Bastian
Chapter 191 - For My Princess

✧For My Princess✧

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The Northern Alliance were planning a large offensive operation. They had gathered together most of their fleet at Trosa Island, with the idea to seize control of the North Sea by launching an all-out offensive against Lovita.

   Odette looked down at the block of text she had just finished translating and blinked. Her breath caught in her throat, she tried to refocus on her work, but her mind was just blank. She was working overtime, her shift finished hours ago, so she took her shock to mean it was time to clock off for the day. There was no way she was going to be able to concentrate now that she knew what was coming.

   Cleaning away her desk and handing in the translated communiques to the secure locker at the back of the large room filled with desks and other women, and pensioners, doing the same work. She grabbed her coat and made her way out into the hallway bathed in the light of the setting sun. She was aware of peoples attention on her as she made her way down the rose coloured hallway, but she ignored them.

“Hello, Lady Odette.”  the guards in the entrance greeted her. After her identity was known, they no longer checked on her. However,  Odette removed her coat, a procedure required for all volunteers. She felt uneasy receiving special treatment because she was Bastian Klauswitz’s ex-wife, and didn’t want rumors to damage his heroic image

   Odette left the annex once the guards checked her pockets and patted her down. Across from the building she could see the naval headquarters. She stared at it for a long time, the gold trident, which stood as a crown of decoration above the entrance, glittered in the watering sun.

   Bastian was always at the forefront of the war and this operation was going to be no different. She didn’t want to let ominous thoughts bring her down, but she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

   When the hour came, the bell in the clock tower rang out.

   Her hands clasped together in prayer and as she had done in the days previous, she prayed to what ever deity of the sea she could think of, pleaded for them to see Bastian safe. She didn’t care if she never got to see him again, just so long as she knew he was safe and alive. She desperately wanted him to return from the war, be given the opportunity to start a family, have children who love him unconditionally. If she heard news of this, she could go on with her own life, happy in knowledge that Bastian was out there, living his life.

So Please

   The bell finished its tolling of the hour and Odette moved on through the naval base and out onto the streets. She couldn’t help but notice that there was a distinct lack of male citizens. Her idle thoughts presaged the time until she stood before the steps that led up to the tram station.

   “Lady Odette?”

   Snapped back to reality, Odette turned from the tram platform to see Count Xanders leaning out the window of his car, with a bright smile on his face.

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“Don’t talk such drivel,” Admiral Demel said to Admiral Ryan, the commander-in-chief, who had been explaining the upcoming operation.

   “Now look here, Demel…”

   “It was bad enough that you gave command of a capital ship to a Major, but giving him command of the whole operation is absurd,” Demel went on without pausing. The other generals at the brief were on side with the commander-in-chief, but they kept their mouths shut.

They were meeting to plan the Sea Fox Hunt, a large operation. Lovita had suffered a blow and was reorganizing their defenses. Berg wanted to take advantage of this and defeat the enemy, but Admiral Sher wasn’t an easy opponent. A trick was needed to flush out the hiding fox.

How?  To use the sea fox’s natural enemy as bait. Having Major Klauswitz at the head of the defensive operation was all part of the plan, he was going to be the bait to lure out the enemy commander, Admiral Sher,  who had made it quite obvious that he wanted to sink Major Klauswitz himself and would stop at nothing to do so. Ryan wanted to take advantage of this.

Only Bastian could make Admiral Sher Fox lose his cool and act rashly. And this trap was likely to succeed. But what then?  Admiral Demel turned his red face to Bastian, who remained as cool as ever, as if ignorant that Ryan wanted Bastian to put his life on the line for the sake of catching one sly little fox.

   “We all understand that you care for the officers under your command, Demel, but don’t you think you’re taking this a little far?” Admiral Ryan said.

   “Its not even about that, this whole operation is a death sentence, pure and simple. The Emperor is not going to like you putting the life of the countries favourite war hero at risk.”

   “That’s an exaggeration,” Admiral Ryan said with a wave of the hand. “Of course, I admit that its a dangerous operation, but that’s war and I have complete confidence in Major Klauswitz’s abilities. He is a war hero, like you said.”

