I sat in the counseling center in a daze. Kanarosa looked at me with worried eyes as I shook my head this way and that.

“Is something wrong?”

At her words, I nodded.

“I guess I don’t really understand men’s hearts?”

Kanarosa’s face flushed.

“Luden’s heart?”

“That’s right!”

“What happened?”

I told Kanarosa about the phrase in the letter. Kanarosa made a fuss.

“This is a confession!”

“I-is it?”

“Of course! I thought Marquis Charlot had a cold personality, but he’s different with you, Annelia.”

No, Luden only acts like that because I’m his wife and he’s grown attached to me.

“…That can’t be?”

“Is there any need to deny it?”

At Kanarosa’s words, I bit my lip.

That’s because… if it’s not true, I’ll get hurt.

I’m afraid of these feelings. I’m scared that if I hope and then get disappointed, I’ll become too sad.

When I looked dejected, Kanarosa firmly grasped my hand.

“It’s a good thing for love to flow between a married couple.”

That’s true, but…

I clenched my fist for now.

I knew I lacked courage. The desire to run away from a happy future was too strong. I felt like I’d fall into an abyss if I got disappointed, so I thought even more that their words couldn’t be true. 

But… I couldn’t tell them that.

“There’s no reason to deny it.”

I nodded at Kanarosa’s words.

If my feelings weren’t this deep, I would have asked with a light heart.

I sighed. Why did Luden give me such a worry!

“By the way, have you gotten more customers?”

“No, only people I know came. Just one stranger!”

Still, Sallen had visited the counseling center yesterday too.

“Everyone finds the counseling center unfamiliar. But I’m going to keep working at it.”

“I see.”

“Still, I’m happy that many friends visit. It seems everyone wanted to talk casually.”

“Actually, me too!”

“Yes, at least I made enough for tea.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“But why are you doing this work?”

Kanarosa asked curiously.

“I just wanted to do work that would comfort someone.”

Just like I had been, I just wanted to be a comfort to someone. And I started this work thinking it would be rewarding, but it was heavier work than I thought.

I smiled gently.

“I’m going to work hard at it for now.”

“It’ll go well.”

Kanarosa cheered me on.

* * *

“Annelia, I’ve fallen in love with someone.”

“Who is it…?”

“Her Imperial Highness the Princess.”

“People said you two were spending time together, but I didn’t know it was real…”

“I’m sorry.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Please divorce me, Annelia. I’m sorry. I can’t let her go.”

“I understand, Luden.”

“For alimony… I’ll give you half my assets.”

“I don’t want anything like that.”

I opened my eyes.

In my dream, I had recalled one of the scenes from the novel. Of all things, it was the divorce scene. It was also a scene I had read over and over again in anger.

Rather than being angry at Luden, I was angry at Annelia’s pushover attitude.

“Haa.”

That’s what the original future was supposed to be like.

I looked at the clock. Since today was the weekend, the counseling center was closed too. I went downstairs and knocked on Anan’s door.

“I came for tea time.”

On weekends, I enjoyed tea time with Anan at lunch. Anan got down from the bed and sat on the sofa. She was slowly regaining her health. I felt pleased and looked at her warmly.

“It’s already been several months since Luden left. Seeing winter arrive like this makes me think time passes quickly.”

At Anan’s words, I looked at the calendar. She seemed to be right.

I picked up my teacup. The teacup was shaking, representing my heart.

“But Luden’s birthday is in winter.”

Annelia’s birthday was in spring. It was before the engagement ceremony.

“So, Annelia. Will you go meet Luden?”

“Actually… I was thinking about that too.”

Since we’re family, I should meet him and wish him a happy birthday. Anan, whose body still wasn’t well, couldn’t go.

I raised my head. Anan asked me.

“But why do you look so sad?”

Am I sad right now? I’m just a bit down, but otherwise not much different from usual.

“Do I look sad?”

Anan held out a mirror. In the mirror was a woman holding sadness in a corner of her heart.

