Bastian
Chapter 158 - Winter's Fading Embrace

✧Winter’s Fading Embrace✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Why are we still doing this? This work is a fruitless waste of time.” Keller’s assistant said. He had made that same complaint everyday. Keller smiled indifferently and accepted the camera his assistant held out to him.

   “I think you’ve forgotten how much we are earning from this little job,” Keller said smugly.

   “Pah, forget the money, I wanted to learn a trade. I didn’t become a detective just to spy on Countess Trier all the time.”

   “Quit your belly aching and follow me.” Keller walked off toward the storage cupboard at the corner of the office. It was used as a darkroom for processing photographs.

   Keller immediately set to work on the film in the camera. There was a lot of film today, so the work took longer than usual, which meant Keller had to put up with more of the complaints from his assistant. He wasn’t entirely wrong, but he was getting paid, so he let it slide.

   They had been at it for the last two months and in those two months they had found nothing. They kept a log of all the visitors and all the places the Countess Visited. They only place they couldn’t get a look in on was the Imperial Palace.

   “Major Klauswitz must have forgotten about us, seeing as he hasn’t ever asked us for results yet. Why don’t you check in on him?” the assistant said, shuffling a deck of cards.

   After thinking for a moment, Keller nodded. “Alright, I’ll make a call later.”

   Keller had long since come to realise that this investigation was pointless, but without any specific instructions from his employer, he was resolute to carry on his work. He would have to check in at some point, though, he couldn’t keep freeloading without expecting the Major to get funny about it.

   Eventually the photos were dry. Keller knew deep down he wasn’t going to find anything and as he gazed deeply into the last photo, he was proven absolutely right. The last picture was of some woman leaving Countess Trier’s residence. Probably some work relation or an acquaintance from one of the many tea shops the Countess likes to visit.

   The woman in the photo was dressed moderately enough to frequent such places. There was nothing really remarkable about her, but something caught Keller’s attention as he was about to throw the photo onto the discard pile.

   He took the photo out into the bright light and worked his magnifying glass over it. It was definitely her, the head maid of the Klauswitz household. Keller had a gut feeling this wasn’t something to passed over and he went to pick up the phone. Had a second thought. Then reached for his hat and coat.

Keller rushed out of the office with the photo and a brief note in hand. Close by, the naval headquarters, adorned with a trident symbol representing the sea god’s power, glowed brilliantly.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Odette stood on the balcony and looked out over the sea. It was still bitterly cold, but the warm sunshine on her face was a herald to spring. The gentle sea breeze played with the hem of her dress as she watched the waves.

   Centred, Odette went back into the room and continued packing. There wasn’t really much to do, as most of it had been sorted through last autumn. There were some odds and ends the pawnshops never wanted, several items of clothing and some mementos. Unlike when she ran away, this had a definitive feeling of completion to it.

She packed a few outfits and prepared to leave. Breathing in the breeze from the open window, she scanned the room filled with her past life. Feeling more at ease than during her rushed escape, it seemed like she had no more burden on her heart to end everything.

   The date set by the Countess was only a week away, where she was to meet the Countess’ acquaintance in the park, behind Ardennes City Hall. Dora would help her, of course and from there, only the Countess knew the travel plans. Odette didn’t know where she was going, she didn’t even know who this acquaintance was going to be.

   It might be a reckless gamble, but Odette didn’t care any more, she was willing to take any risk, accept any helping hand that would get her out of here.

   Odette pulled the rope for the service bell and went back out onto the balcony again, to watch the sea.

   Mother, Father, Tira, Margrethe and the baby.

   As the memories of everything she had lost flickered through her mind, her heart felt emptier until there was nothing left. Odette felt like she understood something. She had been an empty shell her whole life.

   “Ma’am, it’s Dora,” Odette heard the maid call from the room when she combed through her tousled hair and smoothed out her skirt.

   She left the terrace, closed the window then went back into the room, where Dora was stood by the door, patiently waiting for her. She was looking about at all the empty boxes and half packed clothes.

   “Are you sure you will be alright?” Dora said. There was an open box that contained all of Margrethe’s things.

   “If you wouldn’t mind taking that box to the incinerator,” Odette said, pointing at the box.

   “Yes, ma’am, I will take care of it,” Dora said, trying not to sound emotional.

   “Is that letter for me?” Odette said, noticing it in Dora’s hand.

   “Ah, yes ma’am, its from Countess Trier.” Dora handed over the letter. 

The conversation after that was businesslike. 

Dora calmly updated Odette on the incident’s progress while she read a letter she’d received.  At a glance, the scene could have been mistaken for an ordinary afternoon during which they discussed household tasks.

After Dora left with the box, deep silence returned. Odette read through the letter several times, before tearing it into small pieces and chucked them onto the fire.

   The Countess wrote that the divorce would be settled quietly. Bastian would come to no harm, maintaining his honour. The Emperor had also conveyed his respects for Odette wanting to distance herself from the royal family.

   Odette moved to a window that overlooked the garden, where she could see Margrethe’s memorial. She watched as Dora came into the garden and moved around to the incinerator, disappearing under the house.

   Everything was ready. All she had to do now was act convincingly enough in front of Bastian.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian ran around the perimeter of the Admiralty, then circled into a garden that still had the last of the winters snow covering most of the greenery. Despite the distance, he showed no signs of fatigue.

   Coming out of the garden, he walked around the parade ground, allowing himself chance to catch his breath before he got to the gym. Where he would be half way done with his physical training session.

   Drinking nearly a full bottle of water, he quickly stretched before loading up the barbells. The physio regime the doctors set had him working without any weight, but Bastian found it a waste of time. He loaded the barbell with a little less weight than he usual did, but he found the pain some what comforting. Focusing on it, he could shut out the world.

   It have him chance to think about what Keller had showed him. A photo, just the one and a short note. He quickly grasped the situation. But as the bell rang for physical training, his thoughts ceased.

   “Bastian,” someone called just as Bastian finished his rep. Lucas called to him from the entrance. “Let’s go, time’s up.”

   “You go,” Bastian called back. “I’m not done yet.” This was his last appointment of the day, so it didn’t matter if he overran.

   Lucas said something back, but Bastian was already zoned out, concentrating on his next exercise. By the time he finished his workout, the gym was empty. Bastian lay out on the mat, drenched in sweat, staring up at the ceiling.

   It was the head maid. Even without Keller pointing it out in his over overdramatised way, Bastian knew who it was. It was the face of a woman he had known for twenty years. There was only conclusion for her meeting with Countess Trier, 

Odette.

   Bastian stood and made his way to the showers. As he let the water pour over his sweaty body, the last of the sunlight faded away. After the shower, Bastian made his way to his office in Ratz.

   The company building shone brightly like a lighthouse and as he went up to his office, the secretary chased after him, feeding him updates, the most important of which was news from the original family.

   Getting to his office, Bastian lit a cigarette and picked up the phone, dialling for Keller, who answered after a single ring.

-Yes, this is Keller.

   “It’s Bastian, the missions changed.”

The voice, laden with smoky depth, was as dark as the night beyond the window.