Bastian

stian approached it without hesitation.
And he escorted a lady out of the car with the same courteous gestures he had done to Odette.

 

It was not difficult for Odette to recognize the very refined and splendid red-haired lady.

 

Sandrine.
Countess Lenart, the man’s real lover.

 

***

 

“Sandrine seems to be getting a lot more impatient these days, but I want the two of them to come together in the most dignified and whole way.”

 

Duke LaViere, who had been waiting for a long time, uttered blandly.
It was a distinctly different voice from before, when they were discussing the joint venture’s railway operations and stocks.

 

“Of course.
I also think the same as the Duke.”

 

Bastian readily agreed and reassured him.
Duke LaViere, who had been unable to hide his nervousness throughout dinner, finally burst out laughing.

 

“I really like this about you.
You never lose your cool-headed judgment in any situation.
You have the kind of personality that can be a strong fence for the emotional Sandrine.”

 

Relaxed, Duke LaViere began to express his concerns about his daughter.
The concerns he couldn’t finish at the dinner table where Sandrine, who had intervened without permission, was present.

 

Bastian listened in silence.
He couldn’t quite understand because of the Duke’s strong accent but he didn’t feel the need to ask.

 

LaViere had no intention of ever forgiving the homosexual man (Sandrine’s ex husband) who ruined his daughter’s life with the fraudulent marriage.
Retaliation would be met with maximum alimony.
Remarriage was only possible after that. 

 

“Please understand the position of the family and wait.” 

 

In the end, that was the point, and Bastian largely agreed.
It was an insignificant matter compared to the enormous benefit he would receive in return.

 

“Thank you for protecting my daughter’s honor.”

 

After the long talk, Duke LaViere sincerely expressed his gratitude.

 

Honor.

 

It was a term that didn’t suit a woman who held her husband’s male lover as a weakness, demanded a divorce, and was openly seducing the next man behind his back.

 

Sandrine, who was kicked out as soon as dinner was over, was probably lying in her lover’s bed by now, gossiping about her father and her remarried partner (Bastian), who didn’t know her heart.

 

The man Sandrine had been spending the nights with was a substitute singer at the opera house.
Last season,  an unknown painter.
Before that,  probably a dancer in a suburban theater.
Generally, they were third-rate artists with nothing but mediocre talent and youth, and in that respect they were harmless. 

 

Even if it was known to the public, it wouldn’t be a big problem.
For it was just a minor deviation with the tacit consent of the social world.
Of course, Bastian’s opinion was not different.

 

Sandrine was a clever woman who knew exactly what side lovers meant.
She was different from the cheap sentimentality intoxicated and problematic section, and Bastian appreciated that.
He was also well aware that her love for him was genuine and that it was in a realm that had nothing to do with the men warming her bed.

 

“I am deeply grateful to the Duke for understanding and respecting my friendship with your daughter.”

 

 

With an appropriate gratitude, Bastian satisfied the nobleman of Pelia, who had a special love for his only daughter.
The woman’s father (Odette’s father) suddenly came to mind the moment he turned around after seeing Duke LaViere off.

 

 

The memories of that day came back in the light of the street lamps that illuminated the city night.

 

The irredeemable father (Duke Dissen) who had no regard for his daughter (Odette).
He was good at spouting nonsense, but he was the kind of person who would sell his daughter to the highest bidder.

 

 

If she had a proper father, would she have lived the same life as Sandrine?

 

Bastian walked the streets at night, making meaningless assumptions.
Lady Odette lives like Sandrine.

 

Well.
He couldn’t possibly imagine.

 

The woman (Odette) seemed unlikely to have concocted a ruse and fought back even if she was cheated on.
She would have just endured the unforgiveness.
Just like she had been put up with and endured her trashy father. 

 

She pretended to be aloof on such a subject.

 

She had the best reputation because she could do better than anyone else.

 

By the time his thoughts had gone that far, he was already at the corner of the road where he could see his house.
It was then that he had an intuition that something was strange.

 

Police officers were roaming near his town house.
There were too many of them to consider a normal patrol.
Above all there were horses. 

 

A fine stallion and saddle drew attention.
It was not a privilege given to an ordinary cop.

 

It was not a privilege to be given to the police.

 

Imperial kingsguard.

 

Bastian found the answer only after the town house’s door was opened.

 

After the ball at which the imperial princess went on a rampage, suspicious people often roamed around his house.

 

It was Admiral Demel who overheard that they were the undercover Imperial Guard.
He said that the Emperor was keeping a close eye on Bastian, he should never get involved with the princess again.

 

It was quiet for a while, why now?

 

Bastian pressed the doorbell, biting back an unanswerable question.

 

The pale butler, Lovis, opened the door a few moments later.

 

“It’s a big problem, Master!”

 

His hand gripping the doorknob was trembling terribly.

 

“Oh, the Princess… Her Highness, the Princess, is here now…”

 

Lovis didn’t finish his sentence properly, but Bastian understood what he meant without further explanation.

 

“Bastian!”

 

A girl in a maid’s uniform was seen running from behind the butler.
To his surprise, it was Isabelle, the emperor’s damn daughter.