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Under the blue midnight light, everything looked pale, as if the moonlight had robbed everything of its color.
Annette let out a choked, irregular breath. Her hands, covering her mouth, were trembling.
His upper body, exposed without any covering, was covered in scars. There were more scars on the unwounded side than on the healthy ones.
The chest, which had been hit countless times, was discolored black or brown and was covered in scars that looked like they had been cut with a knife.
His side was still bandaged from a recent gunshot wound. His body resembled a rotten, half-broken, split tree.
In the center of that miserable body, there was a scar that could never be erased.
A cool breeze blew in through the open window. The curtains and black hair swayed gently.
“It was my last operation before I was commissioned as an officer.”
He continued speaking with his head hanging loosely, not having the confidence to look at her face.
"Even after enduring brutal torture and killing my comrades with my own hands, I wanted to live. I wanted to return alive... and speak to you."
That day.
To a woman as perfect and beautiful as a sugar doll, strolling through a rose garden in full bloom under the dazzling sunlight.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“...”
“I shouldn’t have looked at you.”
He desired someone he shouldn't have. He wanted someone he shouldn't have. And it wasn't simply because she was the daughter of Margrave Dietrich.
They were just so different.
“...You loved me?”
Heiner spoke with a blank expression, as if he had given up on everything.
“Could you have loved me like this? Could you have really allowed me, a person so flawed, into your perfect life?”
The love Annette spoke of, yes, it could be love.
Margrave Dietrich's loyal subordinate, a promising young officer, and a caring and upright lover. For her, who had lived a life filled with love, the perfect match.
“No. There’s no way you could do that.”
If that was truly love, Annette loved that man, not this man who had become such a mess.
“Now... do you have an answer?”
His tone was a mocking sneer. Heiner raised his head, trying to hide his wounded heart and shattered pride. Then, one corner of his mouth lifted into a mocking smile. He tried to.
The very next moment, Heiner's face went blank.
The corners of his mouth twitched. He stared at her, lost in thought, forgetting what he'd been trying to do.
Annette slowly lowered the hand that had covered her mouth. Clear water droplets continued to roll from her blue eyes. Tears covered her pale cheeks.
She was crying.
Without a sound.
Heiner faltered like a soldier trapped in the middle of enemy lines with no way out. He couldn't speak, as if a stone was stuck in his throat.
Annette took a step toward him. Heiner unconsciously tried to back away, but then stopped. She took another step toward him.
The distance between them gradually narrowed. Her face, half-submerged in darkness, now caught the light. Her cheeks, dotted with raw, unhealed scars, were damp.
Annette slowly extended both hands. Heiner, unsure of what to do, simply stared at her blankly.
Soon, Annette came and hugged him with both arms.
Like comforting a wounded young animal.
Heiner's body stiffened. His gray eyes began to shake violently.
He felt warmth on their skin as they touched. A small sob escaped from her body as she held him close. The sob grew louder and became a sob.
The sound of sorrowful crying filled the hospital room.
She sobbed. She sobbed like a child. She didn't even notice her face was soaking wet with tears.
Heiner creaked and lowered his head, looking at her in his arms. His small, frail body trembled intermittently, letting out sobs.
Ah.
He groaned silently.
A woman so precious was crying for his insignificant life.
Heiner heard something cracking deep within his chest. Something that had been entangled and hardened for so long that even he couldn't touch it.
I thought I would carry it with me until I die.
The deformed mass continued to break apart, making a crunching sound. The fragments that fell from it caused pain. But it wasn't just excruciating pain.
Heiner didn't know how to express this feeling. He had no words for it. It was a feeling he had never experienced before in his life.
A wet breath burst from his lips. His body convulsed uncontrollably. Finally, he lifted his hands, which had been suspended in mid-air.
And hesitantly, he hugged her.
Annette continued to cry out loud. She didn't say anything, but Heiner could feel her emotions.
Annette said there were things she knew only by speaking. But at that moment, he thought, there are things you can know without speaking.
He trembled and hugged her tighter, as if he would never let her go again.
Heiner groaned again.
I wish time would just stop right here. I don't care about the outside world, I'm not bound by the past or the future, I just want this moment to last forever...
Heiner suddenly felt something dripping from under his chin. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, and it trickled down his face.
The moment he realized it, tears poured out like a dam burst.
A choked sob escaped his lips. He curled up, burying his face between her neck and shoulder. And tears flowed unceasingly.
Just endlessly.
What had been pent up and rotting inside him for so long poured out with tears. Countless pains and sufferings proved and oxidized his life.
Heiner collapsed, still holding her. Their bodies slowly sank to the floor. Annette continued to caress his shoulders and back.
A faint light descended upon the two men and women, entangled and marred by wounds. Beneath the beautiful moonlight, they wept for a long time.
“Annette.”
After a long time, he opened his mouth.
“Annette...”
His voice was a mess of tears. Heiner muttered under his breath.
“I... ruined your life. I made you like this. I made you.”
