“There is no need for a lengthy explanation. I need to personally examine the belongings Miss Wood left behind.”

All Eden wanted was one thing.

Everything else was meaningless.

He had shown the courtesy of waiting for Jeffrey to arrive, but he didn’t need his permission.

Although Winter was not truly resting beneath this grave, Eden did not want to cause an even greater commotion here.

That was the only reason he had held on to the last remnants of his patience.

Only then did Jeffrey, who had stood like a statue, finally manage to speak.

“…Y-Your Grace, why would you want to see my daughter’s belongings…?”

His voice was trembling so much that he could barely finish asking the question.

Jeffrey was completely bewildered.

Even if Hariette’s son felt resentful towards him, there was no reason for him to seek out Winter’s possessions.

No matter how hard he tried, he could not make sense of it.

Moreover, Winter had never mentioned having a personal connection with the Duke of Mayer.

Hesitating, Jeffrey glanced at Parker as though asking for help.

The look in his eyes clearly begged for an explanation.

None came.

Instead, he heard an answer he could never have imagined.

“Winter was my lover.”

The dry voice cracked faintly as the words left Eden’s lips.

After releasing a slow breath, he spoke again as though that explanation alone ended the discussion.

“I believe that answers your question.”

Jeffrey could not believe what he had just heard.

Even the faint expression lingering on his weathered face vanished completely.

‘W-Winter and the Duke of Mayer…?’

His thoughts could go no further.

Parker stepped forward immediately after the Duke finished speaking.

“Excuse me.”

The words were courteous.

However, the intent behind them was not.

It was only then that Jeffrey realized this.

He had not been called there to give permission.

He had merely been informed as a courtesy.

As the caretaker left to fetch two laborers, Jeffrey stood rooted to the spot, too stunned to react.

He could not even bring himself to look in the direction of the duke.

When he first heard the news of Winter’s sudden death, he had refused to believe it.

He was sure there must be some mistake.

After all, he had assumed that his daughter had simply returned to Vartz, where her studio was located.

“Lastly, we just need your signature here to confirm receipt of Miss Winter Wood’s compensation. We are very sorry to be meeting under these circumstances. Although this accident was unavoidable due to the blizzard, Lindal Railway is doing everything possible to handle the aftermath.”

Perhaps because the railway company took direct responsibility, the process went smoothly.

The day after signing the documents, Jeffrey confirmed the amount he had received and buried Winter’s belongings.

After that, all kinds of rumors spread through the small town.

Nevertheless, life had to go on.

Jeffrey believed that his late daughter would not have wanted him to spend the rest of his life broken-hearted.

This is why he chose to listen to the woman who had stood faithfully by his side.

“Living in this house filled with memories of Winter must be painful for you too. As it happens, I know a house that’s perfect for moving into.”

“Please don’t grieve too much. You still have me and my daughter, Cosette, by your side. How about we go somewhere quiet and rest for a few days?”

So, he bought a new house.

After taking some time away to recover and clear his mind, he returned to find that he had been branded a heartless father.

However, Jeffrey felt no guilt.

What parent wouldn’t mourn the loss of their child?

Grief and compensation were two entirely separate things.

His daughter was never coming back.

The money left behind simply belonged to those who remained.

The condolence payment sent by the Royal Academy of Arts was no different.

Jeffrey usually paid little attention to the townspeople’s whispers and gossip.

But now, for the first time, he wanted nothing more than to run away.

Then—

The blade of a shovel struck something solid with a dull thud.

A small, rectangular wooden box finally emerged from the earth.

Eden, who had watched the entire process with hollow, lifeless eyes, finally moved.

As Parker dismissed the workers, Eden lowered himself to the ground and knelt beside the box.

Creak.

A thin, grating sound broke the silence as the lid was opened.

Inside lay a badly charred leather bag.

Its corners were blackened by fire, and the buckle was darkened and worn, having lost its shine long ago.

Eden recognized it instantly.

It was a heavy, unremarkable bag that had always looked out of place against Winter’s slender shoulders and delicate wrists.

She used to carry her painting supplies and sketchbooks in it wherever she went.

