The day after I spent an entire day sleeping, an investigator arrived at the hotel.

“I have already been briefed by Count Esrenche. Since Miss Este is a victim, we just need to verify the facts, so please feel at ease while answering.”

Yujin proved to be a capable count. While I was asleep, the lady next door had come forward as a witness, and the investigation concluded swiftly.

Before departing, the investigator mentioned that there was a strong likelihood my father would receive a severe punishment. I felt no sympathy.

‘That’s a relief.’

Now, neither my father nor Robi could disrupt my life any longer. I hadn’t set a trap for them; they had walked into prison on their own, so I didn’t feel any guilt.

Still, considering them as family made my heart feel conflicted, so I decided not to dwell on it.

Later, I received a notification that my father’s crimes had been exposed, meaning I wouldn’t need to attend Robi’s trial either.

“They will pay dearly for the wrongs they committed against Miss Este, so don’t worry.”

The prison warden’s unusually kind demeanor was a bit suspicious, but since it wouldn’t affect me negatively, I readily agreed not to attend the trial.

After settling all the family matters, I boarded a train to the capital.

As I leaned back in my seat, a long sigh escaped me.

‘Ah, I’m really tired.’

Technically, the capital was where I worked, and this was my hometown, yet the journey back to the capital felt more comforting. It was truly ironic.

How long had I sat there, lost in thought? I belatedly realized there was no sound around me and turned my head.

Inside the compartment, Yuri and Yujin sat across from me, both with their mouths firmly shut.

‘It’s understandable for Yujin to be quiet since he’s always reserved, but Yuri?’

Seeing the twins turning their faces away from each other made my heart uneasy. After sitting quietly for a moment, I spoke to Yuri.

“Yuri, are you okay?”

“…Ah.”

Yuri finally turned his head to look at me. I gave him an awkward smile.

“You’ve been so quiet. You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

“I’m fine. I just have something on my mind.”

“Something on your mind?”

Yuri just gave a vague smile without elaborating. It was Yujin who spoke up.

“If it’s because of me, we can visit the Magic Tower together.”

My eyes widened.

“The Magic Tower? Is it something related to magic?”

“Well…”

For some reason, Yuri hesitated to answer again. It was the first time I had seen him so indecisive.

Again, it was Yujin who replied.

“He thinks my headaches might be related to magic.”

“Oh.”

I only knew that he was soon going to retire due to a terminal illness, but I didn’t know exactly what the illness was.

‘If it’s related to magic, then it makes sense.’

I had wondered why a wealthy family like the Esrenche would let their head become terminally ill without doing anything, but it turned out to be an illness that ordinary people couldn’t detect.

Initially, I had been surprised when Yujin joined our journey, but now I felt proud. I nodded happily and encouraged Yujin.

“That might be possible. I hope you find the cause and get healthy.”

Yujin nodded with a faint smile. However, Yuri, who was directly involved, still wore a blank expression.

“……”

“Yuri?”

When I called him, Yuri seemed to snap out of it and nodded.

“Oh, right. I’ll visit the Magic Tower for a bit.”

‘He’s really strange today.’

The situation oddly overlapped with the time when he turned his back on me not long ago.

Yuri took out a small jewel from his pocket and added.

“While I’m there, I should also get this necklace fixed. The chain broke.”

“Oh.”

What Yuri took out was a transparent necklace pendant, like a glass bead. My father had snatched it away recently, but it seemed Yuri had retrieved it.

Seeing the necklace pendant reminded me of the sharp pain I felt on my neck.

“What should I do? I don’t think I can wear necklaces anymore.”

I was quite shocked.

‘I didn’t expect it to hurt that much.’

The sensation of the necklace chain scraping against my skin was still vivid.

When I shrugged my shoulders, Yuri nodded with an apologetic expression.

“I was thoughtless. Then should we turn it into a bracelet? The pendant might be too big to use as a charm like the one Titi gave me.”

