I was choosing clothes. As I pondered what color to wear, Lella held up a coat for me.

“I think this would suit you better.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. Since it’s a solemn occasion, a dark tone would be good.”

She was right. I put on the clothes Lella picked and stood in front of the mirror. It was a brown suit with a black coat. Since it was winter with cold winds blowing, this would be better.

Today was the day of the final verdict for the lawsuit between Sallen and Amon.

Only after divorcing did Amon realize Sallen was taking the assets and filed a lawsuit to stop it. He claimed she couldn’t take anything and should just leave with a reasonable amount of money.

Sallen submitted evidence of what she’d brought when they married and proof that her husband contributed nothing to forming the assets. She stated these were her assets and had nothing to do with her husband.

That’s how they clashed. Meanwhile, the lawyer Kale sent was helping Sallen.

But the fact that Sallen formally married another noble also provoked Amon’s jealousy.

He attacked her, calling her an immoral woman. I was dumbfounded hearing that.

It was a trial Sallen would win, but I couldn’t not watch.

This trial was popular. Apparently people troubled by mistress problems would be observing.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Of course.”

I went to the courthouse with my escort knight.

Luden had never troubled me with mistress problems, but Sallen was my client.

I wanted to see the end of her fight, following my advice.

Climbing into the carriage, I looked up at the sky.

The sky was so clear.

It would be perfect if only the cold wind wasn’t blowing.

It would have been even better if Luden were beside me.

The carriage arrived at the courthouse in the capital. People murmured seeing me get out.

Well, I was someone largely unrelated to Sallen. They looked at me with strange gazes, seemingly finding it curious that I came to watch Sallen’s trial.

“What brings you here?”

Reporters bravely approached and questioned me.

“I came for Count Kale Siel’s matter.”

I had no intention of announcing that Sallen counseled at our center. I hoped people would come even without promoting the counseling center. I didn’t want simple visits out of curiosity.

I said that and entered. The trial was about to start. I went and sat in a corner.

Many spectators came. I frowned. There were quite a few people suffering from mistress problems.

Soon after, Sallen and Amon entered. Amon glared at Sallen like he wanted to kill her, while Sallen ignored him indifferently.

The trial began.

“The assets my wife is taking are also my assets! She brought them when we married, so naturally they’re mine too, aren’t they!”

Amon claimed Sallen’s assets were his because of their marriage.

How could he think that? Do assets just roll along on their own if left alone?

I was so dumbfounded I glared at him.

“I brought a certain amount of money as a contract marriage. But I divorced, and the contract became void. And my husband contributed nothing to forming assets after marriage. I managed everything. Everything is in my name, and all the money management and organization until now was done through my accounts.”

She showed what she’d done with her own power. Everything in the documents she submitted stated that she handled all affairs in the count’s household.

The judge asked Amon.

“How much rent did you receive from the buildings?”

Then Amon closed his mouth. Since it was a trial, he couldn’t lie. When he couldn’t answer, the judge asked Sallen this time.

“The rent was approximately 15 gold per year. Of course, depending on the area…”

She explained it in detail.

Sallen knew well about the assets, but Amon knew nothing and couldn’t answer. Just from this, you could tell Amon did nothing.

“If you’re married, the wife’s assets belong to the husband!”

Amon kept making this claim. But theirs was a contract marriage where Amon brought honor and Sallen brought money. So when they separated, Sallen naturally took the money. Even though it was natural, Amon was stubborn.

The trial result came quickly.

“All assets belong to Miss Sallen.”

“Thank you.”

“She’s a woman who had an immoral relationship with another man!”

Amon attacked Sallen. Then Kale, who was sitting in the audience, stood up.

“Your words are harsh. Calling her an immoral woman because his wife met another man? You’re the one who brought a mistress and asked for divorce.”

Kale defended Sallen.

“And Sallen met me after divorcing you.”

Besides, just meeting another man wasn’t adultery. Amon was saying things that went against noble common sense.

Kale said that and approached Sallen, who won the trial. Amon bit his lip and shouted at Sallen.

“What about my son! He’s your son too.”

Then Sallen looked at Amon.

“I’ll handle talking to my son myself.”

I was impressed by Sallen’s firm words. Indeed, when quiet people get angry, they show no mercy.

I clapped. It was truly a refreshing trial.

Sallen ignored Amon’s shouts and walked with Kale. Walking between the audience seats, she spotted me and smiled. I didn’t acknowledge her either, just quietly sent her a look.

Sallen’s life would change from now on.

May there be blessings in her life.

But suddenly I heard people whispering. It was about how the mistress Amon cherished so much immediately left when Amon became poor.

Of course. She came for Amon’s money, so naturally she’d leave.

It was his own doing.

If he’d done the minimum duty as a husband to Sallen—no, as a person—this wouldn’t have happened.

But Amon didn’t. Escaping from him, Sallen regained her peace.

* * *

Throughout the trial, Amon struggled desperately, but Sallen protected her assets. And a week after the trial ended, she visited the counseling center.

“My son came to see me.”

I didn’t speak for a moment.

Sallen had lingering feelings for her son. She’d given up on her ex-husband, but not on her son.

“He asked for his share.”

No, that kind of child!

“My lingering feelings disappeared. I learned how my son sees me.”

Sallen shook her head.

“I gave him one small building and said that was the end. Even if I die, the assets won’t go to you—I told him directly.”

At her firm words, I looked at her with sad eyes.

“I cried a little.”

“Sallen…”

“Now tears come naturally.”

Sallen squeezed my hand.

“Kale held me.”

“He’s a good person.”

“Yes, he’s really different from Amon.”

Still, I was glad she was loved by someone else. Though I was annoyed that her son acted obnoxiously until the end.

