Bastian
Chapter 24 - His Real Lover

✧ His Real Lover✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

As the sun set, Bastian Klauswitz had completed a hefty shopping list. He meticulously picked out every item from 1 to 10. Odette, meanwhile, merely shadowed his steps, dutifully taking measurements and serving as his silent muse. The finishing touches included fashionable extras such as hats, gloves, and shoes.

“Ah, wait!” Madame Sabine halted the duo as they rose from their seats. Digging through a mound of silk and chiffon, she discovered a lost pen. “Lady Odette, may I have your address so I may inform you when your order is ready?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with a hint of excitement at the prospect of delivering the much-anticipated attire.

Odette calmly accepted the pen from Madame Sabine and said, “Indeed, Ma’am. “ As the sun slowly fell below the horizon, the sound of the nib scraping on the paper filled the dressing room’s warm warmth. Odette handed over the address book and made a polite request, “This is the address of a reliable relative who manages my affairs.” Despite the brief appearance of surprise, Madame Sabine politely held off on asking any additional questions.

“Shall we depart?” Bastian rose from his seat, offering Odette his hand with a debonair smile. Despite her inner turmoil, Odette took his hand without hesitation. After all, this was not just any ordinary business transaction, but a delicate dance of duties and responsibilities. She was determined not to fall behind, or be in debt to Bastian in any way.

With a firm resolve, Odette clasped Bastian’s proffered arm and stepped out of the dressing room. The team of discreet attendants, who had carefully packed their ready-to-go items, followed silently in tow. The trunk and passenger seat of the opulent vehicle overflowed with the first installment of their order, a mere fraction of the grand plan they had set in motion.

The staff bid farewell with gracious goodbyes as they loaded the final bags into the vehicle. The pedestrians who had gathered to admire the grand parade of sumptuous gift boxes, now hastened to follow in its wake.

“It will be difficult for us to eat dinner together because I have a prior commitment.”  Bastian started talking while everything was quiet.

As she looked upon Bastian, Odette’s countenance was devoid of any hint of emotion. It was as though she had already anticipated and rejected a dinner invitation before it had even been extended. Determined to keep her feelings in check, Odette mustered the courage to firmly decline Bastian’s offer, even if it meant spending the evening alone.

“Step back into the vehicle, Lady Odette. Hans will escort you home.” Bastian spoke with a firm voice.

“But what about you, Captain?” Odette asked, looking up at him.

“I’ll stroll on over. The destination is just a stone’s throw away and it’s quicker that way,” Bastian replied, nodding towards a grand edifice across the bustling street. The Reinfeld Hotel, a place where their tumultuous first encounter had taken place.

Before Odette could utter a word, the chauffeur stepped forward, holding open the car door with a courteous smile. Though the thought was unsettling, there seemed to be no way to decline. It would be foolish to attempt lugging all that luggage on her own, anyway. The more she pondered, the more absurd the notion became.

With a graceful dip of her head, Odette expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Captain.” She stood with her hands demurely clasped, showing her appreciation.

In a mere matter of hours, the Captain had lavished more on her than the Dyssen family could spend in an entire year. While he may have claimed it was for his own appearance and prestige, the truth was, everything was being given to Odette.

Odette reluctantly bent in submission, her mind trying to avoid thoughts of Bastian’s enigmatic emotions. The atmosphere was extremely heavy with an unspoken tension, and she yearned to escape it at all costs. She quickly straightened herself, eager to break the awkward silence. With a burst of determination, she hastened towards the car. 

Bastian moved with fluid grace, just as the driver settled into his seat and revved the engine to life. Suddenly, a sharp rap on the window caused the driver to jump in surprise. He spun around to see Bastian, with a commanding presence, leaning against the car’s window.

“Unload every last piece of luggage at the Dyssen residence before you depart,” Bastian commanded, with a melodious voice through the partially open car window. “These gifts are sure to impress even the most discerning Duke. Don’t you agree, Lady Odette?”

With his eyes gleaming like diamonds in the waning light, Bastian fixed his attention on the startled Odette. Her breath caught in her throat at the warmth emanating from his smile, as soft as a June breeze.

“Agreeing,” Odette reassured the man with a voice devoid of feeling. Despite the embarrassment and discomfort that lingered, like the prick of a thousand needles, she couldn’t deny the truth in Bastian’s words. “No need to fret,” she continued, “I was set to follow the Captain’s command to a tee.”

“Excellent, Lady Odette, your way with words is a blessing,” Bastian said, his posture erect and proud. With a graceful bow of his head, he signaled his intention to depart. 

Odette, lost in thought, gazed at her fingertips, only to be jolted from her reverie as the vehicle took a sharp turn onto a bustling street. The city was alive with activity on this bustling weekend evening, a sea of people and carriages, now joined by the growing throngs of automobiles. Her abode was within spitting distance, but the gridlocked main street seemed to stretch on forever. That’s when the man offered a solution, suggesting they alight and hoof it. 

“Ah, today’s the day of a star-studded opera performance,” the driver mused, stealing a glance at the rear-view mirror. “Traffic’s a nightmare, but with a cast of renowned vocalists, it’s no wonder the show is a hit.”

“Do not worry, I am in excellent shape,” Odette smiled weakly, her gaze fixed on the street beyond the car window. As the leisurely rolling vehicle finally approached the grand Reinfeld Hotel, she caught sight of Bastian waiting outside. 

