“After using my mental energy, I felt even hungrier. Let’s go quickly.”

“What’s for lunch?”

“It’s a secret.”

Even though he said that, I knew he would eventually listen to whatever I wanted to eat, so I began listing my cravings.

“I want spinach gnocchi. We have plenty of potatoes at home, but making gnocchi is such a hassle…”

“Yes, yes, I’ll take you to a place with delicious food.”

As we continued to joke around and hold hands while walking, I noticed that the crowd around us had significantly increased. To be precise, people were flocking in one direction at the intersection.

“There are a lot of people over there.”

I wondered what was happening and glanced in that direction. Yuri replied in a nonchalant tone.

“It’s the direction of the central cathedral. It seems His Majesty the Emperor is there.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

The opening ceremony of the summer festival was held at the central cathedral.

‘Not long ago, I had sat in that chapel, watching His Majesty deliver the opening address.’

Now, I was enjoying the festival, weaving through the crowds.

There was no need to say that I was enjoying this more.

***

As Yuri had mentioned, the imperial family was just getting off the carriage at the central cathedral, waving to the citizens. This scene had become quite the topic among the nobles waiting for the opening ceremony.

It was all because of Sabina.

“I heard there was discord between Princess Sabina and Count Esrenche, and it seems to be true.”

“They’re not even acknowledging each other today.”

Yujin, who should have approached and looked after Sabina, stood there as if he was seeing a stranger for the first time.

‘So that’s how you’re going to play it, Yujin.’

Sabina forced a smile, aware of the others’ gazes, but her pride was deeply wounded. She gritted her teeth and vowed to herself.

‘I won’t bow until you do.’

However, perhaps because she was so conscious of him, Sabina’s gaze lingered on Yujin even more than when they were on good terms. Thanks to that, Sabina realized that Yujin truly wasn’t paying attention to her.

Even as she brushed past him, Yujin didn’t look at Sabina.

‘Where on earth is he looking?’

Startled, Sabina followed Yujin’s gaze and froze. A head of pink hair, similar yet different from Yujin’s, was moving in the opposite direction through the crowd.

‘…Yuri?’

Her gaze followed Yuri. Sabina’s body shook as if she was about to run out. The Empress, standing nearby, called to her in a puzzled tone.

“Sabina?”

“Just a moment.”

Normally, she wouldn’t leave her seat like this, but knowing it was Yuri, she couldn’t help but get up.

Sabina bit her lower lip in frustration.

‘That was definitely Yuri, right? And the person holding hands with him was…’

There were so many people that she couldn’t be sure, but she was certain.

‘That woman.’

It was Titiana Este.

‘Why is Yuri walking around with that woman?’

“Pr-Princess?”

“I have somewhere to go. Follow me.”

“But you can’t. If you go into the crowd like this, it could become dangerous…”

While those around her were flustered by the princess’s sudden firmness, someone stepped in front of Sabina.

“Please stop.”

It was Yujin. The maids sighed in relief at the appearance of someone who could restrain Sabina. Sabina crossed her arms and confronted Yujin.

“Ha. You’ve been treating me like I’m invisible, and now you decide to talk to me?”

“Getting up from your seat right now isn’t a good idea.”

“If Yujin had dealt with that flower shop and that woman as I instructed, this would have been resolved, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s the same. You shouldn’t trample on people like that in the first place. Why don’t you understand that?”

“You’ve done well following my words until now. Why are you suddenly changing your tune?”

“That’s…”

Yujin was at a loss for words at Sabina’s retort. Watching Yujin’s confusion, Sabina sneered.

“You’re making me even angrier. I want to torment that woman until she wishes she were dead.”

“Not that again…!”

Yujin reflexively raised his voice but then froze.

‘Again?’

An odd sense of déjà vu enveloped him. Though this situation was new, it felt like something he had experienced before.

‘Why do I feel this way?’

In the end, Sabina couldn’t follow Yuri because the Empress called her back. Yujin pressed his palm against his forehead as he stepped outside.

“Count?”

