Chloe had unconsciously grabbed her wallet when she heard her father was here. It was almost evening, so perhaps he had intended to have dinner with her. But faced with this unexpected news, she just wanted to leave quickly. 

Under the setting sun, the small flower bed behind the building was simply peaceful. As if it knew nothing of Chloe’s tumultuous heart. 

“Hey, Chloe.”

“Father, please just go back.”

Chloe cut off Viscount Hardin’s attempt to stop her. She wanted to get away from this space, even if it was just because of the stifling feeling in her chest. 

“Go.”

With that, Chloe turned around. 

Even after she rounded the building, her steps didn’t stop. She hadn’t brought a hat, so the sunlight fell directly on her face, but she didn’t care. 

Her heavy footsteps passed by her accommodation, which was not far from the office. She wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, but there was nowhere she could go. 

Who could she go to and what could she say? 

This was something she had to deal with alone, as always. It was a familiar method, but this time it was harder to bear silently.

The streets were congested with people past working hours. The everyday conversations of people hurrying along with their companions brushed past her ears. Chloe passed through the parting crowds and kept walking. 

As she walked, the sun, closer to the horizon, dyed the world red. The streets, soaked in the sunset, were surreal, as if someone had spilled colorful paints everywhere. 

It was only when she reached the front of the Hussler Cultural Foundation that her pale face looked around. Her weary eyes stared blankly at the familiar exterior of the building. 

「Closed Today – Regular Closing Day」

There was a large signboard, but Chloe didn’t care. 

A closing day with no visitors to the exhibition hall. That fact was rather fortunate. Because her heavy steps weren’t headed for the exhibition hall. It was only when she reached the front of the outer wall covered in picture frames that her aimless steps in her dress shoes stopped. 

As expected, there was no one around. Chloe finally plopped down on the stone steps. 

She believed she was doing well. Just a few hours ago, she was sure she was…….

Large teardrops slid down her reddened eyelids. Her gaze was directed at the painting hanging on the wall, but her blurry vision prevented her from seeing anything clearly. 

Her time in Bergen, where she had felt small but simple happiness, scattered like a dream. 

She had cleaned and cared for the small house as if it were her own because she had faith that things would get better. And after coming to the capital, she had even dared to envision a slightly better version of herself. 

Planning an exhibition was also Chloe’s small dream. But even taking that one step forward wasn’t easy. 

Besides, what was Andert thinking, helping her father like that? 

Chloe wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks and took a dry breath. Her throat was parched, perhaps from walking for over an hour without rest. But even that was nothing compared to her confused mind. 

Even after hearing about it from her father, she couldn’t think of any solution. Above all, she didn’t have the means to afford such an amount. 

But she didn’t want to pretend she didn’t know and cover it up. That would be like leaving behind an unpaid debt to Andert, who was already gone from her life. 

But then what?

Even if she went to Andert and asked him why he helped her father, what would she do after that? In her current situation, there was nothing she could do except confirm that fact. 

At that moment, something suddenly appeared before Chloe, lost in self-reproach. Her startled eyes, fixed on the neatly folded handkerchief, only belatedly realized that it belonged to Aaron. 

“Here, I thought you might need this.”

He held out the handkerchief in his slender hand. Chloe avoided his gaze, as if to hide her tear-stained face. The ash-gray handkerchief was immediately dampened by her wiped tears.

Chloe hadn’t expected to run into Aaron today, of all days, on a closing day. More than anything, she was embarrassed that he had seen her like this. 

Regardless of Chloe’s discomfort, Aaron stood silently by her side. He had been catching up on his backlog of work in his private office on the third floor of the foundation building. It was by chance that his gaze, fixed on reports all day, wandered out the window. 

His eyes, simply gazing at the sunset, spotted someone familiar. It was Chloe, who shouldn’t have been here today. 

He had been bored, stuck in his office all day, but it felt like he had been suddenly rewarded. He ran out, happy to see her, but stopped short in the distance. 

Chloe, sitting on the stone steps, was weeping sadly. Aaron realized that she needed a place to cry. So he waited. For her sobs to subside, even a little. 

Even in Bergen, where she had left on her own, Chloe had been diligent and cheerful, doing her part. For someone like her to be so sad, there must be a good reason. 

Aaron assumed as much. At the same time, the impatience he had been suppressing surged within him. 

If only he were the one Chloe could lean on at a moment like this. If only they could naturally share their feelings with each other. Not just exchange handkerchiefs. 

Of course, it was just a monologue in his head. 

Meanwhile, Chloe, who had stopped crying, cleared her throat to speak. She was clutching the soaked handkerchief tightly. 

“I didn’t expect to see you here today. I thought no one would be here because it’s a closing day.”

Her voice was low and subdued, like she’s trying to cover up her previous embarrassment. Aaron, looking at her profile, replied casually, as if he hadn’t seen anything. 

“All the other staff are off today. I had a lot of paperwork to catch up on, so I was stuck in there all day. I couldn’t seem to finish signing everything. I just finished a while ago.”

“I see.”

Chloe agreed briefly and pondered her next words. But there weren’t many options for conversations she could comfortably engage in under these circumstances. 

Glancing around at her surroundings, which had darkened, Chloe checked her watch. She wanted to go back to her accommodation and rest. 

At least she had brought her wallet. It would be quick to get back by omnibus. And it would be best to wash the damp handkerchief and return it to him. 

As Chloe finished her thoughts, Aaron, who had been silent except for his reply, spoke softly. 

“Chloe, why were you crying?”

It was a difficult question to answer easily. She was upset and frustrated. She was angry with her father. 

There were too many reasons to count. But it wasn’t something she could tell anyone else. 

As the silence lengthened, Aaron spoke again. 

“You don’t have to answer if it’s difficult. But if there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me, even if it’s later.”

Aaron didn’t think she would be able to hold back this much sadness for long. Chloe Hardin was cautious, but not someone with big emotional swings. 

In fact, there were only two possibilities that came to mind. Andert Dietrich or Viscount Hardin of Hanover. 

The former was the last thing Aaron wanted. How could he comfort Chloe, who was crying over her ex-husband, even though they had already broken up? 

He would rather it be the latter. He had heard enough about Viscount Hardin’s notoriety. But he didn’t ask further and stood up. 

What Chloe needed now was rest. Her exhausted face looked that tired. Aaron actually didn’t want to part ways like this. 

But that wasn’t something he could control. Chloe would be more comfortable at the accommodation arranged by the association than with him. At least for now. 

Holding onto hope for the future, Aaron calmly saw her off. 

“Take care, Chloe.”

Chloe, on the omnibus, leaned her head against the window only after Aaron’s figure had disappeared from sight. It wasn’t even late at night yet, but it felt like an awfully long day. 

There were times when she had been happy to be back in the capital. Chloe often found herself gazing out at the long streets and bustling crowds. 

Perhaps she had dreamed of a new future here, the place she had run away from. Tickelon’s work was going smoothly, and the exhibition was progressing without a hitch. 

But today, she didn’t want to look outside anymore. The reality of the capital, which seemed to be unwelcoming to her, was as cold as ever. 

Chloe leaned her slumped shoulders against the seat and closed her eyes tiredly. It was a midsummer night, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of a cold draft, even though it was impossible. 

***

On Sunday afternoon, with the midday heat still lingering, Fabiana Dietrich stormed into the Duke’s residence in the capital. 

It was right after Andert, who had finished his morning schedule, had changed into his outdoor clothes. Roman was flustered by the news of the Grand Dame’s arrival without a word of notice.