Robert was genuinely surprised to see Eden show interest in something.

Recalling a conversation he had recently had with the villa’s steward, he quickly replied,

“Ah, yes. I heard about it from the steward here. Not long ago, Marchioness Regner sent over some tea leaves, and someone from that salon came to deliver them.”

“Tea leaves?”

“Yes. This tea is the very gift the Marchioness sent.”

When Eden looked at him questioningly, Robert quickly gestured toward the teacup.

“They say these tea leaves aren’t officially imported yet, so they’re quite difficult to find in Karten. The aroma is delicate, and the flavor is exceptionally rich. I believe that’s why the Marchioness went out of her way to send them.”

Robert added the explanation he had carefully confirmed with the maid beforehand.

Meanwhile, Eden silently drank his tea.

He wasn’t savoring its aroma or appreciating its flavor as Robert had suggested.

His thoughts remained fixed on the painting he had seen in the drawing room of the Regner estate.

An inexplicable feeling continued to stir within him.

The fact that he couldn’t understand why only made it more unsettling.

Eden’s gaze drifted toward the deep blue-green sea beyond the window.

‘Even if that exact painting isn’t there…’

‘The salon should have other works by the same artist.’

Rather than letting this nameless feeling continue to gnaw at him, it would be better to see for himself.

Setting down his teacup, Eden spoke.

“I’ll go out tomorrow. I only intend to look at the paintings in the salon, so I don’t want to attract unnecessary attention.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll inform the attendants.”

Robert’s face brightened.

No matter how many times he had suggested a boat ride or horseback riding, Eden had refused to leave the villa.

Now, for the first time, the Duke himself had mentioned going out.

It had been a very long time since Eden had shown interest in anything.

That alone felt like a welcome change.

***

It had drizzled lightly before dawn.

After eating a light breakfast, Winter left the house earlier than usual.

She hadn’t been able to visit the salon for a few days as she had been putting the finishing touches to a painting.

But today, she had to go.

With preparations for the festival in full swing, several employees would be occupied with the event all day.

Joanna, who was staying behind at the salon, simply wouldn’t have enough staff to manage everything on her own.

Even though she wouldn’t be able to finish all her own work, Winter had already decided that she would spend the day helping out at the salon.

She briskly made her way along the stone path, still damp from the morning rain, and soon arrived at the brightly lit windows.

As she pushed open the door, she was greeted by warm air carrying the mingled scents of ink, paper, and dried flowers.

After taking off her coat, Winter looked around the salon.

“Joanna? I’m here.”

Her gentle voice drifted softly through the room.

No answer came, but Winter already knew where Joanna would most likely be at this hour.

Setting down her hat, she headed toward the staff room.

***

Roche Salon

Eden stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the sign hanging beneath the dark wooden awning.

After taking in the elegant gold lettering engraved in flowing script, he slowly lifted his gaze.

The three-storey stone building had a refined exterior, untouched by passing trends.

His eyes lingered on the arched windows and their gracefully ornamented frames before he turned towards the entrance.

He had already dismissed the attendant who had accompanied him, telling him there was no need to follow.

Alone, he entered the salon.

It felt absurd to have come all this way for such a reason.

But it was better than allowing a single painting to occupy his thoughts endlessly.

“Welcome.”

It was just after midday when Joanna warmly greeted the visitor who had entered the salon.

It was an unusually quiet day for business, and he was her first customer of the day.

Having spent the morning sorting through paperwork, Joanna rose from her seat and smiled brightly.

The gentleman before her was someone she had never seen before.

He wore a light grey coat and a black fedora.

Even a glimpse of his features beneath the brim was enough to banish all traces of drowsiness.

He was, quite simply, strikingly handsome.

Everything about him was extraordinary: the way he dressed, the way he walked and the way he held his gaze.

Having spent years attending to noble customers at the salon, Joanna instinctively straightened her posture.

“May I prepare a cup of hot tea for you first?”

She offered politely.

The gentleman declined with a brief shake of his head, then slowly surveyed the room.

Rather than approaching him again, Joanna remained at a respectful distance.

If he had come to admire the paintings, it was best to let him do so in peace.

After making a complete circuit of the salon, the gentleman finally spoke.

“Aside from the paintings on display, are there any others that can be viewed?”

Who had been listening attentively all along, Joanna answered without hesitation.

