# 3
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It's cold.
Chloe whispered to herf, breathing on her frozen hands.
It was snowing heavily outside the window.
Flawless white snowflakes piled up and covered the world like a calm blanket.
Chloe, who grew up in the warm South, was thrilled when she saw snow for the first time.
“A huge amount of snow! I can't believe it!”
She couldn't believe that the snow she had only read about in books was right in front of her.
"Other girls from the South won't get to see this in their entire lives, right? I'm so lucky!"
She was running around the snowfield while saying this.
But the joy I felt was extinguished in an instant. Chloe soon experienced the bitter cold in the north.
'It's cold.'
Chloe quickly got up and threw the shawl over her shoulders. As usual, the fourth floor corridor was completely empty. No one was coming in or out.
Servants only came here when they brought her food or served her. So there was no chance for anyone else to see it.
For Chloe, who did not get along with the rest of the palace's inhabitants, this was the butler's act out of consideration. But now that Chloe saw this, she realized that he was not considerate of her at all.
She was a young woman who came north alone with no one to accompany her.
She thought deep down that she would be able to lead the servants and get closer to them as the Marchioness, but she couldn't do it because she was afraid.
In the South, people would come to her on their own even when she wasn't doing anything.
That was not the case here.
In the south, everyone treated her with a friendly smile, but in this place, everyone was full of disdain.
She tried to talk to them several times, but her attempts were weak, and their conversations did not continue. Then, a clear dividing line was drawn between her and everyone else.
Naturally, a distance developed between them, and Chloe herf separated from them as well.
Maybe Eric could have helped her adjust well here if he had taken care of her, but he was a cruel husband who wouldn't come home for months on end. He didn't even look for her.
Thus, Chloe became completely isolated.
Five years have passed.
What if you were attached to this place? Even if Eric doesn't love me, the people in the palace can take care of me and love me.
If that had happened, she probably wouldn't have made the same decision now.
Chloe thought so, but it was just an idea.
She has already made up her mind, and she still has enough willpower to turn her thoughts into actions.
“I need to find a butler.”
She couldn't find him on the third floor, so she had to return to the first floor lobby.
Hmmm. She sighed as she rounded the corner.
“She's sick again, isn't she?”
At that moment, I heard a familiar voice. She was her personal maid.
Chloe involuntarily hid herf, even though she was not at fault. I gasped. A cold breath came out of her.
“Sure. The lady is always sick during the winter.”
“Oh my God, why is she so weak?”
“Well, I guess that's the secret of his appeal to southern women.”
The sarcasm was clear in her voice. Chloe pursed her lips.
“She is a noble lady. I am sure she is having a hard time in this humble place.”
"Hey! What are you talking about! I did everything you asked me to! I put a stove in every room because she was cold, and every winter, I took all those expensive furs and taped them to the walls of her room – but what? Huh?"
“Just think about the lady’s family. Do you think the Duke’s spoiled younger daughter would be so satisfied?”
"Ha! You mean a duke in debt? Who do you think pays all this money? If it weren't for the Marquis, they would be bankrupt, bankrupt! That's all!"
She was right. Everything she said was true.
But Chloe wanted to defend herf. It was really cold. And it was painful. She couldn't stop herf.
The Duke's religion was...
There was no excuse for that. Chloe lowered her gaze desperately.
"It would be better for them to separate. They can't even be called husband and wife, can they?"
"Lily, stop it. What will you do if someone hears?"
"But did I say something wrong? Anyway, we're all thinking the same thing! Even the lord won't return to the palace because of her!"
She didn't know that.
Chloe froze, forgetting how to breathe.
"This is how bad their relationship is. It's been five years, and there's not even any sign of a successor."
“It's a problem, I know that...”
"I heard about it. They've never slept together."
"What?"
Even the maid who was trying to vaguely defend Chloe asked in a clearer voice.
“But then… what? Does the Lord hide his feelings? Does that even make sense?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he has a mistress. Anyway, they don’t even hold hands. What kind of couple is this? They’re worse than strangers.”