“…I think I need to rest.”

His head throbbed painfully.

***

After enjoying a delicious lunch and wandering around the streets, time flew by in an instant.

“It’s already getting dark.”

The shoes Yuri had chosen for me were so comfortable that I hadn’t realized how long we had been walking.

Our final destination for the day was the Seine River, which flowed through the capital. Even though the sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, the riverbank was crowded with people. It was the annual event of the summer festival, where people set afloat lanterns carrying their wishes.

Until that moment, I had only watched the lanterns illuminate the river from the mansion, but this was my first time visiting the Seine in person.

Of course, I didn’t plan to participate, so I stood with my arms crossed behind Yuri. As I observed, Yuri, holding a wish lantern, tilted his head.

“Titi, aren’t you going to float a wish lantern?”

Why would I bother with that? I shook my head.

“I don’t believe in those things.”

“Just like last time, you’re really dry.”

I shrugged. If I was emotionally dry, it wasn’t my fault; it was the fault of the world that had made me this way.

“My mom has been frail for a long time. Every year, I write on the wish lantern for her to live a long life.”

And that wish never came true.

I replied in a detached tone, “I don’t really have anything to wish for now.”

“…Then I’ll write one for you.”

After a moment of contemplation, Yuri picked up a pen and wrote:

[May Titi be happy.]

Reading it, I frowned.

“You should write your own wish.”

Yuri handed me the pen.

“Here you go.”

“Why?”

“Since I wrote for Titi’s happiness, Titi should wish for my happiness.”

“Do you, a mage, believe in such superstitions?”

“Rather than believing, it’s about hope.”

“Hope, huh.”

Even hearing Yuri’s words, I didn’t feel inclined to write a wish. My resistance stemmed from the thought that if wishes truly came true, my mom wouldn’t have suffered and passed away.

But.

“Here.”

If it was about hope, I had something prepared for Yuri too. I took out what I had brought along. Squinting at it, Yuri tilted his head.

“What is this? A bracelet?”

“Hold out your wrist. I’ll put it on for you.”

The bracelet was designed so that you could choose and attach charms to the sturdy chain. As I gently turned the clasp and fastened it on Yuri’s wrist, I spoke.

“You mentioned your birthday was this week. Since you didn’t tell me the exact date, I decided it would be today. Happy birthday, Yuri. This is my gift to you.”

With a jingling sound, the bracelet dangled from Yuri’s wrist. Smiling at him as he silently looked down at the bracelet, I added:

“As I said earlier, I don’t believe in these things. I don’t want to have false hopes. So I chose this gift to remind you every time you see it.”

I had selected three charms: a coffee pot, a flower, and a small medal where I could engrave a message.

The medal was inscribed with:

[Like.]

It meant to do what you love.

At that very moment.

Bang!

A loud noise, as if the world was collapsing, erupted behind me. Startled, I clung to Yuri’s arm and turned around with a bewildered expression.

Fireworks, like shattered stars pouring across the sky, filled the twilight with colors.

“…Fireworks?”

Fireworks were nice. It was a festival, so it made sense.

‘But wouldn’t a mage need to be involved for this?’

Proud mages rarely performed such ornamental magic. Even in my second life as a marchioness, I had only seen fireworks once.

‘But today? What’s special about today? Is there a special meaning to this summer festival?’

My mind spun with thoughts, but the spectacle unfolding before my eyes was so overwhelming that it captured my gaze helplessly. Not just me, but everyone else was excitedly shouting too.

“Wow!”

“Amazing!”

“Wow! Wow!”

With the fireworks bursting and the crowd’s cheers, it felt like my ears might burst from the noise.

Amidst the chaos, a warm sensation brushed the top of my head and then disappeared. Yuri, in a voice tinged with emotion, whispered to me:

“Thank you, Titi.”

I turned to look at him, but just then, fireworks exploded above Yuri’s head, obscuring his expression.

The cool river breeze and the breathtaking fireworks painting the sky created the perfect atmosphere. It was the best summer festival.