Hello.
So sorry, I have been away from this for a while. Number of reasons, I had to update some of my other stories that are taking the next step in their adventures. Next, I took a new job. And third, I went over how I wanted to go over this chapter, and I wanted to get it as best as I could.
#70
Forward
HQ
Paris, France, Europia United
2018 a.t.b./r.y. 229
"A headache today, sir?"
Smilas glanced to see Colonel Gaius addressing perhaps the tired look on his face, even as he pinched the bridge of his nose while sitting at his desk.
"Perhaps…" Smilas said. "Though the headache… has a name."
"It wouldn't have to be a certain man from the conglomerate?" Gaius asked, right on the Euro. The Colonel, while a few years younger than Smilas, still looked far from his better years. His head balding, and was covered by a simple blue cap. He looked better since he made sure to shave, unlike Smilas.
"Yes, yes… just another complaint from Phillipe Malcal," Smilas sighed.
"I am correct to deduce the matter involved his daughter?" The colonel asked with a raised eyebrow. "His adopted daughter?"
"Who still persists on making his daughter-by-law," Smilas grumbled. "That is if he were allowed to have his way."
"I am still surprised the man hasn't dropped it," Gaius said. "Even after the amount of time Lieutenant Colonel has spent with us. Surely, she is still not bound to her father… I mean her adoptive father's wishes."
"You don't know Phillipe Malcal like I do," Smilas grimaced. "He claims he knows what is best for Bradvow's daughter, even when it's all been part of his pathetic scheme to up his family name."
…
"The next time he shows his face, I'll make sure the guard..."
"Oh, I would appreciate that," Smilas nearly smiled. "But I'm afraid... that man will find a way to make another mark on my head for that."
...
"He has been growing more anxious since Leila's birthday is soon." The general grimaced.
"You mean... when she will come for the proper age for marriage?"
...
"Leila is capable of more than that." Smilas said. "She can oversee more than just overseeing as a simple wife and mother over household's like Malcal's."
"She has indeed proven to be capable of much… even in the past year," Gaius noted.
"That…" Smilas agreed. "And perhaps much more."
...
"You're still going to hold her for going behind your back in going to the battlefield herself without permission?"
...
Smilas sighed from the bridge of his nose.
"I should... but... that wouldn't even stop her from being... so willful."
He smiled.
"She gets that from an old friend," He pulled his journal from under his desk. "And that selflessness she has... is just like her."
His smile turned somber when the pages opened... and let out a picture that had been used as a bookmark... and a reminder.
Gene Smilas could only look both thoughtfully and somberly at the bright picture of the blonde man and beautiful woman next to him while they sat on a picnic blanket. But between them... was a small, young girl, holding the rabbit doll she had been given for her birthday.
To think that girl would grow to look exactly like her mother.
That was one of the things that pained Gene Smilas the most.
?
Warsaw, Poland
Early October, a.t.b. 2018/r.y. 229
Leila was sleeping when she heard a groan from behind her. She leaned up from the bunk bed she was sleeping in along with the girl who was sleeping blissfully behind her, with an arm around her waist.
While sleeping, Ayano had such a relaxed… and peaceful smile.
"Don't worry… I'm here… sister…" The sleeping girl whispered.
Leila was surprised at that, before she smiled and started to adjust the blanket over her bunk companion to keep her warm.
Eren opened his eyes and his gaze met that of the ceiling of the wagon he was sleeping in.
He rolled a bit upon the top bunk bed in one of the two gypsy carriages they were sleeping in. He scooted to glance over the edge of the bunk to see Yukiya sleeping peacefully in the bunk across from his. He glanced down to see Ryo…
…who was shivering with uneasy look… as he was cuddled by two of the elderly gypsy ladies on both sides…
…
The sight almost made him ready to chuckle and shiver at the same time.
He knew that there were only two wagons for everyone to sleep in, and with their squadron staying with the gypsies, not all available bunks inside could made available for one.
