“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave.”

Chloe picked up her bag that she had set aside. The viscount hurriedly stood up, realizing she was about to leave the house right away.

“Where are you going? More importantly, are you really getting divorced? Why is Andert, no, why is House Dietrich suddenly asking for divorce?”

Questions tumbled out incoherently in his urgency. Chloe, who had been staring at him quietly, answered briefly.

“I won’t tell you my destination. The divorce will proceed soon. And I was the one who handed over the divorce papers first.”

“W-what?”

The viscount drew in a breath in disbelief. He had naturally assumed that his outstanding son-in-law had finally pushed for divorce.

But that wasn’t it.

It was something completely incomprehensible by his common sense. But at some point, Viscount Hardin realized.

His always quiet daughter had already made all her decisions.

“Father, you know well about Andert’s cold nature. Once he realizes I will no longer quietly follow his will, the divorce will proceed swiftly.”

After finishing her words, Chloe stepped back as if this was truly the end.

“Then, goodbye.”

“Chloe!”

Viscount Hardin followed her to the entrance but couldn’t forcefully hold her back.

With just one small bag in her hand, Chloe’s eyes were different. He could only stare blankly at his daughter whom he had never carefully observed before.

After closing the door with a thud, Chloe headed straight for the train station. Her shoes, passing through the bustling crowd one by one, stopped in front of the ticket office. After quickly checking the complicated timetable, she held out money to the clerk.

“One ticket to Saphi, please.”

“Yes. You mean the train departing shortly, correct?”

“Yes.”

With the brief answer, a thin ticket was handed over.

Saphi in the north. She had never been there before. And her destination was Bergen, a city in the west. She had booked a ticket to Saphi because it was the earliest departure from Hanover.

She could transfer anyway. Chloe didn’t think too long about it.

Her neat steps soon boarded the train that had stopped while spewing black smoke. Having already said a long goodbye to her mother, there was no hesitation left.

She recalled her brief resolution before boarding the train.

“The train to Saphi is departing!”

The station attendant’s voice holding the safety flag rang out loudly. Chloe sat in her seat and recalled the address she had memorized.

「Bergen Block 2-32, Artists’ Association — Kate Norden」

This was her planned destination even before leaving the capital.

Chloe planned to start anew in Bergen. And Kate was a friend she had made at the Royal University. Although she couldn’t complete her studies like her friend, if there was ever a luckiest moment in her life, it was when she entered the Royal University.

If she hadn’t received the scholarship then, it would have been difficult to set foot in the university known for its expensive tuition.

Thus Chloe, who had entered the Art History department, had to hold her wedding ceremony a year later. Still, in Andert’s indifference as he left for abroad right after, she was able to continue her studies without much trouble.

But about a year and a half later, she had to quit school of her own accord.

“Learn to behave properly as a member of House Dietrich. Why continue your studies when people are spreading all sorts of rumors?”

The Duchess’s reprimand was cold and harsh.

The rumors circulating at the time were mostly about Andert, who had gone abroad and wasn’t returning. Actually, it was somewhat unfair to Chloe. Her determination to desperately plead that graduation was just around the corner had to be swallowed at the words that followed.

“Viscount Hardin sent me a letter. He said there was a problem too difficult to solve alone and asked for help. You must want to quietly resolve your father’s matter too. I don’t want to say more either.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Chloe withdrew without being able to raise any further objections. Thus, she who had entered with a full scholarship ended up without the most important degree.

Still, since her friend had asked her to visit Bergen anytime, she had to give it a try.

Though Chloe’s heart was heavy, she also felt excitement about being able to start something. Although she hadn’t had much social experience, she was really willing to work hard at anything.

Her face, with hat pulled low, repeatedly flickered in the window. Through the rapidly passing window, ash-colored darkness was slowly settling down.

***

It was exactly three days after leaving Hanover when Chloe arrived in Bergen, the so-called “City of Artists.” Her journey through the northern mountains to the western border finally ended at her destination.

Originally, Bergen was a distance that could be reached in a full day’s travel from Hanover. But taking various train transfers was largely intentional.

