Roman quietly left the study after finishing his tasks. Only then did Andert loosen his tie. Perhaps due to the air that had heated up greatly during the day, one corner of his chest felt stuffy.

He picked up the invitation Roman had left.

Count Declen was currently the most powerful figure in parliament. Moreover, he had built a friendship with the Count’s son Raymond since their days at a private school.

Of course, starting an exchange with Raymond was purely out of necessity. The same would have been true for the other party.

But Raymond was a friend who communicated well. With his accurate judgment and quick wit, he was also someone who didn’t greatly disturb others.

And now is the time when I need Count Declen’s cooperation.

After organizing his thoughts, Andert’s gaze turned to the window where the curtains fluttered. A thin eyebrow’s worth of sunset was precariously caught beneath the pointed spire.

It was a few days ago that he accepted the king’s proposal.

‘We will discontinue the regular loans issued to Daloa annually.’

There was no particular reason for him to step in. It was something with no guaranteed benefits.

But the fact that he could grip the Daloan royal family’s throat… That very fact moved Andert. At the same time, Fabiana’s distorted face scattered like an afterimage.

「To Duke Dietrich.」

Emotionless eyes carelessly confirmed the type on the card. It was the position he had wanted so desperately. But now that he had it, no particular emotion stirred.

Was it because of his innate personality?

Andert loosened his cuff buttons while keeping his gaze fixed on the window. The sky, gradually turning grey, resembled his most disliked color. An ambiguous, unclear shade.

He preferred everything to be clear and precise.

Regardless of aesthetic sense, his favorite colors were high-saturation primary colors. Or black that could cover everything. Or vivid green was also to his taste. Perhaps like someone’s eyes that matched the verdant green.

At the end of his reverie, Chloe appeared again.

His last memory of her in Bergen remained vivid. With the divorce news followed by the succession announcement being discussed daily in the newspapers, Chloe’s surroundings must be noisy.

Just as he stepped back from the window where he had been looking out for a while, the butler’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Your Grace, I have something to deliver to you.”

Roman, who entered the study, was holding something. The butler diligently picked up the scattered tie and jacket from the sofa even as he walked forward. With clothes gathered in one arm, Roman properly handed over a booklet.

“This is the publication you mentioned before, Your Grace. It’s the May issue bulletin from the Bergen Artists Association.”

Artists Association bulletin?

Standing with his back to the now-darkened window, Andert only lowered his gaze to the other’s fingertips. Bergen. It was a place name connected to Chloe, who had been at the end of his thoughts until just now.

“Since there were no further instructions afterward, I went ahead and procured it. If there are any changes you’d like, please let me know.”

Ah…… Only then could he understand why Roman had brought the booklet. The faithful butler apparently hadn’t missed the casual words his master dropped.

Andert had first confirmed certain facts right after learning of Chloe’s whereabouts.

“Roman, is the bulletin from the Bergen Artists Association available in our library here?”

“It’s an unfamiliar name to my knowledge. I’ll check again.”

He wanted to know exactly what kind of publication Chloe was in charge of.

The publication did exist in Dietrich’s library, which housed many books. Though they were only outdated volumes from years ago.

“Make sure to procure the recent issues from that association, Roman.”

He had clearly given such instructions. Roman was inherently steadfast. Once he received an order, he would simply follow it until told otherwise.

After dismissing the butler, Andert turned back to the window. Under the pitch-black darkness, lights and gas lamps were twinkling as they fought against the night.

He opened the booklet while leaning against the window frame. Rustle, the first page revealed a landscape painting depicting mountains dyed in various colors. Having no interest in art magazines, he skipped past the painting and turned to the next page.

He was curious about Chloe’s work. According to what Daniel had conveyed, Chloe was in charge of editing and proofreading this bulletin.

But what exactly was he trying to confirm by holding this?

