My Dear Aster

Viscount Copland was confused, carefully holding Lihen. If he rings the bell, the butler would come, but until then, he couldn’t leave Lihen in this state.

He scanned the study but found nothing to cover her. In the end, in spite of being rude, he took off his outer garment and wrapped his daughter’s body. If one of them had to wear underwear anyway, it was better for him to show his underwear than his daughter.

Lihen pulled over her father’s outer garment and lowered her head from the inside, leaving the study with brisk steps, as he led her out. She wondered what Schudermel was doing, but she didn’t think she could stand the shame. Still, she glanced at him involuntarily, and finally their eyes met.

He still had a great look, just as she remembered.

She shrank like a turtle.

Just outside the study, the nanny was waiting with a large gown. She returned the Viscount’s robe and put on the gown that her nanny had given her.

The Viscount was strict, but did not rebuke her. For that reason, the tears that welled up in the corner of Lihen’s eyes still remained.

“Is something wrong? Is it a big deal?”

“No.”

“It’s a big deal. You got a good night’s sleep but when you woke up, you suddenly did that.”

The nanny grumbled. Lihen shook her head.

“I just suddenly missed my father. I had such a shocking dream……”

She bit her lower lip and hugged the Viscount’s arm tightly. It wasn’t a dream. It is a natural truth that time passes and people age. Although it was in her past, it was a future and a reality that would come someday.

She remembered things she hadn’t done well. She loved her father, but there were times when she resented or hated him. There was even a time when it all poured down like a waterfall and she lay alone on a long night, thinking of the resentment and hatred she felt for him.

“You’re acting like a child all of a sudden.”

The viscount affectionately stroked his daughter’s head. Lihen shed tears again.

“I don’t know where it hurts. Mrs. Rod, ask Mr. Norman to come and look at Lihen.”

Viscount Copland said so and reassured Lihen.

“I’m sorry, baby. Your father is talking about something important, so I have to go back in. I’ll go to your room around lunchtime later.”

“Yes…… Well……”

“Yes?”

“Please tell Lord Schudermel that I am sorry for my shameful appearance.”

“How do you know Lord Schudermel?”

Lihen’s cheeks flushed. The viscount realized something. Schudermel, 23, graduated from the academy last year. And his daughter had been attending the academy for six years.

For the female students attending the academy, there is no way that Schudermel, with his tall stature, bright silver hair, and seductive beauty, was not known. It was the same even if he was an illegitimate child born without a father by the daughter of Marquis Laft. He was even a top student at the academy.

Even a girl who wasn’t interested in dating (and he thought his daughter was that kind of girl) would of course have known Schudermel’s name and face.

“I don’t know him personally.”

Lihen replied with difficulty. The viscount replied, “I see.” She kissed her father on the cheek and headed back to her room.

“Miss.”

The nanny said as she followed.

“You have to go to the academy.”

“I’m not going today.”

“Miss!”

“How about a day off? When Mom comes back, I will go see her.”

In the past, she thought that missing a day at the academy was something she shouldn’t do unless she had a severe fever or was sick. She thought she had to do it because it was something she was supposed to do.

Not just in the academy, but in everything. She thought that disobeying her parents or straying even a little off track was the work of bad girls.

But when she thinks about it now, learning at the academy wasn’t that important anyway. The content of education is also trivial, but the most important thing from the beginning was to establish relationships.

Just because you worked for six years without flexibility doesn’t mean your life will bloom after that. She had told her daughter the same. What she wants to do, what she wants to learn, is more important, not the Academy’s attendance record.

She had several fights with Harold because of it. Harold was more strict than her when she was young, because he believed that she had to go unless she was sick and couldn’t get up. He was so adherent to the rules that he would never do less.

Her daughter was a much more free spirit than her. She sometimes said, “I’m not going because I have a lot to do today,” but maybe there were several times when she sneaked out.

Anyway, today, Lihen didn’t have the energy or the will to go to the academy.

She plopped back into bed. She buried her face in the pillow. Tears dripped down her face for no reason.

