A Bitter Parting

The night grew darker, and Amon stood on his balcony, staring down at the rose garden. Below, he could see Juliane and Dmitri walking side by side, their silhouettes illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. He watched them, his chest tightening as they continued to talk, neither showing any signs of wanting to end the conversation. Their laughter echoed up to him, light and carefree, as if they knew each other for years.

Amon's heart sank further. How could they still be talking? From the looks on their faces, they seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company. He had thought Dmitri was far too sophisticated for Juliane, and he had doubted that she would ever let go of her rough edges. But seeing them now, he realized how wrong he might have been. What if they actually liked each other?

He clenched his fists as he struggled to calm his thoughts. Did he just admit defeat to Dmitri Aurum? No, he couldn't accept that. Amon Midas never loses, especially not in trivial matters of the heart! But what could he possibly do? He might have all the wealth in the world, but if Juliane chose Dmitri, it would be over. There would be nothing left for him.

As the clock struck ten that evening, Dmitri finally prepared to leave. In front of the mansion, he turned to Juliane and Amon, offering them a warm smile. "Thank you for this lovely evening," Dmitri said, gently taking Juliane's hand and kissing it. "It's been wonderful getting to know such an interesting lady like you, Juliane."

Juliane blushed, flustered by the gesture. "I-I feel the same. It's really nice to meet you, Dmitri."

Amon's eyes widened. Did she just call him by his first name? When did they become so close?

Dmitri then turned to Amon. "Thank you for introducing me to your business partner, Mr. Midas. I apologize for the short notice and for taking your time tonight."

Amon nodded, unable to voice the words caught in his throat. He managed a polite smile, though a storm was brewing inside him.

"Take care, Dmitri! I'll see you soon!" Juliane said with a bright, cheerful voice.

As the automobile drove away, Juliane stood watching until it disappeared into the night. She turned to Amon, unable to hide her excitement. "I feel like he's my soulmate," she blurted out. "We have so much in common, and he didn't mind my family background. I could be myself with him, and he even laughed at my jokes, and-"

Amon's chest tightened with every word until he couldn't bear to hear any more. His face twisted in pain as he abruptly turned away from her. 

"Enough," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. He didn't want to hear another word about her perfect evening with Dmitri Aurum. It made his stomach churn with jealousy and regret.

He hurried toward his bedroom, each step heavier than the last. Guilt pressed down on him like a stone. Why had he let Dmitri meet Juliane? He had thought it would be another failed blind date, just like the others. How could he have been so foolish, so careless?

Amon slammed his bedroom door shut, leaning against it for a moment as he tried to catch his breath. Through the door, he could still hear Juliane calling for him, and the concern in her voice was unmistakable. She wasn't calling him by his name, but by "Sire," the formal title she always used. The realization hit him hard: she was more comfortable with Dmitri, calling him by his first name. Amon felt a sharp pang of loss, as if a knife was twisting in his gut.

Utterly defeated, Amon ignored her calls and threw himself into his work, desperate for any distraction. He hoped that drowning himself in his routine would help him forget her, even if just for a little while.

Outside in the hallway, Juliane stood, staring at the closed door. She frowned, wondering if she had done something wrong. Maybe Amon was just tired? She bit her lip, as sadness crept in. As a person closest to her, she wanted to share with him everything Dmitri had told her, but now it seemed like that moment had passed. With a heavy heart, she turned away, deciding to call it a night.

As she headed to her room, she suddenly remembered her date with Dmitri. She couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement mixed with uncertainty. She looked forward to seeing Dmitri again, curious to explore this new relationship. But part of her still wished to share that excitement with Amon. She sighed, closed the door, hoping that tomorrow would bring some clarity to the whirlwind of emotions she felt.

…

The next morning, Juliane was called to the dining hall for breakfast. As she entered, she noticed the tense atmosphere. Amon sat at the head of the table, looking tired and weary, his serious expression making the servants uneasy. Everyone looked uneasy, unsure of what would happen next.

