It was like the cry of a wounded animal.
No one would have dared to think that this was the sound of the imperial princess of this glorious empire.
"Stop your tears, Your Highness. Yes?"
The nanny wiped the princess' messy face with a new handkerchief.
After a moment of quiet, she started again.
One of her cousins, who had visited the summer palace to console the heartbroken princess, mentioned the officers' polo match held in the capital. She belatedly noticed her mistake and changed the subject, but it was already out like spilled water.
"Let me send the letter, nanny. You can turn a blind eye to that much, can't you? Just once, please. I beg you."
Having barely stopped crying, Isabelle now began to torment the nanny with outrageous demands.
"Have you already forgotten Her Majesty's warning? If you do that, this old woman will no longer be able to stay with Your Highness."
"How can you all be so cruel? I have yet to hear Bastian's reply."
Raising her swollen eyes and looked at the sea beyond the window, Isabelle soon burst into tears again. She felt shattered. Broken into a million pieces. Pieces that she was never going to mend or reclaim because everything belonged to him.
This place was no different from a prison.
Not a single step was allowed outside the walls of the palace, and phone calls and letters were strictly censored. Shocked by what had happened at the ball, her father and mother seemed determined to show no further leniency.
"You already know what Captain Klauswitz's answer was."
"No. Bastian's eyes were clearly shaking. I know, nanny!"
Isabelle exclaimed, shaking her head frantically in denial.
As time passed, the memory of that day only became clearer. Isabelle was now able to recall Bastian's eyes, body temperature, and even the slightest tremor transmitted through her fingertips as if they were vividly present. They needed to have a conversation alone.
A time when they could confide their truest feelings without any watchful eyes.
Isabelle was sure that once she got that chance, everything would be different. It certainly would.
Unable to control herself any longer, Isabelle collapsed onto the bed and began to sob. Meanwhile, a knock sounded, and a familiar maid came in with a vial held in a small silver tray.
Isabelle obediently swallowed her sleeping pills without resistance as she usually did. She'd rather be drugged than to suffer such pain.
At least in her dreams, she would be free to love.
In her fading consciousness, Isabelle pictured the blessings and glory of the day that naturally should have been hers.
When Bastian asked for the victory token ahead of the polo match, Isabelle gladly untied her own ribbon. Bastian rewarded her with victory, kissing the ribbon amidst frenzied cheers.
It was a beautiful vow announcing a love to the world that would eventually come true.
***
The sound of blades cutting through the air permeated the silence of the drill sergeant.
After examining the rows of cadets, Bastian ended the formal drill by sheathing his command sword.
At the Cadet Captain's loud command, salute followed, advancing the honor of the Navy and boosting the morale of the cadets.
Bastian stepped down from the podium after showing a performance worthy of the mission assigned to him. The cadets remained steadfastly watching his exit.
In a landscape where time seemed to have stopped, the flying flag was somewhat foreign.
"I have tears in my eyes at the thought of having to do this until the festival is over."
Lucas's grumbling began as he left the parade ground.
Every year in mid-October, a festival was held to celebrate the Navy Day in Lausanne, the southern city with Berg's largest naval port.
This year, the scale of the festival grew even larger with the addition of a maritime review ceremony to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Trosa.
It was no exaggeration to say that they had been preparing for that day all year long, and the cadets who had not yet been commissioned were no exception. It was up to Bastian and Lucas to get them in perfect shape for the opening ceremony of the festival.
Confirming that they were alone, Lucas began fanning himself with the gloves he had taken off. The Navy's dispatch instructors were still required to be in perfect ceremonial uniforms when formal training came every Wednesday, but standing in the afternoon sun with such a rigid appearance was not so pleasant.
All the more so when not a single strand of hair should be out of place.
Bastian returned to headquarters looking much the same as when he had stood on the platform. Lucas's grumbling ended only after he entered the lobby of the Admiralty.
After going to the upper level and completing the training status report, Bastian immediately returned to duty.
After sorting through some urgent paperwork, he accompanied Admiral Demel, who was scheduled to interview the War Department's Chief of Staff alone.
The two armies, renowned for their grudges, engaged in a fierce war of nerves over trivial matters, and the general's second-in-command was one of them.