Ugh, the sobs were hurled again. He convulsed, gasped for breath, and finally, plummeting to the ground, confessed.
"Sorry..."
The moment he said that, Heiner realized that he had been holding these words in his heart for a long time.
His mind that was scattered every time he saw her, his heart that was in pain and suffering, his determination to let her go, and even the regret that he couldn't let go of.
Because everyone had these words in their hearts.
“Don’t forgive me.”
Heiner spoke again with tears falling down his face.
“Don’t forgive me, Annette...”
Those were words that denied and destroyed the entire future that lay before his life.
Her arms, which had been wrapping around him, fell away. Heiner remained motionless, his upper body curled up. A chill ran through his body.
Suddenly, a warm hand cupped his cold, wet cheek.
The hand gently lifted his face. He looked at her with wet eyes. Annette smiled, a little tearfully.
Heiner couldn't take his eyes off that smile. He licked his lips softly.
Annette.
If you laugh, if you laugh...
Annette closed her eyes. Then, tilting her head, she kissed him softly.
It seemed like flowers were blooming all over the world...
Heiner's eyes widened. He stiffened, his shoulders trembling, his hands wandering aimlessly, and then slowly closed his eyes.
It wasn't some kind of sexual act between a man and a woman. It wasn't a kiss of affection or passionate love.
It was a kiss of atonement, forgiveness, and comfort.
Heiner felt a surge of intense sensation welling up inside him. As he tore through the shattered debris, something hot surged up.
She stroked his cheek and kissed him repeatedly, as if to wash away all their sins, all their faults. Over and over again.
Finally, his lips parted slowly. Heiner opened his closed eyes.
He looked at her with a face filled with indescribable emotions. Annette was still smiling.
It was so beautiful that it was blinding.
Her face was constantly being washed away by the rising moisture. He roughly wiped away the tears, but his vision quickly turned gray again.
"I'm sorry."
Annette whispered.
“I shouldn’t have said that, but so easily...”
Like a stone thrown into calm waters, her smile twisted into tears. Unable to contain herself, she burst out in a burst of sobs.
“It hurt a lot..."
Heiner raised his trembling hand and placed it on hers, which was covering his cheek. He smiled quietly. A teardrop fell onto their clasped hands.
Those were the last tears.
A gust of wind blew, fluttering the curtains. The night air swirled through the room. The heavy, pent-up emotions were carried away by the wind.
At the end of the ruins that had been ravaged by a lifetime, there was a single flower. Wounded and broken, yet never dying, it bloomed.
That was enough.
Annette let out a choked, irregular breath. Her hands, covering her mouth, were trembling.
His upper body, exposed without any covering, was covered in scars. There were more scars on the unwounded side than on the healthy ones.
The chest, which had been hit countless times, was discolored black or brown and was covered in scars that looked like they had been cut with a knife.
His side was still bandaged from a recent gunshot wound. His body resembled a rotten, half-broken, split tree.
In the center of that miserable body, there was a scar that could never be erased.
A cool breeze blew in through the open window. The curtains and black hair swayed gently.
“It was my last operation before I was commissioned as an officer.”
He continued speaking with his head hanging loosely, not having the confidence to look at her face.
"Even after enduring brutal torture and killing my comrades with my own hands, I wanted to live. I wanted to return alive... and speak to you."
That day.
To a woman as perfect and beautiful as a sugar doll, strolling through a rose garden in full bloom under the dazzling sunlight.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“...”
“I shouldn’t have looked at you.”
He desired someone he shouldn't have. He wanted someone he shouldn't have. And it wasn't simply because she was the daughter of Margrave Dietrich.
They were just so different.
“...You loved me?”
Heiner spoke with a blank expression, as if he had given up on everything.
“Could you have loved me like this? Could you have really allowed me, a person so flawed, into your perfect life?”
The love Annette spoke of, yes, it could be love.
Margrave Dietrich's loyal subordinate, a promising young officer, and a caring and upright lover. For her, who had lived a life filled with love, the perfect match.
“No. There’s no way you could do that.”
If that was truly love, Annette loved that man, not this man who had become such a mess.
“Now... do you have an answer?”
His tone was a mocking sneer. Heiner raised his head, trying to hide his wounded heart and shattered pride. Then, one corner of his mouth lifted into a mocking smile. He tried to.
The very next moment, Heiner's face went blank.
The corners of his mouth twitched. He stared at her, lost in thought, forgetting what he'd been trying to do.
Annette slowly lowered the hand that had covered her mouth. Clear water droplets continued to roll from her blue eyes. Tears covered her pale cheeks.
She was crying.
Without a sound.
Heiner faltered like a soldier trapped in the middle of enemy lines with no way out. He couldn't speak, as if a stone was stuck in his throat.
Annette took a step toward him. Heiner unconsciously tried to back away, but then stopped. She took another step toward him.
The distance between them gradually narrowed. Her face, half-submerged in darkness, now caught the light. Her cheeks, dotted with raw, unhealed scars, were damp.
