It’s okay. There will be another chance.

It was when Chloe was trying hard to comfort herself that a voice came from behind.

“The feature article for the May issue can go straight to printing without any further changes.”

“…Printing?”

Chloe, who was about to leave the room to dispose of the remaining tea, asked softly. Printing… it only meant one thing. But Kate smiled at the face that still couldn’t grasp the reality.

“The regular publication. We need to publish and distribute it throughout Artion. Of course, along with Chloe’s first article.”

“……!”

It was a definitive answer that suppressed all the anxiety she had until now. Chloe unknowingly gripped the cold doorknob. Kate, who had already finished preparing to go out, came closer. The hand that lightly patted her friend’s shoulder was filled with encouragement as if to say, what were you worried about?

“I told you it would turn out well.”

As she said, Kate wasn’t worried at all after checking the final manuscript. It wasn’t because of her friendship with Chloe or any other reason.

The result was as expected. None of those gathered in the conference room gave a poor evaluation of the manuscript. Rather, some even went so far as to reconfirm Chloe’s background with Kate.

“Does she perhaps have work experience elsewhere?”

“Is it really true that Miss Chloe’s highest education is from a private school in Hanover?”

It was natural. Chloe was a friend who had entered the Royal University, where the cream of the crop gathered, on a full scholarship. And her major was art history.

But unfortunately, she hadn’t graduated, so Kate kept her mouth shut about people’s curiosity. Chloe, still looking dazed, seemed inwardly anxious.

“I have an external appointment, so I’ll be back. I have to meet a new artist too, so I’ll be late.”

She wanted to chat a bit more, but she had three appointments scheduled. Even after Kate hurriedly left the office, Chloe remained standing in place.

It might seem like nothing to someone else. But it was truly gratifying to be recognized for something after several years. Yet, the fact that Andert came to mind at that moment…

Chloe shook her head vigorously to shake off the thought. It was an old habit of hers to think of him first in any situation. Things that now needed to be completely discarded.

Chloe, who had squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, immediately left the room. First, the things that needed to be done.

The priority of small tasks was clear. First, wash this glass clean, then finish the typing work she had received. Chloe’s shadow stretched long behind her lightly stepping feet.

***

After returning to the capital, Andert was literally buried in work. He always seemed like a workaholic, but Daniel, who followed him, was on the verge of staggering from overwork.

Moreover, he had to visit Bergen soon. So the tasks that needed to be handled to clear those few days piled up again. At least tonight, Andert had a personal appointment.

Daniel said goodbye in front of the palace where red curtains fluttered.

“Then, have a good trip.”

Although he was going to have an audience with the king, Andert looked indifferent. The man who briefly said he’s going back first immediately turned around.

It was two days ago that a servant from the palace came to the Dietrich mansion.

The invitation he received with Johannes’ personal signature was a proposal for a private meeting. It was the second time the young king, who had pushed aside the former king Philip and taken the throne, had called him separately.

“Welcome. I will guide you to His Highness.”

The servant who had been waiting for the distinguished guest bowed politely. To reach the office where Johannes was said to be, one had to pass through a long corridor and through layers of closed doors.

Following behind, Andert pressed down on his stiff eyes. He had been pushing himself without giving a chance for his condition to recover.

The day was setting outside the window. It was evening again. Andert’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Another day had passed like this. That meant the day he’d meet Chloe was approaching.

Chloe. The familiar name slid down onto the marble floor where his footsteps continued. Just then, the servant who had reached the last door announced.

“Your Highness, Andert of the Dietrich ducal family has arrived.”

The space that could only be entered after passing through five doors had its curtains drawn. Perhaps because all the windows were blocked with thick curtains, the air pressing down on the room was stuffy.

Johannes was sitting on the sofa as before. The only difference from last time was the bottle and glasses on the table. Andert, who confirmed the two glasses, stopped in front of the seat of honor.

“Andert Dietrich greets Your Highness.”

“Sit.”

Johannes offered, holding up a swirling glass. Andert wasn’t one to enjoy alcohol. He didn’t smoke, but there were often times when alcohol was necessary.

Just like now.

In front of the king who offered alcohol with all formal etiquette thrown aside, he silently took a sip. The strong liquor that seemed to burn his throat slowly began to descend along his esophagus.

It was troublesome to show the disgrace of getting drunk before the other party in any situation. Anderett’s alcohol tolerance was a result of training himself never to cross the line, no matter who he was with.

He probably wouldn’t get completely drunk even if he drank quite a bit, but to offer alcohol right off the bat… It seemed unlikely that today’s appointment would end quickly.

“I heard there was a fire recently at the transportation company where you are the largest investor.”

“Yes. But we are proceeding with restoration at a rapid pace. There will be no hindrance to the new trade business that the palace is promoting.”

“Hmm, I suppose so. It was you who bought large-scale emergency bonds issued by the company right after the fire. The Dietrich family wouldn’t step into anything that would incur losses.”

Johannes clinked glasses again as if he wasn’t too worried. The amber liquid that sloshed was emptied and refilled repeatedly.

Andert faced the king calmly. He intended to wait until the other party revealed the real reason he wanted to meet today.

Clatter, the ice in the glass slowly collapsed. Although he wasn’t weak to alcohol, it wasn’t common to pour strong liquor at such a fast pace. Meanwhile, new alcohol was being filled into the glass.

“I hear your fencing skills are top-notch. Are they still as good as the rumors say?”

The questions didn’t have any particular subject. It was equally difficult to predict what kind of questions he would asked. Andert emptied his glass again and answered dryly.

“I haven’t been practicing as often as I did since graduating from the military academy.”

Johannes scratched his chin in understanding and shifted in his seat. Suddenly, this whole process became suffocatingly frustrating.

Eyes that were cold, though not disrespectful for facing a king, looked at the bottle of alcohol. Finally, after pouring more than a bottle of strong liquor into an empty stomach, the king revealed his intentions.

“There’s an agenda I want to propose independently at the autumn parliament. I hope you will lend your strength to that intention.”

So this was it.

Andert swept away the alcoholic sensation covering his mouth with his tongue. Since it was a meeting with a clear purpose anyway, he needed to confirm exactly what it was.

“Would Your Highness please tell me the agenda you wish to propose?”

Perhaps due to the strong liquor spreading throughout his body, his voice became even lower. Johannes, who had been rolling the glass in his hand, answered as if he had been waiting.

“I, Johannes, will discontinue the loan that was being paid to Daloa in the name of an allied nation.”

The king who finished speaking laughed silently. Although he had ascended to the throne, pursuing this agenda was highly risky in a state without political foundation.

Historically, Artion and Daloa were intricately intertwined through royal and noble marriages. Daloa was the one that maintained a relationship as an allied nation with Artion, which occupied the largest land mass on the continent.

However, in the past 10 years, Daloa’s political situation began to show signs of instability. Not only that, but the Daloan royal palace was experiencing repeated financial difficulties.

So Artion had been issuing substantial loans to the Daloan royal palace almost every year. Of course, there were profits that Artion reaped in return.

But it seems the new king wants to set up a different game now.

Of course, the decisiveness of the man who put on the crown with his own hands was admirable. This was clearly more to his taste than a mere shell with only a grand appearance. But once on the throne, there was no guarantee how he might change.

Andert silently took another drink. It was a proposal that wouldn’t cause him any loss. He probably wouldn’t have any particular practical gain either. But if you joined hands with the one sitting on the throne, you had to share that fate.

I wonder if you’re worth it.

His blue eyes slowly scanned Johannes, measuring that value.

***