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| === Prologue Chapter B ===
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| ''"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."''
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| '' - Aurelius the 'Philosopher King', Emperor of the Inner Sea Imperium''
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| The next three days felt surreal in Lydia's memories. Their engagement was short, as Aleksei was keen to fulfill his great-grandfather's dying wish while he still had the chance. The entire Lisitsyn family and their near friends had been summoned for a hastily-prepared wedding ceremony on Friday -- the holy day for Freyja, the Goddess of Love and Fertility. There, on the sun-drenched, golden shores of Lake Velikaya, they married in a private ceremony.
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| Their wedding would follow the aristocracy's Hyperborean customs, with the bride sailing down the river and arriving at the beach by boat. Thus, Lydia sat nervously in her flowers-decorated chair, wearing a pure white dress with a floral wreath upon her head. She had been cleansed and purified prior to this moment: an entire day spent in the sauna to 'wash away' her maiden past.
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| The audience was full of strangers that she did not know, and even from the distance she could feel disapproving gazes from quite a few.
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| "The eldest marrying a servant. What a joke..."
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| "Nothing but a youthful fancy; she is kind of cute..."
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| "Young and naive. He'll be able to mold her however he likes..."
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| Lydia found their voices impossible to block out as her boat drew closer. Her heartbeat accelerated as unworthy concerns began to circulate in her head. She closed her eyes and exercised her ritual of deep breathing to calm herself, although her lungs were limited by the corset that squeezed around her waist for the first time. She thought back to the moment when she accepted his marriage proposal, and Aleksei lifted her with a hug as he sang with pure and joyful laughter.
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| ''They're just gossiping,'' she tried to convince herself. ''They don't know him.''
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| As her boat drifted near the sandy shores, she heard the groom wading into the water to receive his bride. Aleksei made quite a scene as he ran up in great splashes and took her into his arms. He cradled her over the water as he unexpectedly spun twice, and Lydia gave a frightful yell as she tightly wrapped her arms around him.
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| "This is ''our'' day," he whispered into her ears as he strode back toward the shores. "So relax and enjoy yourself!"
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| Lydia's heart was still pounding as she gulped down fresh air. She never did react well to surprises, though as she recovered she smiled back.
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| ''He did that on purpose!''
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| Aleksei's steps were almost dancing by the time he made his way back onto dry land. He laughed and spun her several more times among the crowd, showing off just how happy he was with his new bride. Even the little acerbic whispers that Lydia had heard stopped as he set her down on sand. There, a Hyperborean priestess approached her with a silver sword in hand.
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| "Lydia," the middle-aged woman in red robes handed her the ceremonial blade. "You must hold this sword as a symbol of your devotion and the bonds of your family."
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| Lydia nodded as she picked up the heavy grip and raised it upward before her eyes. Meanwhile Aleksei drew a similar silver blade from his scabbard and held it before his gaze. Lydia had heard from his cousin -- who came to prepare her for the wedding -- that Aleksei had to 'break into' the grave of an ancestor to retrieve the placed sword. It was a symbolic representation of his rebirth from boyhood into man.
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| The bride and groom then turned to face one another, and Lydia smiled nervously as Aleksei made a cross-eyed look at the two blades between them.
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| "The rings."
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| Aleksei's younger brother Dmitriy stepped up to the priestess' beckon. He handed her two rings in white platinum-gold, which she soon placed on the tips of their silver swords.
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| "Aleksei," the priestess gripped both of his cheeks and stared into his eyes with their noses almost touching. "Do you swear to the Gods that you wish to marry this woman? To love and to protect her in the place of her father?"
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| Lydia turned to glance at her mother in the crowd, who pushed the elderly Baron upon a levitating lounge chair. Her mother's eyes were glazed with pride and joy, despite the dark rings that made Lydia look wistful -- she had to burden her mother with all the caretaking duties these past two days.
