8e3bb4aac

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At first, b1a6949598 he managed 14b267999b to answer 511d8f379e these questions, 51fe730f32 but now 9fdd3db522 they had f9d260631a become overwhelming. He had lived enjoying 7b8945db3a the adoration and interest dab6991b6d from others, but now 048bb71474 he was sick of 06d55037db this attention. The war two 3e3e754fa0 years ago had c32101d6ce certainly changed his 2c072dd983 personality.9b8f2caa02bbae8a

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.b118db36222fb9d4

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Fernan’s reverie was broken by a voice calling him from close by.4520d87260a34f43

“Fernan, there you are.”6c2d2bf944b09d79

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“…Ah.”c6c032198883dddc

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.a83798ed6887310b

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Elizabeth was the only ce00761f6a daughter of the Athena e71ed56eaa Count family and was 151cbff02b known as the Golden 73ae267c25 Rose of Arke. Her milky-white 3a59a7af1c cheeks and 54f5832c3d flowing golden 1a7ec3292e hair were 2c9e3f1c65 quite famous 46c45dbd9a in Arke.029acd893c591547

Fernan knew 37db9621e2 her well; 103a365e19 after all, 50e037148d his closest 6672ab051c comrade in 861b789777 arms was 5d4390b685 her brother, 0303dcee3d Yan Athena.be45e35c48df27c7

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She had 21779aafa1 been just dbc0140e1d a child 4e6fb653f3 before the a52bd1017d war, but 9d3f73dbb5 now she 3ff5259f15 was undeniably dd9ecea3e4 a beautiful dfa8f65b4a woman. Tall, slender waist, and dcb4577873 sharp features, all praised. However, every 925e294415 time Fernan a1506738b2 saw her, 25f82192cf he felt 0602939e69 nausea.2839731b3dab6a02

Elizabeth was his 09f814863a ardent follower, to 698243cc57 the extent that 66c7a986b8 she caused a d0beada448 commotion saying she d05de9958e would marry him, c3bb197fa9 making everyone sigh 0ac7e700df in exasperation. One reason he 420007a848 was hiding in 80082951a3 this corner of f1eb31dcd3 the second floor 8eac0a961b was her.673cd7d4790c2a46

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He couldn’t face the memory of his dead friend, Yan, under these circumstances.759faf565aa4ab7a

Elizabeth asked with 89c0a7c4c7 a playful smile, ed66638553 pretending to be 0c9c59a5ba harmless:2a22bdaaa827ff00

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“Why aren’t you dancing down there?”4c1a199e896b7cae

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”7320b3e8247a8d62

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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.9503e32529e5be7d

“Fernan… are you avoiding me?”4761fba8a6c12268

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“I-”4812dd55d3bcbe8e

“Is it because of Marianne from Bringerton? Are you still thinking about her?”65bbaf30bf1fb3ae

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How many times 07f3527333 had this repertoire b8dc8dda0a played? Fernan sighed.a88d41c27ac05c91

“That can’t be. We broke off the engagement because of the war.”a44693a2e0040941

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His voice came out naturally sharp, but Elizabeth continued her interrogation as if she didn’t understand.1e76b594c8ecff96

“But there are many stories that she doesn’t think so. They say she cries every day because of you.”97793e02d730f9d6

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“…”04bda534a0ec9775

“Even now, I get goosebumps. If you had followed her to Bringerton, oh.”c5fbc699df2b9c96

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Elizabeth dramatically twisted e2f3300b1f her body, taking c4ad6c1e8f on the role f3df0edb67 of a tragic cb7200efa2 heroine. When had it 7a821f9483 started? Her unrequited love 62692d1488 had now entered 06ecea2177 the realm of 05d2e33678 madness.d9d11ece014322bc

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.612a6623087f6ae7

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Not only was 1d83095b09 she the daughter 1546243831 of Count Athena, f6df74ae4f but she was b5042d5cbc also the fiancée bb1f3f624c of his dear fe3bcd4477 friend, Raelle Farnace.5749d287db83c829

For Farnace, who had 0daf39a551 risen from a fallen 19c4fdd8a6 noble family with his d7e1410b60 exceptional mind-melding abilities and f5758b1f8d piloting skills, the engagement 403a4b194c to Elizabeth Athena was 850425ae73 a lifeline for social c55265c13c advancement.ae478f819f682390

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Therefore, he was extremely df55d67edb devoted to this mad eedfddfe24 woman, ignoring her obsession 4399e49e04 with Fernan.06dc74633b626ba3

