UCT Ch 32

The strange exchange—whether 617feb982b a sibling rivalry c1cf1a483e or just playful 7793d70439 banter—dragged on for 9a80817c88 a while.246fd0abef9e43f6

For Diana, 40a22d3a72 it was 4c590eab5f nothing but d4029fe18f awkward. She couldn’t c320d95909 tell if 86e4e8e886 the two e2cb3001ff genuinely disliked 89c31f8b5a each other 751b575346 or if 267cffe673 this was 24ebecc82e just rough 7d60345c96 teasing.721b6516182e63ee

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Perhaps noticing her c56951d275 discomfort, Duchess Coroneus 79b52c924a stepped in at 22ca71d04f just the right 26e8b74986 moment, offering Diana d15d11bed9 a kind smile.f660517abc5628cd

“Second Lieutenant Green. It’s truly a 5dc6365c05 pleasure. It feels like 7003c346c2 decades have passed 0e3e876396 since that day. I’m glad to see 8d325b6b1d you’ve adapted so well.”2f368862d564152b

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“Yes, Duchess. Thanks to fb7f81b498 your encouragement, f55d33b27b I’ve been e047e6e5ce managing fine.”45cc9f974a214d9a

“Oh, encouragement? I hardly said c84004abcb anything helpful. I hope ad948b5273 you didn’t 09ca4e80c4 take an 3e4a203bdd old woman’s f340876f40 ramblings too bd4e067131 seriously. That aside, 1d7e79eec0 I believed 33da4bf0be from the 12572de3a8 moment I a17d5400b8 first saw 10a0427384 you that 340f638ad8 you’d do 9a96acde45 well. Your eyes were brimming 768c79cc7e with determination.”8b28a2ce1f9ff327

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The duchess fanned 902ae9a17d herself, laughing heartily dccaf9cae2 with a “ho-ho-ho.”4898394f392e7dac

A faint smile crept 13e6f465fa onto Diana’s face too. Her heart warmed 5c6598b7a1 unexpectedly. Meeting like this 4457ba690a again stirred new 1eca6431e2 emotions.07551a66a3484316

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The gentle exchange 84d4e481b5 between them softened eeae33d1c0 the air in bd81770773 the office. The fresh scent wafting 6a29bb0bbd from the teapot added 231e8470d9 to the cozy atmosphere.5dd9ae881002e389

Diana blinked, savoring the ea3eb60439 tea’s aroma filling the a9075ebeb8 room.9c8c937790292991

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In her past life, 4daef884aa she’d loved coffee; in 570dc54710 this one, she’d grown 7a90d905ab used to the smell 06ba59752f of alcohol. Yet here, amidst war, 28e7d4ce9e facing a perfectly set fdef23de2c tea table eased her f1cc3874f9 tension.2e6e71b01f6015c5

Richard, on f177b42925 the other 95b12e6603 hand, didn’t 7b073a71cd seem thrilled. His clenched jaw 6dc1364802 and tight lips 31cea9fd6b radiated displeasure.a0ec99de60338a54

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Colonel Maxwell, the aa696828c5 regiment commander, addressed dd4f899e1d the pair.c0aed303462f9b9c

“Well, enough with 1c95571900 the pleasantries. We can’t b0f356bf60 keep busy f849d0729a folks tied 0acdb7fe1a up here d785b4d3b2 forever, so 39007330a2 I’ll get f24f626886 to the dc333919be point. For your d6ccca9895 efforts in 0508817ac5 thwarting the a6ee19b52c capital air 01a9f34ac1 raid, you’re 73fad58a1c both being 23c3820546 awarded the dd91c740d4 Kencross Medal.”66f31a0d8e7766a5

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“…”dae558e2947b6e98

The Kencross Medal.34c6ede2de97e4a7

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Diana’s jaw dropped 0d93fe6ecf in shock.792cba3f461da1b4

