‘Huh? I’m actually enjoying this?’

Even without much conversation, a strange smile appeared on his face. This was a first for him.

‘There’s so much I don’t know about being around this woman.’

It felt as if a stone had been thrown into a lake. As he blinked at his own feelings, Titiana resumed her task and began to nag.

“Did you get everything on the list? Put it up on the second floor. I’ll come up and cook once I’m done organizing here.”

Yuri felt a thrill from the ordinary conversation.

‘Ah, even this reaction feels so fresh.’

Who else would focus on their own tasks with Yuri Esrenche right in front of them?

Thinking this, Yuri moved closer to Titiana and spoke warmly.

“Titi, why don’t we go up and cook together? We don’t have anything else to do this afternoon anyway.”

“Don’t call me Titi.”

“Aww.”

Despite his playful whining, Titiana didn’t turn around. Shrugging his shoulders, Yuri made a cute bird-like sound that she disliked.

“Tititititititi.”

“Oh, seriously!”

As expected, Titiana snapped and stood up. In the process, her hair lifted slightly, revealing the magical mark Yuri had been curious about.

‘Ah, that magic circle.’

A complex magic circle, invisible to those without magical power, stretched from her neck down her back.

‘Every time I see it, it’s astonishing. It’s a trace of very powerful magic.’

Yuri’s blue eyes shimmered with golden waves, as if it were sprinkled with stardust. His eyes always emitted this enchanting light when he used magic.

Reacting to Yuri, the magic circle on her neck glowed softly. Tempted to resonate with it further, he licked his lips, but then…

“Ouch, that stings!”

Titiana, sensing the magic, covered her neck with her hand and turned her head.

Fearing she might discover that he was using magic, Yuri quickly reined in his power. Then he tilted his head, puzzled by his own behavior.

‘Huh? But why shouldn’t she find out?’

Initially, he had kept it a secret, worried she would pester him if she knew he was a mage. But now…?

It was the first time Yuri didn’t understand his own feelings. Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant.

Meanwhile, Titiana seemed to conclude that the spark on her neck was static electricity, and she glared at Yuri.

“I told you, no touching.”

“Aww, I wasn’t trying to.”

He hadn’t meant to touch her neck.

‘Though it would be nice if I could, but Titi is very cautious.’

It was a wariness befitting someone who had vowed never to love again.

Yuri didn’t mind that. In fact, if she had been overly friendly, it might have made him uncomfortable.

As Titiana turned away, the magic circle briefly appeared and disappeared between her hair again. Yuri narrowed his eyes.

‘Who could have cast such powerful magic? It’s so complex and strong that even I can’t fully grasp it at a glance.’

Coincidentally, only one mage came to mind who could do such a thing.

Yuri Esrenche himself.

But if it was magic he had cast, it made even less sense.

‘Magic I cast but can’t remember? Is that even possible?’

Yuri, who became a grand mage at a young age, possessed an extraordinary memory that defied imagination. Even jokingly, the word ‘forget’ couldn’t be applied to him.

‘Then how else can I explain this situation if not by forgetting?’

His curiosity as a mage was ignited. Yuri’s eyes sparkled like stars.

‘Titireally is a special person.’

Thinking this once more, Yuri glanced around and noticed a paper bag on the counter.

‘Looks like Yujin left it behind.’

Feigning ignorance, Yuri tilted his head and said, “Oh? Éclairs from Cimer Bakery. Did you buy these?”

“What? That’s there?”

Titiana’s face crumpled. Yuri smiled and replied, “Why the face? These are delicious.”

“I know Cimer Bakery’s éclairs are famous, but I don’t eat them. I’ve told you many times that I don’t like sweets.”

“Yes, yes, a carnivorous Noona who loves protein.”

“Don’t call me that.”

For some reason, he felt pleased knowing she wouldn’t eat what Yujin had bought.

Yuri tossed the éclairs, paper bag and all, into the trash. Titiana looked at him curiously.

“Why aren’t you going to eat them? Don’t you like sweets?”

