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“...Therefore, I ask that you declare in the council that Padania will participate in the war as an allied force.”
A period was placed at the end of the sentence. Heiner stared at it for a moment. The starting point of countless sacrifices was a single sentence he had written.
Heiner gathered the documents, handed them to his secretary, and stood up. He rubbed his tired eyes, and his vision became blurry, then clear again.
He put on his coat and stepped out into the hallway. The sound of his shoes echoed through the cold, dark hallway.
“But if that was the case... I should have told you three years ago.”
As he entered the main building, his steps suddenly stopped. Heiner absentmindedly reached out to put his hand to his ear.
Moreover.
It was like this again. Without warning, out of the blue. Her traces and memories suddenly appeared, like delusions or tinnitus, tormenting him.
“I didn’t even know that...”
Heiner clenched his fists. Then he took another step forward.
“...I loved you for three more years.”
His eyes sunken darkly. A soft murmur escaped him like a cold breath.
"Lie."
You never loved me. Even when I was the only one you had left, you didn't love me.
It might have been a casual pastime in the past, but then it might have been a desperate lifeline. It's nothing new. It's something he's been aware of for a very long time.
A girl like you wouldn't love me.
"...Ha."
Heiner chuckled softly. He found it incredibly amusing to be muttering to himself about a story that had already ended long ago.
He felt like he was going crazy. He was starting to question whether he could maintain his position as Commander-in-Chief with this mentality.
From the beginning, it was a castle built for that one woman. But now that she's gone, only the walls remain.
Heiner stopped in front of the large window and turned his gaze to the garden outside. A large, white fountain caught his eye. It was the fountain Annette often gazed at from a bench.
In the past, Heiner would walk down this hallway and occasionally spot her sitting there. Then, he would stop his busy pace and watch her for a while.
Although he could only see the back of the bench from here, he observed the woman with great alertness and sensitivity, as if he were a spy uncovering secrets.
Heiner's eyes, tracing back a time in the past, grew cloudy. He suddenly wondered what her face must have looked like as she sat on that bench.
He couldn't picture a happy or peaceful face. Everything he'd seen of her over the past three years had been painted in dark hues.
He pulled his gaze away, and his face was reflected in the dark window. The expressionless face resembled a dead tree. He licked his lips silently.
Are you happy now?
All day long, the radio was filled with broadcasts about the war.
The story was that Frances had invaded Aslania's western front without a declaration of war and with rapid maneuver. Padania, it was said, had yet to make any clear military moves.
Despite the chaos in the world, Annette's life continued largely unchanged. She was still inexperienced with a knife, her house smelled like a baby, and the nearby market was as bustling as ever.
But rumors were circulating that Padania would soon become fully involved in the war. Annette had a vague sense that this life was coming to an end.
While Annette was folding laundry, she heard the sound of a key turning. It was still early evening. She looked toward the door, puzzled.
The person who entered was Katrine. For some reason, she looked a little more nervous than usual. Annette stood up with a puzzled expression.
“Katrine? Are you here already?”
“Oh, well, things got done a little quickly.”
It was a strange excuse. What could possibly be done quickly in a fruit shop that operates until the regular business hours?
"Is it so...?"
Annette sat down without further questioning. Katrine rolled her eyes as she took off her coat.
“Is Olivia sleeping?”
“Yes, a while ago.”
“Thanks for looking. Um, you didn’t go out separately today, did you?”
“I was at home all day.”
“Do you have anything else to do tomorrow?”
“Maybe... I should go out for a bit...?”
Annette asked hesitantly, wondering if there was something that required her to vacate the house. But Katrine, visibly flustered, waved her hand.
"No, no. I was telling you to stay home. The atmosphere is tense because of the war, and it's a bit dangerous anyway."
“Katrine, what’s wrong?”
"What? No, nothing. I'm a little uneasy because of the war. They even declared war."
Katrine, who had been rambling, muttered, "I need to change my clothes first," and went into her room. Annette watched her back with worried eyes.
By the time the laundry was all folded, Katrine, having changed clothes, came back into the living room. She drank water from the kitchen, thirsty.
Annette called her after she had neatly folded the laundry.
“Katrine.”
"Yes?"
“What’s going on?”
“I told you there’s no such thing.”
“Is it about me? Has anyone recognized me?”
Katrine's hand, holding the glass of water, flinched. Annette was certain of the reaction.
“...There is?”
“No, Annette, that’s not why─”
“There’s no need to hide it from me. I know they’ll find out eventually anyway.”
Annette spoke calmly. Katrine, who had been quivering with her lips as if speechless, soon sighed.
“Well, that bastard Hans, he’s just talking big..."
Hans was the man she met at the fruit stand before. He'd happened to be visiting Katrine while she was away, and they'd bumped into each other without even a moment to hide their faces.
He looked puzzled, saying that the face was familiar, but then he finally remembered who it was.
In fact, Annette wasn't all that surprised by this development. Her face had been featured in countless newspapers and magazines. It was rather surprising that no rumors had spread until now.
From the beginning, she couldn't understand Katrine, who had brought her here. Unless she was going to hide in the house her whole life, this was bound to happen someday.
