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Heiner looked back.
A lady in a white cardigan stood on the hill.
His gaze slowly moved upward from below. The low heels of her shoes, which regularly touched the ground, the white ankles and ankle bones, and the hem of her skirt fluttering as it wrapped around her legs.
Blue eyes that contain the sea that appears between the eyelids and then disappears again, long eyelashes that shine in the sunlight, and golden hair that flutters in the sea breeze.
The whole series of scenes unfolded before his eyes.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew.
She stopped as she was coming down the hill.
Her blond hair wafted through the air. Annette stared at him, panting. Heiner stared up at the woman, who stood far above his level.
At that moment, it seemed like only she and he were left in the whole world.
They stared at each other for a while in silence, seemingly from a distance, from above and below, and from below and above.
Her footsteps, which had stopped, resumed. The faint sound of heels echoed. One step, two steps, slow but unstoppable.
A woman came to him along the long, long downhill road.
The view from where they stood wasn't as spectacular as it was from that high hill. But even here, the sun shone brightly, the wind blew, and the sound of crashing waves could be heard.
Annette, who had come within a stone's throw of him, stood there, looking up at him. Heiner stared, half-astonished, at her face, which filled his vision.
He opened his mouth slowly.
“...You're back.”
“...”
“Why are you going back? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“...Going again.”
“You came home, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t go home...”
Before he knew it, absurd denials sprang from his lips. He didn't even have time to think of a proper excuse.
But, as expected from someone who boasted the highest success rate among Padanian spies, Heiner quickly came up with all sorts of plausible lies.
It wasn't difficult to select the most logical and reasonable one among them.
So, the house I gave you as alimony is one of the properties I own here. Besides that house, I own several other houses in Santa Molino.
I needed to check out those properties myself, and now that I'm back, it's a good time, and I just wanted to check out the house I gave you...
But the excuses that kept coming to his mind only fueled his self-loathing. It was truly utterly foolish.
Heiner couldn't utter a word, only moving his lips. Truly, everything was a mess in front of her.
Annette had clear eyes, as if she knew everything about his mind.
“...Heiner, as you know─ when I was young, I was a rather ardent romantic who longed for fate.”
Heiner remained silent, not knowing why she suddenly brought this up.
"My philosophy teacher once said this: There's no such thing as fate in this world. The moment you accept past coincidences as inevitability, you begin to interpret them as fate."
“...”
"That's why I thought we could never be destined. At least, as far as I know, there was no coincidence between us that could be interpreted as fate. It was all planned from the beginning..."
“...”
“But then, was it a coincidence or fate that you left a bouquet of hydrangeas and statices on my practice room window?”
At those words, Heiner's eyes shook violently.
He had no idea that the bouquet would reach Annette. No, even if it had, he couldn't imagine she'd still remember it.
Even what kind of flower it was.
A bouquet of flowers would have been a trivial gift to Annette. She had probably received countless bouquets far larger and more extravagant than the shabby ones he'd given her.
So, I would have been nothing to you...
Heiner's face went blank. It felt like he'd been hit in the head. His hanging fingers twitched briefly.
He didn't believe in fate. But if she were to believe it, their beginnings were entirely coincidental. One could easily interpret it as inevitable.
It just so happened that he ended up at the Marquis's mansion. It just so happened that he ventured deep into the rose garden. It just so happened that it coincided with her practice time. It just so happened that the melody was coming from the music box.
“...If it was inevitable that I wanted you.”
Why are you so precious and pretty?
“It was a fate that should never have begun.”
Heiner muttered in a cracked voice. The coincidences and inevitabilities he had created and interpreted on his own were piled up like sin at the end of this downhill slope.
A long, strong wind suddenly blew, as if to shatter the sin into pieces.
Her blonde hair flew wildly, covering her face. Heiner absentmindedly reached out and tucked a strand behind one ear.
The face, now clearly visible again, was wearing a gentle smile. Annette's lips moved softly.
"There's no turning back. We can only create a path forward. Just like you gave me that bouquet of flowers again."
“...”
“Thank you for the bouquet. It’s so pretty.”
“...”
“Then and now.”
For some reason, unable to look straight at that beautiful smile, Heiner lowered his eyes. His gaze, wandering aimlessly through the air, suddenly stopped on one spot.
It was over her white cardigan.
A purple brooch was pinned to the upper left chest of the cardigan. It looked familiar. It didn't take long for Heiner to recall the brooch.
“Warm Holidays, Annette Rosenberg.”
It was a marquise-cut brooch that he had bought for her as a year-end gift, but had to give it to her after the divorce.
He felt his heart swell with pride at the thought of Annette keeping it. Something warm and soft welled up inside him.
And at the same time, Heiner remembered what he had failed to protect. He hesitated and opened his mouth.
“...Annette. I have something to tell you. Actually, the scarf you gave me...”
