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Heiner didn't answer readily, opening and closing his lips. Though it didn't show on the outside, she could tell he was slightly flustered.
It was only after several seconds that Heiner managed to spit out an answer.
"...Of course."
Then, as if he had come to his senses belatedly, he looked at the cigar in his hand. Heiner dropped the cigar on the floor and stamped on it with his foot.
Annette sat down carefully next to him and muttered.
“I didn’t know you smoked cigars.”
“Just, I hung up and then...”
“Are you going to smoke again?”
“...Rather than saying I’m starting again, I’ve been having a lot of random thoughts lately.”
“Isn’t that smoking again?”
"That..."
Heiner frowned slightly, then sighed and said.
"Yes."
He rambled on, as if he'd just woken from a deep sleep. Annette stared blankly at his crushed cigar before speaking again.
“I’m heading to Huntingham early tomorrow morning, as you know.”
“...If you go, will you never contact me again?”
“Why are you asking such a question?”
Annette laughed as if she'd heard a sarcastic joke. Heiner sensed she had no intention of answering and stopped asking questions.
He wiped his mouth with the palm of his hand. Silence flowed between them. The logs, charred and consumed by the flames, occasionally stirred.
Annette asked, tilting her head slightly towards him.
“Isn’t it hard?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Just, everything.”
Their gazes locked at close range. He closed his eyelids for a moment, as if trying to gauge her intentions, then opened them again. The gray pupils revealed themselves, their depth indecipherable.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard.”
A short confession flowed from Heiner's mouth.
“I have too many lives on my shoulders...”
The words dispersed like a thin cloud of smoke.
She had been burdened with immense pressure and anxiety just from deciphering a single cipher. Annette couldn't even fathom the weight he, as commander-in-chief of a nation, carried.
No words came out easily. No comfort or encouragement seemed to reach him. This was especially true when the only words he could offer were from her.
“I had something to tell you anyway.”
Heiner abruptly spoke, his gaze averted from her. The previously tense atmosphere had been completely erased.
"The code you deciphered was a great help. No, even "help" isn't an understatement. Your contribution will certainly be recognized and rewarded. That's why."
“Please speak.”
“Do you want anything?”
“What do I want...?”
“I’ve been thinking about what I can compensate you with, but I think it would be better to hear your opinion first.”
It was something she hadn't expected. Annette had never expected to receive any reward for this.
If you think about it, it was an obvious thing, but I had doubts throughout the work about whether this was really helpful.
“Oh, I...”
Annette paused, about to say she didn't want anything. She fiddled with the hand clasped on her thigh. The thought didn't last long.
“There are two things. They’re nothing major. Would you mind listening?”
“You say that, and I feel uneasy. What do you want?”
“I told you this last time... I want to send a letter before I leave.”
“...To Sergeant Ryan From?”
"Yes."
Heiner was silent for a moment. Annette waited quietly for his response.
In fact, even if she was rejected, there was nothing she could do. Ryan was undoubtedly a good person, and it would be sad not to see him again, but sending him a letter was simply a matter of human nature.
“...The letter will be delivered after censorship. What about the other one?”
Fortunately, the response was positive. Since she didn't have anything else to send, censorship didn't matter.
Annette nodded and continued speaking.
“The other one is something I mentioned before.”
“Before too...?”
“I really hope this meeting will be our last.”
“...”
“That’s the second reward I want.”
The expression disappeared from Heiner's face.
Crackle, crackle. The flames made a crackling sound. Annette stared at him, unwavering. Heiner, who had been absentmindedly groping her face, finally let out a breathy laugh.
“Well, come to think of it... That’s always been the one thing you wanted. To get me out of your life.”
“...”
“I spent my whole life trying to get into yours.”
Heiner didn't look particularly angry or sad. His face was as dry as a dry leaf.
“Yeah, if that’s what you want, I’ll give it to you.”
It looks like it would crumble if you ran your hand over it...
“You can go. Forever.”
The ashes left behind by the fire rustled. Annette tightened her grip on her hand, then released it. Then she rose from her chair.
“Annette.”
As she was about to pass him, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. It wasn't a strong grip. Annette turned her head and looked down at him.
Heiner asked with a bitter smile.
“Can you hug me just once?”
Annette stared at him with surprised eyes. Heiner released her wrist, as if he had no intention of forcing her.
She tried to make a face for him, but failed. She couldn't even tell what face she was making.
She just hoped she didn't look too weak.
Annette quietly approached him and hugged him. He groaned softly, as if choking. Heiner held her waist and buried his face in hers, like a baby burrowing into its mother's embrace.
The breath in her arms trembled faintly, like sobs. His strong, thick arms held her in a pitiful embrace, as if he were terrified.
Annette seemed to have a vague idea of what this was.
She, too, had been like this in the past. The one thing she couldn't let go of in her painful and lonely life. An illusion that, as long as she held onto it, she could comfort herself that everything would be alright.
For Annette, it was Heiner. She held on to it for a very long time and finally let it go.
And now it was his turn to let go.
