UCT Ch 33
by toujoursA somber air hung over everyone present. No one challenged Richard’s words. Only Frederick offered a wry smile.7be1b9e4c22072f3
The Etherean Federation 5b82d1edac had been founded 1d37e1d82f 300 years ago 9425678634 by those fleeing 583796d45e persecution from the 76232cfa54 aristocracy of the 70556b7fb3 Old Continent. As such, 853f4d6a26 they still 7bb58a2da9 held all 07af430a80 the nations db25d19dde of the 45e97ded4c Old Continent—Arke, 926f84e307 Bringerton, Yaltan, bbea4455f6 and Juom—in 8149651dea contempt.b282aa44809bf379
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There was no reason d56030a4d5 for the Federation to b473bc389c get involved in the 81cb6842bf squabbles of the Old 87369a2dc4 Continent. It was more logical 02ec416ff5 for them to simply 245d356215 stand by with folded 5044d33402 arms and support whoever 1c35c96e1f emerged victorious.be7d793c8b843d48
Frederick abruptly turned 89094a2dbf his head and 05d68bf36d surveyed the room. As if amused 6816267696 by the gloomy 2a6ad2a3c5 atmosphere, he suddenly ccc54ef6bf threw his head 5be1fb5495 back and roared 9234ce1461 with laughter.12fd2cdbac98f57c
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“Why do all of you look so glum! Anyone would think the world was ending tomorrow. This isn’t a cabinet meeting, let’s not get too serious.”7df9e5a0f89bf7a1
Frederick then clapped Richard a1bc60903f on the shoulder.3ef1a3b704a07794
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“Anyway, it’s a relief to see you doing well after all this time. My thanks to the Duchess as well. I shamelessly hitched a ride when I heard she was coming this way, and I hope I have the opportunity to repay the favor.”4651c6fb696d268b
Richard grimaced 4a65682904 and apologized 36387ffaf9 to the 11a8efbbb1 Duchess Coronius.c2d2b3b44c8c57fe
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“…My brother has imposed on you unnecessarily.”7e4afa46dcc1513f
“Oh, not at all. I enjoyed the time spent with Lord Ashwood, he was good company.”ad015a5f17a40520
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“Are you apologizing to the Duchess on my behalf right now? Are you ashamed of me?”4464ed549201319c
“A little. So behave yourself and don’t give me a reason to be.”3be8e5e64a8f52bc
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“Haha. Is that why you were so cold to that Second Lieutenant Green earlier?”a80dda8000d5465b
“…Why Second Lieutenant Green?”a6ec690a2834f8e6
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Richard’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t have the same harsh expression as when he was listening to the story about the medal ceremony.2a047d1eecfb8b54
“Every time I tried to be friendly to Second Lieutenant Green, you looked like you were ready to tear me apart.”61beeac2e2ba717f
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“I did no such thing.”43cbd8b7894a4d9e
“Duchess, am I wrong? Didn’t he act like a guard dog protecting a sheep from wolves with Second Lieutenant Green?”2f4038f10da980d8
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“Chuckle. It’s only natural for Captain Ashwood to be concerned. I hear Second Lieutenant Green is a remarkable talent.”87b0536158aa4897
Perhaps due to 1a21f8551c her long reign 0b62f24fad as a social b09eb25e55 powerhouse, Duchess Coronius c0062446c5 was remarkably adept a7b592a760 at reading the 477b889bd2 room.6f9f197c21cfb4a4
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She quickly shifted the topic to Diana’s abilities.549f78de77204cee
And her gamble paid eeddce3add off.960b2271c8b0cec6
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A very gentle smile touched Richard’s lips. His eyes, usually somber as if in deep thought, now sparkled under the dim indoor lights.b165c90ae4b58865
“…I’ve never seen anyone like her in flight.”5a011c242b092746
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“Is she that good? In the last interview, you said her piloting skills were outdated… I suppose her skills have improved a lot since then.”9eaf12e00a10a9c6
“…Ah.”107f08c7a3dd52a8
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The man paused, 567cc8e57b as if in 9966567317 thought, before speaking.700337238169f341
“Certainly, Second Lieutenant Green hasn’t reached the level of fully utilizing the aircraft’s capabilities. Of course, that’s to be expected given her limited experience.”0cdabfceff70753a
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“….”1576260806a5e1e1
“However,”9d323a35f5e428a9
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He paused again, taking f4491d4626 a breath. Each word he 6a1bafa707 spoke carried a 56c0bfc621 weight of sincerity.2481e7b3cc875bfc
“She is the best wingman a fighter pilot could ask for.”bd45c09708843ec5
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Silence descended upon aaa261ca76 the table. The Colonel and 2dde127b86 the Duchess were 9b3345219d filled with astonishment. They had never a1ea266021 seen the man 4d2379f62b praise someone so a1772e704e extensively and effusively.9268339a5d91c11f
