To the question of what kind of myth it was, Damion answered.

Does he mean exchanging love? Henet kindly taught him that love is an emotion that cannot be bought with money. But Damion didn’t listen at all.

However, looking at him today, it seemed like he didn’t need to teach his friend more about what love is.

After placing the last document he checked on top of the pile, he got up with a grin.

“I’ve decided to focus on family rather than business now.”

“You’ve always been devoted.”

“Now I’m sincere.”

“Really sincere?”

Damion nodded. His beaming face even looked like a shy boy.

Henet opened his mouth. It’s good that he learned about love, but to fall this deep. At this rate, he might really end up staying at home, caught by his wife, as Hofry said…

“I need to go to the club.”

Is that not the case?

Henet asked, crossing his arms.

“You haven’t been there in a while. What’s the occasion?”

“Hofry is making a fuss about why I’m not coming.”

“Isn’t your wife waiting at home?”

“Ansi said she has an appointment too.”

“…Are you saying you’re going to spend time at the club while your wife is away?”

“So, don’t you want to come along?”

Damion grinned. Henet, who was about to scold him, ended up smiling and shaking his head.

“Henet, I asked you last time.”

“About what?”

Damion’s smooth lips curved into an arc. A cool voice escaped from him.

“Whether this marriage is a plus for me.”

“Yeah.”

“I think it is. No, it is. I’m sure of it.”

Damion was confident. He wasn’t sure back then, but now he seemed to have found the perfect answer. Henet raised both eyebrows and asked.

“Then what about your wife’s side?”

“Not yet. But I’ll make it a plus. Definitely.”

It was somehow a resolute answer, but Henet felt relieved by the confident voice.

They left the office together.

Even under the scorching summer sun, Damion walked without frowning. It seemed as if the sunlight was avoiding him alone.

Whether it was because of the faint smile of happiness, it even seemed to blend in with the sunlight itself.

Henet sincerely hoped. That this light would not disappear from his friend and stay for a long time.

“Have fun, mom. Give my regards to Mrs. Merchen.”

The platform was filled with the heat of the newly arrived train and the noise of people. Ansi raised her voice louder than usual. Sofia nodded with a bitter smile.

“I still wish you could come along. I feel uncomfortable thinking about seeing and eating good things alone, Ansi.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be resting well in the North.”

“How is going to your in-laws a vacation? It’s work.”

“Damion came to see you for fun, mom. Did he seem to be working?”

Sofia, who was contemplating with an “Hmm,” at Ansi’s words, finally burst into laughter.

“Alright. I’ll think of you as going on a vacation too.”

“Don’t worry about me and rest well. Take your medicine properly.”

“Okay. I’ll bring souvenirs from Brigada, so you should bring souvenirs from Chelsa too, okay?”

“I will.”

Ansi nodded. But she knew well that she wouldn’t receive souvenirs from Brigada, nor give souvenirs from Chelsa.

Using the good excuse of summer, Ansi had Sofia go on a short trip to Brigada, a foreign country. Mrs. Merchen, who had been close to Sofia during the days when she was hiding her identity, was also with her.

Ansi had asked Mrs. Merchen through a telegram. To take Sofia to the South after the week-long trip to Brigada ends.

A new home for Sofia is prepared in the South. It was the space where she would spend her future life.

Enough money was also prepared in Sofia’s name so that she wouldn’t have to work anymore, and several months’ worth of Sofia’s medicine was pre-ordered at the pharmacy. Thanks to receiving treatment while staying in the capital, Sofia’s condition had improved a lot, and the interval for taking medicine had also become much longer.

So it was okay.

Even without Ansi, Sofia would be able to live well.

“The train for West Port will depart in 3 minutes!”

The station attendant shouted while walking along the train. People hurriedly boarded the train.

It was time for farewell.

“Have a good trip.”

“Okay. See you when I get back.”

Sofia turned towards the train. Her excited back view, taking light steps, looked happy. Ansi wondered what kind of expression she might be making.

“Mom!”

Ansi shouted without realizing it. Sofia turned back with a puzzled face. Ansi ran straight to Sofia and hugged her.

“Oh my?”

