SALOME Ch 29

The excited face he had when he left saying he was going to meet a friend was nowhere to be found, replaced by an utmost calm. Though he was naturally a quiet child, was it a woman’s intuition rather than a mother’s? She had a hunch that it was a romantic interest. Remembering how Cedric kept fixing his hair until right before they came to the concert hall, the answer didn’t seem too difficult. She stroked the hair of Elizabeth, who was breathing softly in her sleep, and closed her eyes. It was because the weight on her eyes grew heavy as thoughts washed over her.

Come to think of it, it feels like we haven’t been settled here for very long. To think he already has a friend whose meeting leaves him so thrilled. He might have met them at the Christmas party. At any rate, Cedric right now said nothing. His excited face was more subdued than usual—no, even a bit more downcast than his usual quiet self.

Did the date not go well? Usually such a calm boy, it was unusual to see him fussing and caring so anxiously. Just what kind of young lady could she be? It would probably be overwhelming if I suggested inviting her over first, wouldn’t it?

Growing curious, Ann hid her smile secretly behind her hand.

Once they left the center of Berlin, the vehicle entered an unpaved road, jolting softly. Lost in thought, Cedric was wrestling with his own worries in his own way. The image of Daniela biting his lip at his confession kept replaying on one side of his mind like a broken tape. Almost like someone who had heard words they were never supposed to hear.

Brushing his face drily with the hand that had been resting on his chin, he slumped back into the car seat. Quite frankly, he had been rejected fair and square. He had brought it up after taking into account that the atmosphere between them hadn’t been bad, in his own estimation.

Was I too hasty?

Cedric let out a deep sigh, covering his mouth with his palm as bursting, silent worries flooded him.

Jolted awake by the movement as they entered the unpaved road, Elizabeth in the seat beside him poked Cedric in the side—completely oblivious to his mood.

Cedric, who wasn’t ticklish, turned his head calmly. Seeing that, Beth clicked her tongue inwardly. Even if he was her brother, he really was no fun to tease.

“…Beth.”

“What? Did the plan we made not go well?”

“…Ahem.”

Instead of an answer, Cedric expressed his feelings with a sigh lowered toward the floor. It hadn’t gone well. But as much as he hated to speak that truth out loud, Cedric cleared his throat with a fake cough. Beth’s sleepy eyes narrowed with mischief. Their father, Albert, who knew nothing of their conversation, turned his head slightly from the front passenger seat.

“Plan? What are you talking about?”

“Let’s talk about it later when we get home, Beth.”

“I knew it. She wasn’t easy, was she? I thought so. But brother, it’s okay.”

Sister Daniela, she really lives up to her good looks. The road to getting a pretty sister-in-law was long and treacherous. Though he had no idea what on earth was okay, Beth pointed her index finger at Cedric’s face, brimming with confidence.

“Among the faces I’ve seen in my short life, she’s pretty decent. Have confidence. If you chop at the tree ninety-nine times, it’ll fall.”

“Beth! I told you not to point your finger. You must never do this to others. Cedric, don’t just sit there either. If this continues, Beth in high society…”

Ann, who had been lightly dozing, opened her eyes at their conversation and wrapped her hand around Beth’s finger in a fuss. Thanks to being raised with love, their youngest was willful and subtly ill-mannered. Cedric stared blankly at his younger sister, whose chocolate-colored eyes were sparkling, then let out a soft chuckle. He knew in his own way that it was encouragement.

“Right.”

He replied as such and turned his gaze back to the window. In the moment he blinked, the blurred light from the headlights entered through the gaps of his eyes. That golden-hued light gradually formed fluttering hair, embedding jewel-like blue eyes between them. Imagining the vivid image of Daniela—Yuri—Cedric felt his heart pound once again.

Next week, if Daniela shows up…

Ah. Moistening his dry lips, he crossed his arms and tried desperately to bind the beating of his heart.

After all, he just couldn’t give up.

