Bastian
Chapter 161 - Between Day and Night

✧Between Day and Night✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The impulsive and passionate kiss didn’t last that long. Lust washed over Odette in waves of heat and when it finally came to an end, she was left with longing. She wanted that comforting warmth to last forever.

His firm hands felt warm against her cheek and she reached up with her own hand and placed it over his, his panting breaths mixed with their kiss. She tried to push him away, but he easily resisted, blocking her like a massive wall. He had always made her feel so helpless, a fact that was painfully clear in that moment. 

Bastian’s lips parted from hers, his hand on her cheek,  “I will be back as soon as I can,” he said, the overwhelming embrace  holding her was gone.

   He looked deep into her eyes, his were as cool and bright as ever before, but Odette couldn’t read anything in them. She could only see her own, vague expression reflected back at her. A flush of embarrassment washed over her and she looked down at their feet. His hand became firmer as he pulled her head up to look at him again.

   “I’ll be right back, Odette,” he repeated it, swallowing his worries, and bid her a serene goodbye. It was a customary farewell between a husband heading to work and a wife seeing him off, as though it were a regular part of their everyday routine.

   Odette couldn’t think of anything to say in response, like an actress who had forgotten their lines, she stood and watched Bastian step away to his car. She could feel tears welling up and her cheeks flush.

Bastian gently caressed her face, then released her and turned away. Acting as though nothing had happened he bowed to the surprised employees and requested their understanding.

   It was all an act, he told himself, as he opened the car door and stepped into his seat. He was just pretending, to hide the truth. They were just actors on a stage.

The ivory car thundered down the lane, it started moving slowly into the radiant sunshine. Picking up speed, leaving the mansion’s entrance behind and making its way toward the coastal road, where the turquoise sea sparkled before them.

Bastian never once looked back at her until he reached the road.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Madam is going out?” The driver, who was polishing the car, stopped what he was doing to consider what Dora had just told him.

   “Yes, the master has given permission,” Dora said calmly.

   “But didn’t the master forbid madam from leaving the mansion grounds?”

   “Pah, that order lost all meaning weeks ago, how many times has she been out already?”

   “Well, yeah, I suppose,” the driver said, trying to work out how the logic didn’t work, but coming up with no solution, he reluctantly agreed with Dora.

   “She will be coming with me to Ardenne, to get some fresh air and a change of scenery.” Dora leaned heavily on the fact that, being head maid, she had some authority over the other staff, with Lovis being the only one that could undermine her.

   “Very well,” the driver said, “give me thirty minutes to get the car ready,” the driver said.

   It would be tight, but they should still be able to make their ‘chance’ encounter with Countess Trier in town. There would be a little public display, where Countess Trier will urge Odette to come away with her, to a safe place away from Bastian, after Odette has been made aware that Bastian had been ordered by the Emperor to divorce after series of shameful incidents associated with Klauswitz family.

   It wouldn’t change the fact that Odette was leaving her husband, but at least this way, Bastian might be able to cling on to some honour, if it was thought Odette was forced away from Bastian, rather than his wife having run away from him again.

   Dora left the garage and hurried back to the mansion. She firstly went about the other servants, asking them if they needed anything in town, hinting that she would be escorting Odette on a little excursion. Then she went to Odette, to see if she was ready to leave.

   Tonight, Dora was probably going to have to leave the mansion. She looked at the packed suitcases, conflict raging in her mind. She would not be able to keep her involvement from Bastian.  He would surely suspect her and uncover the truth. Even if her decision was based on concern for her master, betrayal remained betrayal. If Bastian held her responsible, Dora was prepared to face the consequences.

   Resolute, Dora got changed out of her maids outfit, then marched down to the bathroom on the third floor, where she had previously placed Odette’s luggage. A small bag with just a few clothes was carefully hidden in the shopping cart.The list of errands in her hand, gripped tight enough to almost tear the paper.

   Odette did not appear.

   Dora went up to her room, knocking on the door softly. “Ma’am, its Dora, are you ready?”

   “Yes, come in,” Odette replied.

   When Dora pushed open the door, she saw that all of Odette’s bags were packed and neatly stacked, waiting to be taken to the car. Odette, on the other hand, did not look ready to leave. She stood at the window and stared out across the garden. She had been in this melancholy since this morning.

   “We’re all set, ma’am, are you ready to leave?” Dora said, taking a hesitant step toward Odette.

   “Yes,” Odette said strongly, almost forced.

