‘Could it be that Princess Sabina is the reason the method for creating blue roses became known so quickly?’
It seemed like something she would do.
If my assumption was correct, it meant she had been plotting to ruin my flower shop much earlier than I had realized.
‘Can I withstand her pressure? She’s likely to harass me even more relentlessly.’
As I pondered this, frowning, Rosemary closed her fan and extended her hand toward me.
“Titiana, I believe strengthening our relationship would benefit you as well. Given the circumstances, there’s no way the princess will leave you alone.”
“Wouldn’t she act out even more if she knew I was close to you?”
“When you’re wronged, do you have a way to let the social circles know? I’m quite an effective speaker, you know.”
At first glance, it sounded like a good offer, but it was a double-edged sword. It would provoke Sabina just as much.
‘But she’s not wrong. The only person who could spread the word about my unfair treatment in social circles is Lady Rosemary Morphe.’
Moreover, she was soon to become the Crown Princess. Considering that, her offer was indeed advantageous for me.
After a moment of contemplation, I cautiously asked, “What do you want from me, my lady?”
What could her motive be for reaching out to someone like me, who might not be of much help? In response to my question, Rosemary simply smiled brightly.
“I just want you to consider me special.”
Could it be a trick to monopolize any new products I might create in the future? I replied cautiously, “The blue roses and rainbow roses were coincidences. There’s no guarantee I’ll create anything more special in the future.”
In response, Rosemary brought up something entirely different.
“Over time, glass shards become beautiful stones, like jewels, when polished by the waves. In southern coastal towns, they make jewelry from them. Have you heard of that?”
“Well…”
I hadn’t.
“There are countless people under the sky with similar ideas. But only a few can turn those ideas into value. I admire the talents of such individuals.”
Rosemary smiled elegantly. In that moment, she embodied the Crown Princess I had seen before.
“You are special. Surely, you will become even more special in the future. So isn’t it wise for me to align myself with the future you?”
It was both a flattering and intimidating statement.
‘But this is an opportunity.’
Hadn’t I felt the need for a prominent ally other than Sabina? And now she was approaching me willingly.
Since it was too late to mend my relationship with Princess Sabina, joining forces with Rosemary seemed like the best option for now.
I straightened my back and met Rosemary’s gaze confidently, saying, “I’m honored that you chose me. I won’t disappoint you.”
Rosemary beamed with satisfaction at my response.
“That’s a very straightforward answer. I like it.”
She grasped my hand firmly and shook it before changing her tone.
“First, let’s ensure you make an appearance at the tea party at my estate next week. Turning an opportunity into a chance is your skill, after all.”
So she was saying she would introduce me to people who could help my business next week, and I needed to make the most of it after attending.
From my perspective, it was better to cultivate close friendships with other noble ladies rather than rely solely on Rosemary, so I nodded in agreement.
“Understood. Thank you for the invitation.”
“Great! Now that you’ve agreed, shall we go?”
“Go where?”
Contrary to what I vaguely remembered from my past life, Rosemary was cheerful and lively. She linked her arm with mine and smiled.
“Of course, we’re going to buy cute and charming outfits suitable for my tea party. Do I seem like the type to invite guests and then leave all the party preparations to them?”
Before I could pull my arm away in surprise at her sudden closeness, I found myself swept up in the idea of shopping for tea party outfits together. Cute and charming ones, no less.
“Oh, no, I should handle the outfit myself…”
I tried to decline, feeling it was too much, but Rosemary was insistent.
“Come on, let’s go.”
And so, I found myself practically whisked away, as if I was being kidnapped, to a boutique.
***
Yujin stroked his chin inside the moving carriage, watching the familiar sights of Unditch Street unfold outside the window.
‘Who would have thought I’d come to this street so often?’
For a long time, he had only traveled between the palace and his home. His outings were usually limited to personally visiting Simer Confectionery.
He would have preferred to send someone else, but Princess Sabina insisted that she wouldn’t eat sweets unless Yujin brought them himself, so he had to comply.
But now, Unditch Street.
Even from a distance, the unique mint-colored building stood out. He thought of the person inside that building with an indifferent expression.
