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Chapter 9
‘That woman was like that even back then. Excessive self-love, possessiveness.’
I clenched my fist tightly.
‘Because the Blue Rose became far more famous than expected…’
I never thought she would come looking for me herself. With her proud personality, I assumed that even if she became interested in the Blue Rose, she would send a subordinate to speak on her behalf. This was beyond expectations.
Princess Sabina, who had been idly interacting with her maid, raised her chin gracefully as if showing mercy and spoke in a refined tone.
“If you want forgiveness, give me all the Blue Roses you will sell tomorrow. I intend to use them for tomorrow’s tea party. That’s not a bad deal for you, is it?”
…Pardon?
Where exactly is this not a bad deal?
She wasn’t even offering to buy the flowers—she was telling me to hand them over. And barging in suddenly while talking about manners was absurd.
‘There’s even a “Closed” sign, and she just walks in anyway. What a ridiculous woman.’
I swallowed the urge to shout that I had nothing to sell and replied in a firm voice.
“That won’t be possible.”
“What did you say?”
The maid’s eyes shot up sharply. Sabina’s smile also faded.
I answered calmly and clearly.
“All the roses for tomorrow have already been sold. Even if Your Highness offers payment, there is nothing left to give you. Please leave.”
“Hah.”
The maid scoffed in disbelief and sneered.
“Who would want anything from a shabby little shop like this? If not for the Blue Roses, I wouldn’t even step into this filthy—”
“Then you may simply leave. I don’t know why you’re wasting your time here.”
“Roses! Give me the roses!”
“I already said they’re sold out.”
“How long does it take to make one flower? If Her Highness needs them, make them right now!”
“If it’s that easy, you should try making them yourself.”
“Hah.”
As I calmly shot back without yielding, the maid’s face turned bright red.
As the standoff grew longer, Sabina stepped forward.
“You’re making a mistake. I am Princess Sabina. Do you understand what that means?”
Her cold gaze matched her sharp tone. This must be her true nature.
“It means there is no one in this country who can drive me out like this.”
At that moment, a bright voice rang out from behind me like vitamin water.
“Do you really think so? I think there might be at least one person here who can.”
We all turned at once.
Yuri stood on the stairs holding a tray with lunch on it, pausing mid-step. When his eyes met mine, he smiled and waved casually.
“I’m back. Did I keep you waiting?”
I blinked in confusion.
‘Hey! Now is not the time to be smiling so brightly!’
Do you even know who is standing here?
If I suffer consequences for being rude, that’s on me—but Yuri getting caught in the crossfire was unacceptable.
I quickly waved my hands, signaling him to go back. But Yuri didn’t retreat. And then something unexpected happened.
“…Yuri?”
Princess Sabina spoke his name.
‘They know each other?’
I widened my eyes and looked back and forth between them.
Yuri simply smiled and walked over, placing the tray down beside me, ignoring Sabina’s stunned expression.
Sabina spoke first again.
“Yuri? Is that really you? Why are you here?”
Yuri replied lazily.
“Where I am is none of your concern.”
The maid snapped at his disrespectful tone.
“Do you know who you’re speaking to—!”
But Sabina raised her hand to stop her.
“Quiet.”
“Your Highness?”
The maid blinked in confusion, but Sabina ignored her and focused entirely on Yuri. Her cold expression from before had completely vanished, replaced with something almost fragile.
“I looked everywhere for you, and suddenly you’re here. That’s why I asked. What are you doing here? And this woman is…”
Her gaze briefly turned sharp as it passed over me, making me flinch.
“…Who is she?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Yuri!”
Whether he understood she was a princess or simply didn’t care, Yuri smiled and dismissed her.
“We’re having lunch. Can’t you see the ‘Closed’ sign? Go back.”
When had Princess Sabina ever been treated like this?
By her usual temperament, she should have exploded in rage—but instead of anger, she clung to Yuri.
“If you talk to me, I’ll leave.”
“….”
Yuri sighed, brushing his hair back.
“I’ll talk to her for a moment.”
“Ah?”
I blinked blankly as Yuri walked out first.
Still frozen in confusion, I suddenly felt Sabina’s sharp glare lock onto me as she followed him out.
‘Hic.’
I had no idea how many times I had received that look already. If looks could kill, I would’ve been shredded by now.
Whatever it was, I could tell she held a deep grudge against me. Then she left with her maid.
“Phew.”
Only then did I realize I was sweating. I wiped my damp palms on my clothes and quickly locked the shop door.
Even if the emperor’s most beloved princess demanded entry, a lock like this wouldn’t stop her—but it still gave me peace of mind.
I sat down somewhere out of sight of the glass door, in case she returned, and sighed.
‘Ugh, my mood is ruined.’
Just meeting Princess Sabina made me feel miserable, like the day I went to file my divorce papers.
What? Give her all my Blue Roses just for forgiveness?
‘Same as always. Just like when she took my ex-husband.’
That arrogant expression that said she must possess whatever she wanted—like everyone else’s misery didn’t matter if she got her happiness.
Because she was that kind of person, I truly didn’t want to meet her again.
‘I thought I wouldn’t run into her this life either… what is this?’
I never imagined she would show up as soon as my shop became famous.
‘What if she keeps coming back?’
I buried my head between my knees. My head throbbed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Outside the shop, Yuri’s expression as he walked with Sabina had turned colder than ice.
Even the maid flinched at his obvious rejection. But Sabina ignored it and pressed him.
“Yuri, why are you here? Who is that woman?”
“Why do you care?”
Yuri’s cold voice made it clear he didn’t understand her question at all.
Sabina, however, replied with a pitiful expression.
“I’m sorry if I upset you. I’m just worried about you.”
“…Hah.”
Yuri brushed his hair back in irritation.
He had followed her out to avoid making things harder for Titianna, but facing Sabina only made him more annoyed.
‘Not that I expected her to change… but seeing her still like this is infuriating.’
Yuri had little interest in people. Since childhood, he had always been surrounded by others, and that constant presence had ironically erased his interest in humanity.
Even animals didn’t interest him. There was a time he preferred animals over humans, but people kept forcing them on him, and he quickly lost interest.
In short, Yuri didn’t care about people or animals and rarely felt emotions.
Yet the only person he genuinely disliked was Sabina.
She had treated him like something she owned since long ago. When he finally snapped, she would play the victim and paint him as the villain. After years of that, he naturally came to despise her.
Sabina, thinking his silence meant he was listening, continued.
“Are you staying with that woman because you want something from her? Tell me what it is—I’ll get it for you instead. So don’t do anything you don’t want to…”
Yuri cut her off coldly.
“Doesn’t it feel pathetic even saying that? Making up excuses as you go?”
“What did you say!”
Sabina’s cheeks flushed red.
“Why are you here playing at being a commoner when you are the great mage who ignored the emperor’s orders and abandoned the Mage Tower? Don’t tell me you’re doing all this for no reason?”
“Because I want to be here.”
“Yuri!”
“Stop talking. And leave quietly. Remember this—no one can control me.”
He added one more line clearly.
“Ah, and even if someone could, it wouldn’t be you. So don’t ever appear in front of me again.”
