Accompanied by Horatio, Farida walked into the spacious house.
The people in the mansion still didn't know what had happened.
Farida looked around, instinctively wanting to call Lina.
But as her pink lips parted, she vaguely remembered that Lina had been on duty at the Military Intelligence Command recently and hadn't returned for a long time.
Familiar people were leaving one by one.
A sense of empty, agonizing loneliness swept over Farida from within her heart.
Her eyes unfocused, she stood rooted to the spot in the empty hall, her solitary silhouette reflected on the cold, smooth marble floor.
Horatio had never seen the proud and decisive Lady Huntress look so fragile, so pitifully delicate, yet revealing a suffocating loneliness.
If Vice Admiral Hood truly died here, how would she live her life all alone from now on?
He gently patted her back, but she seemed to shy away, quickening her steps and walking quickly towards her room without looking back, pushing the door open.
She walked straight to her bed and then threw herself onto it, hugging her pillow.
She maintained the last shred of her resolute mask, rushed into the bedroom, and collapsed onto the soft bed.
The dense, firm pillow gently absorbed her tears and concealed her true face beneath her mask.
Dull sobs and whimpers filled this maiden's boudoir, which had once witnessed countless joys and memories.
Horatio silently followed, closing the door for her, guarding this small space where she was allowed to vent her emotions.
But it was limited to her private room.
Horatio closed the door for her, preventing her cries from escaping.
He dragged his tired and drunken body to sit beside her, each breath he exhaled thick with the smell of alcohol.
"Regarding your request, stemming from your concerns about that prophecy, please forgive me for being unable to comply."
He crossed his hands on his lap, sighed, and said, "I don't care what that prophecy says. Your father entrusted me to take good care of you, and I must fulfill my promise."
After her shoulders shook from sobbing for a while, Farida finally seemed to hear him and lifted her head.
Her pale lips were tightly pressed, her beautiful face slightly distorted by grief, helplessness, anger, and hatred.
Her voice was hoarse as she said:
"Even if you die because of it?"
There was dissatisfaction and anger towards Horatio's defiance, and a glimmer of hope for Horatio's promise.
"Even if I die because of it."
He gave an unwavering promise.
"This is too selfish."
She turned her head, her swollen, tear-stained green eyes fixed resolutely on Horatio, trying to maintain her gaze and focus, but there was still a hint of distraction and emptiness.
"You see, the curse on me is real. You really will die from being close to me, and then fall like a shooting star, just like your father.
Do you think this outcome is what any of us want to see? You must stay away from me, the farther the better!"
"Even if the prophecy is real, I will shatter that prophecy, just like all the battles today."
Horatio sneered rebelliously:
"Listen, Farida. I am a Childer of Loyalty of the Empire. When I embarked on this path, my life was already the currency of the God-Emperor!"
His tone was extremely firm, fearless of death.
"We are the Imperial Navy, and we will charge forward for the Emperor and the dawn of humanity."
"As you saw today. My duty is to fight, to fight the Emperor's enemies. And to fight anyone else who wants to fight!"
He drew his sword from his scabbard, gripping it tightly, his voice growing heavier and louder.
Those who heard him could fully feel the burning fire and determination in his heart.
"I will fight here, and if I cannot live, then let me rest here!"
He raised his iron hand, extended his index finger downwards, and jabbed it fiercely onto the bed, signifying the land of Abyss Port.
"But we cannot be defeated, because we are His Holy Navy.
Their schemes and temporary triumphs will only be met with our even more severe counterattacks.
These cockroaches hiding in the shadows will never win."
Horatio's extremely serious and imposing speech made a look of surprise appear in Farida's eyes.
Farida sat up and took a deep breath.
She leaned close to him with a grim face, her beautiful features showing a fierce expression, her gaze cruelly fixed on Horatio's eyes.
"We will all fight, just as you said, their schemes and temporary triumphs will only be met with our even more severe counterattacks."
Her pink lips trembled:
"Do you still remember that favor you owe me?"
"The one about finding your origins? I remember."
Horatio frowned, staring at her fierce gaze, and sneered, "What, do you want to use that favor to make me stay away from you, Miss Hood?"
"I'm sick of all of you treating me like a girl, sick of you calling me 'Miss', sick of being treated like a childish burden."
Farida was so angry that her jaw trembled with every breath.
"I have decided what path I will take, but before that, I want you to fulfill your favor…"
She gritted her teeth and said:
"Turn me into a woman."
Horatio's eyes widened in surprise. As soon as she finished speaking, she pounced like a hunting lioness.
The girl's bright and lustrous lips kissed the young man by surprise.
This kiss unleashed the hatred for the enemies who killed her parents, the anger at petty schemes, the unattainable love, the uncertain future, and the determination to sacrifice herself for the God-Emperor, all of which had been compressed within the girl's heart to an unbearable degree.
Soon, the already not-gentle kiss became wild.
Her canines bit his lip.
The strong, rusty taste of blood filled both their mouths.
It was as if she was resisting, telling Horatio not to have any lingering affection for her.
But this act was like a spark igniting dry straw in a warehouse.
It ignited the hatred that had long accumulated in Horatio's heart for the enemy behind the scenes.
It also stimulated the rebellious and defiant fighting spirit within him.
The veins on his body bulged, and his movements became rough.
He almost tore open Farida's officer uniform and bit into her.
Two hours had passed.
He was pressed against Farida's smooth, pale back.
Like two newborn infants.
Warm and weak, lying together.
And almost as silent as unborn children.
There was only acquiescence and belief.
Only this strange, perfect realm that penetrated the soul, bringing a trembling, intertwined sensation.
But the young man's brain did not lessen its anger and hatred for the enemy due to relaxation.
He would do it for her.
He swore in his heart.