“What brings you here so suddenly, Princess?”

In the middle of the room, Sabina perched on the wide mahogany desk, legs crossed. Her sharp voice pierced Yujin like a needle.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know why I’m here, Count?”

When Sabina was truly angry with Yujin or Yuri, she resorted to formal speech. Yujin held back a sigh and replied politely.

“That flower shop is legally situated there. Evicting it requires proper procedure and time.”

“So you’re telling me to just wait indefinitely? Yujin, is that the best you can do?”

“…”

This woman excelled at trampling on others’ pride. And when things went her way, she was equally skilled at praising them. There were already plenty of instances where people had been manipulated like that.

But this time was different.

Yujin looked up. Sabina flinched at the calm blue eyes staring back at her.

“What is the reason?”

“R-reason?”

“I asked why I have to endure this insult when the period I requested from you hasn’t even passed yet.”

“T-that’s because…”

It’s a crime to upset me.

However, she couldn’t say that directly to him.

After chewing on her lips for a moment, Sabina narrowed her eyes and chided Yujin.

“Aren’t you worried about your brother? He’s your only sibling!”

Right. Thanks to you, we’re estranged.

Yujin held back the urge to say that. He refrained not because he found Sabina particularly endearing or likable, but simply because it would be a loss to fall out with her.

‘After all, the sales Princess Sabina brings to the Esrenche Trading Company are significant.’

Still, it was exhausting. When Yujin covered his face with his palm to hide his expression and bowed his head, he noticed a broken flowerpot at the edge of his vision.

“…!”

It was a Pilea Peperomioides he had bought from Titiana’s flower shop.

A small pot that would sway its round leaves gently if touched lightly.

“The pot…”

Yujin’s gaze remained fixed on the broken flowerpot.

“Oh, that.”

Sabina folded her arms and lifted her chin.

“I threw it away because it was unpleasant. These days, just the sight of any green upsets me.”

At those words, something snapped inside Yujin. He spoke in a cold voice.

“If you’ve said everything you wanted to, please leave.”

“What? Yujin, why is your voice suddenly so low? Are you mad?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Yujin simply looked at her. This made Sabina’s face flush bright red.

“Yujin! Are you getting angry with me? How dare you be angry at me?”

Yujin’s expression remained cold and unyielding.

“Please leave.”

“Yujin…!”

Sabina couldn’t accept the situation. Even though she sensed something was different about him, she shouted angrily.

“The Count of Esrenche said to treat me like the most precious jewel in the world! Are you planning to defy your father’s last wish?”

Right. That damned will has dragged this relationship along until now.

But that was only until today.

“Since it seems you have no intention of leaving, I suppose I should go.”

“Yujin!”

Sabina, trembling with rage, glared at Yujin with fierce eyes and shouted.

“Just wait and see. You’ll regret treating me like this.”

“…”

Yujin didn’t respond. He simply bent down to examine the broken flowerpot. The sound of Sabina storming out of the office felt distant.

‘Foolish.’

What could be gained by angering Sabina? It would have been enough to soothe her and send her on her way.

But today, he just couldn’t hold back.

After standing there blankly for a moment, Yujin gathered the broken pieces of the pot.

“Count?”

The butler, who had cautiously entered the office, called out to Yujin in a puzzled tone as he watched him carrying the broken pot. Yujin replied in a subdued voice.

“…I’m stepping out for a bit.”

The place he headed to was the flower shop The Little Prince.

***

‘Am I really drunk?’

Why would he suddenly want to see me? We didn’t seem to have any particularly fond memories together.

But apart from the smell of rain, there was no other scent coming from him. After hesitating for a moment, I finally dismissed him with a cold voice.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Why do you think it’s nonsense?”

“Because it doesn’t suit you.”

“What suits me, then?”

“…”

Why was he engaging in self-reflection in front of my house?

Even as I stood there unable to respond, the rain continued to fall, soaking his shoulders. Eventually, I looked down and stepped back.

“Come in, since it’s raining.”

The shop, illuminated only by a small lamp above, felt oddly cozy. He had been outside long enough that each step he took left a clear footprint on the floor.

Though he looked robust, being out in this weather and getting soaked was a sure way to catch a cold. I should have lit the stove to warm him up, but…

‘I can’t invite him upstairs since I’m alone.’

Fortunately, I had towels stored for work. Handing him a towel, I said, “I can’t make coffee because Yuri isn’t here.”

“I don’t need it.”

Instead of taking the towel, the man handed me what he was holding.

“What are you holding?”

It turned out to be an unintended exchange. As I handed him the towel and received the item in return, I frowned. It was a broken flowerpot along with some seedlings.

It looked like the Pilea Peperomioides that Yujin had bought not long ago.

“…I didn’t expect you to take good care of it, but here it is.”

He replied in a blunt tone, wiping his face with the towel.

“I took good care of it. Until some rude person decided to throw it away.”

“You’re not referring to yourself, are you?”

Instead of answering, Yujin gritted his teeth. It seemed that someone had indeed thrown the Count of Esrenche’s flowerpot. I frowned.

“Did something really happen?”

“Just.”

He replied briefly, covering his face with the towel, which obscured his expression.

He muttered softly, almost to himself, “I feel a little relieved, yet I wonder what I’m doing.”

“…”

Whatever it was, it seemed to weigh heavily on his mind.

‘If he brought the flowerpot, it seems he really did take good care of it. If he intended to throw it away, he would have had someone else do it. Bringing it here must mean he wants it replanted.’

Thinking that, he seemed a bit pitiful. As I fiddled with the Pilea Peperomioides, I asked Yujin, “Did you get the check-up I mentioned?”

Honestly, I was curious about what had happened after I hinted at his terminal condition.

‘Knowing that his time was limited would alleviate most of his worries. But that’s not the issue here…’

Though he was a stranger whose fate didn’t concern me, since he had caught my attention, I hoped he would seek early treatment.

That was the extent of my feelings toward him. Yet his response was annoyingly dismissive.

“I’m healthy.”

In the end, it meant he hadn’t gone for the check-up.

I ran my hand through my hair in frustration and said, “Don’t just rely on your own judgment; get a proper examination from a physician.”

“Why should I, when I’m not even sick?”

“How long does a check-up take? You have the money, and surely there’s a doctor who can accommodate your schedule.”

“Quite simply, I don’t feel the need.”

It felt like talking to a wall. I sighed.

“You really don’t listen to people, do you?”

“Yuri said the same thing, even though he lived the most recklessly.”

“…”

Once again, the unease of knowing the future weighed on me. No matter how much I wiped, the sight of him standing there, dripping wet, filled my vision.

He looked healthy, but he was someone who would fall ill and be unable to participate in public life within a few years.

‘He could end up dying from pneumonia if a cold worsens, right?’

Even if he was alive and well in the future I knew, he wouldn’t have been sitting in the rain outside a flower shop. That was because it was a future altered by my interference. Thinking that made my unease grow. I sighed deeply and trudged up the stairs.

“Hold on a moment. I’ll get you some dry clothes. You’ll catch a cold.”

At my words, he frowned.

“There won’t be any clothes that fit me.”

“Do you think I’d give you my clothes? I’ll get you something of Yuri’s.”