After Luden left, I took a walk with Anan. Fallen leaves drifted down between the beautifully grown trees. I picked up a leaf and showed it to Anan.

“It’s pretty.”

The Charlot family estate was incredibly vast. I loved wandering around it. Anan smiled gently.

“Indeed it is.”

Looking at Anan’s smile, I thought of Luden. Anan and Luden resembled each other greatly.

“I heard Lady Annelia has been spacing out lately.”

“I think it’s because I feel empty after Luden left.”

I spoke honestly. This much should be okay, right?

“Do you miss Luden a lot?”

Anan asked curiously. I nodded.

“I miss him terribly.”

Every morning when I woke up and saw the empty space beside me, I felt hollow. What was he doing right now? 

The place where knight training was held was at the frontier. He must be at the frontier receiving training alone. Perhaps he was falling in love with Lorina and suffering even more because of it. I quietly pressed down on the fallen leaf with my hand. It was just a lonely morning.

* * *

After Luden left, I didn’t meet with anyone. I deliberately avoided people because I felt like I would only cry if I met others with this hollow heart. 

Entering my room, I silently gazed at the portrait painted during our wedding. I was sitting in a chair with Luden standing behind me. It looked like a painting.

“The real thing is more handsome.”

I said this and stared at the painting before using magic. I still couldn’t cry when I wanted to. Tears dripped down steadily. Because the emotions I had suppressed before had burst out, at least now tears didn’t explode out like before. Should I consider that fortunate? 

I had also developed a knack for using just enough power that I could compose myself. While crying and thinking of Luden, I ate delicious desserts again. After crying, I always craved something sweet.

“Madam Marquis!”

Just as I was eating happily, the door opened and Lella came in. The basket Lella brought was filled with letters.

“What’s this?”

“Everyone sent these because they’re worried about you, my lady.”

After Luden left, I had received some letters asking if I was okay. I had replied saying I probably wouldn’t be able to meet anyone for a while. 

That seemed to have caused quite a stir. 

Ah, I wrote that because I felt like I was losing my sanity at the time, but thinking about it now, I seemed to have worried them more. My face grew hot.

“Really!”

I set down the basket of letters and took them out to read. Everyone was worried about me. Kanarosa said she was ready anytime and would visit the estate when I had time. Sorean also said he would come visit with Kanarosa.

“Everyone is so kind.”

Many people were worried about me. I felt like I was going to cry again.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

When we had the healing tea time before because of Jiton, there were people who vented their resentment, but they didn’t cry. The resentment and wounds remaining in their hearts weren’t washed away with tears. 

Among them, there were probably many who couldn’t cry either, right? 

I could both ease their worries and give gifts to those who worried about me. I wrote replies. I called it the second healing tea time invitation.

* * *

Sorean hadn’t been bullied by Jiton, but he was still Kanarosa’s lover and my friend, so I decided to invite him. And then there was Juriel. She was the daughter of Baron Bashran and had suffered greatly at Jiton’s hands. 

After reviewing the list of others, I sent additional letters, and they said they would participate in the tea time one week later. I was pleased by their prompt responses.

“My lady is hosting another tea time.”

Lella said happily, placing a booklet with sample tea set designs beside me. The Marquis family had many tea sets, but Anan had recommended buying a new tea set to lift my spirits, so I was deliberately choosing one. 

What should I get? 

While pondering and flipping through the booklet, I discovered a tea set with round water droplet patterns drawn on it. The subtle and charming design seemed suited for a soft, gentle atmosphere. 

Should I go with this one? 

Since it was a healing tea time, something subtle and warm seemed more appropriate than something flashy. The price wasn’t bad either.

“I’ll take this one.”

Lella’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t that too inexpensive?”

“This item seems more valuable to me. It’s not about the price.”

And these weren’t people who would look at the items and ask how much they cost. Their purpose wasn’t to come see expensive teacups but to talk with each other and heal. There was no need for family prestige or appearances at this gathering. 

Lella nodded and took away the booklet I hadn’t looked at. The teacups arrived a few hours after ordering them. They said the teacups alone could have been sent, but the shop owner who sold them came along too. He said he wanted to meet me. 

What could this be about? 

I opened the door and looked at the teacup shop owner.

“I greet the Marquis’s wife.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“My name is Asdal.”

That’s an unusual name. I silently repeated his name to myself.

“I came because I have something I want to tell you and something I’m curious about, madam.”

At his words, I tilted my head.

“Is there a reason you chose this tea set?”

“It looked cute and warm, and I thought it would suit a subtle atmosphere.”

