In the Marta Empire, heavy snow was falling, turning the entire empire white.

Despite the year changing, the Ruschef ducal family was still busy, as the end and beginning of the year were the busiest times.

Biare too was busily managing her schedule, as she now had many roles to play unlike in the past.

She brought unfinished work to her room to complete, and turned her gaze to the window to admire the heavily falling snow.

‘In the past, around this time I would just be gazing at the ancient tree from here.’

Now she was overseeing the family’s internal affairs, handling work for the cultural foundation and trading company, as well as participating in various social events.

Even when carefully handling tasks, there were always variables, so Biare had to review documents all night long.

From early morning, Biare visited the Ruschef family’s cultural foundation, repeatedly yawning from the fatigue washing over her.

Yet in the presence of employees, she composed herself as if nothing had happened.

With the cultural foundation collaborating on this Lanvin Street of Arts Festival, the foundation staff also became incredibly busy.

As this was an unparalleled opportunity for the commoners supported by the foundation, Biare was also paying attention to distribute fair opportunities to them.

While touring the foundation’s gallery guided by an employee, Biare pointed to a notable sculptural artwork and asked.

“Who created this?”

“It’s by the sculptural artist Raymond.”

As she expected, this work was indeed Raymond’s.

He was an artist with miraculous sculpting skills that could replicate anything he saw once as if it were a lie.

Biare remembered that he would later make a name for himself in the Lanvin Street of Arts.

It was a fact she learned from seeing Raymond’s work at a banquet she attended before returning to the past.

The world would recognize his talent this winter, but waiting until then would be too late.

“He should be in the studio now, shall I bring him?”

Shaking her head, Biare answered with a faint smile.

“No, that’s not necessary.”

‘I’ll have to meet him separately soon.’

If she showed Gaizen’s key to Raymond, the situation would easily turn around.

‘There must be information I shouldn’t know in there.’

Judging from Gaizen’s reaction, it seemed he hadn’t looked inside the safe yet either.

If he found out his sister was plotting something dangerous, he would do whatever it took to stop her actions.

That’s why Biare had to proceed with this matter without Gaizen knowing.

‘I’ll have to think a bit more about how to persuade Gaizen.’

Biare’s face showed clear signs of fatigue as she emerged from the meeting with employees.

While waiting for her, Tonio and Joian had gone to the training ground with Diane to oversee the apprentices’ swordsmanship.

As she was about to head to the training ground, Biare noticed unfamiliar people gathered in groups and asked a following employee.

“Who are those people?”

“They’re probably from families looking to sponsor a child.”

“I see.”

Some families were interested in the Ruschef family’s cultural foundation and were directly sponsoring children.

Becoming guardians and providing opportunities to them was something Biare was very grateful for.

‘Not everyone can become a part of the Ruschef family after all.’

Though not everyone could sit in the same place, Biare’s heart grew heavy whenever she saw those who weren’t called by guardians.

“If it’s alright with you, how about the young lady guides them personally?”

It was a suggestion filled with her goodwill, asking if Biare would like to meet the guardians as the foundation’s actual manager.

Surely those who decided to become guardians would be from families with some wealth. It could be a good pretext for Biare to build connections, but today she didn’t feel up to it for some reason.

“Next time. I have somewhere to go today, so I’ll head out first.”

“Understood, young lady.”

After saying goodbye to the employee, Biare hurried towards the training ground where her confidants would be waiting.

Due to the cold weather, white vapor came from her mouth, and the snow crunched underfoot.

As Biare, weak to the cold, was walking the snow-white path from yesterday’s snowfall while taking labored breaths, it happened.

“Are you alright today?”

At the low baritone voice from behind, Biare stopped in her tracks.

“…”

The owner of that voice was so clear that Biare, trembling slightly, slowly turned around.

‘Sion…’

Biare tried hard to hide her emotions from him standing in front, but she couldn’t conceal her gaze.

Looking at him with sorrowful eyes, she opened and closed her mouth several times.

