Oppressor sss5

Special side story. Amor Fati (5)

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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.