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Unmanicured blond hair fluttered in the sea breeze. The sea's surface sparkled under the pure, shining morning sunlight, like a dusting of jewels.
Annette sat on a rock, watching the waves crash against the cliff. It still felt unrealistic to think she was living in such a beautiful place.
After admiring the scenery for a while, Annette crossed the road again. The steep road wound its way up the hill.
As she was about to enter the house, she suddenly heard the sound of a bicycle screeching to a halt. She turned her head to check. It was the newspaper deliveryman.
“Hello, I see you’re new here.”
The deliveryman handed her a newspaper and asked, "What is it?" Annette hesitated to accept it.
“Yes, I got in yesterday. But I haven’t applied for the newspaper yet...”
“Really? Is this the right house?”
The delivery man had a question mark on his face and made a vague gesture.
“Just take it. You can cancel it later.”
“Ah... yes, thank you.”
“Then have a nice day.”
The bike rumbled as it started. Annette stared at his back as he descended the hill for a moment, then tilted her head and walked back into the house.
Annette unfolded the newspaper, which had been folded in half, without much thought. Her eyes, glancing briefly at the front page, settled on one spot.
[Balihen Air Force launches concentrated airstrikes on the headquarters barracks.]
It was a headline that graced the front page of the newspaper. Annette's eyes widened as she read the headline.
The headquarters barracks. That's where he was.
She began to read the article carefully, her face tense. The article's outline was as follows.
[The enemy discovered the headquarters' coordinates, and Balihen's air force launched a concentrated airstrike on the area. This strike killed one senior officer.
However, while this air raid was in progress, our forces achieved great success in the trench warfare on the central front of the Cheshire Fields, which had been dragging on for some time...]
Annette reread the article several times. Fortunately, there was no mention of the Commander-in-Chief.
Upon entering the house, she read every article from beginning to end before putting the paper down. For some reason, she felt a constant sense of unease.
Annette let out a heavy sigh and poured water into the kettle, preparing a simple breakfast. Soon, the house was filled with the fragrant aroma of coffee.
After breakfast, Annette was unpacking her unfinished luggage when there was a knock on the door. Since no one else was expected, Annette looked around curiously to see who it was.
Through the crack in the door, she saw the postman and the postal carriage. She unlocked the latch and opened the door. The postman, who had been looking at the notebook, said, "Ah."
“Are you Annette Rosenberg?”
"Yes< that's right."
“The package has arrived. Would you like me to bring it inside your house?”
"A package?" Annette asked. "I had nothing to bring."
“Excuse me. Is this the address you came to, under my name?”
“Hmm? Just a moment.”
The postman nodded after checking the notebook again.
“Yes, the address and name are both correct. It could have been sent by someone else.”
"Ah..."
"Please check it out, and if not, you can request a pickup later. Would you like me to bring it home for now?"
“It’s okay. I’ll do it.”
“Yes, then.”
Soon, the postman left in his mail carriage. Annette, who had been examining the small box, bent down to pick it up. However, it was much heavier than she had expected.
Annette barely managed to carry the box into the house and open it. She looked at the contents inside and muttered in bewilderment.
"...Book?"
The objects were so ordinary that they were rather disappointing. Annette took out each book, checking to see if there were any special messages or letters.
She pulled out every last book, but there was no information about the sender. Annette gazed blankly at the stack of books next to the box. Then she noticed something they had in common.
They were all novels.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Please accept it.”
“Why is this...”
“Read it.”
“Oh, yes.”
Suddenly, the memory of bringing her a novel while she was bored in the barracks came back to her. Annette furrowed her brow without realizing it.
There was nothing in common other than the fact that it was a novel, so she couldn't understand why she suddenly remembered that time.
Annette picked up the book on top and flipped to the first page. She absentmindedly read a few more pages, then walked over to the sofa and sat down.
Bright sunlight streamed into the house through the large windows in the living room. Annette leaned back on the sofa, turning the pages one by one.