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| ''Father, I hope you'll be proud of me today as well,'' the girl's eyes glistened as her groom solemnly declared:
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| "With the Gods as my witnesses, I swear."
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| "Lydia," the priestess then faced towards her, both hands forcing her to gaze into a pair of heavily-shadowed, striking blue eyes.
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| It was a sight that represented the witness of the Gods.
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| "Do you swear to the Gods that you wish to marry this man? To devote yourself to him and no other?"
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| "With the Gods and the Protectress as witnesses," Lydia smiled back. "I do so swear."
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| The middle-aged priestess nodded back at Lydia, an acknowledgement of their mutual acceptance of the other's religious beliefs.
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| "Now, cross the swords and exchange them."
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| Aleksei and Lydia tilted the upright swords, so that the ceremonial blades were crossed. Their fingers fumbled a little as they switched the handles between their hands, all while balancing the two rings at the tips.
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| It would be a sign of great misfortune -- perhaps even the disapproval of the Gods -- if they had dropped.
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| "Aha!" Aleksei exclaimed as the two finally managed, and Lydia couldn't help but giggle as she exhaled a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding.
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| ''He's purposefully making a scene to help me relax,'' she adored.
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| Even the Hyperborean priestess laughed as she continued her explanation:
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| "The swords represent the union of two families, and the exchange of the bride's devotion for the groom's protection. Now, you may take the rings and bestow them upon each other."
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| With one hand shakily holding onto the hilt, Lydia reached up with her other fingers and took the ring off her 'devotion' sword that was now in his hands. She carefully slid the wedding band onto his waiting finger, before he returned the favor for her.
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| The runes surrounding each band glowed faintly as both rings set into place, sealing the contract as the new husband and wife beamed at one another. The rings were impossible to take off so long as both of them were alive. It represented the lasting dedication of their bond.
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| "And with that, you are married!" The priestess declared in a joyous voice. "May the Gods bless you with happiness and many sons."
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| ...
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| It wasn't until later that night when Lydia's nerves returned.
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| Aleksei had lifted her between his arms and carried her back inside. He lowered her only once they reached his large, cushioned bed, where Lydia gulped nervously as she looked about the bridal bedroom. The candles were scented and the fires were lit. Everything had been prepared for a night where the newlyweds were expected to consummate their marriage.
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| Despite her exhaustion from the day's events, Lydia's every sense was running at full awareness. She almost jumped when Aleksei sat down behind her. His gentle fingers caressed up her arms to her shoulders, baring them as he pulled her gown down just enough to kiss her shoulder blade.
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| "S-Sir..." She uttered, her voice quivering like the rest of her body.
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| "We're married now, Lydia," Aleksei breathed into the back of her ears, causing a tiny yelp to erupt from her lips.
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| "You should call me 'husband', or better yet: just Alek."
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| "A-Alek." She stammered. She had heard it so many times, yet it felt so ''alien'' coming from her own lips.
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| "I should... go switch with my mother..."
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| Lydia thought about how this would be the second night when her mother took care of the Baron without any breaks. She tried to turn towards the bed's side, but it was impossible with Aleksei's arms around her while he leaned over her shoulder.
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| "Wait until tomorrow," his husky whisper brushed her ears. "Your mother will be glad to give you your wedding night. And in the morning, I'll join you at Greatpa's side."
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| The young bride closed her eyes as she felt his fingers reach down to her waist and thighs.
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| She didn't want to reject him. She didn't want to hurt him. Yet...
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| She wasn't like normal human girls. Samarans had little desire for coitus to begin with, let alone her memories from her past life.
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| "A-Alek. You... You prom--"
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| Perhaps it was the tears in her voice. Perhaps it was because her trembling grew obvious. But Aleksei pulled back as if in a rush. He then maneuvered her to his side before wrapping his arm around her thin shoulders.
