CH 72

“Oh my, I apologize for this,” the Ferris wheel manager said with a kind smile as he reached the barrier line, marking the restricted area with a gentle tap.

When Odette approached the sign positioned at the center of the chain, the final passenger of the Ferris wheel disembarked.

“We had to close early today due to an issue with the rotating shaft, which was causing an increasing noise. I decided to shut it down for inspection. I hope you understand,” the manager explained hurriedly, making his way towards the machine room. With a quick motion, he pulled down the lever, and a sharp metallic sound resonated through the air, bringing the Ferris wheel to a halt.

“It’s alright, Bastian,” Odette said, her expression tinged with disappointment. Though unfortunate, it was nothing out of the ordinary. She preferred not to dwell on things she had to accept, maintaining a resilient spirit that had carried her through thus far.

“How about something else?” Bastian turned around, gesturing with a nod of his chin towards the other side of the amusement park. “We could try the merry-go-round, or…”

“Now is the time I promised Tira,” Odette interrupted gently, her smile softening. She reached out and took hold of Bastian’s sleeve. “I’ve had plenty of enjoyable moments today, so that’s enough. Let’s not dwell on it.”

“I’m not accustomed to your intricate way of speaking, Odette,” Bastian remarked, his gaze shifting from the static scenery back to Odette. His head tilted, bringing his eyes to meet Odette’s level. “Are you truly alright?” His tone matched his straightforwardness as he asked.

“Yes, I genuinely mean it,” Odette replied, taking a small step back and nodding. Her eyes quivered slightly, yet her voice remained steady and composed. “Let’s find a bench and rest until Tira arrives. I’ve been walking quite a bit, and I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Having deftly concluded their conversation, Odette swiftly departed from the Ferris wheel. She sensed Bastian’s gaze upon her back but refrained from turning around. She assumed everything was in order. However, it wasn’t until later that she noticed Bastian’s absence.

Sitting on a bench to catch her breath, Odette scanned her surroundings with a perplexed expression. It seemed they had left the Ferris wheel together, but Bastian had vanished without a trace.

“Bastian!” Odette exclaimed, rising swiftly from the bench. The surroundings were hushed due to the Ferris wheel’s cessation of operation, making it implausible for their paths to have diverged. After all, Bastian was the type of person who never failed to notice Odette, even in a crowd.

Calling out his name several more times without receiving a response, Odette hastened her steps as she circled the Ferris wheel. Just as she started to entertain the suspicion that he might be playing a mischievous prank, Bastian emerged into view.

Odette sighed in exasperation as she sat back down on the bench for a second time. Bastian was walking up to Odette in a casual manner. In one of his hands, he was clutching a cup made of colorful paper.

“Take it.” The item was handed over to Odette, who was present and stood there when Bastian did so.

It looked like chocolate, with a cloud of white steam rising.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“I’m so sorry, Bastian,” Odette said with a tinge of remorse, glancing at her watch before lowering her head. She attributed the delay to her half-sister’s failure to arrive at the agreed-upon time.

Bastian chuckled softly, observing how many times Odette had found herself in a similar apologetic situation within just two days. It sparked his curiosity about the intricate history shared between the two sisters in their past lives.

“Do you always behave like this?” Bastian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he lowered his gaze. Odette observed him, still clutching the untouched cocoa in her hands. “When your sister faces an accident, you fervently pray. It appears to be a relationship defined by strict roles.”

“I apologize, once aga—” 

“I don’t need an apology, Odette. Especially not from you.”  She was swiftly interrupted by Bastian’s resolute tone. 

In spite of the fact that Odette acted as though she were the mother of her half-sister, she was actually simply a young woman who had recently turned 20 years old. Up until this point, Bastian had written it off as merely her foolish and pathetic side; however, now that he has arrived to this point, he has become truly curious. 

What the hell does this woman’s family mean to her if she was willing to devote herself to them with such unquestioning devotion?

