Looking back now, it didn’t seem strange that so much time had passed from the moment I first met my husband to our wedding.
The news of Docilia’s defeat came.
It was one early winter morning when I had finally drifted off to sleep after worrying about my father, who was on the battlefield.
*Knock knock.*
The sound of someone knocking on the door roused me from my sleep, and I greeted the unexpected visitor in a disheveled state.
“Who is it…?”
Before me stood a figure clad in a pristine white naval uniform, adorned with golden buttons and a stiff collar that reached up to his neck.
It was a naval officer.
As soon as I caught sight of him, a bright smile spread across my face.
“Father?”
I quickly raised my head, but before I could truly welcome the joy, my expression fell in an instant.
The man blocking my way was not my father.
With a stiff face beneath the naval cap and a rigid posture, he exuded an air of gravity.
My instincts told me that something was terribly wrong. My sleep vanished in an instant, replaced by an unsettling realization.
This soldier had surely come to deliver bad news.
He slowly removed his cap, revealing his features that had been hidden in shadow. His blue eyes, reflecting the broken sunlight, sparkled like the sea.
His lips, which had been tightly sealed, began to move slowly.
“Is this Edith Prim, the only daughter of Isaac Prim?”
“… Yes.”
My eyelids trembled. In a subconscious effort to hide my emotions, I instinctively adjusted my clothing.
Once he confirmed my identity, the man continued speaking, as if indifferent to my state.
“I am here to deliver the news of your father’s passing. Isaac Prim, a naval sergeant in Docilia, died on December 18, 1824, at approximately 2:15 PM while battling illness on the battlefield.”
The cruel news matched perfectly with his dry, unemotional tone.
I blinked slowly, attempting to process what I had just heard.
What on earth was this man saying?
Everything around me faded into darkness, and the once-bustling street quieted down to an eerie silence.
“What did you just say…?”
It had to be a mistake. It could not be true. Or perhaps I had misheard in my stupor.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and asked again.
“I think I might have misheard. Could you please repeat that?”
“I regret to inform you of such news.”
Hope slipped away from me.
“That… that can’t be. How could my father…?”
He had always sent me letters.
He had reassured me that he was safe. Although Docilia might be facing defeat, he believed he would come to see me soon.
But how could this happen…?
Everything around me turned white. My legs felt weak, and I was on the brink of collapsing.
“Be careful.”
The man grasped my arm firmly, pulling me upright.
Only when I could stand on my own did he release his grip.
“… Thank you.”
I didn’t even know what I was saying. It came out instinctively.
As I slowly lifted my head, I found the man gazing intently at my face. He spoke dryly.
“The body is at the naval headquarters. You must report to the naval headquarters at Muesen within a week for identification and to file a death insurance claim.”
I forced myself to nod. It was the best I could do at that moment.
The world around me darkened again. I closed the door with a dazed expression.
“This can’t be happening…”
Finally alone, I slowly sank to the floor.
That was my unforgettable first encounter with my husband, Johannes Schultz.
* * *
Since hearing the news of my father’s death, I had been in a daze.
Half of me felt compelled to confirm the body, while the other half feared that confirming it would force me to accept my father’s death.
I isolated myself at home, enduring until I could no longer bear it.
Yet, annoyingly, the one-week deadline the man had mentioned arrived all too quickly.
It felt like both a long and short time.
I had no strength left to confront my father’s remains. Gathering my resolve, I hastily prepared and left the house.
The streets were quieter than usual. I should have found it strange, but I was too lost in thought to notice.
“The naval headquarters…”
I followed the rough map the man had given me. As I neared my destination, the cacophony of voices made my ears ring.
“Shameless. What era are we living in…”
“They deserved it.”
People muttered incomprehensible phrases.
As I moved further, I noticed a crowd gathered near the front of the harbor.
Could they all be here for the identification of the deceased…?
Given the defeat, it was only natural there would be many casualties.
