It was clear to Rochelle that Irene was the same she had always been in the face of pain whether it be physical or mental.
As her daughter teared up in front of her but held herself together, Rochelle thought back to all the other times Irene brushed off pain so someone wouldn't underestimate her. She pushed down her feelings and used them to pilot the sword she carried with her everywhere. It was improper for women to be too outspoken or emotional and Irene had strangely found a way to uphold this while also going against convention as she normally did.
She held her daughter's hand on the tabletop between them until she had pulled herself together enough to speak.
"Normally when someone is told that someone loves them, their first reaction isn't to cry," Rochelle explained in a soft voice.
Irene willed the tea she sipped to soothe her tumultuous feelings.
