Outbuilding construction. Additional furniture and paintings that needed to be purchased. Invitations that needed to be replied to as soon as possible.
Odette calmly reported on living in the Ardennes mansion.
It wasn't until the names of the flowers and trees to be planted in the garden of the outbuilding began to be mentioned that Bastian understood what Odette's purpose was.
"The madam contacted me."
These days, the butler often delivered such news. Odette talked about business over the phone, and Lovis relayed it to Bastian.
Now Bastian knew why she had never called him directly. Because she always carefully picked the times when Bastian was away to call so she wouldn't have to talk to him.
But because Bastian coincidentally came home early from work today, Odette's plan didn't work.
– Yes. And the piano arrived today.
After a brief pause, Odette started chattering about trivial chores again.
"Piano?"
Bastian asked in a tired voice as he looked at the watch on his wrist. Quite a bit of time had already passed for an intermission.
– Yes. The piano in the solarium.
Odette's voice radiated unprecedented vitality as she explained how wonderful the instrument was.
Bastian tried to remember if he had ever ordered such a thing, but he couldn't remember anything.
Decorating the new house was left entirely to the interior decorator. He was the best in the empire at finding expensive and luxurious items, and that was enough.
No matter where and what he bought, Bastian had no intention of doing anything more than writing checks.
"Why?"
Bastian asked dryly. Now, just as the call was about to become irritating, Odette finally got to the point.
– Is it okay if I use the piano?
"Why are you asking me that?"
– Because it's yours. If you bought it with another owner in mind, I won't touch it.
Odette was very prudent and cautious.
Belatedly recognizing the identity of the other owner his wife had mentioned, Bastian let out a sigh of laughter. It was suddenly funny to him that the woman who behaved so fiercely would notice Sandrine. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling.
"Whatever is there, I am not interested. Do as you please."
– ah… okay.
"Is that a good enough answer?"
– Yes. Thank you, Bastian. I will use it carefully.
Odette's tone subtly changed. The tone was still businesslike, but there was still a hint of joy that could not be hidden.
– Hey, Bastian.
Odette whispered his name, her voice softer.
– I'm thinking of going out to Lutz tomorrow. Because I need sheet music.
"And?"
– What do you think?
"If I said no, would you give up on going?"
-Unfortunately, yes.
"Why?"
– Because I don't want to do anything that displeases you.
Odette didn't hesitate for a moment to say something that wasn't in her heart.
Bastian smiled defenselessly and fixed the handset.
His gaze, no longer looking at his watch, turned to the garden beyond the golden sunlight-bright windows. The breeze was sweet.
It was the scent of golden oaks that announced the end of summer.
Ever since that day, Odette worked hard to pretend to be a fool.
He didn't know what kind of calculations she had, but they weren't working very well. Still, he played along moderately because he had no time to pay attention to this woman right now.
When his father, who was startled by the surprise declaration of war, reorganized his battle lines, Bastian also stepped out to face the enemy.
The big moves were already set up, but fine coordination was needed according to the opponent's response. It takes a cunning snare to deceive.
With plenty of time to play, he predicted that there would be no need to rush, but an unexpected variable intervened and disrupted the plan.
Admiral Demmel insinuated that the emperor was concerned about Bastian and his wife.
The distance between Lutz and Ardennes was not too far, and the emperor thought it was strange for a newly married couple to stay apart.
He advised not to allow rumors to spread, but in reality it was nothing more than an imperial order conveyed through the mouth of Admiral Demel.
In order to reassure the suspicious emperor, it seemed that Bastian had to finish the company work as soon as possible.
"Tomorrow at 12. Come to the Admiralty."
Bastian conveyed the order in a calm tone.
– Do you mean you want us to meet?
Odette's puzzled voice broke the silence.
"It's hard for me to be away for a long time, but maybe we can have lunch together."
– You don't have to do that. I'll just buy the sheet music and come back.
"I'll tell the entrance checkpoint, so tell them my name."
Bastian made the situation clear, leaving no argument. Admiral Demel was the eyes and ears of the emperor. There was nothing wrong with letting them see that he (Bastian) was still loyal to him, wagging his tail.
-… Yes. Okay.
Although she seemed reluctant, Odette obeyed nonetheless.
– By the way, Bastian, can I ask you one thing?
"Tell me."
– It's going to be a little difficult to get into the Admiralty. It's very unfamiliar and awkward... I'd like to change the meeting place if possible. What do you think?
"Then let's meet at the fountain in front of the main entrance to the Admiralty."
Bastian offered an alternative. After some pointless deliberation, Odette muttered a small yes.
"Tomorrow at 12. The fountain in front of the Admiralty."
Having confirmed the appointment, Bastian put the receiver down. As he turned around, rubbing her throbbing eyes and temples, he heard the sound of the bell announcing the hour.
