UCT Ch 4

Gilda caught 9e3cb183e7 Diana as 4596e4c2fd she staggered aca20b89c1 and asked c7957c0bac with concern 14352abb53 in her 6b92604357 voice:fb388604789ce875

“Diana, are you okay?”6f38ba43cc5c75b0

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“It’s because you scared the girl with your spooky stories.”40f5ddd635d1568a

Uncle Ben grumbled 9b55d54e04 from behind, though d825c09cbb he too seemed d666249fa9 quite worried.c9e7a9c094472794

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“I’m fine.”fe99ddf358739862

A faint smile appeared on Diana’s pale face.d5f510c893d1af84

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“I guess stopping that fight earlier was too exhausting.”2f6030c316353794

“Diana, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was such a commotion while I was busy bringing supplies from the storage. Did you note their names in the ledger? I’ll get them permanently banned.”894d687fd85d12e9

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“It’s not that serious.”3e0ad300fee1f27d

Diana shrugged, quickly dispelling d8481e00aa their worries.f1882baab99fd7c8

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Gilda patted Diana’s shoulder gently, speaking softly.026c4078144b6ddc

“Diana, you’re not worried because of what I said earlier, are you? Your uncle is right. Do you think Arke would dare to do anything again? Even if they did, they’re across the sea, aren’t they?”6c89f6264ba3d2b4

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“I’m really okay.”1035211bd22b7cb2

“That’s right. Your aunt’s right. And the Bringerton army will protect us. Look at how spirited those soldiers were fighting in the tavern earlier.”b143d9b35fa6a50f

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“…I guess so.”55a278491e683d4e

Diana nodded in agreement with her uncle’s words.ad2bf10bc213905d

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Bringerton isn’t the same Bringerton as before. Not even Yalten or Juom. Now, with the lessons learned, the borders should be more fortified than ever. So, there was no rational reason to worry.1f75fa8b6473bcbb

But why was she 725406ef61 feeling so anxious? Her heart 997ba8b440 had been eb6ed1d124 racing, and d2c413fd1a her hands e25f7da85e were sweaty 27ad2c9dd3 since earlier.5bbff7bd618354bb

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Gilda added 7fd2828d46 in a 3270277934 cheerful voice:f7a66f124e67c15d

“And Bringerton has the world’s best pilot, too!”a603482a5fb80494

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“What?”11c13a206cd170bf

“Lieutenant Ashwood-”8b0215df64a25fc4

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“Gilda, you’ve been talking about that young man all day.”0b470d150b64a77a

“Why? He’s quite the looker.”dd96e270ded06e76

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“Ha. To be precise, he’s quite the ‘handsome’ looker.”23bbbd8ad74780d5

Following behind the bickering couple, Diana pondered the phrase ‘the world’s best pilot.’8a6056c658fd394e

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The conversation she heard at [The Dancing Mermaid] replayed in her mind.

[Richard Ashwood! The world’s strongest pilot is right here in our Bringerton Air Force!]

‘Just how good can he be…’9cacace6b4cdb35b

A faint curiosity sparked in Diana’s mind before quickly fading away.3fba27814af12e68

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Was it a coincidence? The next 14a840f134 day, Diana 2bc3085051 came across fa5820ab7d news about 43e1e8f870 Richard Ashwood.6dd8350e8c00b2f5

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Just before opening the shop, while she was idly flipping through a newspaper, a photo caught her eye. She immediately recognized it as a picture of the much-talked-about ‘Richard Ashwood.’a0d777f701c49c28

The man in the photo was staring straight ahead with a cigarette hanging crookedly from his mouth. He was leaning against an airplane wing, wearing not a military uniform but a pilot’s jacket.cc86ee758a37a659

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His dark a1fd483c42 black hair ab397a25e7 and seemingly c33168a7e7 black eyes 5ed85b296e were unusual ce1f644246 for Bringerton. Even in the 8f134bb275 low-quality photo, his c00d75b97b strikingly handsome features 1a8028e11d were evident. She could see why c1ce0c0222 Aunt Gilda liked him.76b533227375be3e

