Daniel repeatedly drank his cold tea, feeling frustrated.

He simply couldn’t communicate with Viscount Hardin. When he visited, the Viscount was at least in a decent state. Compared to his worry that the man might be completely unconscious from drinking, it was a very favorable meeting. But from then on, the conversation hardly progressed.

One, two, three, four… He counted the flower patterns on the curtain up to ten in his mind. After barely regaining composure, he asked again.

“Don’t you remember around what time Lady Dietrich left this place? Even an approximate time would help.”

This was already the third time.

He needed to know when Chloe might have arrived at Hanover Station. Only then could he narrow down some possibilities from the complicated train schedule.

“Hmm hmm. I’m sorry I can’t be of help. Because I drank so much the night before, I roughly remember the conversation with my daughter… but I really don’t know what time it was.”

“……”

Daniel stared at Viscount Hardin, lost for words. The man, who had been silently enduring his gaze, stood up first.

“I’ve sent everything Chloe said in the telegram to House Dietrich. That’s all she said. I don’t think I can tell you anything more. You must be tired from the long journey, please stay for a meal before leaving.”

What’s this? Now he seems perfectly normal?

Daniel remained silent at his quite composed voice. It seemed their noble bloodline of over 200 years hadn’t completely disappeared. Anyway, there was nothing more to learn from Viscount Hardin.

Just then, a maid approached the sofa and set down a bag.

“This is the bag Lady Dietrich left behind. The master asked me to give it to you. He said it should be returned since it was brought from the Duke’s house.”

The gray-haired maid’s manner was proper but cold as ice. But Daniel had no time to dwell on that coldness.

“…Lady Dietrich left this bag behind as well?”

“Yes. There was also a ring placed on top of the bag. The master asked me to return this too.”

“……”

He had never been at such a loss for words so often recently.

Daniel silently stared at the ring placed on top of the luggage. The large diamond sparkled brilliantly. This was certainly the wedding ring that Lady Dietrich always wore.

And now they’re telling him to take this back.

He had to return with nothing learned and an additional burden. Feeling dizzy, Daniel asked, grasping at straws.

“On the day Lady Dietrich left, was there really no one else here?”

Though he had already heard this from Viscount Hardin, he wanted to confirm once more. It simply didn’t make sense to him.

How could there be not a single servant or maid when both Viscount Hardin and Lady Dietrich were home? But the disappointment that had been hitting him in the back of the head since arriving in Hanover was the same this time too.

“Yes. At the time, me and others were all out buying necessary supplies. When we returned late in the afternoon, Lady Dietrich had already left.”

“…I see.”

Daniel barely managed to maintain his composure.

The matter concerning Lady Dietrich was now beyond what he, as a lawyer, could handle alone. It seemed he would need to meet with specialists who handle these kinds of cases once he returned to the capital.

***

In the study where only the ticking of the clock could be heard, Daniel held his breath.

Though he had truthfully reported what happened in Hanover, the situation was truly awkward. However, he couldn’t just keep the ring Lady Dietrich returned.

He glanced at his master’s profile in the main seat. Andert’s gaze remained fixed on the ring placed on the table. Daniel noticed his jawline had grown sharper in the past few days before averting his eyes.

Since news of Lady Dietrich hadn’t spread to the public yet, Andert was carrying out his scheduled duties without fail. If House Dietrich made any sudden moves, it would surely raise suspicions. However, if this situation continued any longer, it would become difficult to keep covering it up.

Just as Daniel had worried while observing from beside him, Andert’s heart lurched the moment he saw the ring. He had never once thought about wedding rings since getting married.

Not only that, he couldn’t even remember what happened to his own ring which he had removed because it felt cumbersome.

But for Chloe to leave this ring behind and depart… it felt like a cold farewell saying she never wanted to face him again.

“So is that all? What you found out in Hanover?”

“Yes. I apologize. This is now beyond what I can investigate alone. I believe we need to entrust this matter to others.”

“…Others…”

The ‘others’ Daniel referred to meant one thing: professionals who specialized in finding people.

Though he pondered repeatedly, no other solution came to mind. He tried to narrow down places where Chloe might have gone, but it was utterly useless.