It was why Eren chose the top bunk before Ryo could.
And no touchy old lady would be able to expend the strength to climb up. Well… hopefully…
…
Eren rested his hands behind his head, and laid back, glancing at the open window of the carriage, where the moonlight shined in.
The bunks inside the carriage were not that bad.
Honestly, they reminded him of his old bunk back at the Trainee Corps, except it was more cramped and smaller.
And while he had learned to accommodate the multiple snoring of others… there was so much he could take by the snoring coming from the old ladies down below.
Leila exited out of the wagon quietly, while wrapping a small shawl over her shoulders for cover against the cold breeze coming upon her as she looked upon the sleeping camp under the night sky.
It was… a different change to what she and the team had the night before. Instead of a messy and crowded stadium… was now a quiet and open space of campsite surrounded by dark green trees.
She made her way close to the hillside which oversaw the gleaming river the cut across the forest. She frowned a bit when she recollected… the little incident that she felt embarrassed to think… even when…
Leila paused when she saw… sitting on a log at the foot of the stony banks next to the calm waters… a lone figure sitting on a flat log that acted as a bench.
"Monsieur Kruger?"
Eren was turn out of his thoughts when he recognized Leila's voice, and he turned to see her standing not far.
She was no longer in the colorful gypsy she was given, but in nightclothes consisting of a white sleeveless shirt and short white trunks. Wrapped around her shoulders was a small brown shawl.
"So… you couldn't sleep either?" Leila asked.
"Not really," Eren shook his head. "I just… find outside better than staring at the roof above my head."
"Is that why?"
"Hmph…" He shrugged. "Well, I could include I hear more snoring than usual… especially from our hosts."
Leila giggled a bit. "You can't exactly blame them for how they sleep?"
"Because they lived longer?" He asked. "They snore as if they were the ones working chores all day. I can think that's why Ryo's too tired to keep them from…"
He paused when he noticed a look on Leila's face.
…
"What's wrong?" Eren noticed.
"Well… it's…" She felt ready to shrink.
"What is it?" He asked again. "You almost… looked ashamed of something."
"Uh, it's not… that…" She glanced away. "I was just feeling… embarrassed."
"About what?"
"Well…" The girl clasped her hands together, almost anxiously. "It's… considering my share… with the workload earlier…"
She heard the boy next to her sigh.
"Look…" Eren said. "If this is about… what happened with the water… you don't need to push it."
Leila almost shrunk her shoulders.
"I'm still sorry… for insisting to help. I just… wanted… well…" She clasped her hands together. "You and the others were doing so much and so well with the chores… and I… and I was… I was…"
"Useless?"
Leila glanced at him.
"Sorry…" Eren rubbed his neck.
"No… it's alright." she admitted.
"Well, even if you didn't do much… today. It's not like you sat back and let us do all the dirty work."
"But even when I do… I'm…"
She stopped.
"You must… think I'm clumsy… when it comes to even doing basic chores…" She looked away, clearly ashamed.
"Is that really it?" Eren asked.
"You and the others seem to not have a problem doing them," Leila stated. "Chores like that… are something that… I'm sure many people are used to doing…"
"Well, sure…" Eren shrugged. "Not every one of us has housekeepers or servants to do our work for us. Not all of us live nice apartments in the city."
…
"Sorry…" Eren glanced away. "I shouldn't have…"
"It's alright," Leila said. "You're right. For an unfortunate fact… I am not… well… really have experience doing chores. At least not when I had people like Dora and Fiona doing the housekeeping for me."
"Who are they?"
"Oh," Leila said. "Well, Dora… she is the housekeeper of my apartment suite. I'm afraid you hadn't had the chance to meet her. She seldom comes to clean and helps with cooking and dishes, but she's very good. I very much appreciate her. Especially when she keeps the place clean when I'm not around."
"Hmm," Eren mused. "Well, she does sound nice."