∞ ∞ ∞

That evening, Intelligence Department of the Russian Embassy in Brandenburg

The entrance to the Intelligence Department—which always handled the most concealed and secret affairs—sat in the middle of a dark hallway where no lights were turned on. Inside that thick wall hung with an ordinary portrait, people dressed in uniform were moving busily under brightly lit lights.

Clerks and officials moving back and forth between desks arranged neatly in two rows wore heated expressions, thrilled by the major intelligence they had caught after a long time. The content delivered by Yuri possessed that much impact. Lines belonging to the Intelligence Department were so inadequate from utilizing every line they could move to pass the word along.

“Send the Red Squadron to the West Berlin line.”

Starting with phone calls ordering agents disguised for the border between Berlin and West Germany to be dispatched,

“Deploy the 2nd Platoon to Berlin Central Station.”

Tightening security at Berlin’s central train station.

“If they cross into West Germany, searching will become difficult. Hurry and contact Leipzig and Dresden Central Stations to form search personnel…”

Plans to search trains that had already departed, even if belatedly—

The rigid voices of the officials at each desk reached all the way to the corner of the Intelligence Department space, where Yuri and agents in khaki uniforms sat around a square sofa and table. Given the atmosphere of the Intelligence Department, a tense attitude hung in the air just as usual, making the fact that the New Year was approaching feel meaningless. Of course, there was an exception even among them.

“Would it hurt anyone to just rest at home for New Year’s? Damn it, why of all days do they have to pull this off today? Dammit…”

Vladimir, who had been talking with an official, approached the sofa where the agents were and vented his frustration through his teeth. He tossed a map roughly onto the table and put on his coat. He had just been drafted as an agent to go to the border between Berlin and West Germany. Damn it, it’s freezing to death out there. Recalling the blizzard that had been raging on his way to the embassy, he roughly shoved his arms into his coat sleeves.

With the atmosphere so tense lately, they just can’t stand to see anyone rest. Grimacing, he looked at Yuri sitting quietly on the sofa, and his hardened face softened slightly. Because that calm, silent face sitting there was always to his taste, no matter when he looked at it. Stepping behind the sofa where Yuri sat, he placed his hand firmly on top of Yuri’s head poking over the backrest.

“Yuri, let’s go together.”

“I’m not going.”

“You’re sending only me to that freezing place? Aren’t you even worried about me?”

“No. I can’t.”

At Yuri’s attitude of reading his book without even giving him a single glance, Vladimir glanced at the book Yuri was reading, grumbled in frustration, and leaned against the backrest.

“How cold. Why don’t you try giving me a carrot instead of a whip for once? At this rate, I don’t even feel like working.”

“Yuri is off duty because he has to continuously file statement reports, Vladimir.”

At Dmitry’s kind explanation, Vladimir clicked his tongue and complained slyly. He was quite annoyed that the only day off he had gotten after a long time had been disturbed.

“Princess, please give me a word of warmth since it’s the New Year. Otherwise, I might get annoyed and rip those two lovers apart before bringing them back.”

“Go ahead.”

“…Instead, give me a reward if I catch them well. Since it’s the New Year.”

“Report.”

Even at such a horrific statement, Yuri didn’t bat an eye, turning the page of the book he was reading as he answered nonchalantly. Cruel jokes to others’ ears were everyday matters to them, so it held no particular emotion for Yuri. Even if Vladimir’s nerve really snapped and he killed them, there would be no consequences other than a disciplinary suspension. There was no one who didn’t know Vladimir’s family, who were high-ranking officials in the central Russian government.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m off, Yuri.”

As Vladimir headed down toward the Intelligence Department basement with a resigned expression, Dmitry brought over a steaming teacup and sat on the sofa opposite Yuri. Having come hurriedly from home as well, he was dressed in civilian clothes rather than a uniform, no different from Yuri. That appearance looked less like his usual soldierly self and more like a young father one might see in any ordinary household. Offering the tea to Yuri, he didn’t hide his astonishment.

“Yuri.”