Bastian
Chapter Side Story 6 - A New Beginning

✧A New Beginning✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Shall we take a break for a moment?”  Odette suggested, kindness seeping into her words between the strikes of the piano.

Bastian stopped playing,  he glanced up to see her standing by the piano. Her squinted eyes gave him a feeling that something was wrong again.

 “You have to sit up straight, with an upright posture. Stretch your fingers out to cover all the octaves and strike with force. You have a rhythm, that’s good.”

   Bastian frowned at the music sheets then turned to face his piano teacher. He had learned through experience that his teacher’s true feelings were often hidden in her choice of words, what started as a compliment usually ended in harsh criticism. Initially, he had scoffed at the idea of learning piano, but Odette surprised him with her enthusiasm.

With the cold season coming in strong, outdoor activities were becoming limited, so it would be good to adopt some indoor hobbies. 

Though there were plenty of indoor activities they could have enjoyed together, he didn’t argue when she asked him to play the piano. Odette practically dragged him to the piano room, searching for a specific music book from her days as a tutor in a rural village. He could have refused, but he knew it would only lead to disappointment on her part. So, he begrudgingly sat at the piano, trying to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. Little did he know, he would come to regret this decision later.

   Odette watched closely as she guided him through some simple chords. “There are a few, simple faults you could correct that would have a remarkable impact on your skill. May I give you some advice?” she said firmly.

   “Please, go ahead Mrs Byller, I’m all ears,” Bastian said, allowing himself to get into the spirit of the lesson.

   Odette’s face seemed to brighten and she smiled at her eager pupil. Now he understood why she could become a tutor so quickly.

“Strong keystrokes,” she said. “Like you want to put your fingers through the keys, but be careful of the symbols on the sheet, music isn’t just about hard sounds. If you look here,” Odette pointed to something on the music sheet, “this represents a softer sound and you will need to adjust your hand shape as what you are using now will make it difficult to reach the keys.” Odette corrected Bastian’s finger position. “Lift the back of your hand a little, like this, there. When striking, use the tips of your fingers, like this. See, the sound is much warmer.”

Bastian laughed, he was unaware that the temperature of the sound was so important. He didn’t feel any difference, but he didn’t argue.

When he looked at Odette, the smile on his lips melted away as she gave him a scolding look. Her breath smelled of sweet cocoa, the drink he made for her before she taught him

   “Okay, try and play from the beginning again,” Odette said, recovering a sheet of music from the small chest next to the piano, it read piano songs for children. Again Bastian laughed at such childishness, and began to play beginner’s practice songs. Odette put down the cocoa on the window frame and tapped her palm again to keep the beat like a music instructor.

   Bastian did his best to follow the notes on the sheet. He knew the music, everyone above the age of two did.

   “See? Just paying attention to the few things I marked out makes the sound so much sweeter,” Odette said with a smile.

   Bastian had no natural talent for music, but he was good at learning and played on as best he could. At this rate, he might be able to finish the beginners course before the trips end.

   “Do you remember the party we attended at Duke Reiner’s residence last summer? The one where they held a charity concert and they performed it themselves?” Odette said, resting her head on Bastian’s shoulders as she sat next to him. 

Bastian gave a slight nod, sipping on his lukewarm coffee resting atop the upright piano. It was Odette’s preferred taste – soft-bland, watery brewed coffee – he had grown accustomed to it over time and could now barely stomach its taste.

“I think it would be nice if we  hold a concert like that one day.”

   Bastian laughed heartily. “I don’t think anyone is going to open their wallets for children’s songs like Baa Baa Black Sheep,” Bastian said.

   “Oh, you’ll get better, you won’t be a beginner forever. I’m sure you will be able to play a masterpiece song in no time.” 

‘I’ll make sure of it.’ Odette’s determination shone through her turquoise eyes. “But of course, I am not insisting that you learn the piano, if it doesn’t suit you, you can choose any instrument you wish or even any hobby you want. Art, reading, writing, cooking, I don’t know. I just want to know how you enjoy your leisure time. I know exercise is a great hobby and all and I admire your endurance, training your body for many years but now that you’ve started anew, you could live a different kind of life, apart from being an officer, so you don’t hurt your body anymore, you know?”   Her cool and soft hands wrapped around his cheek.

   A new beginning.

 Bastian could feel his own eyes becoming heavy as he considered the words.

“Bastian….”  She called his name impulsively and at the same time the doorbell rang.

 “Are we expecting anyone?” Bastian asked and stood up from the piano’s chair.

