.png)
It was the first Sunday since being deployed to the rear.
From early in the morning, Annette washed her face and changed into neat clothes to attend Sunday Mass.
A few of her roommates also got up and prepared to leave. The quiet room was soon filled with rustling sounds.
Annette, like all nobles, was religious by nature. She rarely attended church after the Revolution, but here she was a conscious attendee.
Her weekly Mass was simply a way for her to find comfort, like everyone else. She no longer fully believed in God.
Praying, in fact, was more like asking herself questions or expressing her desires. After pouring out her inner thoughts for a long time, she often felt a sense of relief.
About 15 minutes before Mass began, Annette left her room. Behind her, her roommates were still busily preparing.
Annette had never spoken to them beyond the bare minimum. She hadn't even expected to become close to them in the first place.
She closed the door. It didn't matter anyway.
The church wasn't far from her lodgings. It was also where she'd met Heiner the night before. She walked, erasing each memory from the previous night's conversation.
There were quite a few people in the church. Annette sat in the back row, in the aisle, staring blankly at the crucifix until Mass began.
In the military, even those who didn't believe in God attended Mass quite enthusiastically, because they needed something to hold on to when they were on the edge.
Annette saw countless soldiers dying in search of God. Did God hear their cries? She couldn't tell.
A soft, gentle piano accompaniment began, signaling the beginning of mass. It was a hymn she knew well.
Annette stared blankly at the piano, her fingers slowly tapping the bridge. It was a semi-involuntary movement.
Just before Mass began, someone dressed entirely in black appeared in her side view. He sat at the end of the aisle, right next to Annette.
It was a familiar presence and scent. Before she could even think clearly, Annette instinctively turned to look. Then, she froze stiffly.
Annette turned her head forward again as naturally as possible. But she couldn't be sure if it was truly natural.
“Let us begin the Mass with a prayer. Our God, who is among us...”
People began to recite prayers. Annette, a beat behind, also joined in. But she was merely mumbling out of habit, the words completely lost on her.
“...The Father, the subject of our lives and the guardian of the dying...”
His voice, small but clear, could be heard reciting the prayer. Annette closed her eyes and tried to push the voice away from her ears.
After the choir's hymns ended, the Mass sermon began. Even then, Annette struggled to concentrate.
His image, positioned at the edge of her vision, kept catching her eye. Naturally, her thoughts drifted to him.
'Is it a coincidence? Or is it on purpose?'
Come to think of it, this was the only military church in the rear. Rear personnel had to attend mass here to attend.
He wasn't religious, but he attended Mass every week. She heard he'd been doing it since he was quite young. Why, she wondered, when he didn't even believe in God.
‘From when he was young... Are you talking about his days as a trainee?’
The Sutherland Island training camp was under the jurisdiction of his father, Prince Dietrich. Given his devout Christian nature, it's likely he also required his trainees to attend church.
To the trainees...
For a moment, she felt dazed as if she had been hit in the head.
Annette slowly lowered her gaze. The hands resting on her legs felt cold. She clasped them tightly.
She been avoiding thinking about it, consciously or unconsciously. That is, about his past.
She had assumed she was somehow connected to him. Ever since she brought up the topic of divorce, he hadn't even bothered to hide his hatred.
But looking back, she realized that her questions to him were always missing the question, 'why.'
She always thought very simply. Her father was a royal military leader who persecuted the revolutionary army of a noble family. Annette was his daughter.
So, hatred is natural.
Not once... did she think to ask him about his past. Not the fake past he'd concocted as part of a plan, but his real past.
Thoughts were jumbled and tangled. The mass ended without her being able to focus on a single sentence. Annette swallowed a sigh and pulled out her offering envelope.
She hesitated for a while, slowly placing the money in the offering envelope and delicately closing the envelope's opening. She didn't want to run into him.
But even then, he still hadn't gotten up from his seat. Annette bit her lower lip.
'What on earth are you doing?'
But she didn't have the confidence to turn her head to check. Finally, Annette couldn't stand it anymore and got up first.
She placed the envelope in the offering box and left the chapel immediately. Having spent some time inside, the entrance was quite deserted.
She walked briskly, her eyes fixed on the floor, when suddenly she bumped her forehead against something. Annette stopped in surprise.
“Oh my.”
As she raised her head to apologize, a familiar face smiled brightly before her. Annette's eyes widened.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
It was Ryan.
“Ryan!”
Annette called his name out loud, delighted. It was even more delightful to see a familiar face for the first time in the back room, where no one knew her.
Ryan gave her a light hug and laughed heartily.
“Haha, how have you been?”
