.png)
Annette peeled the washed fruit, cut it into small pieces with a knife, and then chopped it into small pieces. The knife skills that Katrine and Brunner had teased her about were gradually improving. Of course, they were still slow.
She loved pastimes that allowed her to focus without thinking. When she focused her attention on the blade, the distracting thoughts that cluttered her mind would disappear.
“Annette, if you’re done cutting it, can you put it over here? I’ll do the rest.”
“Oh, yes. Here...”
Catherine also sold homemade fruit juice at the store. Annette's knife skills also improved as she helped with the juice-making.
After a while of being silently absorbed in her work, the front door swung open with a click of the lock. It was Katrine's husband, Brunner.
“Ugh. It’s getting chilly now. Good evening, everyone.”
Brunner shuddered as he took off his hat. Immediately, Katrine's slap flew.
“I told you to wear a coat. How can you be so careless?”
“It’s still hot during the day.”
"You're calling that an excuse. It's cold at night. Is it really that hard to take off your clothes for a little while during the day?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I understand. I'll take care of it starting tomorrow. Oh my, Annette, does this person nag like this even during the day?"
Annette simply smiled without answering. Katrine continued to nag Annette, saying that she had no reason to nag her and that she was the one making her do it.
While the couple bickered, Annette finished cutting the fruit. But it wasn't as easy as it had been just now. She moved her hands slowly, lost in thought.
Her father and ex-husband also said similar things to her: that she nags too much.
Annette was the type to care for those around her, or more accurately, her "people." She felt at ease when she paid attention to every little detail. That was her way of expressing her affection.
Since when did that stop happening...
“What about Olivia?”
“She's sleeping.”
“Our Princess keeps sleeping. It’s disappointing, Dad.”
“The child sleeps a lot because she takes after her father.”
“Who is as hard-working as I am?”
Katrine clicked her tongue and went into the kitchen. While Brunner went into the nursery to at least check on his sleeping daughter, she prepared dinner.
Annette wandered over to see if she could help, then was dismissed, told to finish the fruit. But she hadn't finished even by the time dinner began.
The three sat down at the table, where food was laid out. After Brunner said a brief prayer before the meal, everyone picked up their utensils.
Over dinner, they shared their daily lives. Annette only occasionally opened her mouth to answer a question, agree, or add a comment.
“The atmosphere is a bit gloomy these days.”
“Is it because of the war? Are we going to join the war too?”
“Well, the justification is the problem... but if you make up a justification, it will exist.”
Annette paused for a moment. She'd seen a newspaper article about the war. She cautiously asked about the story she'd picked up on the street.
“Everyone wants war... Is that true?”
"That's the atmosphere, I guess. Hostility toward the belligerents is sky-high..."
In recent years, the concept of the nation has taken on an almost religious connotation. War has served as a means of solidifying nationalism while also proving masculinity.
Not only the old ruling class, which valued the role of war leaders, but also many intellectuals and artists welcomed the war.
It was a very strange phenomenon.
“Will Padania really go to war?”
“I guess we should consider it almost like that.”
“You’re not going to enlist, are you?”
“Where can I go, leaving my wife and daughter behind? My daughter is still a newborn.”
“How common is it for men to go to war, leaving behind their newborns?”
“Those are professional soldiers.”
“It’s common even among ordinary people.”
“Anyway, that’s not me. Why are you worrying about that?”
“What if they force me to enlist?”
"You can't do that these days. What era are we in? They even deposed the King, so what happens if you force them to enlist... Ah."
Bruner, who had been spouting nonsense as if it were nonsense, covered his mouth with his hand. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Talking about revolution was a kind of inviolable territory for them.
Annette hadn't told them not to tell her, nor had she shown any reluctance, yet they didn't even mention it.
It was only then that they realized Annette's ex-husband was the commander-in-chief of the army. The topic of her ex-husband was also taboo for them.
Annette swallowed her stew and then smiled politely at Brunner.
"Bruner is right. This isn't a monarchy, and we can't force the people. Don't worry, Katrine."
“Ha, haha. See? That’s right. Why are you so worried...”
“Well... well, that’s fortunate.”
"By the way, are we going to look at furniture together tomorrow? Annette, do you need anything?"
“I need a small bookshelf. Something about this size.”
The topic quickly shifted. The once-simmering atmosphere lifted, but a strange awkwardness lingered like dust.
Annette was genuinely unfazed by the mention of revolution. She was simply uncomfortable with the situation that followed.
The meal ended in a pleasant atmosphere. Olivia, who had woken up just in time, whined in her room.
Annette cleared the table in place of the couple who rushed to see their daughter. As she lifted the plate, she suddenly realized her hands were shaking slightly.
