# 29
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As Chloe avoided looking into his eyes, she touched her forehead.
“My head hurts a lot.”
She staggered and regained her balance by clinging to a nearby chair.
“My head hurts every time I try to talk to you.”
Eric couldn't respond because he realized he misspoke. Chloe stared at him angrily.
Why do you scold me whenever I don't agree with you? Why are you so cruel to me? Why don't you respect what I want?
Eric sighed. Their conversations kept repeating like a Möbius strip. Minimize his words here.
“I've always respected you.”
He was serious in what he said. He couldn't believe Chloe thought he wasn't. No matter what happens, he will always do it.
“That's why I gave you that money.”
Didn't he give her that money as proof? Eric valued money more than anything else, and what he gave her was an enormous sum.
But it looks like Chloe didn't agree. No, she didn't seem to know the value of money to Eric.
“Is money everything to you?”
“That's true. At least, that's true for me.”
“Not for me.”
Chloe shook her head. She buried her face in her hands.
“I didn't want your money or anything like that.”
Was she crying?
Eric looked at Chloe in surprise. Fortunately, Chloe's shoulders were just shaking, she wasn't crying. Eric thought it was impossible for the noble Chloe to shed any tears.
“Please, respect me as a human being. Don’t judge my existence based on a specific value like this.”
Chloe said this while raising her head calmly.
Eric hesitated. He didn't know what to answer.
“Everyone says that.”
He frowned as he remembered what Daniel had told him.
"But I don't know what I should do. I don't know what I should say to make you happy, and I don't know what measures I should take to keep up with you. All I know is that the best expression of my appreciation is to give you money."
Eric stared at Chloe's face as he spoke. Her face was definitely dry – it was soft, free of tears.
But somehow, it seemed like she was crying. Were his words that hurtful to her? Eric couldn't understand it. However, if he had hurt her, he should apologize.
“Please take good care of the lady!”
It wasn't just that he remembered Daniel's voice, there was a bigger reason why he didn't want to fight with Chloe anymore.
“Anyway, my apologies. If I caused you any inconvenience.”
“You don't even know what you're apologizing for.”
“If I knew it in just a few words, it would be even more shameful.”
Then Chloe burst out laughing. Eric wondered why she laughed at his words.
She didn't find it funny, but she couldn't stop laughing.
At first Chloe thought that maybe she was misunderstanding Eric, that conversations with him were going nowhere because they were on different wavelengths, and that their morals didn't intersect, and then she realized it.
Chloe thought that her husband might have tried to express his feelings for her in his own way by spending his most valuable money on her.
She couldn't stop laughing. She almost lost her mind. In fact, it made her happy that Eric might not be such a bad person.
“Let's go for a walk.”
"picnic?"
“Yes. An outing where you don’t come back first, or don’t keep me waiting that long. That kind of outing.”
Chloe clasped her hands together.
“Can you do that for me?”
Eric agreed. The next day, they left the palace together.
* * *
It was clear where they were going, even if they didn't say it outright. They were going to the Antoinette Opera House. Eric, who didn't attend Chloe's birthday last time, bought tickets again, and Chloe followed him. They acted as if they had agreed on this date in advance.
People often say that couples can get along perfectly without saying a word to each other, and in this case, it seemed true.
Snowflakes fell outside. Freezing rain formed and melted without rising. Chloe stared absently at the white sky, then turned to Eric, who was sitting on the other side of the locomotive.
Eric was reading the newspaper. His round-rimmed glasses, which rested on his nose, made him look handsome. As Chloe looked at Eric's beautiful features, she thought that, as usual, he looked great.
“There's a story about us in the newspaper.”
"pardon?"
Chloe reacted with surprise to this surprising remark.
“What kind of article is this?”
“Why don't you read it?”
Eric handed the newspaper to Chloe. This is what was written in it:
“Erik Aslan, a real violent thug.”
That was the headline. Chloe gently bit her lower lip and read what came next.