Hearing my words, Asdal looked like he was about to cry. Seeing him desperately hold back tears made me feel sorry for him, and I accidentally lost control of my emotions, causing magic to affect him. Oh no! Asdal suddenly poured out tears like a waterfall.

“I don’t know why I’m suddenly…”

He choked up and then just sat down and sobbed. Wait, just a little bit of magic touched him and he’s crying this much? After crying his heart out, he wiped his tears with the handkerchief I gave him.

“Haa, that tea set is my daughter’s posthumous work. When she was alive, she said she hoped whoever bought these teacups would definitely drink black tea with them.”

“Black tea?”

I had plenty of black tea.

“So I have a favor to ask—when you first use them, could you please drink black tea?”

So that’s why Asdal came to make this request.

“I originally had no intention of selling them, but my daughter left it as her dying wish to make sure they were sold.”

He looked like he was about to cry again. Even trying to hold back tears didn’t seem easy.

“Alright, I’ll do that.”

At my permission, he bowed his head deeply.

“Thank you so very much.”

What must it feel like to sell your daughter’s posthumous work? 

Seeing him make this request made me think there might be more to the story. I looked at him and he gave a bitter smile. I didn’t ask any further. 

It’s better not to pry into heartbreaking stories. At my smile, he stopped crying and looked at the teacups.

* * *

Asdal left the room. Even though he had made an unreasonable request to a stranger, Annelia had said she would do it without any fuss. Seri and Tal will be happy. 

Tal was his grandson, born to his daughter Seri. When she was pregnant, she made the teacups in anticipation of the child’s birth. But the baby was stillborn, and from that shock, Seri lost her health. 

He remembered his daughter saying she wanted to drink black tea with this tea set as a family once the child was born and time had passed. When his daughter died, it was incredibly difficult. 

But he suppressed that grief and lived on. Sometimes he thought of his daughter and felt sad, but he couldn’t cry anymore. It seemed his tear ducts had disappeared from suppressing tears for too long. 

That made his heart ache even more. But today, standing before the Marquis’s wife, tears strangely came out. It felt like his blocked heart had been unblocked. 

After stopping his tears, the sadness hit him even harder. If before it had been suppressed, now it wasn’t. He was surprised by the emotions that came to him naturally. Seri. A subtle, warm energy had made him cry.

“Whew.”

He gasped for breath. It felt like tears would come again. In any case, it was a strange thing.

* * *

I had purchased the teacups for the tea time and prepared black tea as well. The location was the garden with the best view in the Charlot Marquis’s estate. 

Since I had decided to keep the place Luden enjoyed alone to myself, the tea time would take place in the garden in front of the main building. There was a tasteful building under a huge tree. 

If we placed portable tables there and brought chairs, the preparations would be complete. Andre, who helped with the preparations, smiled.

“It really is perfect weather for an outdoor tea time.”

He was right. The weather was clear without a single cloud. The gentle breeze was warm but not hot. Perfect for spending time outdoors! I looked at him.

“Andre, do you want to join us?”

“Me?”

Andre looked quite flustered, then nodded.

“Honestly, I’m curious. What kind of tea time are you preparing that you even embroidered handkerchiefs, madam!”

Everyone participating in the tea time would use handkerchiefs. I had personally embroidered their names on the handkerchiefs. This was a token of gratitude for participating in the tea time.

“You’ll find out soon.”

Those in the estate didn’t know much about my ability. No one knew except Luden. They all thought I had cried because of a dragon’s curse. I placed another chair among the chairs arranged in a circle.

“This is Andre’s seat.”

“Thank you.”

“And prepare your own handkerchief.”

Andre pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

“My mother gave it to me.”

Andre’s handkerchief was embroidered very elaborately.

“It’s really well made.”

“I’m bragging.”

Andre showed me the handkerchief in more detail. Then I realized just how lacking my embroidery skills were.

“I shouldn’t have looked.”

When I grumbled, Andre quickly put the embroidery away. Then he helped me prepare for the tea time.

* * *

For the tea time, I decided to wear neat clothes. I deliberately didn’t put on makeup. I would end up crying along with them later, and if I wore makeup, it would all wash off anyway, right? 

So I told the others not to wear makeup either, but! Everyone who gathered for the tea time came fully dressed up.

“I was invited to the Charlot family, so I couldn’t not do it.”

Kanarosa said shyly. Well, Kanarosa came with her lover Sorean, so that made sense. But Juriel didn’t even have a lover yet! At my look, Juriel said shyly.

“I was invited to the Charlot family, so I couldn’t go looking shabby.”

No, this tea time is just a healing tea time! 

To make matters worse, the men had also subtly put on makeup. I was the only one who didn’t wear makeup. Feeling somewhat left out, I sat down. Then everyone followed and sat down. 

