.png)
Ansgar asked as if he didn't know anything.
“Has it been a while since you went out?”
“...Um, a little.”
"It's really winter outside now. Sometimes, go out for a walk and get some fresh air. It'll make you feel better."
"I like walking too. Remember back in the day? After dinner, I always went around the garden on a merry-go-round."
“Oh, right. For some reason, my legs always hurt after meeting you.”
“You don’t exercise enough.”
“That’s not something I should hear from you right now.”
Annette covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. Ansgar followed suit, giggling. Her laughter slowly died down.
Annette lowered her hand that had been covering her mouth and spoke with a smile still on her face.
“Ansgar, I’m sorry.”
Ansgar stiffened slightly at her apology. Soon, a bitter smile appeared on his lips as he responded.
“What do you have to be sorry about to me?”
“...”
“Still... you should have at least said it was hard.”
Annette quietly lowered her eyes. In fact, ever since she met Ansgar again, she had never once trusted him as a friend.
She initially believed Ansgar had come to her for the sole purpose of bolstering the forces of the restoration of the monarchy, nothing more, nothing less. That sentiment remained unchanged.
"I'm sorry..."
So this wasn't something she said to him as a friend.
"I'm really sorry."
It was simply because she could not give what he wanted.
The reason Ansgar wanted to take her to Frances was clear: to continue the royal lineage. Or to increase its numbers.
Annette didn't know exactly how many of the exiled royals were still alive. But among the women, she was probably closest to the lineage, or at least close.
“Annette. I’m so sorry...”
Ansgar took Annette's hand. He was outside, and she was inside the whole time, but his hand felt warmer.
“Come with me to Frances.”
“...”
"I won't ask you why you didn't tell me, or why you made that choice. I won't blame you for anything. Stop thinking bad thoughts... Come with me to Frances. Why did you make that choice when there were better options?"
It was a voice so tender. Annette held Ansgar's hand quietly, looking into his eyes. His golden hazel eyes held her completely.
Even if Ansgar's offer wasn't purely out of goodwill, Frances might be better off than here, as he said. Even if she wasn't welcome there.
In fact, anywhere would be better than Padania. For Annette, Padania was hell.
“Ansgar, I...”
Annette spoke slowly. Ansgar waited patiently for her words. She spoke slowly but without hesitation.
“I can’t keep up with you.”
Ansgar's eyes widened. Annette hammered the nail again.
“I can’t follow you, Ansgar.”
“...Can I ask why?”
“I know why you want to take me to Frances. It’s because I have royal blood.”
Ansgar's pupils flickered for a moment. Annette smiled faintly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Annette, I don’t know what you’re saying, but I really do for you...”
"I know."
Annette gently cut him off and pulled her hand away.
"I know, Ansgar. It doesn't matter if you have other goals. Whatever it is, it's better than this."
"Yes. I swear I'll help you wholeheartedly, Annette. I'll help you live a happier life."
“I am infertile.”
Annette spoke calmly, her tone as plain as day, as if conveying a daily story. Ansgar's face hardened.
“I cannot inherit the royal blood.”
"...What..."
"If you'd like, I can bring my doctor over and have him check it out. I'm infertile, and my reputation is at rock bottom, so I'm not even worth much as a symbol of the royal family. I appreciate you coming all the way here, but..."
“Wait, wait. Wait, Annette.”
Ansgar waved his hand with a look of extreme bewilderment. Annette closed her mouth and stared blankly up at him.
“I get what you’re saying. So you, no, I...”
Ansgar rambling. He scratched the back of his head as if perplexed, stared at Annette for a moment, and then let out a short sigh.
Annette added, taking into consideration the fact that he might find it difficult to refuse a suggestion on his own.
"I don't care if you don't take me to Frances. I had no intention of joining the Restoration forces anyway."
“...Haa. Annette, I’ll be honest about what happened.”
Ansgar sat up straight, bringing his face closer to hers. Annette nodded expressionlessly. It really didn't matter what he said.
"First of all, what you thought wasn't wrong. The Restoration forces indeed needed you, and the higher-ups indeed sent me to Padania. Continuing the royal lineage... I really don't want to say it myself, but yes, it's true."
Ansgar explained cautiously, as if he were deeply apologetic. But she was completely unmoved, as she had expected it all. She didn't particularly resent him.
“But that’s not really the only reason I came to see you. So just because you’re infertile... doesn’t mean I’m going back on taking you to Frances.”
"...Why?"
She didn't understand. She was useless to him. Annette shook her head.
“There’s no reason to take me.”
“Why isn’t there one?”
Ansgar frowned, his mouth opening and closing as if slightly annoyed. Finally, he let out a sigh.
“Don’t you know I liked you?”
She knew. There was no way she didn't know. In the past, Ansgar had been courting Annette for quite some time. Even after she began dating Heiner, his courtship continued for some time.
Annette didn't react to his confession. She simply asked indifferently, and with a hint of bewilderment.
“But Ansgar... you didn’t love me completely.”
He loved Annette herself, but he also loved the things that made up Annette.
