“Are you saying you’re scared of driving because of the trauma from that day? If you keep talking like that, rumors will spread that the new heir of the Schneider family is a lunatic, you know? Since my father, who was the heir, passed away like that, shouldn’t I fulfill my role as the proper heir?”

“…”

Marianne bit her lips tightly, as if trying to swallow the rising emotions. Her fingers on the steering wheel trembled.

The heir of the Schneider family.

Christoph was carrying a greater burden than her. He had lived his entire life that way. Living a life where he didn’t show any weaknesses to others.

“Why didn’t you… tell that story? Did you not want to reveal your weaknesses to me? Did you think I would… go around telling everyone about your weaknesses?”

Marianne finally threw that question at him, despite knowing that it might come back to haunt her.

“Well,”

Christoph, with a thoughtful look, gazed up at the sky. Between the tangled leaves, a sky smaller than the palm of his hand was revealed. Through a narrow gap, bright sunlight streamed in.
He slowly closed his eyes. The light illuminated his eyelids. Christoph, too, was ready to slip through any crack she had if there was one, just like the unexpected sunlight.

“When I speak about what happened back then, I felt like I could end up that way too.”

“…”

“Just now. I thought that if I were with you, I wouldn’t mind dying like this. Doesn’t it give you chills? Aren’t you afraid, Marianne?”

Saying that, Christoph tugged at the corner of his mouth. Somehow, that smile felt like crying. Marianne took a sharp breath. She bit her lip urgently.

“Do you know how affectionate your eyes look at me?”

Marianne couldn’t say anything in response to his sudden words. His voice was nostalgic, as if recalling a distant past.

“How sweet your voice was when you called my name.”

“…”

“You seemed different from my parents. Like the stars in the morning sky, no matter how much time passed, you never seemed to become dirty or ugly. If love existed and took shape, it would have looked exactly like you. But in the end, it’s not you who’s becoming like my parents, it’s me.”

Marianne, after a brief pause, opened her mouth while clenching her teeth. Her determined voice echoed.

“I won’t die.”

At her words, Christoph slowly opened his eyes. His black pupils were fixed on her.

“I will live longer than anyone else. Including Veronica’s share.”

“…Yes. That’s how it should be.”
Christoph allowed a faint smile to grace his lips, but it quickly faded as it met the dry touch of the sunlight.

“So, you should live a long life too. Your parents’ share as well.”

“…….”

Christoph remained wordless, simply lifting his gaze to the distant past as if in reverie.

“You, too, and me, for a very long time.”

Marianne’s voice, soft and barely audible, murmured as if meant for Christoph’s ears.

With her by his side, even a life as long as it got wouldn’t feel dull. Christoph’s expression momentarily relaxed as he wondered what Marianne would look like with her hair turned entirely white.

Marianne restarted the engine. The car, previously idling, accelerated swiftly.

“All right.”

Christoph’s response was drowned out by the raucous noise of the engine, but it certainly found its way to Marianne’s ears.

“If your head hurts anytime, just let me know. You can take a break, you know.”

So, even her soft-spoken words must have reached Christoph as he buried himself in the seat, paying little heed to the wind tousling his hair.
So, even her small voice must have reached Christoph. Christoph didn’t mind the wind tousling his hair as he buried himself in the seat.

The wind blew, and the sound of leaves rustling, like “sho-aaa,” filled the air. Marianne thought it sounded like the roar of waves. The sound of seawater rising beneath her feet.

“Sho-aaa.”

The water surged and splashed around her ankles, refreshing.

“Lawyer!”

Oliver, who had been running happily towards the car as he saw it approaching the police station, suddenly wrapped his head in shock when he noticed the person sitting in the driver’s seat, which was Marianne.

“What on earth is this…”

As he mumbled to himself in confusion, Christoph and Marianne got out of the car. Oliver, who suddenly snapped out of his stupor, walked towards them.

“We heard that the train had broken down and stopped running, so we thought you couldn’t come… We were just about to leave. But… you’re here.”

Oliver’s voice trailed off ambiguously, and he stole a glance at Marianne. When their eyes met, she offered a graceful smile.

“It’s been a while, Oliver.”

“Yes, Mrs. Schneider. I didn’t realize you were the one driving.”

Marianne’s smile dimmed at Oliver’s innocent remark. His curious gaze was still fixed on her.
He had frequent encounters with Mrs. Schneider. It was natural. Oliver was Christoph’s aide and closer to him than anyone else. So, he had to meet Mrs. Schneider often.

However, the woman in front of him didn’t seem like the Mrs. Schneider he had known until now. Something was different. If you asked what was different, he couldn’t put it into words, but she seemed like a different person anyway.

“The lead detective?”

Christoph’s dry question snapped Oliver, who had been lost in thought, back to reality. He quickly regained his composure and responded in a businesslike tone.

“They are waiting for you as well. Please come inside.”

Marianne adjusted her veil hat once more and followed Oliver into the police station. As they waited in a reception room suitable for the chief’s use, a tired-looking man knocked on the door before entering.

With dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for several days, he introduced himself.

“I’m Detective Timon Pensler. I handled the suicide case of Miss Veronica Clozé.”

“Please have a seat, Detective Timon.”

Oliver gestured for him to sit with a sociable attitude. After glancing at Christoph for a moment, Timon took a seat.

He struggled to recall the case of Veronica as if searching through a hazy memory. This was his second meeting with Mr. Schneider. Veronica Clozé was his sister-in-law.

So, that lady over there must be her sister.
Timon glanced at Mrs. Schneider, who sat beside Christoph. Now that he thought about it, she seemed somewhat similar to Veronica. Of course, he had only seen her as a corpse.

“Clear.”

Timon cleared his throat and quickly made his move. He knew he couldn’t afford to fall behind here. Otherwise, he would lose control in an instant.