Chloe nodded slightly and routinely organized the scattered documents. She was so busy putting away the open books and packing her bag that she didn’t notice…

How Aaron’s face had suddenly brightened while quietly waiting for her answer.

The place they sat down after leaving the office was an open-air restaurant nearby.

It was late for dinner. Of course, that seemed to be just Chloe’s thought alone. After all, this restaurant was busiest from sunset until well past midnight.

Though she had passed by here several times, this was her first time coming to eat. Her head, which had been gazing at the quietly flowing narrow stream, suddenly turned forward. It was because of the gaze directed at her face.

Then she met eyes with Aaron, who was smiling brightly. He had taken off his jacket and hung it on the chair beside him, wearing just a thin shirt.

“Do you work this late every day?”

“I still have a lot to learn. I’m just doing a bit more than others.”

Chloe felt somewhat embarrassed after answering. It felt somehow awkward to be working late every day when she didn’t have any particular skills yet.

And she didn’t know how much Aaron knew about the circumstances. Of course, given Kate’s personality, she wouldn’t have told every detail. But Aaron must surely wonder why she was staying alone in this city. Though he didn’t probe into anything.

Aaron, who had swallowed a bite of the steaming duck roast, naturally led the conversation.

“I was on my way back from Oslo.”

“Oslo?”

“Yes. The exhibition just ended yesterday. Though I didn’t submit any paintings myself. It was a showcase of promising new artists.”

“Ah…”

During the conversation, Chloe remembered that one of the exhibition halls owned by the Hussler Cultural Foundation was in Oslo. Aaron must have returned from an exhibition he had organized. Despite meeting by chance after several years, he was quite comfortable.

Was he always this sociable?

Chloe tried to recall memories of her classmate from their year studying together. But due to their limited interaction, only extremely fragmentary things came to mind.

Among them, the clearest was Aaron’s fame. After all, he had become the most popular man among female students right after enrollment.

“Did you see him this morning? I’ve never seen a man in a purple suit so well before.”

“Really? I wasn’t there because the professor called me away. Will I see him in tomorrow’s class?”

“I heard he’s not very interested in studying. That’s why he often skips classes.”

The whispers heard here and there were familiar to Chloe too. But because Aaron frequently missed classes, it took some time before she saw the subject of the rumors.

His reputation, when directly confirmed, was understandable enough. And that was all. At the time, Chloe had Andert in her heart. So the handsome man who had caused such a stir at school was completely outside her interest.

Meeting Aaron again after several years, he seemed much more mature. Because time had passed considerably. She at nineteen, twenty years old must have been different from now too.

“Meanwhile, I’ve been helping my father. I barely stayed in one place, traveling throughout Artion and abroad.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“I started properly handling the Cultural Foundation work about a year and a half ago, I think? Around that time. Since then, I’ve been stopping by Bergen occasionally too.”

Aaron shared his stories one by one. Mainly followed by tales about artists that could be of common interest and anecdotes from visiting various cities.

So his way of speaking strictly maintained a line that wouldn’t burden the other person. Even Chloe, who had been unable to hide her awkwardness at first, gradually felt comfortable.

Above all, he didn’t ask anything about the other person’s private life. Only after suggesting they should get up after finishing the meal did Chloe realize this fact.

***

Facing Andert with his hard expression, Daniel silently bowed his head. For days, those reporting on Chloe’s whereabouts had no meaningful news. Having to personally deliver this fact every day was becoming unbearable.

“So in the end, northern Saphi. That’s all that’s left. If not there, we’ll have to expand the range and start over from the beginning.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Andert didn’t particularly raise his voice. But Daniel, uncomfortable, like he’s sitting on pins and needles, quickly lowered his gaze.

He had already been praying every night for Lady Dietrich’s return. That would resolve this frustrating situation. But the deity watching over Artion clearly had no intention of answering his prayers.

That’s when Roman appeared like a savior.

