Unfortunately, I've never been interested in the technical aspect of science fiction. So the description of such objects, i.e., fortresses, battleships etc., will be extremely brief, if at all existent. And there might be some mistakes.

Chapter Four

March 1st, U.C. 798, I.C. 489

Odin, Prime Minister's Official Residence, Prime Minister's Office

"Explain to me, Oberstein," Reinhard hissed dangerously, icy fire crackling in his narrowed eyes. "Explain to me what these rumours are; what subjects could they have touched on, that caused my elder sister to decide that moving out of Schwarz Manor was a good idea?!"

Across his desk, Reinhard glared at Chief of Staff Paul von Oberstein, whose cool, collected features betrayed no hint of his emotions, if indeed he was feeling any, at being yelled at by his superior. His secretary, Hildegarde's eyes had widened into round orbs as her eyes flickered rapidly between him and Oberstein. Behind him, he heard Kircheis give a start at his words.

"What? Lord Reinhard, Lady Annerose wishes to move out?" Kircheis' voice held an unusual level of agitation, which was even more apparent since he had slipped up and called Reinhard 'Lord Reinhard' instead of 'Your Excellency'. Reinhard turned to his friend. He had summoned Oberstein immediately after he had spoken with his sister and had not had the time to update his friend on the situation yet.

"This morning, before I left for work, Sister told me that she wishes to move out of the Manor to some out-of-the-way cottage because firstly, she did not wish to interfere with my work, and secondly, to quell the rumours that were apparently flying around." Reinhard spoke rapidly while gesticulating wildly; a sign that his emotions were getting the better of him. "She did not elaborate as to the rumours, despite my questions, so here I am, asking my Chief of Staff, who is supposed to keep an eye on such matters."

Kircheis' eyes widened at that. The rumours…he had heard of them, but had been steadfastly ignoring them, knowing that to pay attention to them would be to give the rumours fuel. Never in his wildest dreams would he expect Annerose to hear those rumours however…Of course, it shouldn't be a surprise. We've underestimated her...Lady Annerose has survived ten years at Court. She's bound to have information sources…He cast an apprehensive glance at Reinhard. If his friend hear those rumours...

Meanwhile, Oberstein was informing Reinhard on the contents of the rumours. "Your Excellency, there are rumours going around, what with the three of you sharing the same home, that Countess Grunewald is...involved with Fleet Admiral Kircheis. There is suspicion that part of the reason why Fleet Admiral Kircheis has received his current rank today is because he is favoured by Your Excellency's elder sister."

"What?!" Predictably, Reinhard exploded upon hearing those accusations. Slamming his fist onto the heavy oak table, he bellowed, "Who dares to insult my sister?! Who are behind these rumours?! I'll rip out the tongues of every last one of them!"

Still unfazed in the face of his superior's rage, Oberstein replied calmly. "The rumours are rather widespread. It is impossible to determine the sources. However, if Countess Grunewald moves out, that would surely lay the rumours to rest."

"Again?! You're asking me to separate from my sister again?! Just because of some unfounded rumours?!" Reinhard's rage and pain was a tangible thing. Immediately, Kircheis reacted, helpless not to do so in the face of his friend's distress. Throwing all propriety out of the window, he laid a hand on Reinhard's shoulder. "Lord Reinhard, please. Please calm down. We could discuss this further with Lady Annerose, and find a solution. Lord Reinhard…"

Kircheis' voice, soft, sincere and pleading, penetrated the haze of rage that Reinhard felt as nothing else could. Exhaling, Reinhard nodded once, sharply. "You're right, Kircheis. We won't lose my sister again. Together, we'll find a way." Glaring at everyone in the room, his eyes seemed to dared them to defy his words. Of course, no one did.

"Oberstein. Do something about the rumours." Reinhard spat out. With that, he stalked out of the room, with Kircheis following in his wake, at his usual position half a step behind Reinhard.

Standing motionless and unnoticed, Hilda shook her head mentally. Every day she spent with the young conqueror, she learnt more about him. Finally, she understood exactly how important Annerose von Grunewald was to her younger brother.