Such blatant emotional expression – I felt strange seeing myself with this expression. Before, I could only smile or make ambiguous expressions.

These complex emotions didn’t show on my face and my expression just hardened.

After bursting out with emotions and crying, it seemed I had become more expressive than before.

“What are you so worried about?”

At Anan’s question, I was at a loss for words.

I was scared that Luden might be getting along well with Lorina. Because I… was harboring hope without realizing it.

The hope that I might have changed Luden’s fate.

A hope that would be too sad if it shattered.

* * *

Anan told me to take Andre. She said he was the best swordsman among the Charlot family members, so it would be safe.

After tea time ended, I went to meet Andre. Opening the large door, I saw Andre sitting in a chair. He stood up abruptly and bowed his head.

“What brings you here, my lady?”

“I came because I have a favor to ask.”

“Is it a serious matter?”

“Not that. I’m planning to go meet Luden. I’d like you to accompany me.”

Andre spoke without deep consideration.

“If you’re going, my lady, I should follow.”

He spoke like it was obvious.

“Since the knight training place is in the frontier, we should probably take more knights.”

He seemed to be seriously considering which knights to take.

“We’re leaving next week, so please prepare. But what kind of gift would Luden like?”

I already knew what Luden liked. But I still wanted to get Andre’s recommendation.

“You going there, my lady, will be the greatest gift.”

Andre said no gift was necessary. Hearing his words, my face heated up. I recalled what Andre had said recently.

His words that Luden treated me well.

I knew it was true, but wouldn’t he treat the woman he fell for even better?

But what if, like others said, he really treated me well because it was me? Could I suppress these feelings?

I questioned myself and closed the door with a smile for now.

“Flowers are a bit…”

I pondered what gift Luden would like.

“Nothing really comes to mind.”

Luden didn’t lack for material things. He could get his hands on most things he wanted.

So what should I give as a gift?

While pondering, a good idea came to mind.

That’s how I decided on the gift to send Luden.

* * *

A week passed and I climbed into the carriage, opened the window, and looked at the sky.

Anan agreed to oversee the overall budget flow of the estate, so it would be fine. I told Sallen to come to the counseling center in two weeks and decided to close it until then. She was steadily working on releasing her emotions.

Since Andre sat in the driver’s seat, I was alone in the carriage. Lella was riding in the carriage following behind.

I should have just ridden in the same carriage. Since I was bored, I grumbled.

I had packed the gift for Luden in a box, but I didn’t know if Luden would welcome it.

He might dislike it. But I had to give it and see.

I smiled while looking outside.

I was excited at the thought of meeting Luden after a long time. Using the warp to get to the border didn’t take long.

Of course, there was an incident.

While riding in the carriage, the wheel of the carriage ahead came off, creating a dangerous situation. Since my carriage was traveling with some distance from the front carriage, we avoided an accident, but the road was blocked.

I got out of the carriage and approached those who had been in the front carriage. They had also gotten out safely without injury and were looking at the broken carriage.

Among them was an elegant young lady with long silver hair tied up, holding a book. She looked about my age. Her eyes were sky blue and pretty, but she seemed stiff somehow.

Surely she wasn’t tense seeing me?

“Are you alright?”

When I approached and asked, she quickly bowed her head.

“I’m truly sorry. It’s my fault for riding in an old carriage.”

She apologized to me and introduced herself.

“My name is Laysia Elance.”

Ah, I knew her well. She was a countess who had recently appeared in high society. Count Elance was a family with money and vast territory. And since the countess was unmarried and beautiful, everyone tried to win her over.

Those who came to my tea time had also said they received a good impression of her. To meet her like this.

“I didn’t expect to see Marquis Charlot’s wife here.”

She knew who I was? The carriage didn’t even have the Charlot family seal.

“You’re so beautiful that I saw you from afar and remembered.”

Aha, she must have been at the ball I attended too.

I looked at Laysia’s carriage. It seemed like it would take time to repair and organize the carriage.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the knight training place. I recently finished training and became an official countess, but I lost my training graduation certificate and need to get it reissued.”