“Regardless, she is your younger half-sister, born from a different stomach. Perhapsthe most honorable action taken by Duke Dyssen was to refrain from bestowing his surname upon the illegitimate daughter of a maid,  don’t you think?” Bastian voiced his perspective.

“I understand your viewpoint, and it’s not an entirely incorrect opinion. But, Bastian… please refrain from speaking about my family in that manner.” After pausing for a moment, Odette cautiously offered her counterargument. “It’s not Tira’s fault that she was born out of wedlock. It’s our father’s responsibility and something he should feel ashamed of.”

“Seems like your family’s love is solely reserved for your half-sister, isn’t it?”

“Because my father chose to abandon his role as my father,” Odette whispered softly, a hint of loneliness passing over her lips. She had made great sacrifices to come to terms with this truth, yet Bastian refrained from mentioning the Duke Dysen’s name any longer. “No matter what anyone says, Tira is my family. And I will never feel ashamed of my family,”

“Will Tira truly love you to that extent?” Bastian asked.

“Even if that’s not the case, it’s alright,” Odette replied, her smile exuding comfort as she turned towards him. “I don’t desire for Tira’s love to be overwhelming to the point of pain. Instead, I wish for her to simply like me. Someone whose heart feels bright and joyous at the mere thought of me,” 

With a serene expression, Odette raised her gaze and fixed her eyes on the Ferris wheel after taking the final sip of cocoa. Despite the ride’s cessation, its lights continued to illuminate the night sky, resembling the kind of radiance she sought.

Bastian kept his gaze steady on Odette while maintaining a low whisper. The woman who was daydreaming about the bright lights of an amusement park had a serene look on her face, as if the water were calm and still.

He was clueless about it.

After giving it a great deal of consideration, Bastian was unable to arrive at any other conclusion. Odette’s statements were not adequately understood. In addition to that, it was very similar to a foreign language that he had never mastered.

“By the way, Bastian,” 

A voice as enchanting as the night itself broke through the deepening silence. Odette had a tendency to frequently address her conversational partners by name, a habit Bastian found himself somewhat drawn to avoid acknowledging.

“I don’t believe it’s a negative thing that I can’t ride the Ferris wheel. Thanks to you, I had the opportunity to admire it from here to my heart’s content. It appears even more beautiful up close.”

“Don’t you think you’re excessively justifying yourself?” Bastian retorted, questioning her line of thought.

“You’re welcome. Inside the Ferris wheel, you can’t see the Ferris wheel itself. If I had been riding it, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this beautiful view,” Odette replied, turning her head and gracing Bastian with a radiant smile. “Thanks to you, I’ve created wonderful memories. Thank you, Bastian.”

“Let’s ride together next time. There’s a Ferris wheel like this in Ratz as well,” Bastian impulsively promised, his words tinged with the sense of bidding a final farewell, stirred by Odette’s presence.

Odette, who had been gazing at Bastian for a while, responded with a soft, smiling glance instead of providing a verbal answer. Then, with a graceful and effortless motion, she rose from the bench. Her purpose was to discard the empty paper cups, a task she accomplished naturally.

However, even after attaining her objective, Odette didn’t return. She halted a few steps away from the bench, her gaze fixated on the Ferris wheel with awe.

Bastian rose from his seat and approached Odette. She must have sensed his presence, yet she refused to meet his eyes. Growing impatient, Bastian advanced, positioning himself to block her path.

Taken aback, Odette turned her head away, but Bastian remained determined. He reached out his hand, gently cupping her face, and looked at her intently.

Gone were the surprise and fear that once filled her eyes, replaced now by a gaze that held only him within its depths. Their radiance resembling the serene and crystalline surface of calm waters. 

She appeared anxious, yet there was no sign of resistance in her expression. Bastian’s hand, which had been tenderly grazing her cheek, gently brushed against her quivering red lips.

“Sister!”

At that very moment, when the unfamiliar sensation that had stirred within their chests transformed into a lingering sigh, a familiar voice resonated. Startled, Odette hastily retreated from him, taken aback by the sudden interruption.