"Yes," Leila smiled. "As for Fiona… she served as my maid when I was growing up at the Malcal Estate. She would often help me dress and clean my room. And sometimes she would look after me when I caught a cold.
"I rarely ever see Fiona since I left the estate to attend the academy. I admit I feel guilty for not having paid a visit or called her after so long. I haven't so much as returned to visit… my family for almost a year."
"Why haven't you?" Eren asked.
"Well… lately, things have been busy for me. I spend more time living at Castle Weisswolf with my team and that way I can help direct the next operations for the Wyvern Squadron."
"Is there another reason why?"
"What?" Leila glanced at him. "Why what?"
"Could it be because you want to keep your distance from them?" Eren said. "Call me wrong… but when met some of them weeks ago… one of them… looked like something I couldn't stand to share the same air for five minutes."
Leila paused when she noticed the scowl Eren had… and knew who he was referring to.
…
Leila glanced down.
"I remember… what you said that night," Eren said. "That you had an arranged marriage."
…
"I won't deny it… that I had no interest in marrying Ioan. I was content to have him only as my brother, the same as having Daniel and Stefan."
"He clearly didn't seem to share that sentiment when you saw each other," Eren snorted with distaste in his voice.
"No…" Leila admitted, both almost sadly and bitterly. "But… there was a time… when he wasn't like that. But over the years… as we grew older… he became…" She winced. "More… unstable… more…"
"Of an ass?"
Leila almost sputtered by that description, turning to look at Kruger, who gave her a look.
"I… well…" She didn't know why she was trying to contain herself, nor the way her lips felt ready to curl back and… "I wouldn't really… use that described him… in that sort of… crass way…"
"Well, what other way would you like to describe him as?" Eren sarcastically questioned. "Drunken, wretched, and all the trash pouring out of his mouth…?"
…
"You're not wrong about that," Leila sighed. "It's… It's true… I… I had to leave. It… It was becoming more complicated at home… and going to the academy was a respite from it."
"And that's how you ended up in the military?" Eren asked.
"That's right," Leila said. "It was a bit difficult at first adjusting, but I believe it was made easier when Anna came."
"Anna? You mean… that girl from the castle?" He pointed to his head. "The one with the… purple hair?"
"Yes," Leila nodded. "Before… we met during our middle school years…" The girl smiled. "It was during my time there… where we met many others. Some of them being the same people who would become part of the wZERO unit.
"I admit… if General Smilas hadn't taken to teach me… then I would have had a far difficult time persuading my family to let me join the military."
"Right…" Eren said. "I can guess they were not happy... when you left and wanted to enlist."
…
"Well…" Leila clasped her hands. "They… well… my Papa and Mama… would have preferred that I had worn her wedding dress instead."
She heard Kruger make a scoff of disbelief.
"So, they can saddle you with that guy? I don't know if they're blind or clueless but your brother… whatever he is now… acts more akin to animal."
…
"My… My Papa arranged for it… ever since I was adopted into the family," Leila admitted. "He did it because… because…"
"Because you have Britannian blood."
…
Leila didn't wish to look at Kruger… knowing already he had the answer.
"You said earlier… that both of your parents…" He recalled. "Were… nobles. Britannian Nobles."
…
"I…" Leila glanced down. "That is true. They were… a very long time ago. But… my father and mother defected. They fled and came to settle here… in the Republic. And it was where I would be born."
…
"I had no recollections of what my parents' life in the Empire was like, all I knew at first… was that my parents were people who supported and helped the Republic."
"Were they…?" Eren asked. "Were they part of the military.?"
"No," Leila shook her head. "My father… became a politician."
…
Eren made a noise.
"What?" Leila turned at him.
"A politician..." Eren said. "I can't help but feel that doesn't sound so much of a surprise."
"Do you…?" Leila asked. "Do you have a quarrel with politicians?"
"It depends…" Eren crossed his arms. "I'm not a fan of their kind of work."