Since Sorean and Kanarosa didn’t know each other yet, I introduced them. Since they were all people active in high society, they at least knew each other’s faces.

“So, how has everyone been?”

Juriel made a sad expression.

“I’ve been going on blind dates.”

I was surprised by Juriel’s words. She was the one who said she was sick and tired of men after what Jiton did to her!

“I was envious of Lady Annelia getting married. Marquis Charlot looked at Lady Annelia so lovingly from beside her.”

“Actually, that’s why I’m also going on blind dates. I wanted to meet someone I love and welcome a wife.”

The person who said this was Karman, son of Count Hurtel. After saying that, Karman glanced at Juriel. Oh my. Another couple to set up. When Karman’s eyes met mine, he was startled. 

You’re already caught!

“At that wedding, the way you looked at each other was so passionate that we all thought we wanted to get married too.”

Even Kanarosa said this.

“The Marquis doesn’t usually show his emotions, so what did you do?”

Even Sorean was saying this. No, we’re not like that! He’s a man who will fall in love with another woman. But well, I couldn’t explain all that in detail.

“We just get along well.”

I brushed it off like this.

“It’s not just getting along well, it’s passionate.”

But Andre poured oil on the fire here. I almost dropped my teacup. I had just filled it with black tea!

“Oh my.”

Kanarosa blushed. Then Andre went even further.

“Marquis Charlot cherishes the madam very much.”

“I knew it.”

“You just said you get along well.”

“She must be embarrassed.”

“I’m envious.”

“Being alone is lonely.”

Everyone chimed in. Andre looked at me contentedly, and I made a troubled expression. What if rumors spread! 

But it was already too late. I should have been careful with Andre. Everyone took turns sharing their recent news. Afterward, I spoke to those attending the tea time.

“We met because we had a hard time because of Jiton. I was curious whether your wounds were okay after that, whether they had healed a little, so that’s partly why I asked you to gather.”

Everyone nodded. Andre’s eyes widened in surprise that this was my purpose.

“Everyone was sad but didn’t cry, and that bothered me, so I asked you to gather.”

Juriel gritted her teeth.

“Crying feels like losing.”

Everyone seemed to relate to Juriel’s words.

“No, crying is natural. If you’re sad, you should cry.”

Juriel’s eyes widened. She looked so cute. Cute enough to make me want to pinch her cheeks without thinking.

“Juriel, cry as much as you want.”

“There’s no way I can!”

“I’ll help you. This tea has a special power.”

Juriel looked at the tea and nodded. Good, this should work. I quickly cast magic on her. Looking at the tea and taking a sip, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Wha… t?”

She was flustered.

“Why am I crying?”

At her words, I smiled. Tears are contagious. Once one person started crying, tears welled up in everyone’s eyes. The emotions they had been suppressing because it felt like losing began to burst out.

“I think tears are a signal that your heart is hurting. If you vent the pain and shed tears, the wound will heal, but if we suppress it when it hurts, that wound will fester. Then it will hurt even more.”

Juriel nodded. Kanarosa also cried while holding Sorean. Sorean seemed to have had sad things happen too and started crying as well.

“Let’s cry together. We’re not alone.”

They cried out loud. Some people cursed Jiton. Of course. This was the day to do it. I also cried while smiling slightly.

“Ah, I really shouldn’t be doing this.”

Andre took out his handkerchief from his pocket.

“Madam makes me cry. Your words are so sad. Sob, Ena! Why did you leave me!”

Ah, Andre had the sadness of a broken heart. We all cried together like that over black tea and delicious refreshments.

* * *

After everyone cried, we looked at each other and turned our heads away awkwardly. I also felt refreshed after crying.

“The makeup…”

Everyone agreed. That’s why I told you not to wear makeup. I was about to say something to them but stayed quiet since they might realize I had an ability. It would be troublesome if it became known that I had this kind of ability. I smiled brightly.

“Is everyone okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I feel relieved.”

“Maybe because I cried for the first time in a while, but I feel like my chest has opened up.”

Everyone smiled in the end. We were able to enjoy the tea time with lighter hearts.

* * *

After checking on them, I headed to the Rosaline family estate for the first time in a while. Caromiel—no, Father—came to mind. Originally he was Annelia’s father, but since I’m Annelia now, Caromiel is my father. 

Acknowledging this, I waited to meet Father. Father was receiving a guest, so it couldn’t be helped. Well, I was planning to contact him before coming. But I suddenly thought of it and came impulsively.

“You came at a good time.”

Father didn’t ask why I came. He just seemed satisfied that I was going out and about again. When Father’s letter came, I had only written back saying I would see him next time.

“Is your heart okay?”