Chapter 59

"I thought it was unfortunate if I left without seeing Captain Klauswitz. I'm glad you're here."

Maximin, who handed over his daughter to the nanny who followed, hurried down the remaining stairs.

"Hello, Sir Xanders."

Bastian first responded to Count Xanders' handshake.

"I didn't expect the Count to be at my house."

Bastian glanced at Odette, who had quietly approached him, then turned to Maximin again. Maximin's smiling face showed no sign of sorry.

"Ah. First of all, I have to apologize. I have committed the rudeness by visiting without an prior appointment."

"Did you have any urgent business?"

"I was concerned that I couldn't properly apologize for Alma's mistake at the last party. I wanted to invite you both to my villa, but I am leaving Ardennes ahead of schedule due to family matters."

Maximin explained the situation with a face of genuine regret.

Bastian listened to his explanation with a sociable smile. There seemed to have no suspicious circumstances, but that didn't mean he could understand the Count.

The Count had bountiful kindness that made people appreciate.

He was pretending to be humble, but in the end, his true nature was arrogance, just like him. Especially the fact that he wasn't even aware of it himself.

"In that case, why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"

Bastian honored the Count with a proper invitation. It was not a relationship worth having, so it was just a matter of following the law.

"No. I thank you, but I have to go now to be on time to catch the train. I came to say hello before leaving."

Maximin laughed like a boy and shook his head.

"Then let's have a cup of tea. If you leave like this, I will not feel comfortable."

"I already had tea time with Mrs. Klauswitz. Don't worry about that, as she had treated an uninvited guest who came unexpectedly with undeservedly great hospitality. Rather, I and Alma are indebted."

Maximin expressed his gratitude to Odette by giving a short speech. Odette, too, responded with a friendly smile.

"I apologize again for Alma's mistake that day, Captain Klauswitz. I will teach my child well so that this does not happen in the future."

Maximin, who conveyed a polite apology, sent a glance, and the nanny approached holding the child.

"Come on, Alma. You should also apologize to Captain Klauswitz for your mistake."

The Count, who embraced his daughter, approached Bastian again. The child, whose eyes met Bastian's, cried and burrowed into her father's arms.

In fact, Bastian didn't know what the child's mistake was. A father and daughter who liked to hang out with a woman who resembled his dead wife, and Odette, who gave more than necessary affection to a stranger's child.

It was like passing the responsibility for what had happened due to their mistakes to a child who knew nothing about it.

If the Count was really sorry, he shouldn't have shown up again, Bastian thought.

At the moment when the Count's arrogance became comical, the squirming child opened her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Captain."

She whispered so softly that it was barely audible, and then bowed her head. Even with tears filled her frightened eyes, the child did her part quite resolutely.

Bastian responded to the young lady's courage with a silent nod. It was at that moment that something caught his eye. The lace collar adorned the collar of the child's blouse. It was a common accessory, but its color and shape was familiar. It was the very devotedly knit collar that Odette had been working on for the past few days.

It couldn't have been an illusion.

Bastian had memorized even the smallest details of the accessory, as he had watched it carefully, curious about the use of the seemingly ridiculously small object.

Maximin showed his affection and pride by placing a succession of kisses on his daughter's cheeks.

Only then did Bastian catch a glimpse of Odette in the brightly smiling child.

Their features didn't look much alike, but there was definitely a similarity in the overall impression.

"I would like to invite you both to Xanders' in the near future. Please give me a chance to repay the debt."

When news was conveyed that the car was waiting, Maximin gave his last words.

Bastian saw off the departing guests with Odette. It seemed what the Count said about stopping by to say hello before leaving was true, Xanders' car waiting in front of the mansion was already loaded with clothes.

The car carrying the father and daughter drove away into the twilight landscape.

Odette finally looked at Bastian.

"Congratulations on getting into Xanders' circle, Bastian."

Odette rejoiced as if it were a great honor to win the favor of the widower. Bastian's mood became all the more messy as the bright beautiful smile on Odette's face.

Mrs. Klauswitz, who worked hard at everything, did not neglect her duty to find a suitable affair partner. It was an admirably outstanding business ability.

