ㅡ At 11:00 this morning, the Supreme Soviet passed a motion to intervene in the Ursus civil war for the sake of permanent peace and the end of political slaughter. The intervention proposal, introduced by the Free League, ...
ㅡ Comrade Illich, Chairman of the Ursus Social Revolutionary Party, called for resistance against both the Ursus nobility and the imperial faction through a coalition with the Social Democratic Labor Party, the Radical Democratic Party, and the Anti-Oripathy Discrimination Alliance, via the party organ, [Pravda]...
ㅡ We are on the scene. Dieti Greifenburg is burning. Today, in the uprising launched by the so-called Ursus noble faction with the 6th Regiment at its head, Dieti Greifenburg is now engulfed in flames, and battles are breaking out one after another across multiple districts...
ㅡ Milk is national power. Steverpier milk, only 5 kopeks. Meet us now at the People's Market.
ㅡ اطردوا أتباع أمير! عاشت الثورة العالمية المتزامنة!(Drive out Amir's followers! Long live the synchronized world revolution!)
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.
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ㅡ Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Haaah... Slept well."
I shut off the ringing alarm clock and stretched as I got out of bed.
Because I had collapsed the moment I got home yesterday, the television I had clearly turned on to watch a film had spat out a used videotape and was now showing only a chaotic smear of black and white.
I let out a long sigh and pressed the power button to switch the television off.
Come to think of it, I remembered I had an appointment today.
What was it again....
"What do I have to do today... Ah! Chaya!"
I had forgotten my date with my girlfriend. Of all things to forget, I had gone and forgotten that.
My carelessness, treating a university day off as if it were nothing, had made me blank on this important matter for a moment.
I dressed quickly, stuffed a suitable amount of rubles into my wallet, and hurried out of the house.
I shut the front door, crossed the long corridor, and reached the elevator.
Just as I was about to press the floor button,
"Comrade! Please wait a moment!"
A man in a coat despite the hot summer weather was running toward me in a panic, as though he were some high-ranking civil servant or Party cadre.
In the end, I pressed the open button for him.
He stepped into the elevator.
And then the elevator, true to form for a decrepit rental apartment built in the Vladimir era and at least fifty years old, descended with a dangerously rattling clunk.
The man was sweating profusely.
"Haa... haa... made it in at last."
"Is something the matter?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing of the sort."
The man showed me his security pass.
It bore the emblem of the Joint State Political Directorate, with a sword guarding the hammer and sickle.
"H-huh! The Joint State Political Directorate...!"
I could only be shocked.
The Joint State Political Directorate was that infamous institution, wasn't it? The one where the Iron Empress Dzerzhinskaya lurked in the shadows of the republic, locking anti-state elements in Room 7 and extracting information through so-called 'special interrogation techniques.'
I had seen it in the Kingsman made by the Victoria Empire.
Which meant... if I knew his identity, I might be disposed of next.
I could feel cold sweat breaking out across my forehead.
But seeing that, the man said,
"Now, now, what's all this about? You seem to have picked up a few fantasies from those Victoria films lately, but we're public servants all the same. Room 7 and all that nonsense belongs to the Vladimir era. And yes, Comrade Feliksa is beautiful, but she is certainly not the sort of psychopath those films make her out to be."
Then he cleared his throat and said,
"Wilhelm Tell, 6th-grade civil servant of the Joint State Political Directorate. Of course, that's an alias."
***********************
The elevator descended slowly, squeaking in the awkward silence.
The agent, as though he were carrying some important dossier in his bag, slipped a hand into his pocket.
It was a movie ticket.
He wore an awkward smile and said,
"You're going to see your girlfriend today, aren't you?"
"H-how did you know that?"
"Obvious."
He pointed at my face, my clothes, and my trousers.
"Your face is white as a newborn Ursus child, your clothes have been sitting in the wardrobe so long that I sprayed on a somewhat cost-effective perfume to get rid of the stale odor, and your trousers are those ripped jeans that are in fashion these days, aren't they? Anyone can see you dressed up to drown in sticky love with your sweetheart."
My face burned bright red.
Was it that obvious?
Seeing my reaction, he clicked his tongue at my clumsiness.
I took the movie ticket in a daze and said,
"But... why are you giving this to me?"
He smiled.
"I was going to watch this with my wife today, but I got an emergency summons because of the Ursus civil war, so I can't go. Consider it repayment for helping me out in that urgent situation earlier."
And then the elevator doors opened.
He stepped out before me, his footsteps swift and soundless, and said,
"So love each other properly. Comrade."
*****************************
The heat struck my face the moment I stepped out of the building.
It felt as though every breath dragged in hot dust with it, and if I stood still for even a moment, sweat would gather across my back.