   “Yeah, only a hero once he has sacrificed his life,” Admiral Demel sneered.

   “Are you challenging my command, Admiral Demel?”

   The other commanders in the room shifted uncomfortably, hoping this was not going to devolve into a debate of honour. All the while, Bastian sat at the far end of the table, studying the map between them all.

   Ryan was one of the finest strategist in the navy. Despite Lovita being drastically outnumbered, it was Ryan’s unparalleled insights that kept Lovita in the fight. His appointment as the commander-in-chief to the most crucial front to the war was a testament to his abilities.

   Though he was still criticised as a cold blooded and heartless commander, Bastian had every confidence in him. A view that was not dictated by personal feelings. Bastian agreed with Admiral Ryan. No matter how much he studied the map, he could see no other way of drawing out Admiral Sher. Bringing him in would practically sign the end of the war and Odette would be able to wear the crown.

   Though their marriage had ended, she remained the only beautiful thing left in his life. Something he wanted to protect with every fibre of his being.

   With cool eyes, Bastian looked up from the strategy map and seemed to notice the argument now in full swing for the first time.

   “I will take command of the reconnaissance fleet,” Bastian said, as if asking for another cigarette. For his princess. That one reason was enough for him to willingly obey.

   “I knew you would,” Admiral Ryan said, with a cocksure grin. Admiral Demel looked at him with mouth gaped and eyes wide in shock.

   “But I have a condition,” Bastian said, bowing his head slightly.

   “Let’s hear it.”

   “I want things to proceed according to standard military procedures,” Bastian said politely. Admiral Ryan chuckled.

   It might not have seemed like much, but for Bastian to ask for the SOP’s, he was practically asking to be treated like any other admiral. Only admirals can command independent fleets, so his request for military adherence was essentially asking for an admiral’s position. It was unexpected from someone to enjoy the privileges and station far above his rank, but Admiral Ryan couldn’t refuse it.

Bastian Klauswitz had earned enough honors to be promoted to admiral, but he refused to unleash such a devil’s untamed hound.

“Do you really think the Emperor’s favour would stretch so far as to allow you the privileges of a full Admiral?” Admiral Ryan said.

   “I am merely asking for what I am owed, is that not why you have entrusted me with such an operation? You know that I am capable, right?” Bastian calmly said.

 Admiral Ryan soon let out a resigned laugh. “I had momentarily forgotten that you’re also an excellent negotiator.”

That was all the answer he could give.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“I’m sorry for the poor state of dinner,” Odette said to Count Xanders.

   “Think nothing of it, it was a nice dinner.”

   “Thank you for your compliment,” Odette said with a bright smile as she poured herself a cup of tea.

   Maximin watched her with calm eyes. Odette’s drawing room was bathed in warm light and was cosy enough to allow them to forget about the bitter winter war that was currently raging in the North Sea.

   Count Xanders did not mean to spend the rest of the afternoon with her, their meeting was purely by chance, but he couldn’t let slip the opportunity to catch up. He mustered up the courage to ask her out to dinner and to his surprise, she accepted. The excitement slipped from his fingers as the restaurant he took Odette to had closed down, most of them coffee shops, tea rooms and restaurants were closed now. So Odette invited him round hers for dinner.

   When they got to her town house in Ratz, Odette seemed to relax a lot more and there was no sign of the uptight noble lady. He felt like the scope of the friendship had bloomed into something more, but he didn’t want to risk brooking the subject in case he read things wrong. He didn’t want to lose such a good friend.

   “Actually, I have something to tell you,” Maximin said, clearing his throat.

   “Oh, what do you mean?”

   “I would like to ask you formally if you would like to start a proper relationship with me, Lady Odette.” Maximin put down his tea cup. The anxiety coursing through him right now, he felt like he was going to let the cup slip through his fingers and there was no way he was going to survive that embarrassment on top of everything else.

   “Sir Xanders…”

   Before Odette could give her response, a knock came on the door and the maid stepped into the room. “There is a messenger from the palace, ma’am.”

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