Bastian
Chapter 195 - Like the Spring Snow Melting

✧Like the Spring Snow Melting✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The transport ship docked on the main island of Trosa before dawn, carrying much-needed supplies and volunteers for the military hospital. Word quickly spread about the arrival of Odette Theresia Marie-Laurie Charlotte von Dyssen, a princess and former wife of a renowned naval hero who had recently joined as nursing staff.

“Ah, why are you here?” The Director of the hospital, Colonel Haller, approached Odette with a puzzled expression upon hearing the news.

“Good day, Colonel,” greeted Odette politely. “I have been directed by His Majesty the Emperor to join the Naval Nurse Corps on the Northern Seafront. I assume you were informed of my arrival. Is there any confusion?”

“I was aware that additional nursing staff would be joining us, but there was no mention of a princess accompanying them to Trosa Island. It seems there may have been a miscommunication. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience,” 

“Don’t worry,” Odette said, sensing his confusion at her sudden visit. “I came here to let you know, no need to be concerned.” She blushed slightly at the unexpectedness of it all. She had just left the transport ship and discovered that the war fleet was still in port. Though she hadn’t been able to inform Bastian of her arrival beforehand, she held onto hope for a chance to bid him farewell before he left.

The night after her emotional breakdown on the ferris wheel, she approached the emperor with a plea to be sent to Trosa island. As her tears flowed freely, a weight seemed to lift from her heart like melting snow in the spring. The seeds of love, long hidden beneath her icy heart, began to sprout and bloom, the newfound love she promised to protect, much like the delicate spring flowers. Clutching a letter addressed to Bastian, she made her way towards the imperial palace with hope firmly planted in her heart.

‘I’ll forward the letter to him. There’s a transport ship leaving for the Trosa Island tomorrow morning. If you’re lucky, the letter will arrive before Admiral Klauswitz heads to the battle.’

With the emperor’s approval, Bastian would soon receive her letter. But doubts remained about her journey to his place.

‘The risk of attack is small, but it’s still a front line where anything can happen at any time.’’ 

‘I am ready, Your Majesty. I have complete faith in the Berg fleet’s ability to achieve victory. Even if the worst situation approaches, I won’t be terrified. This world means nothing to me without Bastian by my side.’

 ‘I have always been fascinated by your love for each other, willing to make sacrifices for one another. So tell me, if your love is true, why then did you both choose to end it in divorce?’ The Emperor puffed on his cigar, the room fell silent, the only sound the gentle rise of smoke swirling lazily between them.

‘I know Bastian will undergo a very dangerous military operation.’ Odette said.

‘I heard, you served as a military advisor in the navy, it looks like you managed to get a considerable amount of classified information.’

‘Yes, while translating classified documents, I learned about the potential impact of a large fleet on turning the tide in the North Sea. However, my access was limited and I never sought out hidden information without permission. But Your Majesty, I trust that you will not make the hasty decision to grant Bastian the rank of admiral.’

‘So, did you critique my decision?’ The Emperor gave her a sharp look, and Odette began to see the true character of her mother’s brother.

‘As an emperor, I understand and respect Your Majesty’s decisions. However, I ask that you reconsider not as my uncle who worries about his niece but as a leader of the empire.’

The Emperor looked at Odette, who was now bowing her head, ‘As an Emperor, should I grant your request?’

‘The royal family is upset with your choice to reinstate my mother’s status, damaging relations between Berg and Lovita during the war when the empire was mourning. The public likely feels the same.’

‘So?’

‘My devotion to the empire will quiet the criticisms if I join the front lines. As a daughter, it is my responsibility to redeem my mother’s sins in this way.’

‘As an Emperor, I see it as a propaganda tactic. Your true purpose is to meet your ex-husband on the battlefield, making it sound more like a tearful love story.’

‘That reason isn’t entirely foundational, Your Majesty. I don’t want to be a burden to the royal family, especially after receiving a title from a North Sea Hero for free. I hope to prove myself worthy by becoming a respected member of the imperial family. Please grant me this chance to turn the crown from Helene’s tears into Odette’s smile.’