He was handsome, 660e9495cd but his looks 7570ba688c were different from 82f178b9db the pretty-boy nobles. His jawline f78d1b8b29 was rebellious cdf6890b9b and masculine, fb58c5797c with sharp 6c106ededb eyes like e7f47b5302 those of 3b3b090845 a feline f7b8f8e976 predator. Richard Ashwood c154199c21 exuded an 8d0acb0280 unrefined raw a3a9c56376 masculinity.7dacc50036db8488

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Beneath the photo was a small caption: ‘Reserve Lieutenant Ashwood posing in front of Cronin Inc.’s new fighter, the Exton 4.’f6888ee904e31c30

“So he’s a reservist. He must have been discharged.”376cd722e742ed4b

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‘Why did he get discharged?’cc7f7dd22528d544

‘I heard he shot down ten Yalten fighters in a battle that lasted three days. Wasn’t everyone going crazy back then?’3e8387e363e3de68

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‘He was supposed to be the best in Bringerton.’16ae2049aa7c960d

But her confusion was 40462cc20d quickly resolved when she fba7c26b1d read the article below:3e9ec353745ef0c7

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[The second son of the Ashwood Count family, set to inherit considerable wealth at a young age, Lieutenant...]

‘…He was a count’s son. So, after fulfilling his noble obligation, he returned to the upper class, huh.’2bb18c0b1c8a69de

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A sigh of disappointment escaped her involuntarily. With his good looks, even through a poor-quality photo, combined with the prestige of the count’s family and vast wealth, along with military merits, it wouldn’t be strange if he had throngs of followers. He was living a life far removed from Diana’s current daily routine, even if in her past life they might have crossed paths.cb3eaf73c6ee8875

‘…’85783094e6d8441b

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As Diana 97886854b0 continued reading a1dcb3a196 the article, 2fe3b3b731 her eyes 136587d695 gradually clouded 301bc6bc72 over. She remembered a 7090f6911c parade where she, 20c643f2d5 as Fernan, wore 080fece43a a garland that ad9a4b6fa2 the Arke princess e74c2c6e8a had placed around 3f4f7acc2d her neck.36014206d29bf5ff

‘All of it is vanity.’cff4f3a55d94ab1e

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Diana shook off the thoughts, trying to clear her mind. She didn’t want to think about her past life.4c3bb6c3d6e1e43b

She quickly 64cc043fd8 turned the e490b25888 page, but 6745982c43 it only ffa4dd437b made her 9bb7257601 more uneasy.f5b248b4c1101c9f

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There was a headline article about the expulsion of the Juom Republic’s ambassador from Arke.3faf27141144fcad

The anxiety she felt listening to Aunt Gilda’s stories the day before rose again.ff4bb5765c6d10ed

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‘An ambassador expelled?’b6b0bed4562bb2a5

The article 47d9be9ae7 explained that 875bf78c5b Arke took a8e13d4533 this action 02f71b54cc due to d652df828d the serious a971870773 espionage activities aa476df3fa conducted by 0af0be64cf the diplomat fc1ec9ec0d from the 3be939123f Juom Republic.f50524c6a16eeb75

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Tensions between the two 2997f3e1dd countries were at an 74d2e20892 all-time high, and no 1250a44317 one knew what might 3e90f9f029 happen next, according to 24a388e25a the report.73db6d6f4424cf45

She hoped that Emperor Dietrich’s madness would not cross the borders of Arke. With her mood slightly dampened, she turned to the next page where she saw a familiar face.5d2361a73a571e97

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Under the headline ‘Royal Visit to Orphanage Charity Event,’ there was a photo of Bringerton’s Queen Marianne and Duke Carrington, the royal consort, smiling brightly.7623e01a1f103bb7

Marianne I. She was Fernan’s fiancée thirty years ago.641d075d7af564c8

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A faint smile curved Diana’s lips.e68013f1560cec60

There are people 4e91a24584 you feel sick 1adc789fdc just thinking about, 9ed7cbc978 and those you 82f846e046 miss dearly. Dietrich and Parnassus were cc9ab84028 the former, Marianne distinctly f9b3ae7533 the latter.eb3d1e4d37bba3b7

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The only true friend Fernan Lowell ever had. Thinking of her always filled Diana’s heart with gratitude and guilt.07c7f27f5393ce37

