CH 22

“Youth is good after all,” Dr. Kramer said, covering the chart with a satisfied smile.

No abnormal findings.

This month’s checkup record was also not significantly different from last month. The surgery of his left shoulder to remove shell fragments was completely healed, and the traces of his gunshot wound were gradually fading. It was a much faster recovery than expected.

“You’re fit to go out on the front lines again, but I don’t recommend it.”

Dr. Kramer leaned against the edge of his desk, looking at his patient. Bastia only grinned, and began to dress without replying. The body, covered with large and small scars, soon disappeared under a well-tailored dress shirt.

“I trust that the Admiralty will receive only the facts excluding the doctor’s opinion.”

Fastened his cufflinks, Bastian turned to stand up. He was smiling, but it was only formal courtesy. It seemed that he had no intention of breaking his determination of wanting to go abroad again.

“Bastian.”

Dr. Kramer sighed and called his name.

It was in this clinic that he first met the child. A sunny late spring like today. It was a weekend afternoon when the rose-scented breeze blew through the open window.

Sophia’s son (Bastian) had the exact same appearance as the man (Jeff Klauswitz) who had caused her death. Even so, the fact that he couldn’t escape the fate similar to his mother made him even more hopeless.

Carl Illis came to the hospital with his grandson, begging to look for evidence of abuse.

He said he had just taken Sophia’s son out of his father’s house. The old man’s eyes were bloodshot red as he had said that Bastian was now a member of the Illis family, saying that he would no longer let the monsters destroy the child. The Klauswitz wanted to get rid of the eldest son (Bastian) left by his dead ex-wife, and Ilis (grandfather) wanted to avenge his daughter by making the child his heir. 

The battle between the two families, which had been going on for years after Sophia’s death, ended with Klauswitz’s victory. 

Dr. Kramer, who examined Bastian as requested that day, was shocked twice.

First, when the child was undressed, large and small scars were engraved all over the boy’s body. The deep wounds from being attacked by a wild dog recently still weren’t properly healed.

Next was the time when the child told the history of how his wounds came about. Falling of horses, got cut while practicing swordsmanship, and suffered a fall while hiking.

The scars left on Bastian’s body had a common cause. All of them were created due to the child’s mistake during the successor class. At least that was how it looked on the surface. (*they used the excuse of the successor class to abuse (kill with reason) the young Bastian)

“It seems you’ve already earned enough of a reputation as a soldier, so why don’t you just get discharged already? I don’t want to sign the papers that allow you to go back there with my own hands.”

Dr. Kramer sighed deeply and removed his spectacles from the bridge of his nose.

“Even if I were on the frontline, peacekeeping and vigilance would be the main mission.”

Leaning on the opposite end of the desk, Bastian gave a calm answer. 

The spring sunlight, lined with golden dust particles, fell silently on the two of them as they gazed at the same spot.

“It’s really very credible of you to say such a thing after coming back injured.”

“It was an exceptional circumstance.”

“What if, by any chance, something like that happens again?”

“Well, I guess I’ll get another medal.”

Dr. Kramer involuntarily burst out laughing at the brazen joke Bastian had made.

Bastian also smiled quietly. He had a calm expression, but it was difficult to fathom the look in his eyes. Just like that boy from 14 years ago.

Carl Illis’s determination to accuse the Klauswitz couple of secretly abusing his ex-wife’s son never came to fruition. It was clear that the cunning and cruel abuse had been committed for a long time, but they had left no evidence of their entrapment.

Succession Education.

They put forward such a grandiose cause.

He (Jeff ) remarried as soon as his ex-wife passed away, and his second wife’s child was born premature at seven months*. Even with a son born by his aristocratic wife, Jeff Klauswitz expressed his intention to use his ex-wife’s son as his successor. It was an action to quell the suspicion and ugliness that began with that unexplained incident. (*It means Jeff was cheated on his wife (Bastian’s mother) while she was alive)

The Klauswitz couple entrusted the heir (Bastian) of the family to carefully selected tutors. They were all recognized experts, so it was difficult to dismiss it as something that had no effect. However, it was accompanied by a harsh discipline method that forced and drove the child to a level that he could not possibly reach.

The child woke up before the sun rose in the morning and sat at his desk perfectly dressed. After suffering from schoolwork that was difficult for people his age to digest, severe physical training that was close to military training continued.

He read and wrote until his eyes were red and his hands were swollen. Despite falling off his horse’s back and nearly breaking his neck, he learned to ride. He was left alone in the forest at night with a gun in his still-growing hand.

If he made it, the cold silence returned, and if he failed, the value of his existence was questioned. From the age of six, when his mother passed away, to the age of twelve, when he visited this hospital with his maternal grandfather.

This was a period of time when the child lived within the walls of the Klauswitz family.

