Chapter 56

"My father worked as a blacksmith. He was seriously injured in an accident, and has been ill for some time now."

The maid's non-stop chatter eventually spilled over to the story of her family.

Odette caught a glimpse of Molly combing her hair through the mirror in front of the dressing table. When their eyes met, Molly smiled shyly. The child's talkative and bubbly personality was very similar to Tira's.

Come to think of it, weren't they the same age?

Staring at the maid, who in many ways reminded her of her sister, Odette signaled that she would listen by gently curling her lips.

Excited, Molly began to lay out her family history in an even more passionate tone. Perhaps it was the exceptional rapport between father and daughter, but most of the story was concern and compassion for her father, who had been crippled in an unfortunate accident.

"I'm sure madam must be worried about your father on his sickbed, too."

Molly asked a bold question as the hair brushing was almost finished.

"Molly!"

The head maid, who was working on Odette's dress, gave a sharp shout, but Molly did not back down easily.

"You haven't been able to visit your father's hospital since you're married. How the madam's heart must ache."

Molly looked at Odette in the mirror with teary eyes.

Father.

The nightmare the name reminded her of suddenly scratched her heart, but Odette did not show it. She just waited for Molly to finish her work with a soft smile on her face. It was the best consideration that could be shown to the young maid who had made a mistake.

There must be an appropriate distance between people. It was like a buffer zone that protected relationships that had nothing to do with rank or position. Because understanding and respect grow based on that gap.

"I'm sorry, madam."

The head maid, who almost kicked Molly out, apologized.

"For such a smart and solid kid, she apparently still lacked courtesy and made a big mistake."

"It's all right. She said it out of concern for me."

Odette ended the small commotion with a laugh. The quick-witted head maid returned to her duties without further mention of the matter.

While Dora was finishing the dress, Odette arranged her dresser in her familiar fashion. Tonight she was able to finish her routine more leisurely than usual. It was thanks to the absence of the man who was giving uncomfortable glances from behind.

"The master is probably staying at Mr. Mueller's house, so you should go to sleep."

Dora approached from behind the dressing table and said. Odette put down the comb she had been fiddling with and stood up as if accepting.

The man left work on time for dinner all last week, but today he said he would be late due to company business.

He hadn't said that he was going to stay out overnight, but judging by the fact that he had not returned until now, as midnight approached, Dora's guess seemed to be correct.

He had a long drive, so he wouldn't be able to sleep much and then had to wake up at dawn to go back to work.

"Umm, Mr. Lovis said he had a favor to ask of you. May I speak on his behalf?"

Dora added unexpectedly as she was about to leave after reporting tomorrow's schedule.

Odette sat at the end of the bed bench and faced her.

"Yes. What's going on?"

"He's worried about the master because he doesn't eat breakfast properly. Of course, my opinion is no different."

"So you mean Mr. Lovis is worried about Bastian's breakfast?"

Odette asked in bewilderment.

Bastian Klauswitz was a young, fit and wealthy man. He was also a strong soldier who was praised as a hero. Odette couldn't understand why they would worry about such a man's food.

"Yes, madam. I've been recommending that the master should go to work with a good meal instead of strong coffee, but the advice doesn't seem to work. We would like the madam to persuade the master on our behalf, since he will listen to the madam's words."

"Ah... yes. Okay."

Odette gave a slightly awkward smile. There was no way a stubborn man who would not listen to the advice of his butler, who could be said to be his closest aide, would listen to the nagging of his fake wife.

"Yes. Then I will try to tell him."

No matter how she thought about it, it was an unreasonable request, but Odette agreed first. If the situation became difficult, she would just tell him the truth and ask for his cooperation. He never neglected acting to appear as a perfect couple.

"Thank you, madam. The master doesn't take care of himself too well, I'm glad he has you by his side."

The head maid bowed her head in genuine delight. She had the brightest face Odette had ever seen.

The silence in the bedroom deepened even more as Dora left.

Odette approached the window wearing a thick shawl. Opening the curtains a little, she saw the dark sea. It was a moonless night. Perhaps it was the change of season that made the sound of the waves, which had been a gentle comfort all summer, seemed so lonely.

He wouldn't come back tonight.

After closing the curtains, Odette accepted the fact and ended the day's routine. As she turned off the light and climbed into bed, memories of her father, whom she had been trying to forget, came rushing in like a tidal wave.

She would have to pay her father a visit one of these days.

