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In the silence, the only sound was the clink of spoons on the makeshift table. Annette crumbled some dry bread and added it to the soup.
The food at the Commander-in-Chief's barracks wasn't as good as she expected. It was only slightly better than what soldiers would get in a situation where supply lines were as smooth as they are now.
'Well, I did eat anything when I was dating.'
Unlike her, who had a rather picky palate, he seemed to have no taste for any food. He seemed to be content with anything as long as it filled his stomach.
Annette looked at her food with gloomy eyes. She'd become quite accustomed to the low-quality food she'd been eating while serving in the military, but it was also daunting how long she could continue to eat this kind of food.
But there was no way she could complain about the food. She just stirred the soup with her spoon, dipping her bread into it.
Heiner, seeing this, said with a faint frown.
“You still haven’t broken that habit of fidgeting.”
“...I didn’t have that kind of habit.”
“There was.”
“When did I ever do that?”
“It’s always been like that when you're not feeling well or the food isn’t good.”
“That’s how most people are.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Your Excellency, you usually eat even tasteless food without saying anything.”
“You are too sensitive to taste.”
“Your Excellency, you are so insensitive.”
Heiner raised an eyebrow. Annette avoided his gaze, looking down at her plate. He spoke with a sigh.
“Let’s say that’s true.”
“I’m not saying that to be rude, but Your Excellency is truly insensitive.”
“I’m not that sensitive, but I’m not that insensitive either.”
“...I should mention this, but don’t you remember that you ate the food even though it tasted bad?”
Heiner recalled. He felt like Annette had once asked him during a meal, "Doesn't this food look spoiled?" But that was a long time ago.
“Not only that, but since you were good at eating even the most unpleasant-looking food, I just endured it and ate it too.”
“Then why didn’t you say the food was bad back then?”
“I told you.”
"At first. It wasn't until later that I figured out your habits when the food wasn't great. I don't think I ever heard you complain about the food back then."
“Because I didn’t want to seem like a picky woman.”
“...”
Heiner flinched momentarily at Annette's calm answer.
Annette continued eating as if her words had not mattered at all. He stared at her, frozen.
For some reason, his throat felt tight.
In the past, Annette...was always an honest woman. She wasn't shy about expressing her feelings, and she was also honest about her affections. Even the fact that she confessed to him first proved that.
Every time she did that, Heiner lost his balance and floundered. It was something he never got used to, no matter how many times he experienced it. Now was one of those moments.
“...What does that mean?”
“Yes? Literally.”
“So what does that mean?”
Heiner asked, as if he were a child desperately seeking confirmation of something he already knew. Annette tilted her head slightly in response.
“It was when we were dating, right? Isn’t it natural to want to look good?”
Even when she asked him again, he didn't respond. He mechanically scooped up the food with his spoon, but the taste wasn't quite there.
In the past, Annette was always the object of his affection.
He had to look good, and he had to please her. Hs was always anxious that if he offended her, their relationship would end.
In his mind, Annette was someone who could control him with a single wave of her hand. So, it never occurred to him that she might feel the same way.
Of course, he didn't consider it a truly serious feeling. At best, it was probably something like the modesty and pretense he always display in front of others.
Even as he thought that, Heiner couldn't hide the expression on his face that seemed to be about to crumble.
Annette still hadn't finished her meal. Looking at her plate, which was more than half empty, Heiner asked.
“...So, is the food that bad?”
“The food is okay.”
“Then it must be a matter of mood.”
Heiner asked, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
“What’s the problem?”
"I don't have any problem."
“Then why?”
“...It’s just because I have nothing to do. I don’t have anything to exert myself with, so I don’t need to eat much.”
Annette replied dryly.
As expected, she looked quite bored. Heiner thought about the things he could do in the barracks and asked cautiously.
“Are you bored?”
“It’s not like that, so don’t worry about it.”
Silence fell again. Their conversations here generally went like this. It felt like moments from their past love lives, only the arguments and subsequent cold wars were extracted.
He probably wasn't particularly comfortable with being alone, so she couldn't understand why he kept trying to eat with her.
He said it as if he remembered Annette, who was eating her meal in a hurry.
“Before we move, there’s someone I’d like to meet. Is that okay?”
“...Who are he? A soldier?”
"Yes."
“What is the reason?”
“I think I should say something before I leave.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You mean you’re leaving...?”
“Not allowed.”
He spoke bluntly. Annette's mouth fell open in shock for a moment.
“We’ll have to take a transport vehicle to get there anyway. But before that, just a moment...”
“I said I wouldn’t allow it.”
“...Then please let me deliver the letter.”
"Are you aware of where you are now? Do you know how to translate it?"
“You can just censor the letter. Just three or four lines...”
“Is that the sergeant?”
Heiner asked, setting down his spoon. The atmosphere at the table instantly became chilly.
“...Does it matter who it is?”
“Do you plan on getting married when the war is over?”
"Yes?"