If Andert put his mind to it, finding her wouldn’t be completely impossible, just time-consuming. But she didn’t want to face him too easily.

Chloe needed time. The minimum time for Andert to realize and accept her firm resolve for divorce…

“Chloe! I wasn’t sure when I heard the name, but it really is you.”

A familiar face approached as she was pacing in front of the gray stone building. Deep in thought, Chloe extended her hand toward the friend she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Have you been well, Kate?”

“Of course, but how did you really come all the way here? Hm? Have you eaten? More importantly, let’s go inside. My office is here on the first floor.”

Kate pointed to one of the building’s windows. Her voice was still full of energy, just like when they were in school.

Chloe, who had grown accustomed to a quiet atmosphere, was momentarily dazed by her friend’s chatter. A faint smile soon appeared on her lips as she wondered which question to answer first.

“Ask slowly, Kate. I don’t know which to answer first.”

“I’m just so happy to see a familiar face after so long. I’ve been really lonely here for the past two years.”

Kate cheerfully answered as she opened the firmly closed door. The office she entered behind was quite spacious.

The desk was piled with all sorts of art history books and publications, and the bookshelf filling one wall was cluttered with unorganized documents.

“It’s a bit messy, right? It’s not usually this bad. I was busy with publication deadlines until yesterday.”

“It’s fine. Just leave it.”

“Well, shall I? I’ll prepare some tea first. I have some nice coffee I received from a painter who frequently visits.”

As Kate tried to organize the papers here and there, even those piles of papers came tumbling down, and she handed over teacups as if there was no helping it. Unlike her, who had quit her studies midway, her friend was living diligently day by day.

Chloe suddenly wondered what it would have been like if she hadn’t gotten married… If she could have safely received her degree.

Would she be completely different from now?

She swallowed a sip of coffee that was bitter like that aftertaste. It was just a useless assumption about something that was already past.

What mattered were the days ahead. Chloe, who needed to settle down as soon as possible, didn’t hesitate long.

“In your last letter, you mentioned you’re always short-staffed here.”

“Ah, yes. Well, we’re dealing with picky and sensitive artists after all. Not many people can handle it. But why? Do you have someone to recommend?”

Kate brightened up as she asked back. Her eyes couldn’t hide the expectant look. Chloe gathered her nervous feelings and answered softly.

“I want to do it. Whatever work it is. I can do anything I can learn.”

Chloe liked Bergen. First of all, this land bordering the western frontier was a free city.

Befitting the city of artists, it was overflowing with painters, writers, sculptors, and craftsmen. This was because the city itself was created for the purpose of active creative activities.

That’s exactly what captured her heart. Artists who valued their work and privacy showed little interest in others’ personal matters.

Kate, who seemed inwardly surprised and was choosing her words carefully, asked cautiously.

“You really want to work here?”

“Yes. Although I couldn’t graduate, I did study art history.”

“Of course you did. But still…”

At the somewhat awkward response, Kate kept pushing up her glasses. Her friend seemed to have words on the tip of her tongue. But without prying into what circumstances there might be, she just fiddled with the teacup handle.

Chloe honestly shared her situation first.

“I’m getting divorced soon. So I want to learn work and establish myself on my own.”

***

In the evening while it was still light, Andert boarded his carriage after leaving the main parliament building. The man following closely behind with a heavy bag quickly climbed in beside him.

“I’ve handled all matters as directed. We received notice that the meeting with Litten Bank is scheduled for next week.”

Andert quickly read through the numbers in the handed documents. After finally checking the profits from major investments, he instructed Daniel who was sitting beside him.

“I hear new shipping trade routes will begin operating within months. Since there’s a high possibility of successful large-scale trade, keep track of those trends as well from now on.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

With the lawyer’s response, Andert fixed his gaze out the carriage window.

His mood had been on a clear downward trend for several days. Yet all the ongoing projects were riding a steep upward current.

The reason was indeed just one. Chloe, Chloe Dietrich.

It was exactly four days since his wife had left for Hanover. According to the butler, Chloe’s outing wouldn’t exceed a week at most.

Perhaps tomorrow at the earliest. If not, she would return the day after.

Andert lightly rubbed his rough palate with his tongue.