Chloe put particular emphasis on the word ‘asked’.

Annoyed, Callis retorted in a tense voice.

“Don’t worry, I was planning on doing that anyway. I too find it tiresome to breathe the same air as you!”

And with that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

‘Birthday party…’

Staring at the empty spot where he had stood, Chloe mulled over his words.

She remembered the birthday party he had hosted for her months ago, thanks to his own selfishness.

After the scandal broke, Chloe’s birthday came up.

There needed to be a reason, so, in haste, Callis hosted a birthday party for his wife and invited a number of nobles.

And on the birthday itself, Callis never gave Chloe a second glance.

Not to mention a birthday gift.

While everyone else was giving her gifts, only her husband, the Duke, was empty-handed.

From simple jewels to even a single flower from the roadside, Chloe had hoped for something—only to be cruelly mocked.

Nobles who witnessed this criticized Callis.

Even if their relationship was not good, this was Chloe’s birthday party. At least in public, propriety should be maintained.

‘What did the Duke say back then?’

He had been busy ridiculing the importance of ‘someone else’s’ birthday.

‘Now it seems he’s realized the importance of someone else’s birthday.’

Chloe gently placed the flower petal back on the potted plant. One day, it might serve as a substitute for salt.

‘Then I should help make this party happy.’

The upcoming party was not only to celebrate Helena’s birthday.

They intended to display their relationship in front of the nobles. Going further, they’d announce a wedding afterward.

‘I can’t let Callis be the first to mention the word “marriage.”‘

Chloe couldn’t let her standing fall while Callis remained strong.

‘I will ruin it.’

So, Chloe planned to ruin the birthday party.

She sat up straight, maintaining her eye level as she opened her desk drawer. Inside, the paper was well-organized.

Her fingers slowly brushed the paper, feeling its texture. Then, she suddenly stopped.

After a moment of consideration, her elegant finger plucked out a piece of parchment. Along with it came an expensive fountain pen, a gift she had once received from the king.

After filling the sharp nib with enough ink, she practiced her handwriting on a prepared memo pad.

‘To my dearest friend, Lerianne.’

The first recipient of her letter would be Lerianne Yeongae from the Kerubios Ducal family.
Lerianne and Chloe were both alumni of the same academy, frequently visiting each other’s residences even after graduation to maintain their relationship.

“How have you been? Summer has passed, and the cold autumn wind envelops the north. On days like this, you, who were always vulnerable to the cold, naturally come to mind.”

As always, she began with casual greetings.

“An annual event is soon to be held at the duke’s residence. The duke himself has decided to host an event for his government. Since he wants to invite even my friends to celebrate the government, I had no choice but to invite you to such a distasteful event.

I hope you will come and celebrate the ‘Duke’s Government.'”

Chloe emphasized the word “government” quite distinctly.

“P.S. There’s no dress code, so Lerianne, wear whatever you wish to wear.”

The letter came to an end with the final period. Chloe carefully set down her fountain pen and scrutinized what she had written.

Lerianne’s father, the Count of Kerbios, had scandalously brought a woman into the residence as soon as the concubinage law was passed. Due to this, discord erupted in the otherwise harmonious count’s house, shattering the relationship between the couple.

Chloe knew well what this letter would mean to Lerianne, who would be dismayed by anything involving “government.”

However, she had no intentions of altering the contents of the letter. Rather, it was more accurate to say that she sent the letter to provoke such a reaction.

Instead of the duke’s seal, the letter bore the royal seal. She even wrote Chloe Balront instead of the name Argen.

After setting aside the letter to be sent to Lerianne, she took out a new sheet of paper.

Lady of Duke Plen, Lady of Count Kristin, Lord of Viscount Helcion, Lord of Lesser Duke Hans…

She sent letters without fail to those with whom she had once been intimately acquainted.

The pre-prepared sheets of paper had almost run out.

Her fingers, stiff in places from lengthy writing, hesitated for a moment.

“There won’t be a chance to meet until the festival.”

The emperor, who had promised to assist in Chloe’s divorce.

Since she had said she wanted to proceed with the divorce after the festival, there would be no reason for the two to meet until then.

“But…”

Could it be someone other than the emperor?

Besides, the emperor had never even revealed his true identity to her.

“…Let’s send it.”

Finally, she resolved.

Her hand unfolded as gracefully as a blooming bud.

“To my dearest friend,”

One beginning.

“I apologize for not sending letters for a while. I’ve been busy visiting the palace, as I mentioned before.”

Another beginning.

“The duke wants to celebrate his government’s anniversary, so he’s hosting an event. Since he said to invite friends, I dare to invite you.”

Third beginning.

“You said that someday we’ll meet again.

…Could that day be this one?”

One main point.