Special side story. Amor Fati (5)
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⭐️ Read the complete translation here https://www.patreon.com/collection/188783
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A woman in a suit walked briskly, carrying a rectangular bag full of papers. The hands on the square clock tower were already pointing to five o'clock.
'Hand over the documents for the nationalization proposal by 7:00, and send them to the secretary first thing tomorrow morning...... Ah, tomorrow is the weekend. I wonder when Mr. Huffman's site visit was scheduled........'
She rushed past people in a frenzy of activity. It was Annelie Engels, daughter of Republican Senator Günther Engels and a former militia member of the Revolutionary Army.
After the war, she devoted her twenties to writing an electoral law that guaranteed women's suffrage in Padania. She later joined the Republican Party and became the first and only woman in the capital's parliament.
'Wait, was it this weekend that I was supposed to meet with Mr. Paul? Oh, if I don't go, I'm going to be scolded again........'
Annelie sighed as she remembered the appointment her mother had arranged for her. The thought of wasting her time lingered in her mind.
She wasn't particularly a celibate, but her life was too busy to think about marriage.
Besides, she had very high standards for a spouse. If they weren't up to par, she thought, she might as well not get married.
‘Oh, he was so perfect except for his history of divorce.’
She remembered a man she had long forgotten. Heiner Valdemar, a fellow operative and former commander-in-chief of Padania.
He was also the man her father had once in business with.
He was married at the time, so there were a few good reasons for the affair. For his father's political position, to keep moderate Republicans and liberals in check, and to clean up internal affairs before the war......
Indeed, even apart from those reasons, Annelie had her heart set on Heiner Valdemar.
It wasn't a completely rational feeling, however, but more of a mixture of camaraderie and human respect.
One way or another, he was a great coworker, a great leader, and a great human being.
Of course, in terms of his current position, he had the upper hand. Even if he was a former commander-in-chief, he was now just a young, retired civilian.
'I heard he went down to where she lives and reunited with her....... Well, you never know.’
When she first heard the news, she was surprised, but not unexpected. Perhaps it reminded her of Annette Rosenberg's reaction when they discussed her disposition after the revolution.
"I would have insisted on cooperation from the beginning."
"I'll take care of my wife, dispose of her, whatever."
Well, maybe not a great human being.
Annelie shuddered lightly, as if she could feel the momentum of the killing. Fixing her bag, she quickened her pace a little more, and the next moment, she came to a screeching halt.
She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. But there they were, the man and woman walking out of the square.
They were both wearing hats, but she was sure. She had seen them before, up close and personal, for a long time. She couldn't not recognize them.
It was Heiner Valdemar and his wife.
Annelie stood dumbfounded, staring at them. It wasn't just because she'd found them in an unexpected place, unexpected people. Rather, it was because.......
The man stroked his wife's blonde hair, which swayed at the nape of her neck, then lifted her chin and kissed her briefly. What was she saying? He smiled and nodded.
The former commander-in-chief's gaze on his wife was⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯ incredibly soft and warm.
She had never once imagined that the man could have a face like that.
The last time she'd seen him, a year ago, she'd gotten the sense that he'd softened a bit, but now it was like she'd seen something unbelievable…
Ha. Annelie couldn't help but chuckle. It was amazing how a person's mood could change like that.
The two walked through the square, looking into each other's eyes, not even paying attention to their surroundings. They seemed to be immersed in their own world.
"Ha..."
Annelie muttered, half shakily, half breathlessly.
"......If it makes you happy."
She wished happiness to the people on the pages of her life's past. And then she started walking again, toward the road ahead of her.
***
AU 728.
The village church in Santa Molly was bustling with activity. The small chapel was packed with guests.
Brunner and Olivia, Joseph and his adoptive parents, Ryan and his family, neighbors from the village, and many of the bride’s colleagues from the composers' society were there, chatting and smiling.
A soft piano began to play at the front. As the officiating pastor took the podium, the commotion in the room slowly subsided.
Then the doors to the chapel opened and the groom, dressed in a suit, entered.
The guests applauded and cheered. The groom was impeccably groomed, but he couldn't hide his nervousness.
Once at the altar, the groom exchanged a few words with the pastor. The old pastor chuckled, telling him to lighten up.
The piano paused for a moment, then changed to another song. Almost simultaneously, the chapel door opened again. The groom slowly turned around.
Through the crack in the door, he could see a lovely figure, glowing white in the sunlight. He stood stiffly, staring at the entrance to the chapel. He could barely hear the piano playing, announcing the bride's entrance.
His bride walked toward him down the flower aisle.
She was dressed in a light gown, with no father to hold her hand, no veil to cover her face, and she carried only a bouquet of flowers.
Heiner could not take his eyes off his bride's face. The whole world seemed to have lost its light and contours except for her.
Then the bride was brought before the dais. They stood facing each other. Up close, their eyes met.
Annette smiled, her cheeks flushed. Her blue eyes, like the sea, glistened with a sheen. In those eyes was him.
