Bastian
Chapter 35 - Blue Wick in the Flames

✧Blue Wick in the Flames✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“My father…” she began. In a moment of startling honesty, Odette’s clear voice cut through the thick tension in the room.  “My father had an insatiable gambling addiction. He was willing to risk anything – even his own flesh and blood – to feed his habit. And so, he wagered me as the stakes, and eager participants eagerly joined in the game.” The weight of her revelation hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, silence reigned supreme.

With a deep frown etched on his face, Erich Faber watched on as Bastian’s wife took center stage, stealing his chance to be the main character. Despite the humiliation she was subjected to, she remained surprisingly composed, exuding an air of unshakable calmness that even Erich left dumbfounded. The performance was nothing short of spectacular, leaving him awestruck and feeling foolish for having made such a fuss over something so trivial.

 “Bastian emerged as the winner of that bet, and he graciously allowed me to leave unscathed, with all the dignity and honor befitting of a soldier. It was only made possible because of the firm support of his friends, for which I am eternally grateful.”  With a grateful smile on her lips, Odette recounted the events that had transpired.

Erich laughed in sheer amazement as he listened to her cleverly beautified version of events, which, to his surprise, worked in her favor. Though it wasn’t entirely accurate, the fact that it wasn’t entirely wrong perplexed him even more. Despite his reservations, he couldn’t deny that she had won, and her stunning counterattack had left him reeling, unable to come up with a suitable response.

“How utterly romantic!” Sandrine exclaimed, unable to contain her exaggerated admiration. “It sounds like it must have been love at first sight.”

Setting down her glass, she gazed at Odette with a mixture of awe and envy, leaving Erich feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her presence. Sensing the awkwardness, he quickly excused himself and withdrew quietly.

All eyes were fixed on Sandrine as she regarded Odette with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze. Though Odette appeared to be humble and unassuming, Sandrine couldn’t help but wonder if her apparent lack of arrogance was just a facade. Perhaps it would have been better if Odette’s arrogance was sky-high, but Sandrine couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this seemingly soft-hearted woman than met the eye.

As Sandrine continued to study Odette, she couldn’t help but notice the desperation in her calm demeanor. If there was truly nothing to hide, then why was Odette so intent on maintaining her composure? It was a question that lingered in Sandrine’s mind long after the conversation had ended, leaving her with an unshakeable sense of intrigue and curiosity.

“Who knows, perhaps your husband might be a different man if someone else had won that fateful night,” Sandrine’s smile broadened as she lobbed a taunt disguised as a joke at Odette.

She was determined to rattle Odette’s seemingly unflappable composure, to see how long she could keep up her facade of calm and control. But as she watched Odette’s expression remain unchanged, Sandrine began to wonder if there was more to this woman than she had initially thought.

“Surely everyone should have worked harder to seize such a golden opportunity, should they not, Mrs. Klauswitz?” she taunted, her eyes glittering with malicious delight.

As Sandrine continued to poke and prod at Odette, the tension in the room grew palpable, and the once-excited guests fell silent, their laughter fading away into a tense hush. 

Sandrine let out a soft, wistful sigh and followed the direction of everyone’s gaze, her eyes settling on the terrace where Bastian stood, his sudden appearance taking her by surprise.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The heavy silence that had settled over the garden was abruptly shattered by the sound of footsteps echoing through the night air. With a faint, enigmatic smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Bastian moved steadily towards his wife, moving with a fluid grace that spoke of years of military training.

The conversation with Thomas Muller was unusually brief, with key points summarized and straightforward answers from Bastian. But upon returning to the terrace, a tense situation awaited as Erich was on the verge of detonating a figurative bomb. Curiosity piqued, Bastian chose to carefully observe the unfolding events before taking action.

With Odette put on the chopping block, Bastian’s curiosity was piqued as he eagerly awaited to see which path she would choose. It was a test of sorts, and unfortunately, the outcome did not meet Bastian’s expectations.

While the strategy itself was solid, Odette’s lack of skill left a gap that Sandrine was able to expertly exploit. Sandrine possessed the very qualities of a wife that Bastian required, and it was a testament to her character. The current Mrs. Klauswitz was Odette, however, and the preservation of her dignity was intimately tied to Bastian’s honor as a husband.

“I’m afraid that scenario simply wouldn’t have come to pass,” A soft smile played across Bastian’s lips as he stood behind Odette’s chair, exuding an air of possessiveness as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.  “Even if someone else had emerged victorious, the end result would have remained unchanged. I would have simply stolen it,” Bastian declared, turning to look lovingly at his wife. Leaning in close, he whispered affectionately into her ear.

Odette’s head whipped around in shock, and an involuntary gasp escaped her lips as she found herself face to face with her husband. His proximity was unnerving, and even as he feigned the role of a tender lover, the frigidity in his gaze remained unyielding. It was like staring into the heart of a flickering flame.

Caught off guard, Odette felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as she attempted to turn her head away. But the hands that clutched her shoulders held firm, and before she knew it, their lips encountered. 

Suppressing a scream, Odette stiffened as Bastian suddenly kissed her. Despite the crude laughter and taunts of the other guests, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for their presence. Their rowdy behavior had provided the perfect cover for the explosion of emotions that threatened to consume her. Thankfully, Bastian knew when to draw the line and withdrew without overstepping his bounds.

He took his seat with a smile on his face, emitting a nonchalance that fit right back into the original course of the dinner party. No one mentioned that night at all as they instead relished in their conversation, laughter, and the delights of the June evening. Even the obviously malicious Erich Faber and Countess Lenart contributed to the laid-back mood.

