[Chloe looked down at the face of the man lying next to her.
Gerard Blanchett, who was laying in bed, with softly disheveled blonde hair, and long eyelashes. That pretty nose bridge and cherry-red lips.
‘This is the last time I’ll ever see this face.’
It was so painful to see him being in love with Leila again. Her feelings for him had diminished just as the seawater evaporated under the sunshine. That’s why…
‘I thought I wouldn’t be sad anymore.’
However, she choked up at the sight of Gerard, whose eyes were tightly shut. A gloomy feeling filled her heart. It felt like a heavy cloud that could rain at any moment.
‘Don’t cry, don’t cry…’
However, Chloe didn’t burst into tears.
She just slowly caressed her stomach with one of her hands. Just as salt that was left behind by the evaporated seawater. It was painful, but it was necessary so that she could meet Abel.
‘You have to be stronger. You are a mother. So…’
It was clear that she would want to cry many times in the future. However, she had to remain strong for Abel’s sake.
‘Don’t cry.’
Chloe unnecessarily rubbed her nose to shake off the emotions inside. She pulled up the blanket that had slipped away from her husband’s body.
‘I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be sick even when I’m gone.’
She mumbled to herself while fiddling with the hem of the blanket.
‘No, I honestly want you to be in a lot of pain. I hope you won’t be able to eat, sleep properly and cry every day.’
However, the conspicuous selfishness immediately reared its hideous head. She didn’t know if it was regret or something else.
‘Even so, I hope you’ll get over it soon and continue your life as if it doesn’t matter. I wish you happiness, and please…’
Chloe swallowed dryly and continue her final wish upon him.
‘Live a long life.’
The sight of Gerard’s body, which was cold before her, was blurry.
The memories of the past where she stood in front of her husband’s lifeless figure just before she returned to the past. It was still vivid.
Gerard returned from a cold death. And she cried in front of him. She cried until she ran out of breath as if the world had collapsed.
She thought he died because of her. She thought she was the one who pushed him to his death.
She couldn’t endure the misery. At that moment, the book that used to appear in Chloe’s dream, appeared in front of her just before she completely lost her mind.
It told a future that she couldn’t and didn’t want to repeat again. For both of them.
She couldn’t be happy by Gerard’s side, and he also couldn’t live long when she was by his side.
Therefore, it was time to put a stop to this toxic relationship that was feeding on both of them completely.
“…Goodbye, honey.”
Chloe said her farewell for the last time before she left the bedroom.
-I adore you so much, my Lady.
It was the farewell to the man he was now, and also to who he was in her previous life. The thought of his past self made her stop in her tracks.
‘I loved you too, so much.’
Leaving those words behind, Chloe headed to the place where the coachman she had hired had been waiting for her. They visited the Dark Guild.
She needed to go as far as she could before the effects of the sleeping pills that Gerard had taken wore off. She wasn’t really reassured because he was only given a small amount.
Her pace gradually grew faster.]
“Huh…”
Gerard’s breathing became erratic. He clutched his chest and bit his lip, but the lingering sorrow never went away.
Chloe left him.
Chloe abandoned him.
He was afraid that she would leave, but never thought she would really leave him.
There was a part of him that denied it even though he clearly sensed that she was getting tired.
Arrogance. Arrogance stabbed Gerard Blanchett in a horrible way. He could only call out to Chloe at the vivid pain.
“Chloe…”
Gerard fell on his knees.
“Please, please…”
‘Please don’t leave me.’
However, the rest of the words didn’t come out of his mouth. He didn’t even dare to catch Chloe because he knew how hurt she was.
She had no choice but to leave because she loved him. He didn’t understand it, it didn’t make sense to him, and he couldn’t understand anything even more now.
‘Why am I such a terrible person to you?’
He loved her so much. She had such a noble spirit. That’s why he had always been so careful with her. Why did it seem as if he just hurt and inflicted pain on her?
“Why…”
Gerard leaned forward. At last, his nose hit the floor, but he didn’t lift his face.
He scratched the floor with his shaky hands. He didn’t usually let out any noise, but now it was a desperate cry.
Not even when his father died, nor when he cut ties with his mother, nor when he sent Leila to Frederick.
He, who had never cried, finally broke down. Even though he had been so careful not to be too attached to others, he couldn’t do it this time.