The Emperor’s icy gaze didn’t scare her. She knew the crown Bastian returned to her held great value, but it was up to her to make it truly shine. She wanted to be a princess worthy of standing by the hero’s side.

‘Negotiating with the Emperor requires sacrifices, but it will benefit me. I’ll use you as bait to fetter the hero, and then use the hero to fetter you. Both of you will my sacrificial lambs for the Empire. Are you willing to go through with a disadvantageous negotiation for love, Odette?’ The Emperor gave her a final chance, and Odette stayed silent. ‘What a clever yet foolish couple. The grandson of a junk dealer and granddaughter of an emperor make for a perfect match, how amusing.’ He pitied her, but his warm gaze gave Odette more courage.

‘Excuse me, Your Majesty, but may I take a photograph?’

‘A photograph?’

‘I want to send a photo of me wearing the crown he returned in my letter.’

‘Why should I, the emperor, care about your love life?’

‘This request is for my uncle, not for the Emperor of the Empire.’

The Emperor chuckled as Odette felt embarrassed and searched for an explanation. Then, the bell rang. He gave the order when the attendant arrived.

‘Call the imperial photographer! And summon a servant to dress her.’

Once the order was given, Odette realised her appearance was untidy. She blushed but tried to stand tall and dignified.  The photo of the restitution of her title, with the Emperor’s help, was quickly sent to a transport ship heading to Trosa Islands. The next day, propaganda material about her enrolling in the Navy Nurse Corps and being deployed to the North Sea front was distributed.

“Excuse me, Colonel Haller, may I greet Admiral Klauswitz for a moment?” asked Odette. She had been rehearsing the request since she saw the Trosa Islands on the horizon.

“How should I put it? Admiral Klauswitz’s fleet has already set sail,” replied Colonel Haller. Confused, Odette looked at the military port. “Aren’t his warships still there?”

“That’s the main fleet. At dawn, a scouting fleet led by Admiral Klasuwitz was sent to the enemy camp for a diversion operation.”

“Ah… okay, I understand.” Odette held back her hurt feelings as she reminded herself to be strong. But a siren shattered the silence, signalling that it was time for the main fleet to set sail. She joined a group of volunteer nurses and ran towards the military port, where the main fleet led by a squadron of destroyers  were waiting at the entrance. Together, they set out across the dark blue waters of the North Sea.

She and her fellow volunteers waved goodbye to the war fleet from the dock. Though she couldn’t see Bastian off, she had her own duties to fulfill. She trusted he would do his best, and she must do the same.

“Now, volunteer nurse group, please proceed to the hospital!” The command came as soon as the fleet sailed towards the open sea.

Odette joined them, adjusting her cap and recalling her medical training as they prepared to treat severely injured soldiers from enemy artillery fire.

As she entered the area, her heart paused at the stench of blood and screams, but her faith in Bastian’s victory kept her moving forward. With a silent prayer in her lips, Odette walked through the hospital’s doors, ready to face whatever awaited her inside.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The ocean raged and roared like an angry beast, whipped into a frenzy by the hungry sea fox as it snapped at the tempting bait. 

Bastian and his fearless fleet achieved the impossible, breaking through the impenetrable enemy defence and launching the first attack that shook the seas. Caught in the crossfire of merciless gunfire, Admiral Sher and his soldiers fought back with everything they had.  The cruiser squadron retreated to defensive lines, the war fleet led by the Rayvael surged forward into the ultimate showdown of battle.

“FORMATION READY, OPEN FIRE!” Bastian’s voice boomed through the ship’s intercom. The Lovita warship squadron had finally come within range and it was time to strike. Two warships swiftly manoeuvred into position, forming a deadly battle formation, their cannons armed and ready.

“ENEMY CONTACT! BEARING 065! IT’S SUBMARINE – POTENTIAL THREAT!” 