"Well, I'm sure neither my parents were," Leila made a small smile. "I can't stand politics as well, even with how trivial ones can act like a thorn. My father knew that… but that didn't stop him from trying to do his best for what he believed in what was right."
…
"Sounds like… you really admired him," Eren said.
…
"Yes… I did…" Leila made a small smile. "I was very young back then… but I always remembered when he would go… and speak out. And… my mother and I would watch him."
…
"And what happened?" She heard Kruger ask the question she dreaded. "What happened to him?"
Leila's smile then faltered.
…
…
"My father… he…"
…
"He was killed."
…
There… she had said it. And there was no turning back from that.
…
"And not long after that… my mother died… on the same day."
…
She could tell Eren paused, while not bearing to look at him.
"I was there when it happened."
She circled her arms around her knees.
"And I was so…"
…
…
"I felt so helpless."
…
She thought Eren beside her paused.
…
"When I lost my parents… I was all alone."
She started to almost feel… the cold again.
"I thought… I was going to die back then… all alone."
…
"But you didn't…" Eren stated.
And it was because… when she was ready to…
When she was falling deeper.
And deeper…
Ready for darkness to engulf…
A hand stretched out to her and…
"No… I did not."
…
…
Leila closed her eyes for a moment.
"I had no other relatives, and I thought I would be all alone… and that I was going to fend for myself. At least… until the Malcal's came to meet me later."
She heard Eren snort.
…
"I'm aware that… the reason… the main reason they took me in… may have not been altruistic… I'm still grateful. I'm grateful for them… for taking me in. A total stranger like me… into their own home. And treating me like one of their own."
…
"But you still can't forget what happened."
Leila glanced at him to see his eyes locking with hers.
…
"No…" She nearly lifted her knees up. "Even though… at sometimes… I wish I could… just forget. Forget that… that day. That horrible night. And… what I had seen. It feels so much… like a bad dream."
"Because you don't wish to forget about them." Eren said. "Your parents. Your true parents."
…
"I couldn't think of forgetting about them… even if the bad memories would stop."
…
"It's not easy."
Leila glanced back at Eren… who kept his gaze looking straight across bank of the river.
"There have been times… when I wish I could… unsee… all of it…" The woman could hear a measure of… exhaustion in the man's breath. "The weight of it all. Everything I remembered.
…
"This place." Eren lifted his head. "This camp. This river. This forest. It's… It's looks… peaceful."
"Yes," Leila smiled. "Yes, it is."
"It looks quiet. It looks… almost undisturbed."
Leila glanced at Eren, as he continued observing the river and the land about. And yet, he didn't look as relaxed by the sight of it.
"We can easily forget as when we sleep in those beds in the wagons… that only early this morning… we woke up in the bunks at the stadium." He spoke. "Forget about all the trash and the Knightmares lying about. The soldiers walking about. And all the talk of the war on the front."
Leila widened her eyes… realizing what he was saying.
"Even when we do succeed to forget… even just for a second… we are brought back," He continued. "Just like how we are taken from a dream, and we then start to remember reality. It makes us wonder… how did this happen?"
Leila kept still as she kept her gaze on Eren.
"Everyday I've spent out here… I wondered… how did it all come to this?" He questioned as he glanced up at the sky. "Lines dividing the land. The fields covered with broken Knightmares. Towns destroyed. Families scattered. Hate amongst each other. Minds and bodies ruined. Dreams of freedom erased. Personalities burned away."
…
"No one would want to go to war… if they knew what it would do to them."
…
"But it's not like we leapt into that hell knowingly. Most of us were pushed. Some of us were pushed by other people. Pushed by the environments we grew up in."
Leila caught her breath.
"So… the few who do choose to leap into hell see it differently than the rest. And they're all able to see something beyond the hell. Maybe that something is hope. Or maybe it's just another hell."
Leila almost gasped.
"The fact is… you can only know… by moving forward."