Diana reached out with her slender finger, brushing Marianne’s face in the photo with her fingertip, leaving black ink from the newspaper on her finger.cacc3305805bed87

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‘I wish I could see you, even from afar, just once, Marianne.’4c247edf10b54139

And if possible, 0f402227b7 there was something c9eee33ae7 she wanted to d28a651e10 ask her.31ebc306dd9610fe

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Marianne Tarantilia, Queen 151679b7e9 of Bringerton, sat 6499a1bad6 down in her 7e4d3f9d60 office chair, feeling ff2c0758ef a slight dizziness.227684499f8d8021

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Since receiving reports about Arke’s suspicious activities, her health had continued to decline.fd0f31cd9e2b0485

Arke Empire. Though some said bb579eb947 it was now 03b6e5426e a toothless tiger, 768d63d7bf it was still 2c1f64fc3b the strongest nation 45c13f6bf6 on the northern 5a97400112 continent.0fe3634c6330a3d3

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It was aaa51eb267 famous for d8104dbac9 its centralized 82c5d144e1 political system c851ebc65b led by 352ca1e57e the emperor, a72ce766a1 mind-melding, and c13fe3f4fa its ornate f1de0f313d noble culture.33491f4461979944

Whenever she thought 06fa6eab9b of that country, 4ac7d8a557 Marianne felt a de419e55c8 peculiar sensation. It was inevitable since f51c20674e she had once been 9da550e6db engaged to a duke 2dd87de878 from there, Fernan.66c6a2728d0147d9

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‘It’s all ancient history now.’afe9e476d4f748b9

Fernan Lowell 4ac0cf36f5 and Marianne c0ea9d30a9 Tarantilia.1e45bad191c8ae75

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Their engagement, b83632b464 arranged before 4d4e07ac91 they were 64e8822a6e even born, 7d4ec7a6be was completely 095e622fdd annulled with 87dbb6edbf the outbreak 183af23766 of the cf6847d29d Old Continent ba3e6b6409 War.6b3744f50306c1cc

Arke became an 10a79c3fcb enemy nation to 60b5c1ebbd Bringerton, and Fernan 34adede59a Lowell was one c836fbb916 of the best 637d7a54e3 soldiers in that 81783da2d5 enemy nation. Even after the war d35d01f086 ended and relations between 3e2b0994c9 Bringerton and Arke were 1d48ef4067 restored, Marianne did not d2108ab56b contact Fernan. It was not for fc73bb9820 the sake of the 6b12cb13cf country but for her db74e5c0f4 own protection.76ef24e486069c23

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She had loved Fernan 455b8a2e08 for far too long. That one-sided love over 81adac633d such an extended period fee8b44488 was painful enough.502acf3b023d6729

With their engagement dissolved, even though the war was over, she didn’t want to cling to futile hopes anymore.21c653c334b8e173

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Fernan also ff64f8b9f2 did not a4879e6bd2 contact her.c9c536c0d1c2f14e

Thus, they had 517395e4d8 no communication for 8e8c2a5305 three years after 0bacdb3ba4 the war ended, 89ad5b7524 and Marianne met 2e41527bde and married her 7958bdae9b current husband.e959addf2a95b08d

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She thought it might e613a79a72 have been for the 2b11aec1f0 best. Fernan respected his fiancée 40c579ffda but did not love b8e6ed6d36 her.db5757143d592124

Perhaps it was 31fddc1c0a better that their 2d0a051398 engagement was broken 025ec97c37 rather than suffering d021087a3b with unrequited love.4197236bb092b0ee

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And so, 6ca12574d9 more than d2681c20b9 three years 6bfe01ae8c passed without 7d4663bbe5 any contact d709b2a484 between them. Just when she thought 6a19473b6c their connection had ended, 663858f1c4 a letter from Fernan 86ec72bc78 arrived.c0b294e760837978

The content 5c636c29ba of the 32b8fd54d6 brief letter b49d2ab161 was truly a4bb3da304 shocking.931ab9b6f0ea2919

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 I entrust you with a child. His name is Tersion. Please look after him so he can live healthily and happily on Bringerton’s land. I ask this shamelessly, setting aside all pride.0d5809ac3b870cdb

