While a startled Chloe held her breath, the leisurely conversation continued.

“Shall we head out now? I already have my eye on a certain Miss.”

“Russell, who are you talking about now?”

“I don’t know her name yet. She’s a face I’ve never seen before?”

“You, who practically lives at parties, is seeing a lady for the first time? I find that fact more surprising.”

“Cut the nonsense. Ah, she seemed to be acquainted with Raymond’s mother, Countess Declen. Should I go check? If you see an unfamiliar beauty with a sky-blue dress, light brown hair, and green eyes, let me know. And Andert, please come out much later. Once you appear, the game’s over.”

With those words, the owner of the loudest voice left the balcony with someone.

Only after the surroundings quieted did Chloe push the book she was holding back into the bookshelf. At the same time, a man asked someone,

“Andert, aren’t you coming out?”

Though it wasn’t her intention, the situation where she’s secretly overhearing conversations didn’t seem likely to end easily. But it would be disappointing to leave now. After all, she had been waiting for this day for almost a month.

Just as she was pulling out another thick hardcover book, a quiet voice that hadn’t been heard until now came through,

“Go ahead. I only came to show my face anyway.”

Chloe momentarily froze at the first man’s response. Though she knew it couldn’t be, the voice was low and clear as if it was speaking right next to her ear.

The man whose name had been repeatedly mentioned in the previous conversation had apparently been silent all along. Suddenly, she became curious about what kind of face a man with such a voice would have.

“I think there are many more ladies waiting for you than for me? Mother, as the party’s host, would welcome you more, Dietrich.”

“I’m not interested. By the way, Raymond, about that company Count Declen invested in last time.”

“Actually, Father has been in a very good mood lately. I heard they made several times the investment by selling the factory site?”

The man who broke his silence completely changed the topic of conversation in an instant.

Only then did Chloe realize exactly who that name belonged to. Andert Dietrich.

Though she wasn’t one to frequent the capital’s social circles, she knew of House Dietrich. The Duke of Dietrich’s influence was well-known even to those unfamiliar with social news.

Andert was the Duke’s only son. Unless it was a very special case, he was also a name that would have no particular connection with someone like her.

Swish, Chloe pushed the book she was holding back and stepped backward. It didn’t seem like the other party would leave first.

Though it was disappointing to leave the library like this, listening to conversations while holding her breath made her more uncomfortable. Chloe quietly closed the door and went to look for her mother who would be somewhere in the hall.

She hadn’t expected it then. That just an hour later, she would fall in love at first sight with Andert when he appeared in the party hall.

His face matched perfectly with the voice that had been so clear it seemed to engrave each word in her ear. Compared to others dressed in their finest, the man’s attire had nothing special about it.

The black suit and bowtie of the same color was a combination that could easily look plain. But his distinct features visible even from afar and his tall stature supported by his build offset all of that. His bright blonde hair and deep blue eyes were the greatest jewels on the man who stood tall.

As soon as Andert appeared, many people instantly flocked around him.

Chloe watched him from a distance away. Strangely, she couldn’t take her eyes off the man she had just met today.

“As expected of House Dietrich’s only son. People follow him wherever he goes. With such excellent appearance and family background, good marriage prospects must be lining up.”

“I’ve been trying to make connections with the Duchess of Dietrich. But it’s not easy at all. Perhaps because the Duchess is from Daloa’s royal family, she’s known for being quite unapproachable.”

“Don’t even mention it. Her pride reaches the heavens. Even today, the Duchess didn’t make an appearance. By the way, House Dietrich’s son looks more and more like his father as he grows.”

The whispers of ladies hiding their mouths behind fans could be heard constantly.

Standing in place for a long while, Chloe didn’t know why her mouth kept going dry and her eyes kept blinking. Nor that this would be the beginning of a long unrequited love.

Lost in thoughts of the past while holding the curtain, she soon closed the window.

Then she put on a dress she had washed in advance and tied her hair up loosely. It didn’t take long. After just checking the mirror and gathering simple belongings, she left the residence immediately.

