My Beloved Oppressor - Chapter 109

Heiner looked back.

A woman in a white cardigan was standing on top of the hill.

His gaze moved slowly from her toe to her head. The low heels tapping the ground in intervals, her white ankles, and the fluttering hem of the skirt wrapped around her legs.

Blue eyes of the sea, disappearing and reappearing between eyelids, long lashes shining in the sunlight, golden hair fluttering in the sea breeze, the whole series of scenes unfolded before his eyes.

Suddenly a strong wind blew.

As she came down the hill, she stopped.

Her blonde hair scattered in the wind. Annette stared at him, breathless. Heiner looked up at the woman standing far above his eye level.

At this moment, it seemed that only he and her were left in the whole world.

They stared at each other for a while without saying a word. They were as far apart as they were close, scanning each other from head to toe.

Her halted steps continued again. The sound of heels echoed faintly. One step, two steps, slow but without stopping.

The woman came to him, following a long descent.

The view from where they stood was not as great as the view from the top of that high hill.

But the sun was still shining brightly, and he could hear the wind blowing and the waves crashing. Annette came close and stood looking up at him.

Heiner stared at her face, half stunned.

She slowly opened her mouth.

“…You’re back.”

“…”

“Why are you leaving already? You’re not coming in.”

“…I’m leaving…”

“You’re here, come home.”

“I didn’t come here to…”

Unbeknownst to him, it came out as a ridiculous denial. There was no time to think of a proper excuse. But, as a spy with the highest operational success rate among spies from Padania, Heiner quickly recalled the various plausible lies.

It was not difficult to pick out the most logical and rational one among them.

So the house I gave you as alimony is one of the properties I have here. I have several other houses in Santa Molly in addition to that house.

I had to check those properties in person at one time or another, and now that I have just returned, it is the right time, and incidentally, I just wanted to see what the house I gave you was like………..

But the excuses that went on in his head only evoked a sense of shame. It was truly the height of stupidity.

In the end, Heiner couldn’t spit out any of them and only moved his lips. It really was all a mess in front of her.

Annette kept looking at him, as if she could see the gears moving in his head.

“…Heiner, as you know – as a child I was a pretty terrible romantic with a yearning for destiny.”

Heiner was silent, not knowing why she was suddenly bringing up this subject.

“My philosophy teacher once said something like this: ‘There is no such thing as fate in the world. The moment one accepts the inevitability of past coincidences, one only comes to interpret them as fate.”

“…”

“So I thought we could never be destined. Because, at least as far as I knew, there was no such thing as coincidence between us that I would interpret as destiny. Because it was all planned from the beginning.”

“…”

“But then, was it coincidence or inevitable that you left a bouquet of hydrangeas and stachys by my practice room window?”

Heiner’s eyes shook violently at her question.

He never thought the bouquet would reach Annette. No, even if she got it, he could not imagine that she would have remembered it.

And what kind of flowers they were.

Because a bouquet of flowers would have been a very small gift to Annette. She would have received countless bouquets that were much bigger and flashier than the unappealing ones he had given her.

“So, I guess I was nothing to you—.”

Heiner’s face went blank. It was as if he had been hit in the head. His fingers twitched briefly.

He didn’t believe in fate.

But if she was right, their beginnings had all started by chance. It could be interpreted as inevitability.

More than one, he went to the marquis’ mansion; more than one, he stepped into the depths of the rose garden; more than one, the time coincided with her practice time; more than one, the performance was a melody that came from the music box.

“………… if it were inevitable that I  wanted you.”

Because you are so precious and beautiful.

“It was a fate that should never have begun.”

Heiner muttered in a broken voice. The coincidences and inevitabilities that he alone had created and interpreted on his own were piling up like sins at the end of this hill.

As if to shatter those sins into pieces, a long wind suddenly blew.

Her blonde hair fluttered and covered her face. Heiner involuntarily reached out and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

Her face appeared clear again, a gentle smile on her face. Annette’s lips moved softly.

“There is nothing we can take back. We can only make way for the future. Just as you gave me that bouquet again.”

“…”

“Thank you for the flowers. They are very beautiful.”

“…”

“Then and now.”

Heiner lowered his eyes, unable for some reason to look straight into that beautiful smile. His gaze, which had been wandering aimlessly through the air, suddenly stopped in one place.

It was on her white cardigan.

On the upper left chest of the cardigan was a purple brooch. It was familiar. Heiner soon remembered it.

“Wishing you a warm holiday season, Annette Rosenberg.”

It was a Princess cut diamond brooch that he had purchased as her end of the year gift but had to be given after the divorce.

He felt his heart swell that Annette had kept it. Something warm and soft seemed to be rising up inside him.

And at the same time, Heiner remembered what he had failed to protect. He hesitantly opened his mouth.

“…… Annette. I have something to say. Actually, the scarf you gave me………..”

“The scarf…?”

“I wanted to wear the scarf when I saw you again…but I lost it while evacuating from an air raid. I’m sorry.”

Heiner struggled to finish his words. His voice was filled with guilt.

Annette, who was listening to him with her eyes wide open, laughed as she quickly sighed. It was a laugh that didn’t sound like much of a laugh.

“What are you talking about?” (A)

A bit of tension relaxed from Heiner’s tense shoulders. Annette spoke in a soft voice.

“You’re safe. That’s all it matters. I will make you another scarf. If I start now, I can probably finish it in the spring………. hmmm, it’s spring again.”

The last time Annette gave him a scarf was also in the spring. So she had to wait until winter again to do the scarf.

Annette said mischievously.

“I will have to wait for the coming winter. You must be sure to show up with a scarf then.”

“The coming winter.”

Heiner repeated her words.

Annette was talking about the winter they would be together. So he had at least a year of future ahead of him.

In the letter Annette spoke of their inability to move forward together. But at the same time, she said she wanted to live in the same world. They would confirm and encourage each other’s progress.

“…… Annette.”

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be possible to extend life forever?

“I will return the happiness and good fortune you gave me.”

For as much as she designates, so little by little, I will be able to keep living.

“I do not need those things. Even without happiness and fortune, 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 words. He was afraid that she would reject him. To put an end to his fear, Annette replied.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Then she added,

“Forever.”

Heiner’s face hardened for a moment. He just opened his mouth and closed it again, as if he had forgotten everything he was going to say.

Annette locked eyes with him and smiled brightly. Heiner’s eyes quivered faintly. A brief moment later, his lips moved, creating a small smile.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

Annette whispered. Heiner could hardly hear what she said, but he could read her lips.

The current rushing in from the horizon and crashing against the rocks. The waves, broken with foam, returned to the sea and created a dazzling wave.

Heiner held her with trembling hands. Annette pressed her head against his chest.

“Really, I’m glad you’re back.”

The scattered whispers could be heard this time from the vibration she created against his chest.

Heiner embraced his life where he returned.

It was not the perfect positioning. It was not the origin of a perfect relationship. It was just finally arriving at an out-of-place position after too long and painful a time.

But he finally came back.

To the place where his whole world began.

***