The place Yuri headed to after leaving Charlotte’s house was none other than the Count of Esrenche’s estate. As soon as he arrived, smiles blossomed on the faces of the staff.

“Oh my, young master!”

“It’s been a long time, young master!”

Even the usually stern butler appeared excited. Yuri waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t call me ‘young master.’ I’m no longer part of the Esrenche family.”

“Please don’t say that. Everyone would be disappointed.”

But it was true.

Yuri strode into the Esrenche estate. Although it had been a while since his last visit, everyone welcomed him as if he were still the owner.

He abruptly turned his head and asked, “I’m here to see Yujin.”

“The Count is not in at the moment.”

Yuri’s steps came to a sudden halt at the butler’s response.

It was already late, and it was drizzling outside. Yet, he wasn’t home?

“Hasn’t he left work yet?”

“It’s not that…”

The butler looked perplexed.

“He said he wanted to be alone and went out.”

“That’s unusual.”

Yujin had gone out without any attendants.

Where could he possibly go?

Yujin didn’t have any friends he truly confided in, so where could he go when he wanted to be alone?

Could it be?

For a moment, the flower shop crossed Yuri’s mind. But he couldn’t think further because the butler continued speaking.

“He had a brief argument with Princess Sabina, and he seemed very troubled.”

At the mention of that unwelcome name, Yuri’s eyebrows raised.

“Sabina? Why?”

“I overheard that Princess Sabina was upset because something she requested wasn’t done.”

The moment he heard this, Yuri realized what it was about.

It’s about Titi.

She had ordered Titiana’s flower shop to be evicted, but instead, it was thriving, which must have irked her.

And on top of that, showing up unannounced.

Yuri was not pleased with Yujin visiting the flower shop. He worried that Yujin might say something unnecessary to Titiana.

I hope this argument makes him realize his position.

Why try to get close to Titiana when he was supposed to evict her shop per Sabina’s orders?

He would eventually do what Sabina wanted anyway.

Thinking this made him feel even colder. Yuri smirked as he replied, a hint of hysteria in his tone.

“Is it even an argument? Sabina probably just got angry, and Yujin tried to calm her down, right?”

“This time it was different. The Count was furious as well.”

“Really?”

Yujin getting angry at Sabina was hard to imagine. Yuri scratched his head in disbelief.

He had come to pressure Yujin into resolving the issues with Titiana’s and Charlotte’s families but ended up gathering unexpected information.

“When will Yujin be back?”

“I’m not sure, but…”

The butler, worried that Yuri might leave, began listing things that would appeal to him.

“Young master, since you’re here, why not stay comfortably in your room? We’ve stocked up on the coffee beans you like.”

“Really?”

Having grown tired of the coffee he had been drinking lately, Yuri allowed himself to be swayed by the butler’s offer.

‘While I’m here, I should grab some bread for tomorrow’s breakfast. Titi loves ham and cheese sandwiches.’

Though she enjoyed sandwiches with vegetables as well, her eyes would sparkle at a ham and cheese toast without any veggies.

‘It’s so cute how she tries to hide her food preferences.’

It was endearing how she disliked vegetables despite being so skinny and how she thought she was concealing it. Previously, he had eaten just to survive, but since spending time with Titiana, Yuri was discovering the joy of cooking.

As Yuri walked, humming to himself, the butler, who had been watching him, cautiously asked, “Where have you been staying lately?”

Yuri’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Do I have to tell you that?”

“It’s just that I’m getting older and worrying more. I was concerned about whether you’re eating properly.”

“I’m taking good care of myself. I cook well too. Plus, I have someone living with me.”

The butler’s poker face crumbled at Yuri’s nonchalant reply. Wiping his brow repeatedly, the butler asked, “Re-really? A friend? Or another mage?”

“No, it’s a woman I like.”

“What? But Princess Sabina…”

Yuri chuckled at the butler’s pale face upon hearing that he lived with a woman.

They must be deeply under a spell. Otherwise, how could they still harbor hopes for a union between the Esrenche mage and the princess?

Yuri furrowed his brows and gave a chilling smile.

“So if Sabina asks, tell her to give up. I’ve found someone I like. Someone completely different from Sabina. She’s strong, capable, and could live well on her own.”

“But, young master!”

The butler began to protest but quickly regained his composure and bowed his head.

“…Yes, understood.”

Yuri let out a sigh through his nose, hoping they understood by now.

“Pack some white bread for me. For breakfast tomorrow.”

“Please wait a moment.”

As he sat down, a maid promptly brought out coffee beans and hot water. The grinding sound was crisp, and soon, warm coffee was brewed.

Yuri’s eyes narrowed sharply as he took a sip of the coffee.

“These beans are…”

Noticing Yuri’s displeasure, the butler immediately approached him.

“Is something wrong?”

Yuri tapped the cup with his finger and said,

“I think I’ve tasted something similar. Is this scent trending in the capital these days?”

The slightly bitter, yet nose-tingling aroma felt familiar.

‘I’m sure. These are the beans that were served with the bagels at the shop.’

Why were they coming from the Esrenche estate? As Yuri furrowed his brow, the butler smiled and replied.

“But the aroma should be different. These are specially blended beans from the Esrenche merchant guild, all for young master Yuri.”

The butler’s comment, intended to emphasize how much the Esrenche estate cared for Yuri, only confirmed his suspicion.

‘It’s Yujin.’

He was the one who left bread and coffee at the flower shop’s counter.

It was definitely Yujin.

***

Even after waking up in the morning, it felt like I hadn’t slept at all. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I got out of bed.

Sigh, I couldn’t sleep well because of Yujin yesterday.

Yujin had been the one caught in the rain, but I felt chilly too, as if I had caught a cold. Slowly, like a sluggish worm, I took off my pajamas and recalled the events of yesterday.

He kept saying strange things…

Suddenly asking if I wasn’t curious about him, or what I liked—things I couldn’t understand.

I wondered if Yuri was back.

As I tied my hair up high and went downstairs, I ran into Yuri as if on cue.

“Yuri.”

I called out to him as he stood in the middle of the dim shop on the first floor.

He looked cold and stiff, like Yujin, with his back turned in the dark store. But when he turned around at my call, he smiled sweetly, like cotton candy.

“Titi.”

Why did he seem cold? Was it just my imagination?

I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve. Maybe I’m seeing things because of Yujin.

He was a bothersome man in many ways, both physically and mentally.

“Did you sleep well?”

“How about you, Titi?”

“I’m still a bit sleepy.”

Perhaps I had exerted too much mental energy yesterday; I couldn’t fully wake up. As I continued rubbing my eyes, Yuri, who usually teased me, was quiet today. I tilted my head and asked,

“What’s wrong, Yuri? Are you feeling down? Or did something happen?”

“Maybe it’s because of the weather.”

“Is that so? I feel a bit tired too.”

But the sky outside was perfectly clear.

Yesterday, it rained as if the sky had a hole in it.

If it had been this clear yesterday, I wouldn’t have opened the door for Yujin, no matter how long he sat there.

As I pouted and looked out the window, a large hand brushed my hair. Startled, I turned to see Yuri smiling.

“There was a leaf.”

“R-really? You could’ve just told me.”

Being suddenly so close to Yuri made my face flush. He gently nudged my back.

“Then go rest your eyes. I’ll take care of things.”

It was a very tempting offer. I felt like I could fall asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

But I shook my head.

“No, Charlotte will be here soon.”

It was the first day for the new employee; I couldn’t just sleep because I was tired.

Yuri’s shoulders noticeably twitched at my response. His hand was on my shoulder, so I could clearly feel his movement.

“Oh, that girl.”