Bastian
Chapter 5 - Marriage's talk

✧Marriage’s talk✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“You look exactly like your father,” After her strange staring ceased to haunt Odette the old lady finally spoke. Her eyes flickered with recognition. 

Odette felt a twinge of embarrassment at the old lady’s straightforward yet her face totally concealed the emotions.  This kind of reaction was nothing new to her, as most of the people in the imperial family who saw her would react in the same way. They disapproved of Odette, and her father’s face was the main reason why.

But the old lady’s words took a surprise turn. “I’m glad he passed something on to his daughter,” she said, her eyes taking on a fond glint. “After all, he was a man who turned the whole empire upside down with just that beautiful face.”

 The old lady looked around and her expression changed, her furrowed brow revealing her thoughts on the house they were in. 

Odette flashed her a startling glance as she was unable to disguise her humiliation. The strange old woman identified herself as the Countess of Trier, the cousin of the emperor, and entered without making eye contact before ringing her doorbell. 

The Countess was always composed and certain, despite the fact that it was a surprise visit from her.

As Countess Trier completed her search, she turned to Odette,  “What about the Duke of Dyssen?” she queried, her eyes piercing through Odette.

“Father is out, Countess,” Odette replied, her voice steady. “He will probably be very late.”

The Countess let out a sigh of relief, “It’s a relief that I don’t have to go through the pain of seeing that pathetic bastard.” She grabbed a teacup, and took out the tea leaves she had been saving, then poured herself a cup. But as she took a sip, her expression twisted as if she had drank filthy water.

Odette gently lowered her eyes and looked at the teacup in front of her. She thought it would be a little better with milk and sugar. Unfortunately, all the food was gone, and Odette couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. But before she could dwell on it, the Countess let out a long sigh and leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“I don’t want to go around in circles in this place for nothing, so I will come straight to the main point. A marriage offer has come to you,” the Countess announced, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “It’s like a groom introduced by the royal family.”

“A marriage? What do you mean?” With great embarrassment, Odette returned the question. She was worried, but it wasn’t about sad news; it was about surprising news.

“The emperor desired your marriage. That is why I came forward in person. He chose an elderly woman like me to act as your matchmaker rather than you.”

“Why has Your Majesty suddenly……? Why is that…?” Odette utter half-finished sentences in confusion. 

“You must be what they’re using to scare Isabelle away. Anyway, Bastian Klauswitz will be your husband. Congratulations! The imperial family matched him for you.” Countess Trier made a caustic remark to wrap up this discussion of marriage. 

Odette looked utterly unaware of the incident, judging by the expression on her bewildered face.

“So much had been decided for me yet a child leading such a life cannot possibly be informed of societal news.” Countess Trier shook her head and sighed deeply. She was fully aware of the movements of the deceased Duke of Dyssen’s family, but what she actually saw with her own eyes was far more horrific than she had anticipated. The shabby furnishings marked with the best care made the house look even more depressing, while the floors and windows were swept and cleaned to a brilliance.

Countess Trier imparted the Emperor’s command to wed the officer of humble origins, whom the beloved Princess Isabel held dear in her heart. “Well, a union of such a status, is unacceptable for one as esteemed as the Princess.” she spoke the truth of the matter.

The Klauswitz family, to which the officer belonged, was known for their refinement and sophistication. They came from a mercantile background, having built a successful business over the years despite their lack of titles. The family’s origins could be traced back to a humble grocery business that supplied the imperial family, and over time, they had grown to have a respectable network of contacts in the social world. 

The Klauswitz family had seen their fair share of both prosperity and hardship, but through it all, they had emerged as one of the empire’s most affluent and powerful families, known as the “Railroad Kings”.

Jeff Klauswitz, the head of the family in this generation, had not only established himself as a respected member of high society but had even taken a second wife from a prestigious aristocratic family. It was clear that the Klauswitz family’s rise to power had been due in no small part to Jeff Klauswitz’s efforts and acumen.

Despite all of this, Bastian Klauswitz, the eldest son of Jeff’s first wife, was viewed as an intruder in high society due to his “deplorable maternal ancestry.”