Sofia’s eyes widened at her daughter’s unusual behavior. She put down the bag she was holding and stroked her daughter’s head.

“Why is she acting like this?”

“Just… because I won’t see you for a while.”

“You’re doing something you never did even as a child.”

While saying that, Sofia burst into a happy laugh. She hugged her daughter tightly.

Ansi closed her eyes in Sofia’s arms and engraved this moment in her heart.

The warmth that might be the last was felt entirely, not mixing at all with the heat of the hot summer. The warmth given by her mother distinctly wrapped around Ansi.

This was enough.

It felt like she could remember it until the end of her life.

“Go now. Take care of your health.”

Ansi, who separated herself from Sofia, smiled brightly. Tears seemed about to well up, but she held them back firmly.

Fortunately, it was soon time for the train to depart. Sofia reluctantly boarded the train. Ansi waved her hand big to Sofia who was saying goodbye through the train window.

“Take care, mom.”

Ansi’s farewell was scattered like bubbles, covered by the large and sharp noise made by the departing train.

Just like in that dream showing Damion’s death.

Empty and powerless.

“Last year, you snorted when I told you to attend the hunting event, but now this is unusual.”

Duke Orphe, Basilov, who was buried in the sofa, raised his eyebrows while turning the newspaper. Marianne, who was slowly fanning herself on the opposite side, laughed pleasantly.

“I guess he’s finally grown up.”

“Is that so?”

Basilov stroked his chin, not hiding his satisfaction.

The August bird hunting held in the vast forest that filled the back of Sobelvio had quite a long history.

By calling high-ranking nobles to Orphe’s land, they solidified that Orphe would lead the coming era as well.

They also invited journalists and provided separate accommodations. To buy the awe of the imperial people by conveying the grandeur of Sobelvio, and to raise Orphe’s status by announcing the results of the hunt.

“Anyway, this time Damion will be of great help to the Orphe name. If he spent 5 years as a soldier, he must be quite good at shooting.”

“Ansi, that child, is playing her role well. She probably persuaded him to attend this hunting event too.”

“That’s a bit worrying. Giving up company stocks just to read her mood, and all. A man so deeply fallen for a woman.”

“……”

Basilov, who had been spitting out words in his mind without a filter, raised his head at the sudden chill he felt. Marianne was staring at him blankly.

“He’s your son. I guess he takes after you.”

A man fallen for a woman. At the pointed words, Basilov closed his mouth. He pretended not to hear and turned the newspaper. The sound of the paper turning echoed loudly in the room.

However, Marianne took a sip of the cold chamomile tea on the table and opened her mouth again.

“Still, he didn’t lowly set his eyes on a maid like you did. He brought a noble and wise young lady from a quite prestigious family, even if they’ve faltered.”

“Set my eyes on! Marianne, as I say every time, that was just a momentary mistake……”

“Damion will be better than you. At least he won’t bring home a child born from a momentary mistake after 8 years.”

“That…! It was unavoidable because Damion’s mother suddenly took her own life. You said you already understood.”

“Then why did you go all the way to the South to create such a situation? It would have been good if you had let Damion live with his mother in the first place.”

“No, how could I when anyone could see he was my child. If Liesel hadn’t died, maybe…”

“I told you not to call that woman’s name in front of me.”

“Ah, did I… call her name?”

At the sharp gaze, Basilov lowered his tail.

Both Damion and Marianne extremely disliked calling Liesel’s name. Then who will remember that poor woman’s name, Basilov sighed inwardly.

But now his nose was three feet long. To avoid Marianne’s cold gaze, Basilov raised the newspaper a little higher. However, the letters didn’t properly enter his eyes. Somehow his throat felt dry, and he lifted the glass in front of him.

Marianne was still staring at him beyond the glass.

“Cough cough!”

In the end, Basilov choked and coughed. Seeing this, Marianne sighed deeply and took a sip of chamomile tea.

Both of them thought.

They say chamomile tea has a calming effect, but it seems to be all lies.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The butler came in.

“Young master Damion and his wife’s car has departed from Chelsa station. They should arrive soon.”

“Hmm, is that so? I should change clothes before the children arrive.”

Basilov stood up as if he had been waiting. Marianne also got up, snapping her fan shut.