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| "Sorry. You were so cute that I went too far teasing," he reassured her with a warm embrace and a kiss on her head. "Don't worry: I won't refute a promise. I won't force you before you're ready.
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| "Besides," he joked. "You still have a few more years to fill out."
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| Lydia relaxed her breath as she nodded, feeling her gratitude intermix with relief. She read enough stories to know that men often changed after they secured the girl in bonds of matrimony. Once married, a husband could legally take his wife by force and nobody would raise a finger, especially for a girl who wed above her social class.
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| Her trust in Aleksei did proved correct. Though she nevertheless felt a hint apologetic.
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| "Sorry..."
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| His hand went beneath her chin and lifted them until their eyes met: deep emerald and clear cyan, reflecting the light from each another.
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| "You're fourteen. Last few days but still ''fourteen''," he emphasized. "I'm the one who forced you into an early marriage to satisfy my Greatpa's wish. There's no reason you should feel apologetic. If everything went normally, we would have gone at least few years before we exchanged rings."
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| ''If everything went normally, we might have never met,'' the regretful thought drifted into Lydia's mind.
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| Would she trade her current happiness back for her father if she had a choice? Lydia knew there was a part of her that wouldn't be able to let go, and she felt guilty for it.
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| "Besides," Aleksei then continued. "I'm not expecting any children until I finish schooling and establish my career," He hinted at the year he had taken off to spend more time with his Greatpa. "I want to have the time to be a proper father, unlike mine who barely stays at home," he expressed with longtime acceptance in his voice. "That'll probably take until you're thirty. However, since our Samaran children won't just inherit my magic, it would be nice for the Barony's succession if you could become the mother of a Sage."
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| For a moment Lydia looked horrified. "I'd have to raise ''a hundred'' kids!" She thought of the odds.
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| After all, her new husband was in the direct line of primogeniture succession. Polisia's agnatic-cognatic laws preferred sons, though if there are no male heirs then a daughter could succeed as well. But regardless of gender, one must have magical affinity to be legally accepted as the heir to a title of nobility.
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| Aleksei, however, laughed it off with a hearty grin.
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| "You really do take everything seriously don't you?"
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| A shade of scarlet crept back up Lydia's cheeks. "Sorry. But... your--"
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| "Don't worry about it," he pulled her into his chest before giving her head another kiss. "We're treading fresh waters on the inheritance laws. There has never been a case of a noble marrying a Samaran until now. But who knows what might happen between today and a century from now? Even in the worst case scenario, I still have brothers to carry on the Lisitsyn title."
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| ''He didn't say the other alternative.'' Lydia tilted her head as she gazed upon her kind husband, who offered so much to her and her family.
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| It was at that moment, when she made a promise to herself:
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| ''If Alek ever desires a concubine, especially for an heir, I swear that I will not interfere.''
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| ''I owe him that much at least.''
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| <nowiki>------ * * * ------</nowiki>
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| "I can't believe I'm standing here."
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| The sixteen years old Lydia stood awestruck as she gazed up at the Ilmen Academy's smooth limestone entrance. This was the highest institute of learning in all of the Polisian Federation. Only the children of aristocrats and wealthy yeomen could receive an education here. Her late father had no chance of paying for tuition even if he could get her enrolled.
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| "Well, I've attended for three years already and I've never just ''stood there''," Aleksei joked, before chuckling as Lydia gave him a playful slap on the arms.
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| "You make me sound like a country bumpkin."
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| "Even if you are, you're ''my'' country bumpkin," he pulled her closer while returning a handsome grin. "And that's what matters."
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| Lydia felt her cheeks flush as she looked away and took a constrained breath. She didn't ''dislike'' the warm embrassment that he often brought her, but even positive feelings could build up an to overflow. The corset that she now wore every day proved a hindrance to her calming exercises yet again. Nevertheless, she needed the ritual at least a dozen times per day to not feel overwhelmed by its end.
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| "Brother!"