I took the pendant and examined it closely. It did seem heavy to use as a charm, as Yuri mentioned.

“It might be nice to tie it with a cord and secure it.”

“With a cord?”

“They often make them with leather cords. I think I can make it myself. I’ll do it personally.”

In the past, I had crafted many accessories like this with the children in the countryside. Remembering those times, I replied confidently, while Yuri hesitated before speaking.

“But I don’t want Titi to be without it, even for a moment…”

Was Yuri feeling anxious because of the recent kidnapping incident?

‘Was that necklace pendant some kind of charm?’

Since it was given by a mage, it probably held some significance.

Reflecting on it, I realized I was quite fortunate during the kidnapping incident. I nodded.

“I’ll make it as soon as we get to the flower shop.”

“Thank you, Titi.”

Finally, Yuri’s face brightened a little. I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought.

‘I’ve resolved one of the troubling issues. Now I just need to decide what to sell instead of blue roses.’

The main reason I had closed the shop and returned to my hometown was because Princess Sabina had interfered with selling blue roses.

Now that the family issues that had troubled me were resolved, I needed to focus on developing new products.

‘Come to think of it, selling dried flowers as decorations might be a good idea. Like flower crowns.’

Perhaps because Yuri suggested making a bracelet, I kept thinking about accessories.

‘Or should I make a bracelet entirely out of knitted flowers?’

However, I wasn’t confident in my knitting skills. To ask which would look better, I looked up and sighed at the sight of the brothers turning their backs on each other again.

“Did you two fight again while I wasn’t looking?”

“No.”

“No.”

Despite their aloofness, they answered promptly.

I crossed my arms and asked, “Then why is the atmosphere like this?”

Once again, both responded quickly.

“We’re just relieved the journey ended without any incidents.”

“We were just thinking that you must have had a hard time.”

Both were worried about me. I replied in a slightly softened tone.

“I’m fine. And Father and Robi can’t harm me anymore. It’s all resolved, and I actually feel relieved. Really.”

“Even so…”

Yujin hesitated, which was rare. He seemed eager to offer words of comfort but was cautious not to upset me.

I nudged Yujin’s back and exclaimed, “Come on! I’m really fine, so don’t worry about me! Instead, you two should talk!”

At my words, Yuri pouted slightly and replied, “I have nothing more to say to my brother, Titi.”

“Neither do I.”

It was astonishing. Hadn’t they just said they would go to the Magic Tower together?

“Why don’t you have anything to say? You should discuss why Yujin is unwell and when it started.”

“I’ve already heard everything.”

“Listen again! Things might change if you hear it again.”

“Titi, that’s unreasonable…”

It’s not unreasonable. After today, who knows when they’ll meet again? They should share what’s on their minds.

The more I nagged, the more it seemed they would only talk to me, so I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat. It was a silent protest, signaling that I intended to sleep and didn’t want to be disturbed.

‘They seemed to be getting closer, so why are they so distant again? I hope they reconcile and become good brothers.’

However, when I closed my eyes, the two fell completely silent.

Because I foolishly closed my eyes, I had to endure the awkward atmosphere without showing it, feeling like I was being punished on the train. Arriving in the capital in such an uncomfortable state, I couldn’t help but groan.

‘I’m exhausted. I should just sleep today. Anything else is too much for now.’

As the two tried to follow me, I waved them off again.

“You said you were going to the Magic Tower! I’m just going home to sleep like I’m dead, so you two should go.”

Before they could catch up, I quickly boarded a commercial carriage heading home. Though they looked dissatisfied, at least they didn’t follow me further.

‘They’re not children, so if I push them like this, they’ll talk to each other, right?’

It seemed like meddling any further would be overstepping.

I resolved not to get caught between the Esrenche brothers again.

As Yuri had said, the fatigue had indeed accumulated, and my whole body creaked when I arrived home. All I wanted was to sleep in my own bed.

As I got off the carriage and inserted the key into the lock of my precious shop, someone called my name.