Chapter 49

After taking a shower, the fatigue intensified.

Bastian left the bathroom, tying the strings of his loose gown. His disheveled hair was still damp, but he didn't have the energy to worry about it.

He couldn't remember the last time he had a good night's sleep.

He had been forcing himself to finish the work ahead of schedule. It was a series of days where he took a nap when he felt unbearably drowsy, ate obligatory meals, and then went back to work.

Slowly opening his unconsciously closed eyes, Bastian approached the door leading to his wife's bedroom. It was only 9 o'clock now. It was early for bed, but he wanted to rest today. If he threw himself on the bed like this, it seemed that he could sleep as deeply as death for several days.

That's it.

Bastian determined and entered the passageway connecting the two rooms.

He cast a bait he had painstakingly prepared, so all he had to do was wait for his father to bite it. The preparations for the naval festival were already in the final stages.

So now there was only one mission left, the perfect portrayal of the sweet newlyweds.

That was why he accepted the honeymoon vacation offered by Admiral Demel. An elaborate lie would be needed to fool the suspicious Crown Prince of Belov. That would have been the most practical way to use the leeway he had finally created.

Arriving at the other end of the dimly lit passageway, Bastian calmly knocked. Odette's answer was heard at the same time as the water droplets on the tip of his wet hair fell on the bridge of his nose.

"Yes. Come in."

Odette's voice was as soft as singing, showing no sign of surprise.

Bastian opened the door with a hand that had wiped the water from his face.

Odette was waiting for him at the window. The light that filled the room dyed the pale woman a warm hue.

"What are you going to say?"

Odette wrapped the lace shawl around her shoulders and asked a calm question.

"None."

After giving an unexpected answer, Bastian crossed the room. His sleepy eyes were even redder than at dinner. His slow body movements were also different from usual.

"Then what are you here for?"

Odette tried very hard not to be emotional. However, Bastian broke down that strong wall with a single word.

"To sleep."

After giving an unbelievable answer, Bastian approached the bed. Odette's eyes widened when she realized the significance of that action.

"You don't mean that we're going to share the same bed?"

"Why do you bother asking when you know?"

Without hesitation, Bastian climbed onto the bed and looked at Odette while leaning deeply into the head cushion.

"… I don't understand." Odette faced Bastian with a stiff face. After catching her breath, Odette calmly continued.

"I understood that because of Crown Prince Belov's visit, the day we live together has come forward. And also we need to appear more intimate and friendly."

Bastian informed her of his actions only after the work had already been carried out by surprise. It was disrespectful, but she didn't voice it.

After all, it would be foolish to be ridiculed by mentioning the courtesy of a married couple while the contract was already signed anyway.

Employee and employer.

Odette intended to be faithful to their relationship as defined by Bastian. Therefore, she did not ask about Sandrine's business and obeyed the unilateral order. However, this was a request outside of that category.

"However?"

Gently closing his eyes, Bastian asked in response. There was a clear hint of fatigue in his low, locked voice. Surprisingly, he was exhausted. Another unbelievable fact further perplexed Odette.

"I will gladly cooperate with you. But Bastian, is it necessary to do this? We've been using our own bedrooms for some time now, and there's been no noise."

Odette asked for pardon as politely as possible. Bastian opened his eyes around the time when the weight of silence began to grow heavy.

"What if a problem arises at the most critical time? Can you take responsibility?" (Bastian)

"That… ."

Bastian's eyes sharpened as he stared at Odette, who was unable to speak.

"Perhaps there are already rumors about the Klauswitz couple living in separate rooms. It just hasn't gotten big enough to come to the surface yet." (Bastian)

Bastian reached over to the bedside table and turned off the lamp.

The sleepiness that had passed its limit was now accompanied by a terrible headache. He felt like he was sinking into the deep sea. All he could clearly perceive was Odette standing in the light.

"But… Dignified couples naturally have separate sleeping quarters." Odette finally came up with an objection after much thought.

"I'm a bastard, so I don't know that." (Bastian)

The corners of Bastian's lips curled slightly as he stared at Odette. Throwing himself on the bed with a thud, he was greeted with a soft, sweet scent. It was Odette's body scent.

"Can't the grandson of the antique dealer be as noble as you?" (Bastian)

Odette's eyes shook at the lightly thrown joke. "I didn't mean that. I just… ."

"Let's continue tomorrow, Odette."

Bastian let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. It was now the limit. In such a state, it was unlikely that he would be able to handle Odette's wrath.

"I can't hear you very well right now." Bastian whispered low, already half asleep. "The rest is tomorrow."

"Bastian?"

Odette's voice calling his name drew closer. He tried to open his eyes, but Bastian's body was already out of his consciousness's control.

One step, one more step.

At the moment when the sound of footsteps approaching stopped, he felt a gentle hand gently shaking his shoulder.

It was the last thing that Bastian remembered that night.

***

Duke Dissen opened his eyes without moving.

The caregiver, who returned to his hospital room just in time, was startled and stepped back. The sound of a tin tray and water cups dropped in the wind echoed sharply through the stillness of the night. Even at that moment, Duke Dissen was just staring at the ceiling with wide eyes.

"Okay. It couldn't have been a dream."

The gaze of the duke, who had been chuckling while muttering to himself, suddenly turned to the caregiver.

