/
The prospect of winning seemed rather bleak, but undaunted, Odette gathered her resolve and initiated her daily routine with a composed tap on the door.
“Please enter,” Bastian’s voice droned from behind the closed door.
Odette didn’t hesitate any longer, unlocked the door, and went into Bastian’s bedroom despite the fact that she was still carrying a weight that she couldn’t seem to get rid of. Soon after, the butler and an attendant carrying a tray with a basic breakfast arrived.
“Odette.”
Out of the blue, Bastian swiveled around and uttered her name, catching her off guard. Odette had been staring at her balled-up hands and halted her steps involuntarily.
Midway through his outfit transition, Bastian found himself caught off guard. The only attire adorning his figure was a pristine, buttoned-up shirt, while his undergarments and socks lay in plain sight. Taken aback by the unexpected sight, Odette quickly averted her gaze, wishing she had picked a better moment to approach. However, having already made her presence known, she found herself unable to make a graceful exit.
Odette struggled to force her lips open but managed to do so and hurried to the table. The butler moved aside to make room for the maid who was waiting for her turn after placing a kettle of water and coffee on the table. In accordance with her instructions, the spread in front of her included boiled eggs, simple bread, and a variety of grilled fruits and vegetables.
After carefully arranging the cutlery and napkins, Odette took her seat at the table, determined to put on a façade of composure, despite her inner turmoil.
“What is it, madam,” Bastian asked, his voice laced with amusement.
“It’s breakfast, as you can as well, see.” Odette announced, having steeled herself for the confrontation. She turned her head to face Bastian, only to be greeted by the awkward spectacle of him fastening the hem of his shirt to his thigh garter buckle.
Though flustered by the embarrassing sight, Odette found it difficult to avert her gaze, as there seemed to be no other suitable place to look.
Bastian methodically rolled up his sleeve, adorning his wrist with a gleaming timepiece and a pair of cufflinks. Next in line was his tie, which he tied with practiced ease. Only then did he attend to the long-awaited task of donning his pants.
Meanwhile, the butler tended to Bastian’s well-polished footwear, ensuring that they were pristine and free of any blemish.
A deep sigh escaped Odette’s lips as she took a proper glance at her husband, Bastian. While he checked the time, he moved towards the mirror to adjust his tie and shirt collar with a practiced hand.
She observed him with a mix of curiosity and wariness, as it was the first time she had seen a man getting ready for the day. She noted the stark contrast in their approaches to dressing up, with men’s rituals being markedly different from those of women. The way they handled even the simplest of tasks, such as straightening a collar, seemed to be infused with a certain masculinity that was foreign to her.
Bastian employed harsh lines to draw attention to his body’s structure as opposed to her, who concentrated on sculpting the softest curves and wrinkles. He appeared to be smooth and graceful due to this, despite his somewhat higher stature and frame.
Bastian slipped on his uniform jacket after one final inspection of his look. He had barely turned his back and the early morning light was falling on his shoulders. Odette had seen the cop before, and it had the same expression.
“You need not go through all this trouble, my dear Odette. A cup of coffee suffices for me,” Bastian said as he made his way towards the table, coming to a halt in front of it.
Bastian’s response was anticipated,but Odette remained unfazed. “Considering the long commute to work, perhaps it’s time to shake things up a bit?”
She had a knack for persuading and nurturing adults, a skill she had honed thanks to her daughter Tira, who had a habit of expressing her concerns in a concise and poignant manner.
Although Tira was a very small and frail child at the time, the core issue remained essentially the same.
Odette flashed a warm, sisterly smile “Why don’t we give eggs a try?” She chose to ignore Bastian’s incredulous gaze, which seemed to question her sanity. “Did you know that by observing the way the shell cracks, I can predict your fortune for the day?” she added with a hint of playfulness.
Odette ignored Bastian’s lack of response and carried on with her work. She started by replacing him with a cup holding a warm egg and a spoon for cracking the shell.
“Come on, Bastian. Let me read your fortune,” she urged with a cheerful smile. The morning sun cast a radiant glow on her as she bustled about, tending to various tasks. Bastian surveyed the bustling breakfast table and the attentive butler before his gaze settled back on her.
“Please,” Odette murmured softly, her eyes imploring. Even when expressing remorse, she remained steadfast and determined, her resolve etched onto her features.
Bastian regarded his beseeching wife with a stern countenance, as if she were a creditor demanding payment. Yet, he sat down across from Odette with a smile, giving away little of his inner thoughts. It was clear that the butler had enlisted Odette’s help in coaxing his master to partake of breakfast, and the diligent woman had taken on the task with her characteristic determination, even if it meant spouting some nonsensical words in the early hours of the day.
The coffee, which was as tasteless as plain water, was the first thing Bastian sipped. There were no longer the sugar cubes that were normally arranged together. Lovis looked resolved to believe in the hostess’ power.
“I know you may not feel like eating right now, but it’s important to have something more substantial than just coffee. I don’t want it to harm your health.” Odette spoke softly, concern etched on her face.
Bastian sat across from her, his chin resting on his hand as he held the egg spoon. “Why? Do you worry about becoming a widow?” Tak, an eggshell breaking sound, then a light-hearted query.