“Katrine, tell people what kind of relationship you and I have.”
Annette spoke calmly but firmly.
"What..."
"You could easily be misunderstood as helping me. Well, yes, you're helping me—but apart from that, you're a victim, and your brother was a revolutionary. You had no connection to me or the nobles in the first place."
“Saying that won’t help, Annette.”
"It's not for me, it's for you and your family. I don't care what they say, but it's not for Katrine. It could hurt your business."
“Why does it matter what Annette hears?”
“I’m really okay. I’m used to it already.”
“Whether you’re familiar with it or not, why doesn’t it matter...!”
Katrine's voice rose slightly. Annette, taken aback, fell silent. But the question remained. It didn't matter what people said about her.
Katrine, who had been looking at Annette with an unreadable face, suddenly turned around.
“...Anyway, don’t go out for the time being.”
Annette hesitated for a long time at the telephone exchange, dialing the number on the business card and then stopping several times.
Finally determined, she dialed the number. The receiver beeped steadily. Annette bit her lower lip, waiting for the call to connect.
[I received a call. This is the Saint Attorney's Office.]
"Oh, hello. I'm a client who previously went through Saint Attorney's divorce process. I'm calling to ask you something."
[What is your name?]
“Annette... this is Rosenberg.”
When she said her name, she heard a "Ah" from the other side.
[Please wait a moment. I'll speak to your lawyer.]
"... Yes."
Annette waited anxiously for her lawyer. She called him half-heartedly, but she was relieved to see that things seemed to be progressing.
Not long after, a familiar voice came over the phone.
[This is Fabian Saint. It's been a while, Miss Rosenberg. How are you?]
"Hello, Mr. Saint. How are you? I'm calling to ask you something. Is that alright...?"
[I'm glad you're doing well. Of course. Feel free to ask.]
“The thing is, when I moved out of the official residence after my divorce, I left behind all the bank documents related to alimony payments... I was wondering if I could still receive these payments, and if my rights were still valid...”
Annette asked nervously, twisting the phone cord with her fingers.
It was an asset she threw away as if she didn't need it. Retrieving it was a rather humiliating task, but something else was more important than pride at the moment.
[Hmm... Legally, the rights are valid, but since quite some time has passed, it could be considered a waiver of authority depending on the circumstances... I think I should check with your ex-husband first. If it's okay with you, could you wait a moment? I'll call you back shortly.]
"Thank you."
Annette hung up the phone but didn't leave. She stared at the switchboard, then leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, then wandered around again.
Ring ring─.
As soon as the phone rang, Annette picked up the receiver.
A period was placed at the end of the sentence. Heiner stared at it for a moment. The starting point of countless sacrifices was a single sentence he had written.
Heiner gathered the documents, handed them to his secretary, and stood up. He rubbed his tired eyes, and his vision became blurry, then clear again.
He put on his coat and stepped out into the hallway. The sound of his shoes echoed through the cold, dark hallway.
“But if that was the case... I should have told you three years ago.”
As he entered the main building, his steps suddenly stopped. Heiner absentmindedly reached out to put his hand to his ear.
“When you've achieved all your goals and no longer need to deceive me, then tell me.”
It was like this again. Without warning, out of the blue. Her traces and memories suddenly appeared, like delusions or tinnitus, tormenting him.
“I didn’t even know that...”
Heiner clenched his fists. Then he took another step forward.
“...I loved you for three more years.”
His eyes sunken darkly. A soft murmur escaped him like a cold breath.
"Lie."
You never loved me. Even when I was the only one you had left, you didn't love me.
It might have been a casual pastime in the past, but then it might have been a desperate lifeline. It's nothing new. It's something he's been aware of for a very long time.
A girl like you wouldn't love me.
"...Ha."
Heiner chuckled softly. He found it incredibly amusing to be muttering to himself about a story that had already ended long ago.
He felt like he was going crazy. He was starting to question whether he could maintain his position as Commander-in-Chief with this mentality.
From the beginning, it was a castle built for that one woman. But now that she's gone, only the walls remain.
Heiner stopped in front of the large window and turned his gaze to the garden outside. A large, white fountain caught his eye. It was the fountain Annette often gazed at from a bench.
In the past, Heiner would walk down this hallway and occasionally spot her sitting there. Then, he would stop his busy pace and watch her for a while.
Although he could only see the back of the bench from here, he observed the woman with great alertness and sensitivity, as if he were a spy uncovering secrets.
Heiner's eyes, tracing back a time in the past, grew cloudy. He suddenly wondered what her face must have looked like as she sat on that bench.
He couldn't picture a happy or peaceful face. Everything he'd seen of her over the past three years had been painted in dark hues.
He pulled his gaze away, and his face was reflected in the dark window. The expressionless face resembled a dead tree. He licked his lips silently.
Are you happy now?
***
All day long, the radio was filled with broadcasts about the war.
The story was that Frances had invaded Aslania's western front without a declaration of war and with rapid maneuver. Padania, it was said, had yet to make any clear military moves.
Despite the chaos in the world, Annette's life continued largely unchanged. She was still inexperienced with a knife, her house smelled like a baby, and the nearby market was as bustling as ever.