＊＊＊

Upon returning from the flower market, the viscountess was surprised to see Lihen crying as she hugged her without going to the academy. However, unlike her father, Lihen was able to calm down quickly this time. It was because she was able to control her mind until the Viscountess returned, and little by little she became accustomed to accepting reality more.

And now they were talking together in the Viscountess’ living room.

“Are you really saying there are no flowers for the party?”

“Yes. The weather got cold too quickly this fall. Even the available flower gardens do not have enough supplies. Besides, it seems that Countess Odan suddenly threw a party and swept away all the chrysanthemums and Asclepias curassavica. It seems that even at the top, where my mother used to deal often, was taken aback, but to be honest, I am very disappointed with this incident. I’m worried about the day after tomorrow.”

“Then why not use a small can instead of a large vase? Glass bottles are good, too. It would be cute if you filled up a small can and put it on the table. If it’s a small flower, there will be one in the greenhouse.”

Lihen had the maid bring a small jar of jam or fruit from the kitchen, and unwrapped and trimmed the small bouquet that the viscountess had received from the flower garden today. She then asked the maid to pick some eucalyptus branches from the garden.

“Four ranunculus, two roses, a daffodil, a eucalyptus branch and a fig tree.”

“Oh my.”

The jar was so small that it filled up quickly without much insertion. When branches with leaves were decorated together instead of flowers, it looked like a palm-sized garden. The Viscountess was astonished.

“It’s prettier than I thought. It’s cute as you say.”

“Right?”

Nowadays, rather than filling the vase with colorful flowers of every size, it is fashionable to decorate it with simple flowers and leaf branches instead. This is a trend that will take place in the next 10 years, but it is still useful for times of need, such as now.

“If you put this on the table, it would be nice to have a simple tea set. How about Ancy Jasper’s?”

“Ancy Jasper? I’ve never heard of it. Wouldn’t it be better to have a tea set in the Olta workshop if it’s simple?”

“Olta tea sets are expensive. Besides, it’s going to be hard to come by. If it’s Ancy Jasper’s, I have one, so take a look.”

During this time, Ancy Jasper was a fledgling workshop that had not yet gained fame. It began to be promoted mainly to young ladies who had small afternoon tea gatherings with friends. Later, it became a big workshop due to the rapid popularity of naturalistic decorations. The fashion was just right for Lihen, so she collected Ancy Jasper’s tea sets from an early age. And she was confident in combining these decorations and props to match.

The maid brought a lovely tea set and placed it on the table. The flower jar paired with the tea set matched so well together, it reminded her of a tea party for young ladies.

“Isn’t it okay? This new workshop is always in stock, so it won’t be difficult to secure supplies.”

“I didn’t know you had this kind of talent. You’re studying hard.”

Lihen was right. The Viscountess called in her maid and ordered her to buy the tea set according to her needs, and then looked at Lihen affectionately.

Lihen smiled. The Viscountess thinks she is just her nineteen-year-old daughter, but she is actually a lady who has been the mistress of a family for more than twenty years. Preparing for a tea party was not difficult.

“Then the flower problem is solved, and the tea set problem is solved. Shall we solve our daughter’s problem?”

“I don’t have a problem.”

“You didn’t go to the academy today.”

“I just want to talk to my mom.”

“How long has it been since you kept your mouth shut saying that you don’t like your mother’s nagging?”

Lihen laughed awkwardly. And she lowered her head.

“I just wanted to talk to my mom. I don’t think we’ve talked properly for too long.”

“You’re right.”

The Viscountess will never be able to imagine how long it has been for Lihen to have a conversation like this.

Lihen stood up and sat next to the Viscountess, hugging her.

When she lived again, there was definitely one thing she wanted to do.

She wanted to be good to her parents with no regrets. She wanted to tell her that she loved her, hug her tightly before she was exhausted from life and let negative emotions overwhelm her. She wanted to reassure each other’s heart and mind, even if illness, pain, and the passage of time clouded her memory.