The anniversary of Charles’ passing came and went in quiet.

In the middle of the night, Orlando returned in a drunken stupor and the atmosphere inside the mansion darkened more than usual, but the sun inevitably rose the next day.

I asked the chef for food that would be especially good for hangovers and headed to the dining room.

Normally, Orlando was busy and frequently away from the mansion, and Nocia slept in late and did not have breakfast. So, I often ate with Askan, but today was different.

The day after Charles’ anniversary, the family would always gather together for breakfast.

It was not something we planned, but we gathered naturally without having to say anything.

Everyone would deal with their sorrow for a day, and then find some peace of mind by seeing each other as a family the next day.

I was the first one to arrive at the dining room. As I quietly sat and waited, Nocia, her eyes puffy, appeared soon after.

“Sister, did you sleep well?”

“Yes. You?”

“I slept well too.”

I could tell that Nocia had cried the night before just by looking at her face, but we both pretended not to know anything and just exchanged greetings.

Sometimes, it was right to wish that sorrow would pass quietly without being too distressed. And Charles’ anniversary was such a day.

Orlando, who usually arrived at the dining room punctually, showed up a little late today.

His face looked a bit haggard, his clothes disheveled, unlike his usual perfect appearance, seeming to convey his sorrow.

“Dad─.”

The memories of my childhood as Tanashia were not perfect but they surfaced sporadically.

The face of Charles, who was standing next to Orlando, was vague, but it was clear that there were moments of sheer happiness with my parents.

Since I was an orphan without parents in my past life, those memories were incredibly precious to me.

It was a different feeling than what I had read in novels. Maybe I was beginning to empathize a bit as Tanashia’s memories surfaced.

What if Charles had lived until now?

The death of the girl in my childhood was a very heartbreaking event for me.

“Everyone woke up early.”

In response to Orlando’s words, Nocia tried to make a bright expression and answered.

“Yes. I woke up early today.”

Nobody mentioned Charles’ anniversary. It was because we all felt each other’s sadness without having to say anything.

Orlando spoke with a voice a bit hoarser than usual, pretending to be normal.

“Let’s eat.”

And so, we had a quiet breakfast. Although we didn’t exchange many words, it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable, but rather, it felt comforting.

While we were eating, Orlando looked at me and started to speak.

“Tanashia, I received the food you sent yesterday.”

“I prepared it, hoping that you would enjoy your drinks.”

I knew exactly how Orlando was feeling now, how much sadness he was enduring, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him not to drink.

All I could do was to make sure he didn’t harm his health, but even if I didn’t do this, it was unbearable for me.

Nocia was surprised when I said that I had prepared some food, but Orlando faintly smiled and spoke in a low voice.

“Good, keep doing that.”

“When I become an adult, let’s drink together, father.”

In fact, I could drink now, but it seemed too soon to start drinking at the age of 15, so I held back.

Orlando seemed surprised by my unexpected words.

“Together?”

“Yes. It’s better than drinking alone.”

Nocia, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, worriedly interrupted.

“Isn’t alcohol bad for your body? I wish you and sister wouldn’t drink too much……”

“Sometimes, you need it in life.”

Nocia, still a child, wouldn’t understand yet, but sometimes you needed alcohol in life. It was hard to endure the tough life without alcohol.

Seeing Nocia making a confused face, I spoke again.

“You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“Is, is that so……”

As Nocia and I were talking, Orlando, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, spoke in a low voice.

“If someone heard you, Tanashia, they’d think you’ve had a drink.”

I felt embarrassed.

I couldn’t help but close my mouth because a part of me felt poked.

I hadn’t touched alcohol in my current life, but in my past life, I had tasted alcohol and lived a long life knowing its flavor.

I wasn’t calculating my words carefully because I had become too sentimental.

I cautiously checked Orlando’s reaction, but to my surprise, he did not seem to scold me and his face looked a bit astonished.

“Right. I hadn’t thought of it, but it doesn’t seem like a bad idea. When you become an adult, let’s drink together.”

It seemed better for me to become a drinking buddy with Orland, who was drinking alone, than for him to drink to the point of a twisted nose.

When it seemed like my feelings had been conveyed, I was faintly smiling at Orland.

Noxia, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, raised her hand and said.

“Then me too!”

As Orland and I naturally looked at Noxia, she brightened up and continued.

“Three is better than two, isn’t it?”