The staff had been gossiping about Dmitri's visit the night before, and many of them had concluded that Juliane was not the young master's lover but merely his business partner. This revelation shocked them, as they had witnessed Amon's unusual kindness and affection toward Juliane. Some of the servants, who were avid fans of the rumored romance between the two , found it hard to accept. They remained in denial, clinging to the hope that there was still more to the story.

Juliane was led to her seat across from Amon. "Good morning!", she greeted him with a wide smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Did you have a restful night?"

Amon, who hadn't slept a wink, kept his gaze fixed on his plate and responded in a cold tone, "Ms. Johara, please leave my mansion as soon as possible."

Juliane's smile faded instantly, replaced by a look of confusion. "Have I offended you in any way, sir?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Without meeting her eyes, Amon replied, "No, but your etiquette lessons are finished, and you've already found your potential husband. There's no reason for you to stay here any longer."

Juliane's heart sank. She felt a tightness in her chest as tears began to well in her eyes. "What about being your assistant?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I've already found someone to replace you," Amon replied in an emotionless tone. "And don't worry about the potato farm. I will honor our agreement. If there is any business to discuss regarding the Fruits and Vegetables Trading Center, my new assistant will handle it and visit you."

The coldness of his words hit Juliane like a punch to the gut. Her vision blurred with tears. "So, that's it?" she choked out, struggling to hold back her sobs. "After all the time we've spent together, you're just casting me aside? I thought I wasn't just a business partner, or an assistant. Am I wrong to think that we were close enough to be… friends?"

Amon was taken aback by her tears, a pang of guilt flickering in his heart. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. But he steeled himself, forcing his emotions down. He had spent the entire night convincing himself that Juliane Johara was nothing more than a distraction, something he needed to rid himself of.

"Ms. Johara," Amon's voice is firm but not unkind, "We don't even call each other by our first names. We're not friends. I am your employer, and you are my assistant and business partner. Nothing more."

Juliane composed herself as she realized Amon had decided to draw a line between them. "Fine, Mr. Midas," she said bitterly while her voice was shaking. "I'll leave as soon as possible. And don't worry, I won't take anything you've given me."

She pushed her chair back and stormed out of the dining hall with her breakfast still untouched. Amon watched her leave feeling the weight in his chest and sting of regret.

After a moment, he called the head maid, Iona, into the room. "Help her pack up her things," he instructed.

Iona hesitated. "What about the dresses and jewelry you gave her? She said she wouldn't take them."

"I want them sent to her house in advance," Amon replied, his tone clipped.

Iona blinked in surprise. "By house, you mean…"

"The White Mansion," Amon clarified, his voice softening slightly. "The one near the city hall."

Iona's eyes widened in shock. The White Mansion? It was the house that Amon bought for his mother! If he was giving it to Juliane, there had to be a deeper meaning behind it. She nodded slowly. "I understand, sire. I'll have the servants deliver the gifts."

As Iona left, still pondering the implications, Amon summoned the head butler. Iona left the room while still processing what Amon had said. Meanwhile, Hylton Salisbury, the head butler, was summoned by the young master.

"Pack a box of Ms. Johara's favorite cheesecake and give it to her," Amon ordered. He paused, then added, "But don't tell her it was from me."

Hylton nodded. "Yes, sire."

With his orders given, Amon returned his gaze to his empty plate, he felt an overwhelming emptiness, an aching void that seemed to swallow him whole.

The servants of the Golden Mansion watched him from a distance, their hearts breaking for their young master. They had never seen him so desolate, so lost. Was it really just unrequited love all along? Had Amon let the chance slip through his fingers, unable to confess his feelings until another man had come and captured Juliane's heart?

As the truth of the situation sank in, the mansion felt colder, quieter. Amon, usually so composed and unflappable, now looked like a man who had lost everything. He had pushed Juliane away, believing it was for the best, but now he was left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret and the hollow realization that he might never have the courage to tell her how he truly felt.