Reflexively turning around, Chloe saw Andert appearing at the end of her gaze.

The man, dressed in a thin linen shirt and pants, looked considerably lighter in attire. It was Andert who had excused himself to let her chat with her friend before boarding the cruise ship that would sail for six days.

“That’s right, Chloe. It seems the time to board the ship is approaching, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I think we should get up now.”

“Travel safely. Make sure to visit once more before you return to the capital.”

Despite the successive urging, Chloe smiled brightly at Kendrick and met his eyes. Even after Andert and Kate exchanged brief greetings, she waved her hand to the baby several more times before turning away.

As soon as they left the pergola, the sunlight, at its peak intensity, pierced their eyes. While Chloe adjusted her hat to wear it more deeply, Andert checked his watch.

He naturally took her hand, waiting until Chloe tightened her hat strings.

“Now we board the ship, right?”

“It’s fine, Chloe. They said it departs exactly at three, so there’s no rush.”

Andert tapped his watch, indicating there was no need to hurry.

As they walked hand in hand, the harbor, bustling with dozens of ships and crowds, gradually drew closer. Indeed, they had just left a residential area with the sea in close view.

The harbor, which had already grown near as they passed souvenir shops crowded with people, was chaotic.

On the dock, piled with large luggage and unidentifiable crates, the shouts of sailors lowering chains as thick as adult forearms mixed in confusion. However, the sailors of fishing boats dropping anchor and passenger ships preparing to depart moved in perfect coordination despite the chaos.

“Here it is.”

At Andert’s voice, Chloe looked at the massive hull with careful eyes. The cruise ship departing today was scheduled to visit nearby coastal cities before returning here.

In fact, she was curious about routes that ventured further out to sea. But when she imagined a ship floating on the vast ocean, an inexplicable fear arose. That’s why she had chosen a route that traveled between port cities and operated in relatively shallow waters.

While they were briefly touring the harbor, Bellisa, who spotted Chloe, left the maids she was with and rushed over in one breath.

“Madam, did you say goodbye to your friend well? The luggage has already been loaded, so you just need to board the ship.”

“Thank you, Bellisa.”

Bellisa, who was boarding a cruise ship for the first time in her life, had many things she wanted to tell her mistress. But with the Duke beside her, it was difficult to start a conversation.

In the end, Bellisa bowed her head deeply and stepped back several paces. The Duke, who escorted his wife as she carefully boarded the cruise ship, was truly affectionate.

But those working at House Dietrich knew well that this warmth was limited only to Chloe.

“Even so, there’s the status of a ducal house. How many things must she manage as the mistress? And frankly speaking, it’s not important for the Duchess to receive a degree. I don’t understand why studies that will eventually be useless are so important.”

“I heard the Madam has plans after graduation.”

“What? No way.”

“It’s true. What’s so ridiculous about that?”

“The Duke will probably leave it to the Madam’s discretion anyway, don’t you think? Even now, he follows her decisions on most matters.”

The silence that fell among the servants, who had been talking incessantly, came when someone’s reproach leaked out.

From what they had observed, the Duke rarely contradicted his wife’s thoughts and judgments. Of course, Andert was inherently a man of few words who showed little interest in others. So he wasn’t the type to interfere in trivial matters.

But the Duke’s respect for Chloe wasn’t an extension of such indifference. It was unmistakably a special affection that was difficult to ignore.

“Well, that’s the right answer. What’s the use of us talking like this among ourselves?”

“That’s right. I should get back to work. It’s already fortunate that the Madam doesn’t treat the maids like mice to be caught, as some Countess’s mistress does.”

Eventually, the gossip that had continued for months after the Duke’s wedding ended inconclusively.

‘There’s enough to do with just the assigned tasks, why do they have so much to talk about?’

Bellisa, who followed Chloe onto the deck with quick steps, constantly muttered her inner thoughts.

