The Ruined Ones

There are days where she found herself dealing with people. Though she prefers the kind aunties who want to ask for leniency regarding their problems. Listening to them talk about their sons and daughters was far more interesting.

There were idiots like Abon whose stupidity was sometimes overwhelming even for her. The man was balding. He was looking at her with this profound greed hiding behind that crummy smile. Her expression was colder than the ones she showed her guests. I could be discussing medicine and interests with the Doctor. Instead, I’m dealing with this greedy merchant.

“What do you want, Abon.”

“Madam Mildred, your graciousness—”

“Cut the flattery. Have you not washed your mouth? You smell of garlic and onions. I say that you have had a good harvest lately. And what do I see in this paper?”

She produced a paper sheet. “It says here that you have not been paying your taxes like everyone does. You have a legitimate business, no? A business that is keeping you afloat. Please, not a word, not a single excuse when you have that watch of yours. Show it to me.”

Abon took out his pocket watch.

“Hand it over. Let me take a look.”

The man gingerly handed the pocket watch. She examined the pocket and scratched her nail on it. Then she took out a loupe from her drawer.

“Ah, look at this, it isn’t painted gold. This must cost a lot of krons. How much?”

“Madam, I—”

She held out a hand. Mildred could feel her face go stiff.

“Am I a bad Archduchess, Abon?”

“Madam?”

“You heard me. Am I?”

“You are generous, Madam.”

“That’s right. Old nobles and aristocrats would have you in jail by now. You are still sitting here. I have not punished you because we are adults here. I am reasonable. It is simple, no? you pay what you owe the state that the island could prosper. The Auntie in Onach pays more than you. She sells lettuce, Abon. And you who own five stalls and two stores could not? Tell me, do you want me to lessen the taxes? I could do the opposite. We prefer fairness here.”

Oban’s jaw hung. He tried to speak up. But Mildred wasn’t going to let him.

“So, here’s how things will go. You will head to the finance office here in Herten. You will give them your bank number and then pay your taxes like a good citizen.”

She threw the watch back. “I will let you keep your watch. It is an expensive item. My collectors will visit you soon and make sure that you have your taxes paid before I decide that I need to pawn that watch of yours, no?”

“Understood, Madam Mildred.”

“Good. See? We can understand one another as long as we don’t try to be too greedy,” she pointed at him. Abon sweated and made a harsh swallow. He left the office while dragging his leg.

She found it funny that despite the times. The man never learns when to quit in trying to get tax reduction. He was as shameless as ever. He’ll probably be happy if I quit this post, she thought to herself.

Suddenly she found her eyes outside of the window. She fingered the sheet of paper on her table before she decided to stand up. She left her officer and went to the edge of the Herten Cliffs that were facing the Principality Seas. A structure that was built on the cliff has a white painted table and chairs.  The background of the structure being the coastlines of the Principality.

Marlene’s eyes caught her before she could say her greetings. The warmth smile that Karl showed mellowed out. He stood up. Greeted so politely that it made Mildred feel like her charms were null to this man. Facing him she played with her hair before releasing that self-interest that has recently bloomed in her heart. She sat next to Marlene, wondering, asking, and answering. Karl joined the conversation, speaking nothing of Marlene’s disease in the slightest. Mildred noticed that her daughter preferred that. She liked being treated like a normal person rather than an ill girl.

When the winds grow colder. Vicky took back Marlene inside the villa, leaving Karl and Mildred alone. Playing with her hair. Tossing her gaze around. Mildred scolded herself before engaging Karl in a different direction compared to the usual.

“What do you think of Witia?”

“Warmer. I have started liking the place. It is a beautiful island.”

He had been living on the island for the past three weeks. They weren’t always together. She was the Archduchess of the Island and ran businesses on her home. She wasn’t always in the villa to chat so freely. He was also preoccupied in deducing the contents of his father’s research and the constant watch of her daughter’s condition. Both of them had busy lives that even in this villa there were a few chances they could meet. Not to mention that he ate late and sometimes alone.

So times where they were alone together felt strange. He was a reticent man with little to say and little to express. He was always so in control that she found herself wondering what it would take to make him crack. Calm, polite, and toneless in his speech. He was a tactful professional. Something she approved of. Better than being someone who’d come here to be pretentious enough to care about her daughter. Perhaps it’s that taciturn professionalism was attracting her. Goodness, it has been really long since my head is in the clouds.

Though inside she knows why she was acting like this. She pretends not to hear her heart while it mocks her for distracting herself to the pain coming to her. Looking away instead of confronting it. Pretending to be unbothered by that itching pain.

For a moment her eyes locked into his. She blinked.

“Madam, you are stressed out?”

