Chapter 18: 18

Chapter 18. The Hunting Ground

 

Bastian Klauswitz wore number 3, the captain’s number.

 

Seating in the stands, Odette raised her narrowly frowning eyes and looked at the man. It didn’t take long to understand why the only commoner on a team made up of children of eminent families had won the honor.

 

As soon as the game started, the player who succeeded in stealing the ball began to run towards the goal post in the enemy camp. Number 3. Today, it was Captain Klauswitz of the Admiralty, who seemed to be the hero of the polo field.

 

The atmosphere of the Navy’s side, which dominated the early momentum, quickly heated up. The enthusiastic cheers of the spectators who put down their worries for a moment resonated high into the clear sky. Ladies taking out opera glasses also appeared one after another.

 

Odette watched the game with her hands neatly placed on her lap. It had been 10 years since she last watched polo, but there was no difficulty in understanding the flow of the game thanks to the faint memories.

 

When one was unfortunately blocked from a near-scoring opportunity, deep sighs erupted from all around.

 

The players went back to the starting point and continued. It was a very intense and belligerent match that seemed far removed from the original purpose of promoting friendship and harmony between the two forces. Even among the fast-running players on the vast lawn, Odette was able to find Bastian without difficulty.

 

It was thanks to the pink ribbon tied to the stick. There wouldn’t have been a need for this. He was an unknown man.

 

Business relationship.

 

The man’s language was concise and clear. He was heartless, but there was nothing wrong with it.

 

Come to think of it, Bastian had never tried to hide or distort his greed. It was revealed as it was, and Odette knowingly agreed to this marriage proposal. However, it was unreasonable to bring out the standard of morality again. Of course, his illicit relationship with Countess Lenart was somewhat shocking, but it was nothing more than a personal affair that had nothing to do with this transaction.

 

It was just that.

 

Odette sorted out the confusion Bastian gave by taking the ribbon to that extent. It was then that a frenzied cheer erupted.

 

“Run! Come on! Little bit more!”

 

The spectators who jumped up from their seats were chanting the name of one player in unison. Bastian. It was that man who was once again attacking with ferocity.

 

 

While Odette was contemplating the appropriate response, Bastian’s vigorously swung the stick and the ball sailed across the goal.

 

First goal for the Navy.

 

***

 

The speed of the horse, which had exhausted its stamina, began to gradually slow down.

 

Sensing it, Bastian turned his horse towards the edge of the arena. It was a place where horses were waiting after they were completely prepared for the competition.

 

Bastian changed his horse without touching the ground. He jumped from saddle to saddle and landed quickly, riding his new horse straight into the race. The white stallion, the fastest of the polo horses, quickly crossed the enemy line and got close to the ball.

 

The sound of two polo sticks clashing overpowered the sound of galloping horse hooves.

 

Having succeeded in winning the ball away, Bastian turned his piece in the direction of his opponent’s goal. The final set in a tie situation. The close combat, in which offense and defense frequently switched, was now at its peak.

 

After launching the ball far once again, Bastian rode away at full speed. The captain of the Army, who was deprived of the ball he had taken right in front of the goalpost, chased after him in anger. When the players of both teams who had gathered to help joined in, a corner battle involving eight horses ensued in an instant.

 

 

Galloping ahead with a narrow gap, Bastian leaned his upper body with all his weight on his left hand holding the reins. He was still quite far from the goal, but it was impossible to get the ball safely in front of them through such a relentless defense anyway.

 

Deciding to gamble then, Bastian swung his stick with all his might. While sitting upright with his upper body bent down so deeply that it was parallel to the lawn, the ball flew in a parabolic arc into the blinding white light.

 

Even at that moment, the horse carrying Bastian continued its gallop with acceleration.

 

“I love you, you crazy bastard!”

 

Erich, who had been chasing after him, began to shout like a beast.

 

A satisfied smile appeared on Bastian’s lips when he finally saw the sight properly in his field of vision. The referee’s red flag was waving, signaling the score. The whistle sounded almost simultaneously, signaling the end of the match. It was a victory by one point.

 

Bastian celebrated by slowly circling the field. At the moment when he pulled the reins to turn the horse around that he caught the sight of Odette at the end of the stands.

 

Even in the midst of the enthusiastic audience, Odette still maintained a calm attitude. She was applauding, but that was all. Her face showed no special emotion.

 

When their eyes met, Odette congratulated him with polite silence bow. Her impeccable manner gave him the impression of being arrogant. She was faithful to the responsibilities she was given, but never offering anything more. Bastian politely returned the courtesy and turned the horse’s head.

 

Anyway, the woman had done her part. That was enough for him.

