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After returning from Glenford, Annette hadn't seen Heiner's face for nearly a week.
It wasn't a big deal. They had barely seen each other before she asked for a divorce.
The official residence was large, and the spheres of activity were different, so unless one of them came looking for them first, they each lived their own lives.
After the revolution, the role of finding companionship mostly fell to Annette. Things changed a bit after the divorce talk came up.
It wasn't a big deal. They had barely seen each other before she asked for a divorce.
The official residence was large, and the spheres of activity were different, so unless one of them came looking for them first, they each lived their own lives.
After the revolution, the role of finding companionship mostly fell to Annette. Things changed a bit after the divorce talk came up.
Now, Annette had no reason to seek him out first, unless it was about divorce.
The sound of birds chirping could be heard loudly outside the window. Annette put the documents detailing her donations in a folder and opened the safe in her closet.
After placing the file in the safe, she took out the jewelry box. She placed the jewelry in a paper bag and rang the pager. Soon, a servant entered the room.
"Miss Ritzberg, I have a favor to ask. Please go to the nearby jeweler..."
“Yes, ma’am.”
“...”
“Please speak, ma’am.”
When Annette didn't continue, the servant looked puzzled. Annette thought for a moment, then smiled slightly and shook her head.
“No, I’ll just go myself.”
“If you want to buy jewelry, look at the catalog...”
“I’d like to see it in person at the store. Could you have the driver wait for me?”
"All right."
As soon as the servant left, the smile vanished from Annette's face. She changed into her street clothes and put on a veiled hat.
Annette, wearing gloves, left the building carrying a paper bag. Naturally, an attendant followed her.
The attendant opened the backseat door. Annette climbed into the car and asked the driver.
“Is there a jewelry store nearby that doesn’t have people?”
“Uh... Then, how about Herpin Jewelry Store? However, the store is in an alley, so you’ll have to park on the main road, and you’ll probably have to walk a bit.”
“It’s okay. Please go there.”
As a knight who had accompanied noble ladies, he knew a thing or two about jewelers. The man deftly turned the wheel and turned the road.
Before long, the car stopped on the side of the road. Annette walked down the alley lined with shops. As she reached the Herpin Jewelry store, the attendant spoke.
“I’ll be waiting outside, ma’am.”
It was a welcome sound as she listened. Annette nodded slightly and entered the store.
“Welcome.”
The jeweler greeted the customer with a somewhat unsympathetic tone. Annette placed a paper bag on the display case and spoke.
“I want to get rid of everything.”
"Did you happen to get an appraisal done somewhere else first?"
"No."
The jeweler glanced inside the paper bag and then put on his magnifying glass.
“Please wait a moment.”
The amount of jewels was not very large. The Rosenberg family's property had been confiscated, and she, who belonged to Valdemar, was forced to donate most of her possessions, largely due to public opinion.
The reason for suddenly selling off the jewels that were supposed to be used as emergency funds was simple.
This was to prevent the situation where, after his death, the jewels would be featured in the newspapers or auctioned off as 'jewels owned by Dietrich's daughter'.
While the jeweler was appraising the jewelry, Annette looked at the gems on display. She had always loved gems. Not because they were expensive, but simply because they sparkled.
Heiner also knew Annette's tastes. Whenever they'd gone on dates in the past, he'd always buy her something shiny and put it in her hand. Jewelry, beads, glassware...
“Do you know my entire room is a gift from you? I’m going to die from this.”
“If it’s to this extent, it’s difficult.”
“Is this... some grand plan to crush me to death?”
"It's similar. I'll let you live surrounded by all kinds of shining things."
“Ahaha, is this a proposal?”
“Let’s make the proposal even more spectacular.”
There was a time when the world seemed a little more splendid when he was with him.
Annette placed her hand lightly on the display case, peering inside with dry eyes. Everything was dazzling and shiny, but she was no longer impressed.
"It's finished, ma'am. Please check the ticket here."
The jeweler, having finished appraising the items, handed him a list with their prices.
"All in all, I can give you 2,300 pounds. Do you have any questions?"
“Please dispose of it like that.”
“Oh, yes. I understand.”
The jeweler's voice sounded somewhat shaky. Annette looked away from the table, her face uninterested.
It didn't matter if the price was a bargain or not. In fact, the lower the price, the better.