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| Lydia heard the yell from her right, before seeing the lanky figure of Aleksei's second brother Dmitriy run up. Unlike Alek, Dmitriy caught a face full of adolescent pimples during his last growth spurt. Though the tall and playful seventeen year old didn't seem to care as he happily gave Lydia an exaggerated welcoming bow.
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| "Sister, may I welcome you to our great and wonderful Academy. You're probably one of only twelve ladies accomplished enough to be on campus."
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| He then took her hand and kissed it.
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| "Thank you, dear brother," Lydia beamed back.
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| She might have felt a bit discomforted to hear such obvious praise, if it weren't for the fact she had worked day and night for four months to secure the recommendation necessary to attend. Even the 'Lisitsyna' name wasn't enough for her. She was not just female but a Samaran as well, which meant that to be accepted by the same professors she had to doubly stand out.
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| ...And stand out she did, as she heard another hushed voice from behind:
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| "''Look at that white hair. What's a Samaran doing here?''"
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| "''Probably just visiting. No way she'd be attending.''"
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| Lydia closed her eyes and took a gentle breath with a faint smile. She had long grown used to it by now.
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| "Where's Mikhail?" She asked a moment later about Dmitriy's younger, fraternal twin. Meanwhile she wrapped her arms around Aleksei's as he began leading them inside.
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| "Second courtyard," Dmitriy replied as he flanked her other side. "The Dueling Club is having an exhibit to gather new members, and you know how he is."
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| "I'm still surprised he agreed to come here instead of heading to Östergötland and joining one of their 'Adventure Guilds'," Lydia tried to maintain a friendly smile, though the results were a little wry.
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| She hardly approved of those Hyperborean marauders, who -- among other activities like arctic exploration -- raided the coasts of the western nations for plunder and slaves. However, when it came to Aleksei's little brother Mikhail, her feelings there marked just the tip of an iceberg.
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| ''I must not think ill of him,'' she reminded herself to keep her thoughts clean. ''He's family.''
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| "Well, Father said ''if you insist on fame and glory, then you better at least learn to lead a warband!''" Dmitriy imitated Radomir's gruff, stern voice. "Next you know, he signs up to be a military cadet."
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| "Hopefully, a few years of required military service might make him reconsider his romantic notions," Aleksei intoned without any semblance of hope in it.
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| "Speaking of, sister," the younger brother tilted his head. "What's your academic discipline again?"
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| "Infrastructure Engineering."
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| She had explained it before, but it was such a mixed bag that it was understandably difficult to grasp.
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| "It's a cross-disciplinary studies aimed at training project coordinators," she tried a new approach. "We learn everything from requirements analysis and risk assessment to scheduling and personnel management. We also learn a bit of every engineering discipline to orchestrate the integration of multi-disciplinary systems..."
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| As Dmitriy's eyes unfocused, Lydia realized that she was fast losing his comprehension and decided to summarize:
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| "Basically, we manage the logistical details and allow leaders to focus on the big picture."
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| "''Sooo'' in other words, she wants to be your aide," Dmitriy grinned knowingly at his older brother, who looked rather sheepish as his gaze swiveled away.
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| "I didn't ask her to..." He mumbled.
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| Lydia smiled as she felt the reassuring squeeze of Aleksei's arm. Her husband never did feel comfortable when someone framed her as his servant. Even though he never once expressed shame in her past or how they met; even though she told him countless times that she didn't mind.
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| ''He always wanted me to treat him as more of an equal,'' she thought. ''But I never could be that.''
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| Alongside his education in statesmanship, Aleksei was also in the oldest and most respected of engineering and science disciplines: that of a Structural Engineer. He wanted to go to the Inner Sea Imperium just like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather: to study the great causeways and automated aqueducts and water-cleansing bathhouses. He spoke of using the Lisitsyn family resources to bring them to Polisia, to improve food yields with irrigation networks, to reduce maintenance with high quality roads, and to enhance the quality of life overall throughout the Federation.
