CH 69

The next morning, Heiner gave her a copy of the sheet music and some clothes. Annette checked the well-stitched clothes and asked.

“Did you do this yourself?”

“If I didn’t then?”

“Thank you for your hard work….”

Of course she thought he had some subordinates do it. It was amazing that he really did this himself in such a busy time.

In the pile, she didn’t see the scissors that she had used yesterday. Only the well prepared clothes were given back to her.

‘It’s borrowed, so I have to return it.’

But the very mention of it was a bit disrespectful. She didn’t want to bring up past memories here for no reason.

Annette eventually gave up on asking for the scissors back and opened a copy of the sheet music and looked it over. The dialogue that followed was also mostly about cryptograms.

She checked the sheet music again and asked him for a few more details. This included the circumstances under which he had discovered it and the existence of other classified documents pertaining to the cipher in question.

Heiner surprisingly answered her questions with ease. Perhaps it was because her outside involvement was already restricted, or perhaps she would leave soon anyway.

She wasn’t sure but she decided to think of it that way.

“The truth is that the Armanian liaison plane did not simply crash; it was shot down by our military. The officers aboard  were in possession of the operation plan and other classified documents.”

“Operation plan? Are those and other classified documents also encrypted?”

“Half of them are, and half of them aren’t. Thanks to that, the cryptanalysis department is busy day and night.”

“Still, I’m really glad we’ve been able to occupy the information advantage. If they are deciphered, we can try to combine them with this cryptographic information.”

“Even just comparing and contrasting, there are blanks in the information about the numbers. That’s why I asked if there was a way to hide the numeric passwords in the notes.”

“I see……”

Annette’s face clouded over slightly. The more she listened to the story, the more her sense of burden doubled. Her confidence dropped in inverse proportion to his.

Yesterday was just a lucky day, and she wasn’t going to find anything more.

Naturally, Annette was clueless about deciphering codes. She was worried what if she misread it again?

This was too much secrecy for her to undertake.

Perhaps noticing her concern, Heiner opened his mouth.

“You don’t have to feel that you must uncover something. I just need your insight. Just telling me how to do it is enough. Like the Norman style of yesterday.”

He put down his cup and continued speaking casually.

“Then we will decipher it, taking into account any  opinion you have.”

His gray eyes looked directly at her without wavering. His calm and sure words gave her great confidence.

Somehow, at this moment, Annette realized his position.

Heiner Valdemar, the Supreme Commander of the Padanian Army – a core figure who was born an orphan, rose to a position of close aide of Marquis Dietrich, and participated in the reform of the country as a revolutionary military officer.

Legendary for being the youngest person to attain the rank of General of the Army and then Commander-in-Chief. A triumphant general who led his country to victory in the Winter War, the first battle on the mainland. And the powerhouse who held the supremacy of the Allied Forces……..

Apart from their personal problems, Heiner Valdemar was a hero of Padania. 

The problem was herself. Annette hesitated, still unsure.

“But I’ve long since stopped playing the piano………. performance and technical maintenance are completely different fields…… I think it would be better to ask people who are more professional than I am.”

“You are the most talented pianist I know.”

Annette dismissed his praise thinking that he was flattering her with empty words because the situation was urgent. She smiled at him and said.

“Of course, I will do as much as I can, so you don’t have to say that.”

“You think I’m lying.”

“You’ve met Felix Kafka. You know very well what a great pianist he is.”

If you had not stopped playing the piano, you would have been a much better pianist by the time you reached Kafka’s age.”

Heiner’s face was calm, his tone had no highs or lows, and he did not seem to be lying by any means. But at the same time, Annette knew very well how good he was at lying.

She cut a sausage with her knife and laughed bitterly.

“Well…I don’t think so. Because a lot of my fame came from my father.”

In the past, everything Annette had accomplished had been labeled with the Marquis.

Annette always won all the grand prizes in national competitions, beginning in her youth. She also won third prize in international competitions, gave private concerts, and was called a “piano prodigy.”

However, with the revolution, everything fell apart. It did not matter whether Annette had really accomplished them on her own merit or not.

Even if it were true, there was nothing to say because it was right that she had achieved them under the wealth and power of the Marquis.

“Come on.”

His sudden outburst stopped Annette’s knife for a moment.

“I can’t say what you’ve had is fair, but at least your talent and hard work are real.”

“——.”

“I know how many songs you had memorized. I also know that you were the only participant in the competition who did not have a single mistouch. And I also know how hard you worked to get there.”

Annette slowly raised her head. Heiner continued to speak in a matter-of-fact tone, as if pointing out mere facts.

“I know you suffered and cried alone in the practice room. You had interest and talent in composing as well as playing, and that you had many unreleased songs.”

“——-.”

“Your whole world was it. So you were indifferent to the outside world. I’ve never tried to live that kind of life, so I can never understand the passion and frustration you felt.”

“——.”

“But as far as I know, at least you’re great in that field. So you are the most talented pianist I know. And the most qualified for this job.”

The sentence was as firm as the first. Not an ounce of wavering or hesitation.

Annette was rendered speechless and tried to hide her trembling hands. She parted her lips a beat later.

“The composition….”

For some reason, her throat choked and the words trailed off.

“I didn’t even finish my studies properly.”

“You quit.”

“…for an aristocratic lady, playing is more noble than composing.”

“As always, with the insight of the nobility.”

“I never had much talent for composing. It was one of the reasons I quit.”

“You never once officially announced it. Had you published it, I’m sure it would have been different.”

Annette looked at him blankly, as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep. It felt strange. How could he be so sure?

How could he be so sure of something that even she herself had never been sure of?

Heiner had been interested in her performance from the beginning. He was one of the few people Annette showed her own compositions.

But essentially, Heiner did not enter deeply into her world. There was never any musical exchange between them.

Annette had thought nothing of it.To begin with, Heiner’s field was far removed from music.

It was just as difficult for her to empathize with his field.

In addition, men generally considered women’s piano playing to be only an elegant hobby. Compared to them, with this degree of respect and interest, she considered him a decent man.

So it was only natural that Heiner did not venture too deeply into her world.

No, perhaps to try to keep some distance………….

Annette thought up to this point and became a little suspicious with a strange certainty. Yes, as if he was trying to keep his distance.

Why?

Heiner knew all her tastes. Not only did he know well, he even tried to match them.

Of course he did. Because he had to win her heart.

So there was no reason to distance himself in that area. Piano was the biggest part of her life. It was also the part of her life where he could most easily dig into her heart.

As usual, the results did not follow the end of the thoughts that came easily to mind. Their past was as unknown as if wrapped in a translucent film.

“It was my judgment to leave it to you. I decided it was right to leave it to you.”

A voice that sounded too calm and sure broke the brief silence.

“So you need not take the time and care to ascertain its presence or absence.”

The words might have sounded arrogant. But perhaps because he was the initiator, it felt like he was simply explaining the facts.

Annette nodded slowly and put the cut sausage in her mouth. When she bit into it, its savory and salty taste, with a little oil, spread in her mouth.

For the first time, she thought the distributed food tasted good. She chewed everything in her mouth and swallowed it, then she stabbed one of the sausages with her fork and put it in her mouth again.

Her heart was constantly rumbling in her chest. It was not a pleasant sensation, but it was not unpleasant either.

It was ironic, really.

The only person who had once accepted her for everything she was, was also the person who had destroyed her everything.