Scanning the area, I spotted naval officers lined up along the roadside. My gaze landed on a particularly striking man among them.
He stood staring straight ahead with an impassive expression. As I silently observed him, he turned his head.
The golden naval badge embedded in his cap sparkled brightly in the sunlight.
When I squinted and lowered my gaze, I met his striking blue eyes.
It was him.
The naval officer who had delivered the news of my father’s death.
I had come looking for the naval headquarters, and I felt no reason to delay any further. I quickly made my way toward him.
“Excuse me, could you tell me where the naval headquarters is…?”
Before I could finish my sentence, I lost my balance amidst the throng of people.
“Oh…!”
As I teetered on the brink of falling, the man grasped my arm, pulling me back. I found myself leaning against him, unable to move due to the pushing crowd.
“Thank you.”
“The naval headquarters is on the other side. However, the situation is not safe right now, so it would be wise to wait a bit before moving.”
“Is that so…?”
As I looked up at him blankly, he turned his gaze toward the front of the harbor. My eyes widened in astonishment as I followed his gaze.
*‘An open execution…?’*
Under the rusty guillotine, which hadn’t been used in quite some time, stood a middle-aged man.
He wore simple but expensive clothing, his hair neatly arranged, and his exposed skin bore not a single scratch.
Public executions had long been abolished as unethical, a relic of a bygone era.
But why…?
Caught off guard, I felt a mix of embarrassment and surprise at being so close to a stranger, blinking in bewilderment.
Then, I was further confused by the low voice ringing above me.
“It’s Duke Schultz.”
“What? Why is the duke…?”
I didn’t even need to wait for his reply. The murmurs of the onlookers filled in the details.
“How ridiculous! A public execution for merely embezzling funds? That’s excessive, isn’t it?”
“Ha! Embezzling? He took off with an amount equivalent to the national budget for a year! And no one knows where he is now.”
I swallowed hard, unable to suppress my surprise.
An amount equivalent to a year’s national budget was indeed astronomical. And to think he was missing…
Duke Schultz was reputed not just in Muesen but also in the capital, Baden.
A person like that could engage in such heinous acts behind the scenes. After their defeat, the royal family likely felt justified in opting for a public execution as a display of disdain.
But…
“The duke would never do something like that…”
“It’s an official statement from the royal family. Everyone believes it.”
As I muttered to myself, the man responded dryly. The onlookers continued to chatter around us.
“How unfortunate for the young duke. Still, it seems they won’t touch him because of the victories we gained in the war thanks to him. He should be returning from the battlefield by now; I wonder if he’s heard about his father.”
“Are we supposed to care about someone else’s troubles? I’ve heard the war reparations are no small matter. If they don’t find out what happened to the embezzled funds, they might just pass all the taxes on to us!”
The chatter continued, some defending Duke Schultz while others attacked him with sharp words.
One thing was clear.
Most of the spectators gathered at the harbor held negative feelings toward Duke Schultz.
I gazed blankly at the crowd that had gathered.
Before the guillotine, the deep blue sea stretched out before me. The bright sky was foolishly beautiful, unaware of the grim events unfolding below.
It seemed overly sentimental and picturesque for a place of execution.
Perhaps this was a way of making him regret the mistakes he had made, knowing he would never witness such beauty again.
Could it be true that Duke Schultz had embezzled funds? If so, what emotions would he be feeling at the threshold of death?
Was it disappointment at being caught, or resentment for the situation? Or perhaps, deep regret?
But contrary to my expectations, his eyes held no emotion.
There was neither a glimmer of injustice nor a hint of disappointment in his gaze. He merely bore an expression of acceptance.
My fingertips grew cold, and my face paled.
If he had indeed committed a crime, he wouldn’t be able to maintain such composure.
I instinctively realized.
‘That man is innocent…’
But no one would believe me. Or perhaps he was simply a skilled actor, pretending to be innocent until the end.
But so what?
Even if Duke Schultz were innocent, there was nothing I could do to help him. Political reasons would have entangled everything.
