‘If I had just burned everything, everyone would have thought they were seeing things.’

Unaware of the fierce thoughts swirling in Yuri’s beautiful mind, the man confronted him.

“I asked who you are. Can’t you hear? Hey, hey!”

“I have nothing more to say to someone so rude.”

“This arrogant brat, are you talking back to me now?”

The man poked Yuri’s chest with his fist. Yuri twisted his lips. Honestly, the man seemed insignificant.

But just because someone seemed insignificant didn’t mean you wanted to tolerate them.

“…….Since I’ve already been called arrogant, should I just do what I want?”

People usually imagined mages as weak, but that didn’t apply to Yuri. In fact, he was stronger than most. When Yuri grabbed the man’s collar and lifted him, the man found himself on his tiptoes, struggling to touch the ground.

‘Where does this skinny guy get his strength from?’

The man had underestimated Yuri, thinking he was just a delicate, handsome guy when he walked out the door. He croaked and shouted.

“Let go, let go! I don’t know what your relationship with Titiana is, but you’ll regret this later!”

“I think you’ll be the one to regret it first.”

Fists were closer than the law, and Yuri was inclined to deal with the man, even if it became quite bothersome. It was then that a cracking sound came from Yuri’s clenched fist.

Feeling that he might actually get beaten to death, the man screamed.

“I’m, I’m Titiana’s only brother!”

“…….Brother?”

Yuri frowned. Still, those words had some effect, and his grip on the man’s collar loosened before he stepped back. The man grumbled, clutching his reddened neck with both hands.

“I just came to see family, and I get treated with violence like this…….”

Yuri recalled something Titiana had once said with a bitter smile.

[I only live this firmly now. Before, I used to be dragged around.]

The family Titiana didn’t even want to discuss.

‘This guy is that family.’

Yuri’s blue eyes turned as cold as ice. Remembering the expression Titiana wore whenever she spoke of her family, Yuri instinctively knew how to deal with the man in front of him.

‘Can’t I just get rid of him here? Titi helped that woman too. So I’m helping Titi.’

Titiana had reached out to Charlotte, who hadn’t even asked for help.

‘I doubt being alive would be of any help…….’

There was no need to leave him as a burden on Titiana’s mind; he could simply erase his existence here. That would ease Titiana’s worries, and Yuri would be satisfied too.

[You’re the person I rely on.]

Titiana’s words echoed in Yuri’s mind as he prepared to act on his own. He bit his lip.

‘I can’t break Titi’s trust.’

No matter how much she disliked her family, family was still family. Titiana wouldn’t welcome his death.

‘It doesn’t seem like someone so frivolous would come quietly.’

If the man who bragged about visiting his wealthy sister suddenly disappeared, suspicion would surely fall on this side.

‘And Titi also gave that woman the choice to pick her own life.’

Honestly, it seemed unnecessary, but if Titi acted that way, it must be right.

With that conclusion, Yuri quickly changed his expression to a friendly one. Then, as if he hadn’t been so intimidating moments before, he spoke in a gentle tone.

“Oh, I see. I’m just a clerk here, and the owner isn’t in.”

Still, to give Titiana some time to prepare herself, he lied about her not being available immediately.

“What? Then when will she be back?”

The man asked, his face contorting.

“Coincidentally, she’s gone on vacation. She won’t be back until next week.”

“Damn it! She’s always like that. Never any help in my life!”

The man grew angry, not considering that he had shown up unannounced.

‘He looks like someone who’s always been sponging off others.’

Yuri narrowed his eyes. Such a person wouldn’t be well-off without someone else to rely on.

Thinking of a way to keep him away from Titiana for a while, Yuri smiled with his eyes.

“Do you have a place to stay in the capital?”

“What does it matter to you…….”

“I’ll cover your lodging expenses.”

The man, who was about to growl, immediately fell silent when he saw the purse Yuri offered.