The short break was over in no time.
***
"It's truly awful. How long do we have to live like this!"
Theodora Klauswitz drew the curtains with a nervous cry. The beautiful seascape that was once the pride of this mansion disappeared behind the thick cloth.
Putting down the book he was reading for a moment, Franz let out a deep sigh and raised his head. His mother was nervously pacing around the room, smoking a cigarette.
Ever since Bastian's mansion across the bay was revealed, his mother had been living in extreme anxiety and anger. As her excruciating pain took over, her dependence on alcohol and cigarettes naturally increased as well. She didn't look very classy.
"Trust father. He is determined to solve it, so he will soon come up with a solution."
Franz comforted his mother, desperately hiding his disillusionment.
"You always talk about this tragedy as someone else's problem."
"I am worried too, mother. I am just being restrained."
"Then don't live with useless books and help your father. Now is not the time to be so carefree!"
The arrow of accusation turned. Disillusioned, Franz patiently endured his mother's nagging.
"Could he (Bastian) be thinking of remarrying the daughter of the snake-like Duke of Pelia after using the daughter of the beggar duke to make connections?"
After his mother had poured her heart out, she began to fantasize again.
"No matter how insane he is, he wouldn't do such a thing to the emperor's niece (Odette)."
"The emperor's niece is well-spoken. In fact, she's a slob with no power. There's no reason for Bastian not to throw her away. Besides, he's Jeff Klauswitz's son!"
Theodora picked up the cup with the hand that had put down the cigarette.
"I shouldn't have cared about reputation and should have nipped it in the bud. Your father was stupid. He was raising a monster while trying to make a justification to get rid of him (Bastian). It's terrible."
Theodora swallowed the stabilizer along with the poisonous liquor and sat back on the sofa as if collapsing.
"By the way, Franz. It's kind of weird. Everyone knows that they are newlyweds who are in love with each other, but their servants say something different."
"What are you talking about?"
"Although Bastian visits Ardennes every weekend, he always has a different room. A virile young man with a wife like that wouldn't do that. Seeing that Pelia bitch can't use her legs, there's no way she has a problem with her lower body."
"Mother! Did you even do such a dirty background investigation?"
Franz stood up from his seat with a straight face. The wind knocked down the book and rolled it over the colorful patterned carpet. But Theodora didn't even snort at him and picked up the cigarette again.
"Yes, my dear. May you bloom as a noble flower of our family. As for the mud, I'll lie in it for you."
Theodora looked at her son with a softer gaze.
"I gave my whole life to protect your father. So you, the history of that love, will be sure to be protected. You just need to know that. And please don't disappoint your father. Please."
"Father is a man who is prepared to be disappointed no matter what I do."
"The more he does that, the more effort you have to make. Why don't you meet up with Ella? How happy your father is to have an in-law relationship with Count Klein. Make sure to hold on to your fiancée. Go to work and learn."
"Father devoted his whole life to becoming a nobleman, but as the heir to a family with noble blood, he is anxious to make me a merchant."
"Franz. The world is changing!"
Theodora sighed deeply and approached her son.
"A nobleman who has no money line can no longer be a nobleman. Isn't it like that just by looking at Bastian's wife? Even with that noble blood, they live like that. But you are different. Your father's estate and my lineage. You, who inherited all of them, are the perfect aristocrat of the new era."
"But I…"
"You can do it. I know. Yes? Huh?"
Theodora's hand that gripped Franz's shoulder was filled with hot power.
"Yes, Mother."
Franz finally gave the only answer allowed to him today. Theodora smiled contentedly and soon fell asleep.
Franz called the servants to take his mother to her bedroom. As soon as the hustle and bustle subsided, the sun began to set.
Returning to his room, Franz went out onto the balcony facing the bay and let out a long sigh. The outline of the mansion on the other side of the rose-tinted sea was faintly visible. It was where the woman, Odette, was.
Approaching the railing, Franz gently wrapped his hand around the small piece of gold foil that he had tucked deep in his vest pocket.
On the fateful encounter, they had tea together at the gallery. The owner of the gallery, eager to please the buyers, ordered all sorts of cookies and cakes, but all Odette put to her lips was a piece of chocolate.
It was an impulsive choice to secretly acquire its wrapper. He felt shame, no regrets.
What are you doing now?
Franz thought of Odette, feeling the gold foil against his fingertips.
He wanted to gaze endlessly at that face of ideal beauty. He wanted to share his heart. He wanted to love her.
By the time his hot breath subsided, a thick dusk fell.
After leaving the balcony, Franz unfolded the notebook he had hidden on the desk. It was an art book filled with only drawings of Odette.
Franz started drawing Odette on the last remaining page as well. The sound of the pencil scratching the paper did not stop until the darkness deepened.