Annette clenched her fists, then unclenched them. Then she finished clearing the table. Brunner, who arrived late, shooed her away, saying he'd do the dishes.
As she finished preparing the remaining fruit, it was already late at night. After finishing cleaning up, Annette came out into the living room.
"I'll go up a little early. Good night, Brunner. Good night, Katrine."
“Yeah, good night, Annette. Have a good night.”
Annette approached Olivia, who was in Katrine's arms. Her face, now close, emanated a scent of powder. Her cheeks, filled with love, were soft and plump.
Olivia blinked, her large eyes wide, as Annette kissed the baby's cheek.
“Good night, Olivia.”
“Annette, sleep well, too.”
Katrine imitated Olivia's answer. Annette smiled faintly and waved.
After washing and changing clothes, Annette opened the book she had been reading. A yellow light flickered across the grayish pages.
Annette's gaze slowly followed the letters. But instead of moving, it paused for a moment, then returned to the previous position, then paused again.
Finally, Annette sighed and closed the book. Her heart was so turbulent that she couldn't read the words.
She looked at her empty hands. The shaking had stopped, but an inexplicable sense of unease persisted.
“Will Padania really go to war?”
Perhaps it was because she'd heard war stories. But war was still a topic that hadn't really touched Annette. She didn't even really understand what war was.
If Padania were to actually participate in the war, it would be difficult to gauge what impact it would have on her and Katrine's family.
Suddenly, she thought it was funny.
How can you, having lived in the official residence as the Commander-in-Chief's wife for several years, know so little?
How pathetic do you think you can become?
Annette, who had been mocking herself, belatedly realized the reason for her anxiety. The Commander-in-Chief. Heiner Valdemar... her ex-husband.
War and the man were inseparable. If Padania were to participate in the war, Heiner would naturally be the key decision-maker.
‘...This has nothing to do with me anymore.’
Annette thought dryly.
Whether he was at the front lines or the rear, whatever decisions he made, whatever achievements he achieved, the only connection they had left was the country of Padania.
The commander-in-chief of Padania and the people of Padania. That's the extent of their relationship.
This fact didn't bring her any sadness or longing. It simply made her realize a little more clearly what she already knew.
Annette couldn't quite define what she felt about him. She was even struggling to grasp her own feelings.
However, Annette was slowly forgetting him. Whereas before she thought of him a hundred times a day, now she thought of him ten times a day. And she could continue to forget him.
As if the world was forgetting her.
She suddenly realized that it was fortunate.
She loved pastimes that allowed her to focus without thinking. When she focused her attention on the blade, the distracting thoughts that cluttered her mind would disappear.
“Annette, if you’re done cutting it, can you put it over here? I’ll do the rest.”
“Oh, yes. Here...”
Catherine also sold homemade fruit juice at the store. Annette's knife skills also improved as she helped with the juice-making.
After a while of being silently absorbed in her work, the front door swung open with a click of the lock. It was Katrine's husband, Brunner.
“Ugh. It’s getting chilly now. Good evening, everyone.”
Brunner shuddered as he took off his hat. Immediately, Katrine's slap flew.
“I told you to wear a coat. How can you be so careless?”
“It’s still hot during the day.”
"You're calling that an excuse. It's cold at night. Is it really that hard to take off your clothes for a little while during the day?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I understand. I'll take care of it starting tomorrow. Oh my, Annette, does this person nag like this even during the day?"
Annette simply smiled without answering. Katrine continued to nag Annette, saying that she had no reason to nag her and that she was the one making her do it.
While the couple bickered, Annette finished cutting the fruit. But it wasn't as easy as it had been just now. She moved her hands slowly, lost in thought.
Her father and ex-husband also said similar things to her: that she nags too much.
Annette was the type to care for those around her, or more accurately, her "people." She felt at ease when she paid attention to every little detail. That was her way of expressing her affection.
Since when did that stop happening...
“What about Olivia?”
“She's sleeping.”
“Our Princess keeps sleeping. It’s disappointing, Dad.”
“The child sleeps a lot because she takes after her father.”
“Who is as hard-working as I am?”
Katrine clicked her tongue and went into the kitchen. While Brunner went into the nursery to at least check on his sleeping daughter, she prepared dinner.
Annette wandered over to see if she could help, then was dismissed, told to finish the fruit. But she hadn't finished even by the time dinner began.
The three sat down at the table, where food was laid out. After Brunner said a brief prayer before the meal, everyone picked up their utensils.
Over dinner, they shared their daily lives. Annette only occasionally opened her mouth to answer a question, agree, or add a comment.
“The atmosphere is a bit gloomy these days.”
“Is it because of the war? Are we going to join the war too?”
“Well, the justification is the problem... but if you make up a justification, it will exist.”
