“Ah……”

Chloe was flustered by the sudden date proposal. Of course, part of it was because his method wasn’t smooth.

But she didn’t dislike seeing him awkward at something. Chloe asked with a voice tinged with a faint smile.

“Then, where do you want to go first?”

Where he wanted to go.

Andert pondered how to answer that question. The places he had accumulated one by one, wanting to go with Chloe, were overflowing. After thinking briefly about where to start, he suggested one by one.

“How about going to the Grand Theater to see a performance?”

“A performance?”

“Yes. Since the weather is clear today, climbing the observatory behind the train station would be nice too. If not that, how about the amusement park that opened recently? I think the art museum with a new exhibition would be good too.”

Grand Theater, observatory, amusement park, art museum.

To Chloe, none of these places seemed to match Andert. But the man standing before her was serious, as if anywhere would be fine. A soft smile spread in her eyes as she looked at him.

“Then, since the weather is nice, shall we go to the observatory? It’s not far from here, so we can walk there comfortably.”

After serious contemplation, Chloe chose one a moment later. Instead of answering, Andert took her hand. But as he was about to take a brisk step forward with the bag, he didn’t forget to remind her.

“If your feet hurt or you feel tired, tell me anytime, Chloe.”

“Yes, I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I promise.”

Only after confirming her repeated answer did Andert begin walking at a slower pace. The spring light was warm as flower buds bloomed everywhere. The sun slowly sank beyond the horizon as they crossed the park toward the observatory.

As couples and families passed by one after another, the sound of bells announcing the peaceful evening hour joined them. He wished he could keep this moment intact if possible.

The warmth from their clasped hands, the neat shoe tips walking side by side, the bracelet dangling from Chloe’s wrist, and the gentle smile spreading across her lips.

The two reached the observatory amid occasional exchanges of conversation. But a busy caretaker in work clothes awkwardly asked for their understanding.

“I’m sorry. You’ll have to come back another time. Thirty minutes ago, an employee went down with a sign saying the doors would close, but you must have missed each other.”

He showed them a paper posted at the entrance, looking troubled.

「Repair Work in Progress」

“The wall plaster on the stairs and corridor leading to the second floor has fallen, so we had to close urgently. It seems we’ll need to continue construction for several days.”

After finishing his explanation, the caretaker disappeared down the passage to the basement. Andert followed his retreating figure with disappointed eyes, then turned his head.

It had seemed like quite a good start until just now.

He was about to suggest going somewhere else as slight dismay rose within him. At that moment, Chloe, whose eyes met his, burst into light laughter as if deflating.

Andert, who had been quietly studying her face, also laughed helplessly. Chloe spoke first, pointing to the gentle hill below.

“Then, how about we walk back down and have a nice meal? If we add tea, it’s the standard date course.”

A walk, a meal, and tea time.

As Chloe said, it was a flawless date sequence. Still, it couldn’t compare to his desire to look at the sky together on this cloudless, bright day.

But today wasn’t the only day they had.

Andert, taking her hand again, began retracing the path they had climbed. The surroundings were quiet with no other buildings besides the observatory. By now, the sign announcing closure would have been posted. No one would likely climb the hill only to be disappointed.

Walking on a path that felt like they were the only two in the world, even turning back from the observatory didn’t feel disappointing at all. Andert slowed his pace as much as possible. Though Chloe was walking without any issues, he couldn’t be too careful.

Just then, the steps beside him suddenly stopped. The skirt swaying in the breeze approached a large tree standing on one side of the downhill path. Andert silently followed her footsteps. A panoramic view unfolded before their eyes.

“Look over there.”

His gaze, following her slender fingertip, stopped at a point. Blinking, colorful lights were spreading from the riverside adjacent to the lower Deve River.

Chloe, watching the lights that flickered and rose again, added as if suddenly remembering.

“That must be the tower they said was newly built at the amusement park. Right? I’ve only heard rumors. They say it’s so popular now that there’s no room to set foot.”

“Shall we go there too?”

“Now?”

“If you want. Any other time is fine with me.”

Today or anytime next.

Andert turned to face Chloe without letting go of her hand. He naturally wasn’t interested in the amusement park where many people supposedly gathered. What mattered to him was the time he spent with Chloe.

