I’ve Decided Not to Love You - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

But Count Hussler, with his strong business instinct, didn’t easily back down. After all, Duke Dietrich was the person everyone gathered here most wanted to converse with.

“Please let me know anytime if you become curious about any works later. The Hussler Cultural Foundation closely collaborates with the Bergen Artists Association. Isn’t Bergen precisely the city where most of Artion’s artists are concentrated?”

Facing Count Hussler who smiled with a good-natured face, Andert responded with just a bow. He knew the value of the Hussler name in the art world. It was said that going through Count Hussler was faster than auctions if one wanted artwork.

But Andert had no need for such kindness. Moreover, the slick face of someone who had stood beside Chloe irritated his mood.

The Count, reading the Duke’s clear intention to refuse, subtly withdrew. At least he wasn’t completely lacking in perception.

Andert had been constantly surrounded by people since entering the hall. Taking advantage of a brief moment of respite, he moistened his throat with a glass taken from a passing servant.

His steps past the large pillars supporting the ceiling led to the balcony where cool wind blew in. He wanted to briefly catch some air, since this was a place he needed to stay until achieving his purpose.

He checked his time and raised his head, trying to shake off Chloe’s afterimage that had surfaced again. Their last moment in Bergen seemed to have coiled tightly in his unconscious.

The pale face that kept appearing began to become clear again during his unguarded moment. At the same time, an unfamiliar shadow approached from behind.

“It’s been a while.”

It was a voice that didn’t hide its sharp mockery. Andert, holding a wine glass still half full, turned toward the sudden intruder.

“You seem to have been living comfortably in Daloa, Patrick.”

Was it about a year ago when they last met? His cousin, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, appeared to have gained weight dramatically. Patrick’s lips twitched at the direct observation.

But Andert’s cold eyes indifferently swept Patrick from head to toe in an instant.

I see the leg that was supposedly broken while horseback riding is fine now.

Today’s attendees were limited to those who held titles or were direct family members soon to inherit them. For Patrick to set foot in such a place…… Fabiana must have certainly pulled some strings. Andert leisurely tilted his glass and turned his gaze away disinterestedly.

To Patrick, it was blatant disregard. To casually turn away while the person he’d just greeted stood before him.

“I’m curious how it feels to have obtained what you so desperately wanted.”

Clearing his throat, Patrick raised one corner of his mouth with all his might. Hoping this sneer would be conveyed to his opponent without dilution.

“You’ll only be able to safely keep that position if you properly suppress stories that others shouldn’t know. But you know too. That there are no eternal secrets.”

It was a sinister threat. His black eyes that resemble Fabiana’s gleamed craftily. Like a hyena waiting for any chance to swallow Dietrich whole.

Everyone around was looking for his weakness. Andert sneered at the tiresome reality. The laugh he hadn’t properly contained escaped between his teeth.

“Patrick, it seems like today might be a good opportunity, right?”

“What?”

Patrick deliberately frowned at his opponent’s consistently relaxed face. Then Andert, just moving his chin, pointed to the hall opposite the balcony.

“I mean an opportunity for you to instantly capture everyone’s attention. How about revealing all those facts here today?”

“……”

Andert smiled as if it truly didn’t matter to him.

Patrick had come to warn his cousin who seemed overconfident after inheriting the title. But what made this bastard so confident?

The heat that would rise to his head when facing an opponent who showed no signs of backing down was the same today. Patrick, momentarily dumbfounded, barely regained his composure.

No matter how excellent one’s abilities were, they couldn’t hide their origins. Half-blooded Dietrich. That was Andert’s greatest weakness. Even as times changed, it remained the most important value in their world.

“That’s a good idea too.”

Patrick didn’t forget to put on airs as if he might turn and leave right now.

But Andert knew. The secret of his birth was deeply connected to Daloa’s royal family. Moreover, his cousin’s spiritual pillar after losing his parents early was his aunt Fabiana.

That Fabiana wouldn’t allow revelations that would certainly lead to her own losses. She might engage in other behind-the-scenes schemes, but certainly not something like this.

Andert, anticipating the almost predetermined course of events, raised his glass.

If she went to the trouble of pulling strings to send Patrick here, she must be thoroughly enraged. There would certainly be loud voices at the ducal residence daily.

“Then, to the future of my cousin of noble blood. Cheers.”

Andert, who offered a greeting with his head slightly tilted, slowly emptied his glass.

Fortunately, Patrick wasn’t stupid enough to miss the contempt overflowing within. Andert turned away, seemingly satisfied as he watched the pudgy face turn thoroughly red.

That damn bastard.

Patrick, who almost let out a curse without realizing it, barely regained his senses. But Andert had already left the balcony. His cousin, immediately surrounded by people upon entering the hall, stood head and shoulders above the crowd.

He silently glared at the blonde hair visible even from afar.

It was maddening that despite holding his biggest weakness, he couldn’t use it freely. But his aunt wouldn’t just sit back and watch this situation either.

There was no such thing as a person without dirt when thoroughly shaken, so he needed to catch even the smallest flaw. Or find another Achilles’ heel of Andert Dietrich.

***

Andert met with Count Declen alone well past midnight.

“Please speak, Father.”

Raymond, who had been sitting across from Andert until just before, rose quickly at the Count’s appearance. Through the gap in the door as Raymond left, faint melodies of lively music seeped in.

The study, filled with large and small frames and layers of ancient books, exuded a thick smell of old paper. Andert surveyed the art pieces that must have been collected with great care.

He had heard that Countess Declen had a hobby of collecting various paintings and books, and her eye for art seemed to match that level. His gaze, passing by the frames lined in a row, was drawn to stop at a landscape painting depicting a lakeside covered in snow.

The brief silence that had continued ended right after the Count settled in his seat.

“Does Duke Dietrich enjoy hunting as well? I often go hunting with my son.”

Count Declen first brought up the most ordinary topic. He maintained a seasoned attitude as if uninterested in the reason for requesting this meeting. However, the eyes of a man who had walked a tightrope in central politics were carefully examining the man in front of him.

Andert, who had noticed that gaze long ago, didn’t want to waste unnecessary time. To pass His Majesty Johannes’s sole proposal through parliament, Count Declen’s support was needed.

“His Majesty wishes to present an agenda at the autumn parliament. I would like to discuss this matter with you, Count.”

Andert clearly stated his introduction. Though he was certainly the one who came to make the proposal, his face showed no trace of tension as he faced the Count.

It was a meeting with clear intentions from the start. Now it was time to be faithful to that purpose.

***

Chloe loved summer.

When the season came for days to grow longer, it felt as if the world revealed its true colors. Under the sun that had lost some of its intensity after midday, Chloe walked slowly. There was still time until her appointment with Tickelon.

The neighborhood where artists lived consisted of similar-looking detached houses. Tickelon’s house was no exception. The ivy-covered wall stretched long along the alley.

Her footsteps, now familiar with this path, suddenly stopped. Hydrangeas were in full bloom beneath the straight-running wall. The flower clusters, blooming in subtly different colors, were luxuriantly spread out.

They hadn’t been blooming when she came before.

It seemed the summer flowers had found their season in that week’s time. The dress shoes that had stopped slowly began walking again. Chloe basically loved all flowers. That’s why moments like these, when flower buds reached full bloom, were all the more precious.

Of course, there were other things she liked as well. Such as fragrant lemon tea and the feeling of turning the pages of a crisp new book for the first time. Most were small things.

As she counted them in order, Chloe thought of one person she had loved more than all these things combined. Having lost someone she had loved for so long, that sense of loss was natural. Moreover, Andert, who had left her, had soared even higher as if to show off.