He’d give everything just to be with her.
Turning that wish into a prayer that Chloe would stop hurting. That was all he could do.
He couldn’t let her go, but he had to.
Rustle.
The pages turned again.
[Chloe moved as secretly as she could without straining herself.
She changed coachmen several times on the way. She also told the coachmen the final destination differently each time. It was done to avoid leaving trail even when she got caught.
She would stay in a nearby village when the inspection was heavy, and headed east when she passed.
“I must inspect you for a moment. What family are you from?”
“I’m from the Diaz Family.”
Chloe held out a mirror engraved with the pattern of Baron Diaz’s crest, which she previously obtained. She looked like a noble from the countryside, dressed in out-of-fashion clothes and a pale gold wig.
“Well, why are you travelling on your own?”
“I’m here to visit my family, but then I received news that my husband was in critical condition, so I have to return quickly. Why are there so many inspections lately?”
She asked while putting up an act.
“I’m looking for someone by the Imperial order. I can’t give out any details.”
The security guard stared at Chloe’s blue eyes and blond hair for a moment, then back at the paper in his hand.
Chloe took out the gold coins she had kept in her sleeve.
“Pardon me, but can you let me pass now? I know I’m certainly not whoever you’re looking for. My husband is severely ill, so I have to get going…”
She pleaded to the knight while handing him gold coins, appearing as innocent as she could.
“Hm, hm. Don’t you know I’ll be in trouble if I accept something like this these days?”
Despite his words, he received the gold coins from Chloe.
“Oh… It works in the eastern continent, but not here? I didn’t know that.”
Chloe said with an embarrassed smile.
Was her acting outstanding or were the inspectors blinded by money? Although she did not know why, Chloe was able to reach the East safely.]
Rustle.
[A few years later, a widow named Claudia Diaz appeared in the northeastern society.
“You came out today.”
“Yes. I had something to ask, but it turns out it doesn’t matter!”
Baroness Diaz was very mysterious. The eastern nobles agreed on that fact.
“It has been a long time since I last saw you, Baroness.”
One lady spoke softly to Claudia.
“May you rest in the peaceful arms of the Empire. It’s been a long time since I saw you.”
Actually, eastern nobles didn’t welcome such a strange widow from the beginning. However, Claudia was accepted into the community in no time.
Firstly, she was fastidious about fashion in the Capital. She was able to point out things that would become popular in the future.
“No, my Lady. The outsider asked if we should invest in the ship that departs this time. It’ll come back safely, won’t it?”
Plus, she had a good sense of finance. It has been rumored that the ships she invested in were bound to be successful.
“Unfortunately, it is not in my field to predict success, Madame.”
Claudia turned down the straightforward question.
Also, considering she was a baroness, her accent and demeanor were similar to nobles who came from the Capital. She never spoke or acted in vain.
It made an impression that she was a noble and the eastern nobles couldn’t treat her recklessly.
Claudia maintained a constant distance from the people in the East. She would go into seclusion when people noticed her too much, and make an appearance again after the attention diminished.
She made an appearance after taking a break from the community for some time.
“Phew…”
Claudia, no, Chloe sighed once she was sat inside the carriage. Fake name and fake identity. She didn’t feel pleased to meet people with fake identities.
She stroked her stiff cheeks with an awkward smile.
Nevertheless, Chloe regularly made an appearance in society. Abel was obviously the reason she attended such burdensome events regularly.
If Abel became the Baron of Diaz, he would need a social reputation. That’s why she started to build the groundwork as soon as she could.
To make sure that not having a father wouldn’t be a flaw to him. It was her mother’s instinct to make sure that he wouldn’t lack anything.
Then, the carriage stopped in front of a housing complex.
“My Lady, we’ve arrived.”
Chloe smiled brightly at the coachman who opened and held the door for her.
“Thank you. I’ll be right back.”
After saying so, she walked into the house. She was going to give a present to her friend while she was out.
“Welcome, Baroness.”
“Long time no see, Linda.”
Linda, who managed the house, greeted her casually.
“Please wait a moment and have some of these cookies, I just baked them.”
Chloe nodded at Linda’s delightful words and nodded along.
“Let me call the master!”
“Thank you.”
Chloe settled and waited for Linda to call her master.
Theodore Monnet. She had come to see the only friend she had made in the East.]
