Pendleton’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Still, the master will not allow it.”

“No. Eugene will permit it.”

Harriet gazed beyond the window. The scenery that she hadn’t grown accustomed to in five years was shining brilliantly.

‘If Eugene thinks about my father, he’ll have no choice but to agree.’

If he could go through with a marriage he disliked, wouldn’t divorce be even easier?

* * *

After reading the letter for a long time, Eugene turned his head. The sunlight that had been pouring in brilliantly with the color of green leaves had disappeared without a trace, replaced by a deep blue darkness.

‘When did the time…’

Eugene sighed and pressed his temple firmly. His head ached from the sudden rush of events.

‘Divorce…’

Eugene knew he wasn’t a good husband. He had been consciously avoiding Harriet all along.

Because in Eugene’s heart, there had always been someone else.

“…”

Eugene turned his gaze back to the letter. Although it was too dark to see clearly, he had read it so many times that the words seemed etched in his mind.

<Hello, friend of my soul.

I’ll get straight to the point. I’m getting divorced. No, I must get divorced.

Eugene. I’ve been deceived! My husband has lost the intelligence he showed when he proposed. He’s completely forgotten his promise not to have children until I was ready, and keeps insisting we have a child. When I begged him to keep his promise, he turned on me fiercely. If I stay like this, I might suffocate to death.

A week ago, my friend Roanna was traveling to Piale, so I casually mentioned my situation. Do you remember Roanna? She’s engaged to the heir of Alpen. Ah! I believe you’ll remember the heir of Alpen too. We attended college together. Although he didn’t hang out with us, he was that person’s friend, so you should at least recognize his face.>

Eugene frowned when reading the part that mentioned “that person.” There was a time when he had wished that name would never come from her lips again.

‘Kind Diana would never have imagined I had such thoughts…’

Eugene smiled bitterly.

<Anyway, Roanna is like a gossip bird, so she’ll surely chatter about me to her fiancé. I’m certain that my unfortunate story will be in the magazines soon. I’m displeased that my misfortune will be consumed like people’s snacks, but I had no choice. My father would never permit a divorce. And what about my sisters? They would never take my side.

Ah. Soon my surroundings will be as chaotic as a sea struck by a typhoon. I cannot withstand this typhoon alone. There’s no one in Piale who can help me. So, my friend Eugene, to whom I can reveal all my secrets without reservation, I need your help. Would you please fly to my side as soon as possible and be my strength? If you help me, my salvation will not be difficult to achieve.

With deep gratitude, Diana, who always longs for the days we spent together.>

Concern didn’t leave Eugene’s eyes. Diana. His first love. As intense as the sun and a new wind that the world, trapped in discrimination and prejudice, should emulate.

‘Even in college, she didn’t discriminate against the gentry. Rather, she respected them.’

To Eugene, she was a friend who shared his ideals, someone he respected, and furthermore, someone he loved. How could he not love someone like her, who was like a summer rose?

Eugene loved her intensely, like a summer cold that’s hard to catch but lasts a long time once you do. Yet he thought he had slowly forgotten her over the past five years.

‘I was planning to try to do better with Harriet from now on.’

But with just this one letter, memories and emotions he thought he had forgotten came rushing back helplessly. Eugene wanted to rush to her side immediately to support her. He wanted to see that smiling face.

‘You fool.’

Eugene bowed his head.

He felt sorry for Harriet. Eugene wasn’t just a bad husband—he was a terrible one. It was only natural for Harriet to ask him for a divorce, and Eugene had no right to hold her back.

In Eugene’s dark study, the sound of Diana playing the piano continued to echo.

* * *

Harriet visited the capital city of Seldel for the first time. As much as she wanted to explore this splendid city…

‘It doesn’t seem right to sightsee when I came here for a divorce.’

Unlike their marriage, which faced numerous objections, the divorce was concluded very simply. This was possible because Harriet didn’t want any division of property.

Eugene wanted to provide for her like someone who owed a debt, but Harriet refused. She disliked the fact that it would take several months for the divorce to be approved if they divided the assets, and above all, she didn’t want to receive anything from Eugene.

‘It might be my stubbornness, but… this feels right.’

In any case, the two became strangers in just half a day. Now she was “Harriet Desher” again.

‘It feels empty somehow.’

Eugene, following behind Harriet as she descended the courthouse steps, was as pale as someone having a nightmare. If a journalist or another noble had seen this, quite an interesting rumor would have spread, but today there were no nobles in sight, not even the journalists who usually loitered in front of the courthouse. But Harriet didn’t know what Seldel was normally like, so she didn’t realize how unusual this peacefulness was.