"Yes. What are you doing here? Are you attending mass?"
"I just came to check it out. I heard Annette was assigned to the rear, but it seemed like a different area. I thought I might see you if I came here. We always held mass together."
“Ah, news...”
It was obvious that the news was just a rumor. The story about her had already spread far and wide.
Annette smiled, keeping her expression on her face.
“Something looks awkward from here.”
“Oh, am I awkward? I haven’t seen you in a while?”
“It’s more unfamiliar than awkward.”
“Isn’t that it?”
“It’s completely different.”
“Oh, wait a minute. What’s wrong with your cheek?”
Ryan asked, pointing to her left cheek. Annette made an "Ah."
She didn't think it was a big wound, but it definitely showed. Considering that Heiner's first question when they met last night was this...
“I got a little hurt while working.”
“Where did you get scratched?”
“I was trying to change the bandage on the patient’s hand... but he got excited because he thought I was going to amputate his leg.”
"This..."
Ryan clicked his tongue.
“Did you receive the apology?”
“Um, no, but that’s okay.”
"During wartime, medical supplies and personnel are in short supply, so many military doctors simply amputate and then examine the wound. I understand your feelings, but if you injure someone's face, you deserve an apology."
Ryan spoke, examining her wounds with a pitying expression. They were a bit close, but she felt it would be awkward to back away, so she just stood there.
“If something like that happens again, just call someone else. A nurse, a soldier...”
Suddenly, their eyes met. Annette blinked rapidly.
Ryan stared at her for a moment, seemingly bewildered. A few seconds later, his face suddenly flushed.
He straightened his upper body as if he were bouncing up. In an instant, the distance between their faces grew.
"Well, it's not a deep wound, so I don't think it'll be a scar. I've seen it so many times that I know what it's like. Oh, of course, Annette has seen it a lot too... because you're a nurse..."
Ryan backed away, rambling. Someone passing by in the hallway bumped into him slightly.
“Oh, sorry. We’re blocking the road. Annette, come this way...”
Ryan, after offering a brief apology to the other person, led Annette inside. But Annette didn't move. To be precise, she froze.
A man was standing behind Ryan.
His characteristically dry and gloomy face turned to Annette, then to Ryan, and then back to Annette.
Annette stood frozen still. Ryan's disoriented voice came from beside her.
“...Your Excellency...?”
From early in the morning, Annette washed her face and changed into neat clothes to attend Sunday Mass.
A few of her roommates also got up and prepared to leave. The quiet room was soon filled with rustling sounds.
Annette, like all nobles, was religious by nature. She rarely attended church after the Revolution, but here she was a conscious attendee.
Her weekly Mass was simply a way for her to find comfort, like everyone else. She no longer fully believed in God.
Praying, in fact, was more like asking herself questions or expressing her desires. After pouring out her inner thoughts for a long time, she often felt a sense of relief.
About 15 minutes before Mass began, Annette left her room. Behind her, her roommates were still busily preparing.
Annette had never spoken to them beyond the bare minimum. She hadn't even expected to become close to them in the first place.
She closed the door. It didn't matter anyway.
The church wasn't far from her lodgings. It was also where she'd met Heiner the night before. She walked, erasing each memory from the previous night's conversation.
There were quite a few people in the church. Annette sat in the back row, in the aisle, staring blankly at the crucifix until Mass began.
In the military, even those who didn't believe in God attended Mass quite enthusiastically, because they needed something to hold on to when they were on the edge.
Annette saw countless soldiers dying in search of God. Did God hear their cries? She couldn't tell.
A soft, gentle piano accompaniment began, signaling the beginning of mass. It was a hymn she knew well.
Annette stared blankly at the piano, her fingers slowly tapping the bridge. It was a semi-involuntary movement.
Just before Mass began, someone dressed entirely in black appeared in her side view. He sat at the end of the aisle, right next to Annette.
It was a familiar presence and scent. Before she could even think clearly, Annette instinctively turned to look. Then, she froze stiffly.
Annette turned her head forward again as naturally as possible. But she couldn't be sure if it was truly natural.
“Let us begin the Mass with a prayer. Our God, who is among us...”
People began to recite prayers. Annette, a beat behind, also joined in. But she was merely mumbling out of habit, the words completely lost on her.
“...The Father, the subject of our lives and the guardian of the dying...”
His voice, small but clear, could be heard reciting the prayer. Annette closed her eyes and tried to push the voice away from her ears.
After the choir's hymns ended, the Mass sermon began. Even then, Annette struggled to concentrate.
His image, positioned at the edge of her vision, kept catching her eye. Naturally, her thoughts drifted to him.