Annette slowly extended both hands. Heiner, unsure of what to do, simply stared at her blankly.
Soon, Annette came and hugged him with both arms.
Like comforting a wounded young animal.
Heiner's body stiffened. His gray eyes began to shake violently.
He felt warmth on their skin as they touched. A small sob escaped from her body as she held him close. The sob grew louder and became a sob.
The sound of sorrowful crying filled the hospital room.
She sobbed. She sobbed like a child. She didn't even notice her face was soaking wet with tears.
Heiner creaked and lowered his head, looking at her in his arms. His small, frail body trembled intermittently, letting out sobs.
Ah.
He groaned silently.
A woman so precious was crying for his insignificant life.
Heiner heard something cracking deep within his chest. Something that had been entangled and hardened for so long that even he couldn't touch it.
I thought I would carry it with me until I die.
The deformed mass continued to break apart, making a crunching sound. The fragments that fell from it caused pain. But it wasn't just excruciating pain.
Heiner didn't know how to express this feeling. He had no words for it. It was a feeling he had never experienced before in his life.
A wet breath burst from his lips. His body convulsed uncontrollably. Finally, he lifted his hands, which had been suspended in mid-air.
And hesitantly, he hugged her.
Annette continued to cry out loud. She didn't say anything, but Heiner could feel her emotions.
Annette said there were things she knew only by speaking. But at that moment, he thought, there are things you can know without speaking.
He trembled and hugged her tighter, as if he would never let her go again.
Heiner groaned again.
I wish time would just stop right here. I don't care about the outside world, I'm not bound by the past or the future, I just want this moment to last forever...
Heiner suddenly felt something dripping from under his chin. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, and it trickled down his face.
The moment he realized it, tears poured out like a dam burst.
A choked sob escaped his lips. He curled up, burying his face between her neck and shoulder. And tears flowed unceasingly.
Just endlessly.
What had been pent up and rotting inside him for so long poured out with tears. Countless pains and sufferings proved and oxidized his life.
Heiner collapsed, still holding her. Their bodies slowly sank to the floor. Annette continued to caress his shoulders and back.
A faint light descended upon the two men and women, entangled and marred by wounds. Beneath the beautiful moonlight, they wept for a long time.
“Annette.”
After a long time, he opened his mouth.
“Annette...”
His voice was a mess of tears. Heiner muttered under his breath.
“I... ruined your life. I made you like this. I made you.”
Ugh, the sobs were hurled again. He convulsed, gasped for breath, and finally, plummeting to the ground, confessed.
"Sorry..."
The moment he said that, Heiner realized that he had been holding these words in his heart for a long time.
His mind that was scattered every time he saw her, his heart that was in pain and suffering, his determination to let her go, and even the regret that he couldn't let go of.
Because everyone had these words in their hearts.
“Don’t forgive me.”
Heiner spoke again with tears falling down his face.
“Don’t forgive me, Annette...”
Those were words that denied and destroyed the entire future that lay before his life.
Her arms, which had been wrapping around him, fell away. Heiner remained motionless, his upper body curled up. A chill ran through his body.
Suddenly, a warm hand cupped his cold, wet cheek.
The hand gently lifted his face. He looked at her with wet eyes. Annette smiled, a little tearfully.
Heiner couldn't take his eyes off that smile. He licked his lips softly.
Annette.
If you laugh, if you laugh...
Annette closed her eyes. Then, tilting her head, she kissed him softly.
It seemed like flowers were blooming all over the world...
Heiner's eyes widened. He stiffened, his shoulders trembling, his hands wandering aimlessly, and then slowly closed his eyes.
It wasn't some kind of sexual act between a man and a woman. It wasn't a kiss of affection or passionate love.
It was a kiss of atonement, forgiveness, and comfort.
Heiner felt a surge of intense sensation welling up inside him. As he tore through the shattered debris, something hot surged up.
She stroked his cheek and kissed him repeatedly, as if to wash away all their sins, all their faults. Over and over again.
Finally, his lips parted slowly. Heiner opened his closed eyes.
He looked at her with a face filled with indescribable emotions. Annette was still smiling.
It was so beautiful that it was blinding.
Her face was constantly being washed away by the rising moisture. He roughly wiped away the tears, but his vision quickly turned gray again.
"I'm sorry."
Annette whispered.
“I shouldn’t have said that, but so easily...”
Like a stone thrown into calm waters, her smile twisted into tears. Unable to contain herself, she burst out in a burst of sobs.
“It hurt a lot..."
Heiner raised his trembling hand and placed it on hers, which was covering his cheek. He smiled quietly. A teardrop fell onto their clasped hands.
Those were the last tears.
A gust of wind blew, fluttering the curtains. The night air swirled through the room. The heavy, pent-up emotions were carried away by the wind.
At the end of the ruins that had been ravaged by a lifetime, there was a single flower. Wounded and broken, yet never dying, it bloomed.
That was enough.
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