But why, under Lance Hua's admission that he didn't have romantic feelings anymore for her, did she feel everything crumble everywhere, all at once?
The question carried on with her for too long. Her relationship with him didn't improve, but she had to live day by day with confusion. Sea and Poplar noticed the change in her behaviour. They approached her when she had finished her afternoon tea.
"Is my lady bored?" asked Poplar. She had the habit of curtseying before Chiaki, even after the lady told her to give up on formalities. "Not my style," she used to say. Sea accepted the change in the etiquette, but Poplar, who had spent more time in the presence of Lance Hua and other emissaries who stayed in the private residence's guest rooms, took longer to shed this attitude. Chiaki brushed it off, she took this custom lightly.