   “No, I don’t think so,” Odette rushed down the stairs, followed by Bastian and opened the front door.

“Oh…” she said as she saw  a familiar young lady standing, holding her little daughter.

“Long time no see, Marie.” She greeted Odette first.

She was  Nina Schmidt, the wife of a village teacher who had been avoiding Odette.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Marie or should I call you Princess now?” Nina said.

   Odette smiled and shook her head. “I would prefer if you just treated me as you have done before. My attempts to conceal my identity are rather embarrassing, so please, just call me Odette.”

   “Well, it feels kind of disrespectful, but if you insist. I will, Odette.” The atmosphere felt tense, but her smile remained the same.

   “Princess, may I play with your doggies?” the child asked after emptying the cake dish. Odette smiled, giving her permission as she stroked the child’s plump cheeks.

   The child had grown so much since the last time Odette had seen her. No longer a little bundle in her arms, but a proper young girl with good manners and polite conversation, making for an ideal tea party guest. It was a bittersweet reminder of the passing of time. A brief flicker of emotion crossed Odette’s face, but she quickly composed herself. The child accepted the cookie wrapped in a napkin and skipped away with an excited smile on her face. 

   “I am so sorry for imposing on you at such short notice,” Nina said. “Will the admiral mind my visit?”

   “No, not at all,” Odette said, placing the teapot on the stove. “At this time he usually works in his study. He didn’t leave because he was uncomfortable, so please, don’t worry.”

Bastian made it a point to devote some time each afternoon to his work. Though he did so out of consideration for his guest, he didn’t feel the need to show off and cause any inconvenience. Instead, he quietly retreated to his study earlier than usual with ease, leaving the other person undisturbed.

   “Well, that’s a relief.” Nina gave an awkward smile and fidgeted in her seat.

   She had always been uncomfortable around Odette, even despite wanting to continue with their relationship as before. She had made various efforts to seem friendly enough, but the wall between them did not crumble. The sense of betrayal was too strong.

   Odette could understand and respect her feelings and it was sad that she could be losing a dear friend, but it was the consequence of her actions that had done it and there was nothing she could do about it. So she was very grateful when Nina came to see her and reached out first.

   “I know about the money you sent for the war widows of the village, the support.” Nina looked at Odette determinately, who flinched as she placed down the tea cups.

Even after leaving Rothewein Odette often remembered Nina- when her tears streamed down her face as she stood before an empty coffin. All that remained of her loved one was a blood-stained military uniform and a lonely dog tag. The thought of Nina, left to raise three children alone during the war, filled Odette’s mind with a darkness unlike any other.

Odette pondered on ways to aid those in need and turned to the Countess Trier for guidance. With the assistance of the Trier household, she was able to deliver a generous donation to Rothewein. Her efforts did not stop at aiding just Nina, but extended to other widows as well. And through careful management, the fund remained secure until the war’s end. Rumours spread of an anonymous philanthropist behind this act of kindness, but it seemed that even the property manager of the Trier household couldn’t keep such a secret for long.

 “Thanks to you, I was able to overcome a rather difficult time. I will never forget the kindness you showed for as long as I live.” Nina sighed and Odette could see that she was fighting some very difficult emotions. “I have wanted to say that for such a long time, but it was hard. I felt ashamed, grateful and sorry, all at the same time. My feelings are very complicated. I didn’t know how I was supposed to approach you, I knew Marie Byller more than I knew Odette. I thought that reaching out might make me look like a greedy opportunist.”

   “I would never think that of you,” Odette said, pausing with the hot kettle in her hands.

   “I know, Odette. It wasn’t a misunderstanding of you, I just felt so inferior.” She gave a nervous laugh as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “I didn’t want to let you go and so, I figured I would probably grow to regret it if I didn’t at least try. So I gathered all the courage I could muster and came right over. I am so grateful that you accepted me so warmly. I would love it if we could still be friends.”

   “Of course, Mrs Schmidt, you have no idea how long I have been waiting for this moment,” Odette said with a laugh as she poured the tea. Nina soon burst into tears.

Odette stood up, pulling out her handkerchief and approaching her friend. Nina smiled through tears as Odette wiped them away.

“I no longer want to be known as the wife of a man who left me first. You can call me Nina, Odette.”

   “Alright, Nina.” Odette corrected herself and fixed Nina’s disorganised blouse collar. “Does this mean I can come back to the village ladies tea time? I have missed it so much.”

   “Yes, of course,” Nina said excitedly as she took Odette’s hand. “You are a saviour to me and my child and to a lot of the ladies here, my dear Odette.”