“Yes. We have a separate exhibition gallery and a storage room for paintings upstairs. Is there a particular artist or painting you’re interested in? If you let me know, I can check for you right away.”

“I heard the Regner family recently purchased a landscape painting. I’d like to see other works by that artist.”

‘The Regner family…’

Joanna searched her memory before her eyes lit up.

“Oh, I know which painting you mean. If it’s the one the Regner family recently purchased, we have another work by the same artist on display upstairs. I’ll take you there.”

Joanna quickly led the way down the corridor lined with plush carpeting.

The gentleman remained silent as they climbed the stairs.

Glancing back from time to time, Joanna continued her explanation.

“The painting only arrived about a week ago. It happens to be a quiet day today, so you’ll be able to enjoy it without interruption.”

Before long, they arrived at the exhibition gallery on the second floor.

The walls were adorned with large and small framed paintings, bathed in the soft afternoon sunlight slanting in through the windows.

Joanna stopped beside one of the paintings and gestured towards it.

“This is the one you’re looking for.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything. Please take your time looking around, and if you need assistance, just ring the bell over there.”

After glancing around the room one last time, Joanna quietly excused herself.

Today’s visitor didn’t seem to be someone who appreciated unnecessary conversation.

Softening her footsteps, she didn’t go straight downstairs.

Instead, she made her way to the storage room tucked away at the end of the corridor.

Opening the door slightly, she saw that Winter had been working since the morning.

Her hair was tied back low, and her shoulders were bent in concentration as she carefully organised one framed painting after another.

“Winter.”

“Oh, Joanna. When did you get here?”

“Just now. There’s a customer in the exhibition gallery. He said he wanted to look at the paintings. I thought I’d let you know, just in case.”

“Alright. If he’s looking for anything in particular, I’ll help him.”

In response to Joanna’s whispered warning, Winter nodded reassuringly.

Having spent so much time working at the salon, dealing with customers had become second nature to her.

“I doubt that’ll be necessary, though.” He hardly says a word. Don’t overwork yourself. It’s not as if everything has to be finished today. I’ll head back downstairs in case more customers arrive.”

Joanna gave her a cheerful little wave and quietly closed the door behind her.

Half past twelve.

After checking the clock, Winter returned to her work.

For a salon that was usually bustling with activity, the afternoon was unusually quiet.

***

Left alone, Eden fixed his attention on the painting.

Beneath a softly glowing blue horizon stood a little girl building a sandcastle.

Once again, he found it impossible to look away.

‘Why?’

It was only then that Eden realized this.

He had come all the way here just to see the work of an artist whose name he didn’t even know.

That was the reason he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the landscape hanging in the Regner estate.

Every painting carried traces of winter.

The blending of colors.

The lines infused with light.

The delicate yet expressive brushstrokes.

Every part of it felt achingly familiar.

“…Have I finally lost my mind?”

Eden stood a few steps back from the wall, letting out a bitter laugh at himself.

The last time, he thought he could hear her voice.

Now, he was clinging to a painting.

A cynical smile tugged at his lips as he took another step back.

Just then, he heard someone approaching.

Eden casually turned his head.

He assumed it was the salon employee who had returned earlier.

Without a word, he headed towards the wide, open entrance.

The exhibition hall wasn’t particularly large and there were no doors separating it from the corridor.

As he reached the hallway, he was about to call out when he saw someone.

He froze.

Every sound vanished.

It felt as though the entire world had tilted beneath him.

Light brown hair.

Eyes of the same gentle shade.

A slender face that made her graceful features stand out all the more.

“…!”

It was winter.

His mind went completely blank.

For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether the woman in front of him was real or just another illusion created by his desperate longing.

Winter was carrying a large box towards him from the other end of the corridor, meeting his gaze as she came closer.

The familiar silhouette.

The familiar face.

Startled, she came to an abrupt stop.

Gripping the sharp corner of the box tightly, she took a quiet breath.

She had never wanted to meet him like this.

Not here.

Not at the salon.

They stood staring at each other in complete silence until Winter was the first to move.

She carefully lowered the box she was carrying to the floor.

To Eden, every movement seemed unbearably slow.

Only then did the numbness that had overtaken him begin to lift.

This wasn’t an illusion that would disappear in an instant.

Winter was alive.

‘Then why…’

‘Why did everyone tell me you were dead…?’

“…Winter.”