It was a voice she had grown accustomed to. Aaron, who had called her name, approached from a few steps away.

“It’s the work of a newcomer, Pace, who is exhibiting for the first time this time.”

His explanation seemed to indicate that he knew exactly where her gaze was fixed.

“Ah……”

Chloe nodded slightly. Perhaps that was why the style felt unfamiliar. Aaron took a seat next to her as she continued to observe the painting.

He stretched out his long legs and settled into a comfortable position, unlike someone in charge of a foundation.

Since his confession last time, Aaron had tried not to bring up the subject. He wanted to let Chloe know his feelings, but he didn’t want to pressure her in any way.

However, as if the goddess of fortune was smiling upon him, things continued to unfold favorably. Not only had Tickelon, who had shown no interest despite his several attempts at persuasion, decided to hold an exhibition, but Chloe had also come up to the capital.

He had a good feeling about this.

Aaron discreetly observed Chloe, whose face was flushed with excitement, even though she was just looking at the paintings. Her eyes, framed by her long lashes, were deeply absorbed in the artwork. He cherished every moment with her.

Sharing their interests like this, spending their lives together…

It was the happiest picture Aaron could imagine.

As the eldest son of the Hussler family, he would soon inherit the title. After that, Chloe could take over the running of the cultural foundation. More importantly, it was something she loved to do.

Just because he didn’t want to force his feelings on her didn’t mean he couldn’t let his imagination run wild. Aaron began to dream of a future he had never dared to voice before.

Of course, the path ahead wasn’t without its thorns. For one thing, he had no way of knowing how his parents would react. But he believed that if they got to know Chloe, they would understand his feelings.

Aaron wanted to move closer to Chloe, who was sitting a respectable distance away. Close enough that their sleeves might brush against each other.

But he didn’t want to startle her. He compromised by leaning in closer.

Just as Aaron was about to say something, a roar erupted from the sky. Instinctively, he looked up and saw fireworks beginning to fill the night sky.

“Wow! Look at that.”

“The fireworks festival must have started.”

Passersby in the distance let out exclamations of admiration. The grand fireworks display marked the finale of the long festival.

As the colorful blossoms bloomed against the jet-black night sky, Chloe let out a small gasp. This was the second time today that she had witnessed the night sky being painted with dots of light.

The first time she had seen the fireworks festival was more than ten years ago. The sky she had looked up at, hand in hand with her mother, had been dazzling. And why was that? She couldn’t remember the exact details, but Chloe had smiled brightly at her mother that day.

It was a hazy childhood memory. Bang, bang. Fireworks, far more dazzling than the ones she had seen that day, continued to bloom.

Chloe, who had been captivated by the golden waves cascading down like rain, suddenly turned her head to the side. She had felt a gaze on her face.

As soon as she did, she met Aaron’s eyes, and he smiled gently.

“They’re beautiful, sparkling like that.”

He must have been referring to the fireworks that lit up the sky, but Chloe looked away awkwardly. It must have been because Aaron’s gaze had happened to fall on her.

At that moment, another loud bang erupted. As if on cue, a seven-colored rainbow was painted across the sky.

Wow, Chloe marveled inwardly as the rainbow, her childhood favorite, appeared. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Her heart softened as she recalled the rainbow she used to draw with her little fingers.

Her expression softened as she continued to gaze at the sky, which was now adorned with countless patterns that appeared and disappeared. Of course, Aaron sat beside her, quietly keeping her company.

It was the grand finale of a festival that evoked memories and made it hard to tear her eyes away.

***

Chloe, stepping out of the carriage, checked her attire one last time. Her hands moved nervously, as if she were about to attend an important business meeting.

The Royal Library had proposed the sudden meeting yesterday afternoon. The director, a former scholar, had stopped Chloe as she was about to leave after delivering Tickelon’s request to the staff.

“Miss Chloe, I believe we’ll need an external presentation regarding the library’s sculpture. It’s nothing major, just think of it as an opportunity to show the sketches of the finished work and give a general explanation.”

Although the term ‘external presentation’ sounded strange, it wasn’t something Chloe could refuse. After all, she was in charge of all of Tickelon’s external affairs.

Moreover, it was a request from the client who had commissioned the work. So Chloe had prepared a thorough explanation and arrived on time for the appointment.

She carefully climbed the stairs leading to the unfamiliar building. The address on the note the director had given her wasn’t far from the library.

However, the upscale restaurant district, situated near the banks of the Deve River that flowed through the capital, wasn’t easily accessible. In other words, it wasn’t a place frequented by those who rode in carriages.

I’ll have to ask the staff to call me a carriage on my way back.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Chloe shook her head slightly at the inconvenience. But there was no reason for the client, whose identity she didn’t know, to consider her circumstances. Chloe habitually adjusted her bag.

“Welcome.”

A staff member, stationed like a fixture at the entrance, greeted her swiftly.

“I’m Chloe. I have a reservation at six.”

“Yes, this way please. The person you’re meeting with has already arrived.”

The staff member turned, as if he had memorized the reservation list. Chloe checked her watch at the mention of the other party’s arrival, but she still had about ten minutes to spare.

Relieved that she wasn’t late, she silently followed the staff member. Although she couldn’t quite grasp the intention of having a presentation about a sculpture meant for the library in a place like this.

After all, the tastes of nobles and wealthy individuals, the main patrons of art, were as varied as the stars in the sky. The same went for the sponsors who poured vast sums of money into the association. Chloe, who had grown somewhat accustomed to the way things worked, considered this situation to be just another part of the job.

“Miss Chloe is here.”

The staff member, who had been walking ahead, stopped in front of a balcony overlooking the river. There was no separate door, but it was a space that felt secluded from the rest of the establishment.

Only after the staff member moved aside, revealing the view, could Chloe see the balcony clearly. She was about to greet the person who had arrived first, but she froze in her tracks. It was right after she saw the face of the man standing in front of the table.

Andert, what are you doing here?

Chloe stared at the man in front of her, speechless. Andert, impeccably dressed in a suit, looked the same as ever.

From the moment she first met him, he had been a man who seemed to possess an air of effortless perfection. His aura of inaccessibility, stemming from his status, only amplified his presence. At the same time, he possessed a unique charm that drew people back to him, even those he had treated indifferently.

Chloe could fully understand why newspapers and magazines made such a fuss about him.

Andert Dietrich was like a character straight out of a fairy tale. The kind of person one might dream of meeting at least once in their lifetime.

As Chloe’s mind raced with confusion, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

A patron of the Royal Library. And the Duke Dietrich. It was a surprisingly obvious connection. But she had never considered the possibility of meeting Andert separately, so it was a link she had completely overlooked.

“Have a seat, Chloe.”

Andert, who had been holding her gaze, was the first to speak.

Chloe looked around without a word. Fortunately, there were almost no other tables with guests visible from where they were sitting. It was a relief that it would be the same on the other side.

Chloe didn’t want her meeting with Andert today to turn into some unfounded rumor. She knew how quickly word traveled among people, so she couldn’t help but be cautious.

“This is a spot where no one can see us unless they’re deliberately trying to, so please have a seat.”

Andert, noticing where Chloe’s gaze was directed, urged her again. To see her looking so uncomfortable in his presence… It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

There was a time when Chloe’s world had revolved around him. For eight long years. And now it didn’t. A dry laugh escaped Andert’s lips as he realized he was now nothing more than a stranger to her.