He was soon joined by a sleek black car, just as opulent as the one Odette was in, and without hesitation, Bastian stepped forward to assist a lady from the vehicle. Odette couldn’t help but recognize the regal, red-haired woman, Sandrine, the Countess Lenart, who held a special place in Bastian’s heart as his true paramour.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Sandrine seems to be growing increasingly restless,” Duke Laviere spoke, his tone measured and reserved. “However, I long for the two of you to come together in a way that is graceful and complete.” Time had passed, and the Duke’s demeanor was vastly different from when they had discussed the intricate details of their joint venture’s railway operations and stock portfolio.

“I also think the same,” Bastian replied with alacrity, assuaging the Duke’s concerns. Laviere, who had been a ball of nerves throughout dinner, finally erupted in peals of laughter, his tension finally dissipating.

“I must say, I’m thoroughly impressed by your unwavering composure,” Duke Laviere enthused, finally able to voice his worries about his daughter. “You possess the kind of level-headedness that acts as a sturdy bulwark against Sandrine’s emotional tendencies.” Dinner had been interrupted by Sandrine’s impulsive behavior, but now, the Duke could freely express his anxieties.

Bastian kept quiet as he listened. Even though the Duke’s distinctive accent made it difficult for him to comprehend, he decided against asking.

Duke Laviere had no intention of extending mercy to the homosexual ex-husband of his daughter, Sandrine. He had destroyed her life through a fraudulent marriage and retribution would come in the form of maximum alimony. Remarriage would only be possible after this matter was dealt with. 

“Kindly comprehend the stance of our family and exercise patience,” Duke Laviere implored.

Ultimately, this was the crux of the matter and Bastian was in broad agreement. The small price he had to pay was a trifle compared to the immense reward that lay ahead. 

“My sincerest thanks for safeguarding my daughter’s dignity,” Duke Laviere sincerely expressed his appreciation, after their lengthy discussion.

Honor was a word  seemed vastly inappropriate for Sandrine. 

She saw her husband’s male lover as a weakness, demanded a divorce, and was openly pursuing the next man. Sandrine was now likely lying in the arms of her latest lover, gossiping about her father and her remarried partner Bastian, who remained blissfully unaware of her true intentions.

Her current flame was a substitute singer at the opera house, just like the unknown painter from last season and the dancer from the suburban theater before that. These third-rate artists were all mediocre in talent and youth, but ultimately harmless. 

The public was well aware of Sandrine’s escapades and it was a minor deviation accepted with the silent approval of society. Bastian shared this view, seeing it as a trivial matter.

Sandrine was a woman of exceptional wit, and she understood the true nature of love and relationships. She was a refreshing departure from the emotional and problematic women he had encountered before, and Bastian was grateful for her unique perspective. 

Despite her many lovers, he knew that her love for him was genuine and that it transcended the physical bonds she shared with other men. He was also aware that her love for him was true and existed in a separate universe from the men who warmed her bed.

With a heart overflowing with gratitude, Bastian thanked the Duke Laviere for his understanding and acceptance of Bastian’s friendship with the Duke’s beloved daughter. “I am sincerely thankful to the Duke for acknowledging and valuing my bond with your daughter.”

As the Duke took his leave, memories of that fateful day came rushing back, cast in the warm glow of the streetlamps that illuminated the city at night. The image of Odette’s father, so filled with love for his only daughter, was at the forefront of Bastian’s mind.

Duke Dyssen was a heartless and unfeeling father, who cared little for his daughter. He was skilled in the art of deceit and would sell his daughter to the highest bidder without a second thought.

As Bastian wandered the streets at night, his thoughts turned to Lady Odette. He wondered if her life would have been any different had she been blessed with a loving and supportive father. It was impossible to imagine Odette living a life like Sandrine’s.

Despite her father’s shortcomings, Odette von Dyssen was not one to be taken advantage of. She was not the type to devise a scheme and fight back against those who wronged her. Instead, she would endure the injustice with grace, much like she had put up with her father’s numerous flaws for so long.

She put on a facade of being aloof on such matters, but in reality, she was a woman of great reputation who shone brighter than anyone else.

By the time Bastian’s thoughts had taken him down that path, he had already arrived at the corner of the road where his house stood. And that was when a gut feeling told him that something was amiss.

The sight that greeted him confirmed his suspicion – a large group of police officers were milling about near his townhouse, and there were far too many of them to be just a routine patrol. The horses, especially, drew his attention. One horse, in particular, with its fine stallion and saddle, stood out from the rest. This was no ordinary police horse, but one reserved for the royal kings guard.

Bastian’s fears were confirmed as soon as the door to his townhouse was opened. In the wake of the recent ball, where the imperial princess had caused a stir, suspicious individuals had taken to prowling around his home. The presence of the kings guard was a clear indication that something was happening wrong. 

It was Admiral Demel who caught wind of the truth – that they were the undercover Imperial Guard. He warned Bastian that the Emperor had his eyes fixed on him and advised him to steer clear of the princess.

A heavy silence settled over him as he wondered why the Emperor was taking such an interest in him now. With a deep breath, Bastian reached for the doorbell, suppressing the unanswerable questions that threatened to boil over.

A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing the pale butler, Lovis.

“Master, there is a serious problem!” Lovis’s hand shook wildly on the doorknob. “Her Highness, the Princess has arrived…,” his voice trailed off, but Bastian didn’t need any further clarification. The gravity of the situation was all too clear.

“Bastian!” A young woman dressed in maid’s attire burst forth from behind Lovis, and to Bastian’s shock, it was none other than Isabelle, the Emperor’s troublesome daughter.

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