I carefully tucked the movie ticket Wilhelm had given me into the inner pocket of my wallet.
Then I arrived at the square.
The loudspeakers atop the propaganda tower blared toward the plaza.
ㅡ Let us defend the decisions of the 53rd Party Congress to the death!
ㅡ Smash feudal tribalism! Strengthen the Sarkaz People's Liberation Alliance!
ㅡ Condemn the decisions of the 53rd Party Congress that will ruin the economy! Eradicate the adventurist Free League and the betrayal of the Social Revolutionary Workers' League in one stroke!
People were busy.
At the tram stop, a long line had formed, and in the middle of it someone had tucked a briefcase under one arm while reading a newspaper.
Beside that, an entirely different world unfolded.
I turned away from the tram and headed into the alley toward the People's Market.
Before meeting Chaya, I wanted to buy her something small.
Chaya truly loved me, so she would not complain if I came empty-handed, but I felt uneasy about it.
The People's Market was always noisy.
Voices, cries of prices, the rattle of cart wheels.
All those sounds tangled together and surged like a single wave.
The smells of fish, pickles, bread, and meat drifted through the air.
Every stall had a price tag attached.
Some were marked in large rubles, others in tiny kopeks.
And the moment I reached one shop, I took rubles from my wallet.
It was a flower shop.
"Welcome!"
The clerk greeted me warmly.
The flowers were all beautiful, and every one of them seemed suited to Chaya.
If there was one problem....
"Why are flowers so expensive?"
The flowers were far too expensive.
"Ah... well, sanctions were imposed on Leithanien recently. So we've had to import small quantities from the many emirates of Sargon, which has driven the price up."
"What about the flower soviets?"
"Recently, the Central People's Committee increased morphine production to support the Ursus revolution, so many farms have switched to growing only the more profitable poppies. That's why."
I could only smack my forehead.
A bouquet costing as much as a ticket to a siesta train during summer vacation was just too much.
But there was no helping it.
"Still, the flowers from Sargon are at least cheaper. There's a flower that's good for gifting between lovers these days. It's called yasmin(يسمين, jasmine). Would you like that one?"
"... Then give me one of those."
In the end, I paid the high price and bought a bouquet.
Still, well, the white petals matched her red hair, so it wasn't bad.
And then I left the market.
As I came out, I saw a tram painted red.
I showed my security pass to the conductor.
After looking at it, the conductor said,
"Ah, a clerk from the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, eh? Honestly, I don't know why they made these security passes and started inspections these days. In the old days, you'd just get on."
"Haha... I suppose after that Ursus spy carried out a terrorist attack and dozens died, there's no helping it."
"Still, you can't trust those reactionary bastards. And those Sarkaz men and women over there—who knows when they'll betray us? If that Theresa or whatever gives the order..."
"... Let's stop that line of conversation there."
I forced a smile, lifting the corners of my mouth, and turned away from the conductor.
Then I sat down and looked outside.
The tram moved along its route, and the Victorian buildings of the old district greeted me.
Buildings pocked with bullet holes, shell holes, and Arts scars always welcomed me so warmly.
And the red flags planted in every window to commemorate the Revolution Day.
Flags of the unions and revolutionary committees that no longer existed.
"Ah, come to think of it, Revolution Day is soon."
What should I buy her then?
Well, I could think about that later.
"Here, here!!"
Through the window, she had recognized me and was waving toward me.
*****************************
"Join the Liberal Party! Vote for the party that will save your money and the national economy, the Liberal Party!"
"Buy pickles! Only 12 kopeks a jar!"
"No, listen, I'm telling you. I applied for youth housing welfare, and it actually got approved. So this time I'm moving into a newly built 12-pyeong apartment in the new Birmingham relocation district..."
What had once been Westlake Park, but was renamed after Anastasia, the former People's Commissar of Defense who died of Oripathy complications twenty years ago, was crowded with people.
It was a park with war veterans wearing medals on their chests, old men playing chess with canes in hand, and children running about alongside sweethearts walking arm in arm, but for me there was only one person who mattered.
"Hehe, what took you so long? Were you preparing something?"
Right in front of me stood the lovely Chaya.
"Sorry, did I make you wait a long time?"
"No, actually I just got here too. I only wanted to tease you."
Her short red hair swayed softly, and black horns curved upward from her head.
Her violet eyes and white, soft skin only made her appearance stand out more.
"What, you startled me."
"Hehe, but I wanted to see you looking sorry."
She smiled and took my hand.
Then she said,
"By the way, what's that?"
"Ah, this?"
I took her hand in mine in return.
Then I turned my body slightly, met her eyes directly, and drew close.
And I showed her the bouquet.
"I bought it because I thought you'd like it."
