“Shall I do some work in the morning?”

Autumn, who had planned to immerse herself in drawing all day long, moved to the studio, carrying her drawing book, despite his earlier statement that he would be too busy to see her face today. And it was when she was about to pass the main building.

“Oh, Gaeul!”

At the voice calling her, Gaeul turned around. The one who called her was none other than Mijeong.

Approaching Mijeong, Gaeul greeted her warmly, “Hello, ma’am. Good morning.”

“Okay. Where are you going so early in the morning?”

“Oh, I was on my way to the studio. I plan to work in the morning today.”

Gaeul smiled a relieved smile. Then Mijeong, with a somewhat regretful tone, said, “Is that so? I wanted to call you to have a cup of tea together since it’s been a while.”

Hearing Mijeong’s words, Gaeul hurriedly extended her hand and said, “I can come to the studio later.”

“Oh, really? Then, let’s have a cup of tea before you go.”

Mijeong, pleased with Gaeul’s changed response, grabbed Gaeul’s hand and led her into the main building.

Gaeul looked down at the tea water infused with a light green color. Mijeong poured it into Gaeul’s cup.

The tea with a greenish hue looked like a type of herbal tea.

As Gaeul silently speculated, Mijeong provided the answer.

“It’s lemon balm. I received it as a gift. Would you like to try it?”

After cooling the hot liquid a little, Gaeul took a sip.

Although slightly refreshing and subtly scented with lemon, the tea was different from what she usually drank, but it was charming.

“It tastes good.”

“Really? I’m glad it suits your taste.”

As Gaeul softly smiled in response to Mijeong’s words, Mijeong’s gaze suddenly passed her and reached the outside garden.

Come to think of it, quite some time had passed since they had been drinking tea at this tea table.

The winter garden, which used to be bleak, was now exuding a refreshing energy. Unfamiliar flowers were taking up some space there.

Gaeul asked Mijeong, “Ma’am, the garden looks a bit different, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. I planted more than what was originally here. I got a little tired of it, and I wanted to enjoy flower viewing here without going far.”

While sipping tea and sharing a conversation, the initiative of the conversation had somehow shifted to Mijeong.

“A few days ago, I went to a spa. It was so nice. My skin feels even more rejuvenated. After it, I went to get the massage I usually get… How about you?”

At Mijeong’s words, Gaeul glanced at her face. Mijeong, who had been receiving massages regularly, seemed to be putting more effort into her care during the summer. Even in the summer, her skin looked fresh.

Gaeul responded with a smiling face, “You seem to look clearer than before.”

“Really? Is that so?”

Satisfied with Gaeul’s words, Mijeong burst into a pleased laughter.
It was when the promise of having just one cup of tea turned into two. Suddenly wiping away her smile, Mijeong asked Gaeul out of the blue.

“Have you been meeting any women lately, Kitae?”

“……What?”

Her heart pounded, and she felt like she had hit rock bottom.

During the tea time that had gradually felt like the right moment, Gaeul, who was about to enjoy her lemon balm, was taken aback, her tongue caught. However, without giving her time to suffer from the pain, Gaeul’s pupils shook aimlessly.

Unaware of Gaeul’s state, Mijeong continued to speak as if she were disappointed.

“Is he planning to work all his life?”

“……. ”

“Since you’ve been seeing Kitae frequently lately, I thought you might know. So, I asked just in case.”

Feeling like her expression had strangely distorted, Gaeul ended up biting her lower lip.

“Do you have any women? Or maybe someone you’re getting close to.”

Meeting Mijeong’s gaze, Gaeul forced a faint smile.

Gaeul’s heart pounded rapidly, ignoring the lie, and she replied, “I don’t think so.”

“Really?”

“Yes, because you’re always so busy.”

“Well, true. Kitae never has a day off.”

Love needs time too. Mijeong, who had been mumbling her worries, suddenly picked up a cookie.

It was a household that didn’t usually eat sweet things. Trying to comfort herself, Mijeong, in an unusual move, picked up a piece of sweetness and put it into her mouth.

Then, suddenly lifting her head, she thoroughly scanned various places inside the main building that she had been staring at for a while.

After keeping silent for a while and examining only the inside of the main building, Mijeong resumed speaking.

“I might only confide this to Gaeul, but sometimes I feel like the men in this house know only about work, making it too barren. Do you ever feel like you’re always alone?”

“Ma’am…”

Mijeong, who was expressing her true feelings for the first time, had a serious expression. For a moment, Gaeul, feeling guilty for the lie, looked up at her with droopy eyes.

Seemingly okay with Gaeul’s state, she smiled affectionately and suddenly grabbed Gaeul’s hand lying on the table.

Gaeul, who had forgotten about calculating Mijeong’s words while her hand was suddenly held, widened her eyes.