The only thing I could clearly do for him at
that moment was pray.
“Please… Please let him survive this.”
I whispered fervently, though I doubted anyone would hear my plea. But that was the only thing I could think to do.
Then, for the first time, I caught the man next to me glancing at me curiously. I tilted my head to look at him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked me.
“I… I was looking for the naval headquarters.”
“Is that so? What for?”
“I have to… confirm my father’s body,” I replied quietly.
His expression shifted to one of surprise. He turned his gaze back toward the harbor. My heart sank with dread.
What if he misunderstood my intentions? I didn’t want him to think I was simply a passerby who had come to watch the spectacle unfold.
But he merely stared at the crowd, his lips pursed as if he were deep in thought.
“I see.”
As he continued staring, I quickly glanced at the guillotine and the man before it.
How much longer would the execution be delayed? The anticipation was heavy in the air, making it feel stifling.
A little while later, the man who had caught my attention finally spoke again.
“Let’s go. This place is far too dangerous for someone like you.”
He reached for my arm, intending to lead me away.
“No, wait…!” I instinctively pulled back, suddenly overwhelmed with fear.
But he merely looked at me with a frown.
“Then stay here and risk your life?” His words were laced with disdain.
“… No. It’s not that…”
“It’s only a matter of time before the chaos breaks out. Come on.”
As I gazed into his eyes, I felt a strange sensation.
Something stirred within me, akin to an echo of pain.
The sounds of the crowd reached my ears, but my mind grew distant. I found myself torn between the desire to remain and the urge to escape.
“Your father is waiting for you,” he added, seemingly annoyed at my hesitation.
Just then, the crowd erupted into an uproar.
“They’ve called for the execution!”
“Why now?!”
The guard, holding a sword at the ready, stepped forward.
My heart pounded wildly as I instinctively clutched the man’s arm. I felt a flicker of panic.
“Let’s go!”
As if sensing my thoughts, he dragged me away.
I stumbled along behind him, heart racing as I followed. The distant cries faded behind me, though I couldn’t help but glance back toward the spectacle.
Before I knew it, we were rushing down the road, the sounds of the crowd swallowed by the distance.
“Thank you,” I whispered, barely keeping pace with him.
He didn’t reply. He led me through narrow alleyways until we finally reached the naval headquarters.
The sprawling complex was imposing.
“Are you alright?” He turned to me as we approached the entrance, concern flickering in his gaze.
“I… I’m fine.”
“Then go inside. There’s no need for me to follow you,” he said curtly.
As I stepped closer to the entrance, I suddenly stopped.
“Wait…!”
“What now?” He regarded me with an unreadable expression.
“I didn’t even ask for your name.”
“Johannes,” he replied succinctly.
“Thank you, Johannes.”
For a brief moment, I found myself captivated by the blue of his eyes, but I shook my head to dispel the thought.
“Please be safe,” I murmured, turning to enter the building.
* * * *
The interior was filled with men in naval uniforms, their conversations buzzing with hushed tones. A chill ran through me as I approached the desk.
“Is there something you need?” The clerk looked at me with a hint of annoyance, as if I were intruding.
“I’m here to confirm…”
I hesitated. Would it truly be my father’s body?
I steadied my breath, repeating, “I’m here to confirm my father’s death.”
The clerk raised an eyebrow, watching me closely as if gauging my worth.
“Is your father Isaac Prim?”
“Yes,” I replied, holding my breath.
“Follow me.”
I followed him down a long corridor, where the stench of dampness and decay filled the air.
A door creaked open, revealing a small, dimly lit room.
“Inside,” he gestured.
With each step into the room, my heart raced. I stepped forward, fearing what awaited me inside.
As I peered into the darkness, I found it was indeed my father lying before me.
“Father…”
In that instant, the world around me crumbled.
I had to confirm that it was indeed him.
The door shut behind me, sealing me in this grim reality.
