I’ve Decided Not to Love You - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

The sweetness quickly spread throughout her mouth, covering her palate. Chloe walked slowly, enjoying the spring breeze. The small but comfortable dormitory building began to appear in the distance.

It was right after that when someone waved at her from across the street.

“Chloe!”

I thought she’d gone straight home.

Recognizing the familiar face, Chloe immediately changed direction. Kate was with other companions who seemed to be her acquaintances.

But as she got closer, Chloe slightly furrowed her brow at the sense of déjà vu. Just then, Kate stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

“It’s been a while since you two met, right? Chloe, this is Aaron, my classmate from school.”

Upon hearing the introduction, Chloe looked at the man’s face again.

Ah, Aaron Hussler.

So that’s why he seemed strangely familiar. Looking at his grey hair and eyes of the same color, her memory became clearer.

“It really has been a long time, Chloe.”

Aaron was the first to greet her. He naturally called her by name, making her hesitation about how to address a classmate after several years seem pointless.

“It has been a long time, Aaron.”

Chloe responded plainly.

Come to think of it, they shared the commonality of leaving school of their own accord. Though in Chloe’s case, it was due to unavoidable circumstances, while his wasn’t.

Aaron seemed to have lost interest in the theory-focused curriculum from the beginning of the semester. It was about a year after enrollment, I think? That’s when Aaron quit school.

Chloe vaguely remembered. His departure had left his fellow students disappointed for quite a while, as he had been one of the most popular students.

“Chloe, I just ran into a painter from Bergen on my way out. Aaron sometimes stays at his villa here and paints.”

“I only paint as a hobby. I’m not a proper artist.”

Aaron smoothly corrected Kate’s playful introduction.

“I see.”

Chloe nodded slightly. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

House Hussler was a family that had conducted large-scale logistics trade with neighboring countries from the capital. Having amassed enormous wealth, Hussler also operated the Hussler Cultural Foundation.

From the beginning, only those meeting two prerequisites could enter the Royal School, with very few exceptions: nobility and wealth.

Chloe was noble but belonged to the minority who entered on scholarship. Kate was the opposite — not noble but wealthy.

As members of these minority groups, the two became friends easily. So it was natural that their fellow students were all from well-known families.

“Are you heading home now? I told you not to work this late every day.”

“No, I was just buying some things I needed. Kate, I’ll head in first.”

Waving off her friend’s concern, Chloe was about to say goodbye to Aaron as well. At the same time, her eyes met his grey ones, which appeared lighter under the street lamps.

“It was nice seeing you after so long, Aaron.”

“Really?”

“Hm?”

It was partly a polite greeting. And his response was unexpected for such a farewell. Chloe’s questioning tone made him laugh.

“I’m glad we all met here like this too. See you again, Chloe.”

Aaron waved his hand lightly. The gesture naturally complemented his curved eyes.

“Right. Well, I’m going.”

Without lingering further, Chloe gave Kate a quick eye greeting before turning away.

The candy in her mouth was still sweet. As her round shoe tips approached the dormitory, a flower-scented breeze gently blew. The wind slightly disheveled her hair, which kept tickling her cheeks.

It was truly spring now.

***

At the same time, Andert entered Chloe’s bedroom. It was his first time. Coming to her bedroom while she wasn’t there.

“Over twenty trains passed through Hanover station that day. Moreover, depending on the route, each train stops at different stations along the way.”

Looking at the list Daniel had given him today, he felt helpless for the first time.

Who knew the small city of Hanover would be at the crossroads of so many routes.

The rail lines passing through Hanover, a south-central city, spread like a spider web across all of Artion. So… where should he start looking now?

He tried to narrow down places where Chloe might go, but it was useless. He couldn’t think of a single place.

“So you’re saying it’s difficult to find Chloe now?”

“I’ll go to Hanover first. There might be station workers or ticket office staff who might recognize Lady Dietrich’s face. I’ll also stop by the Hardin viscounty to find out what happened.”

In the end, when the situation wasn’t working out, Daniel set out saying he would go himself.

But even Andert wasn’t sure if the visit would be fruitful. He had priorities in dealing with everything. But this time, he couldn’t even figure out where to start.

Standing still in the room, he approached the neatly organized console table.