The previous day, Duke Aintree had given a small banquet attended by 34 people. […] Among them was the Marquis Eric Aslan, accompanied by Chloe Aslan. After returning to high-class circles after a long absence, she got along easily with others. […]
Then an argument broke out between Count Lyon's eldest son, the young Lord Gatsby, and the Marquis. Oliver, who was sitting next to him, testified that it was the Marquis who started the argument, and that his voice rose after hearing the young Lord Gatsby's response.
The Marquis punches young Lord Gatsby, and in the process, Duke Aintree's property is damaged. […]
As a result of this incident, it became clear that the Marquis had a hot temper, and it also became clear that he was shameless and reckless. […]
“These are all lies.”
Chloe held onto the newspaper as she said this. Eric raised his eyebrows.
“There is some truth in the article.”
“No, it's all a lie!”
Chloe overheard the conversation between him and Gatsby. What injustice! The culprit here is Gatsby, not Eric. Their position was that of a one-sided victim!
She hit her chest with her fist several times, feeling frustrated.
“Are you going to leave this alone?”
“It would be funny to publish a response. I am not cloy associated with any other media outlet to do so.”
“This...”
Chloe muttered, then her voice trailed off, feeling upset.
“The one who uses a pen faly is more dangerous than the one who brandishes a knife. This man does not deserve to be a journalist. If I were in his place, I would not do that.”
Eric didn't answer, but seemed to agree. Chloe blew hard, carefully folded the newspaper and placed it beside her. I stopped looking at her.
She complained, expressing her frustration at the many problems newspapers face these days, noting in particular how they try to attract more subscribers only through controversial and provocative content.
Eric didn't completely agree with everything she said, but he also saw her arguments as somewhat logical. At the same time, he felt satisfied enough that he could have this conversation with Chloe, so he listened to her calmly.
After talking for a long time, they arrived at the stage. Eric got out of the car first, followed by Chloe.
Despite the snow, there were a lot of people walking around the city. Not all of them were going to the theater, but she noticed that a fair number of them were carrying opera flyers. There was a large crowd waiting for the opportunity to see this famous opera.
Chloe thought about whether they should line up too, but thanks to Eric, who had been mentored by someone, she didn't have to pursue that idea.
“Where are we going?”
“I have reserved special seats.”
“Private seating?”
Chloe was surprised. Premium seats were expensive and tickets difficult to obtain. How was he able to get two premium seats when he had only booked one day before?
“It's great to have great seats. Thank you.”
But Chloe decided not to voice her doubts. If she had, Eric might have gotten angry again, saying she was looking down on him. A slight smile appeared on her lips. Seeing her like this, Eric raised his chin.
“I have urgently reserved seats because I want to make up for breaking my promise during your birthday. Please forgive me.”
Although she didn't show it, Chloe was very surprised at how determined Eric was. She responded with thanks.
She carefully crossed her arm with Eric's, who moved his arm so she could put her hand on it. Then they walked slowly forward together.
It seemed as if they were a real couple, Chloe thought quietly to herf.
It seemed as if their screaming and fighting had been going on for a long time. Her disappointment in him became an old memory. At this rate, she thought she might feel hopeful again. Chloe was wary, but it was inevitable that she still felt that way.
If the divorce was going to happen anyway, she wanted to enjoy this little happiness until then. So, she clung to Eric's arm, feeling extremely happy.
But that was at that moment.
Oh my God, who is this?
I heard a familiar voice. Eric and Chloe turned at the same time, and there was Harris standing with his arms wide open.
“Chloe, are you here? And the Marquis too!”
Chloe and Eric exchanged glances, then quickly greeted Harris.
“How are you, Your Highness?”
"how have you been."
“Of course, I was fine. Oh, where did my manners go? I came here with my little brothers. They were gone for a moment, ah! They are coming here!”
Harris pointed behind Chloe. As she turned around, she saw Elizabeth, the fourth princess.