Chaya's cheeks turned bright red.
"W-what...? Flowers?"
She looked flustered, her face flushed red.
At that sight, I could only speak.
"Pfft, you're cute."
"W-what do you mean, cute!"
"Your face is cute."
"Tch, honestly, you really surprised me. Flowers are expensive these days too—did you really buy these?"
I nodded.
Knowing that my parents worked in a potato farm far removed from flower cultivation, she wore an expression of being deeply moved.
"I'll treasure these flowers for sure. The white ones are pretty."
Her smile seemed to fill my heart.
"Ahem... if you're this happy, then I'm happy too."
"Wasn't it a waste of money?"
"Not at all. It was money spent on you."
At my words, she hummed softly, circled around me, and whispered into my ear,
"Do you know what this flower is called?"
The flower's name...
Ah, the clerk had told me.
Yasmin, that was the name.
"Was it yasmin?"
"That's right."
Then she rubbed her forehead against my cheek and said,
"Then do you know its flower meaning?"
"Mm... I don't really know the flower meaning."
"Hehe... is that so?"
Chaya lifted her head and looked at me with a mysterious smile.
Then she stepped back and clasped her hands behind her back.
"If you don't know, that's fine. I can tell you later. Now, let's take a walk around the neighborhood!"
She released her hands from behind her back, took mine, and pulled me toward her.
Before I knew it, I was being led down the alley by her hand.
****************************
"Expel all the Sorbonne faction from the central line from their duties!"
"Let the people's masses eradicate the opponents of permanent revolution!"
"The militia must not point their guns at the workers!"
The old district was packed with a demonstration by interventionist trade unionists.
Of course, I did not even really understand what they were shouting about.
Chaya, on the other hand, seemed to know very well.
"Honestly, the Sorbonne people were really too much at this Party Congress."
"Really?"
"Yes. They even got into fistfights with the pro-intervention delegates. The central faction made huge gains in Gaul in the last general election, but because so many Sorbonne-aligned people were elected to suit their tastes, the isolationist tendency became far too strong."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Of course it is. The whole point of the federation is to export revolution across Terra, isn't it? So—"
Her explanation was cut off when a clerk approached and set down two plates.
"Your chocolate strawberry crepe and two vanilla lattes."
"Wow... it's pretty."
"Right? It's a café I started coming to recently. Their desserts are delicious and beautiful. It's run by a Gaulish person. I brought you all the way down this alley so I could take you here."
I pinned the side of the crepe with a fork, then cut into it with a knife and ate.
The soft-sliced crepe, the red strawberries, and the melted chocolate spilling out captured both my eyes and my mouth.
"Mm! Delicious!"
"I told you it was delicious. Mm... this is nice."
Then, from far away, the sound of whistles began to reach us.
"Since the reported number and the number of demonstrators do not match, this is being treated as an illegal demonstration and will be suppressed!"
"Those militia bastards!"
"The regime's dogs!"
All around us, tear gas burst, and loud shouting and scuffling could be heard.
The employee clicked their tongue, drew the curtains over the windows, and locked the door.
Then the owner came out and said,
"I'm sorry. We weren't able to match the atmosphere today."
"No, no, it's fine. It's not as though you did anything wrong, sir."
"No, no. I'll refund today's meal. If you come again next time, I'll provide an even better meal and service, so I'd be truly grateful if you came back."
The owner insisted on stuffing several rubles into Chaya's pocket.
And so we finished our meal in a sour mood, and once the tear gas had cleared, we were guided outside by the staff.
Chaya's face looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
"Uu... sorry. I wanted us to have a better meal together."
I waved it off.
"No, Chaya. It was more than enough for me. Let's come again sometime."
"Still, I'm sorry. I'll go home and make you something."
"Really, it's fine..."
"I feel bad about it."
In the end, I nodded at her words.
"All right. Then let's go to your place."
At that moment, I did not see it.
The slow rise of her lips.
And when we arrived home, she quietly locked the door.
Then she came up to me and kissed my cheek.
"Hup?!"
At that mysterious sensation, my strength went out of me.
And in that instant, she knocked me over and climbed on top of me.
As she undid the buttons of her white shirt, she said,
"Do you know what the flower meaning of yasmin is?"
Chaya slowly pressed her body against mine.
My stomach touched hers.
"The flower meaning of yasmin is a gift from God. Then I suppose it's fair to say you desire me too, isn't it?"
I could not answer.
That was likely because her lips had already descended over mine.
"... I love you."
"... Me too."
And the two of us spent the night holding each other until the morning sun rose the next day.
It was summer.
*********************
"By the way, what should we name our daughter?"
"Aren't you assuming it'll be a daughter?"
"I just like daughters more."
"Mm... how about Surtr?"
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