Harriet’s eyes took in the world passing slowly outside the window.

‘Clock tower… what’s that building? Ah, it’s a department store. I thought it was some kind of castle.’

While it was fascinating to see buildings she had only read about in books, strangely she didn’t feel particularly moved.

‘I’m bored.’

Lately, Harriet had been thinking only about divorce. But now that she was actually divorced, her mind felt completely empty.

If she arrived at the townhouse like this, she would probably just lie down miserably. Harriet didn’t want that.

‘I need to put something in my head right now.’

Before foolish emotions could take root in her empty mind.

Just then, Harriet’s eyes fell on a bookstore. There were unusually many people in front of it.

‘Come to think of it, today is when the Alpen Magazine comes out.’

At the Usra Earl’s mansion, newspapers were delivered daily, and once a month they received newly published books, with Alpen Magazine among them. Of all those books, Harriet enjoyed the novel “Days” serialized in Alpen Magazine. She had read the previous installment until it was worn out.

Harriet urgently spoke to the coachman.

“Could we stop at the bookstore for a moment?”

“Certainly.”

The coachman stopped the carriage and asked:

“What are you looking for? I can get it for you.”

“No, that’s alright.”

Harriet declined, wanting to explore the inside of the bookstore. The coachman nodded.

“Very well. Take your time.”

“Thank you.”

Harriet quickly approached the bookstore.

But as she neared the bookstore, her steps slowed. Her eyes widened to the size of fists. What she had thought was just passing foot traffic was actually people standing and reading books.

‘What’s going on?’

Was it like this because they were near the train station, or were there many avid readers in Seldel?

‘Will the inside of the bookstore be crowded too?’

Harriet carefully squeezed between people and grabbed the bookstore’s door handle. Just then, she heard strange words from behind.

“Is she really getting divorced?”

Feeling as if the words were directed at her, Harriet quickly turned her head. But the person who spoke was staring intently at a magazine.

‘Is that the Alpen Magazine…?’

Not just that person, but everyone standing here was looking at the Alpen Magazine. She had originally planned to buy it anyway, but now feeling a sense of urgency, Harriet abandoned her plan to browse the bookstore and purchased the Alpen Magazine first.

‘What on earth could be in it…’

After paying and leaving the bookstore, Harriet quickly opened the Alpen Magazine and froze.

<Lovely Lady Diana, from Duchess of Advin back to our Princess.>

What does this mean? Harriet forgot to blink as she read the quite lengthy article. The article described her difficult marriage life like a novel and stated her firm intention to divorce.

‘…She’s really getting divorced?’

At that moment, Harriet recalled Diana’s letter that had arrived for Eugene. Until that letter came, Eugene had said he couldn’t grant her a divorce, but that night he changed his mind. Harriet had naturally thought it was because he was thinking of her father.

‘…Was it because of the Princess?’

Harriet recalled Eugene’s face when he said it would take a long time.

Piale, where Diana lived, was over a week away by ship.

‘No wonder… it seemed strange that he said it would take a long time but wouldn’t tell me exactly where he was going.’

Harriet let out a hollow laugh.

“Haha…”

Hot tears welled up in her distorted round eyes. Her hand holding the magazine trembled. She felt miserable and sorrowful. How could someone treat another person like this until the very end…

‘At least I was fortunate to have asked for the divorce first.’

Fortunate that she could preserve at least a bit of her dignity.

Harriet wiped her tears with her cold fingertips. Through the crowd, she could see the carriage waiting for her. Harriet turned her head and gazed at where people were gathering.

‘Seldel Train Station.’

Wasn’t it said that all railway lines in this country lead here?

Harriet fingered her necklace. Her only possessions were this necklace and that “ruins” Eugene had mentioned.

Since the house would always be there waiting for her, taking just this necklace was like leaving with all her possessions.

‘The clothes and accessories in the townhouse all belong to Eugene anyway.’

Just then, perhaps finding it strange that Harriet was standing alone in the crowd with such a dark expression, the coachman approached her.

“Madam, is something wrong?”

Harriet forced a smile and said:

“I need to go now.”

“Then I’ll take you in the carriage.”

“No. I don’t mean returning to the townhouse.”

The coachman widened his eyes at this sudden statement.