His first wife was the daughter of Carl Illis who started off as a slum-dwelling junk merchant and later became a well-known moneylender. The rumor that he was secretly amassing all the money was enough denied to be believed as fact, but the more he did, the more his reputation deteriorated. 

The antique dealer

The shadow that had hung over the name of the lowly moneylender, who had been Bastian’s grandfather all his life, now rested in the hands of the grandson he had raised. The nobility preferred the pejorative title of grandson of the antiquarian to the name Bastian Klauswitz, tainting his reputation with the stain of his grandfather’s past.

“Although he is the son of a rich family, it was wrong to become the heir because he was out of sight of his father. He probably has no choice but to live as a soldier for the rest of his life. He’s quite capable in that regard, so if he’s lucky, he might even get a job as a naval admiral.” Countess Trier, in her calm and collected tone, went on to explain further.

The Emperor had turned to Countess Trier, an old relative whom he had forgotten, because no one else was willing to take on the task. The grandson of an antique dealer and the daughter of an abandoned princess. The idea of such a union was met with disdain and disbelief.

“What kind of crazy royal family would want to dip their feet in this kind of dirty water?” Countess Trier herself would not have gotten involved in such a low-level matchmaking, had it not been for her deep friendship with the emperor. “To be honest, I think the emperor is wasting his time,” she thought. “Although Bastian is in a position where he is despised and ostracized in the social world, the grandson of an antique dealer makes a good groom. There’s no way he wants to be the son-in-law of someone like your father.”

As the Countess spoke, she grabbed the teacup, out of habit, but as soon as the cup touched her lips, the terrible taste of the tea disgusted her. Odette, who had been watching her, quietly got up and went to the kitchen. After a while, she returned with a glass of water on a tray.

Countess Trier looked at Odette with amazement, her eyes widening with gratitude as she took a sip of the refreshing water. Odette’s small act of kindness had not gone unnoticed, and it served as a reminder that even in the midst of the harsh realities of the social world, there were still moments of compassion and generosity.

She was a young girl who appeared to be floating in thin when she walked. At first glance, she thought she looked like a dancer because of her lean, slender frame and well balanced posture.

“Then Countess, can you convey my wishes to His Majesty.” Odette immediately emptied the warm water before posing a cautious query.

Countess Trier laughed while furrowing one brow. “Do you truly believe you can reject this discussion of marriage?”

“I’m positive it is pointless.”

“Be at ease. You weren’t asked by the emperor to wed. It’s a command. “ The Countess of Trier folded her arms freely while clicking her tongue.

Odette’s voice rose in frustration and disbelief, “You mean I have to see the officer knowing  I will be rejected?” she shouted, her eyes filled with hurt.

“I’m glad you’re not a stupid kid.” Countess Trier’s response was cold and matter-of-fact,

“Why do I have to comply with unreasonable demands?” Odette exclaimed, her voice filled with anger.

“Because you are the daughter of Duke Dyssen and Helen,” Countess Trier replied, her tone unyielding.

Odette’s parents were a mark of atrocities committed by a selfish and foolish lover, a filthy stain on the imperial family. Countess Trier did not try to hide the sincerity behind her words. It was harsh to ask the children for the sins of their parents, but the emperor’s opinion also had some validity.

“And, my dear, Odette.  It seems to me that this is also a golden opportunity for you,” Countess Trier continued, her tone softening. “You will never have the luck in your life to find a better husband than Bastian.”

“But Countess. I never…I never thought about getting married,” Odette protested, her voice trembling.

Countess Trier looked at Odette with a faint pity in her eyes, “I understand. You grew up watching a father like that, so that’s understandable.” she said, with an empathetic voice. “But can’t you live in a house like this beggar’s den and working as a maid for the rest of your life?”

As she spoke, Countess Trier slowly rose from her seat and approached Odette. “Let’s try it somewhere,” she said, her voice filled with encouragement. A hand in a soft silk glove wrapped around Odette’s pale cheek, offering soft comfort and needed support.

Her eyelashes were so long that they cast a trembling shadow whenever she blink. Odette had a cool demeanor like an elderly person who had seen it all, but her eyes were completely pure. That dissonance produced a very powerful mood.