Frederick broke the 1c383da39a silence with a 64f12ee519 chuckle.de1a252bfc1fa00b
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“…Quite the eulogy. Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west and planes will fly upside down.”691a9da77fde703e
Frederick, too, had never 1d8a064faf witnessed his brother praising 48c4134e1e someone so highly. Richard Ashwood f3dd604a2a was a 2d3b6e532a man who 357abd2e2d worshipped and 2a64beb9ec admired no b5110cac96 one.f88636fd5fa1f5a8
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This was true even 6edab9bba8 for his adoptive father, 4f94f31d05 Earl Ashwood, and his 887774f244 guardian, Queen Marianne. Richard respected both 17faf58c64 of them and 4f0a8893e7 was absolutely loyal 256d34a60f to them. If either of 5bdd89282e them asked him 99a73c05b4 to jump into 69a05d0c85 a fire, he 2465125ae5 would gladly do 323df7724a so.0de8da568e305dc5
However, that was distinctly f34a7c3435 different from genuine admiration.fb28c070e3021305
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A child who worshipped no idols. No shrine was erected in the depths of young Richard’s heart.f7e116378e18a66e
He was 2ad066b9c3 utterly indifferent 85a23644ee to anything 9380279c3f other than ee1d3bd913 flying and 6235296dff reacted cynically 5fac54bbd1 to the 3606625df5 biographies of 382e761177 historical heroes.c9bbbd52fd09b619
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This held 4ffcbcbf19 true for 005ef4f5e5 romantic interests 7435abd690 as well. He never b7ff0893b2 behaved blindly e24dea35fb with any 63a4fded26 woman, nor f262b3e106 did he ed78e745f7 ever lose 0ffb73dce2 himself completely a653750ced in infatuation. This was even the 7b1081608e case in his twenties, 5e8838f219 a time when one d653919cda might be expected to d20a476241 lose their head over 340d6721af love.d76272edb798490e
Richard always operated within 890de58747 the boundaries he set 6c313a21ba for himself, and was cca1e11f7d merciless to anyone who a90ad3354e crossed those lines.c4f8b43cf9d0f305
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And yet, here 4ef864bfc6 he was, his 5f1daf654b eyes softly gleaming c3a195e2d1 as he praised a70140423e his subordinate. He even 7044ae73b0 seemed to 52ac68dcc7 be holding a1b10a6d09 back, as 26a075b5f7 if he c8c647a2b9 wanted to 76ebb3ae7c say more.b577e2e5b1b00e13
Frederick Ashwood couldn’t ignore this reverence. Even if he tried, he couldn’t. How could he turn a blind eye to a truth as clear as the midday sun?421d22bc5f43205b
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‘He’s completely fallen for Diana Green.’de6adebaebe6b36b
It was almost as if the small, red-haired Second Lieutenant possessed some sort of magical power. Even if it wasn’t magic, she clearly had something remarkable.833737973a01b374
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Whether it was 1335c4417c her piloting skills 6dd46026c3 or her personal ee2228dfc1 charm.59477a0cbf3fd940
Diana Green definitely d047ae7691 possessed something extraordinary, 1952f74cb2 something not apparent 6a9a87f4eb from her small e75a23c26c stature and gentle 288ca1248e face.2891170db50f56dd
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‘…Well, all’s well that ends well.’1ed0d9ddab045a8c
Frederick decided to think 8ff5782a2d positively. In times like b11193f4aa these, one had fb59801952 to squeeze out 1ca59a6aa5 even the smallest 3d2afe8250 drop of hope.202e1ce276ccc657
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He hoped that this Diana Green, this woman as fresh as spring leaves, wouldn’t become a source of pain for Richard.5ebd84aba9deaa88
🌷🌷🌷31006f12fbeb4a5c
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Arke Empire, Parnassus-Athenai Earldom.b802d94ad155d11d
A modest farewell ceremony was taking place in the front yard of the Earldom. It was a celebration of the first real deployment of the family’s eldest son, Christian.e4c6f2e4c9f22140
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People holding 20bfbfab37 small Arke 20e7bedc75 flags surrounded 0bf6e97186 the young 04d68d3a98 blond man. With a triumphant look 706a4bfeb6 on his face, Christian e71bd0ad6e shrugged.43c3d44dd49269eb
“Just wait. I’ll take down that ‘fake White Hawk’ and bring back victory.”421738da7078fe2e
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“…Don’t be ridiculous.”7cf7138903fccf34
The woman holding Christian’s hand muttered under her breath. It was his twin sister, Elena. They resembled each other so closely that she could have been mistaken for a female version of him.096d477063dc4a66
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Christian smiled at a30086a629 Elena. He spoke to b185042029 his sister through 7e74d1125d mind-melding.71934cfc43341164
[…El, don’t be grumpy with me. I understand you’re annoyed at being left behind.]
