“…That’s right. If you look cute, there’s no way out.”

“Titi?”

Yuri called me, sounding puzzled. But instead of meeting his gaze, I covered my face with my hands.

My heart pounded loudly. I worried that if I opened my lips, the sound of my heartbeat would escape.

In the end, I had fallen into a trap with no way out.

***

Afterward, Yuri calmly helped me sort through the future events I knew.

When I mentioned that Sabina had taken my second husband, Yuri hung his head low and trembled.

“Wow, she’s really awful. Stealing someone’s husband…”

“Yuri… could you either criticize or enjoy it? Just pick one.”

“I’m upset but also happy. It’s rare to feel such conflicting emotions at the same time, but that’s how I feel about your divorce news, Titi.”

So, while he wanted to criticize Sabina for becoming a national homewrecker and stealing my husband, he was also glad about my divorce.

I also told him about the master’s tavern and the drink the master had given me. Listening quietly, Yuri shook his head and shared his thoughts.

“The drink itself probably wasn’t anything special. To embed time-reversing magic into an artifact, it would have to be enormous. It’s not just that the magic circle is complicated; the amount of mana required is huge.”

“But the master offered me the same drink both times.”

“Maybe it was just a personal ritual for him. It’s hard to say for sure. I’m not him, after all.”

“Hmm.”

If the drink the master gave wasn’t some special magical potion or artifact, then could it be that the master himself was a mage?

‘Mages really are meticulous and never make definitive statements. Maybe that’s why they can wield magic.’

Not making definitive statements means not being certain. Someone who keeps all possibilities open can’t give a definite answer in any situation.

Anyway, much of the future I remembered had already changed by this point, so I didn’t have much information left to use against Sabina.

‘In the end, I’m back to square one. I need to find witnesses or evidence to testify against Princess Sabina’s misdeeds.’

Now that Yujin had also decided to cut ties with Sabina, finding evidence would be even more challenging.

Yuri didn’t seem to have any brilliant ideas either.

“For now, let’s focus on what we can do. We can’t keep the shop closed forever. We have to make it thrive.”

“You’re right.”

Yuri’s words were correct. Revenge was important, but in this life, living well was also crucial.

Yuri seemed pleased with my resolute answer, as he smiled warmly.

“Now that we know the situation, and since they’re underestimating us, they’ll surely reveal their hand. Stay strong, Titi.”

His encouraging face seemed to sparkle like stardust. I blushed.

‘Oh my, now he looks not only cute but also beautiful. What’s happening?’

Once the floodgates opened, emotions poured into my heart without pause, as if waiting for the dam to break.

‘Don’t get carried away, heart.’

Unaware of my tumultuous feelings, Yuri continued with his sweet words.

“Titi, you seem really resilient. It’s your third time, right? If it were me, I’d be too exhausted and would just waste away somewhere. I wouldn’t even have the energy to pack a bag and head straight to the capital.”

“Well, that’s because there’s no use in dwelling on it.”

And I had no choice but to muster the strength. Sitting idly by was only possible if you had something to hold on to.

If someone like me, with nothing, sat down, I’d never escape being a pawn for my gambler father’s debts.

‘I really struggled this time too.’

Trying to hide my bitter expression, I lowered my gaze and reflected on my third life.

Yuri spoke brightly, as if to dispel all the gloom from my heart.

“I really admire that about you.”

His words made my eyes widen. I realized something I had forgotten.

“No.”

“Titi?”

“I’m neither resilient nor mentally strong.”

In both the first and second lives, I struggled to play the best hand I could. So what was special about this third life that I was walking a different path?

“It’s just that I can find the strength because you’re here.”

It was Yuri. He was the support and help I hadn’t received in my previous lives.

“Thank you, Yuri.”

Yuri smiled as though he was genuinely pleased with my heartfelt thanks.

His smile was so beautiful it was almost troubling.

***

No matter what significant events occurred, night always fell, and the sun rose again.

Even on the historic day when I confirmed Yuri’s feelings and recognized my own affection for him, the day eventually ended, and when I woke up, no miraculous change had taken place in the world.

‘Oh, there was a tiny miracle. I woke up really early.’

Usually, Yuri woke up before me, but today, strangely, I was the first to open my eyes.

Not that anything significant happened afterward. We had breakfast together as usual and leisurely went about our tasks. Since the shop was still closed, there wasn’t much to do.

Yuri went up to his room, and I stayed on the first floor, drawing with colored pencils. I was designing a floral crown to give as a wedding gift to Rosemary.

Given the circumstances, I occasionally found myself thinking about how to get revenge on Sabina while working on the design.

‘I would need a lot of money and power to take revenge on the princess. That’s probably why Yujin suggested we just get married.’

I rolled the colored pencil between my fingers and sighed.

‘Yujin is a kind person, but that’s why I don’t want to impose on him.’

Because of that, he kept offering help, and I kept refusing, creating a repetitive situation.

‘Should I apologize separately?’

But isn’t it a bit funny to apologize for not accepting help?

‘Ah! Whatever, whatever.’

I ruffled my hair roughly. This was all Sabina’s fault. If she hadn’t done anything wrong in the first place, I wouldn’t have to worry about this.

‘Still, I felt much better after confiding in Yuri.’

Thinking of Yuri warmed my heart again. Even though no one was around and nothing was happening, I chuckled to myself.

‘Is this how Rosie feels getting married?’

Their marriage was even more exciting, considering it was a shotgun wedding.

‘I’m still skeptical about marriage… but I hope Rosie is happy.’

Thinking about love made my blocked design ideas flow smoothly again. I moved the colored pencils swiftly.

Yuri came downstairs just as the design was nearly complete.

“Titi, I’m going to buy groceries. Want to come with me?”

“Oh, today I’d like to stay. I want to finish this.”

Yuri peeked over my shoulder to look at the design.

“Is it a new product?”

“No, it’s a wedding gift for Rosemary.”

But after hearing Yuri’s words, I thought it might work well as a new product too.

‘The biggest advantage of dried flowers is that they don’t wilt, making them suitable for floral crowns or wall decorations.’

Should I seriously consider this direction? As I rested my chin on my hand and looked at the sketchbook, Yuri continued in his cheerful tone.

“Oh, you’re talking about Lady Morphe and His Highness’s royal wedding. The Magic Tower is abuzz about it too.”

“Why is the Magic Tower involved?”

“Lady Morphe is carrying a royal heir. Naturally, the heir will receive the mage’s blessing.”

That statement made me lift my head.

“The mage’s blessing? Like in fairy tales?”

When a royal heir is expected, the royal family holds three banquets.

The first is when the baby is conceived, the second when the baby is born, and the third when the baby turns one hundred days old.

‘This time, they’re probably holding the first banquet alongside the royal wedding.’

At the first banquet, which wishes for the healthy birth of the baby, invited mages bestow one blessing each.

The princess will become the most beautiful lady in the world.

The prince will be wise.

Of course, it’s not a common occurrence. Even when I lived as a marchioness, I never witnessed it.

“Are they doing that at this wedding?”

Unlike my excitement, Yuri responded in a nonchalant tone, as if discussing the breakfast menu.

“Yes. So, an invitation was sent requesting a very famous and excellent mage.”

“The best mages from the Magic Tower will go, right?”

“The criteria for excellence vary from person to person… but yes, I suppose.”

Imagining a splendidly dressed mage bestowing blessings made my heart flutter with anticipation.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing which mage will give the blessing.”

“……”