CH 36
Odettes mother was a princess who run away with a ruined duke for love and was banished from a royal family. Her mom taught her about honor and dignity but passed away early on. She then had to live cleaning up her father’s mess (he fell into gambling) and trying to find a way for her and her half-sister to escape. She was needed by his father cause of the pension she received from a royal family as someone with their blood. One time her dad made a bet on her - she was supposed to be sent to Bastian but he let her go. Bastian is an eldest son to a commoners family with money. His father married a Count’s daughter and is trying to fight for status. Hence, when a child was born of him and the Countess they plotted a murder on Bastian’s mom and the son was the one who was pronounced an heir. Bastian on the other hand, after suffering a horrible treatment under the pretense of heir-training left the house and went on to live with his mother’s family, plotting revenge. He became a loyal dog of imperial family and after inheriting his grandfathers business (that was a junkyard at first) he turned it into some prominent financial business and managed to get super rich. He does not know love and is only living for his revenge so he perceived his marriage as a transaction. He wanted to marry a daughter of a count after she proceeds with her divorce due to his and her father’s mutual interest. From the beginning she only wanted him though. Same with crown princess- she was obsessed with Bastian. But since she was already engaged to a prince from another nation the king worried that she might disgrace the royal family just like his sister (Odettes mom) so by the royal order he set up an engagement between Odette (a fallen princess who couldn’t refuse cause if the royal pension) and Bastian (who also couldn’t refuse). They agreed to play pretend until the princess is married off and Odette found out about his plans to marry the counts daughter afterwards. But the princess went as far away as ridiculing herself at royal ball and running away to Bastian’s house. He got the blame. She was sent off to another country till her marriage and he was given an ultimatum - his life or two-years marriage with whomever he choses, until princesses marriage and first child. Afterwards he would be granted whatever he may wish for from the emperor - be it business or even a title. In the meantime Odette started to have her doubts. She found a job and decided she wants to run away from it all. But accidentally, her father got pushed down the stairs in the argument with her sister right as she made up her mind. He broke his spine and now she would have to take care of him and waste away her life. That’s when Bastian appeared with his two-years agreement. She agreed to get her life back - so her dad would be taken care of at some facility and her sis could finish her education. Bastian treated her like an employee and she tried her best not to see it as anything more than a transaction too. But the cracks began to show. The countess and many others have shown that they perceive her as a prostitute - selling her body to Bastian for whatever benefits she may gain. And she’s scared that Bastian’s instances when he would cross the boundary meant that he treated her in such a manner too. Her feelings do gradually change though and while setting off for some order with Countess in a carriage and meeting Odettes betrayed gaze, he noticed too. Now king wants them to finally move into the same residence (she was living in a holiday house and only saw Bastian on weekends) cause it doesn’t fool people if they sleep separately. So a new era begins I guess. Ah also, Bastian’s bro seems to have fallen for Odette at the first sight and sometimes bothers her (like in an art gallery or cafe)
Bastian