Chapter Sixty-One: I trusted you the most

When the rain finally stopped, the trees looked naked.  Many of the blossoms had been blown off or knocked down in the storm, and it would take a few days before new blooms replaced them.  The ground was littered with fading pink petals, and the sky was more white than blue, adding to the feel of barrenness and colorlessness. It was still cold, so everyone was dressed in heavy robes as they did their business for the day.

MeiLan appeared at the stables after breakfast in her men's suit with a dark green hooded robe, which she had pulled up over her hair so that it partially concealed her face.  If Emilian had been able to see her expression, he might have been a little bit worried.  As it was, he was consumed with his own thoughts and didn't notice if there was anything strange or different about his young mistress.