What a strange man.
No matter how much she thought about it, that was the only conclusion Odette could draw.
Bastian approached the piano and stared at the music sheet in silence for a long time. His gaze was so serious that one wondered if he had a deep knowledge of music.
"I left a message for you to go to bed first. Perhaps you didn't see Dora?"
In the midst of burdensome silence, Odette spoke first.
"I know. I got the message."
Even at the moment of answering, Bastian's eyes were on the sheet music.
"Then why... ."
"Just."
Bastian's hand, which was touching the piano, pressed the shiny white keys.
"I couldn't sleep."
The black keys were next.
Eventually, Bastian turned his head to look at Odette, a faint smile on his lips. It was a completely different situation than Odette expected to be criticized for breaking his bedtime routine.
"I'm sorry. It took a while because I didn't have enough practice, but I didn't expect to inconvenience you. I will make sure this doesn't happen again next time."
Embarrassed, Odette was the first to apologize. Bastian raised his eyebrows slightly, then turned his gaze back to the sheet music.
"What is this?"
Bastian's hand, which had released the keyboard, pointed to the sheet music. It was the location of the music symbol on the top row of the music sheet.
"It's a trill."
It was an incomprehensible question, but Odette gave a calm answer first.
"Trill?"
Bastian repeated the name of the unfamiliar word.
Trill.
Odette took a step closer while she familiarized herself with the cryptic name next to the small note.
"Is this the sound of those waves?"
Bastian lowered his eyes and studied Odette's profile as she stood by his side in front of the piano.
"Waves?"
Looking at Bastian with wide, round eyes, Odette soon smiled in admiration.
"Are you referring to this part?"
Odette's hands on the keyboard began to play a trill. It was that gentle wave-like melody that remained in Bastian's memory.
"Trills are ornamental sounds."
"Ornamental."
"Yes. The piano has a short duration of notes."
Odette pressed a key as if to prove that fact. Even though she pressed it with force, the sound soon faded away.
"But if you want this note to last longer, do this."
Odette started the trill again on the keyboard where the sound had disappeared. It was a way of playing by repeatedly hitting the key from before, the key next to it, and the key next to it quickly as if rolling.
"I decorate it with the notes next to it and keep this note going."
Odette took her hands off the keyboard and stepped back to the side of the piano.
"Would you like to try it?"
"Me?"
Odette nodded calmly as she looked at Bastian who asked back as if Odette had asked an absurd question.
Even though he was dumbfounded, Bastian quietly raised his hand on the keyboard. He moved his fingers to imitate Odette, but the sound he made was far from a calm wave. Was it a raging wave?
When Bastian, suddenly laughing at himself, let go of the keyboard, Odette clapped in formal applause.
"It's not bad at all." Odette told a skillful lie.
"I think it's as good as my shooting skills."
She had a talent for dismissing it kindly.
As Bastian chuckled, Odette's lips also drew a soft arc. The time they gazed at each other comfortably
came to an end with Margrete's intrusion.
Standing between them, Margrete began growling at Bastian.
"You can't do that, Margrete."
Embarrassed, Odette scolded the dog, but Margrete did not back down. Now, with her teeth bared, she was wary of Bastian.
"I'm sorry. I think it's because Meg is still afraid of you."
Odette hurriedly settled the situation by picking up Margrete. She didn't add that it would get better with time. There would be no time for Margrete and Bastian to get closer. In fact, there was no reason to do so. When her thoughts reached that point, her mind, which had been cluttered all day, was organized.
She was curious why Bastian hadn't said anything.
All day her head filled with questions about Bastian's overseas assignment. How short the time that had left.
As Margrete calmed down, a deeper silence descended. Fortunately, Bastian did not show much displeasure.
Relieved, Odette put Margrete down and arranged the sheet music. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the note that Bastian was interested in, but she did not take it to heart.
Odette also liked trills. Especially when she was little. She thought the effort to sustain a beautiful moment was endearing. It was a very young girl's impression.
Odette eventually closed the lid of the piano and faced Bastian. The day after the shooting lesson, Bastian gave her the rifle she had used for practice. Odette's refusal was not accepted. She seemed to understand now what he meant when he told her to take it because she would need it.