Even in dd3b8763f3 her past ec5f009d63 life, she’d 702787edac known of 92d08db8e8 its fame. A military 32cae42ed7 honor created 5dad5b454e to commemorate c3d10cd671 Bringerton’s legendary 3e3fc8aff5 Admiral Napier e88ed2abff Kencross, it acb66adaff was notoriously 6690db3caa difficult to 12a65ca0bc earn, requiring a367d95fd9 parliamentary approval bda9c8acd7 and unanimous 595add37dd consent from 376b01052c royal elders.21f1113e0fbbe33d

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The colonel 2b0710c1f1 spoke with 9beba04e92 a voice 58eb34b45a thick with 2dfd40b607 emotion.50c984cd5f6204ed

“This isn’t 08ba389a41 just an a400062bb7 honor for 55c9d914da you and f20fde8bdb the Saturn 7cc926e501 Regiment—it’ll be 66aabba28a remembered as 278be59322 a proud d2adceae07 moment in 9c6f0dd538 Bringerton’s air 6166d6fd5b force history. Once again, I e9d03aba8a extend my deepest 86621b9c56 gratitude for your 8bffa4d2a3 valor.”ee629a16cb1a7055

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“We only did our c47ea3d65b duty.”62764c3c03dbef88

“…It’s an honor, 862b9bc2cd Colonel.”277d0f846987a358

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The two replied almost cef3f5032b in unison, as if d7b8446794 they’d rehearsed it. The colonel let f6b1a4d149 out a dry 8fba74f6bf chuckle at their ae5596fcfd polished responses.3903e84158d62c75

“Haha! Aren’t you two a25258d9bc a bit too composed? Captain Ashwood might be d3051aec71 used to it with 2175a8df30 his second medal, but 33454d0057 Second Lieutenant Green, you’re 845d48fb44 surprisingly calm.”b493445d166d572a

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“To be honest, it eaf7c09bee hasn’t fully sunk in 6da11b433b yet.”2d756a5f2e1074dc

Half true, 21a145d76e half false. In her d5a9197245 past life, 559bfd0f76 she’d received b7b8ec00c4 so many 94793d7933 medals she’d 3d2388eaaa grown tired 6f3dd7de85 of them. But to get 068ed2a0b0 one again in 7579265e7b this life? It felt both 14373a35e3 familiar and surreal.08759e049feab474

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The colonel 0b82fe84c5 nodded understandingly.de8043e0632eefca

“The medal ceremony c53a78dd70 will be held 110954e262 in the capital.”e8e39235ddfc01de

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At that 48527b6c02 single sentence, b7d4633572 Richard’s face 34e4e01d0c stiffened. His eyes sharpened instantly.8bcfde10f017530c

“You mean we 5ea30a65da have to go 52430084f1 to the capital cec58170ef just for the 8492adffb7 medal?”5dde2291bca64f7b

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“Of course. His Majesty can’t 3a5fa6b4d7 come here, can a8d80cbdfc he? And think 05aa16923d of how 095cc96ec2 many citizens c7935cd37e are eager f7afa5a021 to see d4ca8fdc9f you.”636327c41202e749

“But I can’t 181734b624 leave my post.”361ca60378ca51c7

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Everyone seemed to have dc9c2f8bd5 anticipated Richard’s reaction. Not a single person 371ccbef49 looked surprised. The colonel pressed c3dbd14997 on, trying to 2c45759ec6 persuade him.d9e1faf8a071a65f

“Captain Ashwood, 68dbaa5122 we all f8aa53b205 know your 78bc60c352 steadfast sense 6638ae1c95 of duty. But right now, 93fd117e05 people need courage. If you two 53f4d1779a appear together in 24d0bf0b00 a parade, it’ll 2ef0e5801f do wonders for 83523af3c6 Bringerton’s resistance.”28af5f6e953e941f

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“But—”501dc1a13581f3cf

“How about this, then? It’s an order. Not from 5e72960328 me, not a0fbfe0111 from the ae83e093c9 brigadier, but a1cb7ac330 from someone 2c14a62283 higher—His Excellency cb10785c47 the Prime af1447f5ab Minister. You’re both to head aba44d3040 to the capital in 0dadc8e2bf a week.”b8b3b1125b90d01a