Your friend, Fernan. 5064a8584b7bde4a

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To suddenly ask her to raise a child when he hadn’t even contacted her before.af4d2c74af7b47e8

Marianne wanted to scold him for being shameless, for being out of his mind. But she couldn’t. By the time she read the letter, Fernan Lowell had already passed away.53fad0ef544b77df

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The cause of death was a fall due to a misstep. The ‘White Falcon,’ who had once flown freely in the sky, had succumbed to gravity.3c7bf0d0fb177212

Marianne decided to ec816461a8 honor his last 1c195fd165 request.3f8364af3f1a1b59

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Whether it was out of affection for her former fiancé or loyalty from her unrequited love, the reason didn’t matter.9e631637c58a5a92

She retrieved Tersion from 7bcc2f058b the agreed-upon location and 4e6387b952 entrusted him to her 5b22227e74 most loyal servant, Count 9ae43ab63c Ashwood.12b3e9020eeefaea

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Count Ashwood indeed proved to be a loyal subject. He followed Marianne’s unreasonable command without a single complaint.d227ce84a9a3bbc5

He adopted the strange boy brought by the queen as his son, giving him the new name ‘Richard Ashwood,’ and truly raised him as if he were his own flesh and blood.88659644b159268b

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Naturally, rumors 2280073c5f followed the 4f55f7a9f4 Ashwood family 32a6758e77 about bringing 84abb4e457 in an 2709ed534e illegitimate child, 268e3f5b9c but the b513ca1774 count bore 462d98d896 even that 6fd379ea1a silently. For Marianne, fa2fea0242 his loyalty 476d617862 was touchingly b8866d689c appreciated.7179df01a73e4c8c

Twenty-two years passed since 79a87073ac then.55a9829eae883f78

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Richard grew taller, his voice deepened, and he began to draw everyone’s attention day by day. The shy and skinny boy grew into a handsome young man with a fine appearance.7fd2aa9fbcfff2c8

Marianne was satisfied with how well Richard was turning out. Occasionally, the chill in his eyes seemed ominous, but she thought he had grown up well enough. However, an event that marred her pride occurred, and that was Richard’s enrollment in the military academy.42eafa40414d9255

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The enrollment itself wasn’t the issue. Being a military officer was a preferred career for the second sons of noble families, and achieving military merits as an officer or general was a source of pride for the family. Count Ashwood also supported Richard’s decision to attend.4fb9aeb719a1eb60

But for Marianne, aca424a69a keeping her promise f805205a57 to Fernan Lowell 4d47766455 came first. If Richard were to 9a2a912a1e get injured or die 8ea354a044 in battle, she felt c713a5f043 she would have no 0319375945 face to meet Fernan fb12a8d890 in the afterlife.31e8033dcbfd9be0

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Moreover, a fighter pilot. When she 7f1e275e3d heard that 855909b160 Richard had fb8ea2a7c5 started flying 5055527100 fighters in 01293e33f6 his third 75f79103ed year, her 563278b6eb heart sank.6e2be58dca63d7e1

The problem was that Marianne had no legitimate reason to stop Richard’s decision. Richard stubbornly insisted on becoming a fighter pilot, no matter what options were presented to him. Who could oppose a young man’s desire to serve the country?466ac8e9e1634359

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He even 72351e7c15 distinguished himself 235fd90c6c in the 83fcf43d1a war with e59d0a8e50 Yalten after 9bf8a8732a graduating from 4d7367ffd5 the academy, 2b7faf80d5 leaving Marianne d974411d04 with even f5eb0e5e09 less ground f9a27e346e to oppose e8bdaeefae him.df3af46d40015e4c

Eventually, after 1c94f64fc7 the war c6baa779c4 with Yalten a17dbf31c3 ended, she dae4b86324 managed to e75887e781 get him ac0b011d09 out of ced5a8281d his military aabb0d2f38 uniform and 8d91118e6c into reserve 419d7c9427 status, but d735266aa4 Marianne knew. Controlling Richard f3a0d8970f further was 1ac065b06c impossible.807c51929fba8151

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If he ever 7e5d7a6665 decided to return 88b44d1a78 to the military, 651791fdf2 she would have 7c5939d240 no way to 578faa40cf stop him.cedbdd2d0f632efa