Suddenly, his eyes fell on the diamond ring on her left ring finger. It was larger and more beautiful than any other gemstone on display. It was the wedding ring Heiner had proposed to her.
Annette took off the ring and handed it to the owner, asking.
“How much is this diamond ring worth? I’d like to sell it together.”
“Would you like to try it?”
The jeweler, examining the ring, let out a soft exclamation of admiration.
"Ugh. This alone would cost over 7,000 pounds. I'm sorry, but our shop can't afford it. You'll have to go to a bigger jeweler."
“...Is that so?”
Annette accepted the ring, thought about it for a moment, and then put it in her bag.
The owner counted the check and handed Annette an envelope containing the payment. Annette left the store without even checking the amount.
The attendant waiting at the door followed her immediately. Annette slowly walked out of the alley.
Two thousand three hundred pounds. It wasn't a small sum. The jewels weren't large, but they were all high-quality, so it was understandable.
'But one ring costs 7,000 pounds... '
Even in her maiden years, she had never owned a jewel like this. Did Heiner believe he could only satisfy her by proposing with an expensive ring?
It was not difficult to picture what he thought of himself.
A naive woman born into a powerful family, completely ignorant of the ways of the world. A vain woman who grew up wanting nothing and enjoying everything she wanted.
'That's not wrong.'
Annette walked out onto the street, thinking to herself. Looking around, a car parked on the side of the road caught her eye. Suddenly, her gaze met with a glance, and she turned her head again.
A man stood beneath a streetlight. He looked to be in his early twenties at best, staring intently in her direction. Even when their eyes met, he didn't look away.
Are you looking at me?
Annette hastily pulled her hat down, wondering if he recognized her. But the man's eyes remained fixed on her. Something strange and intense flickered within them.
Those eyes.
Goosebumps ran down her skin.
Annette, horrified, took a step back without realizing it. Her instincts were warning her to run. At that moment, the man pulled something from his waistband.
Under the sunlight, a silvery light gleamed in the shape of a cross, aimed at her.
The series of actions seemed very slow.
Annette instinctively turned toward the attendant. Surprise spread across his face. He reached out.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. The attendant grabbed her shoulder.
Bang!
A burning sensation appeared in her side. Annette froze for a moment, gasping for breath. The attendant hid Annette behind him and drew his pistol.
Bang! Bang! The sound of gunfire echoed through the broad daylight streets. The attendant, engaged in a gunfight with the other party, shoved Annette forward. Her staggering steps gave way.
“Stay hidden!”
Annette sat down in front of the car, sobbing. A chill rose from the floor. Her shoulders shook irregularly.
“Madam! Are you okay?”
The driver got out of the car and hurriedly checked her condition. He looked down, and his eyes widened.
“Oh, my God, ma’am!”
Her lips trembled wildly. Annette slowly lifted the hand that had been wrapped around her side. A trickle of red blood spurted out onto her palm.
A sharp pain surged through her lower abdomen. It felt like she'd been shot. Annette trembled, clutching her stomach awkwardly.
“Madam... emergency... To the hospital immediately.”
Annette leaned back against the car, supported by the knight. She finally raised her head, and the deep blue sky filled her vision. It was blinding.
The knight next to her spoke, but she couldn't hear clearly. Annette let out a shallow breath, lost in thought.
'Shoot the head...'
Then I could have gone in one go without any pain.
Her vision flickered. It felt strange. The gunshot wound was clearly in her side, but a terrible pain was piercing through her entire body, below her chest. It felt like she was being torn to pieces.
Is this what it's like to be shot? She never been hurt this badly in her life, so she didn't know. Her fingertips, hanging on the floor, twitched intermittently.
“..Madam!”
Her eyelids felt weak. Cold sweat trickled down her temples. The sound of gunfire grew distant.
Heiner said he'd been injured numerous times during operations, including three gunshot wounds. Did he feel this much pain? Having endured such pain countless times, did hers seem insignificant?
My pain, my pain, my pain... my...
Her thoughts no longer continued. Annette gave up trying to hold on to consciousness. Her eyes, which had been flickering, soon darkened.
A scene flashed through her mind, as if captured on film. It was the face of the man who had shot her. Those eyes, aiming the gun without hesitation. The emotion that shone so vividly.
It was clear hatred.
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