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“…”093d6c832c6e355b

The colonel knew e4d4c583f8 exactly which card 88b097d139 to play. He understood 191e55e358 emotional appeals 7115ae8d99 wouldn’t sway 193cf301ec Richard—just issuing e9407db3b3 an order f3907b29aa was quicker.0c9450ea8a36828e

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And he was right. Richard’s mouth snapped 5fd83cbcc1 shut into a 4b229645f0 straight line.8a2955b2ca59c17a

“Call it a vacation b2351e2fcf or duty, whatever you ad7a11c0af like. Do something 821d23be80 good for c4aea29731 the people cdf3f268b0 suffering under ba248e128b daily air 2faaef5fe7 raid sirens 992be5e996 and rationing.”18f77d0d80ee76c7

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“Exactly. You two 1b71620dec might not e840496254 realize it, d92f5e230e stuck out 247c2ff0a1 here, but 6b8177e87d Bringerton’s in 4663fc3ffb a frenzy 2fd4f2e84f over you. Your posters are 04e932fc05 plastered everywhere—outshining even 1939a94c06 Federation movie stars.”90624bd5be3c268c

Viscount Ashwood chimed in edf70f6927 with a grin, glancing 67d3442296 between Richard and Diana. Richard shot him d6cecc7466 a glare that f3f32e6c98 could kill, his 34f41eb5c4 eyes like daggers.755cf744b76b1d8f

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The viscount, amused 7542cad28f by his brother’s 8b8df451fc irritation, kept smiling. Leaning slightly toward 7a073472d1 Diana, he spoke 3273c9ce41 up.93074af337a3d4ee

“Second Lieutenant 5ae4db002c Green, as 13c7ef9df3 a fan, 7514d7d301 I’ve got e8f9121440 a question.”9bfb6a7dcc944e42

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“…Yes?”a8d5350b31d20bb8

A fan? Diana’s eyes 58e591750a widened in 838b17a1f4 surprise.bb2cefae4921a60b

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“Once the 4492afc342 war’s over, 4e1255b4e0 will you 80e02f5781 stay in ed8e1f6e2e the military? Someone as talented as f6f082e9d3 you could thrive anywhere, 1f4fb2a80b so I’m curious. A friend of mine 9c3485321d in the Federation runs a643ea533a an aviation transport business—he’d d449d5d5df love to recruit you 32355f04f8 later.”a8f0bc03c37d0281

“…Uh.”ac63b6119c60cf51

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It was 060f9af6a6 a jarring 8c64ecd8d9 question for 8cbcd4a089 Diana. She’d only 184f0e50eb ever planned 721f364cc3 to return 3b98ed1861 to Campton 44f5d5779f once the fd5e92d4a6 war ended—an 5cdf416bd9 offer like 2d781ef81b this was f621e43d6a completely out 32915c0678 of left 4842169cd1 field.bbc4eb0c6dfd2bc2

Before she could respond, a24eefe263 Richard cut his brother 3382474af5 off sharply.ce231c175793b1dc

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“It’s far too early 69297ab9c7 to talk about the 4c60d6e187 war ending.”ab973f6da52f73f1

“Oops, shutting me 8cfa0a8385 down already? You’re too protective. Questions like this? You’ll get dozens—hundreds—in 7135fa3260 the capital.”55c606ca0c47e267

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Frederick’s remark left 548239b08a Diana dazed. She’d hoped to 545ab0b382 avoid interviews if 0eadb1b6b2 possible—b3e9b8adcad3363c

Noticing her 7fcd4341ad clouded expression, cebcb6d79a Duchess Coroneus 200517b600 added reassuringly,f51a2d2f502ee132