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| However, great dreams also required considerable planning. There were countless tasks to break down and organize, innumerable challenges to understand and solve. Otherwise, without assessing, examining, and executing every task and detail, even the most visionary aim would collapse under its own weight and remain nothing more than mere fantasy.
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| ''And that's why I chose my discipline,'' Lydia thought proudly to herself.
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| ''No leader could succeed without capable supporters and servants. And I am more than happy to serve a good man for a great achievement in our time.''
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| <nowiki>------ * * * ------</nowiki>
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| "Have you heard about the news from the east?" Dmitriy raised a topic as the three brothers and one sister-in-law sat around a fireside table at the 'small' Lisitsyn residence at Ilmen.
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| Each of them held a book open to study, though the mind of twenty years old Lydia hadn't been in reading.
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| She had grown to accept the decadent furnishings around them over the years: the velvet cushions and rich rugs, the crystal chandeliers and intricate oak. However, every once a while she couldn't help but feel guilty -- just how many seasons could such wealth keep a starving family alive?
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| The coins she persuaded Aleksei to give to charity seemed but a pittance in comparison.
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| "Who hasn't by now?"
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| The short but firm Mikhail flipped another page of his book on decisive battles. His blue-and-white uniform was as impeccable as always, outlining a lean, muscular chest that was neither broad nor skinny. His eyes never looked up, but his lips formed just the slightest sneer as disdain crept into a cold voice:
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| "Those Khanates in the east are always so prideful, claiming their horse archers are brave and tougher than our Druzhina. Now look at them, defeated and chased like a pack of scared rabbits."
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| Aleksei couldn't help but close his book with a sigh. This 'group study' was a monday night pasttime that he had organized, to 'strength the bonds of family'. But while Lydia could appreciate his aim, she was less convinced it achieved much effect.
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| "They're still our allies, brother," his reply held a solemn tone. "The Khanates of Astra, Sarkel, and Turan are members of the Polisian Federation. They guard our stormy eastern borders where nomadic tribes battle every season. Without them, we'd be dragged into another war every year..."
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| For the Polisia Federation, the three semi-nomadic Khanates are a hybrid between Marches -- militarized border provinces -- and friendly buffer states. They maintain much of their autonomy, including the ability to raid their neighbors without a collective declaration of war. But in exchange for unrestricted market access by Federation traders as well as a united foreign policy, the Khanates receive substantial military subsidies and a guarantee of military support during defensive wars.
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| "You speak of 'battle' as if it were an illness," Mikhail stared up, across the table and into his older brother.
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| "What does 'battle' bring to society?" Aleksei spoke. "Instability? Destruction? Death? Battle has never brought us anything that would make our civilization a better place to live."
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| "Legends. Inspiration. Unity." Mikhail shot back his answers. "The ''pride'' of our people. All of those lasts longer than your precious aqueducts and bathhouses."
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| Aleksei scowled. His fingers tightened on the chair's armrest, although the only person who noticed was his wife.
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| Mikhail simply returned to his book without a second glance.
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| ''Hardly the first time,'' Lydia tried to quell her concerns. ''Mikhail always manages to pick the words to irk Alek.''
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| "Do you think we'll be obligated to send support?" Dmitriy pressed onwards, trying to keep the discussion on 'news' and not 'opinions'.
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| "Of course we will," Aleksei stated matter-of-factly. "The Khanates were invaded, weren't they? By this 'Great Khan' who claims lordship over 'all who live as far as the prairie grass grows'."
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| Scorn and disdain rose as the oldest brother went on:
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| "It's ''ridiculous'', to think he could just shout 'grasslands!' and it'll all just belong to him like this is some children's game. It'd be nice if our eastern Khanates' armies had been enough to stop this egoist. But they failed to block the invaders at the Gates of Caspi, then they were routed during the Battle of Astra. The Grand Prince will now have no choice but to call for mobilization, to summon the Druzhina from the various Principalities and march south to drive out these barbaric ''Eastlings''."