Andert let out a small laugh at the absurdity that suddenly struck him. Even as times changed rapidly, the range of work available to noble women without special experience remained narrow. The most commonly accepted position was that of a respectable governess.

Even he thought that would have been a much easier job for Chloe to start with.

But she chose work that required building a foundation from scratch in an unfamiliar place. Moreover……. His hand, which had been quickly turning pages while lost in other thoughts, stopped at a certain point.

It was right above a familiar name.

「Sitting Face to Face with Sculptor and Painter Tickelon K. —Feature Article: Chloe」

Unless there was someone of the same name at the association, this was the Chloe he knew.

Didn’t she say she was doing editing work?

Encountering facts he hadn’t known before, Andert first examined the sculpture that filled one side of the page. It was a marble sculpture that seemed about the size of an actual adult male. Gold coins and jewels were pouring down over the standing man’s body.

「The artist that Artion is going wild about.

Work title ‘Greed’, Production period of one year.」

「The vividness of gold coins and jewels seemingly pouring down over the marble statue catches the eye. The map of Artion spread at the man’s feet implies multiple meanings.

……A work exists only in one person’s memory when it belongs to that person alone. Until yesterday, this sculpture existed only in Tickelon’s memory. Now shared through these pages, the work will also exist in readers’ memories.

The writer introduces this as the ‘enjoyment of art.’ This is precisely why we must share artworks that penetrate through time.」

The article concluded after two more pages.

Andert read through the densely packed small print in one breath. Any subject without high investment value was outside his interest.

Moreover, he had no interest in a reporter’s subjective interpretation focusing on a single work. That is, if the writer hadn’t been Chloe.

“The enjoyment of art……”

Andert, repeating words that must have flowed from Chloe’s pen, turned his gaze. His reflection, unable to put down the booklet, was visible in the window glass.

Was he now cheering on his ex-wife?

Pfft, a bitter laugh escaped like air deflating. But it was only after much more time had passed that he finally set down the thin publication.

***

It had been several weeks since Aaron Hussler, who had been busy traveling between Oslo and the capital, visited the office.

Chloe handed him the documents she had prepared as he had just entered. It was noon, when harsh sunlight cast long shadows through the open window.

“Here’s the list of paintings available for submission to the Hussler Cultural Foundation’s second-half exhibition.”

“Thanks. It’ll take about two weeks for the staff review to get back to you.”

“I’ll let Kate know that.”

Chloe answered while making a brief note. It was certainly awkward for Aaron to handle such matters personally. Though he himself showed no sign of discomfort.

After neatly gathering the documents, he moved familiarly to the sofa.

“I’m planning to stay in Bergen for a while this time. While I’m at it, I’m thinking of visiting Tickelon’s studio a few more times. What do you think, Chloe? Is there a possibility? If we exhibit Tickelon’s paintings and sculptures together. I think that alone could become a work of art.”

Aaron, who had set his bag down on the reception table, asked casually. Chloe, who had been watching his movements, answered after a brief pause.

“If you’re talking about the exhibition we discussed before. Well. Artist Tickelon tends to really hate appearing in front of people. Besides, he seemed to consider exhibitions troublesome.”

Aaron was also an important guest who had exchanges with the association. Chloe answered sincerely within what she knew. He seemed to be thinking about something before showing a slight smile.

“I’ve been focused on planning the Oslo exhibition, and then stayed in the capital for about a week recently.”

“Oh, really?”

Aaron first shared his recent activities. Chloe nodded and smoothed down her slightly rolled-up sleeve. That’s when an envelope entered her field of vision.

“I met Countess Declen at the Royal Exhibition Hall.”

Countess Declen? Chloe’s eyes trembled slightly at the mention of someone who had been close to her mother.

“The Countess knew I’ve been frequenting Bergen. She also knows about the relationship between the Bergen Artists Association and the Hussler Cultural Foundation. When the Countess saw the name Chloe in this feature article, she seemed to guess it might be you.”

“……”