CH 70

“Shall we go?” Bastian suggested, his voice akin to a gentle breeze brushing against her ears.

Odette’s head swiveled in surprise as she turned to face him. Without any prior notice, Bastian appeared by her side and positioned himself next to her in front of a window that offered a picturesque view of the riverside.

“It doesn’t appear to be too far from here,” Bastian commented, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the sunset-kissed Schulter River. In his gaze, the Ferris wheel from the amusement park Odette had been observing came into view.

“No, I’m alright,” Odette replied, attempting to brush off the topic.

“You were observing it last night, weren’t you?” Bastian persisted, refusing to let the matter drop, despite Odette’s evasive response.

“That…” Odette hesitated for a moment, shifting slightly to the side. It was difficult to deny. It was evident that she had spent late nights in front of this window, captivated by the shimmering lights of the Ferris wheel. “It’s just… because it’s beautiful. That’s all.”

After considerable deliberation, Odette finally disclosed her most genuine sentiments.

By sheer coincidence, they found themselves staying in a room that afforded a view of the enchanting Ferris wheel, and all Odette desired was to gaze at the mesmerizing lights. 

The recollection of that spring evening when they made a pledge to embark on a field trip to the amusement park weighed heavily on her heart, but she chose to keep this sentiment concealed, locked within the depths of her being. How could she possibly confess to this man that she now regretted ever making that promise to Tira?

If that had been the reality, Tira wouldn’t have been driven to such desperate measures to safeguard their emergency fund. Consequently, their father would not have resorted to taking the money in their customary altercation.

Perhaps it could have been an unremarkable day, filled with simple pleasures like cotton candy, merry-go-round rides, the Electric Palace, the horoscope machine, and the Ferris wheel. If only Tira hadn’t been so thrilled, resembling a child, as she gleefully shared tales and chattered away.

She convinced herself that it was because of her sister Odette’s immaturity, but in reality, Odette was just interested. The bright lights of the amusement park that she saw as she travelled through the central business district of the city. She also pictured herself riding over the night sky on what appeared to be a giant golden ferris wheel atop a gigantic ferris wheel.

Even on that particular night, as she stirred the stew with a ladle in hand, the mere fact that she had felt a tinge of excitement added an extra burden to Odette’s heart. She knew she shouldn’t have allowed herself to indulge in such emotions.

Recalling her past foolish mistakes, Odette pressed her lips together tightly, determined to suppress her sentimental thoughts. It was time to fulfill her role as a wife, and with that in mind, she composed herself, ready to face Bastian with a composed expression as she recollected her unfinished task.

“You have a dinner engagement,” Odette informed Bastian.

Bastian had a scheduled luncheon at the House of Herhardt and an evening meeting with northern businessmen. Odette was well aware of today’s itinerary; there was no room for error. Once Bastian left for the evening, she had made a promise to visit Tira.

“You should leave now,” Odette insisted, making another attempt to get Bastian’s attention. However, he remained unresponsive. His blue eyes were fixed upon the Ferris wheel gracefully traversing the sky as nightfall approached, captivating Odette once more.

“The schedule has been altered,” Bastian calmly conveyed the news. The primary objective of their journey to Carlsbar had been to engage with the Herhardt family, and having fulfilled that task flawlessly, he felt at liberty to handle the remaining tasks as he deemed appropriate.

It was a decision Bastian reached during the carriage ride back to the hotel. He made the firm choice to forgo his official obligations, including the meeting he was expected to attend later that night.

His desire was to be with this woman, Odette.

Bastian yearned for it with unwavering clarity, and as a result, he acquiesced to his own longing.

“Prepare yourself,” Bastian calmly ordered, his gaze fixed on Odette’s astonished expression.

After the parents’ event at Tira’s girls’ school the following day, they would need to return to Ardenne. Before that, Bastian thought it would be lovely to bestow a small gift upon Odette. However, she exceeded his expectations, proving herself to be even more capable than he had anticipated.

“Bastian!” Odette called out urgently, causing him to quickly turn around. He faced her as she hesitantly continued.

“May I bring Tira along?” Her lips, tinged with the warm glow of the sunset, uttered the name with a hint of unease. “I made a promise to her, you see. I plan on visiting her tonight. So… if I have to go, I would like to take Tira with me.”

The eyes of the helpless mother bird flashed with a steely resolve, betraying her desperation.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Sister, why are you so thoughtless?” Tira’s stern reprimand carried over the cacophony of the bustling amusement park.

“Thoughtless?” Odette tilted her head in confusion, appearing unaware of what she had done wrong.

“Why would you bring me here? I expected it to be uncomfortable and suffocating,” Tira exclaimed, clicking her tongue and gesturing behind her to highlight her sister’s error.

As Bastian made his way towards a cotton candy stall, Tira’s persistent plea for a taste still echoing in his ears, Odette devised a plan as a means to grant her sister an opportunity to have a conversation.

“Don’t be impolite, Tira. Bastian hasn’t done anything to harm you,” Odette reprimanded her sister, contemplating her words carefully.

In her state of disbelief, Tira let out a sigh and guided her sister to an unoccupied bench. She made sure to keep an eye on Bastian’s movements intermittently.