Yuri shrugged. “Today, they don’t really appeal to me either.”

Dusting off his hands and carrying the bags he had bought outside, Yuri headed upstairs, while Titiana whined a bit.

“By the way, do you know who came by while you were out?”

“Who was it?”

‘Probably Yujin.’

Even though he already knew, Yuri pretended not to and asked. A different smile than the one he had shown when he saw the magic circle spread across his face.

***

Meanwhile, at that moment, Sabina was having a facial at her palace.

‘Maintaining this beauty is really hard work. Those who only praise me have no idea how much effort it takes.’

From fingertips to toes, facials and grooming were just the basics; finding the perfect dress and jewelry consumed an entire day.

‘Then again, not everyone becomes beautiful just by taking care of themselves like I do.’

Thinking this, Sabina smirked to herself. Suddenly, a sweet fragrance filled the air, and bright roses began to appear beside her. They were the blue roses she had longed to possess.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought the blue roses.”

Perhaps still bitter about being ignored by Rosemary for not distributing them at the tea party, Sabina’s room was now filled with blue roses.

She only wanted to possess them, not particularly enjoy them, so she glanced at the newly delivered flowers and closed her eyes.

“Has the method for making blue roses spread widely?”

“Yes. It seems all the shops in the capital are now producing blue roses.”

“Good.”

Sabina smiled brightly, while the head maid grimaced where Sabina couldn’t see.

‘Isn’t this too much?’

Just because they didn’t sell the product, she had imperial scholars uncover the shop’s trade secrets and disseminate them widely. Although she had no choice but to follow orders, receiving such inhumane commands felt suffocating.

“I’m starting to crave the sweets Yujin brings. Isn’t Yujin coming to the palace today?”

Only Sabina would use a promising young official of the country as a mere errand boy for sweets. This attitude was also the easiest way to elevate her own value.

The head maid bowed deeply.

“It seems he will be busy for a while handling the tasks you assigned, Your Highness.”

“Oh, right. I asked Yujin for a favor too.”

She had completely forgotten that she had asked him to ruin someone’s livelihood. With little interest, she ordered the head maid, “Just check in a month if Yujin has kicked that woman out.”

“Yes.”

The head maid bowed with a dark expression.

***

That morning, I wasn’t feeling great. I had a restless dream the night before.

It was about the divorce trial with my second husband.

I had almost forgotten about it, so why did it suddenly resurface in my dreams?

‘It’s all because of Princess Sabina.’

As I ruffled my hair in annoyance, a loud voice boomed from above. It was Yuri.

“Titi, I’ve taken out all the blue roses.”

‘I told you not to call me Titi.’

Why did he naturally use the nickname that not even my family or husband used?

It was oddly grating, as if it made us seem special.

‘I’m so sick of it all.’

Caught in meaningless, joyless self-loathing, I got up. When I felt this lousy, the only solution was to work diligently.

Once I put on my usual overalls and work gloves, I sensed something was missing. After tilting my head for a moment, I realized it as I tied my hair.

‘My neck!’

Maybe I was being overly conscious, but it felt like Yuri’s fingers had been brushing my neck recently.

‘Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.’

I tied a scarf securely around my neck and headed downstairs.

‘I had a bad dream today, so let’s stay sharp!’

However, the morning went smoothly, making my worries seem unfounded. Although fewer blue roses were sold than usual, I had reduced the number of roses ordered, so it wasn’t a significant issue.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of deflation.

‘I mean, even with restaurants, the original place is important. I was the first to make blue roses, so shouldn’t my shop be bustling with customers?’

I tugged at my hair in frustration, startled by the strands that came loose. Looking for a harmless way to vent, I leaned over the counter.

‘I never planned to live such a busy life.’

I lay there, staring blankly out the window at Yuri.

‘I have no idea what I want.’

Do I want to be busy or have free time?

At that moment, Yuri, who was working hard in my place, stood beside me and chided, “If the owner sits there daydreaming, the business won’t do well.”