 

***

 

It was just by chance that it came to Sandrine’s attention. She visited the players’ waiting room to celebrate the victory, where she conversed for a while with her cousin Lucas. 

 

Bastian, who had been baptized with champagne and was therefore taking a shower, did not show up until then.

 

Not wanting to be miserable waiting around, Sandrine turned around to find Bastian’s equipment, of all things, sitting there.The hideous pink ribbon was also with it.

 

It had never happened before. 

 

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The cheap ribbon tied to the stick looked even more ridiculous when she remembered that fact.

 

Bastian had already been a well-known polo player since his time at the military academy. Thanks to this, he had been a starting pitcher in major matches every year, but he had never participated in the pre-ceremony. It was a behavior that thoroughly violated the tradition that considered it a great dishonor not to obtain the token of a noble lady.

 

The man’s first should be special.

 

She had believed that if one day such a time comes, the main character of the day would of course be her. It was like an unspoken promise that existed between them.

 

Was Bastian Klauswitz nothing more than an insignificant man after all?

 

Sandrine repeated her heartbroken questions as she approached Bastian’s equipment. Gently pulling on the loose end of the knot, the ribbon unraveled without resistance.

 

Sandrine’s gaze, which examined the officers who were preoccupied with their respective tasks, stopped again on the ribbon in her hand. Grabbing it was an impulsive choice.

 

“Are you leaving? Why don’t you wait a little longer?”

 

Lucas turned around, searching for a new cigarette. 

Sandrine smiled brightly as she hid the ribbon in an unhurried motion.

 

“I don’t think we can have a proper conversation right now anyway. I promise next time.”

 

“Well, that’s true. I’ll tell him you came.”

 

“Thank you, Lucas. And that lady. Will Lady Odette also attend the players’ celebration party?”

 

“Perhaps. But you are Bastian’s partner.”

 

Lucas smiled lightly and waved his hand.

 

“Don’t worry, Sandrine. You have nothing to worry about. He’s just trying to look good to His Majesty. You know very well that Bastian is in trouble because of the crazy princess.”

 

“Of course I know.”

 

“Trust me and wait. She will be thrown away after he avoids the fire. She’s a decent woman. How messed up our first meeting was. She stepped on sh*t very properly…….”

 

Lucas, who had been talking excitedly, abruptly cut off his words.

 

“Why? What was the messy first encounter?”

 

“That’s… Anyway, Bastian and that woman will never be together.”

 

Lucas, who was vaguely evasive, bit his mouth shut. Apparently, it was hard to get anything more than this today.

 

Well, that’s your idea.

 

Swallowing the counterargument to the end of her throat, Sandrine ended the conversation with an appropriate smile. Her heart sank even colder as she left the waiting room filled with the smell of sweat and the heat of men.

 

Lady Odette was a beautiful woman.

 

It was an obvious fact in the realm that had nothing to do with personal feelings. The fact that such a stunning woman had lived her whole life as a poor maid cleaning up after her ugly father was perplexing.

 

If she wanted to, she could have been a wealthy man’s second wife or at least a mistress.

 

Unless she was a fool, she couldn’t know what weapon she had. That was what Sandrine feared.

 

What if the reason she lived that way was to achieve a greater ambition?

 

Bastian Klauswitz was a ray of luck that came into her life. He was the light of her dark life. Moreover, she had the Emperor at her back. If she knew how to think properly, she couldn’t miss this opportunity.

 

Of course, Bastian was not an easy man to trap, but that did not make it any easier for Sandrine to relax.

 

Heroic or ambitious, he was, after all, a man in his prime. Moreover, Odette was a woman who had nothing more to lose. If she were to throw herself blindly and acquire even a child, she would occupy the position of that man’s wife.

 

It was the moment she entered the clubhouse garden that she felt compelled to leave a small gift for Odette.

 

Carefully looking around, Sandrine soon found a suitable spot. It was a puddle created by the melting of the remaining snow under the shade of a tree not far from the trail.

 

With determination, she moved slowly and approached the place. At the end of the ribbon she held in her hand, Odette’s initials were carefully embroidered. It was the woman’s name.

 

Sandrine gently relaxed her grip on the ribbon. The hair tie, blown away by the afternoon wind that smelled of sweet flowers, landed right on top of the puddle.

 

This was a hunting ground. Brave hunters get great prey.

 

On the day Sandrine had her debut, her mother had said.

 

Too young to know at the time, Sandrine could now fully understand the meaning of that advice.

 

She had no ill feelings toward the poor woman, but when it came to fighting for the same prey, the story was a little different.

 

Before leaving the garden, Sandrine checked the present she had left behind once more. The pink ribbon stuck in the muddy water caught the eye at a glance even from afar.

 

It was the moment when the rustic color that had been scratching her nerves looked pretty for the first time.

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