"Raise me up right now!"

A tinge of anger flashed over his face as his smile had vanished in an instant. Startled out of her stupor, the caregiver hurriedly raised Duke Dissen and sat him down.

"I knew my memory was accurate. That girl made me like this!"

He started talking nonsense and making a fuss.

The caregiver backed away with a quiet sigh. It was a commotion that was repeated every day, so there was nothing new. No one would have taken care of this notorious patient had it not been for the generous compensation paid by his son-in-law.

"Did you have a nightmare? Should I get you a sedative?"

The caregiver reluctantly offered formal words of comfort. At times like this, the Duke usually got even more angry and vicious with his swearing, but he was quieter today.

"Bring me a pen and stationery. Hurry!"

Duke Dissen commanded coldly, running an angry hand through his messy hair.

Tired of the force, the caregiver hurriedly complied with the order. As soon as the table with writing tools and papers was placed on the bed, Duke Dissen rushed at it like a ravenous beast. His bloodshot eyes flashed brightly.

It was as if he had turned into a real lunatic.

Watching his face, the caregiver sneaked out of his room. But the Duke didn't care one bit and was only occupied with writing the letter.

Tira. That damn bastard.

Duke Dissen breathed heavily and straightened his grip on his pen.

What happened that day was by no means an accident.

The last puzzle of his memory, which had been fragmented into pieces, was finally put together.

He clearly remembered Tira's hand pushing him hard. Also the fact that Odette, who was on her way up the stairs, witnessed the scene. Even then, both girls kept their mouths shut.

Duke Dissen chewed on his dry, chapped lips and wrote a letter filled with resentment.

It was something those two couldn't have orchestrated together. They would not have the strong enough stomach to do such a thing. Someone must have helped them behind the scenes. It was probably the grandson of the antique dealer. The lowly man who had married Odette.

Yes. That's right. It's him for sure.

Duke Dissen's face contorted in terrible pain as he looked at his immobilized leg.

That man proposed to Odette right after the accident happened. Odette accepted it as if she had been waiting for it. According to what he heard, Tira was going to a prestigious girls' school while Odette was living in luxury with the man's money.

It was a happy ending for everyone except for him who was confined to the hospital like this. Duke Dissen was convinced that the three bastards had done their part.

But why did the proper memory never come to his mind before?

He surveyed the room with wary eyes. He had spent most of his waking hours over the past few months on drugs. Perhaps there was some kind of conspiracy hidden there as well.

He needed to see Odette right away.

Caught up in that thought, the Duke put strength into his hand, which began to tremble with anger.

The frantic sound of the moving nib began to stir the stillness of the night once again.

***

The sunlight hitting the edge of the bed woke Odette. It was the beginning of a morning like no other.

Lying flat on her back, Odette opened her eyes and faced the ceiling. A lazily swaying shadow of the light was the first thing that came into her view.

The sunlight passing through the window was noticeably softer than it had been in midsummer. So was the feel of the crisp blanket, the pleasant warmth, and the fading sunlight. They were the senses that made her realize the change in seasons.

Remembering where she was, Odette sighed softly and closed her eyes. It was then that she remembered what had happened the night before.

Bastian!

Remembering the name, Odette opened her eyes with a startle.

Then laughter was heard.

I hope it's a dream.

Odette turned her head slowly, making a fleeting wish. She could feel the warmth of a body and his gaze at the place next to her on the wide bed that was always empty.

And soon, she met his eyes.

Bastian was reclining leisurely on the bed, looking down at Odette. As she stared blankly into his blue eyes, her consciousness gradually cleared.

The memory of last night, where she watched the man who had fallen asleep in the bed he had arbitrarily occupied, came to her mind vividly.

Odette lay down next to Bastian only after hesitating and fidgeting countless times. She couldn't sleep, but she couldn't toss and turn either. She was afraid she would wake him up. The fact that sleeping separately in another place was not a wise choice had already been proven at dawn at the Demel's villa. (*where Bastian assaulted her)

In such despair, there was only one path that Odette could choose: to endure and persevere.

And yet, she had a deep and restful sleep like never before. It was incomprehensible.

Belatedly realizing what she was looking at, Odette averted her gaze with blushing cheeks. It was then that a large, warm hand cupped her face.

Bastian slowly but firmly drew Odette's gaze to him. The hand looked as smooth as a musician's, but the texture was very rough. It seemed to be the feel of calluses and scars.

Soon after, their eyes met again.

When Odette had finally come to her senses, she delivered her morning greeting with a calm silent bow. Bastian laughed out loud, and ruffled Odette's disheveled hair (*so cute). The scene looked like an ordinary morning for an ordinary newlywed couple.

"Are you ready, madam?"

After a moment, Bastian stopped laughing and asked an odd question.

Odette awkwardly nodded her head. Somehow she felt like she had to.

***

TL's note: I feel like this chapter and chapter 48 are disconnected. It's like we miss a chapter between 48 and 49. In the last chapter, chapter 48, Odette was coming into her bedroom where Bastian was already there waiting for her. But in this chapter (49), it seems like they had dinner and Bastian had already told her about why they had to live together now. And Bastian was the one who knocked and came to Odette's bedroom this time. I checked and checked a few times but there was no missing chapter. So I don't know. Anyway….to be continued.