Even if he hadn’t said anything, Winter couldn’t have left before the guest.

Moreover, until just moments ago, Gabriel had seemed as though he intended to continue browsing.

Since Gabriel had chosen to leave first, Winter did not attach much significance to his next words.

“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to ask for your help again sometime.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Are you heading down to the exhibition hall? If you’d like, I can call a staff member for you.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ve already seen all the paintings. I should be heading back now.”

Despite his carefree demeanor, his manner of taking leave was impeccable.

Winter also bowed her head politely.

“Take care.”

After seeing her guest off, Winter immediately started gathering up the art books that had been left out.

The time she had originally planned to leave the salon had long since passed.

After a quick tidy-up, she collected her bag and headed downstairs.

The crisp sound of her footsteps echoed steadily before fading down the narrow corridor leading to the back door.

***

Winter sat in front of the finished painting, carefully inspecting the dried layers of paint.

Stretching across the size-fifteen canvas was an ocean merging with the horizon.

The cobalt-blue surface of the ocean shimmered like broken glass, and delicate trails of white foam were scattered amongst the cargo and passenger ships passing by.

Winter then turned the canvas around and signed her name in one corner of the back.

S.W

The initials were from Santero and Wood.

Her fingertips were stained with dried paint as she held the pen instead of a brush.

After setting the painting upright on the easel once more, Winter massaged her stiff shoulders.

Hours of concentration had left her eyes feeling gritty, as though there were grains of sand rolling beneath her eyelids. Her fingertips were tingling so badly that they had nearly gone numb.

She shook her hand lightly, then closed her eyes and tilted her head back.

Madame Roche had reassured her when she hesitated to step into the public eye.

“It would be a waste to let talent like yours go unused. That simply won’t do. You don’t have to reveal your name or your face to continue creating art.”

“If I, as the owner of the salon, personally acquire paintings from an artist, no one will question it. So don’t worry about anything and focus on your work.”

Winter raised her arms above her head and undid the ribbon that held her hair in place.

It was the first step she had taken since losing everything.

Because of that, she was determined to move forward more quickly than anyone else.

The moment she threw open the window, a refreshing breeze swept into the studio.

Only then did she realize how hungry she was.

Come to think of it, she had skipped both breakfast and lunch.

After gathering the scattered painting supplies and putting them away, Winter headed towards a part of the house she rarely used.

The kitchen was stocked with little more than basic snacks, and today there was almost nothing left to eat.

She had neglected to go grocery shopping for several days, instead spending nearly every waking hour in front of her canvas.

After checking the last drawer, Winter decided to go out.

She was in an unusually light-hearted mood and, for once, she wanted a proper meal.

After washing up and changing into outdoor clothes, she left the house, carrying only her purse and keys.

Just as she was debating whether to go straight to a restaurant, she heard a familiar burst of laughter.

Passing the Roche estate, Winter smiled softly.

“Good!”

A bright, cheerful shout followed.

It seemed Lily was out in the garden.

Winter came to a stop and changed direction.

She wanted to drop by for a moment and at least say hello to Lily and Madame Roche.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

The person who greeted her was Lily’s nanny.

Holding a large rabbit doll, the woman waved toward the child happily running around the garden.

“Lily, come here. Look who’s come to visit.”

At those words, Lily immediately recognized the familiar face and came running over.

The little girl, a large ribbon tied in her hair, threw herself straight into Winter’s arms.

Smelling faintly of soap and sunshine, she looked up with wide, round eyes.

“Were you busy?”

Winter, who usually stopped by every two or three days, smiled apologetically.

“I’ve been a little busy these past few days. But look at you, Lily. That’s a beautiful ribbon.”

“Mm-hmm! Grandma gave it to me.”

“Wow, Lily is so lucky.”

Lily broke into a bright smile in response to Winter’s unusually animated reaction.

Winter gently stroked the child’s hair.

Lily still knew nothing about her mother’s death.

Whenever Winter thought back to their chance meeting on the train, she felt sorry for Clara, knowing that she had left behind such a lovable child.

Perhaps that was why she found herself growing even more attached to Lily.