[Chloe looked down at the face of the man lying next to her.
Gerard Blanchett, who was laying in bed, with softly disheveled blonde hair, and long eyelashes. That pretty nose bridge and cherry-red lips.
‘This is the last time I’ll ever see this face.’
It was so painful to see him being in love with Leila again. Her feelings for him had diminished just as the seawater evaporated under the sunshine. That’s why…
‘I thought I wouldn’t be sad anymore.’
However, she choked up at the sight of Gerard, whose eyes were tightly shut. A gloomy feeling filled her heart. It felt like a heavy cloud that could rain at any moment.
‘Don’t cry, don’t cry…’
However, Chloe didn’t burst into tears.
She just slowly caressed her stomach with one of her hands. Just as salt that was left behind by the evaporated seawater. It was painful, but it was necessary so that she could meet Abel.
‘You have to be stronger. You are a mother. So…’
It was clear that she would want to cry many times in the future. However, she had to remain strong for Abel’s sake.
‘Don’t cry.’
Chloe unnecessarily rubbed her nose to shake off the emotions inside. She pulled up the blanket that had slipped away from her husband’s body.
‘I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be sick even when I’m gone.’
She mumbled to herself while fiddling with the hem of the blanket.
‘No, I honestly want you to be in a lot of pain. I hope you won’t be able to eat, sleep properly and cry every day.’
However, the conspicuous selfishness immediately reared its hideous head. She didn’t know if it was regret or something else.
‘Even so, I hope you’ll get over it soon and continue your life as if it doesn’t matter. I wish you happiness, and please…’
Chloe swallowed dryly and continue her final wish upon him.
‘Live a long life.’
The sight of Gerard’s body, which was cold before her, was blurry.
The memories of the past where she stood in front of her husband’s lifeless figure just before she returned to the past. It was still vivid.
Gerard returned from a cold death. And she cried in front of him. She cried until she ran out of breath as if the world had collapsed.
She thought he died because of her. She thought she was the one who pushed him to his death.
She couldn’t endure the misery. At that moment, the book that used to appear in Chloe’s dream, appeared in front of her just before she completely lost her mind.
It told a future that she couldn’t and didn’t want to repeat again. For both of them.
She couldn’t be happy by Gerard’s side, and he also couldn’t live long when she was by his side.
Therefore, it was time to put a stop to this toxic relationship that was feeding on both of them completely.
“…Goodbye, honey.”
Chloe said her farewell for the last time before she left the bedroom.
-I adore you so much, my Lady.
It was the farewell to the man he was now, and also to who he was in her previous life. The thought of his past self made her stop in her tracks.
‘I loved you too, so much.’
Leaving those words behind, Chloe headed to the place where the coachman she had hired had been waiting for her. They visited the Dark Guild.
She needed to go as far as she could before the effects of the sleeping pills that Gerard had taken wore off. She wasn’t really reassured because he was only given a small amount.
Her pace gradually grew faster.]
“Huh…”
Gerard’s breathing became erratic. He clutched his chest and bit his lip, but the lingering sorrow never went away.
Chloe left him.
Chloe abandoned him.
He was afraid that she would leave, but never thought she would really leave him.
There was a part of him that denied it even though he clearly sensed that she was getting tired.
Arrogance. Arrogance stabbed Gerard Blanchett in a horrible way. He could only call out to Chloe at the vivid pain.
“Chloe…”
Gerard fell on his knees.
“Please, please…”
‘Please don’t leave me.’
However, the rest of the words didn’t come out of his mouth. He didn’t even dare to catch Chloe because he knew how hurt she was.
She had no choice but to leave because she loved him. He didn’t understand it, it didn’t make sense to him, and he couldn’t understand anything even more now.
‘Why am I such a terrible person to you?’
He loved her so much. She had such a noble spirit. That’s why he had always been so careful with her. Why did it seem as if he just hurt and inflicted pain on her?
“Why…”
Gerard leaned forward. At last, his nose hit the floor, but he didn’t lift his face.
He scratched the floor with his shaky hands. He didn’t usually let out any noise, but now it was a desperate cry.
Not even when his father died, nor when he cut ties with his mother, nor when he sent Leila to Frederick.
He, who had never cried, finally broke down. Even though he had been so careful not to be too attached to others, he couldn’t do it this time.
