“April’s closing has all been completed. There are seven pieces total to be exhibited at next month’s exhibition in Oslo.”

“The three new artists who came to Bergen this month have all completed their registration with the association.”

“The publication deadline work is also complete. Regular distribution will begin as planned from May 1st.”

It was literally a meeting to close out the month’s work and share materials. As the hour-long meeting ended, people began flowing out like the tide.

But Chloe remained seated.

“Shall we finish our meeting quickly too?”

“Oh right, yes.”

At Kate’s voice, Quincy, who had been chatting with another employee, hurriedly sat down. He seemed to have forgotten about the team meeting scheduled after the previous one.

“Since we’ve already covered all the important points, shall we just confirm next month’s main tasks?”

“Yes. I think I’ll need to focus on next month’s exhibition. I’ll make sure the pieces are exhibited without any issues.”

Quincy was the first to answer Kate’s question. As the person mainly in charge of artwork management and exhibitions, his busiest period was during the season when major exhibitions were concentrated.

“I have an author’s work scheduled for publication in May. After that work is finished in the latter half, I plan to start drafting work on the newly planned publication.”

“Yes, Gemma, it would be good to check the publishing workspace thoroughly. We need to check the machines too so we don’t have another printing accident like last time.”

“Of course. All the old machines have been replaced since the accident.”

“Good. Then, Chloe, are there any special matters for next month?”

Chloe was last in order. Though she was casual when alone with Kate, she maintained appropriate boundaries in front of others.

“Since there’s a new publication coming out next month, I plan to focus on that work. Other tasks will proceed according to the usual schedule.”

“How about having Chloe plan one of the publication’s themes starting in May?”

“……”

Kate, tapping her pen tip, made an unexpected suggestion.

It was an unexpected statement. Caught off guard, Chloe remained silent for a moment. Rather than just proofreading or typing others’ manuscripts, planning a theme herself…

That meant directly planning a topic and writing a 3-4 page manuscript herself. It didn’t matter whether the topic explained a part of art history or discussed a specific artist’s work.

Her heart rate, which had quickly accelerated with anticipation, instantly rose to her ears. But before she could answer that she would work hard, Gemma’s voice came first.

“This is work that requires a solid understanding of artwork. Don’t you think so, Quincy?”

In other words, it meant such work would be too much for Chloe. Quincy, whose name was suddenly called, looked bewildered.

“Haha, well, we won’t know until we give her a chance, right?”

“Quincy, that’s not what I meant…”

Gemma seemed about to express her opinion to her colleague who wouldn’t readily agree. But Kate smoothly intervened.

“Didn’t Gemma write her own column in her third month of starting work?”

“Ah… yes, of course.”

“Quincy had the same opportunity too. Though he ran off to fieldwork saying office work absolutely didn’t suit him.”

“Ahem, working in the field is my true calling.”

Quincy tried to lighten the awkwardly frozen atmosphere with a joke. Chloe silently observed the situation. Kate, putting down her pen, spoke again.

“This is a fair opportunity given to everyone who starts work at the association. And even if Chloe takes on writing a column, there’s still the internal evaluation stage. Whether the manuscript gets filtered out or passes at that stage, everyone receives fair evaluation.”

“…Well, that’s true. It’ll be hard to meet the evaluation criteria, but give it your best shot.”

Unable to raise further objections, Gemma offered a reluctant agreement. Her tone implied certainty that Chloe’s manuscript wouldn’t pass their internal standards.

But Chloe didn’t mind that. Having the opportunity to try more work — that was most important. Contrary to Gemma’s intention, she answered calmly without appearing discouraged or intimidated.

“Yes. I’ll prepare diligently.”

“Good. Let’s end our meeting here.”

Kate, gathering her notebook, stood up as if there was nothing more to say. Naturally, she wasn’t worried. If anything, she was looking forward to it.

She thought her friend could definitely succeed. When Chloe from their school days said she would ‘work hard,’ it meant she would give it her absolute all.

***

That evening, Chloe entered a dead-end street lined with luxury houses. In her hand, checking the address hung on one side of a white marble wall, was a small gift.

“Welcome. I was just wondering if you might be running late.”

