‘Oh, what on earth is going on? I’m so curious.’

Even when a reserved person fell in love, it’s rarely interesting, but when it involved Yujin Esrenche, it was a completely different matter.

The aide eagerly awaited Yujin’s response, his heart pounding. Yujin propped his chin on his hand again and replied in a nonchalant tone, “Well, I’m not sure what went wrong.”

“What?”

“Actually, they might even dislike the fact that I’m apologizing.”

“…?”

Who was this woman, and what was their relationship?

‘I have no idea anymore.’

Unfortunately, the aide offering advice was just as clueless about romance, having been too focused on work. He nudged another aide, who was equally intrigued by the conversation.

“Hey, you’re married, right? Why don’t you say something?”

“Me? Really?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attention, the aide adjusted his glasses nervously. Sweating, he hesitantly shared his own experience.

“Well, I don’t have much advice… My wife was actually more eager to get married.”

“But there must be times you need to apologize to your wife.”

“Of course, there are times she tells me to get lost.”

The senior aide clicked his tongue at that response.

‘Telling someone to get lost wasn’t really helpful advice for the Count, who was just starting to see someone.’

Soon enough, Yujin would probably tell them they were too bored and should get back to work.

Thinking this, he glanced at Yujin, who surprisingly was listening with great interest.

‘Really? There’s a woman who told the Count to get lost?’

Who was this woman?

The aide blinked in surprise, and thanks to Yujin’s attentive listening, the junior aide continued more comfortably.

“When she says that, you can’t just leave. Women sometimes say the opposite of what they want. Whenever that happens, I bring her favorite things and hold her tight, no matter how much she tells me to go away. Eventually, her anger melts, and we’re back to being on good terms.”

“Hmm.”

Not leaving when told to was advice that could be hit or miss, but Yujin took note of it anyway.

He rang the bell to call the butler.

“Butler.”

“Yes, sir.”

Looking down at the graying butler, Yujin thought to himself.

Bring her something she likes.

“Do we have any good coffee beans?”

“…Coffee, sir?”

Yujin didn’t drink coffee. So when he suddenly asked for it, both the butler and the aides were taken aback.

To avoid any misunderstanding, Yujin added, “It’s a gift.”

Finally understanding the situation, the butler nodded.

“Ah. Please wait a moment.”

Even though the master didn’t drink coffee, they always kept quality beans for guests. A few years ago, Yuri Esrenche, who had lived there, was quite knowledgeable about coffee.

‘Since it was a gift, it should be nicely packaged. Or perhaps I should have the food department buy some quickly.’

While the butler’s mind busied itself with these thoughts, Yujin stood up and said, “Let’s go together. Have a carriage ready.”

A carriage, all of a sudden? The aides looked at Yujin with puzzled expressions. Yujin put on the dark maroon jacket hanging nearby and added, “I’m thinking of going out for a bit. Since today’s work is done, everyone can leave early.”

This was unexpected from Yujin Esrenche, who typically found more work to do even when his tasks were finished.

Without waiting for a response, Yujin strode out with the butler. The aides, frozen like statues for a moment, finally spoke up after a while.

“…Is this a dream? Pinch me, will you?”

“Hard to believe, but it’s real. Leaving early… and it’s not even lunchtime yet.”

“And coffee?”

In many ways, this behavior was uncharacteristic of Yujin. Generally, when a man started acting out of character, there was usually only one reason throughout history.

The most experienced aide murmured in an emotional voice, “Could springtime have come for the Count?”

“Indeed. Live long enough, and you witness days like this.”

“I always thought the Count would end up in an arranged marriage with someone just like him.”

Even at the age of fifteen, when most boys were foolish, Yujin had always been rational and composed.

They all thought he was born that way and would marry someone similar, leading a quiet and peaceful life. But…

Then another aide clicked his tongue and wiggled his fingers.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s usually someone like the Count who gets swept off his feet by a gentle and kind girl, like the sunshine of spring.”

