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"Am I dreaming?"
"Father!"
His thoughts were interrupted. Annette looked behind Heiner and waved. Heiner turned a beat later.
“Why did you come out so late?”
“It’s not that late, is it?”
“You drank too much again yesterday, didn’t you? I told you to stop drinking.”
Annette scolded the Marquis with a worried voice. At first glance, it seemed like they were a good father and daughter.
“I only have one daughter, and all she does is nag me every day. What’s more, when did the two of you meet again?”
“I just met him. I guess he was taking a walk in the garden.”
Their gazes turned to Heiner. Heiner, momentarily frozen by the intimacy between the Marquis and Annette, stiffly turned his head.
“I was supposed to meet this kid in the garden, but I forgot. I came out in a hurry. This is how I look... Please understand, haha.”
The Marquis said with a friendly smile.
“Is this your first time meeting? Annette, this is Heiner Valdemar... and soon to be Lieutenant Heiner. Lord Valdemar, this is my daughter, Annette.”
“...Yes, it is truly... an honor to meet you.”
His tongue felt stiff, and he couldn't speak properly. Heiner hid his trembling hands behind his back. His chest felt heavy.
Annette was the only daughter of Margrave Dietrich. They were inseparable by blood, and the Margrave was known for his affection for his daughter. Their closeness was natural.
But why on earth do I feel like this...
“You look very young. Are you already a second lieutenant?”
"Lord Valdemar made a great contribution to this operation. He was the only one to return alive from the Vienna Operation."
“Ah...! That’s him! I heard from my father. You're truly amazing.”
Annette clapped her hands and looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Heiner felt the urge to run away from those beautiful eyes.
He opened his mouth rashly, even though he knew he shouldn't talk carelessly.
“Yes... just me. I’m the only one who came back alive. My colleagues are all on the mission...”
Je couldn't speak properly, like a fool. He acted as a spy countless times, but he couldn't control his emotions.
"Yes. They are the ones who gave their lives for their country. I, too, will mourn them."
Annette spoke with a face that showed no sign of mourning, as if their sacrifice was natural.
“By the way, when is the inauguration ceremony?”
For a moment, time stopped.
Heiner opened his eyes slightly wide and pursed his lips. His mouth felt parched. The Marquis laughed and exchanged words with Annette.
The air around him felt cold and stagnant. Heiner barely managed to hold on to his legs, which kept trying to escape.
“...doing... going forward, we...”
“Yes... I definitely attended...”
He couldn't remember in detail how he answered the Marquis's question or what he had promised Annette. Everything just flowed by in a hazy way.
"Well then, congratulations in advance on your appointment. I hope to see you again next time."
Annette greeted him with her characteristically kind and gentle smile. Heiner nodded slightly.
When he raised his head again, the Marquis and Annette had already turned away. She laughed heartily and linked arms with the Marquis. When they had moved a little further apart, Heiner took a step back.
Time, which had stopped, began to flow again.
Two steps, three steps, he staggered backwards like a man who had been shot. Soon, Heiner turned and began walking away.
Roses in full bloom filled the air. He looked at them as if they were gruesome corpses. The thick scent of roses enveloped him, then faded away.
His feet unconsciously landed on a bench nestled among lush vines. It was also where he first discovered the sounds of her piano.
Heiner gasped and collapsed onto the bench, his large back heaving unsteadily.
Shortness of breath was something he had experienced often, but this was the first time it had happened in a place other than a closed or dark space.
Trapped in a precarious state of breathing, Heiner coughed and sobbed. The pain felt like his chest was being torn apart.
He didn't think it was her fault.
She was just born, so precious, no one ever told her these things.
If she found out, she would think something was wrong with this world, she would feel sorry, and she would be angry.
Because that woman's soul will be as noble and pure as her playing...
Ha!
A burst of laughter erupted amidst the frantic coughing. Heiner gasped, mocking himself madly.
Noble?
Is it clean?
Who the hell is that?
He must have been separating Annette from Marquis Dietrich in his head the whole time.
She was neither the daughter of a Marquis nor a noblewoman, but something more sacred and holy—that is, she was considered a religious being.
It was funny.
Annette Rosenberg was no saint. She wasn't the kind of person who could sympathize with suffering, empathize with pain, or be outraged by injustice.
It's all just his own delusions and projections.
Everything he had ever known about that woman was an illusion. It was literally nothing more than an illusion. Je knew it from the first time he spoke to her.
Her attitude, her words, her tone of voice, her eyes, her actions, her expression, everything... clearly showed that every thought he had was an illusion.
Her voice was mixed in between his labored breathing.
“Yes. They are the ones who gave their lives for their country.”
At least you shouldn't say that. You shouldn't say it that way.
“I will mourn too.”
How can you be so happy and peaceful playing the piano you love? How many sacrifices did your father make to secure his position?
“By the way, when is the inauguration ceremony?”
If you are that kind of person─.
What am I to suffer all that for such a person?