Entering the house with her friend’s welcome, Chloe first handed over the beautifully wrapped box.

“Just a small gift. Happy birthday, Kate.”

Today was a dinner party she was invited to for Kate’s birthday. It was also Chloe’s first visit to someone else’s home since coming to Bergen.

And there was another guest who had already arrived.

“Hello, Chloe.”

The greeting came from Aaron, who had just set down his glass.

Rather than a resident of Bergen, he was more of a frequent visitor. But Chloe felt like she was running into Aaron more often than expected. Of course, thanks to that, the awkwardness she felt when they first reunited had largely subsided.

“Please sit. Now that Chloe’s here, shall we start dinner? I’ve actually been really hungry since earlier.”

“Is that why you already ate half of that cake?”

“Aaron, that was just a little appetizer.”

As light jokes were exchanged, Chloe faced a properly set dining table after a long time.

The dishes, clearly prepared by a skilled chef, were all excellent. The appetizer garnished with herbs that seemed freshly picked from the garden was fresh, and the flavorful braised beef was tender.

Chloe slowly chewed and swallowed the lamb stew with thick melting cheese. Kate smoothly extended a wine glass toward her.

“Congratulations, Chloe.”

“…Me?”

“Because it’s the day you got a new job. We must celebrate all meaningful days.”

Chloe, who asked in confusion, recalled the fact she had momentarily forgotten at the following answer. In truth, her excitement still remained.

Though it might seem insignificant to others, it held special meaning for her. Before leaving the capital, her self-esteem had hit rock bottom. But now, through her own efforts, she could do new things one by one.

Though there was still a long way to go, today she felt like she could do anything.

“What’s up? Good news should be celebrated together.”

Aaron, who was sitting beside her, casually joined in. Unlike the shy Chloe, Kate briefly shared the plain facts.

“Chloe is taking on a new challenge. She’s going to start planning a column.”

But Aaron was the one who practically managed the Hussler Cultural Foundation. Such a person wouldn’t find much significance in planning a column for the association’s publication.

Moreover, to be published, it had to pass internal evaluation… It might not even pass at all.

But Aaron raised his glass as if to say not to worry about anything.

“Congratulations, Chloe. Whatever it may be.”

Whatever it may be. Those words resonated deeply with Chloe.

Though it was a late start compared to others, whatever it may be. Though the result was uncertain, whatever it may be. At least being able to do something was far better than not being able to do anything at all.

“Thank you.”

Chloe clinked glasses with a slightly husky voice. The wine in the glasses swayed like small waves against the transparent glass walls.

In the past, she wanted recognition from Andert more than anyone else. Of course, she would never receive the recognition she so desperately wanted from that one person now. And surely all of this would seem very trivial to him.

Well, nothing she ever did had satisfied her husband even once. Shaking off the man’s unbidden memories, Chloe raised her glass first.

“Let’s toast to Kate. Happy birthday again.”

The dinner with clinking glasses and comfortable conversation continued for over two hours. The topics of conversation wandered back to their school days.

When Kate left her seat, silence fell over the table. Chloe, who had mostly been listening to the two others talk, pondered what to say. A voice tinged with amusement came just as the continuing silence was becoming awkward.

“Chloe, there’s one thing you’re remembering wrong.”

“Me?”

“Yes. About a year ago, I saw you.”

“……”

Chloe, who had been puzzled, belatedly realized what he meant.

“It’s been almost 4 years since I saw you last, Aaron.”

In their previous conversation, Chloe had answered like that. Surely they hadn’t met since Aaron left school early. Until they reunited in Bergen.

But he saw her a year ago? Then in the capital?

However, she had no memory of meeting Aaron. He smiled slightly and answered.

“I saw you at Count Schmidt’s mansion. I think it was during Count Schmidt’s birthday.”

“Ah…”

Chloe, who hadn’t attended many parties, remembered exactly when that was. But she didn’t know Aaron was there.

Surely it couldn’t be, but did they exchange greetings and she just didn’t remember? She was biting her lip at the suddenly occurring possibility.

“Don’t worry. We never even exchanged greetings. I just showed my face briefly and left early.”