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LOS 52
Vincent strode across the gloomy corridor, whistling. It was a place steeped in the long-standing scent of death from the days under Beldam's rule. As he walked here, he had thought to himself: he would thoroughly trample over his share of victims, enough to completely cover the traces of his own countrymen.
He had worked with only that single-minded thought. But today was a bit different.
Whatever happened to the other Beldam bastards was outside Vincent's interest. There was only one person he considered important.
He hated Giles Hessen. He loathed him. From the polished, handsome face that practically dripped with the grease of someone raised in a noble household, to the way he carried out missions as if he had been a member of the Ipswin Revolution from the very start, oblivious to his own place...
Vincent thought it was absurd. To him, the very fact that the Revolutionary Army had taken the man in was a massive contradiction.
At this rate, it was obvious that Giles would emerge as a hero of the revolution, having perfectly scrubbed away his past.
He absolutely did not want to see that happen.
The bastard must have at least one weakness. Like a snake lying flat on its belly waiting for prey, Vincent had watched him for a long time. He intended to collapse the precarious foundation Giles stood upon the moment he showed the slightest crack.
After waiting for a long time... as if as a reward, an interesting person appeared before his eyes.
Anna Keating. A beautiful and promising pianist. Giles Hessen found happiness through her. At first, rage surged within him, and then, a creeping sense of possessiveness followed. He became intensely curious about what kind of expression Hessen would make if Anna were snatched from his arms.
However, that interest cooled quickly. Vincent was not a man naturally interested in romantic pursuits. He figured it was better to torment one more Beldam bastard than to flirt with a woman.
Ironically, this tendency of Vincent's actually made him more interested in Anna.
He flung open the door to the interrogation room. A man in a pitiful state was waiting for him, tied to a chair.
Vincent sat opposite the man and pressed the button on the recorder sitting on the desk.
A conversation laced with static filled the interrogation room.
‘That can't be.’
‘What can't be?’
‘There's no way the negotiations broke down! You're lying. You're clearly saying that just to torture me. I trust Beldam. My... my homeland couldn't have abandoned me.’
‘Just how important do you think you are, that Beldam would be struggling over a piece of trash like you?’
A mocking laugh cut through the silence.
‘You're nothing. That country will run just fine without someone like you. No, actually, since it's already collapsed and lost everything, losing a few more citizens would be nothing, wouldn't it?’
‘You fucking dirty Ipswin piece of shit!’
A scream rang out along with a dull thud of impact.
‘Now, calm down. The point of what I'm saying is: stop the bullshit about how you won't reveal any information because you'll be returning to your home country soon anyway. Because Beldam abandoned you first. You're about to die a dog's death here, so what use is loyalty now, right?’
‘....’
‘I only want one thing. What happened on the train. Everything you saw and heard. Tell me every single detail.’
Without taking his eyes off the agent, Vincent pressed the fast-forward button.
After a while, the conversation resumed.
‘Really, you're a tiring bastard in every way. You've barely been hit a few times and you're already drifting in and out? What's wrong with you?’
‘S... stop.’
‘Look at me. Look me straight in the eye! Get it together, you idiot. What's your name? Can you tell me your name?’
‘Ugh... uuu...’
‘Your name! Tell me your name!’
‘Jurgen... Jurgen Bach.’
‘Then who is the man in this photo?’
‘...Albert, Lehmann.’
‘And this woman? If you spout more nonsense, I'll really kill you this time.’
‘Elo...’
‘That's not the name. I asked what this woman's name is!’
The man continued to mutter a single name. Following a sigh, the sound of a gun being cocked rang out. At that, the man began to sob.
‘Please, please...’
‘I understand your loyalty to Beldam well.’
‘No! I... I didn't lie. You, you locked me in this room and didn't let me sleep for a second! There was another name, I... I remember...’
‘What bullshit are you talking about?’
‘Y-yes! Her surname was Bismar! He said so. Bi, Bismar. Eloise Bismar...’
‘...What?’
Click. The recorder fell silent again. The owner of the voice, who had been spitting out anything just to survive, was staring blankly at Vincent with half-crazed eyes.
Vincent pushed a pen and a piece of paper in front of him.
“Sign this. If you sign your name, I'll send you back to Beldam as promised.”