The world was too dazzling, Heiner thought. Flashes of eternal moments, projecting into the depths of lives that had been dark for too long.
After a long, slow life, he finally stood in the same place.
To be together once again, with all their scars.
To love once again, in spite of everything.
His heart swelled to the point of pain. He lifted his trembling lips to smile after her. He tried to laugh with her.
He could see Annette's eyes widen.
Heiner's face contorted slightly, as if he didn't know whether to express surprise or delight first. Before he realized it, a tear slipped down his cheek.
"I've been officiating for thirty years, and I've never seen a groom cry."
The pastor at the podium joked. The guests burst out laughing.
Heiner quickly wiped away a tear. Annette, who looked up at him in surprise, smiled, too, her face full of emotion. They stared at each other for a long moment, then turned toward the podium. The pastor gave a short sermon, then read the vows.
"At this time, in the presence of God and the witnesses gathered here, I ask the bride and groom."
The pastor's low, slow voice followed. Sunlight streamed in through a small stained-glass window above the dais, illuminating them.
"Do you take each other to be your spouses, and do you promise to be a faithful husband and faithful wife, following the laws of godly marriage?"
"I swear."
"I swear."
Annette.
Ever since the moment I met you, I wanted to live a life like this, and I have lived a life like this.
"Do you hold each other to be your beautiful destiny from the Lord, and do you swear to cherish and love each other for life, no matter what?"
"I swear."
"I swear."
Annette Rosenberg.
And now, I want to live this life, and I will live this life.
"You have hereby firmly vowed to be man and wife, to share in all the joys and sorrows of life. In accordance with these holy vows, I solemnly pronounce you husband and wife."
Beautiful piano music and applause filled the chapel as the couple looked at each other with beaming faces and held a long, lingering kiss.
Annette Valdemar.
We made past coincidences inevitable, and we will make future coincidences inevitable as well. And so we will love all the inevitabilities of life.
I don't want my destiny to be anything else. Forward, backward, all of it, forever.
So in retrospect, every moment of our meeting was destiny.
End❤️❤️
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*Okay guys, I know we all want this novel to go on forever, but unfortunately we have to say goodbye here. Thank you for all your love and support. Please continue to support my other translations.
Great news! This author is writing a new novel called “Shipwreck”, read it here https://doratls.jimdofree.com/shipwreck-1/
Write a comment
Eve (Tuesday, 05 March 2024 22:19)
Omg I'm not gonna lie I cried ��� it's finally a happy ending!!! Thank you for the great work! This has been a rollercoaster of emotions but absolutely amazing! �
Angel (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 02:53)
Ohhh I’m so glad I made it until the end of the novel plus had the chance to read the special chapters as well. It’s one of my favorite stories. All sleepless nights and tears are so worth it! Such a happy ending indeed and forever will stay in our hearts.
Cha (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 06:39)
Ahh I love it. This is easily one fo the best novels I've read. Thank you so much for the translations!
Sei (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 06:47)
Nooooo :((((
Leia (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:20)
I’m so sad it’s over � I love the ending though. Heiner crying. the vows. how simple it is. everything �
Seayon (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 17:50)
A happy ending for them <3 im glad
Hardcanyl (Wednesday, 06 March 2024 20:28)
I love this story so much, and of course, happy ending for the lovely couple, so sweet.
Michelle (Thursday, 07 March 2024 22:48)
I just cried a river
Dokidokidoki (Saturday, 16 March 2024 13:15)
Thank you so muchhhhhh ���
Citlalli (Monday, 18 March 2024 13:31)
Guuau, simplemente de mis novelas favoritas, pude sentir diversas emociones tan profundas, me encantó
Gracious24 (Friday, 22 March 2024 01:59)
Thanks a lot Dora���
Black swan (Friday, 22 March 2024 10:15)
I thank you so much, Dora! I really love your translation for this! I hope you always healthy and keep you in good activities you love! ❤❤❤
Romy (Tuesday, 02 April 2024 00:38)
Wow thank you Dora! I really thought we had a few side stories left lol. Their whole story was so well developed, how they grew, it was a lovely heart wrenching ride.
Aeve (Friday, 12 April 2024 10:48)
Thank you so much for your work, Dora! Loved this story with all my heart!
Jenna (Sunday, 14 April 2024 07:09)
Thank you so much Dora for your hardworking efforts in translating this beautiful story. Truly their story is one of my most favorite. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions but it’s worth it and I love it so much. I love everything about the story and especially Heiner and Annette. ❤️
Tuyet Nguyen (Tuesday, 16 April 2024 23:49)
It's finally going to be over...(inb4 theres more idk of lolol jk) Happy journey.