Status, power, wealth, fame, prestige, position... Things Annette had in the past.
And now those things are gone.
“I have nothing to give you now.”
“No, Annette. Even without those things... I still want you.”
'You want me.'
For some reason, that sounded strange. Annette lowered her eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then, a few beats later, asked.
“Do you want to marry me?”
"That."
There was a brief pause after the pause. Ansgar continued, his characteristically kind smile on his face.
"Of course. But there's still the issue of your divorce, and mine hasn't been divorced for very long, so let's think about it slowly."
"...Yes?"
Annette nodded, as if understanding, but with a subtly cold expression on her face.
"It's hard to confirm anything right away. First, I understand your intentions, Ansgar. Thank you for thinking of me until the end."
"So, what's the answer? I'd like to hear your answer before I go."
Ansgar spoke again, seeming impatient.
“Come with me, Frances.”
Annette stared at him silently. Her pale eyes were still the same as they had been in her youth.
Ansgar had a knack for making others feel comfortable. With him, you could laugh, chat, and play without a second thought.
So Annette really liked Ansgar as a friend. It was an old time that could never return.
She opened her mouth slowly.
"I am..."
“I wish you would stop requesting visits now.”
A low voice stopped Ansgar as he left the residence. In the corner of the first-floor hallway, Heiner was staring at him coldly, arms folded.
“I’m telling you not to waste your energy on useless things, since everything will be rejected anyway.”
Ansgar laughed and said, "Ha."
“What right do you have to refuse to see Annette?”
“By the right of a husband.”
“Can a husband who drives his wife to suicide be called a husband?”
"Annette is currently mentally unstable. The doctor said we should minimize external stimuli as much as possible, so this is also a measure for the patient."
"I told you, I'd help Annette with her divorce. Let's see if you can still say that after the divorce."
"Well."
Heiner tilted his head with a cold smile.
“If you can win.”
“Annette will divorce you and leave for Frances.”
“...Did she agree?”
"You call that a lie? Isn't it a hundred times better than rotting here?"
Ansgar grumbled unusually. Heiner, who had been half-leaning against the wall, straightened his upper body.
“If you plan to use that woman for the restoration forces, throw her away.”
Even though he knew that Ansgar might leak it to the outside world, Heiner spoke with alacrity.
“Because she can’t have children.”
"I know."
"...What?"
“I know, you son of a bitch. What, if I heard that, did you think I’d go, “Oh, I see—” and go back to Frances alone?”
Although he had only just heard the news, Ansgar acted as if he had known all along. A gleam of awe flashed across Heiner's gray eyes.
“Has it been a while since you went out?”
“...Um, a little.”
"It's really winter outside now. Sometimes, go out for a walk and get some fresh air. It'll make you feel better."
"I like walking too. Remember back in the day? After dinner, I always went around the garden on a merry-go-round."
“Oh, right. For some reason, my legs always hurt after meeting you.”
“You don’t exercise enough.”
“That’s not something I should hear from you right now.”
Annette covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. Ansgar followed suit, giggling. Her laughter slowly died down.
Annette lowered her hand that had been covering her mouth and spoke with a smile still on her face.
“Ansgar, I’m sorry.”
Ansgar stiffened slightly at her apology. Soon, a bitter smile appeared on his lips as he responded.
“What do you have to be sorry about to me?”
“...”
“Still... you should have at least said it was hard.”
Annette quietly lowered her eyes. In fact, ever since she met Ansgar again, she had never once trusted him as a friend.
She initially believed Ansgar had come to her for the sole purpose of bolstering the forces of the restoration of the monarchy, nothing more, nothing less. That sentiment remained unchanged.
"I'm sorry..."
So this wasn't something she said to him as a friend.
"I'm really sorry."
It was simply because she could not give what he wanted.
The reason Ansgar wanted to take her to Frances was clear: to continue the royal lineage. Or to increase its numbers.
Annette didn't know exactly how many of the exiled royals were still alive. But among the women, she was probably closest to the lineage, or at least close.
“Annette. I’m so sorry...”
Ansgar took Annette's hand. He was outside, and she was inside the whole time, but his hand felt warmer.
“Come with me to Frances.”
“...”
"I won't ask you why you didn't tell me, or why you made that choice. I won't blame you for anything. Stop thinking bad thoughts... Come with me to Frances. Why did you make that choice when there were better options?"
It was a voice so tender. Annette held Ansgar's hand quietly, looking into his eyes. His golden hazel eyes held her completely.
Even if Ansgar's offer wasn't purely out of goodwill, Frances might be better off than here, as he said. Even if she wasn't welcome there.
In fact, anywhere would be better than Padania. For Annette, Padania was hell.
“Ansgar, I...”
Annette spoke slowly. Ansgar waited patiently for her words. She spoke slowly but without hesitation.
“I can’t keep up with you.”
Ansgar's eyes widened. Annette hammered the nail again.
“I can’t follow you, Ansgar.”
“...Can I ask why?”
“I know why you want to take me to Frances. It’s because I have royal blood.”