‘Sion, why are you here?’

Flustered by his unexpected appearance, she hurriedly showed courtesy to the man before her.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Marquis Verdeum.”

While all the foreseen encounters from the past had gone awry, meeting like this in an unexpected place left Biare confused.

Hiding her trembling hands, she bowed her head lightly and finished her greeting.

“I am Biare Ruschef, daughter of the Ruschef family.”

At her introduction, Dension stiffened, and Biare looked at him curiously.

“…So you were the young lady.”

“Yes, is there a problem…”

“No. It seems I’ve been rude as I don’t enjoy parties.”

At his strangely cold tone and gaze, she shook her head, thinking it must be her imagination.

Since plain wheat-colored hair was common in the Marta Empire, she didn’t expect him to recognize her as the Ruschef young lady.

‘Right, you don’t know me now.’

Pretending to calmly accept the situation, Biare uttered the words that had been lingering.

“But what brings the Marquis to visit here?”

“I became interested in sponsorship and visited the cultural foundation.”

Though he had sponsored in the name of the Verdeum family in the past, he had never visited the foundation directly.

It seemed odd to Biare that he, who would be overwhelmed just fulfilling his role as head of a family, had come here.

She didn’t think he simply visited out of interest in sponsorship.

Therefore, it was clear that Dension was hiding something.

But he wouldn’t tell her, who had no connection to him, the detailed situation.

Biare felt the silence that spread like light between them as she bit her tender lip.

“That day… is your ankle alright?”

“Yes, it was a minor injury so it healed quickly.”

It seemed Dension had noticed her ankle was uncomfortable that day all along.

Yet at his indifferent nod, Biare felt disappointed, but soon conveyed her belated thanks.

“Thank you so much for helping me that day.”

‘Sion, you must already think I’m a strange person.’

Thinking about how flustered he must have been seeing a stranger suddenly burst into tears, Biare wanted to run away from this place.

At least she could avoid the Duke’s suspicion that day, but she had been uncomfortable all along, thinking she must have appeared as just a strange woman to Dension.

“I just happened to be passing by, I’m glad it was helpful.”

Only a biting winter wind blew, with only silence existing between him and her.

In the silence that returned, Biare hesitated before raising her head to gaze at his face.

‘So this is what you looked like at twenty.’

Unable to be certain when she would meet him again, Biare tried to take in as much of the current Dension as she could with her eyes.

This moment with him was precious beyond measure, so even his silence felt grateful.

The man with icy silver hair and profound blue eyes watched such a Biare indifferently.

That he hadn’t disappeared and remained in place unlike the past was both fortunate and anxiety-inducing for her.

Perhaps the reason he had disappeared was truly related to her.

Thinking of Dension, letting go was the right thing to do, yet Biare shook her head at her selfish self that still wanted to be with him.

‘That’s enough, this is sufficient.’

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

Dension nodded lightly at her farewell, and Biare had to move her heavy feet without looking back.

Biare, who had been sitting quietly by the window, let out a shallow sigh as she looked outside.

Even the stars in the night sky were shining in their roles, forming tight clusters, but today she couldn’t focus on work and hadn’t finished her tasks.

Her mind was complicated all day, recalling Dension’s appearance from earlier.

‘I know you’re different from before.’

But when she recalled Dension’s cold attitude that was different from before, such a him felt unfamiliar yet also disappointing.

Her lover had always been a warm and caring person, but the person Biare met today didn’t seem like the same person.

She couldn’t hide her dejection at the thought that perhaps she had misunderstood him.

‘But you still exist.’

Whatever he became, he still existed.

She would continue to wish for Dension’s happiness and do anything to protect him.

The Dension that Biare knew was always a warm person, so that alone was enough.

What truly sustained her were the ordinary days she spent with Dension.

Yet she couldn’t do anything about her heart aching repeatedly.

Soon Biare shook her head and moved away from the window, taking off the shawl she had been wearing.