The wrinkled mouth of the Countess Trier cracked a delighted smile as she appraised the face like a skilled appraiser.

“Who’s to know? Maybe the grandson of a garbage trader is a man who can be blinded by a single woman’s face.”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Butler Loris, standing at attention at the grand entrance of the mansion, greeted his master with a polite bow. “Are you here, Master?”

Bastian, his eyes briefly glancing at the servant, made his way up the grand staircase of the home, his steps heavy with the weariness of a late night.

The banquet held at the naval headquarters had stretched well into the early hours of the morning, its pretense of boosting morale among the officers nothing more than a thinly veiled excuse for frivolous laughter and meaningless jests. Though the undercurrent of sharp politics was ever-present, Bastian had indulged in the offered drinks and merriment, knowing that as long as he was to don the uniform for a few more years, it was best to maintain amicable relations with all sides.

“You got a call from Mrs. Gross,” Loris’s voice as he trailed Bastian closely, disrupting the silence of the night. “She asked you to call her as soon as you learned this news in a message that she left for you.” Bastian nodded softly and moved along the empty hallway, knowing that his aunt had heard the idea of marriage.

However, Bastian was ready for more surprises that night. The butler, Loris, rushed to unlock the bedroom door, “And a letter addressed to you has arrived.” He continued, “This is a letter from Lady Odette,” 

“Lady Odette?” Bastian had just taken off his tailcoat jacket when the butler mentioned the unexpected name. The memory of the high-ranking lady introduced by the Emperor coming back to him.

“Yes, Master, It’s the name of the emperor’s niece.” Loris quickly added, taking Bastian’s clothes.

“Ah. That lady.” Bastian gave his loose bow-tie to his butler and slowly made his way towards the table. A pale blue envelope sealed with wax lay neatly on top of the cigarette box.

It was the etiquette of nobles to wait for a high-ranking lady to make contact with them first. Bastian, despite his desires, decided to abide by this rule. Of course, what he truly wanted was for her to never make contact. But fate had other plans, as Bastian unexpectedly met the subject of her marriage in an unexpected place already.

The navy admiral Marquis Demel sought Bastian immediately. He claimed to have an urgent order to deliver.

After leaving the polo club and learning the news, Bastian went straight to Demel’s mansion without even getting dressed. Without even imagining such a ridiculous piece of news would be waiting.

The emperor’s plan to introduce the daughter of the Duke Dyssen to Bastian, using his close friend, Admiral Demel, as a go-between, was wrapped up in the guise of a reward for a hero, but it was ultimately an order, a strict command. At first, the absurdity of the situation made Bastian’s head spin, but as he came to terms with it, the absurdity became unbearably comical.

With a chuckle, Bastian undid his cufflinks, understanding the emperor’s reasoning. It must be because of that troublesome child, Princess Isabelle. It was an insult, but Bastian did not object. Even the emperor could not force him to marry. Therefore, it was best to show enough sincerity to save the emperor’s face and then sort things out.

“Good job. Just rest,” Bastian ordered as he opened the cigarette box, a regretful look on his face for not being able to fully complete his task. Loris, his butler, quietly withdrew without commenting, understanding his master’s needs.

Bastian lit a cigarette and walked over to the window, clutching the woman’s note between his fingers. A pleasant breeze penetrated the room as he opened the window, temporarily causing him to forget that he was intoxicated.

Bastian looked in the direction of the wind. In the garden, spring flowers blossomed, transforming a dried dessert into a garden of Eden. 

The former owner of this townhouse was a well-known nobleman, and it had a beautiful garden. He had a thorough understanding of horticulture thanks to the former owner’s preferences.

Bastian cautiously lowered his attention to the letter in his palm when enough time had passed for the small irritation to fade. A name in clear handwriting that appeared to belong to the woman was written on the front of the envelope in the lower right corner.

Bastian gave the name a blank look and laughed.  In the gentler night breeze, the smoke that emanated from his glossy lips faded away into thin air. 

“Odette Theresia Marie-Lore Charlotte von Dysen. “ Bastian read the lengthy name while humming a song’s tune. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“Lady Odette” He recited her name once again. 

“That woman got a name of a royal, indeed” he uttered to himself. 

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