“A scarf?”
“I wanted to bring a scarf with me when I saw you again... but I lost it in the air raid shelter. I'm sorry.”
Heiner finished speaking with difficulty. His voice was thick with guilt.
Annette, who had been listening to him with wide eyes, soon sighed and smiled. It was a smile that seemed to indicate nothing.
“What should I say again?”
The tension in Heiner's shoulders, which had been tense, eased slightly. Annette spoke in a soft voice.
"You're safe, then. That's fine. I'll make you another scarf. If I start now, I'll probably be able to finish it by spring. ...Hmm, it's spring again."
The last time Annette gave him a scarf, it was spring. It seemed he'd have to wait until winter to get another one.
Annette said playfully.
"I guess I'll have to wait until winter comes back. Then I'll definitely show you wearing a scarf."
“...The returning winter.”
Heiner repeated her words.
Annette was talking about the winter they'd spent together, so he had at least another year ahead of him.
In the letter, Annette spoke of their inability to move forward together. But at the same time, she expressed her desire to live in the same world, confirming and encouraging each other's progress.
“...Annette.”
If this is the case, wouldn't it be possible to extend life indefinitely?
“I will return the happiness and good fortune you gave me.”
As much as she specifies, little by little, she will be able to continue living.
"I don't need that. Even without happiness or luck, I will create a better world for you. So... even if it takes a very long time... "
Heiner hesitated for a moment, unable to finish his sentence. He was afraid she would reject him. As if to put an end to his fears, she answered.
“I’ll wait.”
And added.
“Forever.”
Heiner's face froze for a moment. He opened and closed his mouth several times, as if he had forgotten everything he wanted to say.
Annette met his eyes and smiled brightly. Heiner's eyes twitched faintly. He belatedly moved his face, forming a creaking, thin smile.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
Annette whispered. Heiner could barely hear her, but he could discern the shape of her lips.
Shoo-ah─
The waves surged from the horizon and crashed against the rocks. The waves, crashing with foam, returned to the sea, forming dazzling, sparkling waves.
Heiner gently held her with trembling hands. Annette leaned her head against his embrace. "I'm really glad you're back." This time, he could hear the scattered whispers in his arms.
Heiner embraced his life where he returned.
It wasn't a perfect fit. It wasn't even the starting point of a complete relationship. After a long and arduous time, they had only just arrived at a slightly different place.
But he eventually came back.
To where the whole world began.
A lady in a white cardigan stood on the hill.
His gaze slowly moved upward from below. The low heels of her shoes, which regularly touched the ground, the white ankles and ankle bones, and the hem of her skirt fluttering as it wrapped around her legs.
Blue eyes that contain the sea that appears between the eyelids and then disappears again, long eyelashes that shine in the sunlight, and golden hair that flutters in the sea breeze.
The whole series of scenes unfolded before his eyes.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew.
She stopped as she was coming down the hill.
Her blond hair wafted through the air. Annette stared at him, panting. Heiner stared up at the woman, who stood far above his level.
At that moment, it seemed like only she and he were left in the whole world.
They stared at each other for a while in silence, seemingly from a distance, from above and below, and from below and above.
Her footsteps, which had stopped, resumed. The faint sound of heels echoed. One step, two steps, slow but unstoppable.
A woman came to him along the long, long downhill road.
The view from where they stood wasn't as spectacular as it was from that high hill. But even here, the sun shone brightly, the wind blew, and the sound of crashing waves could be heard.
Annette, who had come within a stone's throw of him, stood there, looking up at him. Heiner stared, half-astonished, at her face, which filled his vision.
He opened his mouth slowly.
“...You're back.”
“...”
“Why are you going back? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“...Going again.”
“You came home, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t go home...”
Before he knew it, absurd denials sprang from his lips. He didn't even have time to think of a proper excuse.
But, as expected from someone who boasted the highest success rate among Padanian spies, Heiner quickly came up with all sorts of plausible lies.
It wasn't difficult to select the most logical and reasonable one among them.
So, the house I gave you as alimony is one of the properties I own here. Besides that house, I own several other houses in Santa Molino.
I needed to check out those properties myself, and now that I'm back, it's a good time, and I just wanted to check out the house I gave you...
But the excuses that kept coming to his mind only fueled his self-loathing. It was truly utterly foolish.
Heiner couldn't utter a word, only moving his lips. Truly, everything was a mess in front of her.
Annette had clear eyes, as if she knew everything about his mind.
“...Heiner, as you know─ when I was young, I was a rather ardent romantic who longed for fate.”
Heiner remained silent, not knowing why she suddenly brought this up.
"My philosophy teacher once said this: There's no such thing as fate in this world. The moment you accept past coincidences as inevitability, you begin to interpret them as fate."
“...”
