Epilogue

The news of Andert Dietrich and Chloe Hardin’s reunion spread around the beginning of spring.

The old Duke of Dietrich faced his son at the turning point of the season. Winston’s gaze turned to the opposite side after confirming the wedding date that was less than a week away.

In fact, Andert, the very person involved in all this, merely raised his teacup calmly.

“Hmm……”

Winston did sigh, but he had no intention of trying to dissuade the other. He wouldn’t listen even if stopped.

From the beginning, it was he who had highly valued Andert’s blind tendency to race toward what he wanted. But to think that this personality would be fully demonstrated toward one person, and his ex-wife at that.

‘The real reason he headed to Daloa must have been because of Chloe too.’

So this matter was beyond his control. This was bound to happen eventually.

Winston shook off his cigarette ash with a flick and inhaled deeply.

But one fact bothered him. That the wedding date happened to be the day Andert was born.

“Did you decide the date?”

Winston asked as if there was nothing more to think about. Such an uncanny coincidence couldn’t exist. And his expectation was correct.

“Yes. To be precise, it’s a birthday gift I received from Lady Chloe. Of course, I wanted it first.”

“……”

The old Duke, having confirmed the answer that the other said with no hesitation, said nothing.

But Andert, unconcerned, set down the half-empty teacup. It was a clear fact, so there was no reason to hide it.

“Andert, is there a birthday gift you’d like?”

It all started with Chloe’s question. And when he said he wanted to have the wedding on his birthday, she readily agreed.

Until now, it had been a day he had tried not to recall even consciously. But not anymore. Because he would celebrate that day with Chloe from now on.

Winston Dietrich recognized at a glance the vitality residing in his son’s cool eyes. Lighting a new cigarette, he let out a hollow laugh with a dumbfounded face.

“I think my lifeline is unnecessarily long. To think I would see my son getting married to the same person twice.”

A bitter self-mockery was added to the rising smoke. But Andert, accustomed to such situations, calmly savored his tea.

It was a leisurely attitude as if he’s having a casual conversation. He tried to throw one more remark at his son who didn’t care about his father’s mood. But soon he closed his mouth.

‘Not showing the reaction the other wants.’

It was none other than himself who had instilled that coldness in young Andert.

To pick at that now would ultimately be like spitting in his own face. The old Duke, who expelled his rising anger with grayish smoke, muttered and lamented.

“It’s truly a case of the Duke of Dietrich being desperate for his ex-wife.”

“That’s not wrong, so I won’t deny it.”

“Ha…… Well. I suppose it’s better than becoming a worthless dependent on the family. At least you’re devoted to a woman.”

Winston, who burst into bitter laughter, turned away from Andert who responded without changing his expression. He didn’t want to waste unnecessary energy on a matter with a predetermined outcome.

His son’s visit today wasn’t because he needed his permission. It was merely to deliver news that was close to a notification.

It was too awkward to exchange well-wishes like “live well since you’ve decided” in their relationship. In fact, Andert, having finished his business, immediately left the bedroom.

“Chloe Hardin, Chloe Dietrich.”

Winston quietly mulled over the name that would change in five days.

He had already heard the news that the daughter of House Hardin had inherited a considerable estate. Of course, it was better than being penniless, but that fact wasn’t important to him anyway.

‘If Andert has decided not to let go of a relationship that should have been cleanly resolved…… There’s nothing to be done.’

Winston exhaled a long breath into the empty air.

His only son might have lost his mind to a woman, but at least he wasn’t a fool who would ruin the family. No, in fact, when it came to Andert’s abilities alone, he was more than satisfied.

His son had always been beyond reproach in handling matters. But when he heard that ‘Artron Oil’ had gained exclusive rights to extract oil in Belfast, even he had to admire it.

Though it was bitter that the label of illegitimate child was attached afterward, he didn’t regret his past judgments and actions.

‘Mia Garrel. If I hadn’t met that woman, I wouldn’t have had Andert either.’

He chose to swallow regret rather than lament what he couldn’t have.

And he had boldly discarded anyone who would harm Dietrich’s future, regardless of who they were. That was also why he had handed over Fabiana’s wrongdoings against the Hardin family to Andert.

And that choice was right.

The Dietrich that Andert would protect would surely be a more firmly established name than it was now.

* * *

Those who heard the news of Duke Dietrich’s marriage all showed the same reaction—that they had expected it.