The man raised a trembling hand and gripped the pen. It took longer than expected for the signature to be completed. The moment he wrote the final letter, Vincent snatched the paper off the desk.
「I clearly confirm that the statements in the transcript are entirely true and that I have stated the facts as I know them.」
Satisfied by the phrase written on the paper and the pathetic signature beneath it, Vincent let out a sinister smile. How long had it been since he had looked forward to what was about to happen this much?
No wonder he was so protective of that woman.
He knew he was that kind of bastard!
Now, only sweet and satisfying moments awaited.
All Vincent had to do was sit back and watch the downfall of the man he hated.
-
The anxiety would not fade.
It felt as if something ominous was about to happen at any moment. It was like hugging a time bomb. It had been even worse since Vincent had made those meaningful remarks. Unable to shake the bad premonition, he even considered hiding Anna away somewhere immediately.
However, as if his worries were unfounded, there were no signs or changes for the next few days. He visited Anna every day. Each time, Anna was fine. Unlike him, she showed no signs of severe anxiety.
Rather, Anna was more preoccupied with the upcoming concert. Because of the collaboration with the orchestra that had completely captured her attention, she seemed to have momentarily set aside the reality surrounding her.
Giles did not go out of his way to disturb her. He had no desire to ruin the moments when Anna was immersed in something and happy. Being vigilant of the surroundings was enough for him alone.
Anna was more passionate about music than anyone. The piano, which had been her only solace and hobby in her childhood, remained an exit and a refuge to forget her sorrows.
When she played the piano, she looked happy. Even without scrutinizing her expression, anyone listening to the music she played would be able to tell immediately.
The final rehearsal with the orchestra was in full swing. Anna cast a meaningful glance toward Giles, who was persistently trying to follow her all the way to the rehearsal site.
“Giles, is something wrong?”
He didn't want to make Anna anxious.
“It's nothing.”
“It's just that you're not acting like yourself.”
“I suppose I've been too negligent lately.”
“That's not what I mean.”
Anna was a woman with quick wits and a strong survival instinct. No matter how much Giles tried to hide it, Anna eventually noticed. For her sake, Giles maintained a smile until the end.
“I'm fine, so just focus on your practice.”
She looked as if she had more she wanted to ask, but she eventually left him behind and headed toward the stage. There were no glittering dresses or bright stage lights, but Anna still shone on the stage.
Sitting before the piano, Anna was the ruler of the massive concert hall. The orchestra merely supported her from behind. At least, that's how Giles thought of it. After all, it was the piano melody that stood at the forefront and led the music, and the sole owner of that melody was Anna.
How wonderful would it have been if she could have lived as an ordinary pianist? If that were the case, she probably would never have met Giles. There would be no point of contact between a musician who loves art and an officer steeped in a loathsome past.
She would have lived happily and proudly, unfolding the infinite potential dwelling within her soul. Without ever needing to worry about her identity being revealed, as she did now. The Ipswin who came instead of Giles would have loved her for a lifetime.
Would such days ever become a reality?
Would true peace ever find her?
Spring had fully ripened.
The day of the concert arrived.
“I feel like I'm going to die.”
Anna, lying on the sofa in the waiting room with her face buried in a cushion, muttered. The orchestra's performance was in full swing in the concert hall. The seats had filled with many people starting from seven in the evening, and thunderous applause followed the end of each piece.
Anna's turn was last. She was to decorate the finale with her performance. Anna was particularly burdened by that fact. This wasn't just her performance, but also a concert for the Ipswin Philharmonic.
“Anna, you are a wonderful pianist.”
“I still can't help being nervous.”
“You'll do great.”
Giles sat beside her to encourage her. Though only for a moment, Anna was finally free from thoughts of Vincent or the other Revolutionary Army members, focusing solely on completing the performance successfully. Giles felt relieved seeing her like this.
“You might be anxious now, but once you sit at the piano, you'll regain your confidence. I'm sure of it.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you've never once lacked confidence in front of the piano.”
At those words, Anna seemed to regain some courage. Letting out a deep sigh, Anna suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Come to think of it, the orchestra members seemed a bit scared.”
“Of what? That you'd ruin the performance?”
“No! It's because the Revolutionary Army has been coming and going since the rehearsals. Who wouldn't be like that when soldiers in uniform keep appearing?”
Having relaxed, Anna let out a giggle. While Giles was speechless, she asked him.
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