Kate led Chloe to a small restaurant. Given it was just past 7 AM, it seemed she had come to make sure she ate.

“There aren’t many restaurants open at this hour around here. Among them, this place has the best food. Please sit.”

“Okay.”

As she tapped the opposite table, Chloe lightly perched on the chair.

The restaurant’s interior wasn’t very large. Besides the two of them, there was only one male customer.

“Since there are many artists who work at night here, the whole town is quiet at this early hour. How about apple pie and corn bread? Would you like black tea? Or coffee?”

“Anything is fine as long as it’s warm.”

Chloe watched her friend’s finger pointing at the menu and shook her head lightly.

Suddenly, she recalled their time studying together at the Royal School. She had first met Kate while living in the dormitory then. Her friend, with whom she had quickly become close due to their compatible personalities, remained unchanged.

Kate pushed the plate brought by the staff slightly towards her and took a sip of fragrant black tea. For Chloe, who had lived holding her breath even at small sounds, such a free morning felt awkward moment by moment.

But without showing it, she silently bit into an apple pie. The crispy bread with warm apple jam was delicious.

She had resolved to empty this plate even if it didn’t taste good. If only for the thoughtfulness of her friend who had brought her here. But such promise proved unnecessary as the pie was excellent.

“Let’s get up right after eating this. There are things we need to know in advance at the office.”

Chloe said while swallowing the last piece. Since she hadn’t worked before, she would need time to adjust. For her friend who had readily introduced her to the job, she wanted to fulfill her role as soon as possible.

Kate took another sip of tea and asked to check if everything was alright.

“Did you sleep well? Nothing too uncomfortable?”

“Yes. I bought the urgent necessities at the general store you told me about yesterday. Don’t worry, I’ll get what I need gradually. Shall we head to the office now?”

Chloe wiped her mouth with a napkin and tried to get up hurriedly. Then Kate grabbed her hand reassuringly.

“You don’t need to rush since it’s work you can definitely handle.”

Like a gentle restraint, it wasn’t even 8 o’clock yet.

She didn’t want anything when leaving the capital because nothing was hers. But now she felt desperate having to start everything from scratch.

Chloe sat back down and tried to regain some composure. Only then did she begin to carefully observe the round face across from her. She should have checked up on her friend whom she was meeting after so long… Feeling remiss, Chloe asked.

“How have you been? I only heard news occasionally through letters.”

“Well, I’ve been busy bustling about in this quiet city. I broke off my engagement during that time too, so I guess it wasn’t ordinary?”

It was a playful answer with drawn-out endings.

As she said, her engagement had been broken off about a year and a half ago. As Chloe hesitated over what to say, Kate flashed a grin. It was a smile saying not to worry.

“It’s fine, it’s already in the past. And Warren already married another woman half a year ago and is living well. I’m not affected anymore either.”

She casually mentioned the name of her ex-fiancé and set down her half-empty glass. Unlike how she had shared her feelings nonchalantly, she seemed to hesitate over something.

Kate, who had been pressing her lips together, carefully spoke up.

“Though I can’t fully understand what reasons led you to make such a decision… What’s important is that I’m on your side. You can settle down and live here if you want. Or you can return to Hanover or the capital after everything is sorted out. I don’t mind. Because we’re friends after all.”

It was such a warm comfort.

Chloe, who had been shrinking with barely any self-esteem all this time, suddenly felt choked up. Unable to give any answer, she just nodded slightly. It took some more time before she could compose herself enough to respond.

“Thank you so much, Kate.”

Chloe sincerely conveyed her gratitude for the consideration shown in reaching out without asking anything.

***

Late afternoon, only heavy silence filled the study of the Dietrich mansion.

Returning from his outing, Andert hadn’t even changed his clothes. On either side stood the butler and lawyer with hands clasped.

Among them, the butler’s face was pale as he bowed his head. Even this morning, he hadn’t anticipated such a situation at all. He only tried to confirm when Lady Dietrich would return.

Roman had sent a telegram to House Hardin yesterday afternoon asking about Lady Dietrich’s departure schedule. And the reply had arrived just an hour ago.

「Chloe already visited and left the house several days ago.
She did not reveal her destination.
However, she said she would not return to the capital.
And she expressed her intention to divorce from House Dietrich.
Though I am ashamed, please convey this message.
— Hudson Hardin」

Roman was shocked when he confirmed the telegram bearing Viscount Hardin’s signature.

