Odette sighed as quiet as she could and set the letter on her desk with delicacy. There were not many words on the page, but she was disheartened by the roughness they conveyed with the lack of words.
'I concur with Lady Odette. I will reserve a spot in the lounge at the Reinfeld Hotel on Preve Boulevard for this coming Wednesday at 2pm.'
Her polite introduction and request for a private meeting were met with a curt memo from the man that lacked even the most fundamental decency of a proper name. To make matters worse, he concluded by dismissing her request in jest with a dismissive comment.
She chuckled at her stupidity as she realized how ridiculous everything was.
Tira, her little sister, walked into the room at that very moment, her eyes wide with amazement at the letter on the desk. Odette hurriedly concealed the letter in her bag, plastering on a smile
"Wow, it is truly lovely, my dear sister," Tira exclaimed as she opened the door and stepped inside, admiring the surroundings with innocent wonder. Odette, noticing her sister's gaze, quickly hid a letter in her satchel and adjusted her expression.
"Are you planning to go out?" Tira's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she watched Odette prepare to depart.
"Yes," Odette replied.
"Where are you headed? Can I come along?" Tira asked eagerly.
"No, Tira, I am going to a meeting with the elders of the imperial family," Odette explained to her sister.
Odette left the house with a bulk of dignity and poise, picking up her handbag and parasol as she went. She made a promise to Tira that she would come back before the day was out.
Her ideas and feelings started to whirl as she climbed up the enormous staircase, each step complicating her choice of decisions. Her Emotions began to swirl, growing more complex with each step.
Countess Trier intended to introduce her with Bastian at a lavish ball that the Imperial Palace was hosting. The Countess had asserted that this was the appropriate manner for a socialite to meet her prospective partner and that the Emperor had also requested it.
But Odette could not shake off the feeling of discomfort at the idea of being thrown into an unfamiliar world, paraded around like a spectacle for all to see. She desired a chance to meet him in a more intimate setting, to share their thoughts and feelings about this marriage proposal. Surely, she thought, he would want the same.
Receiving this kind of response—was it really that poor?
Odette inhaled a tiny exclamation as she opened the building entrance door with a disorganized and undisciplined thought. Both sides of the road's flowering trees were in full bloom. A pink cloud appeared to have descended over the roadway.
Odette took a deep breath before moving forward and raising the umbrella. The delicately patterned lace filled the entire city like spring flowers in blossom.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Bastian and Lucas walked alongside the Prater River, where the cadets were training with determination despite the still chilly water.
"Swimming in the spring when the flowers bloom," Lucas jested, "Military academies are getting better these days. We used to swim in the snow in icy water."
Bastian grinned, his face uncharacteristically calm before his meeting with his bride.
As they watched the training for a while, the two set off again towards their destination. Leaving the academy, they entered the Garden of Water Park, where the blooming spring flowers made the Admiralty Castle, usually filled with men, seem almost pleasant.
"How long do I have to do this troublesome thing?" Lucas let out a sigh as the Navy Headquarters building came into view across the park. He had once been happy to be given an important position at headquarters, but now the daily grind made him long for the days spent on the warship.
As the in-charge of ceremonial training at the military academy, Lucas was struggling to keep up. But Bastian, seemingly unbothered, suggested, "If you don't feel up to it, why you don't apply for naval duty again."
Bastian looked at his wristwatch while speaking in a faint voice. Before he realized it, the moment had come to deal with the emperor's heavy load.
"If I reject the well-earned post, do you think my father will leave me alone? He specifically ordered me to obey you without question." Lucas shook his head and grinned contentedly. "My dad seems to like you. He said he would want to take a drink again soon. How do you feel?
"Well, it's an honor for me."
"You have a wonderful capacity to cheer up these dreary old individuals. What's the trick?" Lucas looked at Bastian with deep admiration in his eyes and a touch of wonder. Bastian smiled mysteriously, like a clever fox.
'Yes, like a dog protecting his pup,' he thought, understanding Count Ewald's actions.
The Ewald family had a long-standing reputation for producing outstanding naval officers, and so Count Ewald, in spite of his son's desire to study literature, felt compelled to enroll him in a military academy.
Lucas adjusted to reality out of fear of his stern father, but it didn't imply he could change overnight. The bunch of self-described predators did not miss the easy prey because he had a difficult time adjusting to the military academy. About a year later, he and Bastian were assigned to the same dorm. Considering that all children from aristocratic families stay in private rooms, it was a very unusual choice.
