The next day, the children were full of excitement about going on a picnic to the lake.
But the adults’ behavior was strange.
If they were going today,
they should have started preparing already—
Yet, they were calmly having tea in the garden.
In the end, unable to hold back,
Renesia asked directly:
“So when are we going to the lake?”
“Oh my, when did I say today? I said I’d take you soon.”
Leila replied shamelessly.
“…What? Not today?”
“What, Mom! You tricked us!”
“Mom!!”
The children were visibly disappointed.
Some even teared up.
“Well, it was a promise made last night. We can’t go immediately, can we? We need the Grand Duke’s permission, an escort from the knights, and lunch prepared from the kitchen.”
Chloe gently explained—
but it didn’t reach them at all.
“I’ll take you tomorrow, tomorrow! Instead, I was going to teach you swordsmanship today. Not interested?”
Leila was wearing training clothes.
At once—
The children’s eyes lit up again.
Abel wanted to become like his father.
Renesia wanted to be like her mother.
Endnoah just wanted to follow them.
All three rushed toward Leila.
“Alright, let’s go over there where it’s spacious.”
Leila winked at Chloe
and led the children away.
She really is the heroine.
Leila still shone brightly.
Standing next to her—
always made Chloe feel like a shadow.
Chloe smiled bitterly
and took a sip of tea.
No wonder my husband loved someone like her…
“Oh, Abel. Your posture is good. Do you take lessons?”
“Yes! From Sir Hume!”
“Mom, me too! Watch me!”
“That’s my daughter! Excellent form!”
“And me? What about me?”
“Haha, Noah, you’ve got the most enthusiasm!”
Watching them from afar,
Chloe calmed her emotions.
Then—
A voice spoke behind her.
“Marchioness Blanchett. You’re as beautiful as ever.”
A red-haired knight greeted her casually.
Herais Moore.
Before she married,
He had pursued her passionately.
“I fell for you at first sight.”
“May I call you by your name?”
“I brought flowers for you…”
“Please marry me.”
His confessions flashed through her mind.
None of them had ever moved her heart.
“…Sir Moore. It’s been a while.”
She greeted him stiffly.
Why didn’t I think I might run into him here?
He was Frederick’s right-hand man.
It was only natural.
“Oh, that must be your son.”
He looked at Abel practicing.
“He has good form.”
“Thank you.”
Chloe didn’t understand
why he kept talking to her.
“We’ve been well, I trust.”
“…Yes. Thanks to you.”
“That’s good.”
“…”
She chose silence.
“You won’t ask how I’ve been?”
He smiled playfully.
“…Have you been well?”
“Not really. The wounds from being rejected by a certain cold-hearted lady haven’t healed.”
He placed a hand over his chest.
Chloe turned away.
“I feel uncomfortable, Sir.”
She drew a firm line.
She had a family now.
“…You haven’t changed.”
He laughed awkwardly.
Still cold.
Still elegant.
Still—
Sad.
He swallowed that thought.
“Until next time.”
He left.
And immediately regretted it.
I should have just walked past.
Seeing his first love after eight years—
had stirred something.
Even her rejection—
felt strangely welcome.
Damn first love… I thought I was over it.
That night,
after putting the children to bed,
Chloe and Leila met in the sitting room.
“What? What?”
Chloe set down her wine
as Leila stared at her knowingly.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t pretend. You saw Sir Moore today.”
“…Ah.”
“Nothing happened. Just a greeting.”
“Hmm, really?”
“Really.”
“Didn’t it bring back memories?”
“No.”
Leila pouted.
“You’ve always been cold to him. You still like Gerard that much?”
Chloe paused—
then nodded.
She hated him.
But—
She loved him.
Even that hatred—
came from love.
“And you’re saying you don’t feel the same?”
She changed the subject.
“…I love Frederick, of course… but lately, I feel suffocated.”
“…?”
“I keep thinking about when we lived together in the capital… it was nice.”
Leila looked nostalgic.
Chloe sensed—
This was her chance.
“Yeah… I miss those days too.”
“I especially miss sneaking out to the night market during the founding festival.”
“Of course I remember. My skirt tore climbing that wall.”
“Haha, right!”
They laughed.
Even though Chloe had a purpose—
She felt nostalgic too.
“Do you remember that young lord who thought we both liked him?”
“Ah… I remember his face, but not his name.”
They got lost in memories.
Even unpleasant ones—
had become something they could laugh about.
Will this… become like that someday too?
Then—
suddenly—
Leila brought up Gerard.
“Gerard was so strange back then.”
“…Hm?”
Chloe froze.
“He used to cry a lot, and he was so possessive and jealous… and now he’s a marquis and a family man.”
“…”
“I feel proud of him. It’s funny.”
This was a side of him—
Chloe didn’t know.
Crying?
Jealous?
Unimaginable.
Because Leila had known him longer—
She knew more.
And every time she said things like this—
it felt like
Leila was still the closest person to him.
Even after eight years of marriage—
It felt meaningless.
“…I’m glad I have someone to share memories with. When I’m alone, I just read old letters.”
Chloe changed the subject.
It was time
to break this cycle.
“Same. I read them often too. I miss those days.”
Clap.
Chloe smiled.
as if she had an idea.
“Then… shall we read the old letters together? You keep them, right?”
