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"I already know Annette well. At least better than her husband, who is no better than most. So if you're going to stir up trouble between us by talking like that, then just leave it at that."
"Us."
Heiner muttered coldly and walked slowly. In three steps, the distance between them was completely reduced.
Ansgar was by no means small in stature, but when he stood up to the giant Heiner, he looked like a hyena next to a lion.
“Do you think you’ve become anything just because you’ve only met a few times in three years?”
Heiner spoke softly, his head bowed slightly.
“Even if Annette agreed, so what?”
The completely subdued voice was filled with a faint murderous note. Goosebumps appeared on Ansgar's neck.
“You can never beat me, Ansgar Stetter.”
Ansgar unconsciously tried to step back, but his feet wouldn't move. He felt the pressure of a huge rock pressing down on him. Heiner continued speaking slowly.
“That woman...”
The edge of his voice trembled slightly. In an instant, the momentum that had been weighing down Ansgar dissipated.
Heiner muttered.
“That woman can’t leave me.”
Those words sounded like self-indoctrination. Ansgar tried to counter by taking advantage of Heiner's slightly dampened spirit.
"You..."
You'll eventually kill Annette. No matter how great you are, you can't stop her from dying. One way or another, she'll leave you.
But Ansgar couldn't say a word. Only a blank voice flowed out.
“You, Annette...”
"Immediately."
At that moment, Heiner's brain twitched gloomily.
“Get out of here right now.”
With those words, he passed Ansgar in a flash. His footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Ansgar looked back with a blank expression. The cold, gigantic stone statue of Heiner Valdemar slowly receded into the distance.
Ansgar couldn't say anything because he was afraid of Heiner. While his air was certainly ominous, there was a hint of vulnerability there.
The dry voice of Heiner Valdemar, whom he had heard a few days ago, seemed to linger in his ears.
“If she goes with you to Frances...”
Why didn't I know?
“Because I thought she would be happier.”
What does that defeated face mean?
Annette curled up in bed, waiting for sleep to strike. It was still early evening outside, but the blackout curtains kept the room completely dark.
Even with her eyes closed, various thoughts continued to swirl around in her head.
“Come with me to Frances.”
“No, Annette. Even without those things... I still want you.”
Lie.
Annette muttered under her breath.
Ansgar didn't answer yes to the question of whether he wanted to get married. In that brief moment, Annette was able to read his mind.
Frances was a country with relatively liberal sexual practices. Married couples were tolerated for having mistresses, and it wasn't even considered a blemish for an unmarried man to have a secret lover.
So Ansgar—he simply wanted to keep her as his lover. Perhaps even after he married again.
It wasn't that he didn't understand. There was nothing he could gain from being legally tied down to a woman who had nothing.
A woman with no one to lean on, with nothing but her youth.
'It's fit to be played with.'
Annette thought dryly. She felt no resentment or sadness. Even being Ansgar's lover was too much for her at the moment.
She curled up a little tighter. Even though she was covered in a blanket in a warm room, her hands and feet felt cold.
As she waited for the sleep that wouldn't come, the door suddenly opened quietly. Annette's eyes were still closed. The caregiver rose from her seat and began to converse with someone.
Soon, he walked slowly closer to the bed.
“Annette.”
“...”
“Let’s take a walk in the garden. It’s not good to stay indoors.”
“...”
"Hurry."
Annette stood up obediently without saying a word. She put on the coat he gave her and socks. Heiner wrapped a large scarf around her neck.
Heiner's eyes met hers as he tied the knot. For a moment, his hand froze. He spoke as if making an excuse.
“It’s cold outside.”
Annette blinked without answering. The hand that had been stroking her neck moved away. With a very awkward gesture, Heiner placed his hand on her waist and led her outside.
The outside air, which she hadn't smelled in a long time, was bitterly cold. It was the winter smell that Heiner and Ansgar had brought in. A thin breath escaped from between her lips.
They walked in silence through the garden. Despite the winter, the garden in front of the main building, constantly tended by the caretaker, didn't feel desolate. Rather, it had a calming, beautiful feel.
