‘I didn’t even get to thank him.’

I became lost in thought for a moment when Yuri, who had been whistling beside me, tilted his head and asked, “Didn’t you say you have a family too, Titi?”

“Didn’t I mention it last time? It’s a similar situation. Both my father and brother are useless bums.”

“Wow, that’s quite a harsh critique.”

“It’s the truth.”

I muttered, glancing back at the street where Charlotte had hurried away.

“It would be great if she realized it herself and got out, but most people only know one family and fail to see that theirs is dysfunctional. I only started living wisely now; before, I was just being dragged along.”

I hadn’t understood this until I got a second chance at life—that it was okay to prioritize myself and that I didn’t have to sacrifice everything for the sake of family.

‘I paid a high price to learn that lesson.’

At least I had realized it by turning back time, but Charlotte might never come to that understanding. The thought worried me about her future.

Perhaps my gloomy expression prompted Yuri to speak in a cheerful tone.

“Then why not help her realize it? Judging by your expression, it seems like you want to help her, Titi.”

“Well.”

I bit my lip.

‘Could I help her like the master did?’

Even without magic, I probably couldn’t assist her in the same way he had. As I pondered this, Yuri asked, “What are you thinking about right now?”

“…Just this and that.”

All pointless thoughts.

***

After finishing preparations for the next day’s business, Yuri opened the shop door and said, “I’m going out for a bit today, so make sure to lock the door tightly.”

The street, already shrouded in darkness, was losing its lights one by one. Since it was a commercial district, unless you lived upstairs like us, it was common to turn off the lights and leave. That’s why the night always felt eerier than the day.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Yuri go out at this hour.’

He rarely went out at all. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and asked, “If I lock it, you won’t be able to get back in.”

“I’ll find a way in. So don’t worry and just lock it.”

‘Find a way,’ huh.

Imagining Yuri squeezing his tall frame through a small window crack made me chuckle softly. He brushed my bangs aside lightly with his index finger and said, “Titi, you’re surprisingly careless, so I worry.”

“I told you not to worry. Have a safe trip.”

“Okay.”

After seeing Yuri off, I tidied up the flower shop a bit more and sat down with a cup of tea.

After a while, I heard a pitter-patter sound on the window, like little fairies running. It was the sound of raindrops.

‘It’s raining. Did Yuri take an umbrella with him?’

I hoped it might stop, but the sound of the rain only grew stronger.

‘Would leaving an umbrella by the door be useless? But did I lock the door?’

Looking outside, I saw not a single shadow of a person. Only a few lights remained on.

“Thinking about being alone, it’s a bit eerie…”

It felt as though, even if something happened, no one would notice.

After hesitating for a moment, I went down the stairs to check if the entrance on the first floor was locked.

But what was this? Someone was leaning against the entrance on the first floor.

“Gosh.”

The pink hair, darkened by the rain, curled messily. For a moment, I stared at the top of the man’s head by the entrance window and sighed.

‘I thought it was Yuri.’

At first, because of the white shirt and pink hair, I thought Yuri had collapsed, either drunk or sick.

But upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t Yuri; it was Yujin Esrenche, the count.

‘What’s he doing here again?’

This man was as unwelcome as Sabina. Only a benevolent god could have any fondness for a man who asked you to vacate your place in exchange for money.

Yet, I couldn’t be completely cold-hearted because he resembled Yuri so much.

‘Should I give him an umbrella or ask why he’s here like this?’

While I pondered and paced in place, he suddenly turned to look at me. Our eyes met unexpectedly, and I could no longer pretend not to see him.

He stood up and looked at me through the glass door, moving his lips. The sound of the rain was chaotic, yet strangely, his voice rang clearly in my ears.

“…How long are you going to keep staring like that?”

The peculiar pressure I felt when facing him was uncomfortable. It was the same now—annoying and bothersome, yet I couldn’t just turn around and walk away.

Even though he had the same face as Yuri, the feeling was distinctly different.

‘This man is unsettling.’

Raindrops slid down the glass window, making it look as if Yujin were shedding tears. His shirt, visible through the window, was soaked and clung to him. Leaving someone like that at the door and turning away would surely weigh on my conscience.

In the end, I sighed and opened the door, unable to help but grumble a bit.

“I thought you might have come to the wrong house drunk, but I guess not?”

At my snarky comment, Yujin’s eyebrows raised slightly. Soon, he replied in a blunt voice.

“I came here on purpose. I wanted to come, and when I arrived, I saw that business hours were over, so I waited quietly.”

“You waiting quietly doesn’t seem to fit your character at all.”

I responded with a sassy tone. Yujin’s sharply arched eyebrows shot up again.

“What doesn’t fit?”

“You don’t like wasting time, right? Or am I wrong?”

“Wasting time…”

He wore a slightly displeased expression for a moment, then a relaxed smile spread across his lips again.

“Let me say it again. I wanted to come here. Honestly, I was prepared to crouch by the door until morning, but I’m glad you opened it.”

“Why?”

Why would he have any reason to come here? There were probably plenty of flowers in his own garden.

Yujin’s deep, sea-like eyes were fixed on me. He replied in a voice as rich and saturated as a sponge full of water.

“…Because I wanted to see you.”

***

The situation that had caused Yujin’s heart to change so suddenly involved Princess Sabina.

Ever since he left the bagel and coffee beans at The Little Prince’s counter, Yujin had been confused by his own restless feelings.

‘What on earth is this feeling?’

Since he hadn’t left a note, Titiana probably wouldn’t even know that Yujin had left those items. Yet, he felt inexplicably proud, as if he had accomplished something significant.

‘There’s nothing to feel proud about.’

It was the first time he couldn’t understand his own emotions. Still, it wasn’t unpleasant.

Whenever he had a moment of leisure, all that came to mind was the soft-looking silver hair and red eyes, reminiscent of a rabbit.

As Yujin briefly thought of Titiana, he shook his head. When his aides heard about his emotional state, they all exclaimed in unison.

“It’s love! Who is she, and where does she live?”

They looked as if they were dying of curiosity, but Yujin couldn’t provide an answer. No matter how he considered it, it couldn’t be love.

‘There was nothing that could make me fall in love. It felt rather unpleasant and insulting. But…

In his confusion, Yujin bit his lip. He wasn’t sure about anything else, but one thing was certain.

‘I must refuse Princess Sabina’s request to destroy the flower shop.’

Yujin lowered his gaze. Sabina was always like that.

“Another lady wore more dazzling jewels than I did. Take them and give them to me.”

“I heard the Valvere Ballet Company advertised a new prima donna as prettier than me? How dare they mention royalty? Cancel their sponsorship immediately.”

Requests to harass and take from others.

Yujin always complied without resistance. The targets Sabina mentioned were unrelated strangers, and it was simply easier that way.

Yet, strangely, he couldn’t act so mechanically when it came to Titiana’s flower shop. Instead, this situation made Yujin reflect on his past actions.

‘It was foolish.’

How desperate must those people have felt, having their futures trampled without understanding why?

‘Let’s make Sabina give up.’

With that thought, he returned home. The butler, who had come to greet him, said, “Count, Princess Sabina is here.”

She rarely left the palace. She was the type to summon others rather than move herself. It felt ominous.

“…Where is she?”

“She went straight up to your office before we could stop her.”

“I see.”

Standing before his office, Yujin let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh…”

The situation was unfavorable in several respects. Bracing himself, Yujin opened the door and walked in.