During our snack, we talked about the chess tournament. Baron Kito vividly shared his experiences and pressures. He even talked about the current champion, whom he has been challenging for twenty years but never bested.

“Munt is the wall I have to climb. He’s my ideal, my goal. Sometimes people compare us, but in reality, I’m the one being compared to him.”

“Don’t you hate him?”

I asked, and Baron Kito chuckled.

“Of course, I hated him. Munt probably thinks I’m a foolish youngster too. We really didn’t get along. Munt is quiet and stoic; his expression rarely changes. I’m the same way during chess, but completely different otherwise. I like to talk, I’m empathetic, and I readily show my emotions.”

“…Hmm, seems about right.”

“Haha. In short, Munt and I have a relationship built on mutual dislike. Lise, haven’t you also built relationships based on dislike with friends?”

I have. But the subject of my dislike was not a friend but my mother.

Thinking of Isabelle, I naturally looked at the clock.

It’s almost 6 o’clock. The moon began to faintly appear in the reddened sky, and darkness was setting in. If it were like any other day, the Marsen mansion would be busy preparing dinner.

…Wait, it’s almost 6 o’clock?

“I have to go home!”

My abrupt words startled Baron Kito.

“Lise?”

“I promised to be home before 6 o’clock!”

“Then I’ll tell the maid to have the carriage ready. Take that home.”

“No, the distance is close, I want to walk.”

“It’s getting dark, it might be dangerous.”

“Don’t worry, Yurik is here.”

Yurik was already putting on his coat, preparing to leave. The eyes of Baron Kito and Yurik met.

“I will take good care of Lise.”

“…Alright, I can trust you, Yurik.”

Baron Kito didn’t argue further and followed us to the entrance.

Despite the summer, the wind was chilly as darkness settled in. Before stepping outside, I checked the time. If we leave now, we’ll reach the Marsen mansion by exactly 6 o’clock.

“Lise.”

“Yes?”

Baron Kito called out to me.

“Next time, feel free to bring your friend Roger.”

“…Roger?”

Caught off guard by the name popping out of nowhere, I was perplexed. Unlike me, Yurik seemed to realize something, his expression darkening.

“That fool asked you to say that, didn’t he, Baron?”

“Haha, you catch on quickly, Yurik.”

“You don’t have to listen to that stubborn, disobedient fool.”

“But it seems like he likes Lise quite a bit?”

Yurik’s face hardened, and Baron Kito chuckled. It seemed he also had a keen eye.

“Let’s end this conversation and leave before it gets darker.”

“I’ll visit again, Baron.”

After bidding our last farewell to Baron Kito, we stepped out of the mansion.

Outside, the wind was chilly. I tucked my freezing hands into the sides of my coat. Suddenly, Yurik, who was next to me, extended his hand.

“Want to hold it.”

Yurik said with a shameless face. It was now beyond a request; it was a plea. Glancing behind, I saw Count Keto enter the mansion and reluctantly took his hand.

“Alright.”

As I extended my hand, Yurik immediately grabbed it.

“Warm.”

“Just from holding hands?”

“Your hands are warm, Lise.”

“Having warm hands means having a cold heart.”

“Baseless talk. Ignore it.”

We passed the river and bypassed the library. Once we left the lively night market, a small hill appeared where the Marsen and Fenton mansions were located.

Yurik seemed intent on taking me to the mansion; he didn’t divert toward Fenton Street but climbed the hill with me.

We exchanged many stories while climbing. Naturally, the conversation turned to Roger’s recent visit to the mansion. Realizing belatedly that Yurik wasn’t responding, I stopped talking.

“……”

“……Lise, there’s something I want to ask.”

Yurik broke the silence, his expression gravely serious.

“What do you think of Roger Backus?”

What was Roger, or Yurik for that matter, curious about? Some rivalry I was unaware of?

I had deflected effortlessly in front of Roger, but in front of Yurik, it wasn’t possible. While pondering an appropriate response, I turned my head at the sound of wheels.

The color and pattern were those of the carriage my father used.

“Lise?”

“Sorry, Yurik. I think my father has arrived!”

I nudged Yurik’s back and looked at the carriage. Yurik clamped his mouth shut at the mention of my father.

“If I loop around and run, he won’t catch me, and I might even beat him back.”

“……”

“We should part for today. See you later, Yurik!”

After finishing dinner, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling intently, contemplating the last question Yurik had thrown at me.

“Lise.”

“Mother?”

I sensed someone’s presence; it was Isabel entering my room. Startled, I promptly sat up.

“There’s something to talk about. Come.”

Isabel descended the stairs without another word. Intrigued and anxious, I followed.

“……”

Not only Isabel but the entire family was gathered in the foyer, even my father.

“Sit.”

Prompted by Isabel, I hesitantly took a seat and glanced at my siblings next to me. They too seemed clueless as to why we were called.

“What’s going on? At this hour?”

My father asked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

“I have something to discuss.”

“What kind of discussion…”

“I’d like to leave the mansion for a while. About one to three months. Alone.”

“……What?”

Everyone was taken aback by Isabel’s words.

“I plan to restart my research. I can’t do it here, so I’ll rent a room. I’ll need that time to prepare, as I also need to purchase new equipment.”

“……Research?”

“After about three months of preparation, I’ll commute from the mansion to the lab.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I am.”

“Isabel!”

My father raised his voice, glaring at Isabel. He seemed angered by her unilateral announcement.

He demanded convincing reasons and circumstances for her decision.

“I want to pursue research I couldn’t complete during my student years.”

“……Isabel, why all of a sudden? You’re not a student now; you’re the wife of the Marsen family. You have growing children. Your duty is to look after this household, not research. Haven’t you been doing well until now?”

“That’s why I want to start researching now.”

“Isabel……!”

A clash erupted between Isabel and my father. When it became apparent they wouldn’t reach an agreement, Isabel’s eyes narrowed, as if she were prepared for what was to come.
“Should the Count not consent, there is only one thing I request.”

“……”

“I wish to return to Polong Street.”

A silence filled the foyer with her single statement.

The meaning of those words was clear:

A separation.

She was asking for a divorce.