"Could it be a letter from Xiaolan? I'm gonna cry..." Fans Focus on Maomao's Melancholic Look as The Apothecary Diaries Volume 17 Cover is Teased: "So this is what the cover looks like!"

Nekokurage, the manga artist responsible for the comic adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, updated their official X account with a sneak peek of what appears to be the cover of the upcoming Volume 17, scheduled for release on July 24, quickly grabbing fans' attention.

The illustration was posted along with the comment, "Volume 17 of the manga will be released on July 24." The newly revealed image features the protagonist, Maomao, standing against a backdrop displaying the number "17." Dressed in a yellow outfit, Maomao is gripping something that looks like a letter tightly in her right hand. Yellow butterflies flutter around her as she gazes toward the viewer with a slightly melancholic, bittersweet expression.

The Apothecary Diaries is a series based on the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. Set in a fictionalized medieval East Asia, this imperial court mystery entertainment follows Maomao, a young girl who becomes a "taste tester" and solves various difficult incidents and rumors arising within the rear palace. The manga adaptation illustrated by Nekokurage is currently serialized in Monthly Big Gangan (Square Enix), and it has become a massive hit, garnering widespread support from readers for its intricate, beautiful artwork and charming character depictions.

In response to the teaser illustration, fans showered the post with comments expressing their excitement for the upcoming release, such as "So this is what the cover looks like!", "I'm so excited!", and "I can't wait!" Furthermore, seeing Maomao holding a letter led some fans to speculate, with comments like "Ahhhhh, she's holding a letter!" and "Oh no... could this be a letter from Xiaolan? I'm gonna cry..."

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project