“Yes. I don’t want to be left all by myself. I wouldn’t like a world without you.”  Odette eventually smiled as she peered at Bastian’s egg cup. In reality, she always told the truth when she lied, but the egg-fortune reading was really a ruse to catch Tira’s attention, similar to how it is right now.
“After closely examining the egg like a curious scholar.” Odette declared, “It’s a lucky star,” She returned it to Bastian. “Seems like it’s going to be a good day for you.”  She then placed a plate of bread, vegetables, and fruits next to his egg cup with care. “Once you finish those eggs, your fortune will be granted,” she said.
Odette’s eyes shone with sincerity as she told the most ridiculous lie. Bastian looked at her quizzically but complied nonetheless, scooping up a spoonful of egg.
Seeing the expression of admiration on the old butler’s face, Odette’s sense of accomplishment was multiplied. It was her first task of the day and she had successfully completed it. It was also a morning of good luck for Odette, as a lucky star had appeared.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“Has he received any news from his daughter yet?”
Theodora’s eyes opened unexpectedly, and she posed the question. Her maid, who was in the middle of combing her hair, quickly looked up at her master’s reflection in the mirror.
“Unfortunately, no. It’s been said that he’s waiting for his daughter like a corpse these days. But, the Duke’s daughter is still nowhere to be seen,” came the reply.
“What a pity,” Theodora sighed, clicking her tongue in sympathy, before closing her eyes once more.
With a surprise in tow, Susan returned from her vacation, carrying with her the forgotten puzzle piece of Duke Dyssen. Despite being crippled from a fall, the Duke’s past and possible significance to the world had been all but forgotten. But now, it seemed that his son-in-law and daughter were the cause of his unfortunate fate.
Susan’s devotion to her sister did not go unnoticed by Theodora, who rewarded her with the opportunity to be her personal maid for a while. And, as a sign of gratitude, Theodora made sure to compensate Susan financially, twice the amount her sister received from Bastian for taking care of the Duke.
Although her husband disagreed, Theodora believed that being generous with money was essential to win people over. It was this belief that had helped her climb the social ladder.
“Convey this to your sister – she just needs to inform me of Duke Dyssen’s whereabouts. There’s no danger involved.” Once her hair was fully brushed, Theodora stood up and picked up a pair of pearl earrings from her dressing table. Susan often admired them, and her eyes widened as Theodora handed them to her. Theodora believed that being generous with her wealth was a key to winning people’s hearts and reaching her current status.
“Dear Madam, This is not required of you. Oh, my God. I won’t dare take this priceless item.”
“I understand your hesitation, Susan, but please don’t refuse. We’ve been friends for so long,” Theodora said, placing a hand on Susan’s trembling one as she offered the pearl earrings.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Susan couldn’t help but tear up as she carefully wrapped the precious jewels and left.
Theodora let out a deep sigh, settled back onto the sofa, and reached for her cigarette. She was skeptical of what she had just heard, considering it to be mostly nonsense. Nevertheless, if there was something to gain from it, she could potentially hasten the day when she could live with her curtains wide open once again.
Theodora had a strong gut feeling about Bastian’s wife, even though there was no concrete proof to support it. To ease her nerves, she lit up a few cigarettes and started her day by visiting her son’s room.
Despite her repeated pleas for her son to treat his fiancĂ©e kindly, Theodora saw no significant improvement in his behavior towards her. The situation had gotten so bad that the Countess Klein had even called to express her daughter’s distress over not having seen her fiancĂ© in a while.
While the Countess’s request for the couple to have some social time together was made in jest, the underlying message was clear: if Theodora’s son wanted a safe and successful wedding, he needed to treat his future bride with the respect and care she deserved.
Theodora’s indomitable pride was dealt a blow, and she had to swallow it. It was nothing short of a miracle for the Klauswitz family, a noble house of lesser standing, to be accepted as in-laws by the esteemed Klein family. The engagement process was by no means an easy feat, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the unyielding determination of Ella, who had wholeheartedly fallen for Franz.
“Franz.” Theodora impatiently knocked on the door and called out her son’s name.
Despite receiving no report of his departure, there was no response from Franz even after waiting for a long time.
Theodora, used to this, pulled a key from her skirt pocket and unlocked the door. The room was empty save for its master, and the early sunlight poured in through the window.
‘Anyway, it doesn’t look like he’s up to speed.’ Theodora’s brows wrinkled sharply as she gazed out the window at the countryside.
Theodora’s gaze fell on the imposing mansion outside the window, a constant reminder of Bastian’s defiance. Againts its prominence, Franz remained unfazed. It was no wonder her husband held a disapproving view of their son.
Theodora was just about to walk away when something caught her eye – an easel standing on the balcony outside the window. She gently touched her throbbing head before hurrying over to take a closer look. It was then that she realized why Franz had been neglecting his fiancĂ©e – he was engrossed in his art once more.
Theodora’s resolve to reprimand her son for his negligence dissolved upon seeing the painting on the easel. An unfinished portrait of a stunning beauty, unmistakably Bastian’s wife, Odette. With a quick chuckle, Theodora gazed out at the sea.