"That's why I thought we could never be destined. At least, as far as I know, there was no coincidence between us that could be interpreted as fate. It was all planned from the beginning..."
“...”
“But then, was it a coincidence or fate that you left a bouquet of hydrangeas and statices on my practice room window?”
At those words, Heiner's eyes shook violently.
He had no idea that the bouquet would reach Annette. No, even if it had, he couldn't imagine she'd still remember it.
Even what kind of flower it was.
A bouquet of flowers would have been a trivial gift to Annette. She had probably received countless bouquets far larger and more extravagant than the shabby ones he'd given her.
So, I would have been nothing to you...
Heiner's face went blank. It felt like he'd been hit in the head. His hanging fingers twitched briefly.
He didn't believe in fate. But if she were to believe it, their beginnings were entirely coincidental. One could easily interpret it as inevitable.
It just so happened that he ended up at the Marquis's mansion. It just so happened that he ventured deep into the rose garden. It just so happened that it coincided with her practice time. It just so happened that the melody was coming from the music box.
“...If it was inevitable that I wanted you.”
Why are you so precious and pretty?
“It was a fate that should never have begun.”
Heiner muttered in a cracked voice. The coincidences and inevitabilities he had created and interpreted on his own were piled up like sin at the end of this downhill slope.
A long, strong wind suddenly blew, as if to shatter the sin into pieces.
Her blonde hair flew wildly, covering her face. Heiner absentmindedly reached out and tucked a strand behind one ear.
The face, now clearly visible again, was wearing a gentle smile. Annette's lips moved softly.
"There's no turning back. We can only create a path forward. Just like you gave me that bouquet of flowers again."
“...”
“Thank you for the bouquet. It’s so pretty.”
“...”
“Then and now.”
For some reason, unable to look straight at that beautiful smile, Heiner lowered his eyes. His gaze, wandering aimlessly through the air, suddenly stopped on one spot.
It was over her white cardigan.
A purple brooch was pinned to the upper left chest of the cardigan. It looked familiar. It didn't take long for Heiner to recall the brooch.
“Warm Holidays, Annette Rosenberg.”
It was a marquise-cut brooch that he had bought for her as a year-end gift, but had to give it to her after the divorce.
He felt his heart swell with pride at the thought of Annette keeping it. Something warm and soft welled up inside him.
And at the same time, Heiner remembered what he had failed to protect. He hesitated and opened his mouth.
“...Annette. I have something to tell you. Actually, the scarf you gave me...”
“A scarf?”
“I wanted to bring a scarf with me when I saw you again... but I lost it in the air raid shelter. I'm sorry.”
Heiner finished speaking with difficulty. His voice was thick with guilt.
Annette, who had been listening to him with wide eyes, soon sighed and smiled. It was a smile that seemed to indicate nothing.
“What should I say again?”
The tension in Heiner's shoulders, which had been tense, eased slightly. Annette spoke in a soft voice.
"You're safe, then. That's fine. I'll make you another scarf. If I start now, I'll probably be able to finish it by spring. ...Hmm, it's spring again."
The last time Annette gave him a scarf, it was spring. It seemed he'd have to wait until winter to get another one.
Annette said playfully.
"I guess I'll have to wait until winter comes back. Then I'll definitely show you wearing a scarf."
“...The returning winter.”
Heiner repeated her words.
Annette was talking about the winter they'd spent together, so he had at least another year ahead of him.
In the letter, Annette spoke of their inability to move forward together. But at the same time, she expressed her desire to live in the same world, confirming and encouraging each other's progress.
“...Annette.”
If this is the case, wouldn't it be possible to extend life indefinitely?
“I will return the happiness and good fortune you gave me.”
As much as she specifies, little by little, she will be able to continue living.
"I don't need that. Even without happiness or luck, I will create a better world for you. So... even if it takes a very long time... "
Heiner hesitated for a moment, unable to finish his sentence. He was afraid she would reject him. As if to put an end to his fears, she answered.
“I’ll wait.”
And added.
“Forever.”
Heiner's face froze for a moment. He opened and closed his mouth several times, as if he had forgotten everything he wanted to say.
Annette met his eyes and smiled brightly. Heiner's eyes twitched faintly. He belatedly moved his face, forming a creaking, thin smile.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
Annette whispered. Heiner could barely hear her, but he could discern the shape of her lips.
Shoo-ah─
The waves surged from the horizon and crashed against the rocks. The waves, crashing with foam, returned to the sea, forming dazzling, sparkling waves.
Heiner gently held her with trembling hands. Annette leaned her head against his embrace. "I'm really glad you're back." This time, he could hear the scattered whispers in his arms.
Heiner embraced his life where he returned.
It wasn't a perfect fit. It wasn't even the starting point of a complete relationship. After a long and arduous time, they had only just arrived at a slightly different place.
But he eventually came back.
To where the whole world began.
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