Annette shook her head in denial.
"What are you talking about? We just became a little closer while we were at the front."
“Does the sergeant think so too?”
Annette, speechless, moved her lips. She couldn't bring herself to say that.
She knew Ryan had feelings for her, but she just kept pretending not to know and just kept going.
Ryan was practically the only person in the barracks who could have a decent conversation with her. It could be selfish, but... She couldn't help it... She couldn't bring herself to distance herself from him.
Heiner let out a deflating sound at Annette's silence.
“You’re not so clueless as to not know that.”
“...”
“Do you want to start anew with a soldier who has spent his life on the battlefield and knows nothing?”
“I never thought about that.”
“If you’ve never thought of that, you’re even more foolish.”
“What on earth are you trying to say?”
"When the war ends, you too will have to return to the world. Where will you go? To the Groth family? It seems you don't intend to stay there forever, so even if you were to become independent... You've never lived alone before, and being a woman alone in Padania, especially since you're so well-known, living alone would be incredibly difficult."
Heiner continued with a slanted, sharp expression on his face.
"The most ideal solution is remarriage. You're still young and beautiful. There are plenty of fools in the world who would be more than happy with that."
“...So?”
Annette looked at him with cold eyes.
"Even if I remarry, what does that have to do with you, Your Excellency? You clearly said you wouldn't interfere in my life from now on."
“...”
“Keep your promise, Your Excellency.”
Annette felt she would tire herself out if the conversation dragged on any longer. She stood up, carrying the nearly half-eaten food.
Annette felt his silent gaze follow her face. She tried to ignore it, turned around, and walked toward the entrance.
A muffled reply was heard from behind.
“...Yes.”
After the meal, which ended not so well, Annette did not see him for some time.
The atmosphere at the Commander-in-Chief's barracks has been tense lately. For security reasons, the meeting location appears to have been moved to a different location.
Annette could sense something was up. Unable to figure out what, she felt uneasy.
Annette wanted to go to church and pray, but she was unable to move freely. Ultimately, she spent the day in her room reading the Bible and praying to ease her anxiety.
A few days later, quite late at night, Heiner came to her room.
“Can I come in?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
Annette answered, sitting on the bed, removing threads from her clothes with scissors. The door opened with a creaking sound.
Heiner took a step into the room and raised his head.
“Sorry for being late...”
The next moment, his body froze. At the same time, the book and envelope he was holding fell to the floor.
Annette looked puzzled, unable to grasp the situation. Heiner strode toward her, snatching the wrist holding the scissors.
The food at the Commander-in-Chief's barracks wasn't as good as she expected. It was only slightly better than what soldiers would get in a situation where supply lines were as smooth as they are now.
'Well, I did eat anything when I was dating.'
Unlike her, who had a rather picky palate, he seemed to have no taste for any food. He seemed to be content with anything as long as it filled his stomach.
Annette looked at her food with gloomy eyes. She'd become quite accustomed to the low-quality food she'd been eating while serving in the military, but it was also daunting how long she could continue to eat this kind of food.
But there was no way she could complain about the food. She just stirred the soup with her spoon, dipping her bread into it.
Heiner, seeing this, said with a faint frown.
“You still haven’t broken that habit of fidgeting.”
“...I didn’t have that kind of habit.”
“There was.”
“When did I ever do that?”
“It’s always been like that when you're not feeling well or the food isn’t good.”
“That’s how most people are.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Your Excellency, you usually eat even tasteless food without saying anything.”
“You are too sensitive to taste.”
“Your Excellency, you are so insensitive.”
Heiner raised an eyebrow. Annette avoided his gaze, looking down at her plate. He spoke with a sigh.
“Let’s say that’s true.”
“I’m not saying that to be rude, but Your Excellency is truly insensitive.”
“I’m not that sensitive, but I’m not that insensitive either.”
“...I should mention this, but don’t you remember that you ate the food even though it tasted bad?”
Heiner recalled. He felt like Annette had once asked him during a meal, "Doesn't this food look spoiled?" But that was a long time ago.
“Not only that, but since you were good at eating even the most unpleasant-looking food, I just endured it and ate it too.”
“Then why didn’t you say the food was bad back then?”
“I told you.”
"At first. It wasn't until later that I figured out your habits when the food wasn't great. I don't think I ever heard you complain about the food back then."
“Because I didn’t want to seem like a picky woman.”
“...”
Heiner flinched momentarily at Annette's calm answer.
Annette continued eating as if her words had not mattered at all. He stared at her, frozen.
For some reason, his throat felt tight.
In the past, Annette...was always an honest woman. She wasn't shy about expressing her feelings, and she was also honest about her affections. Even the fact that she confessed to him first proved that.
Every time she did that, Heiner lost his balance and floundered. It was something he never got used to, no matter how many times he experienced it. Now was one of those moments.
“...What does that mean?”
“Yes? Literally.”
“So what does that mean?”