Reinhard von Lohengramm had lost his sister once, to the Emperor, to the Goldenbaum Dynasty when he was ten years old. And he had reacted in a way that no other ten-year-old would; he made it his life's goal to overthrow the Emperor and the Goldenbaum Dynasty. And the amazing thing is, he has almost succeeded. Friedrich IV is dead, the Goldenbaum Dynasty is dying and Reinhard von Lohengramm is now the most powerful person in the Galactic Empire, poised to set up his own Dynasty. There was no doubt in Hilda's mind that that was what Prince Lohengramm was planning to do. And when he eventually succeeds in overthrowing the Goldenbaum Empire, a great act that will go down forever in the history of mankind, how many will know that he had started down this path as a young boy seeking to free his elder sister from the oppression of a lecherous Emperor?

Hilda exhaled. She hoped that Prince Lohengramm would succeed in changing his sister's mind, although from the sound of it, that was extremely unlikely. Hilda had never met Annerose von Grunewald before, but she thought that a woman who could sacrifice herself for her brother's future, as Countess Grunewald had undoubtedly done by willingly becoming the concubine of Kaiser Friedrich IV, would not hesitate in leaving her brother if she thought it best for him. And from the sound of it, that was how Annerose von Grunewald felt.

Odin, Schwarz Manor

It was a beautiful day. An azure blue sky, fluffy white clouds, yet seated on garden chairs above the terrace overlooking a lake with crystal clear water, Reinhard was in no mood to appreciate his surroundings. "Sister, you don't have to leave," Reinhard pleaded, his voice choked with emotions. His icy-blue eyes, usually sharp and piercing, were full of anxious desperation. "I'll stamp out the rumours, I promise they'll never dirty your ears again."

Annerose von Grunewald had a melancholy smile on her beautiful face even as she shook her head slightly, that movement causing her luxurious golden curls to cascade over her shoulders like a waterfall. Seated beside Reinhard, Kircheis was making his own entreaty, in a calmer but no less heartfelt tone. "Lady Annerose, if the rumours are a problem, it'll be solved as long as I move out of the Manor. Please, do not allow it to inconvenience you in any way."

Annerose saw a startled look flash across her younger brother's face. Dear Reinhard, how expressive his face was. Even now, when he held so many important positions, Annerose could still see the little boy in him, the golden-haired angel that she had taken care of as best as she could, after their mother had died. The little boy that was the most important person to her in the whole universe...

Her younger brother exclaimed in protest, "Kircheis, you - !" But then, abruptly, he cut himself off. The sight of conflicting emotions on his delicate, porcelain face almost tore Annerose's heart into two. She understood that her brother had to be torn between choosing whether he wanted his elder sister or his best friend to stay with him, and that was a choice that Annerose would never make her brother decide between.

Besides, Annerose's time with her brother had long passed. When she had been very young, her wings had long been ripped from her, at the whims of an old Emperor. She no longer had any dreams, unlike her beloved brother. All she could do now was to allow her younger brother to soar to the very ends of the universe on his always flapping wings. Although she had enjoyed these past few months when Siegfried, Reinhard and her had been once again living under the same roof, it was time to let go. What she had with her two boys was in the past. And what they had were bright futures that she should not stand in the way of.

Annerose might not be as discerning in the matter of politics as her younger brother, but she knew Reinhard, and she knew the burning hunger called ambition that thirsted within him. There was a time when she had tried to restrain it with words of caution, in fear of what it would do to her beloved younger brother, but Reinhard, with his strong golden wings, had soon soared beyond her reach. He had others now, capable advisors and subordinates, with whom to share his dream. And he had Siegfried. It was time for her to take a step back and allow her boys to fly freely.

"Reinhard, Sieg…" Annerose said softly. "The rumours have never been the main reason and you both know that, deep down." Her boys stilled, waiting in anguished silence for her words, her words that would shatter all their illusions. "I shouldn't be near you. Our ways of lives are too different. For me, there is only the past. But for you two, there is the future. What I want for you, both of you, is for you to soar freely to the ends of the universe. I have lost that ability long ago…I will be retiring to a small cottage in the mountains."

Annerose paused as she caught the emotions that rippled across her brother's face. Disbelief, sorrow, anguish…a cacophony of strong emotions that caused her resolve to soften. Since a tender age, she had always been her brother's protector. To see him suffering so much now…Relenting, Annerose murmured, "Reinhard, when you are weary, please come to see me. But you must not be weary yet."

Annerose watched as a muffled pain filled Reinhard's eyes. "I understand. If that's what you want, Sister, I shall do as you ask."

