“It’s not like that, Chloe.”

Sometimes a well-intentioned lie is necessary. Like now.

He smiled, hiding his complicated feelings. He couldn’t settle his mind here and wanted to look around elsewhere. And what would Chloe be like when he returned?

He couldn’t know the answer to the question he swallowed inside.

But he didn’t want to burden Chloe with his departure from Artion. She and he were nothing to each other; it was just one person’s one-sided affection. The facts were crystal clear.

Perhaps such relationships existed. Those that seemed to have their limits set from the beginning.

Like his relationship with Chloe.

Aaron confessed calmly. It was likely his last, a monologue declaring that this had been nothing more than a long unrequited love.

“Our relationship…… was just my feelings alone toward Chloe Hardin.”

Even after saying everything and it being time to leave, Aaron lingered a bit longer. It was unresolved attachment, but he wouldn’t see Chloe for several years.

So a few more minutes should be fine, right?

Even the time he allowed himself wasn’t long. Aaron left Chloe’s new home with a final farewell.

“Take care, Chloe. You’ll do well in whatever you do. Stay healthy.”

The parting words weren’t elaborate. Aaron wanted to turn away with a smile. After all, it was up to him to sort out his feelings.

“……Yes. Take care, Aaron. I hope you do well.”

Chloe offered her concern-filled words. Yes, this was the end. Aaron turned away promptly.

From time to time, he missed the spring when he reunited with Chloe in Bergen. But he couldn’t leave his lingering attachment here.

Aaron walked without stopping.

Just as the exciting spring that had already passed could never return.

* * *

“The trial of Patrick, who plotted the Hanover fraud, is scheduled for early next year. The revocation of all Patrick’s authority regarding House Dietrich was officially announced as of yesterday.”

Daniel finished his words with relief, as if shedding an old burden.

Of course, there was no time to relax with Fabiana’s trial still pending. However, it was incomparable to his previous anxiety about whether the Duke of Dietrich would return.

“Where is the detailed report on next year’s second-half investments?”

In response to Andert’s question, whose one arm was uncomfortable, Daniel handed over a document with familiarity.

The Duke, who had returned without notice just as he had suddenly left for Daloa, was immersed in work as usual. When Andert had previously handed over a thick envelope, Daniel couldn’t even guess what it contained.

But when ordered to disclose everything in detail, Daniel had seriously wondered if the Duke’s mind was sound as he headed to Daloa where civil war had broken out.

‘Otherwise, why would he deliberately create bigger problems by his own hand, not to mention revealing the secret of his birth?’

He had guessed that House Dietrich had an unusual mother-son or father-son relationship, but he never dreamed there was such a backstory. However, orders had to be followed.

So he disclosed everything through the press and submitted evidence to the court. Though the Dietrich name circulated in public daily due to the sudden scandal, it was already anticipated.

Of course, when he first learned the truth, he was dumbfounded. But that didn’t change Duke Dietrich’s position. Being extremely practical, he prioritized this point above all else.

Unlike him, Roman, the butler who had served House Dietrich all his life, was shocked for a while. But now he seemed to have regained his dutiful original self.

“I take pride in serving House Dietrich. Even though people gossip about Dietrich news every day.”

Roman appeared to have steeled himself with his own determination.

The Duke’s birth would continue to be occasionally mentioned, but the person concerned didn’t seem to mind at all. Daniel glanced at the man rapidly flipping through documents.

More than anything else, he had something he really wanted to know. Though he held back, knowing Andert’s character didn’t allow unnecessary questions, this time he wanted to confirm.

Anyway, asking what happened in Daloa or if he reunited with Chloe as suspected was pointless. Andert wouldn’t answer.

His eyes, waiting for the right timing, didn’t miss the moment when the Duke closed the last page.

“Your Grace, if I may, I have something to say.”

At this deliberately polite suggestion, Andert merely nodded. Daniel poured out the words that had risen to the tip of his tongue without hesitation.

“The last Sunday of December is Chloe’s birthday. I mention this because it might be good to prepare a gift in advance so it’s not late. If you permit, I could prepare something with the help of the butler and maid who know Chloe’s tastes well.”