   She turned from the window and strode across the bedroom with renewed determination and threw on her coat, hat and gloves that lay on the bed. Back straight, chin high, Odette then confidentially walked out of the bedroom.  Her eyes were red. Dora was aware that Odette had been like this since the morning she bid her husband farewell. However, what stood out was the newfound determination in her eyes.

Odette noticed the shopping cart Dora carried and walked ahead without uttering another word. Without delay, she took the lead toward the waiting car.

   The car left the mansion and made for their destination, the bustling city centre of downtown Ardenne. There the final stage of the drama would play out, the accidental meeting of Countess Trier.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian arrived back at the mansion at the same time as he did the previous day, right at the border between day and night. The car slowed to a stop at the foot of the stairs leading up to the front door, there were people lined up to welcome his arrival but Odette was no where to be seen.

   Bastian pulled himself from the drivers seat and let the valet take it to the garage. He climbed the stairs deliberately, the western sky blushed with an impending sundown, promising a spectacle, with no cloud to mar its crown.

When he made it to the front door, Lovis was there. “I apologise sir,” the butler said, more solemn than usual.

   “Is dinner ready?” Bastian said, carefully scanning the entrance hall for any signs of Odette. He had instructed to move dinner time earlier, and if they had executed it correctly, dinner should be prepared promptly.

   “No, sir, but there is news,” Lovis said, as Bastian have him a scornful look. “Countess Trier has taken madam with her. She sent a notice that the imperial family have taken madam into their protection for the time being.”

   Lovis spoke in his usual flat tone. Bastian looked sharp when he mentioned Countess Trier. He snatched the envelope Lovis held out to him and eyed it suspiciously and walked to his study.

   The butler followed in Bastian’s wake without saying a word, his shadow. Even when Bastian suddenly veered off for the stairs, Lovis followed behind as if he knew Bastian was going to be going that way all along.

   Bastian threw open Odette’s door. “Madam went out to run errands with the head maid, sir, where they ran into Countess Trier, so I’m told…”

“Step aside.”   Bastian ignored him and practically stomped into Odette’s room and closed the door behind him so that Lovis couldn’t follow him in.

The serene western sky had started to blush with a beautiful rosy twilight. The butler’s voice had stopped, leaving the room in silence.  

Nothing about the room suggested anything was amiss. It was as meticulously clean and organised as always, just as Odette liked it. It was strange, it always felt like she she was prepared to leave at any moment, like a guest who would soon be staying and then leaving. 

“You’ve left, have you?” Bastian said to the empty room, the words that had stayed on his tongue all day. He moved over to the window sill where he looked out over the sea, the water sparkling in the deep red light. He opened it to let the cool sea breeze waft into the room. He had no choice but to accept that she was gone.

  Looking through the letter once more, the care with which each word was written suggests she must have been planning this for a long time. He crumpled the letter in his fists and tossed in onto a table. He took out the pack of cigarettes and smoked two in a row.

  A knock at the door and a soft voice, “Master, its Dora, I need to speak with you.” There was little hope it could have been Odette.

   “Come in,” Bastian snapped,  taking out his third cigarette.

   No sooner had Dora opened the door, than she began pleading for forgiveness. “I’m sorry sir, it was all my fault, whatever you wish to do, I will not disobey.” She bowed her head deep.

   Bastian leaned against the window and looked at her as he blew out a thick cloud of smoke. She had betrayed him, no matter how Countess Trier tried to make it look like she had orchestrated everything, Dora had some part to play. 

He was tired. Right now, all he wanted to do was slouch in a chair and nap.

   “Make sure dinner is ready in my room in thirty minutes,” was all he said and turned back to the window.

   “Master…”

   “Enough. You may go now.” He heard Dora let out a sob, but he did not have the patience to deal with overly emotional servants.

He strolled through the connecting corridor to his bedroom, changed into clean clothes, refreshed his face with cold water. Twilight welcomed him, as he returned to his room – cherished haven’s side.

Passing by the quietly working servants setting the table, he went to the window and glared across the bay to his fathers mansion. Now that Odette’s safety was guaranteed, he could finally begin working on his fathers ultimate end, the final act. 

With that clear goal in mind, no more distractions, he flicked his cigarette out the window and went to get ready for dinner.

He took her seat at the dining table. The feast spread before him was plentiful and enticing. He relished every morsel, leaving nothing uneaten, until he took the final bite.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

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