“If you go straight down the street to the right, you’ll find a hotel with a pink sign. You should stay there. I’ll contact you when the owner returns.”

“Hmph, hmph. At least you’re reasonable. I’ll see you later then.”

With the money in hand, the man disappeared as if he were fleeing.

Yuri crossed his arms and twisted his lips. The smile he had been wearing vanished, replaced by a cold demeanor.

‘What choice will Titi make?’

Would she be dragged away again because they were family, or would she cut ties without hesitation?

‘Whatever happens, I’m on Titi’s side.’

No matter what choice Titiana made, the man’s fate was already sealed.

Unaware that he was being watched, the man walked off with a spring in his step. Yuri’s cold gaze bore into his back.

“…….”

Yuri frowned, recalling something Titiana had said during a recent date.

[Just make up your mind firmly and don’t look back. Marriage is madness.]

Though she had spoken with a smile, there was a hint of seriousness in her words.

‘If the reason she made such a decision was due to her troubled family…

Then perhaps if someone kind and supportive appeared in her life, she might reconsider.

Someone who would remain unchanged for a long time, support her life, and be a constant source of strength.

At that moment, the charm on his wrist jingled again.

Flowers and coffee were nice, but what truly moved Yuri was the charm shaped like a long stick.

[Like]

Yuri covered his reddened face with his palm.

‘I know it doesn’t mean that.’

Despite his cool and logical mind, his heart raced wildly.

***

I felt uncomfortable all night, but it wasn’t until I opened my eyes in the morning that I realized why.

‘Oh my… I fell asleep in my outdoor clothes.’

I must have been so tense about going to the Morphe estate yesterday that I hadn’t even changed before sleeping. I didn’t even remember getting into bed.

‘I sat down to rest after dinner… Yuri said he’d cook tonight to give me a break.

So I was happily waiting…

‘I must have fallen asleep just like that. Did Yuri move me to bed?’

I turned my head and saw untouched food on a small table: scrambled eggs, small pancakes, and a slightly wilted salad.

‘He must have brought it up after I fell asleep, then forgot and left it here.’

I crawled over and sat in front of it, picking up a fork. It tasted good even when it was cold.

After finishing breakfast in a good mood, I quickly changed clothes and went downstairs. There, I saw Yuri preparing for the day’s business.

I greeted Yuri with a bright smile and an energetic voice.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Oh, Titi.”

“Yuri, you moved me, right? Thank you.”

“…No, it was nothing.”

Despite saying it was nothing, Yuri’s cheeks were subtly flushed as I turned to look at him. I widened my eyes.

“Do you have a cold? Or are you tired?”

“No, it’s not that.”

I touched his forehead, but it didn’t feel warm.

Yuri rarely avoided my gaze, but now he kept doing so. I tilted my head in confusion, then widened my eyes.

‘Did something happen while I was away?’

Maybe something bad happened, and Yuri was trying to hide it. Since I couldn’t think of any other reason, I asked as casually as possible.

“Nothing happened yesterday, right?”

Yuri’s face clouded over, confirming my suspicion. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly spoke.

“…Actually, something did.”

Yuri briefly explained what happened after I fell asleep. My brother had come looking for me, and Yuri had given him money to stay at a hotel.

“Oh my…”

That was all I could say. I was at a loss for words.

‘My brother came looking for me. How did he find out?’

I hadn’t left any clues back home or contacted anyone. Without knowing my whereabouts, how did my brother manage to find this exact building in the capital?

‘Did he hire a private investigator?’

That seemed like the only way my family could have found out where I was. I bit his lip tightly.

‘Would a few bucks make him leave? No. Knowing him, he’d squander it quickly and come back here.’

If I went so far as to hire an investigator, he wouldn’t leave quietly. My brother was the type to come to the marquess’s residence when I was the marquess’s wife and ask for money.

‘Ah, I thought something like this might happen, but…’

My head throbbed painfully.