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| "Whatever else, these 'Eastlings' know how to fight well," Mikhail's comment was cold and impassive. "Our scouts believe no more than forty-five thousand adversaries crossed the mountains. The three Khanates pooled together twice that number at Astra. Yet they were the ones smashed by the battle's end while the invaders' losses were," he brought up one hand to emphasize the quote: "'light'."
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| "Why do we call them 'Eastlings'?" Lydia asked. She was unused to feeling ignorant.
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| "Because they're short, stubby creatures who ride small horses," Aleksei explained. "Or so the reports claim."
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| "Small, but extremely ''agile'' horses, if their consistency in outmaneuvering the Khanates is any indication," Mikhail added. "I understand the need to give them a nickname that sounds non-frightening. However it also brings the bad habit of underestimating them."
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| Aleksei nodded in agreement. The two brothers only seemed to concur when it came down to logical assessments.
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| "Nonetheless," the oldest stated. "We'll likely be called upon within the week. After all, the Druzhina comprise of the nobles and our retinue. Grandfather can't ride with his bad back, and Father is still at the Emperor's court; Uncle Ilya is in Östergötland, and our other uncle is an alcoholic. That means we'll need to lead the men-at-arms in their place."
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| This time, it was Mikhail who closed his book with a sigh.
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| "You sound as if this is such a chore, brother. Where is your excitement!?" The young man's eyes flashed with hunger, though the rest of his expression remained cool. "Honor! Glory! Fame everlasting! Don't you want to be ''remembered'', brother? To be read about as long as men have eyes to read!"
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| "Not in this manner," Aleksei spoke dryly. "I have no desire to see my name on a battle record. I will perform my ''duty''. That is all."
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| Lydia smiled at him. She couldn't help but agree: there was no 'honor' in organized murder and slaughter. It also lessened her worries, ''a little'', that he did not desire any heroics.
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| Unfortunately, Mikhail wasn't satisfied by that.
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| Even more regrettably, he saw the smile Lydia sent her husband.
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| "Your Samaran wife has made you ''weak'', brother."
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| In that moment, Aleksei lurched forward and almost pounced from his chair. Only his last second restraint -- plus a belated touch from Lydia's hand -- stopped him.
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| Hot air shot out of his nostrils like an angry bull as his emerald gaze stared at his younger brother's deep blue eyes. It was an everpresent reminder that little Mikhail was always their mother's favorite.
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| In the meantime, Dmitriy looked between his two brothers as though unsure of what to do, while Lydia had to regulate her breathing to keep herself from panicking.
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| Steady inhale. Slow exhale. Rinse and repeat.
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| Refresh all senses. Expel ill thoughts.
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| She couldn't think of any serene memories at this moment, not when half her mind still had a situation to defuse. But this was the ritual that her mother had taught her since she was six, when her neighbors accused her of 'lunacy' after their mischievious boy dropped a spider into her dress and sent her into hysteria for nearly an hour.
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| Mikhail's acidic words did not wound Lydia. She had spent her entire childhood with most people around her believing that Samarans were 'soft' and 'weak'. Thankfully, she was at least a girl. Her little brother had it far worse, as even young boys called him a 'born coward'.
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| However, the last thing she wanted was to drive a bigger wedge between the two brothers, to be the one responsible for open conflict between them. It wouldn't help Aleksei, and it certainly wouldn't benefit her: she already had enough trouble attaining any approval from Alek's mother.
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| "It's all right." She whispered to her husband. "I don't mind. I really don't."
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| She was thankful for Dmitriy's neutrality, even if it was unintentional. ''Or, he's purposefully feigning uncertainty to not take sides, which would escalate tensions,'' She thought. After all, this middle brother always knew how to keep a low profile when it suited him.
