My Beloved Oppressor

Heiner was transferred to Portsman Emergency Hospital, located right next to Huntingham, where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

The gunshot wound was quite deep and some organs were damaged, but fortunately there were no spinal injuries or organ failure. This was thanks to the quick initial response.

The news of the Commander-in-Chief’s injury was first classified. This was possible because it was an unofficial move and there were no reporters or other enemy forces in the vicinity.

The sniper who shot the commander-in-chief was shot dead on the spot.

And the horrific incident that took place inside Huntingham Church was widely reported in all newspapers. Survivors gave their full testimony of what happened, and the reporters told their stories as they were told.

The atrocities committed by the French army in burning prisoners of war alive drew international condemnation. The fact that civilians and even young children were involved aroused great anger among the Padania public.

Hostility within Padania toward the French skyrocketed. So much so that, at the time, statements were constantly being issued that the soldiers complicit in the act should be punished under Padania law. Annette was at the center of that incident.

The story concerned a nurse who saved the wounded in a church engulfed in flames to the last minute and nearly lost her life. Many people spoke about Annette Rosenberg.

The prisoners of war who survived with Annette’s help, the nurses who worked with her, the soldiers who were treated by her……………

“She went in again without hesitation to help those who remained inside, even though the building was collapsing. From the beginning to the end, her priority was to keep the children alive.”

“Last winter during the war, Annette went out alone into a hail of bullets to bring medical supplies, which saved many lives. She always worked quietly and did the best she could with the work she was given.”

“She was a dedicated nurse. That’s the impression I got from her. I still remember what she said to me after she nursed me. She was always saying, “It’s going to be all right, it’s going to be all right.”

No matter what amazing things she did, the past was unchanged.

People acknowledged the words but offered different opinions.

“I wouldn’t do that. That’s the important part.”

“I recognize her dedication and courage, but doesn’t that mean the past never happened? Everyone has a chance. Everyone……… should be given the opportunity to live a better life.”

The world was all abuzz.

In the midst of all this noise, Annette just quietly lied there with her eyes closed (still unconscious). Like someone who wanted to escape from it all.

Heiner looked at her pale face and listened to the doctor who followed.

“The surgery itself went well, but….. the procedure was too late.”

“….”

“It will be difficult for her to use her left hand normally. I am truly sorry. Sir.”

Heiner’s gray eyes moved slowly to the side. Her left hand, bandaged with a brace, lay limp as if dead.

Heiner asked after a pause.

“What exactly does …… normal look like?”

“Assuming the recovery continues to go well, there will be no serious disability. But she will have difficulty putting strength into her fingers, making it impossible to carry heavy objects or perform delicate tasks. This includes writing and embroidering. Of course, if she’s right-handed, that would be a blessing.”

“…”

“I heard she played the piano. She probably won’t be able to play the way she used to.”

“Even after some time?”

“I see it as a permanent aftereffect.”

Heiner stared at Annette without reply. His face seemed ostensibly as indifferent as possible, but at the same time it could look horribly dangerous without any expression.

The doctor who had been watching this carefully opened his mouth.

“Sir, I understand your concerns, but — you are also currently a patient.”

“…”

“A gunshot wound is not to be taken lightly. Do not move and return to rest.”

“…”

***

Heiner flipped through the magazines from his hospital bed. The bedside table was piled full of newspapers and magazines.

He would not normally pay attention to magazines that were of interest to him, but this time was different.

This time as magazine reporters had devoted much of their attention to interviews with survivors. Heiner read the interviews to find out more about Annette.

[Leonie: It must have been really scary.

[M: I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to die like this. I told them we had nothing to do with it because we were civilians, but those guys didn’t even pretend to listen. The nurse asked them to just let the child out, but they all ignored the request.]

[Leonie: When you say nurse, you mean Annette Rosenberg?]

[M: Oh, yes. Yes, that’s right. Actually, I didn’t even know at the time that the nurse was the ex-wife of that famous Commander-in-Chief. It was dark and I was out of my mind…………. I found out after the enemy forces discovered her identity.]

[Leonie: there’s a lot of talk about her these days.]

[M: She is an amazing person. Judging by what I saw, I couldn’t imagine her as the arrogant, selfish woman we have been reading about in the newspapers.]

[Leonie: Could you elaborate?]

Heiner’s eyes faltered over the print. He chewed and chewed again on every word M described about Annette.

The Annette he saw through the eyes of others was both a woman he knew and a woman he did not know. It was a very strange feeling.

He thought he knew everything about her.

He was convinced that he was the only person in the world who knew her well.

But ever since Annette chose to die, his thoughts had been off and his certainty had faded. Somewhere along the line, she had ceased to be the woman he had known.

[M: I never really seem to know what’s going on in the world. Do people make situations, or do situations make people?]

Now everything was fuzzy.

[Leonie: Tough question.]

[M: At any rate, at least for that one time she created a miraculous situation. At the expense of herself.]

[Leonie: By the way, I heard that Miss Rosenberg seriously injured her left hand because of that.]

[M: I don’t know how surprised I was to hear the news. It is very unfortunate. Her playing was really beautiful……………..]

[Leonie: Have you ever heard Miss Rosenberg play?]

[M: Yes, it was when we were locked in. There was a piano in the church, and she played it for the child. It was a really, really beautiful performance. I forgot about all the situation and became so absorbed in the performance……….. It was a healing feeling. Yes, it felt soothing.]

Heiner’s eyes lingered on that part.

He lowered the magazine, after having read the same part over and over. He felt a lump deep in his throat. Annette played the piano.

She had taken back for herself one of the things he had once taken from her.

After a long time, finally overcoming all the pain and suffering, she finally lifted her hand over the keys in the midst of that horrible ruin.

The fact returned to him with a heavy joy, at the same time painful.

Heiner closed his eyes and bowed his head. The lights that illuminated the darkened hospital room flickered several times. The hand holding the magazine trembled faintly.

And he could not raise his head for a long time.

***

The war continued amid intense hostility.

The operation to retake Huntingham was in the final stages of success. The Commander-in-Chief, despite being wounded, received all reports on the phone and was involved in major operations.

On May 18, the Commander-in-Chief’s speech, along with new discussions on international treaties, was carried throughout the country through newspapers and radio.

In the summer of AU717, the free world, gained through blood and sweat, shone with hope. 

[We remember the moment when we awaited justice for our free citizens].

Troops dispatched from France’s Central Group Army steadily made their way to the South. A huge war shadow hung over Cheshire Field.

[However, our brilliant future was trampled by the horrors of war.

France and other Axis leaders are threatening peace by antagonizing our rightful and true will.]

At the same time, the support force, which past commanders-in-chief had succeeded in making the minor negotiating powers join them, was on its way to Cheshire Field.

[We hope to reach peaceful agreement. And we hope that France will show the will to do so, sign the Biche Peace Treaty, stop the massacre of civilians and release the prisoners of war].

Also, while France redeployed their troops, Padania restored all its facilities and built a huge defensive line.

[We will defend justice and will not be swayed by the threat of invasion. We honor our sons and daughters who answered the call of their country. We will never forget their noble sacrifices and we will never sit on our trampled dignity].

The Commander-in-Chief declared.

[We will surely win.]

And that night Annette Rosenberg woke up.