The heart of the district was in the midst of a grand festival.
As I stepped out at the entrance of the square, so densely packed with people that no more vehicles could pass through, my aide supported me as we made our way toward the mansion in the distance.
The sea of people filling the square all had hair dyed a deep red, the color symbolizing the Shining family. Even the smoke rising high into the sky burned crimson, like blood.
‘It’s dizzying.’
The sight of this cold world bathed in red was breathtakingly beautiful, yet at the same time, deeply unsettling. The overwhelming hue of blood filled my vision, making it feel as though my entire body was being swallowed by it.
“This is strange. The inauguration should have already ended.”
My aide glanced around, his expression wary. The week designated for the ceremony had long passed, yet the people still remained, waiting for the next district leader of the Shining family.
As we finally managed to push through the square and draw closer to the mansion, something obstructed the entrance. I lifted my head to see what it was, only for my aide to suddenly grip my hand and turn me away.
“There was something there…”
“You must have seen wrong.”
His voice was firm, cutting me off without hesitation, but his trembling gaze betrayed him. Sensing that something was indeed there, I attempted to turn back, but my aide, still holding onto me, pulled me roughly toward him.
“Please, this way first.”
“Wait a moment—”
Just as I hesitated, his grip tightened as he tried to lead me away from the chaotic square. Struggling against his pull, I managed to glance back—and that was when I saw it.
A long, spear-like structure, with something red impaled on its tip.
‘What… is that?’
The faces of those watching it had gone deathly pale.
I wanted to take a closer look, but before I could, my aide yanked me forward, forcing it out of my sight completely.
It was only after we had escaped the thick of the crowd and reached a quieter street that he finally loosened his grip. He carefully lowered me onto a bench by the roadside and spoke.
“I need to confirm whether it’s safe to proceed to the mansion. Please wait here for a moment.”
“Nothing’s wrong, is it?”
I grabbed my aide’s arm before he could turn away and asked. He reassured me with a calm smile, telling me everything was fine before promising to return shortly and disappearing into the distance.
Despite his words, unease gnawed at me. But with my body unable to walk for long on its own, all I could do was sit here and wait for him. The mansion, now further away, was all I could see, and the helplessness was suffocating.
‘Nothing will happen.’
Whenever fear threatened to rise, I reminded myself—he was none other than Vincent Shining. That thought alone was enough to steady my racing heart.
Taking a deep breath, I placed a hand over my left chest. Though faint, I could still feel the connection between us. The mark that bound us together remained unbroken.
‘There’s too much I haven’t said.’
There were too many conversations I had put off with meaningless excuses. I never told him about the mark. I delayed my answer to his clumsy proposal. I had never even truly voiced my feelings to him.
Lifting my gaze, I looked at the mansion beneath the moonlit sky. I knew I was supposed to wait for my aide to return, but the urgency in my heart made it unbearable to simply sit here and let time slip away.
“I should go.”
Though my body still felt weak, perhaps because I was drawing closer to him, I felt lighter than before. This much—I could manage on my own.
After a deep breath, I started making my way toward the mansion. But before I could get far, my aide came rushing back, grabbing onto me, breathless and pale-faced.
“Where are you going?!” he yelled.
“To the mansion…”
“I told you—”
He let out a heavy sigh, swallowing the rest of his words. Then, firmly holding onto me, he guided me back to where I had been sitting.
I had used up my strength to get this far, only to be dragged back to the same place. The mansion was still far away.
“Um…”
I called out hesitantly, seeing the grim look on my aide’s face. I hadn’t even asked my question yet, but he, perceptive as always, quickly caught on to what I was wondering.
“It’s not safe to go to the mansion right now.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
He avoided my gaze, biting back his words. My suppressed anxiety began to rise again.
“Why can’t I go?”
“Vincent-nim isn’t there.”
My mind reeled at his words. He had gone to the mansion—so why was he not there? Had we missed each other, and he had already moved toward the border? My confusion must have shown, because my aide spoke carefully, trying to steady me.
“Please, stay here for a little while.”
“But…”
“He’ll probably be here soon.”