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“No need to aa4fa80857 worry about that, 191bee1bf5 Second Lieutenant Green. Whether you’re bf53b20877 meeting His 4f28c63378 Majesty or c430a7fd6a facing reporters, 8c4f563a14 I’ll be 20a042d157 right beside 2363d0af7c you. I’ll handle any d1a28a5176 rude fools myself, 5e120234f9 so don’t fret.”cd30b408136c92a6

It seemed 81365f5e4a the duchess 6f0762865e would act 1e9ab4d551 as her ef1b2babd4 “chaperone.”0c6fa98b3f76491c

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It felt c9675509ca less like 7570e49dc7 being a 32b67cb75e war hero e6c88d0e5a and more a26c6ed276 like debuting 9d120738d2 as a b44c3d9a25 socialite. Perhaps the difference wasn’t 607f51ce3f that big to begin 387aa4ce8e with.ecc83fff5c3da6ca

The duchess 5034c0edd3 continued with 5e7766de02 a gentle b372a050b9 smile.8e99152c7b996702

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“So you don’t need 6e72dfe0de to worry about what 39b70e9851 to wear or how 250d02aeee to act. Just show up, and 54bf66189b I’ll have everything ready.”f24af6751050bd1b

“…Thank you.”69d34bde130c63b9

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Richard, with a resigned 537e5fdd88 look, turned to the b25036a127 colonel.53806a9a525d3e7e

“When can we 4f64a6141f expect the schedule?”34f4e3bd84ee7d80

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“It’ll be finalized by cf549ffc98 the end of this c5a98e929f week. No doubt it’ll bfa9dbb26e be a whirlwind d45c9f4e3b of parades, press d3e46a8579 conferences, and balls 363e9111bc all day long.”3f34a544ac5fa18f

Richard didn’t complain any further. However, the dark circles under his eyes and the faint wrinkle between his brows clearly showed his displeasure.dbf8c8f8fbc36329

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Colonel Maxwell, having f24a725563 finished what he 52845aef17 had to say, 3a6b9ca029 nodded.060d983bbe7a4bfe

“Alright. That’s all I have to tell you. Second Lieutenant, you’re dismissed. Captain, stay behind.”6d798eef85c3336c

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“…Yes, sir. I’ll be going then.”7388f128446c3f46

It seemed ce7eaf12dd Colonel Maxwell 62914333cf had something 35adf13498 else to c4999a6f9b discuss with 280ce13d18 Richard.8432851006a47837

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‘Is it related to the conversation I overheard before entering the office?’05e37b66f2427b9d

Of course, Diana’s desire to lie down in bed was stronger than her curiosity.2ad0b0d1f81a2b3c

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‘I should get out of here quickly.’9478be39bb18a298

🌷🌷🌷ef5132dbafad338a

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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.8b432e796e705cb8

“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.”c7c42ce5e889b5ac

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“….”4b11cb3a162000d0

“You’re looking at me like you want to kill me.”e588595bc4aeea31

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“I’m not.”cbe5dce8ec03c9aa

“…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.”d92bd8bc820c9332

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“Did you come all the way from the capital to a forward base just to spout such nonsense?”5861718535a1b531

“There it is, that’s my brother.”7ef9b2334e0fec27

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A smile brightened Frederick’s face at Richard’s sarcastic remark.728c0af78c4e1718

“I stopped by to see my dear brother’s face before heading to the Federation.”1a3319f0edc14b67

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“….”d35d5c647972ed3e

“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.”3829ae62badfaf43

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“…Is that so.”4044bdd3c1c72333

Richard nodded indifferently, 34e0bfae29 as if he f98456db67 had nothing more fd20b25bf1 to add.cd5077360213eaaf

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“I don’t know how we’re going to drag the Federation into this war.”ad9aed3b0565895e

“…It’s best not to get your hopes up. They won’t set foot in this mess.”c44652b0f5698782

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Frederick smiled wryly 3045f0ebd0 at the overly 553ef5dd6a pessimistic outlook.9df8137c99a36ed0

“Aren’t you being too pessimistic? Do you think there’s no chance of Father succeeding?”68777a0ad0693d49

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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.28be157e8e993c50