It was at Ohgi and Villeta's wedding that she saw him again.
With a glass of champagne in hand, Milly looked for a place to be alone, far from the rowdy crowd. It was a gathering - a celebration of weathered souls - but she was just not in the mood to mingle. Everybody looked so happy. They all looked so normal to her. The happiness looked too unreal to her. It seemed to her as if these happy people were betraying the sorrowful memories of the war.
Sounds of footsteps broke her train of thoughts.
"How are you, Milly?" She could never forget the sound of his voice.
"I am doing fine... Earl Asplund," she turned around and gave him a smile - a generic one void of meaning.
"Now, now, Milly. Isn't that name a little too formal and distant for someone who was once your fiancé? Answer me, Milly, honestly. How are things?"
She felt awkward, but her upbringing did not allow such feelings to be seen in the company of others.
She took a small sip and gulped noiselessly before she spoke. "Oh, everything's quite fine, really. I'm doing great at my job... but there's a risk that I might lose it because the Academy's eating so much of my time. Repairs and such... I don't even know what to do with it anymore with Tokyo being such a huge mess. I mean, I'm not even sure if there will be students when we open.
Other Ashford businesses are well, I guess. Everything is in chaos, but I'm sure we'll get through this crisis."
She took another sip of her drink. "There goes a quick summary of my life. You, how's everything at your end, Lloyd?"
"It's still special R&D for me, but with a different focus - we're all about building and restoration now. Work is boring," at this last word, he grins. "But I'm still alive and that's what matters."
She gave a polite laugh and lifted her glass in a small salute. "Cheers to that."
Some seconds of silence pass by. She eyes the crowd in the distance and pretends to see someone calling her. "It was nice chatting with you again, Lloyd. Do excuse me." She smiles at him one last time for the night, turns her back on him and walks away.
After her fifth step, he calls to her. "Milly?"
She did not look back but she froze for a moment, letting her action tell him that she was listening.
"If I propose to you again, will you accept?" His voice was not in its usual playful tone.
Milly gave him one quick glance, her voice sounding tired. "I'll think about it, Lloyd."
Brief Encounter
Code Geass
published 12/06/2009
edited 01/07/2015