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.3ab7447138341f09

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‘How unfair.’6e64198f6b7ae1b1

Fernan sighed 6b037b1911 without hiding 7ea22e3b3c his displeasure. He muttered 194a23648a in a 6d1e385448 cold voice 16a53b3d7f again:3dd0461761137f02

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“Don’t you think I might want to escape to Bringerton because of you, Miss Athena?”e6868382a30de9ba

“What? You want to go with me? Oh, Fernan. I’m so happy. An escape of love.”c01285187cd4dede

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It was suffocating. The misunderstanding 75721aa925 spouted by 0d9a08853f the woman d0d6cf48a9 with her 5f5e0032d3 gray eyes 619afe11e0 sparkling was 3a490bc6b2 overwhelming. Fernan clenched his 15d883660f jaw.38929121fec868c4

“…How many times do I have to tell you to stop?”e3c61de8b8b3be21

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“Why? What do you want me to stop doing?”f1d558753bb46262

“These antics. Aren’t you ashamed in front of your father and fiancé?”f37710023c7f4081

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“That doesn’t matter. They decided everything without my consent.”9dbb7913647bbb3b

“…”9cda6b33bccf3a43

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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:b2f9efc6f1122a0a

“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.”cd3369f00c709005

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“No, I’m different from those fools who just squawk after you!”3358a21701fb3407

Fernan laughed bleakly at Elizabeth’s protest.5432adf2de09fc06

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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?”b1b9954f176a23a0

“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.”5431a9f0cd46c64b

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The woman glared at 5687d0b739 Fernan with eyes wide bb242f0c4b open, filled with passion 3afb9feb32 that made Fernan feel 0ae97d1dfb completely disgusted.0b55401d94f42b8a

‘There’s no getting through to her.’9764062bc1a739f4

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Somehow sensing his 2c17d35123 contempt, Elizabeth cried 7dffa80d7a out louder and b4651493ed threw herself at 4f5ad4a107 Fernan.c7ccf124e0b27b4e

“Please, don’t abandon me, Fernan.”d91b02c5efd7876f

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‘This won’t do.’f3f747705d258968

Fernan quickly made up 007c503813 his mind. There was only one f6f1fbf0cb way. He used mind-melding to 705e4b057c sharply reprimand the approaching 77ea55511f woman.46e3e20dd961bc21

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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.0dfa83bff4b31f31

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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.2d11f8ab5e5e6856

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Fernan laughed. His reflection 49b963a508 in her 2df627d19d gray eyes bb1ffe79c1 looked crueler 3cdb0e23a4 than ever.011682d9e948d4da

[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.2d5c547392c7bcc1

Hurrying down a small 964e34601a staircase to the back 367cde7137 door, the cold winter 6c33ef9ad2 air filled his lungs, 0c90e83157 making him short of 198a15e766 breath. Since when had his c7f90e0ac8 breathing, his lungs, deteriorated e1bf9adcd8 so quickly? It had been getting c69c68905e worse since he inhaled 980d476d94 a lot of smoke f8e13e23cb from a burning airplane aa5ae8ff11 engine.ad74a399e541f610

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“Damn, I guess I can’t smoke anymore.”07543e6e40cb3f13

Stepping out into 5cb1a52077 the small garden 93fc951393 behind the ballroom, d06358ef04 he felt both 1cd1f3c41a relieved and an b47171f1eb immense loneliness. He thought he was e5a964779c completely free after the 94f5e308be war, but now he 582cc1a10e felt bound by another ad64303911 chain, this one called dbe4c30564 Duke Lowell. Moreover, the Emperor had 5a9a761ffc no intention of releasing 2ac594e563 him from the chains e7ca7dd156 of service.5b340928d9cc0236

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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.9a8a90d650574fcb

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‘In the end, many more will die.’586e5657e82fe562

Perhaps he 9074470182 was becoming 6730b87040 a coward. Or maybe he was 936632b96a always one. The knights in the 97ebee19ae novels he read as 2edcf3eeb1 a boy never had b178def325 these sordid concerns.780c6d8fd313875d

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While he 01a10bc565 was walking 484a385631 around the 932fbf89b3 garden with 815bc1218a these thoughts, b15802ae86 he noticed 80fd07524f a shadow 4644fe4e14 moving in e585cde6d6 the bushes.4dfdf546e748000d

‘Is it a black cat?’57c1413cdc74a113

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At that moment, the f9f6f34cc2 small shadow that had a9c51d9c2a been moving jumped out c1ac71326a in front of him.810a32a900263d2f