Bastian

Bastian had kept his promise. It hadn’t been until the Becker couple had announced their marriage did the reality of the situation really sank in, though he applauded like everyone else, it was merely an act.

   The ceremony ended with the newly weds kissing and sealing their vows.

   Odette offered a sincere applause and wished the couple all the best for the future. It was a moment where all past efforts were finally rewarded and Odette knew that all her efforts had not turned to ash. This marriage had a meaningful ending.

   Odette did her best to believe that this was best. She did not want to entertain the reoccurring doubts that occasional crept into her mind. This seemed right and fitting.

   “Surprising, isn’t it?” Bastian said in a low whisper. “Its your sisters wedding, the last member of your family, and you can’t bring yourself to shed a single tear.”

   Odette glared at him, while Bastian maintained a mocking glint in his eyes. Those sharp blue eyes brought back memories of last night, which caused her to flush.

   The warmth of the coat he put around her shattered defences and the way he held her, she wished everything would break apart and disappear. Her memories of getting back to the hotel were fragmented. Odd images of maids being ushered out of the room. Frigid fingers peeling off her clothes, something like a strong embrace that held her freezing body. 

Although she knew she should push Bastian away, she could not find the strength to do so. She didn’t want to face a man she couldn’t push away and the whole night she wished not to be comforted.

However, ath the end, Odette surrendered as though she had accepted her fate. Their bond had grown so deep that it reached the realm of intimacy, erasing any remaining distance that had once separated them. She wished for the night to quickly pass, before losing consciousness. 

As the night drew to a close and dawn neared,  she woke up from her deep sleep in Bastian’s embrace, his arms wrapped around her tightly.

Confusion filled her gaze as she stared at the man before her-Bastian still lost in his slumber. Despite their tight embrace, nothing happened.

Why? This peculiar situation left her utterly surprised. An answer eluded her grasp. While grappling with these enigmatic questions, the soft morning light gradually filtered through the curtains, casting its gentle glow.

Until the first light of dawn gradually unveiled the veil of night, Odette stared at Bastian’s face as he slept. She tenderly brushed his strands of hair that fell to his forehead. The soft texture she felt beneath her touch reassured her that it wasn’t a dream.

Odette mustered her remaining strength to push Bastian’s encircling arms from around her waist, and part their entwined legs. After freeing herself from his embrace, she  sat on the bed’s edge, waiting her dizziness to recede.

When she rose to her feet, Bastian woke up and looked at her with clear and cool eyes, unlike someone who had just woken up. His eyes leisurely traced her bare shoulders and chest. A delicate blush tinted her cheeks and in a quick reaction, she grasped the sheet to cover her unclothed body.

Odette averted her eyes in embarrassment when Bastian rose from the bed, revealing his entirely naked form without a single thread in the unforgiving sunlight.

Unlike Odette who looked confuse, Bastian was calm. He leisurely sipped water from a glass on the bedside table before wearing his nightgown, his platinum hair gently brushed aside and he made his way towards the bathroom.

When she heard the shower Odette heaved a sigh of relief. Yet, her heart continued to race and her cheeks remained flushed.

A twisted thought crossed her mind: maybe it would be better to let his greed run wild. It seemed nothing more than a familiar stroke of misfortune, one she had grown used to. She felt embarrassed as she realized she wasn’t accustomed to being allowed rest and given such peaceful moments, and she despised that foreign feeling.

“You seem relieved.” after watching Odette for a long time, Bastian asked.

Odette woke up from her reverie and immediately looked away without answering. She thought, it would be better if Bastian misunderstood that her bond with Tira was not as close as he believed.

   “Sister,” Tira called out, breaking their uncomfortable conversation.

   Odette embraced her sister as if she had not seen her in years, as if it were just the two of them in the whole world. Odette remained confident that her love for this child was unchanged, even though they had been relegated to this pitiful end, Odette did not regret her decision. Tira’s happiness was enough of a reward.

   But why was she still full of regret?

   Just like everything else, Odette avoided that question as best she could and wiped away Tira’s tears. She could feel Bastian’s gaze on her, but she resisted the urge to look back at him. By tomorrow everything would be over and that would be enough. That was how it had to be.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Odette bid farewell to her sister out the front of the hotel. Once again, thanks to Bastian arranging everything, she was able to say one last heartfelt goodbye to Tira.