The butler’s arms held one large box. As Daniel stepped back in relief, the box appeared on the table.

The neatly closed lid was considerable in size at first glance. However, what came from the butler’s mouth seemed unrelated to the current situation.

“Tomorrow is the annual event at the orphanage we’ve been sponsoring. I’ve conveyed the message to the orphanage that Lady Dietrich regrettably cannot attend.”

“Wasn’t that already mentioned before? Proceed as planned.”

Andert slightly furrowed his brow. He already knew about this. Chloe had never missed the orphanage’s annual event.

But this time the situation was unavoidable. So they had decided to just convey that they would only send the sponsorship money.

Roman immediately read the faint irritation mixed in Andert’s voice. He knew well that his master’s mood was at rock bottom. The mansion was already precarious these days, everyone’s walking on thin ice.

Roman didn’t want to aggravate him further here.

“Yes. However, I should tell you separately about the box Bellisa discovered.”

As he finished speaking, the lid opened. Andert’s eyes, clearly showing fatigue, followed those fingertips.

“It was found in a corner of Lady Dietrich’s dressing room. It appears the Lady had prepared these.”

“……”

The box was full of baby booties, gloves, and hats knitted with colorful yarn.

Andert could only look down at the adorable woolen items without saying a word. He knew nothing about baby items or knitting. But even to his eyes, these all appeared to be very carefully crafted results.

He had only received reports that Chloe attended the orphanage’s sponsorship event annually, not knowing the details. So his wife had been preparing individual gifts for the children.

“…Has Chloe been doing this every year?”

“Yes. She has continued since right after your marriage. Since she completed the delivery at last year’s event around this time, these appear to be items made after that.”

The same every year? Then this box contained the things Chloe had left for tomorrow’s orphanage visit. Though no note or memo was left, Andert realized this fact immediately.

So she had left with no intention of ever returning. It was an ominous feeling that nothing would change even if he faced Chloe. Until now, he believed that finding Chloe would solve the problem.

But that wasn’t true. His wife, who had always quietly kept her place, seemed like she really wouldn’t look back.

***

Chloe quickly adapted to life in Bergen.

For now, she was satisfied just knowing that her efforts to learn more work weren’t in vain. Meanwhile, she had gradually become familiar with the staff working at the association. Though with colleagues from other offices, it was just brief greetings.

They showed curiosity at the appearance of an unfamiliar figure, but Kate appropriately drew the line.

“Chloe is a friend eager to learn the work. Though it’s true we’re acquainted, regardless of that, she’ll do her assigned tasks well.”

There were numerous speculations about Chloe’s striking appearance, but that was all. Everyone who dealt with strong-willed artists didn’t dig deeply into their new colleague’s background.

Even so, it was impossible to guess that she would be connected to nobility, especially House Dietrich. Chloe focused only on work while wearing the most ordinary dresses sold at the general store near the office — the same style in different colors.

Her routine of staying at the office after arriving at work remained unchanged until this afternoon.

After lunch, Chloe, who had been typing manuscripts continuously, had to stop at the last page. Because two words written in cursive were completely illegible.

After staring at the manuscript for a while with furrowed brows, she finally stood up. It didn’t take her long to think. The deadline was tomorrow, and all other staff were out on field work.

She had no choice but to visit the writer.

Chloe checked the writer’s address in the association’s directory. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far from where the office was located.

「Stepping out briefly to check something in the writer’s manuscript.
— Chloe」

Only after leaving a memo just in case did she leave the office. It was her first time going out during the day since starting work.

Chloe, having gathered the manuscript, notebook, and pen, walked quickly. The destination was a residential area 30 minutes from the office. The residential area developed for artists to settle in Bergen was divided into ten blocks. Fortunately, the writer she needed to meet lived in the closest one.

Because she found the writer immediately at their address, her outing wasn’t too long. After confirming the last page of the manuscript, Chloe set out again right away.