Chloe ran up the stairs, knowing that Kovishik had always been extremely strict about his daily routine, so there was no way he would be resting in his bedroom at this hour. She checked Kovishik's study first, then his studio, and finally found him on the swing set in the back garden.
Kovishik was reading. In the deserted garden, he reclined on a bench suspended in midair, leisurely turning a page when he heard a piercing scream tear through the air—
"Kovishik!"
He looked up in disbelief as Chloe came racing down the stairs. She skipped nearly three steps with every stride, leaping down from above.
"Leon!" Kovishik sprang off the swing almost at once, shouting the servant's name in fury. On such a lovely afternoon, those servants had actually let Chloe straight into the ducal residence without a single one of them coming to inform him. "Leon! Where are you?!"
The servant approached from nearby. "What are your orders, sir?"
"Why did she—how did you let her in?!"
"I only just received word myself, sir," the servant answered respectfully. "I will go drive her away now."
"What is the point of driving her away now?!" Kovishik was beside himself with anger. With someone as difficult as Chloe, there had never been any other option besides stopping her at the door from the start by saying, "The Duke is not home."
Kovishik set down his book and watched Chloe approach with feigned indifference. He decided to use the same old tactic, saying something humiliating to make this overly enthusiastic girl back off.
"I have... I have something very important... to tell you!" Chloe panted. "Very important."
A soft scoff escaped Kovishik's throat. "Miss Chloe, do you remember your status? I can hardly believe a lady would run so barbarically through