“Pardon? Are you perhaps going to the estate? I was told you would leave tomorrow.”

“Seldel has too many people. I can’t bear to stay here any longer…”

For a moment, Harriet recalled Eugene’s worried face. She took a deep breath to erase that image.

“It’s difficult for me.”

“Then why don’t you wait a little until Mr. Pendleton arrives and leave together? Going alone is…”

“I want to think alone.”

“Ah…”

As the coachman scratched the back of his head hesitantly, Harriet said firmly:

“I’m not even the Countess anymore, so is there really a need for me to go to that mansion?”

‘No, that’s precisely why you should go to the mansion.’

The coachman swallowed words he couldn’t bring himself to say. If Harriet hadn’t divorced, her will would have taken precedence over the butler’s orders. But Harriet was no longer the Countess, and the coachman, as an employee of the Earl’s household, had to follow the butler’s orders.

“But the butler ordered…”

The coachman, who had been carefully choosing his words, closed his mouth firmly. Just seeing the deep fatigue in Harriet’s eyes made his heart heavy.

‘Right. She’s been through a lot. She needs time alone.’

The coachman couldn’t hold Harriet back any longer.

* * *

Entering Seldel Station, Harriet felt lost.

‘Where should I go?’

Her world was extremely narrow. Before marriage, her world was the rural village of Demons, and after marriage, it was the Usra Earl’s mansion. If not for the divorce, she probably would never have come to Seldel.

No matter how much she pondered, Harriet had no idea where to go. She carefully asked the ticket booth clerk:

“Which train departs the soonest?”

The ticket booth clerk looked at Harriet with a sullen expression. Who would ask such a question, he thought, though her attire was fine.

‘Well, must be some eccentric rich person.’

The clerk squared his shoulders.

“The train to Bedna is the soonest. It will depart in 15 minutes.”

“Is that far from here?”

“Yes, quite far. It stops at more than ten stations along the way.”

Harriet hurriedly opened her wallet.

“How much is it?”

“150 pence.”

Harriet’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.

‘150 pence? How many bags of flour is that?’

The clerk, noticing her hesitating fingers, said:

“If you want to take this train, you need to hurry.”

“Ah, I understand.”

It must be expensive because it’s going far, she thought. Harriet quickly paid and received her ticket.

“Go to Platform 3.”

“Thank you! Have a nice day!”

The clerk craned his neck to watch Harriet’s retreating figure.

‘What rich lady acts so humbly?’

Usually, wealthy people don’t buy tickets themselves. Especially women—they send their maids.

‘Anyway, you have a good day too, madam.’

Unaware that someone was blessing her in their heart, Harriet quickly headed to Platform 3. There she saw a green train that looked ready to depart at any moment.

‘Is this the one I should board?’

Spotting a station attendant guiding passengers, Harriet approached and asked:

“Excuse me, is this the train to Bedna?”

“Yes, madam. If you give me your ticket, I’ll guide you to your seat.”

When Harriet handed over her ticket, the attendant smiled brightly and led her to a particularly ornate compartment.

“Car 2, seat 2. I hope you have a pleasant journey.”

“Thank you.”

Boarding the train, Harriet opened the door of the compartment marked with a small “2.” The seats were as comfortable as those on the train she had taken to Seldel.

‘It was expensive because it’s first class.’

Could they have guided her to first class even though cheaper regular seats were available?

‘No. First class must have been the only option left.’

Thinking this way made the expense seem less wasteful. Harriet sat down and took a breath. Though she had acted cool and calm, she knew she had boarded the train on a completely impulsive decision.

‘What am I going to do now?’

The future seemed dark. Yet she didn’t feel the slightest desire to go back.

Just then, someone hurriedly opened the door.

“Oh my, I thought I’d miss the train! Good thing I ran!”

Her eyelids were painted with deep purple makeup, and her lips were as vibrant as roses. Her dress was so voluminous that it was hard to believe she had run in it. Yet despite her extravagant appearance, her fragrance wasn’t overpowering. It was very subtle.

“Call me whenever you need anything.”

A young girl’s voice was heard from behind the woman.

“Alright. See you in a bit.”

The woman, turning her head slightly to acknowledge, gave Harriet a bright smile.