But rumors were circulating that Padania would soon become fully involved in the war. Annette had a vague sense that this life was coming to an end.
While Annette was folding laundry, she heard the sound of a key turning. It was still early evening. She looked toward the door, puzzled.
The person who entered was Katrine. For some reason, she looked a little more nervous than usual. Annette stood up with a puzzled expression.
“Katrine? Are you here already?”
“Oh, well, things got done a little quickly.”
It was a strange excuse. What could possibly be done quickly in a fruit shop that operates until the regular business hours?
"Is it so...?"
Annette sat down without further questioning. Katrine rolled her eyes as she took off her coat.
“Is Olivia sleeping?”
“Yes, a while ago.”
“Thanks for looking. Um, you didn’t go out separately today, did you?”
“I was at home all day.”
“Do you have anything else to do tomorrow?”
“Maybe... I should go out for a bit...?”
Annette asked hesitantly, wondering if there was something that required her to vacate the house. But Katrine, visibly flustered, waved her hand.
"No, no. I was telling you to stay home. The atmosphere is tense because of the war, and it's a bit dangerous anyway."
“Katrine, what’s wrong?”
"What? No, nothing. I'm a little uneasy because of the war. They even declared war."
Katrine, who had been rambling, muttered, "I need to change my clothes first," and went into her room. Annette watched her back with worried eyes.
By the time the laundry was all folded, Katrine, having changed clothes, came back into the living room. She drank water from the kitchen, thirsty.
Annette called her after she had neatly folded the laundry.
“Katrine.”
"Yes?"
“What’s going on?”
“I told you there’s no such thing.”
“Is it about me? Has anyone recognized me?”
Katrine's hand, holding the glass of water, flinched. Annette was certain of the reaction.
“...There is?”
“No, Annette, that’s not why─”
“There’s no need to hide it from me. I know they’ll find out eventually anyway.”
Annette spoke calmly. Katrine, who had been quivering with her lips as if speechless, soon sighed.
“Well, that bastard Hans, he’s just talking big..."
Hans was the man she met at the fruit stand before. He'd happened to be visiting Katrine while she was away, and they'd bumped into each other without even a moment to hide their faces.
He looked puzzled, saying that the face was familiar, but then he finally remembered who it was.
In fact, Annette wasn't all that surprised by this development. Her face had been featured in countless newspapers and magazines. It was rather surprising that no rumors had spread until now.
From the beginning, she couldn't understand Katrine, who had brought her here. Unless she was going to hide in the house her whole life, this was bound to happen someday.
“Katrine, tell people what kind of relationship you and I have.”
Annette spoke calmly but firmly.
"What..."
"You could easily be misunderstood as helping me. Well, yes, you're helping me—but apart from that, you're a victim, and your brother was a revolutionary. You had no connection to me or the nobles in the first place."
“Saying that won’t help, Annette.”
"It's not for me, it's for you and your family. I don't care what they say, but it's not for Katrine. It could hurt your business."
“Why does it matter what Annette hears?”
“I’m really okay. I’m used to it already.”
“Whether you’re familiar with it or not, why doesn’t it matter...!”
Katrine's voice rose slightly. Annette, taken aback, fell silent. But the question remained. It didn't matter what people said about her.
Katrine, who had been looking at Annette with an unreadable face, suddenly turned around.
“...Anyway, don’t go out for the time being.”
***
Annette hesitated for a long time at the telephone exchange, dialing the number on the business card and then stopping several times.
Finally determined, she dialed the number. The receiver beeped steadily. Annette bit her lower lip, waiting for the call to connect.
[I received a call. This is the Saint Attorney's Office.]
"Oh, hello. I'm a client who previously went through Saint Attorney's divorce process. I'm calling to ask you something."
[What is your name?]
“Annette... this is Rosenberg.”
When she said her name, she heard a "Ah" from the other side.
[Please wait a moment. I'll speak to your lawyer.]
"... Yes."
Annette waited anxiously for her lawyer. She called him half-heartedly, but she was relieved to see that things seemed to be progressing.
Not long after, a familiar voice came over the phone.
[This is Fabian Saint. It's been a while, Miss Rosenberg. How are you?]
"Hello, Mr. Saint. How are you? I'm calling to ask you something. Is that alright...?"
[I'm glad you're doing well. Of course. Feel free to ask.]
“The thing is, when I moved out of the official residence after my divorce, I left behind all the bank documents related to alimony payments... I was wondering if I could still receive these payments, and if my rights were still valid...”
Annette asked nervously, twisting the phone cord with her fingers.
It was an asset she threw away as if she didn't need it. Retrieving it was a rather humiliating task, but something else was more important than pride at the moment.
[Hmm... Legally, the rights are valid, but since quite some time has passed, it could be considered a waiver of authority depending on the circumstances... I think I should check with your ex-husband first. If it's okay with you, could you wait a moment? I'll call you back shortly.]
"Thank you."
Annette hung up the phone but didn't leave. She stared at the switchboard, then leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, then wandered around again.
Ring ring─.
As soon as the phone rang, Annette picked up the receiver.
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