He’d give everything just to be with her.
Turning that wish into a prayer that Chloe would stop hurting. That was all he could do.
He couldn’t let her go, but he had to.
Rustle.
The pages turned again.
[Chloe moved as secretly as she could without straining herself.
She changed coachmen several times on the way. She also told the coachmen the final destination differently each time. It was done to avoid leaving trail even when she got caught.
She would stay in a nearby village when the inspection was heavy, and headed east when she passed.
“I must inspect you for a moment. What family are you from?”
“I’m from the Diaz Family.”
Chloe held out a mirror engraved with the pattern of Baron Diaz’s crest, which she previously obtained. She looked like a noble from the countryside, dressed in out-of-fashion clothes and a pale gold wig.
“Well, why are you travelling on your own?”
“I’m here to visit my family, but then I received news that my husband was in critical condition, so I have to return quickly. Why are there so many inspections lately?”
She asked while putting up an act.
“I’m looking for someone by the Imperial order. I can’t give out any details.”
The security guard stared at Chloe’s blue eyes and blond hair for a moment, then back at the paper in his hand.
Chloe took out the gold coins she had kept in her sleeve.
“Pardon me, but can you let me pass now? I know I’m certainly not whoever you’re looking for. My husband is severely ill, so I have to get going…”
She pleaded to the knight while handing him gold coins, appearing as innocent as she could.
“Hm, hm. Don’t you know I’ll be in trouble if I accept something like this these days?”
Despite his words, he received the gold coins from Chloe.
“Oh… It works in the eastern continent, but not here? I didn’t know that.”
Chloe said with an embarrassed smile.
Was her acting outstanding or were the inspectors blinded by money? Although she did not know why, Chloe was able to reach the East safely.]
Rustle.
[A few years later, a widow named Claudia Diaz appeared in the northeastern society.
“You came out today.”
“Yes. I had something to ask, but it turns out it doesn’t matter!”
Baroness Diaz was very mysterious. The eastern nobles agreed on that fact.
“It has been a long time since I last saw you, Baroness.”
One lady spoke softly to Claudia.
“May you rest in the peaceful arms of the Empire. It’s been a long time since I saw you.”
Actually, eastern nobles didn’t welcome such a strange widow from the beginning. However, Claudia was accepted into the community in no time.
Firstly, she was fastidious about fashion in the Capital. She was able to point out things that would become popular in the future.
“No, my Lady. The outsider asked if we should invest in the ship that departs this time. It’ll come back safely, won’t it?”
Plus, she had a good sense of finance. It has been rumored that the ships she invested in were bound to be successful.
“Unfortunately, it is not in my field to predict success, Madame.”
Claudia turned down the straightforward question.
Also, considering she was a baroness, her accent and demeanor were similar to nobles who came from the Capital. She never spoke or acted in vain.
It made an impression that she was a noble and the eastern nobles couldn’t treat her recklessly.
Claudia maintained a constant distance from the people in the East. She would go into seclusion when people noticed her too much, and make an appearance again after the attention diminished.
She made an appearance after taking a break from the community for some time.
“Phew…”
Claudia, no, Chloe sighed once she was sat inside the carriage. Fake name and fake identity. She didn’t feel pleased to meet people with fake identities.
She stroked her stiff cheeks with an awkward smile.
Nevertheless, Chloe regularly made an appearance in society. Abel was obviously the reason she attended such burdensome events regularly.
If Abel became the Baron of Diaz, he would need a social reputation. That’s why she started to build the groundwork as soon as she could.
To make sure that not having a father wouldn’t be a flaw to him. It was her mother’s instinct to make sure that he wouldn’t lack anything.
Then, the carriage stopped in front of a housing complex.
“My Lady, we’ve arrived.”
Chloe smiled brightly at the coachman who opened and held the door for her.
“Thank you. I’ll be right back.”
After saying so, she walked into the house. She was going to give a present to her friend while she was out.
“Welcome, Baroness.”
“Long time no see, Linda.”
Linda, who managed the house, greeted her casually.
“Please wait a moment and have some of these cookies, I just baked them.”
Chloe nodded at Linda’s delightful words and nodded along.
“Let me call the master!”
“Thank you.”
Chloe settled and waited for Linda to call her master.
Theodore Monnet. She had come to see the only friend she had made in the East.]