Annerose then allowed her eyes to fall on Siegfried. No longer the young red-haired neighbor boy, he was now a mature and kind young man, capable and all grown-up. A friend that Annerose knew she could count on, but not merely a friend either…Annerose knew that there was something growing between her and Siegfried, something that she felt could never be. Her life had been over since she stepped into Court as the Emperor's concubine, but Siegfried had a whole future ahead of him.

Offering him a sad smile, Annerose said,"Sieg, please take care of Reinhard for me." She knew he understood what she did not put into words, could see it in his pain-filled eyes, but as always, he merely nodded and agreed. "I promise, Lady Annerose. I will watch out for Lord Reinhard with everything I have." And that was that.

Odin, Groundcar enroute to Prime Minister's Official Residence

Still brooding over his sister's decision to leave the mansion, Reinhard was sulking. It pained Kircheis to see his friend like this, so he put aside his own sorrow and tried to comfort his friend. "Lord Reinhard, Lady Annerose is not going away forever. We can always visit her whenever you feel like it, Lord Reinhard."

Kircheis watched as Reinhard let out a sigh, before turning to him with eyes that craved reassurance. "Sister won't refuse to see us, will she? When we visit? I have never done anything against her wishes before. If she doesn't wish to see me..." Kircheis understood Reinhard's worries, for Annerose's words had implied that she did not wish to see them for any length of time. But more than anything, Kircheis believed in the strong love that Annerose had for her younger brother.

"Lady Annerose will never turn you away, Lord Reinhard," Kircheis replied confidently. And Reinhard relaxed at those words. In an instant, the panicked child worrying about the love of his mother figure disappeared.

"Are you in love with my sister, Kircheis?" Out of the blue, that question left Reinhard's lips. Kircheis almost choked when his brain finally comprehended the question. How much does Lord Reinhard know? How should I answer? For the first time in his life, Kircheis was panicking over how to answer Reinhard's question.

"Lord Reinhard…" Kircheis replied helplessly.

Reinhard regarded Kircheis steadily, taking in the widened, emotional eyes, and his compressed lips, and the lack of an answer. Knowing Kircheis as well as he did, Reinhard already had his answer. Exhaling, Reinhard looked away and allowed a sigh to leave his lips. "I understand. I won't ask again." Reinhard knew himself. He was not unaware of his own immaturity in such aspects and he knew that whatever was between his sister and his best friend, it would be better if he stayed out of it, until it resolved itself one way or another.

Kircheis made a strangled sound halfway between a denial and an agreement. Things had not been this awkward between them, not since the Westerland confrontation. But Kircheis had never spoken of his feelings to anyone, and Reinhard…Back when they had been eighteen years old, Kircheis and Reinhard had had a conversation on romantic love, during which Kircheis had almost dropped his wine glass because Reinhard had made it known that if he were to seek a relationship, he would first select his counterpart before pursuing love. That cool, logical approach to a relationship, so typically Reinhard, had left Kircheis flabbergasted and even more certain than ever that Reinhard knew nothing whatsoever about romantic relationships.

This must be very difficult for Lord Reinhard…Kircheis realized. Glancing at his friend, Kircheis resolved that whatever was between him and Annerose, it would not affect his friendship with Reinhard in any way. For this was a friendship, forged through many years of fighting, playing and living together, that Kircheis treasured and would not jeopardize for anything in the universe.

March 13th, U.C. 798, I.C. 489

Odin, Ministry of War, Communications Hall

Standing at his usual position besides Reinhard's chair, Kircheis waited with bated breath for the much anticipated warping out of Geiersburg Fortress. And it wasn't only him. Almost all the High Admirals and Admirals under Reinhard's command had gathered in this communications hall, facing the screen that gave a live visual of the space that Geiersburg was supposed to be warping out soon. If it was a success.

Kircheis knew that Kempf, Muller and the scientist, Schaft, were all on board the Geiersburg Fortress. If something went wrong with the warping, many lives would be lost. Reinhard held a nonchalant attitude towards these subordinates' possible deaths, because they had yet to earn his trust. To him, if Kempf and Muller failed at something this minor, that meant they were talentless and useless to him anyway. Kircheis knew that Reinhard disliked above all else, talentless and incompetent subordinates. Kircheis himself however, saw the possible deaths of many human beings in the case of failure, and found himself hoping for success.