“Harriet. I’ve told Pendleton. You can return to the mansion by train tomorrow morning.”

“The mansion?”

Her voice suggested, “Why would I go there?” Eugene felt a pang in his heart.

“…We’re not done talking yet. I absolutely won’t send you away empty-handed.”

“I told you I don’t need anything.”

“Why are you so cold? You could just accept it.”

At that moment, Pendleton, who had been standing by the carriage, approached and said:

“Earl, if you want to make it in time for departure, we need to leave now.”

Harriet blinked her eyes wide. She thought he had some business to attend to since he told her to go to the mansion first, but departure?

“Where are you going?”

Harriet asked in a voice so small only Eugene could hear.

“…”

Avoiding her eyes, Eugene rubbed the back of his neck and moved his lips quickly.

“It looks like it will take quite a while. So please wait at the mansion.”

Harriet found it strange that Eugene was being evasive, but she had no intention of questioning him.

“Forget it. I’ll return to Demons, and if you really need to talk, call for me later.”

“You’re going back to that house? No one has lived there for five years! It’s probably almost in ruins. I absolutely cannot allow you to stay in such a place. So…”

“I’m uncomfortable at the mansion.”

Harriet said with a sigh in her voice. Eugene momentarily forgot to breathe, recalling how Harriet looked when she first came to the mansion.

“Wow, it’s really magnificent! Do you really live in a place like this?”

He had thought she was cute, smiling so innocently like a child.

“If you’re really uncomfortable… Would you rather stay in Seldel? It’s your first time here. Why not think of it as a trip and enjoy sightseeing at your leisure? Seldel has so much to see, you’ll never be bored.”

Eugene spoke in a tone closer to pleading than requesting.

“Earl.”

Pendleton urged. Eugene exhaled a sigh, emphasized “Alright?” once more, and then boarded the carriage.

“I’ve prepared a carriage for you as well, Madam. Let’s go to the carriage.”

Pendleton approached Harriet and guided her to the carriage prepared right behind.

‘He shouldn’t call me Madam anymore.’

Harriet briefly considered saying something but simply smiled and boarded the carriage.

‘He’s so busy, is there any need to nitpick?’

The carriage carrying Eugene and Pendleton departed first, followed by the one carrying Harriet.

* * *

At the same time in Edal. A groan was heard from a room where not a single ray of light was permitted through the thick curtains.

“Ugh…”

There was an explosion so intense it made his body vibrate. Metallic-smelling dust obscured his vision and all sounds became distant. Even through the eerie, continuous ringing in his ears, gunshots could be heard. His body felt heavy as if coated in mud from head to toe, but there was no time to hesitate. If he didn’t get up, he would die.

“Ugh!”

As soon as he put his foot down, dirt mixed with stones poured from the side. He barely took one step and collapsed into a puddle. A comrade who had been complaining just moments ago fell without even a scream. His eyes were still open, as if he hadn’t foreseen death. His heart pounded throughout his body. He thought of that child.

“Uncle. I’m so scared.”

He needed to protect his nephew. He had to save that child who couldn’t even properly pick a flower…

‘Where is that child now?’

“Huh!”

Richard sat up abruptly. Beads of cold sweat formed on his chest beneath his unbuttoned shirt.

‘What time is it? Where am I? The trench was certainly…’

Richard felt his body. It was wet with sweat but not as damp as ‘back then.’

Breathing heavily, he smelled the room. Paper, ink, dust… No smell of blood or metal.

“D*mn it…”

Taking medicine and still waking up from such dreams.

Richard pushed back his long black hair. His sharp, deep eyes crinkled with displeasure.

“Huff…”

After exhaling a deep sigh, he got up and stood in front of the window. Just standing by the window made his heart race.

‘Calm down. This is your writing room. There’s nothing in this cramped room except manuscripts, and there’s nothing but d*mn fields out there.’

After reassuring himself, he roughly pulled back the curtains. The fields shone beautifully under the sunlight. It was a chillingly beautiful and majestic scene, but there was no appreciation in his blue eyes. Instead, a dark anxiety consumed him.

“Huh!”

Richard inhaled sharply and quickly closed the curtains. Even though he had prepared himself to look, the bright light still reminded him of an ominous flash.

“D*mn it.”

How long would he have to live like this? How long would he have to struggle in this terrible hell?

‘Until death, I suppose?’

Richard let out a small, hollow laugh.

‘As it should be.’