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LOS 84
“What do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Giles gave an uncertain answer.
“Before, I thought everything would be solved as long as Anna could just get out of Ipswin. I thought she would be safe inside Beldam. But you all—you made Anna like this.”
A flash of resentment pierced her for a moment, but it was fleeting. Giles was a man who had already burned down to nothing but ash, leaving him with nothing left to curse or hate.
And the final ember only served to slowly consume him.
“Now, I don’t even know what will become of Anna. I believed that everything would be fine if I just disappeared from her side... I think my greed, wanting to love Anna in the first place, is what made everything turn out like this.”
He had tried to love someone without realizing that he himself was a dangerous existence, like a raging fire.
Giles regretted it. He regretted that on the day he first met Anna, he hadn't ended their connection with a single loaf of bread. He regretted that he couldn't let the fleeing Anna go.
He regretted inserting his existence into Anna's life.
Luise said nothing. As Giles said, it was as if she herself had been the one to beat Anna. She couldn't possibly dare to add a word.
“For the remaining three days, will this keep happening?”
“That is not a matter I can decide.”
“Please, Luise.”
Giles began to plead. Unfortunately for the man who was already a wreck, there were still further depths for him to fall.
“Anna might actually die. She has nothing to do with what I’ve done. She shouldn't have to die because of me. Please, just let Anna live. Tell me if there's anything you want from me. I'll do whatever you tell me to.”
“Giles. There is nothing more you can do now.”
“But you have the authority.”
“Stop it!”
Luise roughly shook Giles off and let out a deep sigh. She wanted a cigarette, but she held back for Anna's sake. She knew that was nothing more than a wretched hypocrisy, but still...
“Giles, please stop. This isn't something that can be moved by the authority of a mere officer. Even if I did something, she would surely be caught again immediately. All of Beldam is your enemy. Do you really think you can win?”
“I don’t understand. You’ve already caught me. I’m not asking you not to kill me. I’m saying there’s no reason to sacrifice Anna.”
“Anna dying is all part of the plan!”
Finally unable to hold back, Luise spoke. In that moment, Giles froze exactly as he was.
He spat out the shock he felt in a single word.
“Why?”
“Because that's how we can make this show more provocative.”
“Is that all?”
Must Anna face a futile death for such a trivial reason? That was what Giles was asking.
“Why go that far? Am I not enough?”
“Giles, do you still not get it? You aren't being punished. Killing the nobles was never an issue to begin with. Beldam simply needed your story. They just needed a story that was appropriately tragic and shocking. Do you still think you were arrested because you joined the revolution and murdered nobles?”
Giles said nothing now. Luise didn't even dare imagine what he was thinking. Feeling a tightness in her chest, she continued.
“This is a giant show. A show led by the state. You were simply designated as the scapegoat. Both you and Anna. Why do you think Albert went all the way to the train to capture you alive? Because you were such a heinous criminal? No! Beldam simply needed you desperately. That is how broken and twisted this country has become. It's in a state of barely surviving by walking a tightrope.”
“Then... the things I did...”
“Those weren't important to begin with. Beldam didn't care about the safety of the nobles. If anything, they were relieved that you took care of them. I'm not lying, really. Beldam has been plagued by major nobles who refused to let go of actual power for a long time.”
“.......”
“You aren't being punished. It's not strange at all that Anna got dragged into this. Your names were on the scenario from a long time ago. And I don't have the power to change that scenario. I'm sorry. But it can't be helped. This is inevitable.”
After a moment of silence, Giles looked up at Luise. He was surprisingly calm.
“There must be some way.”
“What?”
“Do you still intend to help me?”
He held out his bound hands. Naturally, it wasn't a request for a handshake. Giles was demanding something.
“What are you...”
“Give me the gun, Luise.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Now is the only chance to change the ending.”
“I asked what you're trying to do!”
She didn't need an answer to know. Giles was saying he would commit suicide.
“Don't do that, Giles Hessen.”
“I can't just let things flow as scheduled.”
“Do you think doing that will save Anna? Anna is already too deeply involved. There's no way Beldam would let Anna live after she witnessed everything. Get a grip. You're trying to do something meaningless.”
“Is there any meaning in waiting until you kill Anna? Tell me! Anna will be brutally beaten again tomorrow! Do you really think there's meaning in staying still knowing this? I have to do something! I have to take responsibility for dragging Anna into this hell. I can't end everything so irresponsibly.”
Giles's passion, which seemed to flare into anger for a moment, soon subsided. However, Luise could not grant his request.
The scenario could not be changed. That was a fact. The state's plan was too solid to be ruined by the efforts of one person.
However, there was a hole in this scenario, and Luise knew it.
Looking into Giles's pitch-black eyes, she thought once more about her own death.
“I suppose there's no reason to deliberate further.”
“What?”
“Giles. Hold on until the day of the trial. Tell Anna the same. To hold on. Holding on as long as possible is the best you can do. As long as you don't die. With that alone, you'll gain enough strength to resist.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come here.”
Luise whispered a fact known only to her into Giles's ear. Now, it was up to Giles to decide what to do based on her information.
After hearing Luise's story, Giles fell silent, looking down at Anna with a hint of fear. He seemed unsure.
However, he soon nodded with a firm motion.
“......I understand.”
“So stop thinking useless thoughts and just pray that Anna survives until then. She is the only one you can trust now.”
“I know. It's been that way from the start.”
From the start, Giles had lived by clinging to the existence of Anna.
Nothing was different now.
With a grim face, Luise looked down at her wristwatch and picked up the baton lying on the floor.
“I won't isolate Anna for the time being, so stay with her. That's all I can do for you.”
“You've already done more than that.”
Giles added softly.
“Thank you.”
“......I don't deserve to hear those words.”
Luise gave a cold response and walked out, closing the door. The sound of the lock clicking echoed.
Giles sat by the bedside again and looked down at Anna. Her rhythmic breathing provided a small sense of relief.
He reached out and brushed away the hair covering Anna's cheek. Then, Anna slowly opened her eyes. Blue eyes, clear as the sky, gazed at Giles.
“Giles.”
“Yes. I'm here.”
“Come here. Lie down with me.”
After hesitating, Giles climbed onto the bed. He lay carefully beside her so as not to hurt her. Up close, Anna looked quite different from when he looked down at her.
Would she be able to endure this?
“You're thinking strange thoughts again.”
“I'm sorry, Anna. If it weren't for me...”
“I was able to live because you saved me. Don't forget that. Even if everything ends here... you were the one who extended my life.”
But I want you to keep living. I don't want it to end here. Because his throat tightened, Giles couldn't bring himself to say those words.
“I'm sorry for hating and resenting you at first.”
“Don't apologize, Anna. Why are you apologizing?”
“I wasn't in my right mind back then. At that time, I didn't know how to accept affection as it was, nor did I have the luxury to do so.”
“It's okay. It's really okay, Anna.”
“Right. That's why it's a bit better. Tell me it's okay even if things are going like shit. Making a miserable face doesn't make anything better. You can believe me, this is from experience.”
Despite her body being stained with bruises, Anna could still smile. Giles thought about the reason why he couldn't help but fall in love after meeting Anna.
Anna possessed a strength that he did not.
She was a being that burned with an endless vitality.
Perhaps... he had wanted to receive even a small spark from her.
Giles closed his eyes and gave Anna a short kiss on the lips. Then, he whispered in a low voice.
“I have something to tell you, Anna.”
Anna simply nodded, as if she were ready to listen.
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