The wind swept across the floor with a dry rustle. Annette's shoulders hunched slightly. Heiner, who had been observing her expression, immediately asked.
“Are you cold?”
"It's okay."
“Your hands are red.”
Heiner hesitated for a moment, then took a pair of leather gloves out of his pocket.
“Even this...”
Annette didn't really need it, but she just accepted it. She didn't want to argue with him about anything anymore.
The gloves, which at first glance appeared much larger than her hands, were, as expected, loose. She had to hold them awkwardly, as if they would slip out if she lowered her hand.
“You don’t have to wear it if it’s uncomfortable.”
"No."
The conversation paused again. Heiner glanced down at her profile several times, then finally managed to speak.
“Is there anywhere you want to go?”
"... Yes?"
“It’s a place you want to go.”
Annette shook her head without thinking too deeply.
"No."
“Didn’t you want to go to the sea?”
It was a long time ago. She didn't really want to go now. But Heiner laid out his plans as if he'd already thought them through.
"When the weather gets a little warmer, let's go to the beach next spring. There are many places better than Glenford. A little further down is Sunset Cliff, famous for its beautiful sunsets."
“...”
"Do you remember Santiago Beach, in Belmont County, where we went before? You wanted to go back there to see the seals."
"... Yes."
After a brief pause, Annette replied briefly. It was a little late. Not because she was hesitant, but because she assumed he'd continue.
"Then, how about taking a vacation to Belmont County sometime soon? Then, when spring comes, maybe to Sunset Cliffs or another western area."
“...”
“Annette?”
Heiner stopped walking and called out to her. Annette stood there with him, looking up at him. His face, sharp and delicate like the cold winter wind, was slightly anxious.
"Is it so?"
Annette nodded in response. Heiner's expression brightened slightly. She stared at his face for a moment before stepping away again.
Heiner followed her footsteps. Annette felt the chill envelop her face and let out a slow breath. Her pale breath dissipated into the air.
The next morning, a caregiver found a sharpened comb between Annette's bed and the wall. If sharpened even a little further, it could have been used as a weapon.
Heiner's face, as he received the comb along with the report, was terribly hardened. Instead of immediately going to Annette's room to question her, he arranged for a professional counselor.
Annette didn't refuse counseling. She wasn't cooperative, but she wasn't uncooperative either. She simply greeted everyone who came to her.
Heiner visited her room three or four times a day and attempted to engage in conversation. The conversations were usually mundane and superficial.
He didn't even mention the discovery of the comb, as if he were afraid to even mention it.
Time passed slowly.
Annette seemed quite well on the outside, except that she had become noticeably quieter.
She no longer brought up divorce, complained of headaches or indigestion, and never argued or argued with Heiner when he said anything.
But Heiner felt precarious at every moment, as if he were standing on a shallow lake.
He often woke up drenched in a cold sweat, even during his sleep. Only after visiting Annette's room and checking her breathing did he feel relieved.
Time passed slowly.
Launceston was buzzing with holiday cheer. Everyone decorated their trees and exchanged holiday gifts.
Heiner bought women's gloves and a purple marquise-cut gemstone brooch at a high-end tailor shop. It was Annette's first year-end gift in three years.
On the way back, the first snow fell. Heiner looked up at the sky, white flakes falling. Annette loved snow. She was a woman who loved not only snow but all things romantic in the world.
'I guess I should suggest taking a walk.'
As soon as he got out of the car, Heiner grabbed a paper bag and headed to her room.
Annette loved presents. She loved surprises even more. She'd become less expressive lately, but for some reason, he had a feeling she'd like it. He just felt certain about it.
Heiner knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Normally, a caregiver would have to open the door.
Heiner, puzzled, called her name.
“Annette?”
“Ah, Commander.”
Heiner turned his head toward the sound. A nurse was walking down the hallway, carrying a bowl of warm water.
The caregiver smiled a little embarrassedly and spoke to him.
“Because of the recent year-end holiday, we don’t have any staff, so I’ll just do it myself...”
Before the nurse could finish speaking, Heiner grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Clang. The doorknob didn't turn, but stopped in its tracks.