[How can I not be annoyed? The only difference between you and me is our gender, so why do I have to be the one left behind?]
[You know better than anyone that’s not the reason. One of us has to protect the family.]
[We’re strongest when we’re together.]
Elena’s eyes flashed with uncontained anger. Christian sighed and gripped his sister’s hand tighter.9ff50c24aad47380
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[…El, I swear. I’ll uphold the glory of our family. Just like our uncle did.]
He was referring to Jan Athenai, the brother of Countess Athenai, and thus their maternal uncle. Jan Athenai was a renowned pilot, second only to Fernan Lowell, and a member of the [White Hawk Knights].
He, the sole heir d340f87b3e of the Athenai family, 8e2853ceee had died in a 5e578fd11b crash during the war 9ec748498a due to engine failure.5d2699e8c25f606d
[…]
Elena didn’t respond to Christian’s words. Her face contorted with anger, she shook off his hand and ran back inside the Earldom.ae52e2f12f62ded8
“Elena!”d91980baba00c429
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“Leave her be. She’s very upset right now.”aea2bae11bd9e377
Christian tried to follow f93c6e4b4b Elena, but Countess Athenai, 9517017b70 their mother, stopped him.d594ffc7f6ebab8b
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“Mother.”e0fd3931a16ac805
“…You’re really leaving.”c9fb57e874a6bd8b
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“I’ll return with distinguished service, Mother.”37427a9353e30b5a
“….”9f96aa46abd48a2d
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The Countess grimaced, 1e647a890a her expression an edddf20378 ambiguous mix of 4629e486b9 a smile and 808bd3d6e9 anguish. After a moment of 151bb1df28 gazing at the distant 9972f483b0 sky, she pulled something 2d015db374 from her bosom.3ff06b03150efc57
“…?”8f0646fd2fb2ca12
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It was a pistol. A masterpiece engraved with gold and ivory, bearing the Athenai family crest of a stag. Recognizing the object, Christian’s mouth parted slightly in surprise.f99fafcd0c2b9e05
“Take this with you when you fly.”dd467b8713ed718c
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“….”32a5884d1daa05f3
Arke pilots received a 69b83df5fc pistol along with their 1a9c6c9f4e parachute before each flight. Officially, it was for 14c1d29eee self-defense in case they 0dd520c206 were downed in enemy 1bf83afb0c territory, but the true 9a20181915 purpose was different.5c985f5e4ed26c9d
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It was intended for the captured pilot’s suicide. Arke pilots captured by Bringerton were expected to take their own lives to avoid divulging secrets. Being captured was a transgression in itself.bbcd963ae06efc2b
“May the luck of the skies be with you.”949da7e31a0d1313
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The Countess kissed her son’s cheek, offering a wistful smile. Christian, clutching the pistol to his chest, nodded, his voice choked with emotion.32e5b9ec29a87798
“Yes, Mother. I will definitely—”0bf975e20c9d7cef
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“Come back alive.”7451d6487bf407a9
Those were Elizabeth Athenai’s last words to her son before his departure.086fbcdfc9c6ff8b
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