I had gathered all the towels I could find. Yujin stood at the entrance, drying himself off. As he bowed his head, raindrops trickled down his sharp nose.

‘He’s going to catch a cold.’

Why on earth was Count Esrenche out in the rain like this?

‘Was it because the carriage couldn’t get onto the sandy beach? But still, without an umbrella…’

I could easily picture Yujin trudging alone through the storm. The problem was, it suited him too well.

‘From the first time we met, he’s been someone I just can’t leave alone.’

He probably had much more than I did and knew more as well, yet why did he seem so precarious?

‘He’s really different from Yuri.’

Could twins be this different? I didn’t know what the previous Count and Countess Esrenche were like, but they must have had a hard time raising such completely different brothers.

“It’s better if you just take off your coat. It’s soaked.”

Yujin obediently removed his coat. The water dripping from it quickly formed a circular stain on the floor. As I took the coat from him and squeezed it, more water streamed out. Seeing this, I scolded him in a nagging tone.

“Really! You probably have at least five subordinates who could hold an umbrella for you, so why come looking like a drenched rat?”

Yujin’s face clouded over at my nagging. It was an expression I couldn’t quite read—whether it was displeasure or embarrassment.

He soon replied in a stiff voice.

“The storm was intense.”

“You could see that just by looking out the window. What I’m saying is, did you really have to get soaked like this?”

“There was no need to trouble my subordinates.”

“So you came all this way knowing it would be tough.”

“Because I wanted to come.”

That was typical of him.

‘Authoritative yet surprisingly considerate.’

But that wasn’t the answer I was looking for. I put my hands on my hips and said,

“Then if you really wanted to come, you could have waited until the rain stopped. I know you’re stubborn, but please bend a little when it’s dangerous. I’m worried.”

Yujin furrowed his brow as if surprised.

“Worried?”

His reaction made me feel frustrated. Knowing his past, what once seemed like arrogance now appeared as the behavior of someone who had never been loved and didn’t even understand what concern was.

So I spoke more forcefully.

“Yes, worried. Promise me you won’t go out when it’s dangerous again.”

“……”

Yujin clamped his mouth shut. My eyebrows rose in response.

‘Does that mean he can’t promise?’

Was he planning to continue doing whatever he wanted, regardless of others’ worries?

As I kept staring at him, he sighed as if he had no choice and replied,

“……Alright.”

Only then did I smile contentedly, knowing he was someone who always kept his promises.

Thanks to being covered in towels, no more water dripped from him. I draped the shawl I was holding over his shoulders and led him to the fireplace.

“Come sit here. Your body is really cold.”

Fortunately, the fireplace was lit. After seating him in a warm spot, I finally noticed Yuri standing with his arms crossed, looking sideways. I clapped my hands.

“Oh right, there’s magic.”

Yuri frowned.

“What magic?”

“The one you used to dry my hair. Could you use it to dry Yujin’s clothes too?”

At my request, Yuri’s blue eyes wavered. After chewing his lip for a moment, he sighed and ran his hand through my hair.

“It’s impossible. I’m not in the mood to use magic.”

‘Mood?’

What did mood have to do with magic? I tilted my head at Yuri’s response.

Yuri slowly brushed past me and asked his brother in a dissatisfied tone,

“What brings you here?”

Yujin, sitting quietly by the fire as I had seated him, answered,

“To rest.”

“Now, of all times?”

“I’m not feeling well.”

“What do you mean by that…”

I sensed Yuri’s frustration boiling over. I didn’t know why his mood had soured suddenly, but I decided I should intervene to prevent them from arguing.

“Yuri, do you think there are clothes in the villa that would fit Yujin?”

“Titi.”

I tugged on Yuri’s sleeve, and he rubbed his face with his hands.

“Honestly, I think Yujin should just go himself… but since it’s Titi’s request, I’ll go.”

“Thank you.”