The sun-drenched street was quiet, and there weren’t many carriages passing on the main road that hadn’t yet reached 8 AM. Looking up at the sky without a single small cloud, Chloe walked slowly. As the office drew closer, she reached the spot where she had conversed with Andert yesterday.

He must have returned to the capital.

Chloe assumed so. Her condition wasn’t very good after tossing and turning all night. But focusing on work was better than worrying about various thoughts. She cut off the chain of thoughts and sat at her desk.

Click-clack. The typewriter sound echoing through the office continued without pause. Chloe deliberately immersed herself in repetitive typing work all morning.

Only after finishing work that had a week left until the deadline did she check the time. Having skipped breakfast, she felt she should at least eat lunch.

Just as she was leaving the office to buy some light snacks,

“Chloe.”

Aaron, who had just entered the building entrance, raised one hand lightly.

Come to think of it, he mentioned he would visit Bergen around the weekend. Chloe responded to his greeting with a faint smile.

“Were you heading out?”

“Just going to pop out front for a bit. Did you just arrive?”

“Yes. I was in the capital for a few days preparing for an exhibition.”

Aaron quietly looked at her face with slightly lowered eyes.

Would she step back if he took one step closer? Considering this, he decided to wait sufficiently. He didn’t want to carelessly approach and give her unnecessary pressure.

“Then, I’ll just accompany you until you return to the office. I have to go back as I have work to handle too.”

Instead, he set foot at a level that would be awkward for her to refuse.

Fortunately, Chloe didn’t push away that proposal. While walking, he tried not to stare too intently at her slender face that kept catching his eye.

During his stay in the capital, various rumors reached Aaron’s ears. Moreover, friends he hadn’t seen in a long time shared various stories. Among them, one thing stuck in his ear.

It was about House Dietrich.

“About Andert. There are widespread rumors that he’s separating?”

“Why? Did something happen? I heard Chloe was staying out of sight in Hanover.”

“Now they say the biggest interest is who will be Dietrich’s next marriage partner. What’s so great about being beside that boring Andert.”

The men’s stories were no less informative than the ladies’. The conversation continued without pause.

“Then, will Chloe remarry too?”

“She’s really pretty, exactly my type.”

“Russell, you just like any woman.”

“You crazy bastard, I have eyes too. But it’ll probably be hard to find a match capable of handling House Hardin, right?”

Though rumors are often mixed with exaggeration, the general flow wasn’t different from Aaron’s expectations. That was as far as he would quietly listen to the stories. He didn’t want to put up with frivolous talk about Chloe.

Aaron naturally wedged into the flow of conversation.

“Russell, how’s that violin you won at the last auction?”

“Ah, that? Since I bought it for collection anyway, I just kept it well preserved.”

Once the ice was broken, the topic quickly changed to other subjects. After sharing a few more drinks, Aaron left his seat without lingering. Then he came straight here by train.

Originally, he did visit Bergen for work with the Artists Association, but there was no reason to visit this frequently. Moreover, he visited the villa only a few times a year, countable on one hand.

So meeting Chloe like that was purely due to good luck. That day when he unexpectedly encountered her here was still vivid.

Why was Chloe, who should have been in the capital, right before his eyes?

That was where it began. From the moment he met Chloe again, whom he couldn’t even confess his feelings to, his gaze was constantly fixed in one direction.

It was in his nature not to care what others said anyway. If he worried about others’ gazes in the first place, he wouldn’t have dropped out of Royal University. Aaron simply wanted to be at the starting line together if Chloe was making a new beginning, regardless of anything else.

Just like now.

“How’s the column writing going? Is it going well?”

“I’m still… just at the draft stage.”

Aaron nodded at her somewhat awkward response. Whatever it was, he supported Chloe’s challenge.

And she was more than qualified for it. Chloe withering away inside the Dietrich mansion for 5 years? To Aaron, that time itself had been unreasonable from the start.

***