Two days passed like that. The Dietrich household greeted another morning no different from usual.

Andert left the mansion early to attend to his scheduled appointments starting in the morning. Though it was expected, Chloe forcefully suppressed the empty corner of her heart.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

The one who crossed the threshold with a knock was Butler Roman. He maintained the same attitude as usual, seemingly not having received any particular word from Andert.

Of course, this was what Chloe had hoped for. As she put down her teacup, a calm voice was delivered across the table.

“I need to go to Hanover. I’m planning to leave today. There’s nothing special needed, so no need for separate preparations.”

“Hanover, you say?”

“Yes.”

The butler who had been bowing properly rechecked the place name. Though puzzled by the sudden announcement, he soon seemed to realize the purpose of the trip.

Hanover was the small city where Viscount Hardin lived. Moreover, around this time last year, Chloe’s mother had passed away, so it was soon to be the first anniversary of Viscountess Hardin’s death.

The butler, immediately understanding the Duchess Dietrich’s wish to attend her mother’s death anniversary, clasped his hands together.

“Yes. I’ll send a servant to the train station now to get tickets. I’ll also tell Bellisa to make preparations.”

The butler answered smoothly. Even before her mother passed away, Chloe used to visit Hanover about once a year.

Moreover, Andert was originally not the type to interfere with his wife’s outings. But Roman, who was about to hurry out after finishing his words, had to stop.

“No. I plan to go alone this time. Just see me off to the station, and please relay that to Bellisa as well.”

“That cannot be. It would be more convenient in many ways to have at least one servant and one maid accompany you.”

Roman politely discouraged Duchess Dietrich’s proposal.

While Chloe wouldn’t have objected at other times, this time was different. Having already made up her mind, she lightly shook her head.

“No. Due to the unfortunate incident at the Hardin household last year, I’d like to go alone this time. Moreover, this is mother’s first death anniversary. I’d like to spend it quietly.”

“……”

At Chloe’s gentle voice, Roman’s wrinkled lips pressed firmly together. He could guess what the unfortunate incident from last year referred to. It was when Viscount Hardin, drunk, had caused trouble with a Dietrich household servant.

At the time, Duchess Dietrich had rushed to Hanover after receiving word that her mother was critically ill. Of course, two servants and a maid from the Duke’s household had accompanied her then.

Even in a situation where his wife was critically ill, Viscount Hardin kept drinking, though this wasn’t particularly new. Lamenting his circumstances, he often lived a life drowning himself in alcohol.

The problem arose when the intoxicated Viscount’s venting took an unexpected turn. The commotion that started with him grabbing one of the servants who had accompanied Chloe eventually led to physical violence.

Chloe, who had been by her mother’s side, only heard about it after everything had happened.

The servant who had been unfairly beaten didn’t complain in front of Duchess Dietrich who had just lost her mother. However, upon returning to the capital, he wasn’t tight-lipped enough to keep from expressing his grievances.

“Butler, I truly feel wronged. Others can testify that I did nothing wrong. No matter what, I don’t want to accompany anyone to Hanover anymore.”

Afterward, requests from servants not wanting to accompany the Duchess Dietrich to her family home formed a line.

Butler Roman was the one who had faced them all. Remembering what had happened last year, he hesitated to answer. Usually, he wouldn’t have yielded, but it was difficult to refuse her wish to spend the death anniversary quietly.

Above all, wasn’t the Hanover trip familiar to Duchess Dietrich?

Moreover, it was his responsibility to primarily oversee the detailed matters regarding Chloe’s outings and personal affairs.

‘I should report the situation to the master first. If he doesn’t send any particular objections, we can proceed as planned.’

Having organized his thoughts, Roman bowed.

“Yes, I understand what you mean. Then, how about having Bellisa accompany you at least to Hanover station? I’ll tell Bellisa to return to the capital immediately. After that, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to travel alone, Madam.”

That was the maximum compromise Roman could make. He planned to send someone to Andert right away to report the current situation.

Anyway, there were only two trains to Hanover from the capital — early morning and after noon. So there was enough time for the master to give different instructions if needed.

Roman kept these thoughts to himself and waited for permission.

Even Chloe found it difficult to refuse someone being so accommodating. After all, it was true that she’s going to Hanover. Of course, her subsequent travel route would differ from others’ expectations.

Chloe, who had no intention of returning to the Dietrich household after leaving today, nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

“Yes. Please send a telegram the day before you return to the capital. We’ll come to meet you at the train station.”

“Thank you.”

Chloe conveyed her gratitude with multiple meanings.

She didn’t have any particular friendship with Roman. But he was a precise and rational person. The butler who would bow properly though stiffly even to her who had nothing to show for herself remained unchanged.