A chill ran down his spine, as if a stab had been made deep in his chest.
"Us."
Heiner muttered coldly and walked slowly. In three steps, the distance between them was completely reduced.
Ansgar was by no means small in stature, but when he stood up to the giant Heiner, he looked like a hyena next to a lion.
“Do you think you’ve become anything just because you’ve only met a few times in three years?”
Heiner spoke softly, his head bowed slightly.
“Even if Annette agreed, so what?”
The completely subdued voice was filled with a faint murderous note. Goosebumps appeared on Ansgar's neck.
“You can never beat me, Ansgar Stetter.”
Ansgar unconsciously tried to step back, but his feet wouldn't move. He felt the pressure of a huge rock pressing down on him. Heiner continued speaking slowly.
“That woman...”
The edge of his voice trembled slightly. In an instant, the momentum that had been weighing down Ansgar dissipated.
Heiner muttered.
“That woman can’t leave me.”
Those words sounded like self-indoctrination. Ansgar tried to counter by taking advantage of Heiner's slightly dampened spirit.
"You..."
You'll eventually kill Annette. No matter how great you are, you can't stop her from dying. One way or another, she'll leave you.
But Ansgar couldn't say a word. Only a blank voice flowed out.
“You, Annette...”
"Immediately."
At that moment, Heiner's brain twitched gloomily.
“Get out of here right now.”
With those words, he passed Ansgar in a flash. His footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Ansgar looked back with a blank expression. The cold, gigantic stone statue of Heiner Valdemar slowly receded into the distance.
Ansgar couldn't say anything because he was afraid of Heiner. While his air was certainly ominous, there was a hint of vulnerability there.
The dry voice of Heiner Valdemar, whom he had heard a few days ago, seemed to linger in his ears.
“If she goes with you to Frances...”
Why didn't I know?
“Because I thought she would be happier.”
What does that defeated face mean?
***
Annette curled up in bed, waiting for sleep to strike. It was still early evening outside, but the blackout curtains kept the room completely dark.
Even with her eyes closed, various thoughts continued to swirl around in her head.
“Come with me to Frances.”
“No, Annette. Even without those things... I still want you.”
Lie.
Annette muttered under her breath.
Ansgar didn't answer yes to the question of whether he wanted to get married. In that brief moment, Annette was able to read his mind.
Frances was a country with relatively liberal sexual practices. Married couples were tolerated for having mistresses, and it wasn't even considered a blemish for an unmarried man to have a secret lover.
So Ansgar—he simply wanted to keep her as his lover. Perhaps even after he married again.
It wasn't that he didn't understand. There was nothing he could gain from being legally tied down to a woman who had nothing.
A woman with no one to lean on, with nothing but her youth.
'It's fit to be played with.'
Annette thought dryly. She felt no resentment or sadness. Even being Ansgar's lover was too much for her at the moment.
She curled up a little tighter. Even though she was covered in a blanket in a warm room, her hands and feet felt cold.
As she waited for the sleep that wouldn't come, the door suddenly opened quietly. Annette's eyes were still closed. The caregiver rose from her seat and began to converse with someone.
Soon, he walked slowly closer to the bed.
“Annette.”
“...”
“Let’s take a walk in the garden. It’s not good to stay indoors.”
“...”
"Hurry."
Annette stood up obediently without saying a word. She put on the coat he gave her and socks. Heiner wrapped a large scarf around her neck.
Heiner's eyes met hers as he tied the knot. For a moment, his hand froze. He spoke as if making an excuse.
“It’s cold outside.”
Annette blinked without answering. The hand that had been stroking her neck moved away. With a very awkward gesture, Heiner placed his hand on her waist and led her outside.
The outside air, which she hadn't smelled in a long time, was bitterly cold. It was the winter smell that Heiner and Ansgar had brought in. A thin breath escaped from between her lips.
They walked in silence through the garden. Despite the winter, the garden in front of the main building, constantly tended by the caretaker, didn't feel desolate. Rather, it had a calming, beautiful feel.
The wind swept across the floor with a dry rustle. Annette's shoulders hunched slightly. Heiner, who had been observing her expression, immediately asked.