The one thing Yuri, who had relinquished most of the rights he received as a direct descendant of the Esrenche family, held onto was that building.
‘Mother bought it for him when he was young to celebrate Yuri’s emergence as a mage.’
It was only natural that Yujin, having grown distant from Yuri, hadn’t visited this street.
Yujin closed his eyes. As darkness enveloped him, memories from his childhood resurfaced vividly, without him having to consciously recall them.
[Can you believe it? A mage from the Esrenche family!]
[This is an honor for the family!]
Yuri had demonstrated his magical prowess at the tender age of six. From then on, everything in the Esrenche household revolved around him.
[I heard the Tower Master himself visited, saying it was an extraordinary talent.]
[There’s a rumor he’ll become the youngest Grand mage.]
[A family head who’s also a powerful mage. Isn’t it like a legend?]
Even without trying to listen, such talk permeated the house. Yujin, who received relatively little attention, simply thought,
‘I see. So Yuri will inherit the family name.’
It was a resignation he had come to accept from a young age.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t resentful, but there wasn’t much he could do. The ability to become a mage was purely a matter of luck and talent.
Then, unexpectedly, the position of Count Esrenche fell to him because Yuri declared,
[I’m not doing that. It’s boring. Let Yujin handle it.]
It felt hollow. Was that position so easily attainable?
As time passed, an inexplicable sense of inferiority and stress quietly built up in Yujin’s heart. Yet, he couldn’t pinpoint its source. His parents had passed away suddenly, and leading the family at such a young age felt overwhelming.
Then, one day, it happened.
The incident that drove a wedge between Yuri and Yujin.
At the center of it was Princess Sabina.
‘What should I have done back then?’
Yujin gritted his teeth. Just then, someone tapped his shoulder.
“Count.”
“…!”
Yujin’s eyes widened. The butler, noticing he was awake, bowed his head.
“We’ve arrived.”
“…I see.”
It seemed he had fallen asleep while reminiscing about the past.
‘They must have woken me because I was tossing and turning.’
Judging by the quiet surroundings, it appeared they had arrived some time ago. Yujin pressed his fingers against his tired eyes. The butler handed him a handkerchief and said, “You must be very tired.”
“Not really.”
He hadn’t worked today and had even gone outside, so he couldn’t understand what could be tiring.
Of course, he had been restless since the last time he met Titiana.
‘I was contemplating what to do next.’
In Yujin’s blue eyes, the simple shop sign on the first floor of the mint-colored building came into view. Although she had a talent for cultivating flowers, her handwriting was crooked, indicating she didn’t share the same talent for writing.
‘That’s so typical of her.’
Unconsciously, Yujin let out a small laugh but then tensed his jaw. No matter how kindly they regarded each other, they weren’t at a point where they could reminisce with smiles.
‘Princess Sabina’s request was to get rid of that flower shop.’
Yet instead of eliminating it, Yujin found himself uncertain about what he truly wanted to do.
‘I don’t even know why I should bother with that small flower shop.’
Even now, none of the passersby were entering her shop. It seemed the lights were off as well.
Yujin frowned and said, “Business doesn’t seem to be going well.”
The butler, however, offered an unexpected counterpoint.
“Could it be the opposite? Perhaps today’s stock is sold out.”
“Already? Are blue roses still selling that well?”
He had seen blue roses everywhere recently. When Yujin tilted his head in curiosity, the butler explained, “They say the shop has now created something called rainbow roses.”
“Do the petals of rainbow roses have various colors like a rainbow?”
“Yes. I’ve heard they’re produced in smaller quantities than blue roses, making them even harder to find.”
The trading company owned by the Esrenche Count was vast, but they didn’t deal in flowers. The reason was simple: they didn’t believe it was profitable.
Yet Titiana was making a fortune with them.
‘She’s an interesting woman.’
Her youthful face and confident, spirited voice came to mind.
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Usurpadora
Eita que vai ser uma briga de irmãos para ver quem vai ficar com a moça. Parece que já foi revelado a nós que o mestre é o Yuji, por que o irmão dele não tem poder mágico. A não ser que seja despertado mais tarde na vida.