The day Bastian learned that it was a special order from the superiors, he realized that the weak son of Count Ewald was nothing more than a blessing in disguise. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement that was well aligned.
They had formed a deep friendship that served that purpose, and though it took Lucas a long time to shake off the stigma of being a misfit, at least he didn't have to endure any more abuse or beatings.
It was one of the changes that had taken place since a senior who spat in Lucas's face was trampled to death by Bastian Klauswitz's boots. His friendship with the Ewald family had brought him prestige and a higher position within the Ministry of Navy. As much as the gains he received in return, his relationship with Lucas had only stretched and grown stronger, and as long as there were no unusual incidents, their friendship would continue in the future.
"Are you going to see her now?" Lucas asked, looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper. The shadow of sunlight swaying on Bastian's face as he nodded.
"Be careful not to get caught, Bastian." Lucas warned, meaning not to get seduced. "No matter how good your lineage is, there is nothing good about being involved with a woman like that. Sandrine's marriage will be arranged by next year at the latest, but if Duke LaViere, who is just beginning to show favor to you, is disappointed by this…"
"Lucas," Bastian interrupted.
Bastian halted Lucas's fervent words by calling his name softly, and the ever-perceptive Lucas quieted his speech accordingly.
They parted ways in front of the Naval Headquarters building. Normally, Bastian would have returned to headquarters and dove back into his duties, but today, the allure of a noble lady allowed him to enjoy a relaxed afternoon.
'Once you've handled it correctly, tidy up.' He thought, aligning with Lucas's own thoughts.
Bastian's mind was targeted on his plans as he strolled down the main road connecting the entrance of the Admiralty to the headquarters. He was planning to apply for an overseas position once this marriage had served its purpose. In the meantime, if the princess were to marry and leave Berg, the emperor would no longer be so demanding.
Being appointed to a rough area was also an opportunity to make a name for himself, and he had nothing to lose from this choice. And if he were to marry Sandrine, the daughter of the Duke of LaViere, after his return, it would be the perfect ending of a tale that began years ago. His purpose would be perfectly served. He would finally savor the taste of revenge he had been waiting eagerly for.
The bell of the clock tower struck 2 o'clock as he walked through the sunny afternoon, taking his time.
It was a Wednesday blessed with flowers, and the spring flowers swayed like a ballet dancer in the dazzling sunlight and sweet breeze.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Odette checked her old pocket watch once more, anxiously. The appointed time had come and gone, yet the man's seat remained empty. The thought of Bastian Klauswitz's blatant rudeness made her feel a little more indignant.
She looked around the garden with its elegant flowers and cutlery on the table, taking in the perfect landscaping and decor. Everything she saw was beautiful and luxurious, from the well-dressed guests chatting to the fantasia played by a talented pianist.
Why had he called her to this place if he had no intention of showing up?
Odette surveyed the splendid world around her, feeling like an ancient way of torture.
The seat that Bastian Klauswitz had reserved was radiating with extravagance. At the end of the aisle in the lounge, where tables were lined up on both sides, and in the very center of the terrace beyond the wide open folding doors, this table offered a panoramic view of the hotel garden and fountain. It was a location meant for attraction and attention.
Resolved to wait ten more minutes, Odette looked around anxiously. She would have preferred to order a cup of tea to pass the time, but she did not have the confidence to enjoy it calmly on this thorny cushion. It was then that a man dressed in a navy uniform emerged like the dazzling sun in the hotel lounge.
The officer scanned the room with a leisurely gaze and summoned the waiter with refined formality, capturing the attention of all the guests who had been glancing at Odette.
She became one of the spectators and watched the man as he made his way across the hall, following the waiter who had shown her to her seat. He was tall and broad, but overall, he was a sleek and impressive man. The moderation in his walk, which showed no sign of haste, was a perfect characteristic of a military man.
"No way," Odette thought as she held her breath, dismissing the foreboding feeling that suddenly passed over her.
The memory of the man she had met at the gambling house that night floated over the officer who was getting closer. He, too, was in the navy, and was as tall as that officer. He didn't have the usual appearance.
However, the man who frequented such places and gambled on a low level could not be a hero of the empire who had been awarded a medal for making a major contribution.
While Odette was struggling to deny the reality, the officer entered the terrace. Even though there was blatant attention, the man was as calm as a stream of water. It was as if he had wiped out the existence of others and lived alone in the entire universe.
'Mighty Lord, It's him…'
As Odette accepted the fact that it was the same man in the gambling house, he was already took a strep closing the distance between them.
The sun was at its peak, a warm and inviting yellow, as they met gazes.