***

The forest was now immersed in the darkness of night.

Putting down the wine glass she had been holding, Odette looked out the breakfast room window with worried eyes.

Almost 10 days had passed since she started taking care of the stray dogs in the forest. They were still too wild and wary to approach, but they were always in the same place waiting for their food when it was time for Odette to go for a walk.

It wouldn't have been any different today.

Odette sighed and turned her gaze back to the table.

What if I ask to stand up first?

Distressed, Odette quickly changed her mind. It wasn't yet time for her to do the wife's work. She didn't want to ruin today's business because of her personal feelings.

"To visit the Xanders. It would be better after the naval festival is over, right?"

Odette broke the burdensome silence with appropriate words. Bastian, who had been silently emptying his plate, finally glanced across the table.

"Do as my wife wishes."

Putting down the wine he had been drinking slowly, Bastian gave a dry answer. He did not appear to be pleased about the new connections Odette had made. She wasn't asking for praise, but it was a bit of an unnerving response nonetheless.

"You don't like Sir Xanders by any chance?"

Odette, who was struggling, asked a cautious question.

"How can it be?"

The light from the candelabra lighting the dining table illuminated Bastian's smiling face.

"I think Count Xanders is the kind of person who can make a dignified scandal. It's a valuable network, so continue to manage it with care."

Bastian continued his astounding words without any change in expression. His low, soft voice was also extremely plain.

"You don't think that Sir Xanders and I are having an inappropriate relationship right now, do you?" (Odette)

"Well. Whether the two of you are already attached or sharing a noble friendship. That is none of my business."

Bastian, who raised his eyebrows indifferently, grabbed the cutlery again.

"I just need your affair partner to be Maximin von Xanders to be the reason for our divorce. Wealthy, well-mannered, and highly educated noble. This is enough to hand over my wife. You have chosen your partner well. I like it very much, Odette."

Bastian sliced the meat leisurely, even while spitting unbearably mean and filthy words.

Stunted for words, Odette just watched the scene in a daze.

If she had raised her voice and expressed her anger, it could have been regarded as a misunderstanding. Bastian was horrifyingly cold.

It was like the afternoon of that spring day when he handed out the contract and proposed.

She waited for any explanation, but Bastian just calmly continued to eat. She suddenly felt disgusted with the dark red cross section of the meat, which had only been cooked on the outside. The same was true of the man who was devouring the meat dripping with bloody juices.

He looked like a beast.

Odette had long known that this was a man who would choose any means and method to achieve his ambitions, but this was an affair far beyond understanding.

"Sir Xanders has nothing to do with me." Odette barely opened her stiff lips to retort. "I will follow any reason you want for the divorce. But don't even think of dragging an innocent person into this."

"Then maybe it's time to try to build a good relationship."

Bastian, who swallowed the last piece of meat, grabbed the napkin.

"It suits you well."

Folding the napkin he had wiped his lips with, Bastian gave a very carefree smile.

A bad man.

Odette struggled to swallow the resentment that had almost come out of her mouth. Her hands, which she hastily hid under the table, were now shaking with inconceivable rage.

"Sir Xanders is a good man. Please don't insult him carelessly."

Odette scolded Bastian like a strict tutor. Bastian laughed as if he had heard a great joke and filled his empty glass.

"So, aren't you good for each other? I'm still trying to save face when my wife is about to be stolen by a good man. You'll have a good husband. I don't think there could be a better ending than this."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Of course, you will have to bear the damage to the reputation of you and Count Xanders for having an affair, but don't worry, I will pay alimony for that part if you want."

"Do you think you can do anything with money?"

"Nothing is impossible. You are the proof."

"You are really dirty."

"Are you clean? Who sold your life for money?"

Bastian asked in response as if humming a song, clutching his wine glass.

Odette, who was glaring at him with a pale blue face, stood up shortly after. Tears welled up in her reddened eyes, but she didn't cry.

Listening to his wife's receding footsteps, Bastian slowly tipped his glass.

The wine carefully selected by the butler for the master and his wife's dinner was rich and fragrant.