Information Available For Public Disclosure:
The Warsaw Gypsies
Not much is known about this group of Gypsies comprised of elderly women or where they came from. It is common knowledge that many gypsy nomads resided much in Romania and France. This group have been known to travel and reside in places around Poland and the border. They travel in horse-drawn carriages.
I apologize if this update looks a little short after a wait. This was a scene that I wanted to get right, at least most of it. There will be more like this between Leila and Eren to come, but this marks another step in their communication together and what else after this.
Next update won't be that long a wait. But before we go…
Catherine's Palace
St. Petersburg, Russia, Euro Britannia
Early October, a.t.b. 2018
"Wh… I… what is… what is this?"
Julius sneered with amusement upon seeing the look upon the Grand Duke's face.
"Who… Who is this woman? Where did you obtain this? When was this taken, Lord Kingsley?"
"This shot was taken from footage recorded from the Cart Titan's recording during the skirmish at Slonim."
"I see."
"You seem to recognize this woman, Duke Velaines. Commander Magath seemed to have had the same intuition."
"Recognize? I cannot deny… upon seeing someone… or at least… who strongly resembles someone."
"The woman I see before me… she… she looks so much… almost so exactly… like a woman I had known. One I had known many years ago."
"Really? And who was this woman?"
…
"Claudia Breisgau."
…
"Breisgau. Breisgau" Commander Magath repeated. "I see… now I understand. I should have known why this girl looked… vaguely familiar. Although… it has been many years since then…"
"Since what, Commander?" Julius questioned as he tapped the holy scepter on his palm, while his white knight stood not far behind him.
"Claudia Breisgau…" Duke Velaines answered. "Wife of Bradvow von Briesgau. A former lord of Britannia."
"Former?"
"The Briesgau family… were once a prestigious noble family. Their roots trail back to before Elizabeth was driven out from original seat."
"Until Lord Bradvow von Briesgau and his wife…" Magath said. "Renounced their titles… and defected from the homeland."
"Defected?" Julius sneered. "Traitors to the crown, then?"
"They fled and joined with the Republic," Velaines stated. "In a short time, Briesgau had garnered great support from the public. They called him the Assembly Man."
"Hmph…" Julius scoffed with amusement. "How charming."
"That was because he knew how to bring many in the Republic together." Velaines said, the man almost looking like he was recalling something with fondness. "He fought for the rights of Europia's citizens. He spoke for fairness and equality. He spoke out against corruption of the state."
"You sound as if you knew this man firsthand, Duke."
"I have." Velaines nodded without shame. "I had the honor to have met him and his wife… before… and after his defection from the homeland."
…
…
"Interesting," Julius sneered. "For what valor you speak for this man… I can only wonder what had happened to him."
…
…
"Because he was assassinated," Magath said. "I remembered when it happened. Nearly twelve years ago. During his latest gathering before the next term. A bomb was planted… and it took out hundreds in the crowd… Briesgau included."
"I see."
"Not long after… Claudia Briesgau was killed when she tried to flee the chaos."
"But wait…" Velaines said. "I had thought… Bradvow and Claudia… had at least one child. A daughter."
"A daughter, you say?" Julius leaned close.
"Yes…" Velaines grimaced. "But… they claimed… well... the EU was the one who issued the statement... that she had died along with her mother on the same day..."
"What was the daughter's name, Duke?" Julius questioned.
Velaines paused, doing his best to suppress a frown before speaking the word Julius wanted to hear:
"Leila."
…
"Leila Briesgau."
…
…
…
"Leila Briesgau." Julius lips curled with satisfaction. "Leila Briesgau." He repeated as he turned back on the image of the blonde, pig-tailed woman in the skin-tight pilot suit. "What beautiful name… for a beautiful little thing."
He rubbed two fingers together in the direction of the young woman's image once more.
"A name is all I needed..." He whispered to himself as his violet eye narrowed. "I look forward to meeting you."
To be continued...