HdweuH Chpt 4

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==How did we end up here?‎‎- Chapter 4 -==
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I walked into the opulent meeting place, feeling like a misplaced gear in a pristine Mech. The extravagant chandeliers, polished marble floors, and elegantly dressed attendees only accentuated my own humble existence. I muttered under my breath, "High-end place indeed. I bet my neuro helmet repairs could fund this entire establishment for a year."
 
An attendant, adorned in clothing that probably cost more than my entire life's worth, escorted me to a private room. I couldn't help but glance around, feeling the weight of the stark contrast between my modest attire and the lavish surroundings. I grumbled silently, "I'm practically a charity case in the midst of a Lyran Commonwealth gala."
 
As the door closed behind me, I found the lawyer waiting with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. His demeanor screamed affluence, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was about to become the unwitting protagonist of some aristocratic tragedy.
 
The lawyer motioned for me to take a seat, and I sat down, my discomfort palpable. He began, "Miss Alexia, I'm afraid I bring unfortunate news. Your father, a member of the Lyran Commonwealth nobility, has passed away."
 
I frowned, absorbing the unexpected revelation. "My father? Nobility? This has to be some kind of twisted joke."
 
The lawyer continued, his tone dispassionate, "Yes, your father, Lord Harrington, made certain arrangements in case of such an event. You see, during one of his excursions to Terra, he sired a child. You."
 
A heavy silence hung in the air as I processed the information. "Wait, what? I'm his... his illegitimate child?" The words felt like a gut punch, each syllable a reminder of the disjointed reality unfolding before me.
 
The lawyer maintained his insincere smile. "Yes, Miss Alexia. You are his acknowledged but illegitimate daughter. Lord Harrington's directive is clear. You are to have no contact with the rest of the family, and any claim you might have on the inheritance is null and void."
 
Disbelief mixed with a profound sense of loss. "No contact? But... I'm his daughter. Doesn't that count for anything?"
 
The lawyer's smile turned sinister. "Miss Alexia, you are a bastard. A footnote in Lord Harrington's legacy. Your presence is to be disregarded, and any expectation of inheritance is futile. The family has no obligations to acknowledge you."
 
I felt the sting of tears threatening to surface, but I refused to let them fall. "So, I get nothing? No connection, no acknowledgment, and certainly no inheritance?"
 
The lawyer leaned in, his sadistic satisfaction thinly veiled. "You're grasping the situation correctly. Lord Harrington made it clear that you are an unwanted consequence of his time on Terra. Your existence, to put it bluntly, is an inconvenience."
 
A bitter laugh escaped me. "Unwanted consequence. What a charming way to refer to your own daughter. And here I was, foolishly thinking I might get something out of this twisted family affair."
 
The lawyer chuckled, a cold sound that echoed through the room. "Miss Alexia, you were never meant to be part of the family. Lord Harrington's directive is crystal clear. You are to fade into obscurity, a mere afterthought in the grand tapestry of Lyran nobility."
 
My shoulders slumped, the weight of the revelation settling on me. "Fade into obscurity. Lovely. Is there anything else, or can I leave this den of vipers now?"
 
The lawyer's smile persisted. "That's all, Miss Alexia. Your presence here was merely a formality. I trust you understand your place now."
 
I stood up, my gaze fixed on the floor as I muttered, "Understanding my place seems to be a recurring theme today. Thanks for the enlightening meeting." As I exited the room, the echoes of the lawyer's cruel words lingered, and I couldn't shake off the profound sadness that enveloped me.
 
Walking away from the meeting place, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss. The glittering facade of wealth and privilege had crumbled, revealing the harsh reality of my status. I muttered to myself, "Bastard daughter, unwanted consequence. This is my legacy in the Lyran Commonwealth."
 
The encounter left a bitter taste, a stark reminder of how cruel the world could be. I grumbled, "And here I thought neuro helmet repairs were the height of my struggles. Turns out, my real battle is against a family that wants nothing to do with me."
 
As I navigated through the opulent surroundings, the extravagance mocking my humble existence, I couldn't escape the truth—no inheritance, no family, and a title that only served to mark me as an outcast. In the midst of affluence, I felt more isolated than ever.
 
And so, As I distanced myself from the opulent meeting place, the grandeur of the Lyran Commonwealth's nobility now felt like a cruel jest. I muttered bitterly, "Lord Harrington's passing... Not that I even knew the man. Father or not, he's just a name with no significance in my life."
 
The news of his death left me surprisingly unaffected. I grumbled under my breath, "No tears shed for a man I've never met. The Lyran Commonwealth can keep its elaborate mourning rituals. I'll save my grief for something or someone worth mourning."
 
The streets of Geneva seemed to mock my lack of connection, and I continued to grumble, "So, I'm left with nothing—no inheritance, no family ties. I guess the least they could have thrown in was a sympathetic violin soundtrack for this tragic tale."
 
The realization that I had no reason to fake grieving settled in, and I scoffed at the absurdity of the situation. "Why would I pretend to mourn a man who treated me as an inconvenient footnote? If the Lyran Commonwealth expects me to play the part of the grieving daughter, they've severely overestimated my acting skills."
 
I couldn't suppress a bitter laugh. "Oh, poor Lord Harrington, may he rest in peace. The man who sired a 'bastard' and then conveniently erased her from his legacy. I'm sure Lyran history books will weep for the loss."
 
The bustling cityscape mirrored the whirlwind of emotions within me. I grumbled about the absurdity of my predicament, "Here I am, strolling through Geneva, an illegitimate daughter with no inheritance, no family, and certainly no desire to put on a show of false grief. What a remarkable twist of fate."
 
 My steps quickened, fueled by a mix of frustration and determination. "No, I won't play the part of the grieving daughter. Lord Harrington's passing means nothing to me, and I won't indulge in a charade for the sake of Lyran protocol."
 
As I navigated through the crowded streets, my grumbling continued. "Maybe I should send the Lyran Commonwealth a 'thank you' note for this delightful inheritance—disownment, disdain, and a title that's more a mark of shame than prestige."
 
The bitter truth lingered in my thoughts. "So much for the fairy tale of discovering hidden riches and a long-lost family. Instead, I'm left with the harsh reality of being a discarded puzzle piece in a noble family's legacy."
 
The city's pulse matched the rhythm of my disappointment. I grumbled about the irony of my situation, "You'd think inheriting a neuro helmet would be the highlight of my day, considering the alternatives. At least it won't disown me or pretend I don't exist."
 
As I continued my journey through Geneva, the towering buildings serving as silent witnesses to my internal turmoil, I couldn't escape the sting of betrayal. Grumbling became a cathartic release, a way to voice the frustrations that echoed within me.
 
"And so, Alexia, the illegitimate daughter, marches on in the grand parade of the Lyran Commonwealth's nobility. A parade where I'm both spectator and spectacle, an outsider in the lavish spectacle of a world that wants nothing to do with me."
 
As the day unfolded, I found solace in the familiarity of my modest apartment. The neuro helmet awaited, its circuits a refuge from the complexities of a life I never asked for. I muttered to myself, "Well, neuro helmet, looks like it's just you and me against the grandeur of Lyran nobility. Somehow, I prefer our humble battles."
 
With a wry smile, I immersed myself in the familiar task of neuro helmet repairs, the silent hum of SLDF technology providing a comforting contrast to the echoes of my disillusionment.
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