It was a day he had passed by without proper celebration all this time.

He wished he could make up for that time belatedly, but it was impossible. The past grew hazier with each passing day.

So he wanted to brightly illuminate Chloe’s future path. He wanted to see the day when she came closer to the dreams she wished to achieve, and when that vision became reality.

He didn’t think about becoming her world. Rather, he hoped Chloe would slowly move forward one step at a time toward her own world. And he wanted to be the only man occupying one page of Chloe Hardin’s life.

Covering his most honest desire with a faint smile, he handed her a small box.

“I hope you like it.”

What Andert had prepared was an intricately crafted bracelet. He had made only one request to the jeweler Roman had introduced.

“I’d prefer something not excessively flashy that can be worn in everyday life.”

Though it wasn’t a difficult request, all the pieces proudly showcased were unsatisfactory to his eye. Jewelry that obviously demanded attention was problematic. Chloe wouldn’t easily wear that kind of thing.

Perhaps because they recognized his face, everything that followed was similar. Or maybe that was the type of jewelry they primarily dealt with.

When he was about to leave, having failed to find something he liked, the owner desperately opened a large catalog.

“How about this one? Or if you tell me your desired design, I can complete it within two weeks.”

He knew nothing about women’s preferred jewelry. He simply restated his exact requirements. Of course, the person listening looked as if he was facing an unsolvable problem.

He had received the custom-made jewelry two days ago.

“This……”

Chloe trailed off upon seeing the velvet case.

Though she hadn’t checked the contents, anyone could easily guess the nature of the elegant box. Andert answered casually, reading the burden in Chloe’s eyes.

“It’s just a bracelet.”

That was truly all it was. Compared to all he wished to give her.

However, as it was the first birthday gift he was giving her, it couldn’t be too excessive nor too modest. Despite his concern that Chloe might feel burdened, he didn’t want to give something that didn’t satisfy his own standards.

In fact, he had been considering it since seeing her slender wrist with the bracelet Kate had reportedly given her. Of course, what he most wanted to give was a ring. He had wanted rings they could each wear, but he didn’t want to burden Chloe.

“This is just a gift, so take your time looking at it.”

Andert casually pushed the case to one side of the table.

Though it was certainly a carefully considered choice, he didn’t want Chloe to attach heavy meaning to it. Of course, he wanted to see the bracelet dangling from her snow-white wrist. But that was something to look forward to next time.

More than anything, he hoped she wouldn’t return it saying she couldn’t accept it. A careful voice reached Andert as he took a sip of the bittersweet wine.

“Has His Majesty said anything? I mean, you didn’t fully follow His Majesty’s orders in Daloa.”

“The audience went well.”

“Really?”

Chloe asked, unable to hide her skepticism. He was a man who never showed his feelings no matter what happened.

But what came back was a relaxed smile.

“What Johannes needs is an ally to strengthen his throne. Of course, if Andert Dietrich’s utility value loses its luster, that would be a different story.”

The tone sounded cynical even at a glance. Though his eyes meeting hers were warm.

The man who had surprised her with aspects she had never seen before was indeed the Andert she had known for a long time. She knew it. The occasional feeling she felt that he was like a different person wasn’t because he had changed.

This was also the process of learning one by one the facets of Andert she hadn’t known before.

After a momentary silence, Chloe excused herself. It was after remembering that the cake Roman had prepared remained untouched.

“I forgot about the cake. Just a moment.”

Andert, who received a slice of chocolate cake, quietly tasted it. The soft chocolate mousse was sweet enough to make his tongue tingle, with an excessively bitter aftertaste.

He didn’t mind seeing Chloe secretly concerned about his situation with Johannes. In any case, it meant she was thinking of him.

The audience at Denev Palace had been largely ceremonial. Johannes seemed more concerned with future matters than reprimanding him for not returning directly to Artion after completing his mission.

“Duke Dietrich, shouldn’t we discuss the oil fields in Belfast now?”