   “You need to be happy, that’s all that matters, okay?” Odette said, swallowing sobs. Tira nodded emphatically, unable to say anything.

   “I, er, sorry, but we really need to get going,” Nick said, gingerly interrupting the two hugging sisters.

   Odette looked around with red eyes. The group that had accompanied Tira’s weddings were also leaving and were prepared to leave with the Becker’s, who were set to leave on a passenger ship the next morning.

   “Goodbye, Tira,” Odette said one last time.

   Tira now had her own world to think about, and in that world, there would be no place for Odette just yet. Accepting this was hard, but Odette calmly bid them farewell, leaving many unsaid words to remain buried deep in her heart. She didn’t want to sully this moment with bad memories and disturbed thoughts.

   “I love you,” Tira called back to Odette.

   “I love you too, sister,” Odette said in return, emotion lingering on the words. Tira didn’t seem to notice it, she held her husbands hand and stepped off into the new world with their child. Their car departed just as soon as the door was closed.

   Odette no longer held onto futile regrets as she turned around. She knew that Tira was waving her hand out of the window, but Odette didn’t look back. She passed through the lobby of the hotel, took the elevator and walked the long corridor back to her room, always looking ahead.

   Now was the time to be thinking about what came next. There was no room for thinking about the past.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

I will be on the train to Felia this time tomorrow. Odette thought to herself as she paced around the sitting room, organising the plan in her head.

   She was going to visit the Herhardt’s with Bastian first and then find the opportune time to head into the city. Since the men were going to stay at the hunting grounds until late, it wasn’t going to be too difficult.

   She was going to return to the hotel, pack her belongings, collect Margrethe and head to the station. There should be a clear two hours before the train left for Felia. There would be a total of four departures, just in case.

   She was planning to catch the 4pm train, but if that failed, there were other options. Not being able to see Tira set sail was regrettable, but necessary if she wanted to get out of the city as fast as possible.

   Odette already had some of her stuff packed, to reduce the time it would take to gather her things together. She double checked her bags, her money and checked her pocket watch, which she had brought along to help her keep time. It was almost five o’clock now. The maid would be along to check on dinner plans.

   Odette sat on the bed, waiting for Molly and as if on cue, she knocked on the door. “The master will return later this evening, so I have been instructed to only bring the mistresses dinner tonight. Is that okay?”

   “Sit down, Molly, I have something I need to discuss with you.” Odette gestured to the chair opposite her.

   Molly laughed as if they were playing a game. She didn’t show any signs of shock or surprise as she locked the rooms door securely before sitting down.

   “Have you sorted out your thoughts now?” Molly said. “Theodora Klauswitz wants to get rid of you, they say. According to my aunt, it’s because you’ve caught the eye of young master Franz.”

   Though Odette knew this was nonsense, she nodded in agreement, offering vague understanding. Inter-family conflicts among the wealthy was of no concern to her, regardless of how they turned out.

   What was important to Molly was that once this was over, she needed not work the tiresome role of maid any longer. With Odette gone, she would be justly rewarded for her part and she could use that money to buy herself a nice house and live comfortably. Given all that she had done for Theodora, the reward would be extensive.

   “Make sure to leave tomorrow, Molly, it doesn’t matter where, but it would be best to be as far away from here as possible,” Odette said sternly.

   Molly frowned at Odette quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

   “By tomorrow, Bastian will know who you really are, why you’re here and who sent you. He will know everything you have done so far. He will not let you off easily.” Odette fixed Molly with a calm stare.

   Molly nervously fiddled with her apron. “Could it be that this time you plan to plead with your husband? Secure a position at his side by gaining his trust?”

   “Don’t misunderstand me, Molly, you don’t play such an important role that I could tolerate you any longer, I’ve grown tired of your sneaking about, so disappear. I will consider looking the other way as you do so, in return for all the favours you have done for me.”

    Molly rose to her feet in shock. “Do you think Major Klauswitz is going to let you continue to play the part of hostess once you give birth to a child? Even in your wildest dreams, you can’t really be that stupid.”

   “Sit down, Molly,” Odette ordered.

   Molly snorted and grinned menacingly. “Do you really still want to play the role of aristocrat? The entire empire knows that you are a beggar princess…”

   Before Molly could finish her sentence, pain exploded across her face and her ears rang.