Perhaps providing her a measure of protection was Bastian's last gift. If so, that was something she was deeply grateful for. Odette wanted to have a good ending, keeping only that feeling. It was also the last gift Odette wanted to give to the man who had shown her greater favors and consideration than anyone else in the world.
Looking at the truly strange, but still generous man, Odette smiled slowly.
"It's getting late. Let's go back now."
***
It was just past noon when the letter was delivered.
The midday sun was illuminating the Ardennes Bay, but the hostess's bedroom, with thick curtains closed, was dark. In that cave-like room, where time was hard to tell, Theodora Klauswitz was lazily tipping her glass. In her other hand, she was holding a half-burnt pipe.
"Madam!"
Susan, who sighed, spoke urgently. Theodora then turned her head and looked at her maid. You could tell just by looking at her unfocused eyes that she was already very drunk.
Since it became known that Bastian Klauswitz had taken away the right to build railroads from her husband, this kind of scene had been playing out every day. The servants felt like walking on thin ice every day.
"The Duke of Dissen wrote a letter to you, madam."
Susan first delivered the main point. Her sister, the Duke's caretaker, had visited her.
She wanted to inform Duke Dissen's activities. Susan thought that her sister would be rambling about trivial nonsense, but this
time it was a letter that seemed quite usable.
"A letter?"
Theodora raised her body from her slouching form from the long chair and grabbed the letter.
The carelessly torn envelope was soon thrown beside her empty wine glass.
Susan guarded the side of the chair impatiently while the sound of papers rattling continued. She hoped and prayed that there would be at least one useful piece of information in it.
Looking helpless like a loser did not sit well with Theodora Klauswitz.
Susan wished with all her heart that the day would soon come when her master, her dearest friend and sister in the world, could open those curtains wide.
Theodora had given her all for the man she loved and for this family. The end should not have been so miserable and futile.
"Turn off the music."
Theodora commanded, putting down the letter she had been reading.
Susan hurriedly ran to the other end of the bedroom and turned the power off. Meanwhile, Theodora, who had risen from her chair, opened the curtains.
Putting back on her half-removed gown, Theodora approached the window, clutching the letter from the table. Susan watched her in silence.
As Theodora read the letter from the Duke of Dissen, her wrinkles deepened. There was no trace of a helpless drunkard anywhere on the frighteningly serious face.
After a while, Theodora took her eyes off the letter and gazed at the mansion across the sea with bloodshot eyes.
And when she turned her head again, Theodora laughed.
It was a laugh of a victor that Susan loved.
***
"Can I go on vacation this weekend?"
As the meal was about to end, Odette asked an outrageous question.
Bastian raised his gaze while holding the teacup loosely. Odette was sitting gracefully waiting for an answer.
"A vacation?"
"Yes. If I don't have a special schedule, I'd like to take a couple of days off."
"Have I ever promised you a vacation?"
Understanding his meaning, Odette's eyes narrowed.
"No, you didn't, but….… A normal employment contract guarantees vacation time."
"It would if I had signed a contract to hire a maid."
Bastian laughed in amazement. His wife was transformed into a more capable servant day by day. It was a talent that wouldn't hurt to aim for success as a governess rather than a tutor.
"Of course I know it's not like that contract."
Odette, who was deep in thought, nodded her head slightly.
"I'm sorry if it was a difficult request."
After briefly apologizing, Odette resumed her meal nonchalantly. If it didn't affect her in any way then why did she bring it up? Bastian couldn't understand it.
What was the matter?
As if looking for a clue, Bastian recalled his memories. It was a morning like no other.
He woke up at the same time and left Odette's bedroom. He went to his room to wash, shave, and get ready for work when he heard a knock. It was Odette, the crappy astrologer.
As always, the egg fortune telling was just good today. A day to achieve goals with determination as high as a mountain.
Bastian was determined to find out Odette's true feelings.
"Tell me, Odette."
Checking the time, Bastian delivered the main point without wasting any time. Odette, who was eating the remaining eggs and coffee, raised her head in surprise.
"Is there a problem?"
The question, imbued with quiet power, seeped into the morning light.