The moment his hand touched the leather tie, the sharp smell of ash rose up and filled his senses.

Unable to steady his breathing, Eden slowly traced his fingertips across the scorched surface.

‘What could still be inside?’

‘No… was anything left at all?’

Countless words that he had never been able to utter seemed to linger on his lips, causing his hands to tremble uncontrollably.

Very little inside had survived intact: A bundle of brushes with burnt tips. A palette. A small pencil case.

The last thing he found was a sketchbook tied with a thin cord.

Its leather cover was scorched in several places and warped at the corners, and crumbled ash spilled from the cracks.

Eden’s throat bobbed harshly as he gripped the sketchbook.

A memory surfaced.

One lazy afternoon, Winter had smiled brightly and asked if she could draw him.

“Winter, how much longer do I have to stay like this?”

“Just a little longer. I only need to finish the last sketch.”

Eden hesitated before opening the sketchbook.

It looked so fragile that he was afraid it would crumble if he touched it.

Unaware of those around him, he carefully lifted the cover with trembling fingers.

Scrawled in hurried pencil strokes on the very first page was a single name.

Winter Wood.

A trace of her.

That was all.

To see this.

To confirm that even this much remained.

For that alone, he had travelled all the way to Ceres and disturbed the grave.

Eden knew better than anyone that it would change nothing.

Nothing could bring her back.

Nothing could undo what had already been lost.

And yet, his broken heart could find neither comfort nor direction.

Standing before the grave in the gentle warmth of spring, he lowered his head.

The only thing left in his trembling hands was a single sketchbook.

***

“We truly owe Mr. Wood an apology.”

Parker addressed Jeffrey with impeccable courtesy.

The cemetery caretaker and laborers, who had been watching the situation nervously, had already been dismissed.

Jeffrey glanced at the carriage carrying the duke and asked, in a dazed voice,

“Is… is it really true? That my daughter and the Duke were involved like that?”

“…”

“I mean what His Grace said earlier. Was all of that true?”

The question hung awkwardly in the air.

When there was no immediate answer, Jeffrey stepped closer, clinging to Parker as though he were grasping for a lifeline.

If they left now, he would never have the opportunity to speak to the Duke again.

At the very least, he wanted to confirm that he had heard correctly.

“You may understand His Grace’s words exactly as he stated them.”

After confirming that the disturbed grave had been tidied up neatly, Parker replied carefully.

He did not offer his personal opinion, but felt that not denying it was answer enough.

Truthfully, he was relieved that Jeffrey had not demanded the return of the sketchbook taken by the Duke.

Parker had been horrified enough just watching Eden gather the belongings that had been unearthed.

Above all, he wanted to get the duke out of Ceres as quickly as possible.

Glancing towards the waiting carriage, Parker decided to end the conversation.

“I sincerely apologize for this sudden intrusion. We will be taking our leave now.”

Consumed by anxiety, the secretary handled the situation with practiced composure, turning away without hesitation.

All he could do was hope that the duke would never return.

The moment Parker climbed inside, the black carriage quickly disappeared down the uneven stone road.

Only once everyone had left did Jeffrey’s strength finally give out, causing him to collapse heavily to the ground.

Ever since facing the Duke of Mayer, his legs had trembled too much to support him properly.

‘Winter and the son of the Mayer family…’

‘Since when…?’

Then…

Had Winter learned the truth about Hariette Mayer from him?

One by one, the pieces of the puzzle that he had been trying so hard to ignore seemed to fall into place.

Pushing himself up, Jeffrey forced his stiff legs to move and staggered back to his feet.

His stomach churned with emotions he could not identify, whether caused by exhaustion, guilt or something else entirely.

As though apologizing to his dead wife and daughter, he muttered weakly,

“Even so, I did the best I could after coming here. Anyone can make a mistake at least once in their life, can’t they? How was I supposed to know I’d end up tangled up with that family again like this? I didn’t know!”

The more he spoke, the more frantic he became.

His cheeks flushed red and cold sweat beaded on his brow.

“Hariette… I never imagined things would end up that way for her.”