When I replied with a smile, Yuri let out a long sigh. Then, suddenly, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Remember when I said I’m jealous of everything that catches your eye?”

He was indirectly expressing his dislike for my concern about Yujin.

I frowned, realizing my mistake. But in that moment, Yuri puckered his lips and kissed my forehead.

“You…!”

Startled by the sudden display of affection, I covered my forehead with my palm. Yuri waved his hand playfully.

“Then I’ll go get some clothes for him.”

He quickly disappeared, probably because he thought I would get mad. I pouted, still covering my forehead.

‘Why is he giving me a hard time about his brother?’

Wasn’t this situation completely reversed? Yuri should have been worried about Yujin, and I should have been the one glaring at the brother who interrupted our moment.

‘Ugh, “our moment.”‘

I twisted in embarrassment. Considering how hesitant I had been about Yuri’s confession, it felt strange to accept our relationship so naturally.

‘And it’s not like we’re the only ones here!’

I slapped my cheeks with both hands. Then, with determination, I asked Yujin, “How are you feeling? Are you chilly at all?”

“A little.”

“I should make some warm tea. You came to the villa because of a headache, right?”

Yujin nodded. Looking down at him, unwell, reminded me of when I first met the Master.

‘I couldn’t help but talk to him because he looked so pained by the burn.’

Just like when I recommended herbs for his burn, I rolled up my sleeves. “Hold on a moment. I’ll see if we have any chamomile or peppermint. I know your headache isn’t just a regular illness, but eating foods that are good for you can still help.”

I intended to brew some tea that would help with his headache.

‘It would be nice if we had some dried ginger too.’

But before I could take a step, I stopped abruptly. Yujin had grabbed me.

“Sit next to me.”

“Yujin?”

When I turned around, he avoided my gaze slightly and spoke in a quiet voice, “…Help me dry off.”

Even after all the effort earlier, water was still dripping from Yujin’s hair.

‘It seems drying him off is more urgent than tea.’

But drying his hair while we were alone felt a bit awkward.

“Why don’t you do it yourself?”

To my question, Yujin replied calmly, “I’ve never done it before.”

“……”

Right, you were born with a silver spoon.

“……Alright.”

If he’d never dried his own hair, what could I say?

I picked up a towel that was slightly less wet and trudged over to Yujin. Sitting behind him with my knees up, I gently rubbed his hair. Yujin sat upright, like a well-trained hunting dog.

Even soaked to the bone, his posture was unnecessarily perfect.

‘He’s really unique.’

At first, his uprightness seemed overbearing, but as I got to know him, it became somewhat amusing.

As I dried his hair, I said, “Your brother and you balance each other well. Yuri likes drying hair. It would be perfect if he dried yours.”

“I suppose.”

To me, it seemed perfect, but Yujin’s response was indifferent.

“Have the headaches persisted?”

“They’ve lessened a lot. I’ve recovered almost all my memories.”

“Memories? From childhood?”

“Those could probably be forgotten.”

If not childhood memories, then what memories was he talking about? Did he suffer from short-term memory loss?

‘Even if I ask, he probably won’t answer.’

If he wanted to confide in me, he would have brought it up himself. I chuckled softly and commented on another part of what Yujin had said.

“You two are definitely brothers. Yuri also hates talking about his childhood.”

“……”

Yujin visibly grimaced. He genuinely disliked it.

‘And that’s probably because of Princess Sabina.’

Based on the conversations I overheard when Yuri and I argued, it seemed like his childhood wouldn’t have been very happy even without Sabina. But it was clear Sabina had made it much worse.

There was something I couldn’t understand about this whole situation.

“Why did the late Count Esrenche tell you to treat Princess Sabina so well?”

Their father, who had ordered them to do whatever Sabina said. The late Count Esrenche, who had been dead for a long time.

‘If he had been a proper parent, he would’ve seen how Sabina was ruining both of them. I just can’t understand it.’

If he truly didn’t know, then he wasn’t fit to be a parent.