Just then, the nanny, who had been watching them fondly, spoke up.

“Madame Roche is speaking with someone inside at the moment. Mr. Vincent came with another guest. Why don’t you wait a little and see her before you go?”

“No, it’s alright. I only stopped by for a moment, so I should be going.”

Winter followed the direction the nanny pointed before shaking her head.

If there were guests visiting, it seemed better to simply see Lily and leave.

“Oh dear, Madame Roche would be delighted to know her niece came by.”

The nanny spoke casually again, but Winter could only manage a faint smile in response.

After all, Madame Roche had introduced her as a distant relative.

Yet everyone she had met in Santero seemed to think she was the salon owner’s niece.

At first, she was embarrassed by this.

Over time, however, she had gradually grown accustomed to it.

She had come to realize that titles were not that important.

The people around her simply treated her with warmth and affection.

With that thought in mind, Winter decided it was time to say goodbye to Lily and head home.

The hunger she had briefly forgotten returned, reminding her just how long the day had been.

“How about we go to the beach tomorrow afternoon?”

“Wow! I’d love that!”

While exploring the area in search of places to paint, Winter discovered a spot that seemed perfect for children to play in.

It was a beach where seawater had collected in shallow pools across the sand.

On the way back, they could stop by Lily’s favorite bakery.

It was a public holiday tomorrow, and for once, Winter wanted to take it easy.

The sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears just after she and Lily linked little fingers and made a promise.

“Oh my, it sounds like Madame Roche has finished her conversation.”

The nanny was the first to notice the figures emerging from the entrance of the estate.

Just as Winter was about to turn and leave, she looked up with a smile.

“Oh, Winter! When did you get here?”

Beside the warmly welcoming Madame Roche stood several others.

Only then did Winter realize who the guest accompanying Vincent was.

Gabriel Regner.

It was not unusual for her to run into Vincent, the financial manager who visited the Roche estate regularly.

But she had not expected Gabriel Regner to be with him.

“I was just passing by and decided to stop in for a moment. Hello.”

After answering Madame Roche, Winter greeted the two men as well.

Vincent, whose easygoing demeanor made him approachable, spoke first.

“My, it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it, Miss Roche? I believe the last time we met was when the spring breeze was still in the air, and now summer is already upon us.”

“Have you been well?”

“Of course. My days aren’t particularly exciting. I spend most of them staring at account books.”

The man, who had possessed a gift for easy conversation from the moment they first met, wrinkled his nose playfully.

“We meet again.”

Gabriel greeted Winter with a slight smile and a casual nod.

Come to think of it, Vincent had been much the same.

Perhaps that easy-going nature was just typical of people from the East.

Those born and raised in Santero were warm-hearted and gentle in both speech and manner.

They spoke freely with strangers and seemed to enjoy spending their afternoons sitting on roadside benches, soaking up the sunshine and chatting about anything and everything.

After returning his greeting with a small nod, Winter shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Just then, Madame Roche stepped forward, cradling Lily comfortably in her arms.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. Please continue your conversation.”

“If you don’t have any other plans, why don’t you stay for dinner? We were just about to head to the garden where the table has already been set.”

Madame Roche gently stopped Winter from leaving.

It wasn’t unusual.

The last time Vincent had visited, the three of them had shared a meal together.

As the owner of a salon who frequently welcomed guests, inviting people to dine together came naturally to Madame Roche.

After handing Lily, who was squirming in her arms and clutching her doll, to the nanny, Madame Roche led Winter away without giving her a chance to refuse.

By the time they reached the inner garden, the sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon.

Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, the garden was laid with an array of tempting dishes.

Thin slices of smoked trout.

Pasta coated in a rich cream sauce and sprinkled with finely chopped parsley.

Crispy roasted duck accompanied by buttery mashed potatoes.

Delicious dish after delicious dish was placed before them, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.

“This spot catches a lovely breeze, so it’s cool even during the hottest days of summer. I do hope the meal suits our honored guest, Lord Gabriel.”

“It all looks absolutely delicious.”

Gabriel smiled brightly.

“If I’d known this was waiting for me, I would have skipped lunch. I’m already regretting eating earlier.”