Bastian, choosing to step back at that moment, willingly released his hold on her. As he lowered his gaze to his fingertips, still tingling with the lingering sensation of her soft touch, Odette departed. Her path led her towards Tira, the beloved family member she cherished dearly, despite the delay.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“I believe the teachers genuinely like you. But who wouldn’t? Their fondness for you has even bolstered my own spirits. See? How high did it soar? It must be taller than the Ferris wheel at the amusement park,” Tira’s enthusiastic voice resonated across the campus, mingling with the falling autumn leaves.

Odette attentively listened to Tira’s lively chatter, responding with a warm smile. She knew that Tira tended to exhibit more varied emotions when her feelings were intense. Yet, Odette refrained from pointing it out, understanding that Tira was making an effort to conceal the sadness that lay ahead of their impending separation.

Odette’s vacation reached its conclusion as she arrived at Gillis Girls’ Academy for the parents’ event. It was 4:00 PM, and she stood in front of the school gate, only ten minutes away from the time Bastian had informed her earlier that day.

“I still can’t believe you’re here, sister,” Tira remarked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “Even though I saw you every day for three consecutive days. Is it because our time together was too short? It feels like a dream.” Tira’s steps slowed down significantly as she noticed a black car parked outside the school gate. Although she wore a bright smile, her eyes already showed signs of redness. She was a child who shed tears as readily as she laughed.

“Take good care of yourself and study diligently, Tira. So when I next meet your homeroom teacher, my pride will soar like a Ferris wheel.” Odette halted her steps and gently opened Tira’s school uniform jacket, a tender gesture filled with love. 

“I’m sorry, sister. Even though I love you, it seems challenging,” Tira confessed, her expression a mix of a grimace and laughter, on the verge of tears. Odette reached into her purse and retrieved a handkerchief, delicately wiping away Tira’s tears.

“When we meet again, I’ll introduce you to my new family. I’m sure you’ll love Margrethe too. You’ve always wanted a dog, haven’t you?” 

“What good is that? My family is broken apart now,” Tira responded, her gaze fixed on the car beyond the school gate, resembling a child who had lost a cherished toy.

“If you’re going to throw a tantrum like that, you might as well go back,” Odette replied calmly, diffusing the tension. Tira quickly realized her outburst and promptly apologized.

As Tira’s agitated emotions gradually settled, Odette resumed walking, their footsteps creating an echo on the path adorned with fallen leaves.

“I’m glad you’re doing well. Thank you, Tira,” 

“What is there for you to be thankful for? I’m just a younger sister who doesn’t contribute much. It’s me who should be grateful and apologetic,” Tira responded, her voice tinged with a mix of emotions.

By the time tears welled up in Tira’s eyes once again, the two sisters had reached the gate. The driver, recognizing Odette, hastily emerged from the car.

“Goodbye, sis. I love you,” Tira sobbed as she hugged Odette tightly, her voice filled with tears.

“Take care and stay well,” Odette bid farewell in a composed tone. “I love you, Tira.”

A soft sob echoed in the air, but fortunately, Tira seemed unaware of it. After gently disentangling herself from her sister’s embrace, Odette approached the waiting car where the driver stood. The sound of Tira’s whimpering reached her ears, yet she resisted the urge to look back.

Taking a seat next to Bastian, Odette closed the door behind her, and the car began to move.

It was not until the driver settled back into the driver’s seat and the passing scenery outside the window began to blur that Odette mustered the courage to steal a glance behind her. Tira was still there, waving her hand and crying as if she were Odette’s own child.

“Odette,” Bastian called out, his voice cutting through the moment. The car was now picking up speed, and Bastian gently grasped Odette’s chin, redirecting her gaze away from the distant landscape.

Momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected gesture, Odette quickly regained her composure. Politely, she gently moved his hand aside and composed herself, straightening her posture. Instead of uttering words of apology, she expressed her remorse through a brief moment of silence.