1. The Peculiar Actions of Greta Holt

Inside a dark bedroom. Suddenly, through the gap of the abruptly opened door, a man and woman enter, clinging to each other.

Already disheveled, they groped under their clothes and explored each other’s lips, pressing closer as if trying to become one.

Bang!

As though even that time was too precious to waste, the man pushed the door closed with his elbow. Now, only the faint moonlight illuminated the bedroom.

In the dim darkness where even the front was barely visible, all that could be felt were each other’s breaths and the touch of soft skin.

Excited in an environment that could only heighten the senses, the man grabbed the back of the woman’s head and kissed her forcefully, then promptly pushed her down onto the bed.

Looking at his wife, all disheveled and heated, Percy loosened his tie with a nervous motion.

The piece of cloth choking his neck bothered him. Even though now, nothing was supposed to constrain him. Not guilt, not a sense of sin. Nothing at all.

Before him was the superior he had once revered. At one time, she had been in a position Percy never thought he could approach.

Could he have ever dared to imagine that a day like this would come?

“You probably don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for you.”

He whispered in a voice lower than usual. Deep desire flickered in his golden eyes.

“Whatever your name is, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Click, click. The buttons of the blouse came undone helplessly under his fingertips. Percy buried his face in the skin revealed between them.

“Ah…”

“You just need to stay by my side. That alone will be enough for me.”

He delved into Kitty’s lips as she let out a moan. With a squelching sound, the dark night was becoming increasingly wet.

“Don’t think of leaving.”

He pleaded in a voice tinged with iron.

“Never. Don’t even think about it.”

* * *

Kitty let out a sigh.

She asked to be introduced to a quiet and gentle man, but this was completely bringing in an eccentric.

The impression she had from their first meeting wasn’t bad. Though his appearance was ordinary, his well-dressed appearance showed no major flaws, and she rather liked his soft-spoken voice and speech that was neither too fast nor too slow.

She desperately wanted to get rid of those horn-rimmed glasses, but that was something that could be done slowly over time…

The new man’s name was Tommy. Tommy Graham, or something like that? Anyway, after their first meeting, Tommy asked Kitty out on a date, and Kitty accepted.

He said he knew a really good place. He definitely said that.

He definitely said that!

But when she followed him to see where it was…

Kitty took off her beret with a disgusted face in front of the exhibition hall showcasing the achievements of historical generals who had distinguished themselves in war.

The place Tommy had brought Kitty for their first date was none other than the War Memorial.

Who on earth brings their first date to a place like this?

If it had been an art gallery or a concert, it might have been understandable.

Oblivious to Kitty’s near-death boredom, Tommy was excitedly explaining various things to her.

“General James Sinclair is the greatest figure I admire! The magnificent achievements he left behind…”

Kitty wanted to yawn but barely held it back. General Sinclair or whatever, she was busy thinking of ways to end this date with Tommy as quickly as possible.

I need to cut ties with the person who recommended this guy.

Looking around, there wasn’t a single person who looked like a couple in a place like this.

Kitty inwardly scoffed. Tommy Graham was a man lacking not only in sense but also in luck.

To think he would visit the War Memorial with her of all people.

Showing off his shallow knowledge about war to Kitty Summers, hoping she would be impressed by his knowledge!

She knew far more about every exhibit in this memorial than Tommy did. She could guarantee that.

“If you go over there now, you’ll see an incredible treasure!”

Kitty gave up counting how many times Tommy had used words like ‘incredible’ or ‘great’.

“Yes, it’s really impressive.”

“Can you imagine? The legendary fighter plane flown in the most recent war is exhibited right here. It’s so moving to be able to see it in person! Look!”

Kitty looked up indifferently at the exhibit Tommy pointed to with a dramatic tone.

“This is the very fighter plane that the ‘Red Countess’ flew!”

The Red Countess. It was a nickname given by the enemy forces. It originated simply from the fact that the fighter was painted red.

When the red fighter took to the air, the enemy air force would completely disintegrate or, even if they fought bravely, would scatter and retreat in a hurry.

The Red Countess’s fighter was truly a symbol of victory.

Tommy, who must be her follower, went on with various explanations, but Kitty was no longer listening.

She didn’t need any explanations. Kitty already knew everything.

Because she had experienced it herself.

Because she had flown this fighter herself.

The Red Countess, in other words, the legendary pilot Greta Holt was her former name.

The memory of landing on the ground after the last air battle was still vivid.

The memory of when the red fighter, decorated in a flamboyant color to catch the enemy’s attention, and the three planes following behind it safely returned to the base.