He truly knew almost nothing about her personally. Moreover, since they had spent time abroad right after marriage, he didn’t even know what she was like back then.

Finally, Andert, who had been pressing his eyelids, instructed,

“Assign the task.”

“Yes. I will pass the information to those who are most discreet.”

Daniel stood up immediately. There was no time to hesitate as time had already been wasted.

As his quick footsteps left the study, the butler who had been waiting in the hallway carefully entered. Andert had his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees.

Roman hesitated before finally speaking. Though he didn’t want to step forward in this atmosphere, there was an urgent matter that needed reporting.

“The Duchess will arrive in the capital this Saturday.”

The butler’s face was grim.

Of all times, for the Grand Dame to show up now. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

Fortunately until now, Lady Dietrich hadn’t been particularly active in external activities. No one had been inquiring about her whereabouts yet.

But now, even the servants were wondering about Lady Dietrich who hadn’t returned from Hanover. Though everyone had been strictly ordered to keep quiet, even that was just a temporary measure. Those whose job it was to read their superiors’ moods weren’t dull enough to miss the unusual atmosphere.

After staying silent, Andert called out to him.

“Roman.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Tell them Chloe is staying in Hanover for the time being. The Duchess as well.”

“…I will do so.”

Roman bowed his head without objection.

However, the reason for the Grand Dame’s visit to the capital was for her son’s birthday. In other words, it would be equally awkward for a wife to stay at her family home during her husband’s birthday.

Roman had countless regrets about not sending someone to accompany Lady Dietrich when she left for Hanover. If only he had known then that Madam had handed over divorce papers…

The loyal butler considered everything his own oversight. As he was about to finish his greeting with these complicated feelings, Andert, who had been deep in thought, stopped him.

“Do you know anyone who was close to Chloe?”

Undisguised bitterness permeated Andert’s question. Roman furrowed his wrinkled forehead and began searching through all his memories.

There was a group of noble ladies she met regularly, but they weren’t relevant to the current situation. He thought of the hospital and school officials that Chloe had sponsored under the Dietrich name, but they too were unrelated to the answer.

Then what about the Hardin family relatives… But thanks to Viscount Hardin’s lifetime of causing trouble, all relatives had turned their backs on him long ago.

In the end, even Roman, who had the entire complicated noble family tree of Artion in his head, had to surrender.

“I apologize.”

His hopeful face dropped again after giving his answer. On the polished table lay the ownerless ring.

“You may go.”

After dismissing the butler, Andert was dumbfounded. The fact that there wasn’t a single person he could think of in this situation. Chloe had lived here for 5 years.

So what kind of life had she lived during that time?

“What kind of person was Chloe?”

That was a question directed at himself.

Answer. What kind of person was she?

Well, Chloe was kind and careful. She never raised her voice and was understanding. And she was always in the same place whenever he looked for her…

Andert let out a bitter laugh as he continued his thoughts. These were answers he could get even if he asked the butler or the maid who followed Chloe around.

He had always been busy since returning to Artion three years ago. At the same time, he had been equally indifferent to other matters. Yet to think he would have trouble even when answering what kind of person his wife was.

Andert, who had been sitting with his upper body slumped, suddenly stood up. He couldn’t just wait around like this. Just then, the call bell rang and Roman entered the study again.

“You called…”

“What time did you say the afternoon train to Hanover was?”

Andert quickly asked, cutting him off. Unlike moments before when he had almost been buried in the sofa, he was now pacing the study.

Hanover? Roman checked the clock after a moment of confusion. It had just passed noon.

“It departs at 2 PM. Is there a particular reason you’re asking?”

“Prepare for a visit to the Hardin viscounty.”

“……!! Are you saying you’ll go there personally right now?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Ah, no my lord.”

Roman brought his hands together neatly after hesitating at the sudden request. Time-wise, there was no issue with preparing and getting to the station.

“Roman, just the two of us will go.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare right away.”

There was something about his voice that made one hurry their steps.

Roman didn’t delay any further. If the master spoke directly with Viscount Hardin, they might find some other clues. His shoes quickly walked down the corridor carrying that faint hope.