‘But if I stepped back because it was uncomfortable, it would just become more awkward later.’

Even though I felt burdened, I steeled myself and grabbed Yuri’s sleeve, forcing a cheerful voice.

“Stop arguing and help since you’re here. All that’s left is to hang it up to dry.”

“What on earth did you two do to end up doing laundry together?”

“I’ll explain later, just help me hang the laundry.”

Yuri’s face showed a mix of confusion and bewilderment. Seeing our standoff, Yujin sighed and stepped in.

“I’ll just finish it myself.”

I shook my head vigorously, stopping Yujin.

“It’s fine. Yuri’s here now.”

At my response, Yujin frowned. Yuri, as if he had forgotten his earlier grumpiness, rolled up his sleeves and agreed.

“Yeah, I’m here, so you can stop. You don’t know how to do it anyway.”

“Thanks for your help today. Take care on your way back.”

“……”

Despite Yuri and I seeing him off, Yujin’s face remained tense, but he eventually turned away quietly.

“Phew.”

Why did something as trivial as a blanket lead to such a standoff?

I punched the blanket Yuri was hanging, feeling frustrated. Yuri, in a gentle tone, stopped me.

“Titi, your hands will get wet. Don’t touch it.”

Seeing him smile so brightly, as if he hadn’t worn that cold expression earlier, made my lips curl involuntarily.

“Why aren’t you asking what’s going on? Earlier, you were ready to bite my head off.”

Yuri brushed off my sarcasm as if it didn’t bother him at all.

“Titi comes first before my curiosity.”

“Geez.”

In the end, I lost. Seeing Yuri’s smiling face made me feel silly for being angry.

The laundry was done. Yujin had left. I had nothing else to do.

‘Things with Asel worked out well too.’

If the Esrenche Trading Company invested in the mine, Asel wouldn’t end up losing everything and taking his life like in the past.

Thinking of Asel naturally brought Princess Sabina to mind again. I clenched my teeth.

Yuri, who was ahead of me on the stairs, turned to look at me.

“Have you eaten?”

“……I have.”

Actually, I hadn’t. Yujin had come before breakfast, and I hadn’t had time to eat while taking care of him. All I’d had all day was a cup of drip coffee.

But thinking of Princess Sabina made my appetite disappear, so I lied.

Yuri stopped and reached for my face. Before his finger could touch under my eye, I tilted my head slightly to avoid it.

“Did you sleep well? You look tired.”

“I slept fine. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I didn’t sleep well. Maybe because it wasn’t my house.”

Even though I had clearly avoided him, Yuri continued in a cheerful tone without any awkwardness.

“Do you want some coffee? I bought milk and cinnamon powder. You said last time that a sprinkle of that makes it taste good.”

“You remembered?”

“I remember everything you say, Titi.”

Yuri continued down the stairs with long strides. I stared blankly at his broad back. Even with his back turned to me, Yuri didn’t seem to feel any burden.

‘Because I knew he genuinely cared about me.’

He listened to every word I said, even the jokes I made without much thought.

‘I should tell Yuri everything.’

As someone appeared before me who would accept me, my heart, which had been stubbornly holding on, crumbled like a lie. I just wanted to cling to Yuri and cry like a child.

“Titi, what’s with that expression? You look like you’re about to cry.”

Yuri gently embraced me, as if gathering feathers.

“I’m here with you.”

And with those words, “I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

I finally let the tears fall.

Looking back, I thought I was always lonely.

Even though there was no one to rely on in my wretched family, my mother wasn’t someone who could give me the love I wanted. She lacked both the time and energy.

If I had been my mother, I would have taken us away from that hell, not taught me to endure and persevere.

When Robi hit me from a young age, and I hid with a belly full of water to stave off hunger, my mother would say to me:

[You’re such a mature and good child.]

Back then, I didn’t want to be a burden to my mother, so I just endured. But it seemed resentment had been building in a corner of my heart.

Otherwise, there was no reason for Yuri’s simple words of apology for not being there to make me cry like this.

“Yuri, Yuri…”

Tears had completely soaked the front of my shirt. Yet, Yuri held me tightly, comforting me without a hint of displeasure, occasionally whispering words like:

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay.”

I didn’t know what exactly was okay, but just hearing his steady, low voice in my ear was incredibly reassuring.

Yuri’s fingers, which had been stroking my hair, caught on the scarf around my neck. His eyes grimaced painfully as if he remembered the scar beneath it.

He tightened his arms around me and said,

“I’m really sorry. I won’t leave you alone again, Titi.”

At his words, I sniffled and asked,

“Will you stay by my side no matter what kind of person I am?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I’m a really mean and selfish person?”

Yuri burst into laughter at that question.

“I don’t know, but I’m probably a worse person than you.”

What nonsense. I replied, rubbing my eyes with my sleeve.

“Yuri, you’re not someone who hurts others out of malice. Returning what you’ve received doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“Isn’t that the same for you, Titi?”

It was, until now.

“But now there’s someone I hate so much I could kill them.”

“Then it’s probably that person’s fault.”

Without even knowing who it was or what had happened, Yuri took my side.

His words rekindled the belief that I could rely on him. I finally voiced the words I had attempted to say many times but had always given up on.

“This is my third life.”

He might not believe me. He might even mock me for achieving so little despite living three times.

But the hesitation that had held me back was overcome by my trust in Yuri.

“And today, I found out who ruined my past two lives. It was the same person trying to ruin my third life now.”

I couldn’t read Yuri’s expression.

In a calm, subdued voice, he asked, “Who is it?”

“Princess Sabina.”

In the end, all my anger and tears were because of Princess Sabina.

***

The altered potion was quickly completed. Autumn took it directly to Sabina.

“Your Highness, this is the potion you requested.”

Sabina praised Autumn with a smile as radiant as a rose.

“Oh my, thank you. You made it so quickly. You truly are a remarkable mage.”

“Haha.”

Having failed to create the mind-control potion, Autumn wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, sweating nervously. It was fortunate that Sabina had no way to verify what the potion was right now, as it was a one-time-use potion.

With an elegant smile, Sabina said, “I will reward you generously. Thank you very much.”

“It’s nothing.”

Sabina gestured with her chin, as if telling him to leave quickly. Autumn fiddled with the large bag beside him and cautiously spoke up.

“Um… Your Highness, I’m sorry, but could I receive the reward right now?”

It was a rather unusual request. Princess Sabina had commissioned the Magic Tower for a mage, and in such cases, the fee was paid to the Tower, which would later distribute it to the mage assigned.

So when Autumn asked for the reward immediately, Sabina’s eyes widened.

“Pardon? Why?”

“My parents are ill, so I need to go back to my hometown. It seems difficult to stop by the Tower to get it.”

Not accustomed to lying, he continued to sweat profusely. Sabina, who had been watching him with cold eyes, suddenly smiled warmly.

“I see. You must be very worried. Could you wait a moment? I’ll call my maid.”

“Yes.”

Autumn sighed in relief. Sabina chuckled softly and asked in a friendly tone, “So, you won’t be coming back to the capital from your hometown?”

“I don’t think so. Once you leave the Magic Tower, they usually don’t take you back.”

Just then, the maid entered with a pouch. Sabina stood up from her seat.

“I see. It was nice meeting you. Have a safe journey back.”