# 21
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“Andrea.”
The bridesmaid raised her head.
“Can you get me a pen and paper?”
I want to stop now.
I don't love you anymore.
I don't want to keep hoping anymore.
Her cold body, as if it was still covered in snow, was telling her that this was the right way.
“The recipient of the message is…”
She clenched her hands tightly.
“The Third Prince.”
* * *
Prince William, the third prince, climbed into a carriage after being shocked by Chloe's telegram.
Erik Aslan's residence was in the capital anyway, so he would get there in less than 30 minutes.
So before he gets there, his shock must subside.
But he couldn't calm down at all. He's going to see Chloe!
Of course, he saw her at the banquet, but they couldn't have a long conversation at that time – Harris, the Second Prince, was by his side.
But now that he thought about it, he felt relieved. How hard his heart was beating then!
It's a pity that Harris was by his side before, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to maintain his rational balance. Right, just like now.
Chloe was William's first love.
First love is often new but short, but this assumption proved wrong for William over time.
His first love was something that accompanied him throughout his upbringing, and still accompanies him now, but at that time he was not able to think deeply about the reasons for his feelings and feelings. He only later and suddenly realized this love.
He loved Chloe, past, present, and future.
So when he learned of her marriage, his grief was incomparable. The Duke denounced Rolf who sold his daughter as a greedy businessman, but he could not help but feel sad when the royal family collapsed and he was unable to save it himf. He remained angry with himf, who had no authority in the past.
He felt angry and desperate at the same time, but there was nothing he could do in that situation. So, at her wedding, he just congratulated her.
He wished Chloe a happy life.
He wanted her to live a happier life than anyone else.
But then…
“The Chloe I saw earlier looked so thin...”
Her condition was so deteriorating that she looked like she was sick. She looked very ill. He heard that she was not on good terms with Erik Aslan, and that Aslan did not treat Chloe as a real wife, and that he would not even return to the north to live with her...
Maybe that's why it's painful.
Doesn't something that overwhelms the mind eventually affect the body?
William was very worried. While he was considering whether he should send a letter to Chloe, he received a telegram from her, and without hesitation, he ran to meet her.
The carriage stopped. He tried hard to calm his racing heart as he walked towards the palace, following the person who came out to greet him. Now, he reached the drawing room.
“Are you here?”
Chloe smiled brightly as she greeted William. She was as she always was – as beautiful and elegant as ever.
Noble and upright. Nothing has changed.
“It's been a long time, hasn't it?”
“What do you mean it's been a long time? Didn't we meet not long ago?”
Chloe laughed and took William to the sofa. I asked him if he wanted a cigar, but he refused. There was no way he was smoking in front of her, she looked thinner than she did when he saw her at the party.
In compliance with Chloe's orders, the maid poured tea into William's cup, and then left. Then Chloe spoke slowly.
“It's not a big deal, but I have a small request to ask you.”
William nodded immediately. Then Chloe spoke.
“Can you lend me some money?”
"…What?"
“There is a small silver mine under my hand. I don’t have the money to keep it running, so it has stopped working for a while, but it can start working again soon. I will give this mine to you.”
Chloe continued.
"Please. I'll pay it back one way or another."
Wait, wait—
William interrupted Chloe at this point. As he touched his forehead, he sighed deeply.
"I don't understand, Chloe. Why do you need money? ...Why do you seem so nervous?"
Chloe noticed the growing worry on William's face. Although she had not seen him for a long time, she missed the infinite kindness he always gave her.
“I will divorce my husband.”
Even with Chloe's helpless tone, she seemed determined.
“I'm so tired.”
* * *
“Divorce?”
William was completely surprised. He didn't expect Chloe to say something like that.
The Chloe he knew was a woman of principles and morals. She would never deviate from her principles.
She lived her life normally. Although nothing in her world was ordinary, she tried to live an ordinary life anyway - a path that was not going to be deviated from. I have always sought such a life.
But divorce?