It was the king’s proposal, holding an island with large deposits of petroleum, the so-called black gold. Andert naturally had no reason to refuse. Though he hadn’t anticipated this situation, he already owned “Artron Oil” which he had acquired earlier.

He didn’t mind Johannes measuring the utility value of the name Andert Dietrich. After all, he was the one who extracted maximum efficiency from any counterpart.

Facing someone with clear objectives wasn’t difficult. Even if that someone was Johannes sitting on the throne.

Only Chloe was difficult, truly difficult.

After putting down his fork, he unconsciously withdrew his hand that had moved toward his glass again. Though this amount of wine wouldn’t intoxicate him, one could never be sure.

Love discovered belatedly made many things possible. So who knew? He might lose self-control even with weak alcohol.

He didn’t want to disappoint Chloe, who had suggested they get to know each other one by one. Of course, the conscious and unconscious yearning remained.

‘The problem is it gets more intense as time passes.’

Andert dispelled his empty laugh by pushing his glass aside.

He couldn’t show this side of himself straightforwardly to Chloe. Looking back, he hadn’t been particularly fixated on physical intimacy between men and women. But when holding Chloe, he often encountered an unfamiliar side of himself.

And since becoming aware of his feelings, just one kiss was all they had shared. Andert, who exhaled a languid breath, was pulling his water glass closer when—

Seeing the empty cup, Chloe stood up. She was turning around with a water bottle she had placed on the counter when she suddenly stopped. Though she tried to move while enduring the discomfort starting from her toes, it was in vain.

She had grown quite accustomed to the numbness that alternately appeared in both feet, but cases where it was accompanied by stabbing pain at the same time were rare.

‘Of all times, now……’

Andert immediately noticed something was wrong with Chloe’s movement.

“Chloe.”

He approached with large strides and first checked her complexion. Her face, paler than before, was concerning. Then he remembered she was receiving treatment for frostbite at the hospital.

“I’m fine. Just…… give me a moment and I’ll be fine.”

Chloe answered as calmly as possible.

But Andert didn’t hesitate to bring a chair. The Chloe he knew was someone who would finish her greetings and turn away normally even if she was about to collapse. So from now on, he had no intention of believing her whenever she said “I’m fine.”

“Sit down, Chloe.”

“Thank you.”

Fortunately, the pain didn’t worsen. Chloe sat somewhat awkwardly on the chair he had moved to the kitchen. Until then, she had planned to stand up as soon as she could move freely.

But Andert, who knelt on one knee, was faster. The hand that removed her slippers wrapped around both feet in turn.

Before she could feel embarrassed by his touch massaging her feet covered with thin stockings, he asked,

“What did they say at the hospital?”

“Well, just……”

“Chloe.”

“They said we should monitor it for a few more months. The pain isn’t severe each time—usually it’s just a tingling sensation. It’s rare for movement to be as difficult as it is now.”

Chloe answered with a smile, telling Andert not to worry as he refused to back down easily.

“I’m taking my medicine properly, so it will gradually get better. More importantly, stop and get up, Andert.”

Andert still couldn’t remove the sling that fixed his left arm and shoulder. It didn’t feel right to have someone in that condition continuously massaging her feet with one hand.

However, he bowed his head as if he hadn’t heard her protest.

In truth, he didn’t know how much pressure was appropriate. He just felt that if he applied too much force, Chloe would be in pain. Andert applied just enough pressure to his hands to help relieve the tingling.

Chloe could feel it too. How extremely careful the fingers wrapping her feet were being.

Since Andert had his head bowed, Chloe could look at him without being constrained by his gaze.

She had thought this before: he was a perfect man who lacked nothing.

That perhaps God had truly blessed only him. That she loved this man who was the embodiment of that blessing, beyond her reach…… That they were ultimately a mismatched connection.

But now she seemed to understand.

The depth of the shadow hidden behind Andert Dietrich’s relaxed smile that made others anxious. And also the side of him that was infinitely clumsy with emotions despite being unstoppable when he had a goal.