What am I to come back alive for such a person?
What am I, who has shed so much blood to survive?
My life... what on earth is it for...
Heiner let out a final cough, clutching his neck. His breathing slowly stabilized. But his crouched body still trembled faintly.
His lips moved softly.
Annette Rosenberg.
The emotions he been repeating endlessly in the interrogation cell came flooding back. Longing, yearning, resentment, hatred, longing, yearning, resentment, hatred, longing, yearning, resentment, hatred...
The mind, which was created deformed from the beginning, was terribly twisted.
Heiner heard the things inside him break and become distorted. Deep-rooted things shifted and morphed as they pleased, piercing his insides. He repeated again.
Annette Rosenberg.
The name that was once pronounced with fervent prayer came out with the ends broken.
Before he knew it, his breathing had completely returned to normal. The hand that had been gripping his throat had dropped, and his back, which had been hunched over, straightened.
Heiner's gray eyes were dark and sunken, like fish crawling on the deep-sea floor.
A long, gentle breeze, like that time, blew toward him. But it no longer carried a piano melody.
Heiner wondered, lost in thought. His delusions must have run rampant, influencing reality.
While Heiner stood there dumbfounded, she had already approached him. Annette stopped just two steps away.
Her eyes, sparkling and blue like emeralds, held him in their entirety. Heiner blinked irregularly, like a broken toy.
A slightly high-pitched, thin voice pierced his ear.
“Are you okay? Please stay still for a while...”
He was so nervous he couldn't hear clearly. Heiner stared blankly at her lips. Annette asked again.
“Excuse me... Are you feeling unwell? Do you need help?”
At those words, Heiner belatedly came to his senses. He absentmindedly placed a hand on his trembling lips, then slowly shook his head and answered.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll just think about it for a moment...”
“No, it’s okay.”
Annette smiled, as if she was relieved. Heiner, unable to take his eyes off her face, smiled back without realizing it.
“Are you my father’s guest?”
“Yes.”
“Are you a soldier?”
“Do you... know me?”
“No, I just thought it would be like that.”
"Ah."
Unsure how to interpret Annette's words, Heiner simply smiled. It must have seemed unnatural, but there was no other way.
He'd drawn and redrawn countless scenes of meeting her, but the moment they finally met, his mind went blank. Heiner opened his mouth, trying to somehow keep the conversation going.
"I am..."
I've been overseas for a long time on missions, and I'm about to officially take up my commission. I've visited the Rosenberg mansion many times before.
You may not know me, but actually, I have known about you for a very long time...
While Heiner stood there dumbfounded, she had already approached him. Annette stopped just two steps away.
Her eyes, sparkling and blue like emeralds, held him in their entirety. Heiner blinked irregularly, like a broken toy.
A slightly high-pitched, thin voice pierced his ear.
“Are you okay? Please stay still for a while...”
He was so nervous he couldn't hear clearly. Heiner stared blankly at her lips. Annette asked again.
“Excuse me... Are you feeling unwell? Do you need help?”
At those words, Heiner belatedly came to his senses. He absentmindedly placed a hand on his trembling lips, then slowly shook his head and answered.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll just think about it for a moment...”
“Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting.”
Annette smiled, as if she was relieved. Heiner, unable to take his eyes off her face, smiled back without realizing it.
“Are you my father’s guest?”
“Yes.”
“Are you a soldier?”
“Do you... know me?”
“No, I just thought it would be like that.”
"Ah."
Unsure how to interpret Annette's words, Heiner simply smiled. It must have seemed unnatural, but there was no other way.
He'd drawn and redrawn countless scenes of meeting her, but the moment they finally met, his mind went blank. Heiner opened his mouth, trying to somehow keep the conversation going.
"I am..."
I've been overseas for a long time on missions, and I'm about to officially take up my commission. I've visited the Rosenberg mansion many times before.
You may not know me, but actually, I have known about you for a very long time...
"Father!"
His thoughts were interrupted. Annette looked behind Heiner and waved. Heiner turned a beat later.
“Why did you come out so late?”
“It’s not that late, is it?”
“You drank too much again yesterday, didn’t you? I told you to stop drinking.”
Annette scolded the Marquis with a worried voice. At first glance, it seemed like they were a good father and daughter.
“I only have one daughter, and all she does is nag me every day. What’s more, when did the two of you meet again?”
“I just met him. I guess he was taking a walk in the garden.”
Their gazes turned to Heiner. Heiner, momentarily frozen by the intimacy between the Marquis and Annette, stiffly turned his head.
“I was supposed to meet this kid in the garden, but I forgot. I came out in a hurry. This is how I look... Please understand, haha.”
The Marquis said with a friendly smile.
“Is this your first time meeting? Annette, this is Heiner Valdemar... and soon to be Lieutenant Heiner. Lord Valdemar, this is my daughter, Annette.”
“...Yes, it is truly... an honor to meet you.”
