The Missing Friendship

Two hours later, Amon's driver escorted Juliane to her new residence, known as the White Mansion. The three-story house, painted in pristine pearl white, boasted an elegant gate adorned with intricate white and gold designs.

As Juliane stood before the gate, she was taken aback by what she saw. She had been told that Amon had arranged a "simple" dwelling for her, but it was anything but simple. The mansion was far grander than she had imagined.

Upon entering, she was greeted by two familiar maids from the Golden Mansion. They explained that Amon had transferred them to assist with her daily needs. They escorted her to her new bedroom on the third floor. Juliane looked around, momentarily stunned as she stepped into the room, which was even larger than her former quarters at the Golden Mansion. Her heart raced with a mix of awe and confusion as she took in every detail.

When she opened the closet, she was surprised to find it already filled with her belongings. "Excuse me," she said, puzzled, "I'm sure I left these things at the Midases' mansion."

"Apologies, Ms. Johara," one of the maids replied, "The young master instructed us to bring them here. He said they were gifts and should not be returned."

Juliane muttered under her breath, "That stubborn Mr. Grumpy Cupid…" As she was about to close the closet, a jewelry box caught her eye. It was one she didn't recognize.

Opening the velvet box, Juliane gasped in surprise. Inside was a set of jewelry she had only glimpsed once before at the art fair in Vaulinhorn City.

"Where's the telephone?" she asked the maids, who directed her to a renovated study on the third floor. After consulting a worn directory book with yellowed pages, Juliane dialed Amon's number.

"Hello, Mr. Midas?" she said when he answered.

"Yes, this is Amon Midas. Who is this?" he replied.

"It's me, Juliane Johara. You-"

"I do not wish to acquire things that have already been disposed of. Do not return anything, not even a single penny," Amon interrupted, already guessing the reason for her call. He knew how stubborn she could be, and to make things less complicated, he couldn't be honest with his true feelings.

"You're always like this," Juliane's voice trembled with emotion. "You always say such mean things! I found this set of jewelry from the art fair, the one I told you I could never afford… What's it doing here?"

"Ah, that," Amon said, his tone low. "Don't misunderstand. Consider it a farewell gift from the Midas family. It's the last expensive thing you'll ever receive from me."

"Why…" Juliane's voice broke as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Why all of a sudden, you just-"

"I'll make sure you and Dmitri Aurum have a wonderful wedding, and I'll fulfill the promise I made to Mrs. Johara. So don't get emotional." Realizing how bitter he sounded, Amon hung up before she could respond.

Clutching the velvet box to her chest, Juliane collapsed onto her knees. Amon's words echoed in her mind. It was as if he really wanted to get rid of her, yet he had given her so much - food, clothing, shelter, jewelry, and even two maids. All of it, just to ensure she looked presentable to the wealthy gentlemen he planned to introduce her to. It seemed that's all she was to him, a pawn in his business dealings and a means of fulfilling a contract with Holly Johara.

She wiped her tears, trying to convince herself that Amon had only ever seen her as a trading chip. She had been naive to think that his teasing and the occasional boxes of cheesecake meant something more. 

Juliane shook her head vigorously, trying to push away thoughts of Amon - of that rainy day in Oseanna town when they had shared a bed. She had trusted him, believing that his gentlemanly behavior meant he would never take advantage of her. But now, she realized she had been mistaken. If he had truly cared, why would he let her go so easily?

As the reality set in, Juliane felt a deep sadness settle in her chest. Amon had never shown any real interest in her, and now it was painfully clear.

Seeing Juliane slumped on the floor, her maids quickly approached her, concern written across their faces. "Are you alright, miss? Are you feeling unwell?" one of the maids asked gently.

Juliane looked up with her eyes still puffy from crying. "I'm alright… I'm sorry for not asking your names earlier. You're…"

The maids introduced themselves - Olga, who had previously worked in the Golden Mansion's kitchen, and Tanya, who had served as a maid for Schulton Midas.

Once Juliane had managed to compose herself, Olga began preparing herbed chicken recipe partnered with cream of mushroom soup, hoping to provide her some sort of comfort. While she worked in the kitchen, Tanya quietly slipped away to the telephone and made a call.

"It's Tanya, sire. Juliane had a bit of an argument with the young master and ended up in tears, but she's okay now… Olga's cooking for her."

"I see," the man on the other end responded. "Report to me daily on her condition. That's an order from Master Schulton."

After ending the call, the man dialed another number. "Hello? Sire, this is Hylton Salisbury. I have a report regarding the young master."

Schulton Midas, lost in thought as he held a chess piece, abruptly set it down. "Yes, Hylton. What's the situation? Can the lady return to my grandson's side?"

"There's no guarantee," Hylton replied. "From what I've heard, Ms. Johara and the young master are still at odds. It's very likely she won't return. I just learned she's set to marry a man named Dmitri Aurum."

"Dmitri Aurum…? The name sounds very familiar…" Schulton pondered, trying hard to recall where he had heard that surname before. He stared out at the beach from his rest house, the rhythmic sound of the waves amplifying the silence in the room.

Then, like a sudden flash of insight, a crucial detail came back to him. 

"I remember now… I know who that man is!"