Then, the countdown began. "In ten seconds…nine…eight…three…two…one…" Loud gasps filled the room as a huge metallic planet-sized globe materialized on the screen. Kircheis breathed out a sigh of relief as it was reported that the fortress and the surrounding area showed no abnormalies. Casting a glance at his friend, he found that Reinhard sported a satisfied and rather bloodthirsty smile.

March 14th, U.C. 798, I.C. 489

Odin, Schwarz Manor

Reinhard had thrown himself into work today with a vengeance that Kircheis understood. It was Reinhard's birthday today, yet Annerose was not with them. She had sent a cake, along with her well wishes, but it was just not the same thing.

Now, night had fallen and Reinhard had finally deigned to return to the mansion which they had made their home. He was currently standing at the balcony, looking up at the stars. Kircheis knew that Reinhard had always loved the twinkling stars in the night sky. Intertwined with those stars was Reinhard's dream; he wanted to grasp those stars in his hand…he wanted to possess them...he wanted to conquer the universe.

And Kircheis was there, always, to support Reinhard. As his friend ran towards the future, looking up at the sky, he would be there to warily study the ground beneath Reinhard's feet, to clear the obstacles in his friend's way.

But tonight was not a night for ambitions. Kircheis stepped out to the balcony and joined Reinhard in his star-gazing. For a while, they stood in companionable silence, then Kircheis turned to Reinhard. "Happy birthday, Lord Reinhard."

Reinhard met Kircheis' gaze with a slight smile on his face. "You always remember, Kircheis." And Kircheis did. No matter if they were fighting on the frontlines or back home at Odin, Kircheis had never once forgotten Reinhard's birthday. How could he? If Reinhard had never been born…if this golden-haired angel had never appeared in Kircheis' life…his life would be devoid of the colourful vibrancy that it was filled with now. So Kircheis firmly felt and believed.

But Kircheis did not say any of that aloud. "I have a gift for you, Lord Reinhard," Kircheis said with a smile instead, holding the gift in his palms slightly awkwardly. It was a locket of solid gold, oval in shape, attached to a fine gold chain. Commissioning it had cost Kircheis almost half a year's paycheck, but it wasn't as if Kircheis did not have the money. He had saved up most of his salary since he first started his military career as a Junior Ensign. Other than sending the bulk of it to his parents, he spent the rest only on daily necessities and for presents for Reinhard, on such occasions. Feeling almost shy, Kircheis looked at the locket instead of at Reinhard.

Reinhard took the locket and examined it carefully. Spotting the protruding button at the top, he pressed it, only to find it opening to a picture of Annerose, Kircheis and him taken in their childhood, when they were all young and innocent. His sister had a carefree smile on her face and each of her hand lay warmly on each of their shoulder. It was a photograph that Reinhard had treasured for years. A portrait of their family as it should be, to carry with him always, that was what Kircheis had given him. A family that Reinhard would have again, when he had finally conquered the universe - so Reinhard believed. As always, Kircheis knew how to cheer him up.

"Thank you, Kircheis." Reinhard pulled the chain over his neck, then smiled at his best friend, tugging on strands of Kircheis' crimson hair lightly. And Kircheis accepted the thanks and the mischevious gesture with his own joyous smile.

April 5th, U.C. 798, I.C. 489

Odin, Ministry of War, Meeting Hall

"Schaft!" Reinhard's voice was calm as he called out the name of the Inspector General of the Science and Technology department. Standing on the dais besides Reinhard's seat, Kircheis watched with disgust as the pudgy, balding man stepped forth and started rambling on and on about his battle plan to defeat the Alliance forces. He had nothing against the man's plans but…

"Who asked you about battle plans?" Reinhard snapped out, his voice clearly full of irritation. "Chief of Military Police, come forward and show this man his guilt."

"Yes, sir." Kesler stepped forward with military precision. "Admiral Schaft, you're under arrest. You're charged with corruption, embezzling public funds, tax evasion, breach of trust and betraying military secrets. Take him away!" Kesler addressed the last to the military police officers standing at attention at the back of the hall.

"Trash!" Reinhard spat out in disgust, and Kircheis agreed. Schaft had been on Phezzan's payroll, and had revealed everything about Geiersburg's capabilities and possible battle plans to them. Kircheis shuddered to think of what could have happened had the dispatch gone through. Would Phezzan, capitalistic merchants that they were, have sold the secrets to the Alliance? If so, what with Yang Wen-li's prowess as a tactician, Imperial forces might have suffered a crushing defeat.