Annette pulled her arm away from his back and took a step back. His arm, lost in its place, slowly fell.
Heiner still had his head down. Even though he wasn't looking at her, Annette carefully controlled her expression.
She licked her lips a few times. It took her a moment to compose her voice. When she finally opened her mouth, a voice astonishingly clear and clear as day flowed out.
“Let’s never see each other again.”
Annette returned to her room holding a bouquet of blue flowers. It was a large bouquet of statice and hydrangeas.
"Nanny, do you know who left this? It was left by the practice room window."
“Oh my, is this the practice room window?”
“Yeah, outside by the window.”
"If it's the outside window... I don't know. The rose garden and the young lady's practice room window are connected. Should I be careful not to let anyone come in from that side?"
“Huh? No, no.”
Annette looked down at the bouquet with a slightly embarrassed expression and said shyly.
"Sneaking flowers into the practice room? How romantic. I guess they liked my performance."
“Oh my, my dear. When will you grow up?”
"Take a guess, Nanny. Who could it be? Who left it behind?"
"Hmm... Well, maybe they're soldiers under the Marquis' command. Today was the day of the regular banquet. They can enter the garden, too."
“No, he won’t be a soldier.”
“Why not?”
"Soldiers don't know anything about romance. When I tell them I play the piano, they say things like, 'You have a wonderful hobby.'"
“Miss, beautiful words, beautiful words!”
"Yes. Anyway, there's no way the soldiers would be interested enough in the garden to come inside. And... since you prepared a bouquet, that means you've seen me play in the practice room before. You must like my playing, right?"
"Miss, this shouldn't be something you're happy about; it should be something you're uncomfortable with. I'm spying on you!"
"Huh? Why? It's so romantic, isn't it? It's a hundred times better than loitering around like some animal looking for a mate at a party."
"Oh dear, it's because you're still young and innocent. I think it would be best to move the practice room. I was already worried because it's connected to the garden."
“What are you talking about! No! I need to find out who it is!”
"You too, Miss... I understand. I won't tell you right now. But it's right to design and move to a professional practice room soon. If you're seriously preparing for a competition, you can't do it in a place like that. Got it?"
"Yes, yes. I'll think about it later. Nanny, could you put this in a vase for me?"
Annette, who had answered dryly, handed the bouquet to her nanny. The nanny shook her head in disapproval, then trimmed the flowers and placed them in a vase.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“The color of the hydrangeas is the same as the color of your eyes.”
"Yes?"
Annette looked at the flowers with a bright smile, her face supported by both hands.
A soft breeze blew through the wide-open window. Blue petals swayed as if dancing along the wind's gentle touch.
It was only after several seconds that Heiner managed to spit out an answer.
"...Of course."
Then, as if he had come to his senses belatedly, he looked at the cigar in his hand. Heiner dropped the cigar on the floor and stamped on it with his foot.
Annette sat down carefully next to him and muttered.
“I didn’t know you smoked cigars.”
“Just, I hung up and then...”
“Are you going to smoke again?”
“...Rather than saying I’m starting again, I’ve been having a lot of random thoughts lately.”
“Isn’t that smoking again?”
"That..."
Heiner frowned slightly, then sighed and said.
"Yes."
He rambled on, as if he'd just woken from a deep sleep. Annette stared blankly at his crushed cigar before speaking again.
“I’m heading to Huntingham early tomorrow morning, as you know.”
“...If you go, will you never contact me again?”
“Why are you asking such a question?”
Annette laughed as if she'd heard a sarcastic joke. Heiner sensed she had no intention of answering and stopped asking questions.
He wiped his mouth with the palm of his hand. Silence flowed between them. The logs, charred and consumed by the flames, occasionally stirred.
Annette asked, tilting her head slightly towards him.
“Isn’t it hard?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Just, everything.”
Their gazes locked at close range. He closed his eyelids for a moment, as if trying to gauge her intentions, then opened them again. The gray pupils revealed themselves, their depth indecipherable.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard.”
A short confession flowed from Heiner's mouth.
“I have too many lives on my shoulders...”
The words dispersed like a thin cloud of smoke.
She had been burdened with immense pressure and anxiety just from deciphering a single cipher. Annette couldn't even fathom the weight he, as commander-in-chief of a nation, carried.
No words came out easily. No comfort or encouragement seemed to reach him. This was especially true when the only words he could offer were from her.
“I had something to tell you anyway.”
Heiner abruptly spoke, his gaze averted from her. The previously tense atmosphere had been completely erased.
"The code you deciphered was a great help. No, even "help" isn't an understatement. Your contribution will certainly be recognized and rewarded. That's why."
“Please speak.”
“Do you want anything?”
“What do I want...?”
“I’ve been thinking about what I can compensate you with, but I think it would be better to hear your opinion first.”
It was something she hadn't expected. Annette had never expected to receive any reward for this.
If you think about it, it was an obvious thing, but I had doubts throughout the work about whether this was really helpful.
“Oh, I...”
Annette paused, about to say she didn't want anything. She fiddled with the hand clasped on her thigh. The thought didn't last long.
