“It is an honor to meet the new head of House Dietrich. May your house be blessed with endless glory.”

The Count’s greeting was smooth, befitting a man who had honed his people skills.

“May a bright future accompany House Asbeck as well.”

It was a perfunctory pleasantry, fitting for an equally perfunctory exchange. Andert kept the line appropriately.  The same went for his brief conversation with the Countess, who was seated next to him.

“How long has it been? It’s so good to see you.”

“It has been a while, Countess.”

What he wanted was a moderately amicable relationship with the Asbecks. He had no desire to build a close personal relationship with any particular person.

Andert’s eyes, masked with social graces, dimmed in the next moment. The Countess, who had been holding back a small smile, opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for the greetings to end.

“Oh my, I’m being careless. I should have introduced you first. You know her, don’t you, Duke? This is Miss Espin of House Sharlo. I had a separate appointment with her this morning, and I just couldn’t bear to part with Lady Espin, so I kept her here.”

The woman next to her bowed her head slightly at the well-rehearsed introduction.

It was a transparent excuse. Moreover, the Countess looked as if she expected him to know the woman.

But Andert was overly indifferent to anything other than what he had decided to pay attention to. Of course, he knew of House Sharlo. It was just that the person he had memorized information about had been limited to the Count himself.

“I see.”

Andert, who naturally didn’t recognize the young woman, answered curtly. It was Count Asbeck who led the conversation until the main dish was served.

“It seems the heat will continue until the cold wind blows.  Seeing how hard it is to get through Artion’s long summer, I guess my body isn’t what it used to be. When I was young, I could handle any cold or heat.”

“Those are concerns not befitting you, Count.”

The right answer and a meal, which was what the other party wanted. Andert did his part and kept his seat.

It wasn’t hard to guess who had planned this unnatural meeting. No matter how friendly the Count and Countess were with House Dietrich, this was not something they could have done on their own. To bring a strange woman to a meeting that was supposed to be a congratulatory dinner…

Winston Dietrich, my father.

Andert laughed coldly as he thought of the person who had orchestrated this meeting. It was a very meticulous move for someone who was holed up in his bedroom in the ducal castle.

So you’re saying you’re going to choose who sits next to me this time?

It wasn’t hard to understand what was going on after only a brief observation of the situation. Count Asbeck would have readily accepted the proposal from the old Duke, with whom he was well acquainted. That was why he had been able to introduce the woman named Espin so boldly.

Andert’s gaze, which had grasped the rough outline of the situation, turned to the clock. As expected, the luncheon was two hours long.  Checking the remaining time, he put down his knife and fork completely.

At the same time, Espin, who had been only occasionally chiming in with the Count’s words, spoke to him softly.

“I visited Daloa recently. I heard you stayed there for a while too, Duke.  Perhaps you’ve been there? It’s called Tern Beach, I heard it’s a famous vacation spot in Daloa.”

Andert’s eyes shifted to the woman’s face, but that was all. With an impassive face, he folded his napkin and placed it on the table.

“No. I’ve been staying in the capital of Daloa.”

It was an answer that nullified the attempt to open up the conversation, starting with common ground.

Espin, who had been looking forward to today’s meeting, was embarrassed. Even if he hadn’t been there, it was common courtesy to ask a relevant question and continue the conversation.

However, there was no sign of that from the man who had just finished his meal gracefully. In the end, it was Espin who opened her mouth first.

“There is an exhibition at the Royal Art Gallery starting last week. In fact, the place I visited with Countess Asbeck this morning was also an art gallery. Do you have a favorite painter, Duke?”

“No. I don’t have a particular preference for artists.”

Again, the answer was immediate.

Andert also knew why she was saying this. But he didn’t want to play along. Chloe was all he could think about.

It was at that moment that the seat he had kept out of a sense of duty became annoying.

The woman who spoke carefully was objectively beautiful. Furthermore, since she was from the Sharlo family, there was nothing more to say. The Sharlo family, based on the financial industry, had recently grown rapidly.

And that was the extent of Andert’s interest. Count Sharlo, in the finance business.

“Haha, art, painters, I’m not interested in that either. Come to think of it, Duke Dietrich and I have one thing in common.”

Count Asbeck stepped forward to cover up the cold atmosphere. Espin quickly erased her embarrassed look, but Andert didn’t care.

Who cares about whose reaction right now? Me? And to a woman whose face I don’t even know?

Checking his watch again, he fought back a burst of laughter.

He had learned more about his wife after receiving the divorce papers than he had in their five years of marriage. And now they were nothing more than strangers. It was a result he had chosen, and no one else’s.

Confirming that the scheduled time had arrived, Andert put down his teacup. This was the end of the courtesy he could show to the Asbeck family.

But Countess Asbeck, armed with experience, was one step ahead. She had been watching for the moment Duke Dietrich finished his meal.

“Oh my, what should I do? There are three or four paintings I saw this morning that keep catching my eye. I think I’ll have to look around one more time and buy them, honey.”

“Ah, I see. The meal is over, so we’ll be on our way.”

It was a well-coordinated conversation, as if they had planned it in advance.

Andert watched them in silence. It was as if he could easily picture what would follow.

“Duke Dietrich, would you mind escorting Lady Espin? Espin has been riding in a carriage with me since this morning.”

The proposal, which was difficult to refuse in person, was in line with his expectations. It was also a typical way to separate two people from the group.

Andert simply bowed his head without a word.

“Yes. Then, I’ll see you next time.”

The Count and his wife left the room as if they had been waiting. Of course, he didn’t forget to leave a kind word for the daughter of the Sharlo family.

“See you again, Miss Espin.”

A heavy silence fell over the space where the Countess’s last words had disappeared. It was the moment when Espin was about to open her mouth, as Duke Dietrich made no effort to change the mood.

The man called the manager and gave him some instructions in a low voice. As soon as the bowing employee left, Andert asked as if he had been waiting.

“Lady Espin, are you going home?”

“Yes?”

“I’m checking your next destination. I’ll let your escort know right away.”

Espin was speechless with embarrassment as she tried to understand what he meant.  To think he would suggest she leave as soon as the Count and his wife left.

She had no other plans for today because she had planned to meet Duke Dietrich. But it was also a matter of pride to go home so early. In the end, Espin threw away the ease with which she had tried to pretend it was a casual encounter.

“Did you perhaps not hear? About this meeting today, to be exact.”

Espin no longer hid her displeasure. Duke Dietrich’s status was powerful, but he already had one divorce under his belt.

So what was this arrogant attitude all about?

But Espin, looking at Andert, who didn’t even flinch, convinced herself of the reason. In a word, he was a very fine man. The kind who leaves a deep impression without having to list every single one of his strengths.

Just looking at his face, the kind that women would flock to, was enough, let alone anything else.

“Lunch with the Count and Countess Asbeck. That’s all I knew.”

“……”

“Of course, I understand what happened afterwards, but I don’t want to continue this kind of meeting. I think I need to make my intentions clear to you, Lady Espin, and the Sharlo family.”

Andert made his thoughts clear. Moreover, if the families had already spoken, he had to show his clear refusal.

Having finished his business, he got up from his seat first.

“Let’s go. My escort will see you to your destination, Miss Espin. I won’t be accompanying you, so this is goodbye.”

To be treated like baggage like this.

Espin was speechless.

The curt farewell was his last line of courtesy, but it was humiliating enough for her, who had been looking forward to this day.