The woman who had insisted she knew nothing even if she were to die immediately changed her expression upon seeing the amount Andert threw down.

“Th-the mother who finished giving birth that day died right away. There’s a large lake in front of that villa. Under Fabiana’s orders, the mo-mother sank into the water.”

He didn’t have any particular affection for the woman who was said to have met such a death. Although she was his birth mother, they had never met even once. But that day, Andert endlessly gazed at the gently rippling waves.

That was the last time. During his two-year stay in Daloa, he never visited that place again.

“Do you need more time?”

It was the old Duke’s question that broke his reverie.

Andert, who had been standing by the window where light poured in, slowly turned around. The ashtray, where several cigarettes had already been stubbed out, was piled high with black ash. Looking at the messily collapsed cigarette ash, he opened his mouth.

“I won’t decide on this matter here and now.”

His answer was short and clear.

Winston, leaning against the cushion supporting his back, raised his eyes to look at his son. What was revealed beneath the deep wrinkles carved by time was clearly undisguised puzzlement.

“Why is that?”

Why?

Like that question implied, he wanted to completely possess Dietrich, and this was the fastest way to reach that goal. So why?

Fabiana and the villa in Daloa, the deep blue lake, flashed through his mind. Coldly speaking, he should have signed these documents right away.

But the next moment, Chloe came to mind.

The face that said divorce was all she wanted. The voice that said she was leaving because she no longer loved him. The back that turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.

“Surely you haven’t forgotten? That Patrick also has the opportunity to inherit all of this.”

While Andert remained silent, the old Duke played another card. Unlike his withered face, Winston’s eyes were unbelievably sharp.

Ah, Patrick. A dry smile bloomed on Andert’s face, which had been motionless.

The threat he had heard countless times was still sharp. That if he fell even slightly short of expectations, there would be no place for him, let alone a share. It seemed that Patrick, the competitor who had been thrust forward to whip the young son, still had some use.

If the other party was going to play it this way, he didn’t want to follow along docilely either.

Clank, Andert, extending only his arm, flung the window wide open. With the cool air coming through the window, the cigarette smoke that had filled the bedroom began to dissolve little by little.

“I will decide on today’s proposal after careful consideration.”

“What?”

The old Duke seemed to doubt his ears at his son’s announcement as he stood firmly in the room. But Andert didn’t want to end everything here today.

“I don’t think you could have misunderstood my answer, Father.”

“……”

After finishing his words, he calmly checked the time. He still had plenty of time to catch the train back to the capital.

The old Duke said nothing. He seemed to be trying to read his son’s inner thoughts. But Andert knew too.

Winston had called him in while Fabiana was away from the castle. That meant he was wary of his wife regarding this issue. Of course, with the premise of ‘for now’ attached.

At that moment, the old Duke, who had been deep in thought, burst into hearty laughter. The sudden laughter was loud enough to reverberate through the room, not expected from someone with an evident illness.

“Right. This is how you negotiate. Only fools jump at a deal, no matter how certain the profit seems.”

After stopping his laughter, he pointed to the paper placed on the table. The squarely angled corners fluttered momentarily in the wind that squeezed through the window.

Winston Dietrich’s last words, as he pulled out another cigarette, were not long.

“Take the documents with you and call a lawyer. However, my patience won’t be very long either. Make a wise choice.”

***

Chloe’s day was no different from any other day. It took less than 30 minutes from waking up at the set time to washing her face and changing clothes.

But if there was one thing that was different from usual, it was that today was the day that was scheduled for the evaluation of the proposal Chloe had written.

Before being formally published in the regular publication, the association usually went through a self-evaluation stage every month. Chloe had already finished the article centered on Tickelon’s work a few days ago. Although it was after several reviews, she couldn’t suppress the rising tension.

The number of people who entered the conference room didn’t exceed ten in total. As only managers from each department attended, all other team members except Kate were out on field work.

It was when Chloe picked up a document, trying hard to focus on other work that someone poked their head through the door after a small knock.

“Miss Chloe, are you busy?”

“Ah, no. Please come in.”

The visitor was Harper, who worked upstairs. Moreover, she was also a face Chloe occasionally encountered as they lived in neighboring rooms at the dormitory.

But as she had never come to visit separately like this, Chloe carefully stood up from her seat.

“Is everyone else away from their seats? Try this. It has a nice aroma.”

“I’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

The pale pink liquid in the cup Harper handed over rippled. Chloe, receiving the teacup, offered a seat at one of the tables.

Someone coming to visit like this meant they had something to talk about. Although she couldn’t know what the reason was.

“Miss Chloe, the weather is really nice today. Isn’t it?”

“It is. Maybe because it rained yesterday, the sky is clear today.”

“On days like this, we shouldn’t be here, we should be out on a date. Don’t you think?”

“Ah, yes.”

Chloe, engaged in conversation, responded aptly at the mention of a date. She thought that if you were with someone you liked, the weather wouldn’t matter much.

Putting aside such inner thoughts, she raised her head, and Harper asked casually.

“Actually, I saw him. The man who came to see you last weekend. If he came all the way to the dormitory, you must be close, right?”

Chloe held her breath, not knowing that Andert had also stopped by the dormitory. Her hand, which was putting down the teacup, hesitated for a moment, but it was just for an instant. While she was choosing her answer, Harper shook her head as if she already knew.

“That’s how it is between men and women. Well, you fight and then make up as if nothing happened. Don’t worry. I just came to chat about this and that. I have no particular intention.”

“Yes…”

“Honestly, because that man was an unusually handsome one and even dressed splendidly, I was curious about what kind of person he was.”

Harper seemed to be very curious. Chloe smiled faintly and lowered her gaze.

Although they were soon to be divorced, she and Andert were still a married couple. So it was awkward to give any particular answer. Fortunately, just as Harper was about to say something more, the office door opened.

“Hello, Miss Harper.”

At the voice cheerfully calling her name, Harper slightly rose from her seat. Kate Norden treated all her colleagues without reserve. But they all knew that Norden was a strong supporter of the association.

Harper, who had become subtly aware, quickly gathered her cup and asked.

“Is the meeting all over?”

“Yes. Just now.”

“I have field work in the afternoon, so I was about to leave. See you next time.”

Before there was time to stop her, Harper closed the door and disappeared. Kate, who had been about to say a few more words, turned around as if there was nothing she could do.

“Surely you weren’t talking about me behind my back. Why is she in such a hurry?”

Her face showed complete bewilderment. Most of the association’s employees liked Kate but found her intimidating. Chloe slightly shook her head towards her friend who was unaware of this fact.

“I was about to get up anyway because I had something to do.”

In any case, it was fortunate that thanks to Kate, she was able to escape from the awkward questions.

It seemed best to quietly return Harper’s cup when she wasn’t around. Chloe, carrying the heavy glass, suddenly stopped. She remembered something she had forgotten due to her colleague’s sudden appearance and disappearance.

The internal evaluation meeting that had just ended.

Chloe turned around, unable to ask. Kate was neatly stacking the documents she held on the desk.

It didn’t go well, I guess. Chloe assumed, considering the other person said nothing.

Otherwise, there was no reason for Kate not to tell her first. She must be uncomfortable knowing that she’ll be disappointed.

Chloe turned around without pressing further. The teacup she was holding shook with the sudden feeling of dejection. She had visited Tickelon several times to write the article, and now she felt sorry for him too.

But even though the result wasn’t good, she had been able to focus entirely on it while preparing the manuscript. That alone was fortunate. After all, her mind had been in turmoil since Andert came to Bergen.