It’s okay. Don’t be foolish.

She could fill that empty space with many other things she liked. As these brief thoughts continued, she realized she had reached her destination.

But before she could knock, someone suddenly poked their head out from the garden. Chloe, who hadn’t expected anyone to be there, startled and stepped back.

“Miss Chloe, you’ve arrived right on time.”

Tickelon, holding a book in his hand, paid no mind to her reaction. He continued speaking nonchalantly.

“You seem to like hydrangeas.”

“……Yes?”

“People usually gaze at things they like that intently. Because they want to remember that moment for a long time.”

“……”

It was as if he knew exactly how slowly she had walked since entering the alley.

Only then did Chloe realize that the straight path from where he stood in the garden was clearly visible. Plus the fact that she had stopped several times to gaze at the flower clusters for quite a while.

The man who seemed to have no interest in others was surprisingly sharp at unexpected moments. Perhaps that’s why he was called a genius.

“Come in.”

Tickelon, opening the garden gate, showed no consideration for her embarrassment. Or perhaps it was the confidence of someone already being hailed as the artist of the century. Either way, he was the type that ordinary people found difficult to deal with.

Chloe took a seat at the table and handed over the proposal she had brought.

Requests for his paintings or sculptures poured in from all over Artion. That was precisely why she had come here today.

Tickelon checked only the first page of the clearly organized list before closing it.

“Most of the major requests came from the capital. Particularly, the last request is about a sculpture to be erected in front of the Royal Library.”

“Hmm.”

It was a request for a statue commemorating the Royal Library’s 200th anniversary, something some would consider a lifetime honor. He responded indifferently to Chloe’s explanation.

“But you’ll have to stay in the capital throughout this work.”

He didn’t seem too pleased about that fact. Especially given Tickelon’s perfectionist nature, there was no guarantee how long it would take to complete.

“In my opinion, this is an unparalleled opportunity for you. This will be a work with both symbolism and special meaning. The Royal Library statue will remain in its place even hundreds of years later. And countless people will see that sculpture.”

Chloe finished her answer calmly. As an association employee, she needed to convey objective facts as much as possible. Of course, all choices would be entirely up to him.

Even after her explanation, there was no particular response from Tickelon. He was someone who often became lost in his own world. Chloe didn’t rush him while he was absorbed in other thoughts.

Today’s business was to deliver this proposal. He would need time to organize his thoughts as well. As she was about to stand up, Chloe remembered what Aaron had said yesterday. That he would visit at this time.

Had he already come and gone?

Of course, she hadn’t made an appointment to meet Aaron alone. Chloe rose without lingering regret and left her farewell.

“I’ll be going now. Please take your time carefully reviewing the commissioned works.”

“Yes, then. See you next time.”

Having finished his response, Tickelon turned toward his studio as if he had been waiting. Chloe checked the clock that hadn’t even passed 30 minutes. As always, meeting with someone who couldn’t make small talk didn’t take long.

Before opening her folded parasol, Chloe looked up at the sky where sunset was still far away. Then she walked slowly again along the wall where hydrangeas bloomed.

“Chloe.”

The familiar voice came just as she was turning into the alley on the right. Aaron, walking from the opposite direction, took a step closer. It seemed her prediction that he had already visited was wrong.

“I was delayed handling urgent business since morning. Did it end already?”

Aaron checked his wristwatch with a surprised face. But visits to meet Tickelon always ended quickly.

“Yes. I’ve finished my business, so go ahead. But he just went into his studio, so it might be difficult to meet him.”

Chloe had already experienced being turned away at the door twice. Once Tickelon was immersed in his work, he didn’t care who came looking for him.

Understanding immediately not to expect much, Aaron turned around at once.

Wanting to recruit Tickelon for a new exhibition being prepared at the Hussler Cultural Foundation was a kind of ambition. He was an artist who had never held an exhibition at the foundation’s newly built gallery. Moreover, he wanted to feature someone who commanded all of Artion’s attention as the first one. So he had been working on it for months. Therefore, it didn’t matter if he came back here tomorrow.

But it was different with Chloe.

Since there was a limit to visiting her without reason, he couldn’t miss meetings like today. He wanted to spend even the brief time walking with her to the association.

“Are you going back to the office?”

However, contrary to expectations, her next destination wasn’t the association.

“I’m going to Bergen’s downtown. I told the office I’d leave early because I have something to do.”

Chloe planned to get curtains fitted for her windows today. Since sunrise came earlier, she kept waking up in the early dawn. Curtains, which she hadn’t felt particularly necessary until now, became essential this season.

But there was practically nowhere suitable nearby. She had no choice but to go to the commercial district where shops were gathered. So she had just finished checking the exact window measurements before coming to work.

Aaron stepped closer to Chloe who had answered candidly. He was glad she wasn’t returning to the office.

“I know a good place. Shall we go there together?”

“There’s no need for that…… Any curtain that can block some light is fine for me.”

Though grateful for his kindness, Chloe gently deflected.

Fabric that could cover windows at a reasonable price. That was exactly all she needed. The place Aaron knew well couldn’t possibly be faithful to such basic purposes. But this time, he didn’t back down vaguely either.

“Curtains faithful to the purpose of blocking light. That’s what we’ll choose, right?”

Sunlight shattered finely behind Chloe’s shoulders as she stood facing him. Even under the sunlight piercing his vision, Aaron didn’t turn his gaze away. The woman standing beside the flower bed in full bloom was beautiful.

The neat and elegant Chloe Hardin.

From experience, such opportunities were rare. Moreover, Chloe had cleanly ended things with Andert Dietrich. So Aaron thought to do his best with what he could now.

***

“We’ve confirmed that Viscount Hardin is currently being questioned at the Hanover Police Department.”

“Police Department?”

Andert’s gaze hardened at Daniel’s report. Viscount Hardin had requested a sudden meeting a few days ago. However, he had no reason to meet with Viscount Hardin.

In the end, the butler conveyed a polite but firm rejection to the Viscount. He thought that was the end of it, but it seemed there were other issues with House Hardin.

“Yes. From what we’ve gathered, a complaint has been filed against Viscount Hardin. The charges are property damage and fraud.”

“Fraud……”

Andert lightly repeated the word that felt foreign on his tongue.

When he met Viscount Hardin in Hanover while searching for Chloe’s whereabouts, the man had appeared unusually sober. But even then, he didn’t believe in an alcoholic’s reformation, and still doesn’t even now.

The property damage mentioned earlier was quite understandable in a context involving alcohol.

But fraud?

That was a different kind of trouble from what Viscount Hardin had caused before. Of course, this person was no longer his concern. Besides, the Viscount was someone he normally wouldn’t even deal with.

For the Viscount who had been quiet for a while to be under police investigation.

It would surely be fodder for newspaper chatter for at least a few days. Whether the fraud charges were true or not, regardless of their veracity.

“Your Grace, do you have any further instructions?”

Daniel, who had been standing silently, asked as if seeking permission. It was a natural progression since the report was finished and it was time to leave.

But Andert remained silent. The news would reach Chloe’s ears when House Hardin’s name appeared in the papers. That single fact was what concerned him.

It’s a case of family members becoming someone else’s shackles.

Andert laughed silently. Then came the image of Chloe, who reportedly worked not only all week but came to work on weekends as well. His unreadable gaze turned to a thin booklet on one corner of the desk. It was the publication where Chloe had written her article.

The woman who had unintentionally been unable to complete her studies was diligently doing her part. Was that also one of the reasons why Chloe kept catching his eye?