Ansgar's pupils flickered for a moment. Annette smiled faintly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Annette, I don’t know what you’re saying, but I really do for you...”
"I know."
Annette gently cut him off and pulled her hand away.
"I know, Ansgar. It doesn't matter if you have other goals. Whatever it is, it's better than this."
"Yes. I swear I'll help you wholeheartedly, Annette. I'll help you live a happier life."
“I am infertile.”
Annette spoke calmly, her tone as plain as day, as if conveying a daily story. Ansgar's face hardened.
“I cannot inherit the royal blood.”
"...What..."
"If you'd like, I can bring my doctor over and have him check it out. I'm infertile, and my reputation is at rock bottom, so I'm not even worth much as a symbol of the royal family. I appreciate you coming all the way here, but..."
“Wait, wait. Wait, Annette.”
Ansgar waved his hand with a look of extreme bewilderment. Annette closed her mouth and stared blankly up at him.
“I get what you’re saying. So you, no, I...”
Ansgar rambling. He scratched the back of his head as if perplexed, stared at Annette for a moment, and then let out a short sigh.
Annette added, taking into consideration the fact that he might find it difficult to refuse a suggestion on his own.
"I don't care if you don't take me to Frances. I had no intention of joining the Restoration forces anyway."
“...Haa. Annette, I’ll be honest about what happened.”
Ansgar sat up straight, bringing his face closer to hers. Annette nodded expressionlessly. It really didn't matter what he said.
"First of all, what you thought wasn't wrong. The Restoration forces indeed needed you, and the higher-ups indeed sent me to Padania. Continuing the royal lineage... I really don't want to say it myself, but yes, it's true."
Ansgar explained cautiously, as if he were deeply apologetic. But she was completely unmoved, as she had expected it all. She didn't particularly resent him.
“But that’s not really the only reason I came to see you. So just because you’re infertile... doesn’t mean I’m going back on taking you to Frances.”
"...Why?"
She didn't understand. She was useless to him. Annette shook her head.
“There’s no reason to take me.”
“Why isn’t there one?”
Ansgar frowned, his mouth opening and closing as if slightly annoyed. Finally, he let out a sigh.
“Don’t you know I liked you?”
She knew. There was no way she didn't know. In the past, Ansgar had been courting Annette for quite some time. Even after she began dating Heiner, his courtship continued for some time.
Annette didn't react to his confession. She simply asked indifferently, and with a hint of bewilderment.
“But Ansgar... you didn’t love me completely.”
He loved Annette herself, but he also loved the things that made up Annette.
Status, power, wealth, fame, prestige, position... Things Annette had in the past.
And now those things are gone.
“I have nothing to give you now.”
“No, Annette. Even without those things... I still want you.”
'You want me.'
For some reason, that sounded strange. Annette lowered her eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then, a few beats later, asked.
“Do you want to marry me?”
"That."
There was a brief pause after the pause. Ansgar continued, his characteristically kind smile on his face.
"Of course. But there's still the issue of your divorce, and mine hasn't been divorced for very long, so let's think about it slowly."
"...Yes?"
Annette nodded, as if understanding, but with a subtly cold expression on her face.
"It's hard to confirm anything right away. First, I understand your intentions, Ansgar. Thank you for thinking of me until the end."
"So, what's the answer? I'd like to hear your answer before I go."
Ansgar spoke again, seeming impatient.
“Come with me, Frances.”
Annette stared at him silently. Her pale eyes were still the same as they had been in her youth.
Ansgar had a knack for making others feel comfortable. With him, you could laugh, chat, and play without a second thought.
So Annette really liked Ansgar as a friend. It was an old time that could never return.
She opened her mouth slowly.
"I am..."
***
“I wish you would stop requesting visits now.”
A low voice stopped Ansgar as he left the residence. In the corner of the first-floor hallway, Heiner was staring at him coldly, arms folded.
“I’m telling you not to waste your energy on useless things, since everything will be rejected anyway.”
Ansgar laughed and said, "Ha."
“What right do you have to refuse to see Annette?”
“By the right of a husband.”
“Can a husband who drives his wife to suicide be called a husband?”
"Annette is currently mentally unstable. The doctor said we should minimize external stimuli as much as possible, so this is also a measure for the patient."
"I told you, I'd help Annette with her divorce. Let's see if you can still say that after the divorce."
"Well."
Heiner tilted his head with a cold smile.
“If you can win.”
“Annette will divorce you and leave for Frances.”
“...Did she agree?”
"You call that a lie? Isn't it a hundred times better than rotting here?"
Ansgar grumbled unusually. Heiner, who had been half-leaning against the wall, straightened his upper body.
“If you plan to use that woman for the restoration forces, throw her away.”
Even though he knew that Ansgar might leak it to the outside world, Heiner spoke with alacrity.
“Because she can’t have children.”
"I know."
"...What?"
“I know, you son of a bitch. What, if I heard that, did you think I’d go, “Oh, I see—” and go back to Frances alone?”
Although he had only just heard the news, Ansgar acted as if he had known all along. A gleam of awe flashed across Heiner's gray eyes.
Comments
Post a Comment