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| That path of thinking then made her realize:
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|
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| ''As the eldest, Aleksei will have command of the household troops. That's why Mikhail is so displeased.''
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|
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| However, knowing the problem and solving it were different matters. Lydia had no idea what to say that might help. And before she uttered a word Mikhail gathered his belongings.
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|
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| "I can tell when I'm no longer wanted." He turned and simply walked out.
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|
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| <nowiki>------ * * * ------</nowiki>
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| "You worry too much," Aleksei smiled as he rubbed his young wife's soft hair. "Twenty thousand Druzhina and fifty Shturmoviks. Hundreds of the best war machines on continent and nearly a hundred thousand in total strength."
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|
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| He put on a confident grin as he pulled her closer for one last hug:
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|
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| "We'll be back in time to celebrate Yule."
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|
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| ''The Eastern Khanates also rallied ninety thousand before they were defeated,'' Lydia couldn't help but feel her chest tighten. Nevertheless, she kept the thought to herself and simply nodded.
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|
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| "Just be careful," she fixed her husband's uniform collar so that it folded under his breastplate. The Druzhina demi-lancers he led were only considered 'medium shock cavalry', but the cold steel that covered his chest still made him look like a Bogatyr knight-errant from romantic legends.
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| Seeing the concerned unease in his wife's eyes, Aleksei took off his thick, fur cloak and unbuckled his armor's tighteners.
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| Lydia still wasn't sure what her husband was doing when he began pulling on his outer sleeves.
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| "Here," Aleksei handed her his outer jacket a minute later. It was part of his dress uniform, still warm from his body heat and dyed with his scent.
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| "That's my best jacket," he smiled. "I'll be coming back first to retrieve it for the victory parade. So be sure to take care of it for me, all right?"
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| He pressed his nose against hers as his hands reached around and draped it across her shoulders.
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| Tears brimmed in Lydia's eyes as she nodded back. Her chest squeezed as she thought about just how well he understood her.
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| ''Please return safely. I don't know what I'd do without you.''
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| She no longer cared about how they stood in the Lisitsyn estate's front yard, or how there were hundreds of men all around them. She didn't care that it was un-ladylike to be too affectionate in public, or how she could never bring herself to be the proactive one between them.
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| For the first time, she leaned in without her husband's lead and pressed her lips into his. His warmth soon enraptured her every sense, and she indulged upon the sweet taste that had become the pivot of her life these past few years.
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| Whole minutes seemed to pass before they separated again. Aleksei had to wipe his lips' corner as he beamed:
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|
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| "If we keep this up, then I'll never be able to leave."
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|
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| Finally waking to what she had done, Lydia looked down as she felt her cheeks burn with scarlet flames.
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| The pair enjoyed each others' presence for one more blissful moment, before Lydia felt Aleksei step away.
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| His gloved hands remained on her shoulders as he requested:
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| "Help Grandpa take care of the estate while I'm away, won't you? Mother is no good at finances and the steward is coming with us."
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| "Mmmph!" She nodded with glistening eyes.
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| Longing and hope filled Aleksei's gaze as he slowly turned away. He pulled his lance out of the ground and, with its shaft's support, climbed into the saddle of his tall charger.
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| "Saddle up!" He beckoned to any men who were still paying their farewells.
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|
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| "We'll be back in time for Yule!" Dmitriy repeated the official slogan from atop his mount, no more than ten paces away. "Do not worry sister. I shall keep him safe!"
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|
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| Lydia returned an appreciative nod:
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|
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| "I shall pray for all of your safe returns!"
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|
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| "Pray for our glorious victory as well, sister," Mikhail added before turning away with his mount.
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|
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| "I shall!" She nodded once more with a sunny smile. She had no desire to bring up any differences between them now.
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| "Let's be off then!" Aleksei bellowed to his family, household, and men-at-arms.