Annette paused for a moment. She'd seen a newspaper article about the war. She cautiously asked about the story she'd picked up on the street.
“Everyone wants war... Is that true?”
"That's the atmosphere, I guess. Hostility toward the belligerents is sky-high..."
In recent years, the concept of the nation has taken on an almost religious connotation. War has served as a means of solidifying nationalism while also proving masculinity.
Not only the old ruling class, which valued the role of war leaders, but also many intellectuals and artists welcomed the war.
It was a very strange phenomenon.
“Will Padania really go to war?”
“I guess we should consider it almost like that.”
“You’re not going to enlist, are you?”
“Where can I go, leaving my wife and daughter behind? My daughter is still a newborn.”
“How common is it for men to go to war, leaving behind their newborns?”
“Those are professional soldiers.”
“It’s common even among ordinary people.”
“Anyway, that’s not me. Why are you worrying about that?”
“What if they force me to enlist?”
"You can't do that these days. What era are we in? They even deposed the King, so what happens if you force them to enlist... Ah."
Bruner, who had been spouting nonsense as if it were nonsense, covered his mouth with his hand. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Talking about revolution was a kind of inviolable territory for them.
Annette hadn't told them not to tell her, nor had she shown any reluctance, yet they didn't even mention it.
It was only then that they realized Annette's ex-husband was the commander-in-chief of the army. The topic of her ex-husband was also taboo for them.
Annette swallowed her stew and then smiled politely at Brunner.
"Bruner is right. This isn't a monarchy, and we can't force the people. Don't worry, Katrine."
“Ha, haha. See? That’s right. Why are you so worried...”
“Well... well, that’s fortunate.”
"By the way, are we going to look at furniture together tomorrow? Annette, do you need anything?"
“I need a small bookshelf. Something about this size.”
The topic quickly shifted. The once-simmering atmosphere lifted, but a strange awkwardness lingered like dust.
Annette was genuinely unfazed by the mention of revolution. She was simply uncomfortable with the situation that followed.
The meal ended in a pleasant atmosphere. Olivia, who had woken up just in time, whined in her room.
Annette cleared the table in place of the couple who rushed to see their daughter. As she lifted the plate, she suddenly realized her hands were shaking slightly.
Annette clenched her fists, then unclenched them. Then she finished clearing the table. Brunner, who arrived late, shooed her away, saying he'd do the dishes.
As she finished preparing the remaining fruit, it was already late at night. After finishing cleaning up, Annette came out into the living room.
"I'll go up a little early. Good night, Brunner. Good night, Katrine."
“Yeah, good night, Annette. Have a good night.”
Annette approached Olivia, who was in Katrine's arms. Her face, now close, emanated a scent of powder. Her cheeks, filled with love, were soft and plump.
Olivia blinked, her large eyes wide, as Annette kissed the baby's cheek.
“Good night, Olivia.”
“Annette, sleep well, too.”
Katrine imitated Olivia's answer. Annette smiled faintly and waved.
***
After washing and changing clothes, Annette opened the book she had been reading. A yellow light flickered across the grayish pages.
Annette's gaze slowly followed the letters. But instead of moving, it paused for a moment, then returned to the previous position, then paused again.
Finally, Annette sighed and closed the book. Her heart was so turbulent that she couldn't read the words.
She looked at her empty hands. The shaking had stopped, but an inexplicable sense of unease persisted.
“Will Padania really go to war?”
Perhaps it was because she'd heard war stories. But war was still a topic that hadn't really touched Annette. She didn't even really understand what war was.
If Padania were to actually participate in the war, it would be difficult to gauge what impact it would have on her and Katrine's family.
Suddenly, she thought it was funny.
How can you, having lived in the official residence as the Commander-in-Chief's wife for several years, know so little?
How pathetic do you think you can become?
Annette, who had been mocking herself, belatedly realized the reason for her anxiety. The Commander-in-Chief. Heiner Valdemar... her ex-husband.
War and the man were inseparable. If Padania were to participate in the war, Heiner would naturally be the key decision-maker.
‘...This has nothing to do with me anymore.’
Annette thought dryly.
Whether he was at the front lines or the rear, whatever decisions he made, whatever achievements he achieved, the only connection they had left was the country of Padania.
The commander-in-chief of Padania and the people of Padania. That's the extent of their relationship.
This fact didn't bring her any sadness or longing. It simply made her realize a little more clearly what she already knew.
Annette couldn't quite define what she felt about him. She was even struggling to grasp her own feelings.
However, Annette was slowly forgetting him. Whereas before she thought of him a hundred times a day, now she thought of him ten times a day. And she could continue to forget him.
As if the world was forgetting her.
She suddenly realized that it was fortunate.
Comments
Post a Comment