"This is really amazing. I didn't know it was this bad. Why don't you approach Milord?"
“Do you think I can understand how a noblewoman’s mind works? You didn’t even try to talk to us, did you? God, this is all so annoying.”
Their voices became more and more distant.
It may be that they are turning away, or it may be that Chloe has lost sight of her surroundings.
In that harsh silence, while Chloe was alone, she suddenly grabbed her by the neck. I pressed her hard. If she hadn't, her lips would have let out a scream.
“Ooooh…”
They were right.
Chloe had never spent a night with Eric.
Throughout their five years of marriage. Even their first official night didn't happen.
It's not like she never tried.
When her father was still alive, he pressured her relentlessly, so she suppressed her shame and reached out to Eric first.
But Eric refused.
What were his eyes like then? He was so heartless that she didn't want to remember.
“It's not my fault.”
It was because Eric refused. That's what Chloe thought the whole time. But…
Is this really my fault?
She loved him, but he did not love her back.
Her mother always said that...it's a woman's fault if her husband doesn't love her.
According to her mother, she is completely responsible. It was her fault that he didn't love her.
“What did I do wrong?”
She didn't know what it was. But ignorance is inexcusable, at least in this case.
She was living her life wrong. Now, you will only reap what you sow.
Chloe cleared her throat and straightened her rumpled dress.
I quickly left that place and went down the stairs. As soon as she reached the hall on the first floor, she saw the butler.
"my lady?"
The butler approached her with great surprise, as he had not expected Chloe to come there.
“Why are you here, Your Excellency? It’s cold.”
“I have a small request to ask you.”
Service request? He was surprised again. It was very rare for Chloe to ask for anything.
“Can you call a cart for me?”
"vehicle?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked out the large window in the hall.
The snow had eased for a while, but the wind was still blowing.
“It's going to be difficult because of the snowstorm. May I know where you're going, ma'am?”
“So when can you order one?”
I'll call the knight as soon as the snow stops falling. But where…
Chloe exhaled deeply once. Then she lifted her chin straight up as her blue eyes sparkled dangerously.
“I'm going to see my husband.”
I remembered the divorce papers in the drawer.
It's time to end this wrong relationship.
* * *
Death rattle.
The locomotive shook.
On the icy road, I heard horses neighing, and maybe the wheels got stuck. However, the rider did not care and continued to run the engine.
Crackling sound. As the fire burned, the acrid smoke emanating from the exhaust tank increased. The locomotive accelerated.
Chloe hurriedly closed the window, as the stench of charcoal was unwelcoming to her senses.
She carefully placed her forehead over the window. Hah. I exhaled, and the window turned white. The red sunset was visible above the hazy horizon.
Why don't you send a telegram instead, ma'am? Instead of visiting the Lord.
The butler recommended it, but Chloe refused. She wanted to meet him immediately before her unwavering heart could be affected.
But as the locomotive drove along the long road, it felt as if it was not prepared to take this road.
I don't know. Maybe he has a mistress.
Although the maid uttered harsher words behind her back, this remark did not leave her ears.
So I thought about it.
Maybe if he had left home earlier, he would be with his girlfriend by now.
The seed of doubt was clearly ingrained deep in her mind.
He was a husband who only came home once every few months.
Even then, he never stayed for more than a week, and always refused to sleep with his wife, who was always home.
"There has to be a girlfriend. There can't be anyone."
Chloe smiled bitterly.
She wondered why she had never suspected him before, but the answer came immediately.
Because of her pride, she did not allow herf to be the type to suspect her husband of infidelity.
Because of this pride, everyone except her was convinced that her husband was definitely having an affair.
What a miserable thing.
How pathetic.
She felt so sorry for herf that she couldn't bear it.
Beats, beats. She hit her chest several times.
But the faint sadness filling her heart would not go away easily. These strong feelings will not go away with just this weak act.
Chloe, who had been panting for a long time, reached into her purse and pulled out the divorce papers.