“It’s only what I should do. I’ll let you know as soon as I get the tickets.”

After finishing his words, Roman immediately left the reception room. Chloe turned her head and gazed out the window for a long while. Memories now faintly faded came to mind unbidden.

The moment she first entered here following the butler. That time, she had been so excited, filled with expectations for a new beginning.

The events from five years ago felt as distant as ancient history. Under the spring sunlight pouring through the window, her bright green eyes wandered endlessly between the well-maintained garden trees and flower beds.

Though she didn’t plan to return, surprisingly she felt no lingering attachment. Perhaps she had been hardened by countless disappointments after hoping alone.

Chloe waited quietly. Until the servant who was sent to get tickets returned.

There wasn’t anything particular to pack anyway. She had nothing of her own in this grand and magnificent mansion.

***

“Then, when you send word of your return, I’ll prepare and come out.”

Bellisa bowed her head in front of the busy Hanover station. She had already neatly loaded the packed luggage into the carriage.

“Go in now. The last train to the capital will leave soon.”

“Yes. I’ll return after seeing you off, Madam.”

Bellisa planned to return after seeing Chloe off, as the butler had instructed beforehand.

“Please go to 210 Tien Street.”

After telling the coachman the address written on paper, Bellisa stepped back.

“Yes, we’re departing.”

Along with the loud response, the horses stopped pawing and began to move.

Watching the gradually distancing carriage, Bellisa suddenly checked the time and turned around. She had to hurry as missing the last train would mean waiting until dawn tomorrow.

In the carriage moving quickly away from the station, Chloe exhaled deeply. Still, Bellisa was the person she had spent the longest time with at the Dietrich household.

She had been by her side continuously since marriage. She probably wouldn’t see her again.

She bid a brief farewell silently like that.

Familiar cityscape scenes quickly passed by the carriage window. After passing through the busiest street in the small city where Chloe had lived since birth, they entered a quiet residential area. Turning her head from absently staring out the window, her chest tightened at the thought of meeting her father soon.

But before making a new start, she had something she absolutely needed to tell her father. Moreover, tomorrow was her mother’s death anniversary. Chloe planned to leave right after paying her respects to her mother tomorrow morning.

“It’s here.”

Thirty minutes later, the coachman unloaded the luggage in front of a small house. Though she hadn’t sent word ahead, they would probably be expecting the visit of their only blood relative before the death anniversary.

Chloe knocked on the door familiarly.

“Oh my! I was worried you might not come.”

The person who opened the door at the sound brightened. It was Maya, the oldest among the few servants in the Hardin household.

“It’s been a year. Have you been well?”

“Oh, nothing much has changed with me. More importantly, come in quickly.”

Maya happily grabbed Chloe’s hand and pulled her in. Then, checking outside the door, she asked curiously.

“Did you come alone?”

“I said I wanted to spend it quietly this time.”

“…Ah. Yes.”

Though the response was delayed by a beat, Maya didn’t probe further. Having experienced last year’s commotion, it didn’t seem like an incomprehensible situation.

Chloe looked around the familiar interior carefully. The house still bearing her mother’s touch was modest but cozy. Probably thanks to Maya’s diligent sweeping and cleaning. She could clearly imagine how devoted Maya must have been all this time.

After taking a breather, Chloe pointed upstairs and asked.

“Is Father upstairs?”

“Ah… He’s in the bedroom. The master went to bed early.”

“Already?”

“Yes. I think it would be better to greet him tomorrow morning.”

Maya’s response showed clear signs of difficulty.

Chloe immediately understood the situation. It wasn’t even 8 o’clock yet. Going to bed this early meant his father was drunk.

“Does he still drink heavily often?”

“……”

Her voice asking about Viscount Hardin’s recent condition was full of resignation. Well, Father couldn’t quit drinking even when Mother desperately begged him to. Now it would be worse if anything, no reason for improvement.

Maya could only fidget with her skirt hem without giving any particular answer. Chloe suppressed her rising anger by tightly closing and opening her eyes.

There was no reason to trouble someone innocent while the person in question was in deep sleep. After patting Maya’s hand, Chloe gently brought up a different topic.

“I’m planning to visit Mother early tomorrow morning. I’ll meet Father after that.”

“Yes, yes. Please do that. You must be so tired from traveling. Please go up quickly. I’ll prepare dinner right away.”

Maya immediately pushed Chloe’s back. Though it was a bustling urging, it was a touch that warmed a corner of her heart. Though she had something she absolutely needed to tell her father, now wasn’t the time.

She wanted to spend just today peacefully and quietly.

***