EMST 04

chapter 04

“There is… but why are you asking all of a sudden?”

Why? What do you mean why?
It sounded like he was suspicious of some hidden intention, which irritated me for no reason. I replied bluntly.

“I got this building deed from a pink-haired mage. I’ve confirmed you’re not that mage, so I was wondering if you might know him.”

“Hah….”

Yuri made a strange sound, then waved his hand lazily with a meaningless smile.

“That’s even more hopeless. Yujin has nothing to do with magic.”

Yujin—that must be the name of the pink-haired man who looked like Yuri.

Then who is the Master?

Losing my only clue again, I frowned. But I didn’t dwell on it for long. I would probably find out naturally while staying in this building anyway.

If I’m going to stay here, it’s actually better that this guy is unemployed.

I clenched my fist. My voice became determined.

“Let’s make a deal.”

“A deal? What kind of deal?”

“You clearly don’t intend to give me the building. But I just arrived in the capital and this deed is all I have. So let’s negotiate.”

I held out my palm.

“Just five years. Let me rent this building for five years. I’ll pay you more than its actual price in rent.”

The reason I chose five years was simple—that was the moment I had returned in time.

By then, everything will make sense.

Why the Master told me to come here. Why he gave me such a miracle twice.

So I just need to buy time.

Yuri looked at me with interest.

“Hm, are you bad at calculations? This sounds like a very disadvantageous contract for you.”

“That’s why I’m offering it. You wouldn’t accept it if it benefited me too much.”

“What exactly are you planning to do to make money?”

His expression said he was curious what some country bumpkin girl could possibly be confident about. I answered proudly.

“I’m going to open a flower shop here.”

“A flower shop?”

Yuri frowned.

“Why a flower shop? Flowers are everywhere in fields. Why open a store for them? Nobles and rich people just pick them from their gardens anyway.”

“That’s true. You seem to know the noble lifestyle better than I expected.”

“But then why…?”

Yuri tilted his head, unable to understand. I smiled without answering.

He was right—at least for someone who didn’t know the future.

But I do know the future.

I didn’t choose flowers randomly.

From now until five years later, the empire would reach its golden age.

War reparations, taxes from unified territories—the empire becomes the richest it has ever been.

Money would overflow, and luxury goods—not necessities—would bring the highest profits. Naturally, people would want to show off their wealth.

And when that happens…

Anything in abundance gains artificial value and absurd prices.

In this empire, that would be flowers.

Soon there will be a flower price boom. Especially bulbs like tulips and daffodils will skyrocket.

I already knew how ridiculous the prices would become.

I just need to grow flowers and sell them when the prices peak.

In the end, I wasn’t growing flowers—I was growing money.

I nodded to my perfect life plan.

Then my gaze caught the light pink hair again—the handsome young man who had lost his magic and given up on life.

Since he doesn’t know anything about the deed, I should keep him nearby and observe him.

After quickly organizing my thoughts, I clenched my fist.

“Then if you don’t trust me, why don’t you join me in running the flower shop?”

“…What?”

Yuri looked stunned. I shrugged.

“If you don’t trust me, you should watch me closely. That’s basic logic. You can observe how I make money while working together. I’ll also pay rent properly.”

“Hey.”

“If you’re worried it’s unfair, then you should’ve said so earlier.”

“……”

“Then I’ll take that as agreement.”

I quickly finished before he could argue and stood up, rolling up my sleeves.

The building clearly hadn’t been maintained for a long time. If I wanted to open a shop, I had to clean it first.

“I’ll use the second floor. The first floor will be the flower shop. First, we need to clean all this mess….”

As I looked around for trash bags, Yuri stepped in front of me, narrowing his eyes.

“What exactly are you planning?”

“Planning? That’s a hurtful way to put it. I just want to help you.”

Yuri’s eyes narrowed further.

Of course he’s suspicious.

Honestly, it wasn’t entirely pure intention.

I can’t run this alone anyway. He says he’s not the Master, but he might have lost his memories. It’s better to keep him close.

And a flower shop and a handsome man go well together. Imagining Yuri holding a bouquet already felt picturesque.

Perfect. A face born for a flower shop.

Why not let me take care of your life, since you’ve already given up on it?

But Yuri didn’t seem convinced.

“I don’t understand why someone who came to take my building suddenly says they want to help me.”

Then he leaned in suddenly, bringing his face right up to mine.

“What, did you fall for me?”

His face was so close our noses almost touched. I quickly crossed my arms in an X and backed away.

“…Why are you making that kind of gesture?”

“Don’t come closer.”

“Huh?”

Yuri looked even more absurdly offended.

This posture wasn’t just to protect me—it was also to protect him!

I replied firmly.

“To be clear, I might feel human affection for you, but I will never feel romantic interest. I’ve decided not to have foolish feelings like love in this life. If I go crazy again, what then?”

“Crazy? What are you talking about?”

“Marriage.”

If I marry again, I’m not human.

Two foolish decisions in a lifetime are enough.

Yuri laughed loudly at my answer.

“I think the same way. I don’t plan on getting married either.”

“I trust you’ll keep that promise.”

This time, Yuri made a strange expression, but it didn’t last long.

“Well, the deed does seem genuine. If I refuse your proposal, we’ll probably end up in court over this building anyway….”

With a refreshed smile, he extended his hand.

“Let’s get along for five years, Miss Titiana.”

I pouted slightly, then slowly shook his hand.

But—

“Huh?!”

Instead of a normal handshake, he flipped my hand, bent down, and kissed the back of it.

Isn’t he the one with hidden intentions?

He’s been way too bold from the start.

I pulled my hand back quickly.

“Yes, let’s get along—but leave out the overly intimate physical contact!”

✦ ✦ ✦

What a strange woman.

After Titiana finished cleaning the first and second floors, she attempted to clean Yuri’s room on the third floor. But Yuri politely refused, citing privacy. She backed off obediently.

Instead, she demanded to inspect it after he finished.

Cleaning like this is just a snap of the fingers.

Yuri snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the messy items rearranged themselves neatly, and the trash disappeared.

What he told Titiana had only been half the truth.

Yuri really was a mage—as she suspected. A powerful mage who should never have lost his power.

But how did that woman know I was a mage when we just met?

Well, it wasn’t exactly a tightly guarded secret.

His full name was Yuri Esrence, the second son of the Esrence Count family.

It was already widely known in society that the second son of House Esrence was a great mage.

However, since he had become a mage at a young age and rarely appeared in public, very few people had ever seen his face.

If you want, I can continue Episodes 5+ or summarize the story so far.