“But it won’t be until this fall. No matter what you do, you won’t get my signature. The decision of the Admiralty will be the same.”

Instead of asking Bastian if now would be enough to stop seeking vengeance, Dr. Kramer just smiled bitterly.

Sometimes he (doctor) regretted revealing the truth that Sophia had been murdered. If he had just covered it up with an ordinary death that she left the world while giving birth, such a deep resentment would not have formed in Carl Illis’ heart. Then revenge he couldn’t achieve would not have become this child’s task. Although now it had become nothing more than a useless regret.

Putting his glasses back on, Dr. Kramer looked at Bastian with regretful eyes. Even though a long time had passed, the doctor’s mind still remained in the past as he looked at him.

All violence leaves traces.

It was no exception given that it was an abuse in an invisible form.

Realizing that he could no longer punish the Klauswitz couple, Carl Illis finally shed tears laced with resentment. In the meantime, the young Bastian protected his maternal grandfather’s side as he wept, looking not a bit upset.

And after a while, he finally left this medical room with Carl Illis. In the figure of the twelve-year-old boy closing the door after a polite smile, Dr. Kramer saw the marks left by that silent violence.

“How about getting married and starting a family?”

Dr. Kramer suddenly asked an impulsive question.

“Of course, this does not mean that you should accept the marriage proposal forced by the emperor. There are many other good ladies out there, so think about it seriously. A marriage made out of love, not as a means of transaction.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Bastian gave a brisk reply and smiled. The doctor knew he didn’t mean it, but he couldn’t say anything more.

Suddenly he found it ridiculous to give such advice when he himself had buried the unfulfilled love in his heart long ago.

Bastian left with his usual polite greeting. After the last appointment, the doctor’s office was enveloped with a languid afternoon silence.

Dr. Kramer stood in front of the window facing the hospital’s main entrance, watching Bastian leave. With his jacket draped over one arm, Bastian walked with confident strides, staring straight ahead. Although he was wearing plain clothes today, one could guess that he was a skilled military man just by the way he carried himself.

Dr. Kramer remained silent until the beautiful blonde hair, as the spring sun, disappeared from sight. 

***

Odette turned around and checked her reflection in the shop window of the café across the street.

It was too urgent an appointment to get the Countess of Trier’s help today.

Her blouse and skirt were neat enough, but they were not appropriate for a formal occasion.

The man did not say where he planned to go or what he was going to do.

<We will meet tomorrow at 3pm in front of the fountain in City Hall Square.>

The letter Bastian sent last night via personal service contained only one ridiculously short note.

K.

Again, the final greeting was just that one insincere syllable of his last name.

Judging by the time and place, at least it didn’t look like she was going to attend a formal social event.

She had chosen the clothes with that in mind, but as the appointment time approached, she felt uneasy. It was then that a car started approaching from the other side of the street.

A black car approaching, gradually slowing down, stopped not far from the fountain. After confirming that the car was different from the man’s car she had driven in that day, Odette stopped paying attention.

“Hello, Lady Odette.”

The familiar voice from the strange car came just as Odette began to rearrange the creases in her old skirt.

Startled, she raised her head. While she was retrieving her parasol, which she had nearly dropped, a man got out of the back seat. To her surprise, it was Bastian Klauswitz.

Confidently, he approached her as she was in a state of bewilderment.

He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the glances of the passersby.

“Hello, Captain.”

Odette first responded with a polite greeting.

Stopping at one step away, Bastian scrutinized Odette with downcast eyes.

Top to bottom, bottom to top again.

It was an insolent gaze with no intention of hiding the snobbish standards of evaluation.

“Let’s go.”

After completing his evaluation with an ambiguous smile, Bastian held out his hand.

Odette looked at him as if asking for an explanation, but he made no reply.

Taking the parasol from Odette and folding it, Bastian escorted her to the parking car. Odette was already in the back seat when she realized what had happened.

“Tell me where the destination is.”

She mustered up the courage to ask, but Bastian ignored her request by quietly closing the car door.

Odette watched him with furrowed brows. When the driver opened the door to the opposite back seat, Bastian calmly climbed into the seat next to her. Despite committing heinous rudeness, he never hesitated.

“Let’s go.”

That was Bastian’s only command, but the driver started the car without question.

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

His tone insincere, Bastian held out the parasol. Odette accepted it, hiding her displeasure.

While studying the pattern of the parasol on her lap, the car they were in entered a crowded downtown area.

The car arrived at its destination and stopped at the same time Odette found a thread of lace sticking out.

As she hurriedly removed it, the back seat door opened. Behind Bastian’s outstretched hand, she could see the show windows of a luxurious store.

Sabine.

It was the dress shop mentioned by the Count’s daughter who had cleverly tested Odette.