Chapter 60

The cathedral’s nave, where Oliver Hughes’s funeral mass was taking place, was restricted to only key figures. As such, the servants and attendants accompanying them had to wait in a designated seating area in the courtyard. 

Walter, the commander of the Kaiserliche, and Philip, Erhen’s subordinate, were both nobles holding the titles of Earl and Baron, respectively, and thus entered the nave under the pretext of providing escort. However, Adnan, a member of the Kaiserliche, Roberta, who followed Erhen, and Ras, temporarily assigned to guard Lucas, had to remain outside.

The three naturally gathered in one space.

“It’s been a while.”

“Why are you speaking so oddly after so long?”

“Following the Viscountess, who’s in business, I’ve matured a bit.”

“Wow, you two are still the same, even after all this time.”

As Ras and Roberta bickered as if they had just met yesterday, Adnan shook his head in disbelief. It was a familiar sight to him.

Although they served different masters, the three had once been comrades who fought against the Imperial Army. While it wasn’t entirely pleasant to meet again at a funeral, Oliver Hughes was distant enough from them, both physically and emotionally, that they could exchange greetings without hesitation.

“Since His Grace the Duke came down to Heringen, I thought you might come with him, but I got to Hamern first.”

“Wait, Heringen! Wasn’t that supposed to be a vacation? Why is he working there?”

“You think he only worked? He also dated someone.”

At Roberta’s indignant outburst, Ras shrugged his shoulders. Adnan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Dating? With whom?”

“Who else could it be?”

“Could it be the Marchioness of Rosenheim? No, wait, Viscountess Lintz?”

“Exactly.”

“No way!”

When Ras didn’t deny it and answered plainly, Adnan became overly excited. His commotion, ill-suited for the somber atmosphere of a funeral, prompted Roberta to poke his side with her finger, signaling him to quiet down.

Roberta whispered in a low voice.

“Keep your voice down! Honestly, if it weren’t for your skills, your personality would’ve kept you out of the Kaiserliche.”

Adnan rubbed his side as though it hurt, but his expression was still filled with curiosity.

“Fine, fine. But if they’re dating, why did they get divorced in the first place?”

Ras stayed silent. Instead, Roberta appeared to ponder deeply.

“Well… there were plenty of rumors about their marriage being arranged, weren’t there?”

“That’s true.”

“And after the divorce, His Grace the Duke buried himself in work at the ducal estate and the research center.”

Her conjectures, supported by some facts, began to sound plausible.

Ras, who knew the truth about Charlotte and Erhen’s marriage along with Lida, kept his mouth shut. Although their current relationship was an open secret, the truth about the past couldn’t be revealed.

Roberta gestured for Ras and Adnan to come closer. They leaned in.

“So, here’s the thing.”

Roberta spoke with a serious tone.

“They didn’t realize it when they were together, but once they were apart, they finally understood.”

Roberta’s definitive statement made the 22-year-old Adnan’s eyes sparkle like those of a sentimental teenage girl.

“Wow. That’s so romantic.”

“Right? Isn’t it?”

As the two got carried away, Ras stood upright and chuckled softly. From a distance, the romance between His Grace the Duke and the Viscountess might indeed seem romantic. However, Charlotte’s transparent emotions often made things nerve-wracking up close.

Ras took a sip of the drink provided to him, feeling as though he were carrying a secret he couldn’t share with anyone. As he turned his head, his gaze landed on a woman cautiously entering the area through the door.

Her neatly tied dark brown hair and familiar silhouette caught his attention.

Who was she? Where had I seen her before?

As a faint memory teased the edge of his mind, Ras squinted. Following his gaze, Roberta and Adnan also looked at the woman.

“What? Do you know her?”

“I’m not sure. Her silhouette feels very familiar.”

“Hm? She’s a handmaiden from the Princess’s Palace. She must’ve come to assist the Princess.”

Adnan, who had encountered the woman when Michael met Giselle as part of the royal guard, identified her without much thought. Though Ras had no direct connection to the handmaiden, something about her unsettled him.