When you finish knight training, a graduation certificate is issued. You had to submit this to the Emperor to officially be recognized as an heir.

“I’m going in the same direction, would you like to go together?”

Laysia was flustered. And after pondering, she asked me.

“Would it really be alright for me to accompany you?”

“Of course.”

If it were a man, I wouldn’t have made such an offer to travel together, but a woman was fine. And there was one more reason for doing this.

In the original novel, Laysia became Reytan’s lover.

After Reytan became Crown Prince, he met Laysia, and they hit it off and even got married.

I should introduce Laysia to Reytan.

Then fate might twist.

I was scheming to twist the future.

* * *

Laysia and I began traveling together while having a simple conversation.

“A counseling center?”

She showed curiosity about the work I did.

“You’re doing work others wouldn’t even think of.”

Since there was no such thing as a counseling center in this world, it was certainly unusual work. And since I was the first to start it, I thought it might do well, but it wasn’t easy.

“But at the Charlot family’s level, you wouldn’t need to do business, my lady.”

At Laysia’s words, I shook my head.

“I wanted to do my own work.”

Of course, there was a lot to manage with the Charlot estate, but I didn’t have absolutely no time. Luden had many capable subordinates, and I just needed to confirm they were doing their work properly.

As a result, I had work at night but was free during the day. But it was a waste to spend that time just reading books.

Most of all, it was work I started in preparation for when I divorced Luden.

And after the day Sallen cried, I was feeling rewarded watching her gradually regain her smile.

I hoped she could lighten the burden on her heart even a little because of me.

Thinking that, I opened my bag.

I was about to take off my earrings and put them in the case, but there were no earrings on my ears.

“Where did they go?”

“What?”

“My earrings are gone.”

I thought nothing of it and looked around to find where the earrings had fallen.

“I think I was wearing them just a moment ago!”

Where on earth did I drop them?

I grumbled and looked under the seat, but without finding them, I raised my head and smiled. I looked at Laysia while tidying my disheveled hair.

“I’m a bit careless…”

I trailed off, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

Laysia was trembling and looking at me with a pale face.

* * *

<That wench did it.>

<What are you going to do about mine!>

<Give it back!>

<Wow. I didn’t see you that way, Laysia.>

<Kneel.>

Laysia’s mind went blank. The nightmare of the past swept through her.

She bit her lip. They said the Marquis Charlot’s wife’s earring had disappeared.

“Laysia!”

She called her.

“I didn’t steal it.”

Laysia said that without realizing it. Annelia looked at her with surprised, flustered eyes.

“I really didn’t take it.”

“Laysia!”

Annelia shouted sharply at Laysia. Only then did Laysia look at her and gasp for breath.

“I never said Laysia took it.”

Annelia said calmly. Laysia looked into Annelia’s eyes. An endlessly straight gaze reached her. There was no gaze reproaching, doubting, or mocking her.

“Laysia, are you alright?”

Annelia asked. Laysia calmed herself and answered.

“Yes…”

“You don’t look alright to me. Your body is trembling.”

At Annelia’s words, Laysia finally realized she was trembling.

Ah, that incident came to mind and she seemed to have become like this without realizing it.

She wanted to cry. But tears didn’t come. She had forgotten how to cry since childhood.

Laysia’s pupils were shaking. It was something people commonly experienced when fear approached.

Annelia quickly grabbed her shoulders.

“Are you alright?”

At Annelia’s question, Laysia nodded.

“What about the lost earring?”

“It can’t be helped.”

Annelia smiled while checking on Laysia. She felt sorry for her biting her lip and being anxious, so she held her hand tightly.

“Before that, I’m worried about Laysia.”

“I’m fine.”

Laysia said that, but she seemed to be saying to Annelia what she wanted to say to herself instead.

She was trembling pitifully like a bird soaked in rain – there was no way she was fine.

But Annelia didn’t say anything particular to her hiding her emotions and just held her hand tightly.