In the silence, only the sound of pages turning echoed. The atmosphere was as peaceful as a deep forest.
After quite some time, Annette finally lifted her eyes from the paper. The book had already reached its final page.
Annette suddenly checked her watch and let out an involuntary "Ah." It was already well past lunchtime.
A feeling of awkwardness came over her belatedly.
It was her old habit to start a book and finish it right away. But at some point, Annette began having trouble concentrating on anything for long.
To be more precise, it was about a year after the revolution.
She suffered from headaches and forgetfulness, and her handwriting and embroidery, once delicate and exquisite, became a mess.
But now...
Annette stroked the cover of the book with a strange expression. She felt a tickling sensation in her chest.
After closing the bookcase, she looked up at the clock. She stared at the diligent movement of the second hand for a moment before muttering softly.
“...When will the reply come?”
***
A week later, Annette received two letters: one from Josef and one from Ryan. There was no reply from Heiner.
Ryan's letter had been sent to Grott's house, the address she had previously given him, and then re-delivered here by Brunner.
Anette didn't expect Ryan to actually send her a letter. She figured she had to reply with her new address.
Annette's hands froze as she tried to open Joseph's letter. She stared at the envelope with narrowed eyes.
'Why is the sender's address...?'
The sender, Joseph, was addressed to the capital, Launceston, and to the Commander-in-Chief's residence.
Annette double-checked several times to make sure the address was correct and quickly opened the letter. The white paper was covered in large, crooked letters that crossed the lines.
[To Annette
Hello, this is Joseph.
I am doing well.
I have fish in my garden here, so I see fish every day.
Does Annette have a house? Does she have a house?
I miss Annette so much.
I wish we could read the book together.
My uncle is not good at reading books, so he doesn't do well.
Good bye~"]
Despite the short message, the handwriting was so large that it filled an entire page. Annette, momentarily forgetting her doubts at the child's adorable letter, laughed out loud.
What on earth was the sentence that ended after "home"? And since the uncle didn't read well, it seemed likely Heiner had read to Josef.
'He ran away while looking so disgusted.'
She wondered how on earth he had come to read it to Joseph. How on earth had Joseph ended up at the official residence...?
Annette paused as she was about to put Joseph's letter back in the envelope. There was another, slightly smaller piece of paper inside.
Annette took it out and opened it. It was a letter from the butler who managed the residence. The contents were relatively simple.
[Good morning, Miss Annette Rosenberg. I am Martin Adorf, the Butler of the Launceston State Residence. It has been a pleasure to meet you.
By His Excellency's will, Joseph is temporarily staying here at the residence, not at the orphanage. However, if both Miss Rosenberg and Joseph wish, Miss Rosenberg may take Joseph with you.
The matter will be entirely at Miss Rosenberg's discretion, subject, of course, to the child's wishes. However, if Miss Rosenberg does not wish to do so, Joseph will remain at the residence or look for a suitable adoptive home.
If you'd like, I'd like to first confirm Joseph's intentions. I'd like to discuss the details by phone or in person at the residence. I'll be waiting for your call.]
Annette put down the butler's letter with a puzzled look on her face. She looked at it and Joseph's letter several times.
She indeed wanted to bring Joseph with her. She simply gave up because she couldn't take responsibility for it at the time.
Even if the circumstances were now such that the child could be raised, it would have been better to find a better adoptive home.
Annette's surname, Rosenberg, was a permanent social stigma. Even if she were to take the child in, he would have to grow up without a father.
After a long moment of reflection, Annette checked the butler's letter again. The word "official residence" in it particularly caught her eye.
“Official residence...”
A bitter soliloquy flowed from Annette's mouth.
Frankly, she didn't want to go. The official residence was a place filled with pain and hurt for her. But she also felt the need to meet and talk with Joseph in person.
Her blue eyes settled quietly. After a long moment of deep thought, she picked up the phone.
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