The symbolic red color was enough to inspire allies and citizens. The bright red fighter that always returned victorious seemed to prophesy the victory to come in the future.

Although it was a color that could never get along with soldiers, the Countess’s influence overcame even that fact.

Red changed from just a flamboyant color to a symbol of victory.

Moreover, the motherland was winning the war. Everyone wore red hats, red coats, red bags as a sign of confidence in victory.

At least, that’s what they said.

It might be an exaggeration to say that they won the war thanks to the Countess, but her influence was that great.

Even if people didn’t know about the achievements of the federal army, there was no one who didn’t know about the Countess.

On the way back after the last air battle, the enemy country could no longer hold out and declared surrender.

Surrender meant the end of the war. Everyone, finally liberated from this tedious and nightmarish time, shouted cheers of joy.

It’s over now! We can go home! We can embrace our families alive!

At such a time, how would the soldiers have felt witnessing the flight squadron led by the red plane descending towards the ground?

At the end of the runway, the pilot lifted the canopy of the stopped plane.

And the pilot who emerged from inside was none other than Greta Holt.

Greta Holt, as usual, took off her hat with goggles and brushed up her wheat-colored hair.

The sensation of gently stepping on the ground after getting off the plane was always welcome, no matter how many times it was repeated.

She encouraged her three subordinates who had disembarked in order.

“Good work. Gwen, Bailey…”

The tall pilot who appeared last looked down at her slightly. His jet-black hair was slightly disheveled.

Beneath it, golden eyes that gave a unique impression shone with a familiar emotion.

“…Percy Collins.”

“Captain.”

Greta repeatedly patted the back of her handsome and large subordinate. Percy quietly received her encouragement. If heroes could be judged solely by appearance, he would undoubtedly rank first among her proud subordinates.

“Thank you for bringing me back alive again today.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. It was possible because you’re an excellent pilot.”

“Even that would have been difficult without your protection, Captain.”

“You’re always good at flattery.”

Percy grinned and walked alongside her towards the base. Unless there was an urgent strategy meeting, they could rest a bit until the next sortie order.

The two engaged in light yet serious discussions about what to do during their break.

It was then.

“Waaah!”

“Captain!”

Soldiers in uniforms rushed out from inside the base and ran towards Greta. Confused, Greta looked bewildered at the sight of soldiers surrounding her and cheering, and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s all thanks to you, Captain!”

“Why, did the enemy declare surrender or something?”

As she asked jokingly, the fervor that dominated her subordinates grew even more intense. Greta soon realized that it was true.

The enemy country had surrendered. While Greta was flying back, the war had come to an end.

Everything was back to normal again…

“The enemy leadership has officially declared surrender! It’s been just a few minutes since it was broadcast on radio nationwide. It would have been great if we could have heard it together, Captain.”

Greta looked at Percy with a sullen face amidst the festive atmosphere. Is it really over? She couldn’t believe it. It didn’t feel real that she wouldn’t have to fly planes anymore.

Was it because she was swept up in the atmosphere? After standing awkwardly for a moment, Greta, elated by the scene before her eyes, smiled broadly and shouted.

“Percy, it looks like the war is over!”

“It seems so.”

“It’s over! It’s really over! We all survived!”

Greta hugged Percy and stomped her feet in place. Percy was her subordinate, and they were a man and woman, but there was nothing strange about it.

Everyone was hugging anyone nearby. At that time, they probably would have hugged even an iron pillar if it was close by.

It wasn’t because of personal feelings, they just needed someone to share and pour out their joy with.

Percy also hugged Greta back. The two embraced each other tightly, sometimes patting each other’s backs, and exchanged glances intoxicated with excitement.

And then they kissed simultaneously.

Who pulled the other first, things like that they couldn’t remember and weren’t important. It was an impulsive act that occurred in a state of extreme elation.

However, it was a plain kiss with no sexual intent at all. In other words, they were just out of their minds.

They were so intoxicated that they completely forgot the fact that they were kissing their superior, or subordinate.

A war correspondent who was busy recording the victory scene pressed the shutter towards them at some point. The flash popped, eternally preserving a moment that would remain a great topic of conversation.

Greta didn’t even realize there was a camera nearby.

The kiss didn’t last long. It was fundamentally no different in intent from clapping hands or patting heads, so it couldn’t last long.

Soon separating from each other, they returned to the base with their colleagues.

They thought everything would be fine.

At that time, they couldn’t even imagine that a momentary kiss would change their lives.