“It’s all thanks to Annelia.”

“No!”

“Can I visit sometimes?”

Sallen said with a smile. At her words, I delivered my prepared line.

“You can counsel about happy things too. You don’t need to only counsel about unhappy things.”

Sallen’s eyes widened.

“Yes.”

Sallen’s eyes curved beautifully.

Looking at her, I thought I’d done well opening the counseling center.

I couldn’t write about Sallen’s matter in detail in letters to Luden. Because counseling content was secret even from husbands. But since everyone knew Sallen won the trial, I could write about that!

Returning home, I sent Luden a letter, saying I missed him.

* * *

Luden received the letter.

“What does it say?”

“It says Lady Sallen won the trial.”

Reytan nodded.

“That count went too far.”

Reytan also knew well about Sallen’s story.

“Annelia seems to have been involved…”

“Hm? Is there content about that too?”

“No. Just a feeling.”

Luden said that and looked at the letter.

He was certain Annelia moved Sallen’s heart to make this happen. Because she had the power to move people’s hearts.

“By the way, is your romance going well?”

Luden asked what he was curious about.

“Should I say it’s naturally not going well?”

Reytan sighed.

“The other party’s reaction is lukewarm, so I’m anxious.”

Reytan’s expression was dark.

“I send letters often, but she only sends one when I’m about to forget. This must be what unrequited love is?”

Reytan crossed his arms regretfully.

“Luden seems like you’ve dated a lot, so what do you do at times like this?”

Then Luden frowned.

“I haven’t dated.”

“Huh?”

“For me, there’s only Annelia.”

Luden couldn’t understand why people thought he’d dated women around. Looking at Reytan’s eyes now, he could tell he was thinking that too.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Goodness, with that face!”

What about his face?

“Should I send a letter to Annelia? She seemed to have a friendship with Count Roten.”

At Luden’s words, Reytan shook his head.

“No, I’ll ask directly myself.”

At Reytan’s refusal, Luden smiled.

He liked that Reytan asked the woman he loved directly without testing her.

But suddenly he thought, wouldn’t Annelia know the reason? She’d probably say it’s a secret though.

Luden smiled thinking of her.

* * *

Laysia walked slowly. She was going because Annelia suggested she go there to organize her feelings again.

Getting out of the carriage and walking to the hill, she slowly looked down. There, graves stood in rows.

It was where the Roten Count family graves gathered. The Roten Count family’s territory had a graveyard like this, and Laysia came here in the sense of confessing her past to Annelia and organizing her feelings.

They say true courage comes when you can face your past self.

Laysia looked at the graves. The graves she looked at totaled five. Her mother and father, and the graves of the half-siblings with different mothers who tormented her.

Laysia clenched her hands.

Coming back, her emotions felt strange.

“They’re dead.”

Annelia said this too.

“And I’m not who I used to be anymore.”

Thinking that, Laysia raised her head and looked at the sky.

When she first met Annelia, she cried. Before talking about the past, emotions rose and she cried. The crying that came out after over a decade felt strange.

Annelia seemed to have a strange power.

Laysia recalled the letter Reytan sent.

She still couldn’t believe she was dating him. And she was anxious. Anxiety constantly surged about whether she should keep meeting that man like this.

“Haa.”

Looking at the graves, her heart calmed a little. Since those who tormented her were all dead, there was no one to touch her now.

Yet… she remained in the past. Annelia said she needed to escape from that first.

But she couldn’t escape easily.

* * *

I drank tea. Looking at the clock, it was time for Laysia to come. She said she was going to the graveyard this time—I wonder what she’ll think there.

Laysia said she was abused by her family in the past. Born as the daughter of a noble’s second wife, the first wife and children locked her in closets and framed her for theft. That’s why she had a panic attack when I said my earring was missing.

She didn’t speak in detail about what she experienced. I didn’t particularly ask either. Even hearing just part of it, her past was dark.

Now all those involved were dead. She said they went on a trip leaving Laysia behind and died hit by another carriage. That’s how Laysia became a count.

I heard the bell hanging on the door ring. A customer came.

The counseling room door opened and Laysia, wearing a coat, entered. She looked at me with a complicated expression. Soon she bit her lip and told me.

“I visited the graves well.”

“How did you feel?”

At my question, Laysia shook her head.

“I didn’t think anything.”

She sat down. I offered her tea infused with my magic. Then Laysia took a sip of tea.

Even though I only put in a little, it had an effect on Laysia.

“Actually, I wanted to cry.”

Laysia sobbed.

“Just, I recalled my pitiful self from those days.”

She cried again. Even though she’d cried so much, tears were still coming out.

Just like I cried in Luden’s arms, she showed tears thinking of her past self.

“Just, I felt so sorry for myself who was harmed without saying anything. And I felt frustrated because I still seem to be that child.”

Laysia extended her hand to me. I silently held her hand.

“You said I need to release the shackles of the past, but I don’t know how.”

Laysia’s eyes turned toward me. Like seeking an answer from me.

“Well, I only give advice. Laysia needs to find the answer.”

“Even advice is good.”

“Mm, Laysia.”

I spoke to her like a whisper.

“You know the bad things that happened in the past? How about writing a diary about them and having your future self comfort you? Something like a praise diary would be good too.”

Laysia’s eyes widened, seemingly not having thought of my words.

“Comfort my past self?”

“If someone says good words, it can create an opportunity for salvation. But the one who saves you is yourself. So Laysia saves Laysia.”

Laysia nodded.

A world where the targets of resentment disappeared. Laysia exists in that world. She was wounded, but can’t hold those who wounded her responsible.

What she can do is heal the wounds herself. The only way is to reduce the wounds in her heart even a little and escape from there.