Heiner asked, as if he were a child desperately seeking confirmation of something he already knew. Annette tilted her head slightly in response.
“It was when we were dating, right? Isn’t it natural to want to look good?”
Even when she asked him again, he didn't respond. He mechanically scooped up the food with his spoon, but the taste wasn't quite there.
In the past, Annette was always the object of his affection.
He had to look good, and he had to please her. Hs was always anxious that if he offended her, their relationship would end.
In his mind, Annette was someone who could control him with a single wave of her hand. So, it never occurred to him that she might feel the same way.
Of course, he didn't consider it a truly serious feeling. At best, it was probably something like the modesty and pretense he always display in front of others.
Even as he thought that, Heiner couldn't hide the expression on his face that seemed to be about to crumble.
Annette still hadn't finished her meal. Looking at her plate, which was more than half empty, Heiner asked.
“...So, is the food that bad?”
“The food is okay.”
“Then it must be a matter of mood.”
Heiner asked, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
“What’s the problem?”
"I don't have any problem."
“Then why?”
“...It’s just because I have nothing to do. I don’t have anything to exert myself with, so I don’t need to eat much.”
Annette replied dryly.
As expected, she looked quite bored. Heiner thought about the things he could do in the barracks and asked cautiously.
“Are you bored?”
“It’s not like that, so don’t worry about it.”
Silence fell again. Their conversations here generally went like this. It felt like moments from their past love lives, only the arguments and subsequent cold wars were extracted.
He probably wasn't particularly comfortable with being alone, so she couldn't understand why he kept trying to eat with her.
He said it as if he remembered Annette, who was eating her meal in a hurry.
“Before we move, there’s someone I’d like to meet. Is that okay?”
“...Who are he? A soldier?”
"Yes."
“What is the reason?”
“I think I should say something before I leave.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You mean you’re leaving...?”
“Not allowed.”
He spoke bluntly. Annette's mouth fell open in shock for a moment.
“We’ll have to take a transport vehicle to get there anyway. But before that, just a moment...”
“I said I wouldn’t allow it.”
“...Then please let me deliver the letter.”
"Are you aware of where you are now? Do you know how to translate it?"
“You can just censor the letter. Just three or four lines...”
“Is that the sergeant?”
Heiner asked, setting down his spoon. The atmosphere at the table instantly became chilly.
“...Does it matter who it is?”
“Do you plan on getting married when the war is over?”
"Yes?"
Annette shook her head in denial.
"What are you talking about? We just became a little closer while we were at the front."
“Does the sergeant think so too?”
Annette, speechless, moved her lips. She couldn't bring herself to say that.
She knew Ryan had feelings for her, but she just kept pretending not to know and just kept going.
Ryan was practically the only person in the barracks who could have a decent conversation with her. It could be selfish, but... She couldn't help it... She couldn't bring herself to distance herself from him.
Heiner let out a deflating sound at Annette's silence.
“You’re not so clueless as to not know that.”
“...”
“Do you want to start anew with a soldier who has spent his life on the battlefield and knows nothing?”
“I never thought about that.”
“If you’ve never thought of that, you’re even more foolish.”
“What on earth are you trying to say?”
"When the war ends, you too will have to return to the world. Where will you go? To the Groth family? It seems you don't intend to stay there forever, so even if you were to become independent... You've never lived alone before, and being a woman alone in Padania, especially since you're so well-known, living alone would be incredibly difficult."
Heiner continued with a slanted, sharp expression on his face.
"The most ideal solution is remarriage. You're still young and beautiful. There are plenty of fools in the world who would be more than happy with that."
“...So?”
Annette looked at him with cold eyes.
"Even if I remarry, what does that have to do with you, Your Excellency? You clearly said you wouldn't interfere in my life from now on."
“...”
“Keep your promise, Your Excellency.”
Annette felt she would tire herself out if the conversation dragged on any longer. She stood up, carrying the nearly half-eaten food.
Annette felt his silent gaze follow her face. She tried to ignore it, turned around, and walked toward the entrance.
A muffled reply was heard from behind.
“...Yes.”
***
After the meal, which ended not so well, Annette did not see him for some time.
The atmosphere at the Commander-in-Chief's barracks has been tense lately. For security reasons, the meeting location appears to have been moved to a different location.
Annette could sense something was up. Unable to figure out what, she felt uneasy.
Annette wanted to go to church and pray, but she was unable to move freely. Ultimately, she spent the day in her room reading the Bible and praying to ease her anxiety.
A few days later, quite late at night, Heiner came to her room.
“Can I come in?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
Annette answered, sitting on the bed, removing threads from her clothes with scissors. The door opened with a creaking sound.
Heiner took a step into the room and raised his head.
“Sorry for being late...”
The next moment, his body froze. At the same time, the book and envelope he was holding fell to the floor.
Annette looked puzzled, unable to grasp the situation. Heiner strode toward her, snatching the wrist holding the scissors.
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