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| "RAISE YOUR BANNERS HIGH! LET THE GODS HEAR YOUR BATTLE CRY!"
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|
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| All around them, several hundred men began to shout in unison. Each louder than the previous as they hoisted their flags and lances toward the sky:
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|
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| "UUU-RA! UUU-RA! UUU-RA!"
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|
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| The Hyperborean Stormlord Thor, the Polisian Stormlord Perun, the Perymian Stormlord Ukko, even the Samarans recognized the mighty Stormlord Indra. It was shocking just how much the Gods of War had in common.
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| "WE RIDE EAST! TO VICTORY!"
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|
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| Lydia watched with a mixture of pride, concern, and sorrow as Aleksei's mount began to trot away. He turned in his saddle and waved at her, but no more words were spoken. No more words needed to be spoken.
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|
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| They both understood their roles, and nothing could fill the distance that steadily grew between them now.
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|
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| As the brothers trotted over a nearby hill crest, Aleksei turned back and exchanged one more wave with his beloved wife.
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|
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| Then, his figure dropped off and vanished from Lydia's sight.
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|
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|
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| ...
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| It was the last time she ever saw him.
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|
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|
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| ...
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|
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| Weeks later, on a snowy morning, Lydia Lisitsyna stood just outside the entrance to the family estate. She had been waiting every morning for the mail to arrive before breakfast, for either a message from Aleksei or, at least, some news of what had happened to her husband at the front.
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| The air was well below freezing today. Her teeth were chattering as her fingers shakily opened the paper scroll from the local ''Farspeak'' messaging office. Her breathes soon hastened between exhaled puffs of steam. Her eyes began to tremble as they read through the contents of the news:
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| "...We regret to inform you that Aleksei Lisitsyn, Dmitriy Lisitsyn, and Mikhail Lisitsyn have died heroically in defense of the realm at the Battle of Terek. Due to the total destruction of the army at the hands of the barbarous invaders, no body or personal effects could be recovered..."
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|
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| ''He's not... He can't be!''
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| Her tears pooled as she shook her head beneath a barrage of frantic thoughts.
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|
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| ''He promised me!''
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| Her fingers fumbled as they pulled off her rabbitskin glove and rushed to grip her enchanted wedding ring. She tugged at it, hoping that it would stay as unmovable as ever, a steadfast reminder of their matrimonial oaths.
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|
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| ...It slid down her thin finger against only the resistance of her skin and flesh.
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|
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| In that instant, every fact, every implication that she had rejected at first struck her mind at full force. The shock paralyzed her mental chaos, leaving only one undeniable thought adrift:
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|
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| ''Aleksei is dead.''
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|
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| Her lips, her jaw, her arms, her entire body began to tremble as she could no longer deny the truth.
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| Her life with him passed before her eyes in flashing images, not only the past five years but all the joys that were still to come: their proud, smiling hugs at graduation, their celebratory kiss as they finished his first project, their mirth as she cradled their first child...
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|
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| All of them shattered at once into a million shards of light. Forever gone. Forever lost.
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|
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| "Milady?" The doorway pushed open as her lady's maid stepped through. "His Lordship asked for you to..."
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| Lydia never even heard her maid, whom -- as she was later told -- barely caught her in time as she collapsed into a hysterical fit of tearful wails.
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| However, not even her incessant cries could express the agony of her tormented spirit.
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| Back before the war, she had agreed with Aleksei that they were still too young to contemplate a child. Now, she would never have the chance to bear his children, to leave even a legacy of the loving family that they could have shared.
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| <noinclude>
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| {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
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| |-
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| | Back to [[The_Flowers_in_Boreal_Twilight:Volume_1_Chapter_0_A|Prologue Chapter A]]
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| | Return to [[The_Flowers_in_Boreal_Twilight|Main Page]]
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| | Forward to [[The_Flowers_in_Boreal_Twilight:Volume_1_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
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| |-
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| |}
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| </noinclude>
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