Leaving behind those cryptic words, my aide hurried off as if escaping from me. I could only stomp my feet in frustration as I watched his figure disappear. Just then, a familiar scent brushed past the tip of my nose.
“This is…”
The wind was blowing from the opposite direction of the mansion, carrying its scent from the distant hill. Rising from my seat, I took careful steps, following the warmth of the breeze infused with that familiar fragrance.
The scent, reminiscent of flowers longing endlessly for the moon, grew stronger as I climbed the hill. It might have been a trick of the wildflowers blooming there, but for some reason, I couldn’t stop myself from moving forward.
‘Just a little farther.’
My steps were painfully slow, but I refused to give up, using my hands to steady myself on the ground as I pushed upward. My legs trembled, my body drenched in sweat, yet I kept moving, driven by the scent growing ever closer.
At last, I reached the hilltop overlooking the village still alive with festival lights. A massive tree stood tall at the summit, its roots firmly gripping the earth. Each time the cool wind swept through, the grass swayed like rippling waves.
‘This place…’
It was where I had once come with him—where we had parted ways, forced to endure years of separation. A place scarred by that farewell, yet it was his scent that had called me back.
Hesitant, I took a step toward the towering tree. The soft rustle of grass beneath my feet accompanied my movements. Maybe it was just my imagination, but my body felt lighter than before. Walking no longer seemed as difficult.
Beneath the vast tree, a familiar figure came into view. As I drew closer, the flames of red in his hair flickered like fire, brighter than the crimson sky.
“…What are you doing here?”
I hesitated, still unsure what to call him. In the end, I changed the question instead. He slowly opened his drowsy eyes and lifted his head to look at me. A delicate smile spread across his lips.
“Seo-yul hyung.”
His voice, tinged with lazy warmth, called my name. Shifting slightly, he patted the soft ground beside him. I cautiously sat down next to him, leaning against the massive tree trunk. It was cold and unyielding.
“Why are you here?”
There were countless questions I wanted to ask—what had happened at the mansion, why he needed to be there in the first place—but instead, I asked the one that weighed on me most. Why hadn’t he come straight to me? Why had he chosen to be here instead?
He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched between us, thick and unbroken. Just as I was about to ask again, he leaned in, resting his head on my shoulder. His hair, fragrant with the scent of flowers, tickled my cheek.
“…I just wanted to rest a little.”
“Somewhere I couldn’t see you?”
“Yeah. Because in front of you, Seo-yul hyung, I always have to look my best.”
He let out a faint, weary laugh. Slowly, his hand reached for mine, and our fingers intertwined naturally. His skin was cold, but as our hands stayed clasped together, the warmth between us soon became the same.
“I was going to leave soon.”
“And when exactly is ‘soon’?”
“Just a little more… I was going to leave once I felt better. But this time, you came to me first, Seo-yul hyung.”
He murmured softly, sounding almost content. Then, as if savoring the moment, he gently nuzzled against my shoulder before pressing a light kiss to my skin.
I flinched, my shoulder instinctively jerking. Forcing myself to stay composed, I spoke in as neutral a tone as possible.
“You were taking too long.”
“Was I?”
“It’s been almost a month.”
“Oh… has it been that long? I’m sorry.”
With that quick apology, the conversation faded into silence once more. The crimson smoke that had stained the sky was beginning to settle, but the festival in the square below remained as lively as ever.
He listened quietly to the distant noise, then slowly lifted himself off my shoulder. When I turned to look at him, I was met with bright red eyes curving into a delicate smile.
“Will you call my name?”
“What?”
“Hmm… I mean, I’m not a Shining anymore, so you can call me however you want. I can be anything now. Maybe it’s time for a new name altogether.”
His voice carried a teasing lilt, but his gaze told a different story. He wasn’t being honest—he was deflecting, pretending to joke because he was afraid I would refuse him again.
It hurt to see that hesitation in his eyes.
“I…”
“……”
“Can I… call you by that name again?”
At those words, his entire face lit up. He nodded eagerly, unable to hide his excitement. The anticipation in his eyes, so poorly concealed, shimmered brighter than the moon hanging in the sky.