It sounded like a clumsy romance novel plot, but it was quite convincing. Another aide chimed in enthusiastically.

“Considering she doesn’t like flowers or jewelry, she might be a modest but upright girl from an impoverished noble family.”

“A woman with bright blonde hair and a lovely smile, right?”

It was hard to believe such a girl would tell Yujin to get lost.

But people often see only what they want to see. In their minds, the image of her telling Yujin to get lost had long vanished.

Imagining a warm and fluffy young lady like a little hamster, the aides smiled contentedly.

“We’ll hear good news soon enough.”

And they quickly gathered their coats.

They couldn’t pass up an early leave.

***

At that moment.

Far from being a noble lady or resembling the sunshine of spring, more like the scorching sun of autumn, with no bright blonde hair or lovely smile, Titiana Este let out a loud sneeze.

“Achoo!”

She had been checking the hyacinth bulbs after finishing her morning tasks when the big sneeze escaped. As she rubbed her lips with the back of her hand, Yuri, who was organizing something behind her, asked, “Did you catch a cold?”

“No, it’s just my nose tickling. Probably because of the dust.”

A bit of dust had indeed been stirred up while she rummaged through the bulbs. As she waved her hand in the air, Yuri smiled gently.

“Someone must be eager to see you, Titi.”

Hearing something like that for the first time, she frowned.

“What are you talking about? Isn’t it that your ears itch when someone talks about you?”

“That’s how it is here, but in the neighboring country, they say if you sneeze once, someone wants to see you. If you sneeze twice, someone is cursing you, and if you sneeze three times, it’s a cold.”

Did we really need to attach such meaning to sneezes? She thought skeptically as Yuri tidied her bangs with his long fingers and continued.

“Isn’t it more romantic to think someone wants to see you rather than blaming it on dust?”

Romance, my foot. She cut him off coldly.

“Nonsense.”

Yuri’s face fell, looking like a puppy caught in the rain.

“Titi, you’re too dry.”

“You’re just too sentimental. Most mages are logical, so why are you so emotional?”

“Maybe I’m not cut out to be a successful mage.”

Why did he always end up self-deprecating?

Hearing Yuri’s words, she couldn’t help but feel somber as well. She spoke in a stern tone.

“Don’t say that.”

Even if he wasn’t a mage, Yuri was fine as he was, but she struggled to convey that to him properly.

Usually, no matter how kindly one spoke, it ended up sounding like an attack.

Just like how she used to react sharply even when the Master spoke kindly.

Thinking back, she felt a pang of regret.

‘Where was the Master now? Was he doing well?’

He might not remember her, but she wanted to tell him someday.

Thank you.

She took off her gloves and patted Yuri’s fluffy hair, speaking softly.

“I responded indifferently. I’m sorry, Yuri. Don’t be upset.”

Yuri’s eyes curved into crescents at her words. The mischievous young man, whose mood lifted more easily than she expected, started acting cute like a puppy, inching closer.

“I’m feeling down. Comfort me more.”

“You’re smiling, though.”

“Still, comfort me. There’s no such thing as too much affection, right?”

His smile was disarmingly charming. Even as she pouted, her hand instinctively reached for Yuri’s hair.

‘He is just like a puppy.’

His round eyes and soft hair were gentle and adorable, just like a puppy.

‘I might get addicted.’

The feel of his hair lightly tangling around her fingers was so pleasant.

Unconsciously, she kept stroking his hair, and Yuri gave a triumphant smile, as if to say, “See?” Realizing this, she spoke firmly to draw a line.

“This is just friendly affection, not anything like love.”

“Oh, you’re being stiff again.”

“I’m not particularly stiff. Go home and get affection from your family.”

She intended to clearly define her relationship with Yuri, but inadvertently touched on a sensitive topic for him again.

Oops, but the words were already out. Yuri smiled weakly, his expression forlorn.

“That’s impossible. My home is far from warm.”

“That…”

Why was this happening again?

“That…”

Flustered by the need to apologize repeatedly, her mind spun in circles.