Bastian had just reached the cotton candy stall, his tall and imposing figure standing out prominently in the bustling crowd. Thankfully, there was a long line, granting them a bit more time.

“When did I ever say the captain is bad?” Tira shook her head and took a seat next to Odette.

Upon hearing the news of her sister’s visit, Tira had been filled with joy. It meant she could escape the stifling dormitory and have some fun. However, that happiness quickly dissipated the moment she encountered Bastian in the first-floor lobby.

“It’s not the captain who’s bad, it’s you, sister,” Tira exclaimed, her gaze filled with thorns. Despite Tira’s piercing eyes, Odette remained baffled, her expression one of confusion.

“Me? Why?” Odette questioned.

“Why would you bring your sister along on a date with your husband?” Tira retorted. 

Odette’s frown deepened, as if she had been deeply offended. Tira expressed her frustration by tapping her chest to emphasize her point.

“Oh? How else can you describe this situation?” 

“We just…” Odette began, her words trailing off.

“Look. It’s a date,” Tira sighed once more, casting her gaze upon Odette, who vehemently denied her words. “Even if it’s not officially labeled as such, being alone with the captain feels intimidating. It’s like sitting on a cushion full of thorns.”

“Bastian is a generous person who is doing you a great favor. Don’t speak that way,”

“I’m afraid of him, so why can’t I say so?” Tira retorted.

“You’re afraid of Bastian?” Odette questioned once more, her disbelief evident.

“Are you not afraid of the captain?” Tira seemed perplexed by Odette’s lack of understanding. Odette glanced at Bastian, her brow furrowed in contemplation.

The brightly colored light bulb decorations at the cotton candy kiosk with the grandiose moniker Fairy Thread were drawing a lot of attention to themselves. It was a scene that swirled around like water and oil while Bastian was there standing in line with a stance that was straight and upright.

Odette gave a small shake of her head and then turned her attention to Tira.

She did not have any fear of him.

It goes without saying that she experienced an overwhelming sense of unease in relation to the man; yet, terror was not one of those emotions. He was always nice, despite the fact that he had no facial expression and said very little. In point of fact, he was not only a gentleman but also a really clever man.

“Probably because you love him,” Tira stated casually, causing Odette to be taken aback.

No.

Odette managed to restrain the words that nearly escaped her reflexively.

“Nevertheless, I’m afraid of the captain. Even making eye contact with him sends a shiver down my spine. He’s as cold as ice,” Tira expressed with an exaggerated tantrum, her gaze fixed on the cotton candy stand. Bastian’s turn was approaching.

She was startled when she heard a voice yelling her name vehemently just as her eyes began to become dim with the notion of her being an obstruction once more.

Her fellow students who resided in the same dorm room smiled and waved at her as she passed by. There was also a group of male students from the nearby school who were present there.

“I’ll go see my friends,” Tira exclaimed, seizing the opportunity for an escape and leaping with joy as she stood up from the bench.

“Tira Byller!” Odette called out her name with a scolding tone, but it was insufficient to deter Tira’s determination.

“See you later, sister! I’ll be in front of the Ferris wheel by 9 o’clock!” Tira left her unilateral notice and dashed off towards her friends. As she made her way to escape from her sister, Tira passed by the cotton candy stand. Odette’s intimidating yet wonderful husband was now receiving a fluffy white cloud of cotton candy.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“I’m sorry, Bastian.” Odette lowered her head once again after sharing the circumstances of Tira leaving them. “I suppose at her age, spending time with friends is more enjoyable. I’m sorry it turned out this way, especially after all the effort and thoughtfulness you put into it.”

Bastian glanced between the cotton candy in his hand and his wife, who appeared distressed, and let out a laugh.

Odette’s sister had disappeared. She came to this town by chance and ended up meeting several of her friends here. She gave the impression of being an immature person who lacked any thoughts, but it seemed as though she had at least some value.

“Don’t worry about it.” Bastian replied, casting a kind glance at the clock tower. He shook his head gently, noting that there was still over two hours remaining until their agreed-upon meeting time of nine o’clock. In a rare turn of events, Tira Byller had proven to be useful. “She’s still young. As you mentioned, this is the age for making friends.”

Odette’s face finally brightened with a sense of relief. “Thank you for understanding,” she expressed gratefully. Draped in a short cloak over a checked wool dress, Odette appeared more youthful than ever. It was a stark contrast to her elegant noblewoman guise from earlier in the afternoon.

He did not give it a great deal of thought, but it was possible that it was an illusion generated by the space being filled with the cheers and laughter of youngsters.

First, Bastian passed on the piece of cotton candy that he had been holding in his hand. When Odette unexpectedly received it, her eyes widened with surprise.

“I guess I’m not the kind of person who enjoys these things,” Odette remarked with a playful tone. Bastian chuckled heartily and reached out to take Odette’s hand. The illuminated rides cast a vibrant glow over the nighttime amusement park, creating an atmosphere as lively as daylight.

With confidence, Bastian led the way towards the lights that had captivated Odette’s attention. Walking hand in hand, they ventured through the park together, Odette clutching her cotton candy tightly.