Odette let out a quiet sigh and grabbed the blanket. If it looked strange even in the eyes of the young maid, it was already bad.

There might be a lot of speculation. She had absolutely no confidence to face her father calmly, but that didn't mean she could ignore him forever.

Promising that she would write a letter to her father tomorrow, Odette slowly closed her eyes.

The bed was empty. It seemed that the time had come to kindle a fire.

***

As midnight approached, the carriages and automobiles lined up in front of Sergeant Illis' building disappeared one by one. Bastian left the company after only two cars remained.

"Come with me today."

Thomas Mueller pointed to his car. It was too late for Bastian to drive back to Ardennes, but Bastian shook his head without much hesitation.

"No. I'm going home."

"You won't be able to sleep much but a few hours, and you'll have to come back to Lutz. Is there any reason why you should push yourself ?"

"Well, it's because we're newlyweds."

Bastian threw an unusually bland joke. Thomas Mueller, who was staring at him intently, smiled awkwardly.

"The myth that heroes are weak to beautiful women seems to be true."

He couldn't convince Bastian any longer and nodded his head.

"I must confess, I feared that young master would marry the wrong woman and be unhappy."

"Don't worry, Director. Odette is a good person."

"Yes, I believe you because you say so yourself."

Thomas Mueller happily nodded. Bastian's face looked at ease, though the exhaustion from the heavy work was imbued with it. If this was a change that resulted from marriage, Mrs. Klauswitz was a bride who brought a sufficiently large dowry.

"Young master!"

Thomas Mueller impulsively shouted as he watched Bastian moving away.

Stopping in his tracks, Bastian slowly turned around on the last remaining step.

"No." (Bastian)

(*This part, Thomas sees how at ease Bastian is with Odette and he wants Bastian to forget about the revenge, that's why the impusive call. Bastian understood what he meant and said no)

The silence that lasted for a long time finally ended with that one dejected word. Bastian silently smiled and bowed, then climbed into a black car under a tree lined avenue.

The car quickly picked up speed and drove away to the other side of the city. It was a landscape that erased even the last of the old woman's pride.

***

"Madam has gone to bed."

The butler who came out to meet him report the fact first.

Bastian smiled and crossed the entrance hall without saying anything. He didn't expect Odette would be awake until this deep dawn anyway. If she had stayed awake, it would have bothered him.

Bastian briefly commended the servants for their hard work during the night and went quietly to his bedroom. It seemed like he wouldn't have to share the same bed tonight. It was the conclusion he came to just as the lights of the mansion began to appear across the shoreline.

Bastian's thoughts remained unchanged even after he had changed his clothes, washed, and crossed the bedroom doorway again. The appearance he had staged so far was enough. He knew perfectly well that it would be unnecessary to wake the sleeping woman. The absurdity at the sight of himself standing in front of the passageway between the two rooms was even greater.

Bastian preferred a habitual lifestyle. It was a strategy that minimized the waste of thoughts and emotions, so to speak, the most efficient way to live life.

But now he wasn't so sure.

He accepted the possibility of a misjudgment and put his hand on the doorknob.

From one day, Odette also became a part of the habit. Yet the waste of thought and emotion has not diminished. Rather, it was a contradictory habit that made his life extremely complicated.

In front of the last remaining door, Bastian paused for a moment.

He stopped for a while to watch the sleeping Odette, then came back to his room and that was it. No. In fact, there was no reason not to wake Odette from the start.

He had the right to command as much as he wanted. And Odette had an obligation to follow. Because that was their contract. It was only his needs that mattered, and Odette's views were not taken into consideration.

When he reminded himself of that fact, his thoughts disappeared.

Bastian strode forward according to his own needs. He opened the door and crossed the familiar room to Odette's bed. It was the moment when he clearly recognized the next need. A lamp that had not yet been turned off illuminated the bedside table to the right side of the bed.

Bastian lowered his narrowed eyes and looked at Odette, who was lying asleep on the left side of the bed. The lights in the place were off. Same with all other lights.

Bastian turned his head again toward the last remaining light in the room.

His eyes remained in only one place while the droplets of water on the ends of his wet hair repeatedly fell and reformed.

It was around the time when the grandfather clock started ringing, announcing the hour, when he heard a soft sigh.

Bastian swallowed and looked away. In the light that awaited him, Odette slowly opened her eyes.

"Bastian."

With cloudy eyes.

"You're back."

Like a good wife.