“Are you cold?”
"It's okay."
“Your hands are red.”
Heiner hesitated for a moment, then took a pair of leather gloves out of his pocket.
“Even this...”
Annette didn't really need it, but she just accepted it. She didn't want to argue with him about anything anymore.
The gloves, which at first glance appeared much larger than her hands, were, as expected, loose. She had to hold them awkwardly, as if they would slip out if she lowered her hand.
“You don’t have to wear it if it’s uncomfortable.”
"No."
The conversation paused again. Heiner glanced down at her profile several times, then finally managed to speak.
“Is there anywhere you want to go?”
"... Yes?"
“It’s a place you want to go.”
Annette shook her head without thinking too deeply.
"No."
“Didn’t you want to go to the sea?”
It was a long time ago. She didn't really want to go now. But Heiner laid out his plans as if he'd already thought them through.
"When the weather gets a little warmer, let's go to the beach next spring. There are many places better than Glenford. A little further down is Sunset Cliff, famous for its beautiful sunsets."
“...”
"Do you remember Santiago Beach, in Belmont County, where we went before? You wanted to go back there to see the seals."
"... Yes."
After a brief pause, Annette replied briefly. It was a little late. Not because she was hesitant, but because she assumed he'd continue.
"Then, how about taking a vacation to Belmont County sometime soon? Then, when spring comes, maybe to Sunset Cliffs or another western area."
“...”
“Annette?”
Heiner stopped walking and called out to her. Annette stood there with him, looking up at him. His face, sharp and delicate like the cold winter wind, was slightly anxious.
"Is it so?"
Annette nodded in response. Heiner's expression brightened slightly. She stared at his face for a moment before stepping away again.
Heiner followed her footsteps. Annette felt the chill envelop her face and let out a slow breath. Her pale breath dissipated into the air.
***
The next morning, a caregiver found a sharpened comb between Annette's bed and the wall. If sharpened even a little further, it could have been used as a weapon.
Heiner's face, as he received the comb along with the report, was terribly hardened. Instead of immediately going to Annette's room to question her, he arranged for a professional counselor.
Annette didn't refuse counseling. She wasn't cooperative, but she wasn't uncooperative either. She simply greeted everyone who came to her.
Heiner visited her room three or four times a day and attempted to engage in conversation. The conversations were usually mundane and superficial.
He didn't even mention the discovery of the comb, as if he were afraid to even mention it.
Time passed slowly.
Annette seemed quite well on the outside, except that she had become noticeably quieter.
She no longer brought up divorce, complained of headaches or indigestion, and never argued or argued with Heiner when he said anything.
But Heiner felt precarious at every moment, as if he were standing on a shallow lake.
He often woke up drenched in a cold sweat, even during his sleep. Only after visiting Annette's room and checking her breathing did he feel relieved.
Time passed slowly.
Launceston was buzzing with holiday cheer. Everyone decorated their trees and exchanged holiday gifts.
Heiner bought women's gloves and a purple marquise-cut gemstone brooch at a high-end tailor shop. It was Annette's first year-end gift in three years.
On the way back, the first snow fell. Heiner looked up at the sky, white flakes falling. Annette loved snow. She was a woman who loved not only snow but all things romantic in the world.
'I guess I should suggest taking a walk.'
As soon as he got out of the car, Heiner grabbed a paper bag and headed to her room.
Annette loved presents. She loved surprises even more. She'd become less expressive lately, but for some reason, he had a feeling she'd like it. He just felt certain about it.
Heiner knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Normally, a caregiver would have to open the door.
Heiner, puzzled, called her name.
“Annette?”
“Ah, Commander.”
Heiner turned his head toward the sound. A nurse was walking down the hallway, carrying a bowl of warm water.
The caregiver smiled a little embarrassedly and spoke to him.
“Because of the recent year-end holiday, we don’t have any staff, so I’ll just do it myself...”
Before the nurse could finish speaking, Heiner grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Clang. The doorknob didn't turn, but stopped in its tracks.
A chill ran down his spine, as if a stab had been made deep in his chest.
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