Heinrich looked at his empty bedroom ceiling as he lay straight on his bed. He had locked himself in his room since Wanda's death. There was not a single emotion on his face at the moment. Every day, someone would show up at his door and knock endlessly. Everybody was worried about him and checked up on him from time to time.
He closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thoughts. Suddenly, someone dared to open the door of his room without even knocking. He frowned in utter annoyance and opened his eyes to look at the empty ceiling. He turned his eyes to look to his side and saw a man in a cloak; strangely similar to his cloaks.
He sat up in confusion and raised an eyebrow, "How dare you enter my room without my permission?"
The person pulled his secretive cloak away from his face and said, "Well, this is my room so I do not need your permission to come here."
Heinrich was surprised - but not too surprised. He sat up and looked at his other self staring at him. He looked weary and drowsy; more messed up than him.
"I do not think I looked like this in the past. Perchance, are you from the future?" Heinrich asked his other self.
"Yes." Heinrich's other self replied. "I come from the future to warn you about something."
"It must be dire, judging by how you look…" Heinrich murmured.
The other Heinrich sighed and nodded, "Did Wanda just pass away?"
Heinrich looked away and nodded.
"Do not blame yourself." The other Heinrich advised. "It is futile. It was not your fault either. You had to do what you had to do to save the bloodline."
Heinrich looked at his other self and scoffed, "Easy for you to say since you have already been through worse things I believe. Tell me. What should I not do?" He wanted to get straight to the point.
The other Heinrich sighed, "Do not fall in love with Sofia."
Heinrich narrowed his eyes. Was this even a thing?
"Why would I fall in love with Sofia? She is of no use to me." Heinrich replied quite disgustedly.
"That is what you think… It turns out differently. She ends up dying on you, and you end up trying to kill yourself. Better to not start it anyway." The other Heinrich was quite straightforward.
"Okay," Heinrich replied without any energy. He deemed it unnecessary to even put the effort into such stupid advice. Someone like him could never fall for the Princess.
"I am serious." The other Heinrich seemed concerned. "I have tried to end myself more times than you think. It is better to rectify misery before it begins."
"I understand you." Heinrich stressfully replied. He didn't need to hear the same things again and again. "Anything else? If not, you should leave before anyone sees you."
The other Heinrich nodded, "Wanda did not die because of you, nobody died because of you and no one will die because of you. You did no wrong. Just a disclaimer. And also, mortals cannot be with you forever. Discriminate even if it feels wrong." He added before heading toward the door.
"I suggest you use the window," Heinrich said. "It is time for Aldrich's daily checkup on me." He added. "He will flip over if he sees you in this shape."
"Aldrich's still there, huh?." The other Heinrich said while smiling bitterly.
Heinrich didn't like the look on his face. He brushed off the topic instantly by saying, "Get a haircut! You look like a dirty beau."
"I could say the same about you." The other Heinrich said while opening the window and jumping down from the topmost floor as if he was going to land on his legs softly.
Heinrich sighed deeply, not even a little worried about his other self flying out of the window like a bird with trimmed wings. He had forgotten to ask that fellow about exactly how much time Aldrich had. It settled as an uneasy feeling in his chest.
Just then, Aldrich knocked on the door, "My Master, the light of my eyes, dear Great Father. It is time for you to open the door to your room once again. Your loss is greater than any of us but we need you." He said behind the door. This had become his daily ritual. "Order me to shut up and I will. I just need to hear your voice. This servant is seeking your presence. Please grant my humble wish."
"Come in," Heinrich said in the lowest voice possible.
But Aldrich could hear it even if it had been a whisper. He quickly opened the door and slid onto the floor, kneeling and staring into the ground.
"Master!" Aldrich expressed his enthusiasm.
"You can look at me," Heinrich said.
Aldrich slowly raised his eyes to see Heinrich's haggard face. He still smiled at him, showing how glad he was to see his master.
"Will you give me a haircut, Aldrich?" Heinrich asked.
"Yes, Master." Aldrich expressed his joy.
Heinrich stood up from the bed and sat down in front of the mirror instead. Aldrich didn't waste a single second and grabbed a pair of scissors to give Heinrich a beautiful haircut. His hair hadn't grown much as he had just been in his room alone for over a month. However, they were untidy for sure.
Aldrich made sure to make the haircut tidy and sculptured perfectly to Heinrich's face. It took no less than 5 minutes and Heinrich looked alive and fresh.
"Great," Heinrich murmured. "Now leave me alone." He bluntly said. "I need to ponder."
"What has caused my master to fall into a brown study?" Aldrich dared ask.
"Things no one other than me can brood about," Heinrich said. "Leave me alone."
"Yes, Master." Aldrich bowed and left happily.
At least he was able to see Heinrich and confirm his state. He needed nothing else. As Aldrich made his way downstairs, he was surprised to see how empty the mansion looked. Where was everyone?