'Is it a coincidence? Or is it on purpose?'
Come to think of it, this was the only military church in the rear. Rear personnel had to attend mass here to attend.
He wasn't religious, but he attended Mass every week. She heard he'd been doing it since he was quite young. Why, she wondered, when he didn't even believe in God.
‘From when he was young... Are you talking about his days as a trainee?’
The Sutherland Island training camp was under the jurisdiction of his father, Prince Dietrich. Given his devout Christian nature, it's likely he also required his trainees to attend church.
To the trainees...
For a moment, she felt dazed as if she had been hit in the head.
Annette slowly lowered her gaze. The hands resting on her legs felt cold. She clasped them tightly.
She been avoiding thinking about it, consciously or unconsciously. That is, about his past.
She had assumed she was somehow connected to him. Ever since she brought up the topic of divorce, he hadn't even bothered to hide his hatred.
But looking back, she realized that her questions to him were always missing the question, 'why.'
She always thought very simply. Her father was a royal military leader who persecuted the revolutionary army of a noble family. Annette was his daughter.
So, hatred is natural.
Not once... did she think to ask him about his past. Not the fake past he'd concocted as part of a plan, but his real past.
Thoughts were jumbled and tangled. The mass ended without her being able to focus on a single sentence. Annette swallowed a sigh and pulled out her offering envelope.
She hesitated for a while, slowly placing the money in the offering envelope and delicately closing the envelope's opening. She didn't want to run into him.
But even then, he still hadn't gotten up from his seat. Annette bit her lower lip.
'What on earth are you doing?'
But she didn't have the confidence to turn her head to check. Finally, Annette couldn't stand it anymore and got up first.
She placed the envelope in the offering box and left the chapel immediately. Having spent some time inside, the entrance was quite deserted.
She walked briskly, her eyes fixed on the floor, when suddenly she bumped her forehead against something. Annette stopped in surprise.
“Oh my.”
As she raised her head to apologize, a familiar face smiled brightly before her. Annette's eyes widened.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
It was Ryan.
“Ryan!”
Annette called his name out loud, delighted. It was even more delightful to see a familiar face for the first time in the back room, where no one knew her.
Ryan gave her a light hug and laughed heartily.
“Haha, how have you been?”
"Yes. What are you doing here? Are you attending mass?"
"I just came to check it out. I heard Annette was assigned to the rear, but it seemed like a different area. I thought I might see you if I came here. We always held mass together."
“Ah, news...”
It was obvious that the news was just a rumor. The story about her had already spread far and wide.
Annette smiled, keeping her expression on her face.
“Something looks awkward from here.”
“Oh, am I awkward? I haven’t seen you in a while?”
“It’s more unfamiliar than awkward.”
“Isn’t that it?”
“It’s completely different.”
“Oh, wait a minute. What’s wrong with your cheek?”
Ryan asked, pointing to her left cheek. Annette made an "Ah."
She didn't think it was a big wound, but it definitely showed. Considering that Heiner's first question when they met last night was this...
“I got a little hurt while working.”
“Where did you get scratched?”
“I was trying to change the bandage on the patient’s hand... but he got excited because he thought I was going to amputate his leg.”
"This..."
Ryan clicked his tongue.
“Did you receive the apology?”
“Um, no, but that’s okay.”
"During wartime, medical supplies and personnel are in short supply, so many military doctors simply amputate and then examine the wound. I understand your feelings, but if you injure someone's face, you deserve an apology."
Ryan spoke, examining her wounds with a pitying expression. They were a bit close, but she felt it would be awkward to back away, so she just stood there.
“If something like that happens again, just call someone else. A nurse, a soldier...”
Suddenly, their eyes met. Annette blinked rapidly.
Ryan stared at her for a moment, seemingly bewildered. A few seconds later, his face suddenly flushed.
He straightened his upper body as if he were bouncing up. In an instant, the distance between their faces grew.
"Well, it's not a deep wound, so I don't think it'll be a scar. I've seen it so many times that I know what it's like. Oh, of course, Annette has seen it a lot too... because you're a nurse..."
Ryan backed away, rambling. Someone passing by in the hallway bumped into him slightly.
“Oh, sorry. We’re blocking the road. Annette, come this way...”
Ryan, after offering a brief apology to the other person, led Annette inside. But Annette didn't move. To be precise, she froze.
A man was standing behind Ryan.
His characteristically dry and gloomy face turned to Annette, then to Ryan, and then back to Annette.
Annette stood frozen still. Ryan's disoriented voice came from beside her.
“...Your Excellency...?”
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment