Bastian
Chapter 167 - Like the June's Sky

✧Like the June’s Sky✧

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Bastian needed to ride a train overnight to reach Rothewein. He got off the night train from Ratz, sat on a station bench, closed his eyes briefly, and waited for the first local train to arrive. The dawn was only just breaking as the train pulled into the final station. From there he went straight to the hotel just beyond the central square. Odette lived in a remote village, roughly an hour’s walk away. Worried about finding a place to stay, he chose to unpack and stay there for the time being.

   “You look like a military sort, what brings you here?” asked the clerk behind the counter.

   “Meeting relatives,” Bastian said plainly.

   The clerk watched him closely as he filled out the accommodation information and handed Bastian a key. It was unusual for someone to be travelling in military uniform, but he had gone straight from the Admiralty and didn’t have a chance to change his outfit.

   As the clerk handed over the keys, Bastian could see he still had a lot of questions on his face, but he was a professional enough man to know that it was rude to bother guests.

   Bastian hurried up to his room and got cleaned up. After a soothing hot shower and a warm shave, he was looking as radiant as ever. No one would have guessed that he had just travelled for the last eight hours.

   Now feeling fresh, Bastian donned a linen summer suit, rewrapped the rope burns on his wrists with a gauze bandage and put on a watch, making sure to adjust the cuffs afterward. and just as he was inspecting himself in the mirror, a knock came at the door. 

The momentary panic passed as he found the clerk standing there, waiting to take orders for breakfast. Bastian told him to move on a little firmer than he intended. He did ask the clerk for a map, though and after twenty minutes, showed back up with one in his hand.

It was early in the morning, however the rural village was bustling with activity due to the busy farming season, making it feel as lively as midday. There was still a lot of travel ahead of him, the village Odette was staying at was over an hour away, deep in the countryside and Bastian had no idea how to get there.

   Satisfied that he knew how to get here, Bastian donned his hat and set out, straight for the cities outskirts where he found a river that flowed through the village Odette was staying in and followed the waterway.

   It took all morning, but Bastian eventually made his way to the neighbouring village and checking the address Countess Trier had given him, he started to look for the address.  He crossed the stepping stones, and made his way to the left side of the stream. His steps became more deliberate as he double-checked the house addresses along the road.

The Countess agreed to give Bastian the address on two conditions; he respected Odette’s wishes and he did not hurt her. It would be an easy enough request to follow and reminded Bastian of easier times.

   “Excuse me ma’am, do you know where this address is?” Bastian asked a passing woman carrying a small crate.

After checking his note, the elderly woman smiled brightly, “Oh, yes,” the woman said. “That’s Marie Byller’s house, right over there. She pointed to a stone cottage a little ways up the hill. 

   ‘Marie Byller.’ 

Bastian laughed as heard that name. 

“Are you her relative?”

“Yes. I’m relative of Ms.Marie Byller. Thank you for your help.” Bastian put on his most charming smile and thanked the woman before hurrying off to the stone cottage.

Bastian rolled the name around in his head and said it out loud a couple times. Just as he reached the house, the window burst open and Bastian ducked behind a tall climbing rose bush. He could see Odette just beyond the window.

She looked at peace as she gazed at the far-off sky, as if checking the weather for the day.  All the sadness and worry that had wrinkled her face were gone. Bastian only remembered Odette looking so beautiful once, when they first met. She looked as fresh as a newly blooming flower.

Bastian stepped back and looked at her, who seemed familiar but unfamiliar. 

He didn’t want to ruin something beautiful. 

Just a little bit more. 

Even after Odette drew the curtains closed, he continued to stare at the window.

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Odette fussed over the sit of the bow in her hair, holding back the misbehaving lengths of hair. She then brushed out the wrinkles in her fine, white linen dress. It was far from fashionable, but it would serve its purpose well enough. She had borrowed the pattern from the lady next door.

Odette secured a sky-blue belt crafted from spare fabric around her dress. She inspected the ribbon’s appearance, which was fastened behind her back, in the mirror and then adorned her hands with her homemade lace gloves.

   It was important that Odette looked her best, like a princess if she could bare it. The mistress of the family she was about to see was very particular when it came to appearance and presentation. Being the owner of the largest vineyard in the country, it was important for Odette to make a good impression.

   She double checked she had all the textbooks she would need in a small bag, she set out. There was a stagecoach that could take her to the vineyard, but by the time it got her there, it would be faster walking. Besides, it was a nice day for a walk in the countryside.

Odette strolled by the river, the day was exceptionally beautiful, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the picturesque willow trees by the stream. In the background, the laughter of children playing in the water could be heard. The air was filled with the delightful scent of wild roses and fully bloomed silver plum blossoms, adding to the overall summery atmosphere.

As she crossed the stone bridge, she paused to open her parasol, to provide shade from the sun.

   She happened to glance back to the village, where she saw an elderly couple sitting on a bench at the edge of the stream and chatting. There were children playing and laughing in the water. Swan’s swimming around the loud children as they played.

It was an ordinary summer morning. 

   Odette couldn’t help but feel something ominous, but unable to see anything, she turned and walked on.

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   All during her journey, she felt like someone was behind her, following her. Even when she got to the vineyard and was sat at the piano with her student, she got a feeling in her gut and she looked out the window, but saw nothing but the countryside.

   Odette finished off the lesson without too many idle thoughts distracting her and when she left, the mistress of the house saw her off.

The summer sun was already high overhead. The walk back to the village was a little easier and she wondered if she had become hypersensitive due to that important engagement. She would get home, make tea and relax. That was, until it was time to set things ready for hosting a gathering.

She was the host of this gathering. She had to provide tea cups and plates based on the number of guests, prepare food to complement the tea, and even put up new curtains for the summer. The past few days had been quite hectic. Just the previous night, she had stayed up late to create lace designs to share with the members. She hoped that the gathering would go smoothly and relieve some of the tension.

   “Hello, Miss Byller.” Came a man’s voice as she passed under the clock tower in the village square.

   Odette gave a polite reply to the eldest brother of the child she had been teaching piano to. He was a studying at the collage of a near by town. He had returned to the village for the holidays.

   “Have you had lunch yet, Miss Byller?” he said.

   “Not yet, I was just returning from a class.”

   “Oh, yes, of course,I must have mistaken the class time.” the lad said, turning red faced.

   “Well, I must go, I do have a lunch date,” Odette said, making her excuses to be away.

   “Okay, have a good afternoon, I’ll see you next week, Miss Byller.”

   Odette smiled and hurried away. The lad was nice enough, but far too young for her to be engaging in any kind of relationship. It was like that every time he came home and normally, she wasn’t so distracted to avoid him.

Odette went to a nearby cafe and settled herself on the outdoor terrace facing the clock tower.  She ordered a cup of coffee and glanced around the square, as if anticipating the arrival of her companions. She discreetly averted her gaze from the man who was still wandering nearby.

As she pretended to wait, her coffee was served. Odette decided to savor her tea time, enjoying her coffee while reading a book she had taken from her bag. Just as she was becoming engrossed in her reading, there’s a gentle knock on the table.

   “Hello, beautiful lady,” said another man.

   This was not her lucky day. Odette gave her polite greeting and attempted to hurry away from the stranger.   “I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone.” She responded by maintaining her focus on the book, as though she hadn’t heard the interruption. However, the man displayed no intention of giving up or leaving.

“Is this your husband’s seat?” 

   “Yes, that’s right…” She ignorantly said as turned the pages of her book. Yet, all of a sudden, she realized that the voice sounded oddly familiar.

Odette lowered her gaze, trying to deny the absurd thought. Then, a sizable hand with long, unadorned fingers bearing signs of wear and calluses landed on the table before her. The gleam of a ring, likely a symbol of matrimony, cut through her vision sharply.

No way. Odette paused and looked at the man as he bowed and removed his hat.

“Then I’ve come to the right place.”  The sunlight streaming under the awning illuminated the man’s smiling face. As Odette blinked her bewildered eyes, her husband’s seat had been taken.   “It’s been awhile, Odette.” Bastian said. “Ah no, I should call you Miss Marie Byller for now.”  He smiled mischievously

He looked at her as calm and placid as ever. There was no anger in his eyes, no malice. His ble eyes were as clear and gentle as the June sky. 

   Odette stared at him for a second that felt like hours. She never said a word, just looked at him with wide eyes, not daring to believe he was really stood before her. She fell to her knees and clamped her hands to her chest like she was praying.

It wasn’t a dream. This reunion didn’t resemble any she had ever experienced in a dream.

   “You…why you…?” she managed to say between sobs.

   “I miss you, Odette” he said softly. “The pain of not seeing you has been far greater than anything I have ever known.”

Bastian glanced at the clock tower and the sky adorned with feather-like clouds, then turned his eyes back to her.

 “So I came…. because I miss you.”

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