“There are two things. They’re nothing major. Would you mind listening?”
“You say that, and I feel uneasy. What do you want?”
“I told you this last time... I want to send a letter before I leave.”
“...To Sergeant Ryan From?”
"Yes."
Heiner was silent for a moment. Annette waited quietly for his response.
In fact, even if she was rejected, there was nothing she could do. Ryan was undoubtedly a good person, and it would be sad not to see him again, but sending him a letter was simply a matter of human nature.
“...The letter will be delivered after censorship. What about the other one?”
Fortunately, the response was positive. Since she didn't have anything else to send, censorship didn't matter.
Annette nodded and continued speaking.
“The other one is something I mentioned before.”
“Before too...?”
“I really hope this meeting will be our last.”
“...”
“That’s the second reward I want.”
The expression disappeared from Heiner's face.
Crackle, crackle. The flames made a crackling sound. Annette stared at him, unwavering. Heiner, who had been absentmindedly groping her face, finally let out a breathy laugh.
“Well, come to think of it... That’s always been the one thing you wanted. To get me out of your life.”
“...”
“I spent my whole life trying to get into yours.”
Heiner didn't look particularly angry or sad. His face was as dry as a dry leaf.
“Yeah, if that’s what you want, I’ll give it to you.”
It looks like it would crumble if you ran your hand over it...
“You can go. Forever.”
The ashes left behind by the fire rustled. Annette tightened her grip on her hand, then released it. Then she rose from her chair.
“Annette.”
As she was about to pass him, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. It wasn't a strong grip. Annette turned her head and looked down at him.
Heiner asked with a bitter smile.
“Can you hug me just once?”
Annette stared at him with surprised eyes. Heiner released her wrist, as if he had no intention of forcing her.
She tried to make a face for him, but failed. She couldn't even tell what face she was making.
She just hoped she didn't look too weak.
Annette quietly approached him and hugged him. He groaned softly, as if choking. Heiner held her waist and buried his face in hers, like a baby burrowing into its mother's embrace.
The breath in her arms trembled faintly, like sobs. His strong, thick arms held her in a pitiful embrace, as if he were terrified.
Annette seemed to have a vague idea of what this was.
She, too, had been like this in the past. The one thing she couldn't let go of in her painful and lonely life. An illusion that, as long as she held onto it, she could comfort herself that everything would be alright.
For Annette, it was Heiner. She held on to it for a very long time and finally let it go.
And now it was his turn to let go.
Annette pulled her arm away from his back and took a step back. His arm, lost in its place, slowly fell.
Heiner still had his head down. Even though he wasn't looking at her, Annette carefully controlled her expression.
She licked her lips a few times. It took her a moment to compose her voice. When she finally opened her mouth, a voice astonishingly clear and clear as day flowed out.
“Let’s never see each other again.”
***
Annette returned to her room holding a bouquet of blue flowers. It was a large bouquet of statice and hydrangeas.
"Nanny, do you know who left this? It was left by the practice room window."
“Oh my, is this the practice room window?”
“Yeah, outside by the window.”
"If it's the outside window... I don't know. The rose garden and the young lady's practice room window are connected. Should I be careful not to let anyone come in from that side?"
“Huh? No, no.”
Annette looked down at the bouquet with a slightly embarrassed expression and said shyly.
"Sneaking flowers into the practice room? How romantic. I guess they liked my performance."
“Oh my, my dear. When will you grow up?”
"Take a guess, Nanny. Who could it be? Who left it behind?"
"Hmm... Well, maybe they're soldiers under the Marquis' command. Today was the day of the regular banquet. They can enter the garden, too."
“No, he won’t be a soldier.”
“Why not?”
"Soldiers don't know anything about romance. When I tell them I play the piano, they say things like, 'You have a wonderful hobby.'"
“Miss, beautiful words, beautiful words!”
"Yes. Anyway, there's no way the soldiers would be interested enough in the garden to come inside. And... since you prepared a bouquet, that means you've seen me play in the practice room before. You must like my playing, right?"
"Miss, this shouldn't be something you're happy about; it should be something you're uncomfortable with. I'm spying on you!"
"Huh? Why? It's so romantic, isn't it? It's a hundred times better than loitering around like some animal looking for a mate at a party."
"Oh dear, it's because you're still young and innocent. I think it would be best to move the practice room. I was already worried because it's connected to the garden."
“What are you talking about! No! I need to find out who it is!”
"You too, Miss... I understand. I won't tell you right now. But it's right to design and move to a professional practice room soon. If you're seriously preparing for a competition, you can't do it in a place like that. Got it?"
"Yes, yes. I'll think about it later. Nanny, could you put this in a vase for me?"
Annette, who had answered dryly, handed the bouquet to her nanny. The nanny shook her head in disapproval, then trimmed the flowers and placed them in a vase.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“The color of the hydrangeas is the same as the color of your eyes.”
"Yes?"
Annette looked at the flowers with a bright smile, her face supported by both hands.
A soft breeze blew through the wide-open window. Blue petals swayed as if dancing along the wind's gentle touch.
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