Kircheis turned his attention back to the proceedings. He watched as Kesler bowed to Reinhard, and was about to step back in place. Yet Reinhard was not done. "Kesler, increase the surveillance of the Phezzan Ambassador's Office. I don't care if they notice. That might even serve to restrain them."

"Yes, sir." Kesler accepted his orders with a crisp salute.

April 29th U.C. 798, I.C. 489

Odin, Prime Minister's Official Residence, Prime Minister's Office

Thunder rumbled in the distance as Reinhard stared out of the window. In the gloom caused by the poor weather, Kircheis accompanied Reinhard as his friend took a short break from work. However, a sudden knock cut that short. Kircheis turned his attention to the doorway as Reinhard's secretary, Hildegarde, stepped into the room. She had close cropped dark blonde hair and misty green eyes, which contributed to her androgynous beauty. It did not help that she liked to dress in suits either. Despite its close cut emphasizing her curves, in the Empire, women, especially those born into nobility, just did not dress in suits (In the Goldenbaum Dynasty, aristocratic ladies dressed in ballroom gowns with lots of lace, ribbons and ruffles). In that sense, she was unique.

Kircheis knew that his friend had been spending more time with his secretary lately. In fact, just last week, both of them had dinner together while Kircheis was busy with his duties. He knew that his friend appreciated her intellect and wit. Reinhard had confided to him after that, that he had revealed his thoughts on how power should be usurped to her. Privately, Kircheis thought it was a good thing that Reinhard had found someone else that was almost on the same frequency as he was. He knew that his friend often despaired of people (other than Kircheis) ever understanding him.

Kircheis also knew however, that this was not a social visit. Hildegarde would never do that during work hours. Sure enough after the initial greetings, Hildegarde said, "I'm delivering a request from the Chief of Military Police, Admiral Kesler, for a personal meeting. He says it's urgent." Kircheis felt a pang of foreboding at that. Kesler was usually a composed officer. For him to request a meeting this urgently meant bad news indeed.

Sure enough, Kesler reported that two of the remnants of the Lippstadt Alliance had infiltrated the capital. Revealing that the information came from an anonymous informant, Kesler proceeded to show the faces of the two infiltrators on the screen in the office. Count Alfred von Landsberg, a noble who had defected to Phezzan after the defeat of the Lippstadt Alliance, and Captain Leopold Schumacher, one of the staff officers of the Lippstadt Alliance, had decided to return to the capital for reasons unknown. They were in possession of genuine papers issued by the Phezzan government. Put simply, their real identities would never have been revealed were it not for the anonymous informant, which Kesler had found suspicious. Inferring that it was some plot in the making, Kesler had immediately reported the matter to Reinhard in deference to his political judgment.

After Reinhard had processed the information, he ordered Kesler to continue his surveillance on the infiltrators discreetly. Once Kesler had left the room, Reinhard turned to face the glass window and the growing thunderstorm outside.

"I suppose you know that an Imperial historian once likened Rudolf the Great's angry bellows to thunder." Reinhard commented pensively. Kircheis, used to Reinhard's sudden topic changes, remained silent, but Hildegarded was apparently uncomfortable doing so. "Yes, I know," she replied politely.

"A very skillful simile," Reinhard continued. "Consider thunder…Essentially, it's a waste of energy. It has tremendous heat, light and sound, but it just rages madly, so it doesn't accomplish anything. Exactly suitable for Rudolph." Again, Kircheis was used to Reinhard's disparaging remarks about Rudolph the Great, the first Emperor of the Goldenbaum Empire, so he merely smiled and kept quiet. He noted however, that Hildegarde had no such immunity, as her gaping mouth belied that fact. The young secretary seemed to be at a loss for words, something that, Kircheis reflected wryly, often seemed to occur in people when they were around Reinhard.

"But I'm different. I won't be that way," Reinhard finished with an emphatic statement, turning to look Kircheis in the eyes as he did so.

"Yes, Lord Reinhard." Kircheis allowed his belief in Reinhard's statement to paint his words, knowing that Reinhard would hear it in those two words. Nodding, Reinahard turned back to Hildegarde. "Fraulein Mariendorf, what do you think? I'd like to hear your opinion."

