This was exactly what Titiana Este had whispered to Yuri Esrenche just before the flower-sharing event at the end of the royal wedding.

“I think Yujin might provoke Sabina. So, protect Yujin, Yuri.”

That’s why Yuri had cast a shield spell on Yujin, one that deflected any magic.

Yuri twisted his lips.

‘It’s honestly unsettling how accurately Titi’s predictions come true.’

He felt a strange mix of relief and bitterness.

Yuri, who had been staring at his older brother with a somewhat resentful look, shook his head. Then he addressed the people bustling around him.

“The letter of protest and the request for punishment will be sent from the Esrenche family. The Count of Esrenche must have been quite shocked by what just happened, so I’ll take him with me.”

This was both an announcement and a directive.

He instructed the Esrenche retainers to send a letter of protest to the imperial palace and the palace scribe to quickly report the situation to the emperor.

Having said all he needed to, Yuri tugged on Yujin’s arm.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“Where else? Home.”

At the mention of home, Yujin tilted his head. Although Esrenche still longed for Yuri, it had been a long time since Yuri had turned his back on the family.

Even when Yujin had hoped to step down as count due to a terrible burn in his past life, Yuri had refused to return to Esrenche.

Yet suddenly, now he was talking about home…

“What are you thinking? I mean my home.”

“Oh.”

Yujin belatedly recalled the mint-colored building where Titiana tended to her flowers.

Yuri was calling that small, warm space his home.

The place where Yujin had stayed in his past two lives.

‘The future really has changed.’

With that obvious thought, Yujin gave a bitter smile. Then he added, as if to explain himself to Yuri.

“It’s not that I stopped answering because I didn’t want you to come back. I just thought if you rejoined the Esrenche estate, I’d have to sort out property and business matters again.”

At Yujin’s response, Yuri frowned and waved his hand dismissively.

“Even if you give me that stuff, I won’t take it. Lately, so many people want to give me things.”

“……”

Perhaps it wasn’t just lately; maybe Yuri had only started paying attention now. This change likely came about after meeting Titiana, but Yujin didn’t mention it. Yuri probably knew better himself. He wasn’t the type to accept change unless he was pleased with it.

There was only one thing Yujin needed to remember: that now Titiana and Yuri had become a pair capable of influencing each other naturally.

This was a relationship that wasn’t allowed to Yujin.

Whether Yuri understood Yujin’s complex feelings or not, he extended his hand to Yujin with a brusque tone.

“Consider it an honor. I only offer my hand to Titi, but I’m giving you a special chance.”

“……”

Yujin stared at the long hand extended toward him. It was a hand he had never held in his past two lives.

‘This must be a good change.’

Soothing his bitter heart with that thought, Yujin took Yuri’s hand. At that moment, he felt as if he was floating, and the scenery around him changed in an instant.

The scent of fresh plants, a slightly dark yet cozy atmosphere.

It was Titiana’s shop.

However, the ones who greeted them weren’t Titiana with her hair tied back, wearing sturdy overalls and gloves.

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

A middle-aged man who looked older than Yuri and Yujin combined, and another man sitting with a somewhat cringing posture, made strange sounds upon seeing Yuri and Yujin suddenly appear.

Yuri squinted his eyes and scanned the spot where they were sitting, then asked in an incredulous voice.

“Why on earth are you here, Master?”

***

I stood on the street, arms crossed, looking at my shop.

Next to the original mint-colored building, there was a larger, darker building attached like a shadow.

‘It’s nice that the building has expanded, but the atmosphere has become too heavy for customers to feel comfortable coming in.’

The issue was the dark color. With no windows and such a black hue, the building looked gloomy.

I rested my chin on my hand, lost in thought.

“If we painted the exterior of the building a color like forsythia…”

“That would be difficult. Black is the signature color of the Magic Tower.”

“Oh.”

I was startled when I heard a response from behind me to what I thought was a private musing.

Turning around, I saw Bradley, dressed in a lively red shirt, smiling brightly.

‘He says black is the signature, yet he’s wearing such a flashy shirt?’

Shouldn’t he be wearing something more mage-like? At least a robe or something.

‘Then again, that might stand out too.’

I greeted him warmly.

“Hello, Bradley.”

In response to my greeting, Bradley rubbed his hands together like a fly and greeted me affectionately.

“Oh, please speak comfortably. Aren’t you going to be the mistress of the Magic Tower? Shouldn’t I call you Mistress?”

“What? That’s…”

Mistress?

Even when I was a marchioness, I had never heard such a heavy title. I shook my head.

“Instead of Mistress, just call me Titiana.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Why did he even ask if he was going to call me whatever he wanted anyway?

‘If I’m going to become family with Yuri, I guess I should get used to their quirks.’

I shrugged and then looked around for the person who followed Bradley like a needle and thread.

“Did you come alone today?”

“No. Of course, Master is here too.”

“Then why are you alone?”

“Yuri told me to scout ahead to see if he was here or not.”

It’s like scouting a dangerous area before entering.

“You really seem to be afraid of Yuri. To come to a disciple’s house and scout ahead first…”

If you’re visiting a disciple’s house, shouldn’t you come when the disciple is there?

But somehow, this master always seemed to visit when Yuri wasn’t around. In response to my comment, Bradley shrugged and shivered slightly.

“It’s strange that you’re not afraid, Mistress. Of course, that’s probably why you’re getting married!”

‘They’re almost treating him like a monster.’

Was there really something to be afraid of? Or was he just joking?

I didn’t think they’d answer even if I asked, so instead of questioning, I informed them of what they were curious about.

“Yuri isn’t here today. He went out for some work.”

“Oh, that’s a relief. Last time, Yuri said he’d kill me if I talked to the Mistress, so I even wrote a will before coming.”

“……For someone who’s supposedly scared, you sure talk a lot.”

“Mages are naturally talkative.”

Are you really scared, or just pretending to be?

Anyway, Bradley eagerly signaled to inform that Yuri wasn’t present. Then Colin, who had been hiding somewhere, stroked his beard and walked over slowly.

‘I heard the whole story about you hiding.’

Watching him walk over as if he had just arrived was both amusing and endearing.

“Hello, Grandpa Colin.”

“Ah, hello.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you properly at the royal wedding. You were by His Majesty’s side, right? You looked very dignified.”

“Ha ha ha! That’s why I can’t help but adore this kid. Right? I looked impressive, didn’t I?”

I didn’t say you looked impressive.

“What brings you here today?”

“I came to explain about the inheritance we discussed last time.”

“Oh, inheritance…”

I felt like a heavy stone had been placed on my chest.

Of course, it’s nice to receive an inheritance, but giving it to me because Yuri won’t accept it feels a bit off.

‘I feel like I’m taking something from Yuri. Do mages usually have no sense of caution? What if I were a bad person and ran off with it?’

Seeing these smart yet uncautious people made me think I should take good care of them.

I quickly led the two of them into the shop.

Inside the shop, where we were preparing new products, there were various types of dried flowers. Bradley, who was full of curiosity, looked around and tilted his head at the flowers.

“Oh? These aren’t fresh flowers?”

“No. This time, I’m planning to sell dried flowers instead of fresh ones.”

“Dried flowers?”

Bradley blinked in surprise and then laughed heartily.

“For someone like me, that’s convenient. Honestly, when I receive flower gifts, I often neglect them because I’m too lazy to take care of them.”

“Do you even have someone to give you flowers?”

“Oh, Master!”

Watching the two of them bicker had become natural by now.

Bradley, who was looking around the shop, fixed his gaze on a bouquet of blue roses that I had set aside specially.