Cordelia had always favoured tea. She had always liked how it could easily soothe someone in the middle of stress, How it was commonly served to both strangers and friends. Tea brought people together during tough times, sitting those who would not normally associate with one another together and creating a bond. Tea was a common comfort for many.

But despite the greatness of tea, it is not completely good for a person. The caffeine is not good for a person, and the sugar can be enough to make someone sick.

And even though Cordelia knows this, she cannot stop drinking tea. Tea was still popular, and it would still be mentioned constantly by those she knew and those she didn't. And she would still need to see tea on a daily basis. what point was there in trying to stop herself when she had let her fondness grow to strong?

But tea still grew cold.

Cold tea is not admirable to anyone. The warmth in tea leaves, seeking comfort in the cool air that it is so often with, leaving behind a ruined and unwanted liquid. A person in desperate need for a beverage may drink tea out of need to live, but they would not live off of it if given other options.

Tea, Cordelia realised, was very much like Chrom.

For years Cordelia had admired Chrom, left to hide her feelings out of shame and embarrassment. She admired how he brought so many different kinds of people together through the shepherds, creating unbreakable bonds and happiness.

But her infatuation with him was not good for her. She had wasted many a year hoping that some day he would reciprocate her hidden feelings, that some day he would love her. Hoping for such a thing had all but closed Cordelia's heart to others, not allowing herself a chance to fall for another; to be happy.

And then, he was wed. He had found comfort in a woman that Cordelia had always hoped with all her heart would be her.

This was much like the warmth of a tea dissipating.

Cordelia knew that she should tear her heart away from a wedded man, but if she was to see him everyday and force herself to show him kindness, how was she to do so?

Eventually, Cordelia stopped drinking tea. She found herself favouring water - a liquid that had been a comfort for her for as long as she could remember.

Water is a necessity for survival. It can be enjoyed cool or warm, served when one is ill or in the best of health. Nothing can be hidden in water; the clearness makes sure of this. Water is simple, average - but it is reliable.

Not many people like water. Water always stays the same and has always been the same. People consider it boring, but Cordelia loved it nonetheless. She found herself drinking it more and more until she found herself drinking no other available beverages. She was very much content with enjoying water.

Much like how Chrom was like tea, Stahl was like water.

Stahl, from the day they had been engaged had always been there for her. He had taken care of her when she was upset or ill, made her laugh when she felt like doing the exact opposite, and he had never lied to her. And since their marriage, she had not once dreamt of Chrom, nor feel anything but happiness for his own marriage.

Stahl had been there everyday as a shoulder for her to lean on. He had made her feel things that she had not once felt for Chrom. He loved her unconditionally, and she him. He had never changed, he had always just been her Stahl.

Cordelia was happy to never so much look at tea again.