Anyone could see that Andert’s feelings were certain, and all that remained was Chloe’s choice.

“So Lady Chloe has finally accepted her ex-husband’s proposal.”

“That’s right. I was planning to see how grand the wedding would be, but they’re holding it in a quiet church with only a few acquaintances invited?”

“Well, considering they’re getting married to the same person twice, there’s no need to make it too festive.”

“That’s a modesty that doesn’t suit the Dietrich name. Though the gift the Duke prepared doesn’t seem modest at all.”

Those adding their thoughts unanimously agreed with someone’s distinctly realistic comment.

The rumor that Duke Dietrich was the final bidder at the much-talked-about yellow diamond auction had spread about two months ago. A week later, news added that a famous jeweler was crafting a necklace with that stone.

“The necklace owner will obviously be Chloe Hardin.”

“Indeed. It doesn’t seem like there could be any other variable at this point.”

There had been no disagreement from the beginning about whose neck that priceless jewel would adorn. Andert had only one person for whom he would prepare such a thing.

The only differing views were about its purpose. After all, an auction item from Wiper Auction House that had broken the highest price record in 20 years wouldn’t be a casual dating gift.

“So that necklace was Dietrich’s wedding gift for the bride.”

“I heard that Chloe’s bedroom remains untouched in the Duke’s residence? It seems Duke Dietrich never ordered it to be cleared out in the first place.”

“Well, keeping the ex-wife’s bedroom intact after divorce already foreshadowed this situation.”

“In any case, it seems the connection between Dietrich and Hardin wasn’t destined to be easily severed.”

Sighs mixed with envy escaped from among the seated noble ladies. The voices that had implicitly tarnished Andert’s birth by lumping it together with Fabiana’s actions had disappeared.

Family honor and pride were certainly virtues to uphold. However, none of them wanted a life that survived solely on reputation without substance.

In that sense, solidifying a friendship with Dietrich had sufficient purpose. So the nobles, long trained in reading situations, were treating Andert with appropriately clouded eyes.

Of course, there were some who found it uncomfortable to face the daughter of House Hardin as the Duchess of Dietrich. These were the faces that had thoroughly ignored and looked down on Chloe after her divorce.

‘Truly, one cannot predict what lies ahead. To think those two would eventually meet again as husband and wife.’

Though they shook their heads at the clearly rising sense of defeat, it was irreversible.

Moreover, people don’t easily forget what they’ve suffered. The same would surely be true for Chloe Hardin, or rather, the woman who would become Chloe Dietrich in a few days.

Those who decided to be cautious for the time being chose to keep their mouths firmly shut without adding any comments. They had concluded that staying quiet was the wiser decision.

* * *

Not many people visited the cemetery on that bright Saturday afternoon.

Since it wasn’t yet full spring, the wind brushing against collars still carried a chill. But the sunlight casting clear shadows was warm.

Chloe placed the bouquet of lilies she had brought in front of the tombstone. Afterward, she neatly folded the parasol that had been shading her from the sun and set it aside.

The journey by train to get here hadn’t been entirely light-hearted. Hanover was a place that held all her childhood memories, but it was also a land stained with painful recollections. Especially when thinking about her father, it was natural for her heart to grow heavy.

Chloe’s eyes reddened as she gently traced the familiar name engraved on the tombstone. Though she had come to share the news of her marriage with her parents, it wasn’t easy to speak.

Her lowered gaze stared at the tombstone gleaming under the sunlight for a long time.

“I’ll go alone this time. Next time, let’s go together.”

“……Chloe.”

It was she who had dissuaded Andert, who wanted to go together. Even as he tried to hold her back once more, he seemed to understand something and let her go readily.

Her mother and father would need time to accept Andert standing beside their daughter.

There was no other reason. She would make future trips to Hanover with him, but today, the day before the wedding, she wanted to quietly greet her parents.

Chloe, who had been carefully stroking the tombstone, calmly shared the recent stories.

‘……I’ll truly be happy now. No, I’m already doing well enough.’

After conveying her long inner thoughts, Chloe smiled brightly at her mother, who had left behind a dying wish for her to be happy.

That was also the truth without a hint of falsehood. Without this level of certainty, she wouldn’t have resolved to marry Andert. Chloe also believed that all of this would be sufficiently conveyed to her mother.