He was certain he had seen her before. No, it wasn’t just seeing her—he had worked with her.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced, and Ras exclaimed.

“Ah. Malena?”

She was someone he had often encountered during his time in the information guild before joining Charlotte. The only difference now was that she looked a bit older. The fact that she was now serving as a handmaiden in the Princess’s Palace sparked suspicion in him.

As if to confirm his doubts, Adnan tilted his head at Ras’s muttered words.

“Malena? That woman’s name is Petra.”

***

Charlotte opened the café door.

As she stepped into the agreed meeting place, faint, gentle music reached her ears. Walking a bit further inside, she spotted Erhen sitting by the window.

Dressed in black formal attire, he quietly sipped tea while gazing out at the street. Lucas had mentioned earlier that there was a funeral today, and it seemed Erhen had attended.

The black formalwear, which accentuated his composed demeanor, made Erhen appear even more radiant. Seeing him like that brought a natural smile to Charlotte’s lips.

No, this was a failure. 

Pausing mid-step as she smiled, Charlotte closed her eyes and steadied her resolve.

If she didn’t end things with Erhen today, his life would be at risk.

That was why I had practiced, hadn’t I? 

Standing before the mirror at home, rehearsing countless times.

After taking a few deep breaths, Charlotte slowly approached Erhen’s table. Sensing her presence, he looked up.

“Charlotte.”

He rose from his seat.

They said it was a fever.

Whether it was the rain they had been caught in together or something else, Ras had informed him that Charlotte had fallen ill afterward. When he sought to visit her, Lucas personally came to the ducal estate, reassuring him that it was merely a fever and that Charlotte had asked him to pass along her well wishes.

But even so, his worry couldn’t be quelled.

“…How are you feeling?”

Erhen reached out to cup Charlotte’s pale cheek. Just before his hand could touch her, she subtly pulled back.

His hand froze midair.

“Please sit. It’s quite crowded here.”

After speaking, Charlotte took a seat across from him.

Her voice was oddly cold. Erhen, trying not to dwell on it, obediently sat down. Once they were both seated, a warm tea was placed in front of Charlotte. The crimson hibiscus tea in the clear cup glowed brightly.

As the faint herbal aroma enveloped them, Erhen broke the silence.

“You could’ve rested longer before coming. I could’ve waited.”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

His eyes were filled with concern. Charlotte avoided his gaze, wrapping her hands around the still-hot cup.

She must truly look unwell.

After pulling herself together and crying for a long time, she had sent word to Erhen to meet. Despite her family’s protests, she had hurriedly left the house after summoning five attendants to help her get ready.

Today was their last day as lovers. For their final meeting, she wanted to look her best.

“Time really flies.”

“…….”

“It’s already been a month.”

The sudden remark made Erhen’s blue eyes fixate on Charlotte.

She couldn’t bear to meet his gaze. She simply couldn’t face him and utter words of farewell. Her aimless gaze fell to the cup in her hands.

Looking at Erhen, she feared she might confess her love instead of saying goodbye. Before she could even open her mouth, she felt she might throw herself into his arms.

How foolish.

She had known this would happen, yet she had dared to hope for a fleeting dream. She had known how pathetic she would feel.

“Has it really been that long?”

Erhen’s quiet voice broke the silence.

She felt tears welling up again. She thought she had cried everything out before coming here, but apparently, there was still more. Charlotte forced herself to swallow the tears threatening to spill, along with her tea.

Watching her silently sip her tea, Erhen finally spoke.

“Charlotte, I….”

“I’ll speak first.”

Interrupting him, Charlotte looked up as if she had made up her mind. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled as they met his.

That sparkle. The confident glow she always carried.

Erhen had loved that about her. It had been the lifeline that brought color to his barren life, the source of his happiness.

And now, that unnamed feeling began to scream. It begged him to run away, to stop her, to not listen to what she was about to say.

But Erhen couldn’t move. All he could do was remain frozen, staring at Charlotte.

After a few moments of silence, her dry lips finally parted.

“…Let’s end this.”

The world’s sounds faded into the distance.

And so, he came face-to-face with his greatest fear.