He wanted to know. Whether the relationship between the Duke and Chloe was ongoing.

If so, he wanted to inform the man who might not remember his ex-wife’s birthday. Thanks to the personal information he had thoroughly memorized while investigating Chloe’s whereabouts previously. Naturally, he added the gift suggestion, assuming Andert wouldn’t prepare anything.

But what came back was an incredulous rejection.

“Not necessary, Daniel.”

Ah, as expected. Unfortunately, his prediction wasn’t wrong.

To maintain a good relationship with someone, birthdays held significant meaning. Facing the man who didn’t even consider such things, he tried again. Or rather, he was about to. If not for the words that followed.

“I already have something in mind.”

“Yes. What?”

Daniel, who answered reflexively and then couldn’t help but ask again, subtly backed away. It was right after Andert, who had been looking at him, turned away. Still, it wasn’t entirely fruitless.

The Duke remembering someone’s birthday must have special meaning.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After the lawyer left, having satisfied his curiosity, Andert lightly shook his stiff arm. Using only his right arm seemed to be causing strain on one side.

He remembered Chloe’s birthday. The last Sunday of December.

Although it was a date he had only become conscious of a few months ago, the fact that he had never celebrated it even once pressed heavily on one side of his heart. There was much he wanted to do for Chloe.

But finding a gift she would accept without rejection and also like wasn’t easy. Of course, there was no guarantee she would agree to meet that day.

Still, he could deliver the gift.

That would be enough.

Of course he wanted to see Chloe more often. But he couldn’t interfere with her enthusiastic steps toward her dreams. This time, he truly didn’t want to.

* * *

Just past noon, a freight train arrived at Vasa Station.

Its departure point was Shar in Daloa.

It wasn’t unusual for trains carrying large quantities of goods to come and go from Daloa where the civil war had ended. What caught people’s attention were the frames being carefully unloaded from the last two cars of the train. The identity of the paintings, meticulously packaged with buffer materials, was unknown.

But as many works appeared at a glance, people could only guess their destination was an art museum or gallery. Then some recognized the face of the man signing each receipt for the frames.

‘Lawyer Logan.’

It was a name that had recently appeared alongside Chloe Hardin’s inheritance. The sharp-witted quickly realized that the final recipient of all these works was Chloe Hardin.

In the social world, always thirsty for new stories, this rumor spread instantly.

“Come to think of it, Countess Hassel during her lifetime had a knack for art collection. Her proxy attended all major auctions without fail.”

“Then those works must certainly be what Chloe Hardin inherited from her late aunt.”

“That’s not all, I tell you. Word has it there are more paintings to be sent from Daloa? Otherwise, there would be no reason for Lawyer Logan to confirm the next receipt date with the Vasa station master.”

“My goodness, they say you never know what lies ahead. To think such things would happen to House Hardin.”

The rumor with legs easily crossed the threshold of Dietrich.

The servants each had something to say about the news of someone who had been the mistress of the house for several years. Among them, Bellisa, who had been fond of Chloe, was the happiest. With her eyes wide open, she rejoiced, saying it was truly a good thing.

Roman, noticing the commotion of people gathered in one place, cautioned them not to be too noisy before turning away.

6:00 AM. As always, familiar steps carrying strong-scented coffee and freshly baked bread entered the study. The owner of this place was already seated at his desk.

Though Andert couldn’t use one arm, he managed his schedule without change. His pattern of leaving the mansion before 7:00 AM remained the same.

“……And Your Grace, you have an appointment with Doctor Harmen at 6:00 PM today. He advised that it will take some time as he needs to thoroughly examine your wound and recovery status.”

Roman mentioned the appointment with the physician again after finishing his report on the main schedule. Only after confirming the Duke’s acknowledgment as he rapidly flipped through the newspaper did Roman withdraw, seemingly relieved.

Fortunately, according to Doctor Harmen, the gunshot wound had missed any critical areas, so there should be no major issues with recovery.

Andert never mentioned what happened in Daloa. Only the lawyer Daniel and Roman could guess with their trained intuition.