He moved his chair closer. She leaned back and raised a brow. She leaned forward and met his gaze.

“I might be. If anything I’ve been at peace. No war. No schemes. Just finally back at my home after so long.”

Karl tapped his fingers on the armrest. “Forgive me, Madam.”

“Mildred.”

“Ah, Mildred, forgive me if I don’t have much to say.”

“Your heart aches. I can see that. Pardon me for saying this, but I half-believe you when you say that you came here to be responsible.”

“I guess so,” Karl admitted. “Better focus my thoughts on something else.”

“That you can. Eight years of war. And then you return home with such news. I’ve heard from my telephone calls from Viole that you have visited the late Mr. Delaware. Hmm, I wanted Ms. Alicia to ghostwrite for me. Hire her for four weeks if possible. She is quite expensive and yet her efficiency is quite something. Though Viole makes use of her far more as someone who’d take care of their paperwork more than a traveling ghost writer and typist. Do you think she will own a branch for herself?”

“I don’t know. Ms. Alicia seems fond of her profession.”

“That she is. I offered sixty-thousand krons as an initial salary. She refused me out of principle. It made me appreciate her and dislike Viole for having such a competent lady by his side.”

Karl nodded. He leaned forward. Elbows on his lap. Eyes on the glimmer of sunlight on top of the sea.

“A peaceful island. I saw artillery cannons and batteries. Other than the mouth of the island. It is well-fortified.”

“It is. But the dangers do not cease despite that. Being wedged between two large nations makes one think of the trouble that comes with it.”

“I’ve been hearing that the island plans to become a neutral and independent country.”

“Part of it is true.”

“Times changing, huh.”

“That it is, Karl. I was the one who helped bring down an Empire. But it doesn’t mean that I am completely safe from political troubles. My responsibility to the people is my obligation to them, but in this rapidly changing world. It doesn’t need aristocrats and despots who do not need to listen to the people.”

Karl nodded his head, “No matter how liked you are. You do one bad thing and your popularity plummets to the bottom.”

“It’s a hard job. When you hold on to such power. To the lives of other people. It makes you wonder if every choice that you make would cause lives. When I decided to stab the Empire in the gut, I did it while convincing people that this is for the good of the Empire. They agreed to end this Empire. Most of my ‘allies’ were merchants and businessmen who were eager to get rid of the imperial family and the ‘debt’ they owed to the aristocrats. I paid them their due. While we got closer to the family enough that we managed to triumph. Eight years of scheming.”

“It’s admirable.”

“An odd thing to say. Considering what we did.”

“Choices are meant for those who could choose. That’s why I admire and am thankful for your choices, Mildred.”

“You flatter me.”

“I am speaking truthfully.”

The wind passed by. Mildred leaned back. She tugged on her hair before turning her face back to Karl. “I did some digging. You have a lot of merits in the war.”

He nodded. As if it didn’t bother him that she knew his history in the war.

“I have. I was supposed to be a medic. But what kind of medic kills more than heals? I was good at what I do. They always ask me if I feel anything. If I felt any disgust on myself. Unfortunately, I was just glad that I was alive. Even now I think of my actions as a natural act. The difference is that I shot better than some of my comrades. The recoil bothered me more than the ones I killed.”

His words were steely. There was sureness in his tone that made one think of him as cold. Mildred found herself unable to speak. She wondered if this was his way of turning her interest into a way out.

“You know I am not that naïve. You aren’t that special, Karl.”

“I know, Madam. Perhaps I want to share as well. Since I seem to be bothering you,” he laughed dryly. She stared at him as if he had something alien to her.

“You can laugh?”

“I am not that dull, I think?”

Mildred arched her back. She bit her lower lip and moved her chair closer. “You are when you tend to avoid me. I prefer my guests to be friendly.”

He did not lean back. He lifted his brows, peeled his eyes open and allowed more light to reflect off the surface, making his eyes look bright, large and inviting. The raised brows, parted lips, and flared eyes gave quite an impression to her.

Mildred smiled openly. The two remained in this open-air structure. They talked about the world around them. Though most of the time they would return to their concern of Marlene. As the hour passed Karl’s stoic façade softened. And Mildred found it easier to relate to a soldier than to a civilian who did not fight in the war. It also helped that Karl did not think much of her as a woman, but a fellow soldier who fought a rather pointless war that they pretend to be important and meaningful so that those who died wouldn’t roll around their graves. At the end, Mildred started to understand some things about Karl Von Alden. The man carried hurt and his composure was a quiet shield that he used to hide his face. Mildred thought that the war did not ruin him. For a moment a sick line of thought came to her. She was rather glad that despite that mask of composure, the man she was speaking was ruined by war as well.