“Hmm, when you have fresh flowers, why would you want dried ones?”

“When you receive flowers as a birthday gift, it’s sad to see them wilt. You want to keep them and admire them for as long as possible.”

Yuri rested his chin on his hand and furrowed his brow. After thinking for a moment, he chuckled and replied.

“Now that I think about it, you’re right. If I received flowers from Titi, I wouldn’t be able to throw them away.”

“What are you talking about, seriously?”

Why was he bringing up the flowers I gave him? I pouted and continued to fiddle with the dried flower as I spoke.

“We’ll need to package them even more beautifully. I’ll have to think about that… I still don’t know which flowers look pretty when dried.”

“Since it’s unique, it might create a buzz.”

“Right? It seems worth trying.”

Only a few people could afford to buy expensive fresh flowers. Dried flowers like these might appeal more broadly to the middle class.

‘Not just using flowers or ribbons, but also incorporating things like glass beads to make them look vibrant…’

As I contemplated various ideas, Yuri tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I was wrong, Titi.”

“Huh?”

“I said it wouldn’t help even if I tried, but things have changed.”

I was happy to hear him say that. I nodded proudly and replied.

“That’s right. No one is beyond needing help. I’m here because I received help from someone.”

“Are you talking about the person who gave you the building deed?”

“Oh.”

Yuri adjusted his posture and asked in a serious tone.

“Come to think of it, you’ve never told me. Who gave you the building deed? How?”

“Well.”

I pressed my lips together for a moment. I hadn’t explained to Yuri how I ended up here. I was worried that discussing the future might change something.

‘But I can’t keep everything a secret forever.’

Yuri must have been curious all this time. He just hadn’t asked out of consideration for me.

Feeling it was wrong to keep evading his questions, I cautiously began to speak.

“When I was in despair and felt like I wanted to die, Master gave me the building deed. They told me there would be someone to help me if I came to this building.”

“Master?”

When I mentioned “Master,” Yuri tilted his head in confusion. There was no miraculous moment where he regained his memory and realized the magic he had cast.

I gave a bitter smile.

“I don’t know who it is either. They didn’t tell me their name.”

That person might actually be you.

I didn’t say that. The future that hadn’t yet come had already become an unreachable past for me.

***

After finishing the day’s work and returning from the Morphe estate, Titiana was so exhausted that she fell asleep in her chair while waiting for Yuri to bring dinner.

When Yuri arrived with the tray, he quietly set it down upon seeing Titiana asleep. He approached her and softly whispered.

“Titi, I’m going to move you to your bed for a moment.”

She was so sound asleep that she didn’t even flinch when he lifted her.

The bed, which was just a thick mattress on the floor, was covered with clean white sheets and a blanket. After laying Titiana down and arranging her hair comfortably, she made a soft noise again.

‘The collar looks tight.’

Her clothes seemed uncomfortable, as they were what she had worn to the Morphe estate. As Yuri looked at the tightly buttoned collar, he slowly reached out his hand.

‘Even if I can’t change her clothes, I can at least loosen the buttons…’

It was a simple act, yet his fingertips trembled slightly.

He focused intently as he unbuttoned the top button of Titiana’s collar. With a soft click, the button came undone, and the fabric parted.

“Ugh!”

Letting out a strange sound, Yuri quickly turned his head. His pale face flushed red in an instant.

‘Why am I like this?’

If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t even care if they were sleeping on the floor in the cold. The only reason he couldn’t just ignore it was that it was Titiana.

As he turned his gaze, his eyes naturally landed on Titiana’s room. Her room resembled her—there weren’t many belongings, but everything was neatly arranged.

Next to a few neatly placed books, he spotted the building deed.

The moment he saw it, a name popped into Yuri’s mind.

‘Master’

Probably the one who had cast the spell on Titiana.

He didn’t know the name or face of this person, but just the fact that they had greatly helped Titiana bothered him immensely. Yuri sat beside Titiana, watching her youthful face as she slept peacefully.

“Why don’t you ever show weakness to me?”

No matter what kind of mage the Master was, Yuri was confident that he was stronger. Yet, only that person had helped Titiana.

Yuri buried his face in his arms, leaving only his eyes peeking out.

“I can create flowers that look beautiful and flowers that make you sleepy when placed by your bedside.”

When he first heard that the method for creating rainbow roses had been discovered, Yuri wondered what it would be like to make roses with magic.

Even magic that could sway the heart of someone he had vowed never to command could be used for Titiana… At that moment, Titiana frowned and her lips moved slightly.

“Ugh.”

“……”

Worried that he might wake her, Yuri held his breath and watched her. But as if sensing his gaze, she turned her body while lying straight, coincidentally facing him.

Startled by the sudden movement, Yuri reflexively leaned back, supporting himself with his arms.

Jingle.

The bracelet on his wrist made a clear sound.

Startled by the unexpectedly loud noise, Yuri froze. Fortunately, Titiana slipped back into sleep. As he looked down at her mischievously fluttering eyelashes, he frowned slightly.

“Sleeping without knowing how I feel…”

His heart was pounding wildly, all because of her.

Yet, Yuri soon crouched back down in front of Titiana. Perhaps because she wasn’t looking him in the eye, the emotions he usually kept hidden flowed out as if a dam had broken.

“I’m curious about what’s in your heart.”

Why do you say things like love are meaningless, and who made you think that way?

‘Do you really have no feelings for me?’

These were all thoughts he was too afraid to voice to the awake Titiana.

Just as Yuri cautiously reached out to tidy Titiana’s hair, a loud knock echoed from the shop on the first floor.

Bang, bang, bang!

Yuri instinctively checked on Titiana before standing up. After confirming that she was still sound asleep, he descended to the first floor with a cold expression.

In front of the shop, where there was no sign of life, a man stood, panting heavily.

‘He doesn’t seem like he’ll leave easily.’

It would be troublesome if Titiana woke up because of this.

‘Should I make it so he can’t knock on the door?’

Silencing that man would be no challenge for Yuri. There was only one reason for his hesitation.

‘It’s still early in the evening, and there are many people passing by.’

If anyone witnessed the man disappearing, it would be problematic. Silencing him wasn’t difficult, but if strange rumors spread about the flower shop, Titiana would surely be upset.

‘What a nuisance.’

And it was Titiana’s influence that made him willing to endure such nuisances. After contemplating how to deal with the unwanted visitor, Yuri eventually went down and opened the door.

“Who are you?”

Up close, the man looked even more shabby. His physique was weak, as if he had never exercised, and his unnecessarily shiny silver hair seemed to float awkwardly.

The man, standing with a brazen attitude, asked Yuri, “Isn’t this Titiana Este’s shop?”

Why was her name coming from the lips of such a disrespectful man? Yuri’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

“The shop is closed.”

He said this and was about to close the door when the man grabbed it and, baring his teeth, picked a fight.

“Who are you to be inside a closed shop? A thief? Or maybe her boyfriend?”

“……”

Yuri’s frown deepened. All he could think was that he should have just gotten rid of the man instead of worrying about others noticing.