The madam had left home several days ago? And divorce?!

As someone serving the master, this was the first he’d heard of such things. While he was at a loss for what to do, Andert returned from his outing. In the end, Roman had no choice but to relay the facts as they were.

“I’m sorry, but you should check this first.”

As the butler blocked his way with urgent steps, Andert stopped, seemingly puzzled.

He was a butler who never lost his composure. For such a person to show such obvious confusion… Noticing the deep wrinkles around his eyes, Andert received the letter.

His emotionless eyes began quickly scanning the text. But as though he didn’t understand, he went back to the beginning and checked the letter several times.

He was behaving unlike his usual self, who could read even the most complex documents in one go. Daniel, watching without knowing the circumstances, kept checking the atmosphere.

“Is this all that came from Hanover?”

“Yes. Yesterday I inquired about Lady Dietrich’s schedule with House Hardin. This reply arrived just now.”

“……”

At the clearly embarrassed response, Andert closed his mouth. The letter he had repeatedly confirmed was clear in its message.

Chloe had already left home days ago and expressed her intention to divorce to her family home, House Hardin. And she had no plans to return here.

So that night, the divorce papers she handed over were sincere?

Andert was momentarily dazed.

Why? What was she thinking to give up the Dietrich name? Where has Chloe gone now? If not Hanover or here, then where?

Andert raised his head at the sporadically rising questions. His eyes immediately met with Daniel’s, who still didn’t know what was going on.

“What happened when I told you to look into Chloe days ago?”

His eyes were particularly blue as they met. Daniel, involuntarily startled, hurriedly pulled out a sheet of paper from his document folder.

He had been planning to report on this matter today anyway. Of course, there were no peculiarities. Chloe’s private life and circumstances had nothing noteworthy. Though he had investigated as much as possible at Andert’s direction, everything written on the paper was ordinary.

For instance, just a list of noble ladies Lady Dietrich was somewhat friendly with and topics of conversation from recent tea parties she had attended.

Ahem. Daniel cleared his throat unnecessarily and carefully opened his mouth.

“If there is some problem with Lady Dietrich, please tell me the exact details. I will resolve it as quickly as possible.”

Not knowing the situation, he could only guess there must be some issue.

But given Lady Dietrich’s neat and quiet personality, the possibility of her being involved in any major incident was slim. So he thought it could be easily resolved. Of course, without anticipating what followed.

“Chloe left Hanover several days ago.”

“……”

“Saying she won’t return to the capital.”

“……?!”

“And she expressed her intention to divorce me.”

“What?”

Daniel, who had been listening silently, couldn’t help but ask about the mention of divorce.

Andert remained fixed on the letter as if he couldn’t believe this situation. Daniel, at a loss for words, could only blink.

To think the telegram from Hanover contained those words.

This was truly a major incident. Though Viscount Hardin had caused several problems before, they had all been within manageable bounds.

Though mostly money issues were involved, they weren’t amounts that House Dietrich needed to worry about. But for Lady Dietrich, who had never raised her voice, to disappear…

Of course, if it was a mutual divorce, the situation would be simple. But somehow, things didn’t seem to be heading in that direction. Suddenly, Andert, who had been staring intently at the paper, ordered.

“Wasn’t there a maid who accompanied Chloe to Hanover Station? Call her here immediately.”

“Yes. I’ll bring her right away.”

As soon as the words ended, the butler who had been standing motionless left the study. In the suffocating silence that followed, Andert swallowed hard.

“I don’t want anything from you. Just one thing — divorce.”

Chloe had certainly said that.

Was that night really their final farewell? Though all circumstances pointed to this undeniable fact, Andert still couldn’t believe it.

Shortly after, Roman brought in the maid Bellisa. Perhaps due to the gravity of the situation, they moved very quickly.

“You called for me, Master?”

Bellisa, who had been organizing clothes when suddenly summoned, bowed her head. Andert, omitting everything else, interrogated her.

“Were there any unusual circumstances when you accompanied her to Hanover Station? What did Chloe say?”

“Ah… no. Nothing particular. Lady Dietrich barely spoke. Moreover, since the next day was the anniversary of her mother’s death… the atmosphere was quiet.”