Yuri, unable to conceal his disgust, hurled accusations at Yujin.

“Yeah, so what? Are you proud of prioritizing the words of the dead over the living? Does it make you feel like a good son, a virtuous friend?”

The words that followed from Yuri sounded as if he was hurt.

“I was so excited when you asked me for something for the first time. Do you think I didn’t know? That you disliked me?”

“That’s…”

Yujin’s pale face trembled. Just as he was about to argue, he suddenly began to throw sharp words back at Yuri.

“So what? Aren’t you happy now? You must be enjoying life much more than I am, stuck in the past.”

“You’re the one who chose to be haunted by the past, aren’t you?”

“Was there anything else I could choose?”

“What?”

“Well, even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”

Revealing just that much emotion seemed to exhaust Yujin, and he bowed his head.

Yuri blinked in disbelief, his eyes narrowing sharply. He suddenly let go of Yujin, whom he had been supporting, and shouted loudly.

“It’s always like this. You pretend to be all profound, trailing off mid-sentence when you have something to say. Just say it straight! What are you lacking? I’m the one who’s fed up!”

“I’m fed up too! This pathetic argument with you right now…!”

Yujin, who had been arguing with Yuri, suddenly turned his gaze to me.

“And how everyone just naturally chooses you.”

Then, as if drained of energy, Yujin’s body wobbled and slumped toward the floor.

Yuri, who had been fiercely angry, immediately reached out to catch Yujin as he seemed about to fall. Even though Yujin had no strength left, he pushed Yuri away.

“Let go.”

“Just shut up.”

Listening to their endless bickering made my head throb. I put my hands on my hips and spoke loudly.

“This is so childish, I can’t bear it.”

“What?”

“Titi?”

Both men turned to look at me with wide eyes. Amusingly, at this moment, they truly looked like twins. I clapped my hands and took charge of the situation.

“This isn’t the time for this! Yuri, take him inside and lay him down. I’ll go call the doctor. There’s only one doctor in this village, so there’s no guarantee he’ll come quickly, but it’s better than not calling.”

“That’s…”

Yujin started to protest, but I had no intention of listening to a patient’s objections. I firmly told Yujin, “Arguments should happen when both parties have eaten well and are in good condition. Otherwise, you’ll end up saying things you don’t mean.”

One was a mage, the other an administrator and count. They were both people I couldn’t even dream of facing with my current status, yet their quarrel seemed no different from any sibling argument.

So, I figured I’d intervene in the same way.

“Let’s talk after you’ve both cleared your heads. Yuri, even if you win against someone as feeble as him, it won’t be satisfying.”

“Feeble…”

Yuri chuckled at my words, then quickly coughed and pretended he hadn’t laughed.

Anyway, Yuri followed my advice and took Yujin inside to lay him down. I gave some money to a servant and asked them to fetch the doctor. Fortunately, since there were no other patients, the doctor came quickly.

“It seems to be just stress. He needs to rest.”

The doctor’s diagnosis was the usual vague statement given when they didn’t know what else to say. I glared at the doctor as he hurriedly left.

‘What a quack!’

I hadn’t expected a renowned doctor in this rural area, but still!

‘Stress, really. I could have diagnosed that.’

In any case, Yujin had an aide with him, and there was nothing more we could do.

‘It’s been a long day.’

Feeling suddenly heavy as if soaked with water, I turned to head back to my room. But then Yujin, with unfocused eyes, looked vaguely in our direction and spoke.

“I…”

Yujin struggled to keep his eyes open, speaking in a very small voice.

“I really didn’t know…”

And then he closed his eyes and fell asleep, as if he had reached his limit.

Looking down at Yujin’s face, I stepped out of the room with Yuri.

Yuri’s expression was somewhat complicated. Although he tried to hide it, Yujin’s last words clearly bothered him.

I nudged Yujin’s side with my elbow.

“He really didn’t know.”

At my words, Yuri pouted. Then, ruffling his hair, he grumbled.

“If you look closely, Titi always takes Yujin’s side. I’m the one who’s more wronged here.”

“Well.”

I shrugged. Why would I take Yujin’s side? The truth was, I was completely an outsider and had no reason to involve myself in their sibling issues.

‘But do I keep meddling in their affairs because I feel regret?’

My family had become irreparably twisted, but it seemed that wasn’t the case for them yet.

‘Master never talked about family. It seemed like even bringing up the topic was painful for him.’

Regardless of who the master was between the two, I wanted to step in before their relationship turned extreme.

Not wanting to delve into a lengthy explanation of my feelings, I simply smiled and said,

“I think if you both open up and talk, a different story might emerge. It’s not like I’m taking the count’s side.”

Yuri still seemed displeased, pouting his lips.

“Just saying that is taking Yujin’s side. How would Titi know if Yujin has other reasons or not?”

I gave a bitter smile.

“Call it intuition from having a trashy family.”

“…Pfft.”

The usually kind Yuri didn’t argue further and fell silent.

After a short walk, we quickly arrived at the room. I waved at Yuri’s back and said,

“Thanks for coming with me this far. Get some good rest.”

“Titi.”

“Yeah?”

Just when I thought Yuri would head right in, he stopped at the door. He reached out his large hand toward my eyes. With long, smooth fingers, he gently brushed the corner of my eye as if handling cotton candy.

In a stern tone, Yuri said, “Don’t cry alone. If you feel like crying, call me.”

“That…”

I hadn’t expected our conversation to turn back to me, leaving me momentarily speechless.

As I blinked silently, Yuri gave one of his characteristic eye smiles. He leaned his pale face closer to mine.

“Uh…”

Even in the dim hallway, Yuri’s apricot-colored lips were clearly visible. As he moved closer, I felt my whole body tense up.

‘This is…’

Feeling my heart tighten, I instinctively closed my eyes.

A soft touch.

His lips gently brushed my forehead and then pulled away. A voice mixed with laughter poured over my head.

“Sleep well.”

He slowly moved away from me.

After seeing Yuri off and entering my room, I leaned against the door, releasing the breath I’d been holding.

‘Oh, geez.’

My face was still flushed and wouldn’t cool down.

‘Well, the tears are gone.’

Otherwise, I might have been crying over memories of Robi and my father.

But even setting that aside, today I wouldn’t have had the energy to think about my family. The story Yuri shared about the past was too horrifying.

‘Princess Sabina, the more I learn about her, the worse she seems. No, she’s downright evil.’

There were two overlapping parts in Yuri and Yujin’s stories about Sabina.

She was extremely selfish, and she had liked Yuri since childhood and pursued him.

From there, I couldn’t understand Sabina at all.

‘How could she genuinely like Yuri and still think of giving him mind-control drugs?’

She even used Yujin, Yuri’s brother, instead of acting herself.

‘I can’t understand trying to bind someone she liked with the former head of the Esrenche family’s will and move him around as she pleased.’

My palm brushed my forehead. I pouted and thought, ‘It’s a relief that Yuri doesn’t like Princess Sabina.’

Then, surprised by my own thoughts, I shook my head.

“What do you mean it’s a relief! Get a grip, Titiana Este!”

I slapped my cheeks with both hands. My face was still burning.