That was why Admiral Demmel usually made appointments with the Army on Wednesdays. It was a great opportunity to show off a proper Admiralty officer.
"Good job. Let's get off work today."
After a satisfactory negotiation, Admiral Demel showed a more generous attitude than usual.
"Take some more time to think about going overseas again."
Bastian's most important request, however, was rejected again.
"Aren't the aftereffects of the injury still remaining? Above all, there are still many roles left for you to take on here. No matter what anyone says, the main character of this naval festival will be Captain Klauswitz, the hero of the Battle of Trosa. Oh, you would be Major Klauswitz by then."
Admiral Demel looked at Bastian with a proud smile on his face. At least until the review ceremony was over, it seemed that he would have to serve as a trophy for the Admiralty.
"It's not just about making Major. Accept the reward with gratitude and don't forget that it is also the attitude of an honorable soldier who sets an example for others."
"I'll keep that in mind."
It wasn't unexpected and Bastian calmly accepted the result.
"By the way, Captain Klauswitz, may I ask you to give my regards to Lady Odette?"
A coy smile appeared on Admiral Demel's face as he called out to Bastian, who was about to leave.
"Yes. I will."
Bastian gladly respected his superior's wishes. It was a matter of obeying orders because he was ordered to.
It was also the time when he was supposed to meet the woman at least one more time anyway.
After stepping out of the admiral's office, Bastian headed to the gym behind the headquarters building. First, after changing clothes and running around the department, he went back and did some strength-building exercises.
By the time he put down the barbell and headed for the shower, the sky to the west was already dyed red.
It was an ordinary late spring evening.
Once again the well-dressed officer, Bastian left the Admiralty in his car.
Odette.
As he was passing through the city center where department stores and high-end shopping districts were concentrated that he suddenly remembered the woman's name again.
The Emperor's cheapness
suddenly became comical.
If he (Emperor) was going to use the woman
as a means to protect his daughter, he should have at least made sure the woman looked good.
Of course, she always came up with a nice package, but he didn't feel very pleasant to take on a woman who always appeared in borrowed clothes.
The car turned off Preve Boulevard just as he felt like it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least make her look presentable enough to shed the beggar Princess's label.
Driving through the rosy, shimmering world, Bastian was greeted by an unexpected sight as he reached the townhouse.
A middle-aged man was in an altercation with the servants in front of the mansion's gate.
When he spotted Bastian's car, he was greatly excited and shook off the endless hands that were holding him back.
"How are you, Captain Klauswitz?"
The man approaching the driver's seat with a smile and greeted him. When Bastian didn't respond, he hurriedly removed his hat to reveal his face.
"Don't tell me you don't remember me."
The man shouting triumphantly was that night's gambler, Lady Odette's father.
"How dare you treat me coldly?"
Duke Dissen's enraged shout broke the tranquility of the garden.
"Okay then. I'm glad I don't have to explain."
When Bastian said with a delight smile, Duke Dissen's face flushed red. The man couldn't hide his emotions if his life depends on it.
It was natural that he could not avoid a crushing defeat on the gambling table.
"Get to the point, Duke."
Sitting cross-legged, Bastian slowly took out a cigarette and asked.
Duke Dissen glanced around him, fiercely considering his next words. In the meantime, there was a click, the sound of a lighter being pulled. Cigarette smoke slowly rose and scattered across the garden on the wind that stirred the tender leaves. It was a truly rude manner.
"I have no intention of giving my daughter to someone like you."
Duke Dissen declared firmly, hiding his stiff hands under the table. He intended to express his strong opposition first and then proceed to negotiations.
"No matter how much the world may have changed, it is unacceptable for the bloodline of a moneylender who used to pick up junk to covet the daughter of a princess!"
Duke Dissen showed appropriate anger by striking the table with all his might. Bastian, however, did not react as he expected. All he did was stare blankly at him and shake off the cigarette ash.
He's a dog.
The cuss words Bastian spat out as if he was humming low made it feel even more outrageous.
No way he dared to say such a thing to me!
While Duke Dissen, caught in bewilderment, denied the reality, Bastian straightened his back.
As if he was enjoying the Duke's outrage, feeding off his humiliation, he smiled gently as the Duke glared at him in utter disbelief.