Come to think of it, the scorching midsummer sun was stinging. Just as she was about to step forward with the thought of bringing a parasol for her mistress, who had stopped at the railing, the ducal couple turned around.

Looking in the direction where the attendant had stepped one pace ahead, they seemed to be heading to their cabin. Bellisa, familiar with the passage after going back and forth several times moving luggage, followed behind them habitually.

* * *

The cruise ship smoothly left Larcel harbor and began its pleasant voyage.

As the deep ship’s horn subsided, the crowded land gradually faded into the distance. By now, the hull had picked up speed, creating white splashes as it steadily moved forward.

Chloe stood on the deck adjoining one side of the bedroom, gazing at the horizon now enveloped in darkness. Night at sea quickly covered everything. The sunset that had dyed the water’s surface golden disappeared without a trace, as if it had burned brightly for a moment and then extinguished.

Chloe listened to the faint sound of waves. The cabin was quiet, with everyone who had skillfully finished tidying up having withdrawn. She sensed a familiar presence as she rested her arms lightly on the railing.

“Chloe.”

With a soft call, Andert approached. Standing right beside her, Chloe had to lift her head to meet his eyes.

When she silently stared at him, his well-balanced eyebrows rose slightly. Chloe brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen over his straight forehead and answered with a faint smile.

“I’m just looking.”

“Just looking?”

“Yes. Everything is so dark, but you seem to shine brightly.”

Though somewhat embarrassed, Chloe conveyed her feelings without reservation. It was a honesty she couldn’t have expressed when she loved Andert alone.

His smile spread deeper around his eyes at the unexpected compliment. At the same time, he turned his body from where he had been leaning against the railing.

Surrounded by this pitch-black sea, it felt as if they were the only two left. Looking up at his face bathed in backlight, Chloe suddenly remembered Kate and her baby she had seen earlier that day.

She had never discussed children with Andert.

‘And since pregnancy was difficult before, this time too, probably……’

At that moment, Chloe lowered her gaze to the shadow that fell like a curtain in her heart.

Though he had never mentioned pregnancy or children, he might be waiting for it deep inside. No, realistically, children held important meaning, so Andert might not have been entirely comfortable all this time. Moreover, her gaze deepened as she understood what an heir meant to House Dietrich.

That’s when a large hand cupped her cheek.

“What’s wrong?”

Just before, Chloe had been smiling, saying he shone brightly. Rather, he wanted to shower her with praise.

But he enjoyed moments when Chloe focused on him. So he had been silently gazing back without saying anything. But her expression darkening so suddenly was concerning. They had been together continuously since boarding.

So what could have happened in that time?

Andert examined her carefully with thoughtful eyes.

“It’s really nothing.”

Chloe shook her head as if it were nothing.

“Chloe.”

“Ah, shall we eat breakfast tomorrow at the restaurant they say is on board? I’m not sure if it will suit your taste, but I’ve heard the food is quite good.”

Chloe gently pulled down the hand cupping her face and tried to change the subject. But Andert didn’t back down easily.

“Let’s do that. But first, finish the conversation we were having.”

It wasn’t a voice demanding answers. Andert stroked her cheek with his fingertips as if telling her to speak comfortably.

Chloe also noticed the concern in his eyes. She would have preferred to change the atmosphere naturally, but if that was difficult, she didn’t want to make up awkward excuses. Moreover, she wanted to avoid adding unnecessary misunderstandings during their honeymoon.

And she wanted to know Andert’s true feelings too.

“……I was thinking it would be nice to have a child who resembles us.”

“A child?”

“Yes. Even when I met Kate earlier, I couldn’t take my eyes off the baby for a long time. So it suddenly came to mind.”

Having revealed everything without hiding, Chloe observed Andert’s expression.

He remained silent for a moment at the unexpected words. He had never seriously wanted children.

Of course, before divorcing Chloe, he had considered the practical stability that would come if they had a child. Looking back, it was an extremely common concept of an heir. It was in line with the common practice of designating someone to inherit everything early on and solidifying the family fortune.