A sense of relief washed over Odette as she exhaled deeply. However, her moment of respite was short-lived, as she suddenly felt a large, firm grip enveloping her hand. 

The hand belonged to Bastian.

Despite her attempts to resist, his grasp remained unyielding as he gently guided her hand onto his lap.

As Sandrine observed the newlyweds closely, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy bubble up inside her. Despite her mixed emotions, she plastered on a bright smile and delivered a backhanded compliment with expert precision. “My, my, I must say I didn’t expect to witness such a display of love from you, Bastian. You and Odette make such a lovely couple,” she remarked, her words dripping with both sweetness and spite. Although her smile remained fixed, her eyes betrayed a hint of jealousy that she had no intention of concealing.

A sudden warmth crept up Odette’s cheeks as she came to the realization of just how peculiar her marriage truly was. 

It was a feeling akin to being treated as a mistress by another man’s wife, and it left her with a sense of discomfort that she couldn’t quite shake off. 

However, Bastian still seemed unwilling to let her go, a fact that left her feeling both bewildered and conflicted. Even though it was painfully obvious that Sandrine harbored deep feelings for him.

Bastian applied a strong pressure to Odette’s gripped hand. Then he cautiously wound his finges around her immovable ones. She made every effort to oppose it, but the strength gap was too great. 

Their hands soon formed a flawless interlock.

As an unfamiliar sensation crept up on her, Odette felt her face flush with embarrassment. Hastily lowering her head in an attempt to hide her rosy cheeks, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame wash over her. Despite her inner turmoil, Bastian carried on with his conversation as if nothing were amiss, leaving her feeling lost and alone. 

Unable to meet Sandrine’s gaze for the duration of the meal, Odette was consumed by a gnawing sense of guilt, as though she were betraying something sacred.

 The feeling was a repulsive one, casting a dark shadow deep within her heart that seemed impossible to shake off.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

 “There are still quite a few parts of the house that require the touch of a skilled hostess,” Sandrine’s voice rang out merrily, her words echoing through the stillness of the hallway. Pausing for a moment to clarify, Odette pivoted on her heel to face the group of ladies following her, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Following the conclusion of the evening meal, Bastian and his companions made their way to the study, leaving her to take charge of the ladies’ entertainment. While refreshments and music were typically the go-to options for such occasions, Odette decided to take a different approach. Seeking counsel from the esteemed Countess Trier, it was determined that a house tour would be a more fitting choice for their inaugural hosting event.

“Indeed, the guest quarters and shared spaces have yet to be fully adorned, and the outbuilding is nearly complete, with only the exterior awaiting its final touches.” A warm smile graced Odette’s lips as she replied. Sandrine, acknowledging Odette’s response with a nod of her head, brazenly pushed open the door at the end of the hallway, revealing a cozy study designed for the hostess to receive and entertain her guests.

With a sense of ownership, Sandrine entered the space with a swagger. While doing so, the other visitors dispersed around the corner, avidly taking in the splendour of the mansion. Odette motioned to the waiting maid, who immediately brought the group back to the terrace when she saw Sandrine there. Odette, however, was left with no choice other than to follow Sandrine inside the inviting study.

Sandrine looked over the still-empty cabinets and walls before settling down on the sofa in front of the big fireplace. Odette softly shut the door as she observed the situation. It appeared that a conversation she didn’t particularly enjoy was about to begin.

“The trending painting styles these days are far too vague for my liking,” Sandrine arched her eyebrow as Odette drew closer, her tone conveying her disapproval of contemporary art. “I much prefer classic paintings, although themes like history and religion can be a bit weighty. Personally, I prefer bright and lively landscape paintings.”

With a pointed stare, Sandrine made her preferences clear. “Rather than a painting, I would suggest a mirror atop the fireplace,” she instructed. “And for the lamp and clock on the mantelpiece, I would choose Fellise. Berg’s pieces lack the necessary delicate aesthetic.  I spent my childhood in Felia, so you should be able to understand my taste.”

Odette’s face contorted with confusion as she gazed down at Sandrine, who was standing on the opposite side of the sofa. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Countess.”

The lanterns cast a soft glow on the two women as they locked eyes, their expressions starkly contrasting.

“Please remember to maintain the decorum of a guest.” Odette was the first to break the silence, her tone firm but polite.

“I will maintain appearances in public to spare Bastian’s shame. But let me make this clear: I have no intention of accepting a mere two-year employee as my Bastian’s wife, especially in private.” Sandrine cut to the chase and made her position clear, no longer interested in playing games of tug of war.

“Surprised, my dear? Did you truly believe that the marriage contract was a secret only shared between you and Bastian?” Her words were like a dagger, cutting through the silence as Odette’s eyes conveyed her shock and confusion.

“I understand. Countess, you may have a delusion of a special relationship with him. It’s amusing, but I get it. Bastian is also taking advantage of you, and young men need that kind of entertainment, above all.” Odette said.

Her pallid hand caught Sandrine’s attention. Even the last sliver of sympathy she had for the lady who had sold herself for money vanished when she thought back to Bastian clutching that hand firmly.

“I do hope you’re taking the necessary precautions and being cautious,” 

“What do you mean by that?” Odette’s expression turned pale as she asked back.

“Let me be clear, Odette. You should not entertain the thought of getting pregnant and trying to replace me. While I may tolerate your presence to some extent, if you were to have a child with Bastian, you would face a world of pain and heartbreak.”

“You can’t be serious. Are you trying to threaten me?” Odette’s mask of politeness crumbled as she exclaimed. 

“What else might there be in this discussion?” Sandrine gave a nonchalant shrug and a small smile, as if to say that there was nothing left to discuss in the conversation. 

Odette seemed to have finally understood what fates saved for her.

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