“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”

Chloe tried to sound as indifferent as possible, but she couldn’t hide her rising anxiety.

She had a bad feeling about this. It was only natural that carriages would be difficult to come by in this heavy rain. But it was also impossible to walk through this downpour.

As the staff member moved away, Andert offered a simple solution.

“Let’s go together. I’ll have you dropped off first.”

He seemed to have already figured out Chloe’s situation. Of course, it was the most common-sense approach. They couldn’t just wait here indefinitely for the rain to stop, especially since it didn’t look like it would let up anytime soon.

But Chloe shook her head.

“No. I can’t possibly inconvenience you like that, Your Grace. Please go ahead.”

“Chloe, are you planning to wait here until a carriage arrives?”

“That’s…”

“This restaurant, along with the nearby shops, will all be closed by ten. What will you do then?”

“……”

Chloe was speechless at his practical observation.

He was right. Even if she waited here for a carriage, it would be pointless once the restaurant closed. Andert’s words, though devoid of kindness, forced her to assess the situation objectively.

It would be foolish to be stubborn any further.

Chloe calmly reasoned with herself. Refusing his offer was only possible if she had other options.

The carriage, once she boarded, couldn’t seem to pick up speed. On the congested, rain-slicked roads, the carriage lurched forward intermittently.

Chloe felt uncomfortable with the awkward silence. But she didn’t feel like making small talk either. Besides, her companion was none other than Andert, a man notorious for his reticence.

But once again, he was the one who broke the silence.

“You said you didn’t like rainy days, didn’t you?”

Andert, out of the blue, was confirming her preferences. It was true. Chloe preferred sunny days. But how did he know that?

Chloe searched her uncertain memories and replied.

“Yes, I don’t particularly like them.”

“Anything else?”

“Huh?”

“The things you don’t like.”

Chloe blinked rapidly. Not what she liked, but what she disliked?

It was an odd way to ask about someone’s preferences. Of course, the strangest thing was that he was asking her anything at all.

“Why do you ask?”

Andert wasn’t one to do anything without a reason. Chloe wanted to know, at least a little, why he was acting like a stranger. Just then, heavy rain began to lash against the carriage roof, sounding like hail.

Chloe’s gaze, instinctively drawn to the sound, turned back from the window to her side. They were in an enclosed carriage, close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

Instead of answering, Andert brought up something else. A common ground between them that he had learned today.

“I don’t like gloomy weather either. And I don’t particularly enjoy the rain.”

“……”

“Come to think of it, I think I do like snowy days. Or to be more precise, I like the sight of a sky filled with falling snow.”

This was a conversation they had never had before. To think they had never exchanged such trivial questions during their marriage… A wry smile touched Andert’s lips.

The unexpected reunion and the confusing emotions he had felt that day were all his own doing. The fragments of emotions he had missed and let slip away were gradually revealing themselves.

Andert could easily predict what would happen next. Even if they parted ways like this today, he knew he would want to see Chloe again.

So what should he do now?

He was used to making the best choices. But Andert had never once followed his heart. Especially not with Chloe, who had already ended their relationship.

Chloe, having moved on from their love, was cold. She had turned her head away when he mentioned he liked snowy days, offering no response.

It was a clear sign of disinterest, regardless of what he said. Andert wanted to turn her face back towards him. No, to be precise, he wanted to meet her eyes.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, his long fingers only twitched slightly.

“Ah, here…”

“Your Grace, we’ve arrived at your destination.”

Chloe, who had been looking out the window, and the coachman spoke almost simultaneously.

Andert’s gaze quickly scanned the scenery outside. The road they were on after crossing the Edesa Bridge was lined with ordinary apartment buildings and small offices.

This must be it.

Andert’s eyes settled on the building where the carriage had stopped. The three-story stone structure was unremarkable. Heavy rain continued to lash against the long street.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace. Thanks to you, I had a comfortable ride.”

Chloe was already prepared to disembark, her polite farewell matching her formal tone.