Bastian’s face hardened as he absorbed the crucial information from the sonar crew. He could feel his heart racing as he monitors the evolving situation, his mind working at lightning speed to come up with a counter-strategy.

The Admiral Sher’s fleet began to make a hasty retreat towards the northwest. Just as they think they have the upper hand, sirens blare and all hell breaks loose.

“ENEMY SUBMARINE SPOTTED! THEY’RE PREPARING TO LAUNCH TORPEDOES!” 

The urgent warning blasted through the ship’s intercom, sending everyone into a frenzy. Rayvael frantically launched counterattacks, creating a chaotic scene of explosions and water splashing against the hull. They unleashed a barrage of shoots into the raging sea, desperately trying to ward off the approaching enemy submarine. But before their bombardment could be fully executed, Sher’s fleet launched a reckless onslaught of firepower, engulfing their own submarine, too, in roaring flames.

“That spy was worthless,” Bastian seethed, gritting his teeth in frustration as he watched the burning wreckage of the enemy warship. “ALL FLEETS, CHANGE COURSE TO THE NORTHWEST AND TAKE THE INFILTRATION ROUTE!” He barked out orders. 

“But with that route, we’ll need more time to get back to the main force. Our formation will be exposed, giving the enemy an advantage,” his aide argued, voicing concerns over the risky decision, which Bastian ignored.

The enemy’s submarine squadron was a formidable foe, their battle formation untouchable by any ordinary means. Thankfully, they had superior firepower at his disposal, enough to annihilate their attackers with ease. Bastian ordered his fleet to charge into battle, ignoring the danger of the minefield below. “ATTACK WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE! LURE THE ENEMY INTO OUR TRAP!” he commanded, shifting from a defensive position to an all-out assault. With the enemy fleet ahead, he couldn’t take a safer route. Time and lives were precious, and his duty was to minimize losses and quickly reunite with the main’s fleet.

With Bastian’s command ringing in their ears, the entire fleet shifted direction to the northwest. Caught off guard by this sudden change in tactics, the Sher’s fleet scrambled to defend themselves as Rayvael unleashed a barrage of devastating shots upon them.

“ONE ENEMY WARSHIP SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATED!”

Sher’s fleet, engulfed in flames from 3 exploding bombs, burned ferociously. The deafening explosion ripped through its ammunition storage, spreading fire and chaos to the nearby ships. As the chaos ensued, Bastian’s mind raced, realising too late that Admiral Sher had set a deadly trap. He had intentionally left their ammunition storage door open, luring Bastian’s forces into attacking and exposing their defences. It was a desperate and dangerous move, but it seemed to be working as Sher’s fleet launched a brutal counter strike.

“MAINTAIN FIRING RANGE! AND AIM FOR THEIR AMMUNITION STORAGE!” Bastian’s commanding voice echoed through the intercom, urgent and unwavering. In a frantic scramble, the rest of the fleet obeyed, their hands shaking as they aimed for the storage.

Explosions rocked the sea battle, drowning out all other sounds with deafening booms. Fiery shards rained down as a thick fog of smoke engulfed them like a suffocating shroud, concealing their movements and adding an eerie cloak of darkness to the chaos.

“ONE OF THE PROW TOWERS IS DAMAGED! SEVERAL AREAS ARE NOW FLOODED!”

“SOS! MEDICS! WHERE ARE THE MEDICS!”

Panicked screams and pleas echoed through the air, drowning out all other sounds, but Bastian wasted no time in ordering a counterattack.

A tense silence fell over the chaos as they waited for the outcome. Moments later, a report arrived that shook them to their core – Admiral Sher’s warship had also been hit, but the damage was not fatal.

“FULL SPEED AHEAD, JOIN THE MAIN FLEET!” Bastian bellowed, his eyes scanning the horizon beyond the thick smoke. In the distance, Berg’s flag fluttered in the wind. With the midday sun beating down on them, the Berg fleet assembled, ready to face their formidable opponent in the ultimate battle.

This was it. The decisive grand battle that would determine the fate of their world – both sides unleashing their full might in a brutal clash of wills.

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