“Diana.”

I was tending to the garden when Aiden called out to me from beyond the fence. I looked up from the flowerbed and smiled at him. He told me that he was leaving for the capital the following week to take up a position as a royal secretary, just like his sisters.

Glancing at the garden I had been working on, he gave me a playful grin.

“Wow, just look at this — it’s so lush! You’re finally starting to look like a proper beginner farmer.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Of course.”

Aiden watched me quietly for a moment.

Whenever our eyes met, I was reminded of Elio, and of all the brief yet meaningful connections I’d made in Azenta.

And somehow, my thoughts always came to rest on Claude.

“Do you have to go?”

“Claude? You’re the head of House Cassel.”

“But—”

“If you abandon your family for me, I’ll never be truly happy.”

After we had spoken, Claude finally agreed to go back to Azenta.

He promised to finish his business there quickly and come back to see me soon.

As I waved goodbye to the ship that took him away, I found myself deep in thought about the future.

Neither of us could easily change reality — we both understood that well.

In Azenta, I was still the late Princess Diana.

And Claude had duties that he couldn’t simply abandon.

He couldn’t stay by my side forever.

“Are you ready for your move to the capital?”

I pulled myself out of my thoughts and asked Aiden brightly.

“Well, I’m staying with my sisters, so there’s not much to prepare, actually.”

He shrugged nonchalantly.

The thought of not seeing Aiden again after next week left a faint ache in my chest.

I had grown closer to the other villagers, of course, but none of them were as easy to talk to as Aiden.

Leaning on the fence, Aiden asked with a grin:

“So, when is your ex-husband coming back? Or are you planning to go back to Azenta?”

“No, I’m going to stay here. Claude, I’m not sure when he’ll be able to come back. He’s such a busy man.”

“I see. Does he not get jealous, then? Even when I’m the one looking after you all the time?”

Aiden teased, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I let out an awkward laugh.

“It’s just a joke.”

‘” know.”

He offered a faint smile before turning to leave.

“Well, I’ll be off then. It looks like you don’t need my help with the garden these days – you’ve gotten pretty good at it on your own.”

“Thanks. Oh, Aiden—wait! I’ve got some biscuits left. Would you like to take a few with you?”

“No thanks! I’ve been snacking far too much lately. I was just telling myself that I should cut back.”

He said, waving his hands around wildly as he walked off.

I brushed the dirt off my hands and looked up at the clear, radiant sky.

The man’s colour seemed to be everywhere, leaving his memory imprinted on the world.

Winter in the Kingdom of Millain felt more like autumn in the Azenta Empire.

If someone hadn’t told me, I would never have known it was winter — it was so warm and vibrant.

Crimson and golden leaves had spilled onto my roof, and the bold contrast of bright blue and scarlet painted the landscape, creating a breathtaking scene.

It was a beauty that I couldn’t help but wish I could share.

“……”

I found myself staring at the empty mailbox.

It hadn’t been long since I sent my last letter to Claude, so of course I hadn’t received a reply yet.

The distance between Millain and Azenta was great, and exchanging a single letter could take ten days.

I sighed and tilted my head back to look at the sky.

It was so clear and blue — almost cruelly so.

Time continued to pass as it always had, even after he left.

My surroundings hadn’t changed.

But one thing had changed: I now had someone to wait for.

That alone made each day feel fuller.

Having someone to wait for gave me a reason to greet each new day.

It helped me keep going.

The hardy flowers I had planted finally bloomed, true to their nature as winter blossoms. They had come to life in vivid colour.

I clipped a few stems, planning to put them in the vase by my bedside.

Their soft, mysterious blue reminded me of Claude. His colour once again.

***

Back at the Cassel estate, Hans hummed as he sorted the day’s post — a task he performed without fail every morning.

The sun had grown brighter with the change of season and was streaming in through the open windows. A gentle breeze filled the corridors, and the sound of the maids’ laughter echoed lightly through the halls.

Yes, this was always his favourite time of year.

Lately, everything seemed to be falling into place.

The Duke’s estate, which had endured cold winds all last year, was now beginning to thaw with the arrival of the warm spring breeze. Even the Duke himself, who had been spiralling into ruin, was finally returning to the man he once was.

“Hans, I apologise for the burden I’ve placed on you all this time. From now on, I promise to fulfil my responsibilities as Duke of Cassel.”

These were the words that Claude spoke a month ago upon returning from Awenze. He said them calmly and composedly from behind his desk, and Hans nearly burst into tears right then and there.

A new light appeared in the Duke’s eyes. No, an old one. It was the same steady gaze he had had four years ago, before the lady of the house passed away.

He proved it, too.

Despite having distanced himself from work for so long, he resumed his duties with a precision and focus that startled even Hans.

The business ventures that Hans had struggled to keep afloat were swiftly restored to stability. Every postponed meeting was attended and every overlooked responsibility was addressed.

For the past month, the Duke had worked with relentless dedication — almost like a man possessed. He arrived at the office earlier than Hans and kept the study lights on well into the morning.

Naturally, Hans’s workload had lightened.

For the first time in a long while, life felt manageable again.

As always, the Duke had started the day early. Now, he was sitting at his desk, buried in work, his expression unreadable as piles of papers accumulated in front of him.

Across from him, Hans was sorting the mail when a peculiar envelope caught his attention.

The return address simply read ‘Kingdom of Millain’.

It was not from the royal family or any other notable noble household; the envelope was plain and almost rustic in appearance.

Letters like this had started arriving sporadically since the Duke’s sudden return from Awenze.

‘Who could it be? Who did he meet in the Kingdom of Millain?’

Hans had questions, but he knew his place. His job was to stay silent. So he approached the duke with practised care.

“Sir, the letter you were expecting has arrived.”

Claude’s gaze instantly snapped to the envelope.

Hans bowed respectfully as he held out the letter. Claude took it without delay, tore the seal, and pulled out the contents.

While the Duke read it, Hans took out his ever-present planner to prepare the day’s schedule.

“This afternoon, there’s a meeting in the neighboring territory, which requires a personal visit…”

‘It’s going to be a busy day, I’ll have to remind the head maid to prepare a portable meal, so he can eat during the journey.’

Just as Hans made a mental note of it—

“Hans.”

Claude’s voice broke the silence.

He had finished reading. The letter was now neatly folded and placed in his desk drawer.

Hans quickly snapped his planner shut and turned to him.

“Yes, sir.”

Claude was smiling.

“I’ll be away for a month.”

“…Pardon?”

Hans’s face went blank.

And then, once the words sank in, his voice shot up in disbelief.

“W-what did you just say, sir?”

The schedule Hans had so carefully organized shattered in an instant.

“She says she misses me.”

Claude added, ever so casually.

“W-who… Who said that, sir?”

‘Misses you? Was there some woman secretly hidden away in the Kingdom of Millain? No—now wasn’t the time for questions like that.’

Hans quickly waved his hands in protest.

“You can’t be serious, Your Grace!”

“You’re better at managing estate affairs than I am.”

“Please say something that makes sense!”

“If I go, I promise to work non-stop when I return.”

“Your Grace!”

But Claude didn’t seem to hear a word his steward said.

He simply rose from his seat, picked up the nearby coat and strode out of the study without hesitating.

Left alone, Hans hurried after him. By the time he reached the entrance, however, the duke had already climbed into the carriage.

“To the port.”

“Your Grace!”

The horses neighed loudly as they reared up, and Hans’s desperate cry was lost beneath the thunder of hooves.

Spring had come to the duke’s estate, too.

A soft, warming breeze swept gently through the halls of Cassel Manor.