Her manners were impeccable, even though they were far from what Andert had hoped for.

Chloe stepped gracefully out of the carriage door, which was held open for her. The attentive attendant was already holding out a spare umbrella.

“Here’s your umbrella.”

“Thank you.”

As Chloe opened the umbrella, her gaze landed on Andert one last time.

He knew that her gaze held no special meaning. It was merely a courtesy, a final act of politeness.

“Goodbye.”

Andert responded curtly to Chloe’s slight bow. He had known what he was going to say from the moment the carriage stopped.

“Chloe. I’ll see you again.”

Chloe’s brows furrowed slightly at his unfitting farewell. She seemed to be pondering the meaning of ‘again.’

At the same time, the hem of her ankle-length skirt fluttered in the strong wind and rain. The curves hidden beneath the thin fabric were revealed as it billowed around her.

It was a silhouette that Andert, standing opposite her, could see all too clearly. His gaze, fixed on Chloe, captured the sight without missing a moment.

The next moment, her round-toed shoes stepped back. Her face betrayed no particular emotion at Andert’s parting words.

“Take care.”

With that, Chloe turned away, signaling the end of their encounter. It was less than ten steps to the building’s entrance. Andert’s gaze followed her every move until the familiar figure disappeared behind the closing door.

The relentless rain had already soaked through his pant legs. The damp fabric clung uncomfortably to his skin, but it wasn’t enough to bother him. If it hadn’t been for this timely downpour, their meeting would have ended at the restaurant.

Perhaps the unpredictable weather had played a part in helping him see Chloe again. It was strange to find meaning in something as fickle as the weather. Andert chuckled wryly to himself and got back into the carriage.

To get back to the Dietrich mansion, they had to cross the bridge over the Deve River again. It was a long detour, but that wasn’t a concern.

***

Chloe decided not to dwell on yesterday’s encounter, even though Andert’s behavior had been awkward at times.

She had finished her presentation as planned, so there was nothing to worry about. He had always been a man whose thoughts were impossible to decipher. No matter how much she pondered, she wouldn’t be able to read his mind.

Chloe, who was engrossed in writing a manuscript for the next month’s publication, received unexpected news just before closing time. Harper, returning from an errand, delivered the news as soon as he entered the office.

“I’m back. Miss Chloe, you have a visitor. His name is Hudson Hardin.”

After relaying the message, Harper looked puzzled at the mention of the name ‘Hardin.’ He knew Chloe’s last name was Hardin, but he wasn’t sure if the unfamiliar man was her father.

Chloe, who had been planning to visit Hanover soon, stood up immediately upon hearing those words.

She hadn’t expected him to come to the capital so soon. Besides, her father seeking someone out like this was a clear sign that something was wrong.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Sure, go ahead. It’s almost closing time. I’ll lock up, so don’t worry.”

Harper checked his watch and waved his hand dismissively. Leaving her colleague, who had become quite friendly since her arrival in the capital, Chloe stepped out of the office.

Her father, whom she met with heavy steps, looked more haggard than before.

Chloe led him to a bench behind the building, a spot rarely visited by others. It was a small flower bed, neglected and left unattended. Bright yellow wildflowers, stubbornly rooted in the narrow crevices of the stone, swayed gently as if to greet Chloe.

On any other day, she would have stopped to admire the flowers, but not today. Her anxiety outweighed everything else, as she was unaware of what was happening in Hanover.

As soon as they sat down on the bench, Viscount Hardin inquired about her well-being.

“So, how have you been? I heard you were doing well in the capital. Working for that Artists’ Association, is it? Getting paid a salary and all?”

“Yes.”

“So, you’re staying in the capital for good?”

“For the time being.”

“You’re something else. To think you gave up such a comfortable life for this. Running errands for a bunch of artists.”

Viscount Hardin shook his head in disapproval.

Chloe hadn’t expected her father’s support. Instead, she wanted to know the real reason why he had visited Countess Declen.

“I heard you went to the Declen estate looking for me. What happened?”