This was far from what he thought Chloe would want. It was a path completely opposite to what she aspired to, a path completely parallel to the life she wanted, and even beyond her reach.
William's heart was beating hard. He loved and admired Chloe's upstanding beliefs, but deep down, he really hoped that one day she would step out of that path.
The idea of complicity with her in her perversion made him salivate. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees.
“Have you really thought about it?”
“Yes. I've been thinking about it for a long time.”
In fact, it was a bit of an exaggeration to call it “a long time.” However, Chloe doesn't have much left to live. So, even a few months was considered a “long time” for her.
"Oh my God. I'm acting weird, aren't I?"
Chloe said with a small laugh.
“Everyone will say so. There is no better husband than the Marquis.”
“…The Marquis is the future of this country.”
“Yes, but not my future.”
She shook her head firmly. At that, William exhaled forcefully.
“Once he marries the Fourth Princess, I will divorce my husband.”
"Elizabeth? Why?"
William asked automatically, but he quickly sighed. Then he nodded.
“Marriage talks between Elizabeth and the Marquis.”
The Second Prince was secretly supporting the marriage of the Fourth Princess Elisabeth to the Marquis Aslan. Then came the support for Chloe's divorce. William knew this already.
“Yes, you're right. But my husband doesn't seem to want that.”
As Chloe said, Chloe will only break up with the Marquis when Elizabeth marries someone else.
William's forehead was wrinkled.
“But right now, it will be difficult because there is no other marriage opportunity for Elizabeth.”
He smiled helplessly.
“Who would want to marry a princess from a collapsed royal family?”
"Don't say things like that. No matter what anyone says, the royal family is still alive."
“No. The royal family is already deep in debt, and the bank even came to urge us to pay up.”
While he was saying this, he remembered how the bankers raised their voices as they demanded the overdue bonds. He rested his chin on his interlaced fingers, then breathed slowly.
“But I still hold my own.”
He was referring to the inheritance he had previously received.
“If I l that, I will be able to give you the money.”
"…brother."
Chloe bit her lower lip.
If she were her usual f, she would have asked him not to say that. But things were different now. She couldn't let go of the rope she could barely hold on to.
“I know I'm being rude, but I'm grateful for it. Thank you.”
“It's fine.”
William also nodded, smiling as if he understood Chloe's feelings. But that smile quickly disappeared.
He looked at Chloe with a stiff expression.
"renal".
Speak carefully.
“What will you do after the divorce?”
“...I'm not sure.”
Chloe thought about what her life would be like after the divorce.
“I'm thinking about going to the West Coast.”
“The coast?”
“Yes. I've never seen the ocean.”
She wished to see the ocean at least once before she died. Maybe dying out there, in this magical atmosphere, wasn't such a bad thing, especially if she was looking at the ocean.
She imagined herf standing on the beach.
Balloons soared in the sky while umbrellas spread along the sandy beach. A robot was asking her if she wanted to buy some ice cream. Then she would watch the waves hit the coast while eating a delicious vanilla ice cream.
She imagined the vast blue ocean in front of her, her feet lapped by the waves.
“I think it will be fun.”
Chloe smiled sincerely for the first time in a long time.
For a moment, William's breath hitched. He was dazzled by Chloe's smile, but quickly regained consciousness. He leaned forward again.
“Are you going to be alone?”
Chloe didn't quite understand what he meant by his question. She tilted her head to the side.
"What do you mean?"
“It's…”
William continued speaking with a somewhat tense expression.
“I would like to ask you if you have any thoughts about getting married again.”
He loosened his clenched fists and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.
“If you do that...”
-knock knock.
But his words were cut off.
“May I come in?”
Because Eric was out of the room.
As William looked at Chloe trying to read her face, there was no choice but to let Eric in. The door opened wide.
“I apologize for not being able to receive you, Your Highness. I was out of the house due to work.”
"It's okay. I'm here at Chloe's invitation."
“Call my wife?”
Eric's eyebrows rose. He stared at Chloe for a moment, then turned to William.
“So, is your conversation over?”