With a click, opening the first drawer revealed an orderly placed jewelry box. His long fingers opened the red case.

Earrings, rings, brooches, hair ornaments, corsages, bracelets, necklaces. While it had all types, there weren’t many pieces of jewelry.

Most of these were probably worn during their wedding. Gifts given to the bride under the name Dietrich.

“Ha……”

Just as he was about to close the case while suppressing his rising frustration…

Among the seemingly high-end jewels, there was a rather crude necklace. His eyes were drawn to the round medallion attached to the center of what appeared to be a silver-crafted necklace.

Picking up the thin chain, Andert realized it was a locket necklace that could hold photos. At first, he opened the closed medallion without much thought. But his eyes froze when he saw the tiny photo inside.

Short blonde hair, expressionless face, blue eyes staring straight ahead. It was him.

From when he had just entered the military academy. Even in the photo cut off just below the neck, the gold-trimmed uniform collar was very clear.

Why?

When he met Chloe as a marriage partner, he had already graduated from the military academy.

Did she have such a necklace?

But he couldn’t answer that question. Suddenly, a memory from one day unfolded in Andert’s mind.

“I attended Countess Schmidt’s charity gathering today. How was your day, Andert?”

“What exactly are you asking?”

“I was just… wondering how your day was.”

“Nothing special. It’s all work talk, so you wouldn’t understand anyway.”

“Then how about this weekend? The weather’s nice, let’s go for a walk together.”

“Chloe, if you have something to say, say it first. Do you really want to have a leisurely walk with me?”

The moment he didn’t even know he remembered was surprisingly vivid. Yet how Chloe looked at that moment was as hazy as if covered in fog.

The page of memory immediately turned to the next.

“Can’t you… stay and sleep here?”

One day, Chloe, covering her upper body with the bed sheet, held onto him as he was about to get up. It was clearly a face that had barely mustered courage.

Maybe a few months ago? Though not exact, it wasn’t a very old memory.

What happened next?

“I can’t sleep with someone beside me. Get some rest.”

That was the end of that memory too. Because right after saying those words, he immediately turned and left. He couldn’t even know how Chloe had been afterward.

These fragmentary pieces from this bedroom were all there was. Andert, who had never once reflected on his own behavior, laughed bitterly. To think every moment had been like that. It was ridiculous even to himself.

Still holding the necklace, he looked around the empty bedroom. Chloe, the owner of the bedroom who always spoke to him kindly, was no longer here. Andert’s gaze turned to the darkened window outside, facing a reality he had to accept now.

It had been a time without any variables since returning from Daloa right after marriage. Not even a small scratch…. But when did these cracks start to form?

***

“Hanover Station!”

Daniel stepped onto the platform at the station attendant’s announcement. Having visited before regarding the matter concerning Viscount Hardin, it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

First, I should check the ticket office.

He hurriedly moved, taking out Chloe’s photo from his bag. There were only two staff at the ticket office. Both the elderly man and young woman just tilted their heads at the presented photo.

“Well… This is a place where many people come and go, so I don’t remember.”

“Same here. I don’t think I can help.”

Daniel was disappointed despite his hopeful expectations, but pointed to the photo once more.

“But surely she’s not a common face. Please look carefully again. Light brown hair and green eyes. She’s a notable beauty, surely you might remember even vaguely?”

At the repeated request, the two looked at the photo more closely but soon shook their heads.

“…Hmm. Sorry.”

“We don’t look at customers’ faces in here. We only check two things — destination and money.”

Daniel sighed briefly at those words. As the young woman explained, the ticket office structure made it hard to see customers unless one deliberately looked up.

It seemed there was nothing more to expect here.

Trudging out, he sought out other station workers and staff one by one, just in case. But it was as expected. Hanover Station was always crowded with lines of passengers from other cities changing trains.

So there was no particular reason to remember a young woman who quietly purchased a ticket among countless strangers passing through. Finally, unable to find any information, Daniel had no choice but to board the carriage.

There was only one place left to visit. House Hardin.

But Viscount Hardin was said to be drunk more often than sober. He was unsure if having a conversation would even be possible. Still, he was the father who had last met Lady Dietrich, so surely they must have had some conversation.

Daniel straightened his back, unable to return empty-handed.

***