Eivon (Wednesday, 17 April 2024 20:01)
Heiner cried T_T, indeed, a happy ending. This is my first time reading the novel instead of waiting for the manhwa. Thank you for translating, I love your works!! ❤️❤️
araciel (Saturday, 20 April 2024)
terimakasih banyak atas terjemahannya!
sungguh ini novel yang bagus, perjalanan mereka penuh dengan rintangan dan akhirnya mereka mendapat akhir yang benar benar indah, terimakasih untuk penulis telah menciptakan karya yang sangat indah� aku akan selalu mengenangnya, aku mencintai annet dan heiner�
Nutan (Friday, 26 April 2024 16:03)
Thankyou so much for translating....your hard work is really appreciated otherwise this masterpiece would have been missed! Thankyou Dora
Ella (Thursday, 02 May 2024 08:26)
The meaning of you but 10x the drama,
jah (Tuesday, 14 May 2024 00:41)
played A Thousand Years in bg while reading this chapter oh my god it's so great � thanks for translating this awesome story. after all that angst.... ��������
Teeekay (Wednesday, 15 May 2024 00:40)
I had little hope she would get pregnant � but this was soooo cute
A sweetie (Wednesday, 15 May 2024 08:37)
Befitting ending, this novel really makes me a cry baby! I love it? ❣️❣️❣️❣️
Selene (Wednesday, 22 May 2024 08:14)
I read this novel while listening to "Solas" by Jamie Duffy. "Solas" means "light" in Irish, and I think it fits how Heiner finds love and light in Annette, and so is she in him. Thanks for translating this. Thanks so much.
crimdandy (Wednesday, 22 May 2024 23:14)
It was a long shot, but I sooo longed for them to have a baby... Too bad, I'll probably just witness it in my imagination.
This story stole so many drops of tears. The angst is next-level Thank you very much for your work, translator-nim!
sxyzk (Monday, 27 May 2024 06:03)
Thank you dearest writer and translator! I will miss this couple and their story soo much. I dont know what to do now T—T. Heiner crying at the altar made my heart warm up since that’s a first for the grooms. I love love love this novel <3 I will keep it in my heart forever. And the side stories with a glimpse into their life felt like a fresh breeze. Wonderful work!
Thunderstorm_cute (Sunday, 02 June 2024 01:11)
Huweeee gw baca novel ini be like:senyam senyum,salbrut,nyesek,meweekk(╥﹏╥)baru baca novelnya aja udah nyesek gini, apalagi nanti pas baca manhwanya yang ada visualnya,huweee tambah nyesek���
Lilyofthevalley (Sunday, 09 June 2024 04:41)
This is one of the best novels I've read this year so far. Omgggggggg the feelsss. So much have happened but in the end they are simply the only ones for each other. Thank you for the translation and to the author as well. myheartu
Lola (Monday, 10 June 2024 02:28)
Ahhh, so fiquei triste que não mostrou eles milagrosamente tendo um filho, queria muito. Parece que esse romance é mais "realista" do que pensei �. Obrigada pela tradução!!
camzi14 (Sunday, 16 June 2024 02:24)
thank you so much, I love it, it was so gooood! can someone recommend a novel with this level of angsty (with a good storyline as well) pls
Nerdy (Tuesday, 25 June 2024 10:13)
Thank you so much for translating this. I started reading the manhwa at the weekend and then discovered a novel that you'd translated. This story fully broke me and then healed me. I loved it so much. ���
Noe (Monday, 01 July 2024 04:44)
Finally. They both deserve happiness after all they went through. Thanks for the translation.
Priscilla (Sunday, 07 July 2024 04:15)
Thank you for translating this beautiful novel. Has to be my top novel I have ever read � Annette and Henier truly deserve each other.
sakura (Thursday, 01 August 2024 11:52)
I'll hold this novel for a long long time in my heart. I know I could never forget this novel because while reading this novel some unexpected things happened in my life and for that it'll be remembered always. I genuinely want to thank the translator for her such beautiful work. Very few translator of Korean novel could translate this beautifully. While reading it I wonder is it author or translator who this beautiful conveyed the emotions. Of course I'm thankful to the author who create this masterpiece, and I myself miraculously found it and enjoyed it this wholeheartedly.
Agnese (Friday, 20 September 2024 03:55)
Awww this story was so beautifull
Tysmmm
Andi (Wednesday, 02 October 2024 13:33)
Hey Dora, thank you so much for translating this gift of novel! It’s been a wild ride of emotions (at some point even literal tears!) shouts at my screen, and finally feeling so much happiness for these two! I was hoping for a � baby at the end though :( but I guess it does fit the storyline here, about loving again despite all the deep scars! Anyways, I would have never found out about this, if it weren’t for you (def gonna try to get my hands on a printed copy for keepsakes – that’s how much I loved it!!)
…
*My only complaint overall…I think a fictional country would have been better than naming France as the belligerent here. But other than that, 10/10!
Andi (Wednesday, 02 October 2024 13:37)
Btw, these vows? *Cries in pure love* �� Tysm again for translating this special story too!!!
Jasmin (Saturday, 12 October 2024 02:48)
I want a physical copy of this!!!
Vale (Monday, 04 November 2024 16:23)
I have no one to talk about this