“……Let’s go to the amusement park another time. Actually, I’ve never been there, so I’m curious. But I think it would be better to go when it’s a little less crowded than when there are too many people.”

Her quite cautious answer was extremely practical, but her voice carried clear anticipation.

“Alright.”

He agreed readily this time too.

Beyond comparison, Chloe shone brighter to him than the lights illuminating the surroundings. After all, it was Chloe Hardin who brilliantly lit up his dry and barren world. Looking into these eyes, he felt there might be a path she had granted only to him.

Andert leaned his upper body toward her the next moment. He met her gaze at a distance where they could clearly see into each other’s eyes.

While the startled green eyes blinked, Andert waited. Ready to let go anytime if Chloe stepped back.

But when her eyes closed under fluttering eyelashes, he lowered his head without hesitation. Their carefully overlapped lips mixed with each other’s breath.

As Chloe’s breath melted on the tip of his tongue, Andert also closed his eyes. His heart was raging as if pounding wildly. The throbbing that had risen to the threshold consumed all his senses.

He willingly accepted the emotional surge that stirred only for Chloe, one person alone.

* * *

As the seasons changed, opinions varied regarding the relationship between Chloe Hardin and Andert Dietrich.

While it was true that Dietrich and Hardin had an undeniable ill-fated connection, the two maintained a curious relationship. Some weekends they were spotted walking in the park together, and the two also toured exhibitions affectionately.

That wasn’t all. Countless people had witnessed Andert and Chloe holding hands at the amusement park.

Some speculated they had become friends who supported each other. Meanwhile, those known for their sharp intuition scoffed, saying that was nonsense.

“What are you talking about? It’s obviously love. Generally, when a man pours time and money on a woman, there’s only one reason.”

Indeed, to anyone watching, Andert’s feelings toward Chloe could only be explained as love. But for that to be true, there seemed to be no sign of practical steps being discussed.

‘Isn’t that so?’

If a divorced couple was having a serious relationship, Chloe Hardin would typically become the Duchess of Dietrich. However, Chloe, who had re-enrolled at the Royal University, appeared to be focusing on her studies.

Those who had been puzzled by the situation finally agreed on one fact.

“So, isn’t Duke Dietrich one-sidedly in love? Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.”

Ah, unrequited love.

If all this was a man’s belated pure love for his ex-wife, there was nothing incomprehensible. But the subject in question was problematic.

‘You mean that Andert Dietrich?’

Though no one readily agreed, the speculation that had grown terrifyingly spread abundantly. What delivered the final blow to what had been mere conjecture until then was Oakley Schmidt.

“I’m telling you, Andert definitely went to rescue Chloe Hardin in Minsk. Otherwise, why would he get off that train when he could have just returned to Artion after completing his mission?”

“So you’re saying Andert was actually with Chloe when she escaped from Minsk?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Oakley lightly tapped the table with his fist as if there was no need to ask further. While this was a story he couldn’t readily bring up when Andert’s survival was uncertain, that was no longer the case.

Raymond, sitting next to him, signaled him to tone it down, but it was helpless against the voices pouring from all directions.

“Ah! Come to think of it, there was a search order to find someone right after Chloe entered the Artion military camp.”

“Was that Andert? No wonder my classmate who went on the search wouldn’t open his mouth at all, as if he’d been gagged.”

“They must have signed confidentiality agreements. Otherwise, it’s stranger that not a single word leaked out.”

“By the way, about Dietrich. How much is he earning in Belfast? I can’t even estimate how much it might be since they say the drilling operation, where money is made just by digging, has succeeded. Don’t you agree?”

Eyes seemingly hoping for Raymond Declen’s answer poured in from all directions.

With Declen’s eldest son, known to have a deep friendship with Andert, standing firmly, it was awkward to bring up anything negative given the atmosphere. Looks that wanted to learn something since the topic had come up crossed over the table.

Raymond just tilted his glass, pretending not to see.

“More importantly, what exactly are Andert and Chloe? You must know something, right?”

The question was posed again, but Raymond evaded the answer by simply shrugging his shoulders. Though he had known for some time which way Andert’s heart leaned heavily, he didn’t want to comment on his friend’s private life.