Chapter 98

Lia took a seat by the fireplace and opened the letters one by one. It felt like opening the pages of a very old diary. After she finished reading one, she would throw it into the fireplace with no regret. The fire crackled into a large flame with each letter, turning it—and her lingering affection—into ash.

Pipi sat by Lia's side with her embroidery, checking her state every so often. Lia didn't seem depressed, however. She bit her lip frequently, trying to control swells of emotion, but Pipi could sense that it wasn't sadness that she was processing.

After going through all the letters and burning more than half of them, Lia finally stretched.

"Would you like a glass of juice, my lady?" Pipi asked, putting her embroidery down.

"Sure."

"… Are you alright?"

Lia nodded. "I was sad when I didn't have them, but now, I realize that it was nothing. It really was nothing."