Kircheis listened as Hildegarde laid out her reasoning, then concluded that Count Landsberg was probably plotting terrorism. Kircheis tensed at that conjecture, clenching his fists. Was their target Lord Reinhard? If so, I won't let them succeed. They'd have to go through me first… His fears were soon put to rest however, as when Reinhard asked if they meant to assassinate him, Hildegarde rejected that theory. She felt that Count Landsberg and company were under Phezzan's thumb and that it would not be in Phezzan's best interest for Reinhard to die right now. Even so, Kircheis made a mental note to ask Captain Kissling, Commander of the Prime Minister's Guard, to double the security for Reinhard. Then when Hildegarde pointed out abduction as the most possible course of action, Kircheis knew that she had hit it on the nail.

What worried Kircheis however, were the possible candidates for abduction. He tensed up once again when Reinhard floated the possibility of himself, then asked, "Who could the other two be?"

"One is Your Excellency's sister, the Countess Grunewald," Hildegarde replied. It was as if an explosion had gone off in Kircheis' ears. For a few moments, he could hardly hear anything as the world seem to go by in a muted roar. Get a grip on yourself, Siegfried. Lady Annerose is not in danger – yet.

"…that puts my sister in danger," Reinhard was saying in a low dangerous tone, "I'll make that damn bungling poet pay for it! I'll make him feel as much pain as a human can! I'll kill him more cruelly than anybody has thought of until now!" By now, Reinhard was gesticulating wildly with rage. Where the safety of Annerose was concerned, Kircheis knew exactly how Reinhard felt, but he also knew that he had to calm down his friend. Hildegarde's eyes were already wide with shock, fear and helplessness, and he knew that she did not know how to deal with Reinhard in his current state.

Taking a step forward, Kircheis laid one hand on Reinhard's shoulder. "Lord Reinhard…" At his touch, Reinhard turned his head to meet his gaze, and Kircheis made sure that he put all the comfort and reassurance he could into that gaze. We won't let anyone hurt Lady Annerose, Lord Reinhard. Please, have faith. Reading Kircheis' words in that loaded gaze, Reinhard relaxed slightly.

A few paces away from them, Hildegarde was already apologizing for her thoughtless conjecture. She reasoned that abducting women would not fit in with Count Landsberg ideals of romanticism, and concluded that the most likely person to be kidnapped would be the third and final candidate – Erwin Josef II, 37th Kaiser of the Goldenbaum Dynasty. "It's the act of a loyal retainer, who rescues his infant master from the hands of the enemy," Hildegarde concluded about Count Landsberg's motives. Kircheis mentally nodded as he heard her reasoning. There was a sound logic to it. At times like this, it was apparent to everyone why Reinhard placed such value on Hildegarde's advice and had elevated her to the position of his secretary, despite her gender and youth.

Kircheis watched as Reinhard quickly discerned that the entire plot had probably been revealed to them by a Phezzani agent and made a comment about how the 'Black Fox of Phezzan' was pulling the strings from the shadows. Kircheis' brows creased in a frown as he took in the implications of that. Yet another enemy, this time one hidden in the shadows…I wonder if they'll try to manipulate even Lord Reinhard? He felt a sudden chill creep down his spine.

Despite being a military officer, Kircheis was very well in touch with the politics of the universe. His mind whispered uneasily to him that if such a kidnapping were to be pulled off, there was one person who benefit most from it…How better to get rid of the young Emperor? If the Emperor were to die, whether it be from an assassination or accident, suspicion would fall immediately on Reinhard, even if he had no hand in it. Being suspected of murdering a seven-year-old child would be a political taint that would be disadvantageous to Reinhard. If the young Emperor were to be kidnapped however, that would be an entirely different story…

So up to this point, what had changed? In this universe, Kircheis survived. He's still Number 2 in the Lohengramm camp. Oberstein's influence is checked. Kircheis has managed to persuade Reinhard not to launch an attack with Geiersberg Fortress at that inopportune moment - Kempf did not die, the lives of thousands of soldiers were saved. Hurray for the Empire!

Annerose still leaves for her small cottage, but because of rumours instead of her guilt over Kircheis' death. But she doesn't cut Reinhard off completely. Reinhard finally decides to speak to Kircheis about his feelings for Annerose, but by unspoken mutual consent, they don't do much about it.

Instead of getting the locket to remind himself of Kircheis after his friend's death, Reinhard gets the locket as a birthday present from Kircheis...minus the lock of red hair. Which I felt would be weird, since Kircheis is still alive and Reinhard can touch that mass of red hair anytime he wishes.

Yup, that's about it.