His tongue felt stiff, and he couldn't speak properly. Heiner hid his trembling hands behind his back. His chest felt heavy.
Annette was the only daughter of Margrave Dietrich. They were inseparable by blood, and the Margrave was known for his affection for his daughter. Their closeness was natural.
But why on earth do I feel like this...
“You look very young. Are you already a second lieutenant?”
"Lord Valdemar made a great contribution to this operation. He was the only one to return alive from the Vienna Operation."
“Ah...! That’s him! I heard from my father. You're truly amazing.”
Annette clapped her hands and looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Heiner felt the urge to run away from those beautiful eyes.
He opened his mouth rashly, even though he knew he shouldn't talk carelessly.
“Yes... just me. I’m the only one who came back alive. My colleagues are all on the mission...”
Je couldn't speak properly, like a fool. He acted as a spy countless times, but he couldn't control his emotions.
"Yes. They are the ones who gave their lives for their country. I, too, will mourn them."
Annette spoke with a face that showed no sign of mourning, as if their sacrifice was natural.
“By the way, when is the inauguration ceremony?”
For a moment, time stopped.
Heiner opened his eyes slightly wide and pursed his lips. His mouth felt parched. The Marquis laughed and exchanged words with Annette.
The air around him felt cold and stagnant. Heiner barely managed to hold on to his legs, which kept trying to escape.
“...doing... going forward, we...”
“Yes... I definitely attended...”
He couldn't remember in detail how he answered the Marquis's question or what he had promised Annette. Everything just flowed by in a hazy way.
"Well then, congratulations in advance on your appointment. I hope to see you again next time."
Annette greeted him with her characteristically kind and gentle smile. Heiner nodded slightly.
When he raised his head again, the Marquis and Annette had already turned away. She laughed heartily and linked arms with the Marquis. When they had moved a little further apart, Heiner took a step back.
Time, which had stopped, began to flow again.
Two steps, three steps, he staggered backwards like a man who had been shot. Soon, Heiner turned and began walking away.
Roses in full bloom filled the air. He looked at them as if they were gruesome corpses. The thick scent of roses enveloped him, then faded away.
His feet unconsciously landed on a bench nestled among lush vines. It was also where he first discovered the sounds of her piano.
Heiner gasped and collapsed onto the bench, his large back heaving unsteadily.
Shortness of breath was something he had experienced often, but this was the first time it had happened in a place other than a closed or dark space.
Trapped in a precarious state of breathing, Heiner coughed and sobbed. The pain felt like his chest was being torn apart.
He didn't think it was her fault.
She was just born, so precious, no one ever told her these things.
If she found out, she would think something was wrong with this world, she would feel sorry, and she would be angry.
Because that woman's soul will be as noble and pure as her playing...
Ha!
A burst of laughter erupted amidst the frantic coughing. Heiner gasped, mocking himself madly.
Noble?
Is it clean?
Who the hell is that?
He must have been separating Annette from Marquis Dietrich in his head the whole time.
She was neither the daughter of a Marquis nor a noblewoman, but something more sacred and holy—that is, she was considered a religious being.
It was funny.
Annette Rosenberg was no saint. She wasn't the kind of person who could sympathize with suffering, empathize with pain, or be outraged by injustice.
It's all just his own delusions and projections.
Everything he had ever known about that woman was an illusion. It was literally nothing more than an illusion. Je knew it from the first time he spoke to her.
Her attitude, her words, her tone of voice, her eyes, her actions, her expression, everything... clearly showed that every thought he had was an illusion.
Her voice was mixed in between his labored breathing.
“Yes. They are the ones who gave their lives for their country.”
At least you shouldn't say that. You shouldn't say it that way.
“I will mourn too.”
How can you be so happy and peaceful playing the piano you love? How many sacrifices did your father make to secure his position?
“By the way, when is the inauguration ceremony?”
If you are that kind of person─.
What am I to suffer all that for such a person?
What am I to come back alive for such a person?
What am I, who has shed so much blood to survive?
My life... what on earth is it for...
Heiner let out a final cough, clutching his neck. His breathing slowly stabilized. But his crouched body still trembled faintly.
His lips moved softly.
Annette Rosenberg.
The emotions he been repeating endlessly in the interrogation cell came flooding back. Longing, yearning, resentment, hatred, longing, yearning, resentment, hatred, longing, yearning, resentment, hatred...
The mind, which was created deformed from the beginning, was terribly twisted.
Heiner heard the things inside him break and become distorted. Deep-rooted things shifted and morphed as they pleased, piercing his insides. He repeated again.
Annette Rosenberg.
The name that was once pronounced with fervent prayer came out with the ends broken.
Before he knew it, his breathing had completely returned to normal. The hand that had been gripping his throat had dropped, and his back, which had been hunched over, straightened.
Heiner's gray eyes were dark and sunken, like fish crawling on the deep-sea floor.
A long, gentle breeze, like that time, blew toward him. But it no longer carried a piano melody.
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