He searched the entire district to find the color closest to the flames. Of course, it wasn’t enough to make him a perfect Shining, but as long as he kept his distance from the people in the banquet hall, it was vivid enough to deceive them.
The reflection in the mirror was unmistakably “Joshua Shining.” Though he couldn’t change his eye color, his hair was radiant—undeniably, dazzlingly Shining.
Jeremy raised his hand as if entranced, running his fingers through his hair. His eyes gleamed brightly. If his own color had been this deep, would he have looked like this?
If he had been born this way… would he have been able to not hate his color? Maybe his mother, maybe Joshua, or even his father might have looked at him differently.
“If your hair gets wet, the color may run, so you must be careful at all times.”
At the hairdresser’s words, Jeremy nodded slowly. There was no reason for him to be drenched enough for the dye to wash out at the banquet hall, so there was nothing to worry about.
After dyeing his hair, he donned the white uniform that only a district leader could wear, with the help of the attendants. The stark white uniform, cold like the moonlight that shone upon humanity from the sky, made the red stand out even more.
“It’s time to leave now.”
At the aide’s words, Jeremy tore his gaze away from the mirror. Before heading to the banquet hall, he placed a hand over his pounding chest.
For tonight, he had to become the perfect Joshua Shining. One day, when time passed and even Joshua was dealt with, he would be the only Shining left in District 1. But that day wasn’t today.
“I need to see Joshua.”
Jeremy hurriedly left the room and headed straight for Joshua instead of the banquet hall. Even as the aides reminded him that people were waiting, he ignored them and ran.
Entering the heavily guarded room, Jeremy arrived just as the attendants were dressing Joshua. He stepped forward and drove out everyone in the room.
“Jeremy, there’s no time.”
“I know. Just leave.”
Even the troubled-looking aide had no choice but to leave, and soon, Jeremy was alone with Joshua.
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
“Joshua, do you see this? Doesn’t it suit me well?”
Like a child eager to show off new clothes, Jeremy spun around in front of Joshua. But Joshua’s unfocused eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
“Joshua, look at me.”
Jeremy forcibly grabbed Joshua’s chin, making him face him, but his faded eyes held no light. That enraged Jeremy.
Joshua—no, their mother—had to see this. They had to witness him, shining more brilliantly than anyone else. They had to feel something when they saw him like this.
“I will become the most noble Shining. The Shining you couldn’t even be. So you… you shouldn’t have done that to me.”
Even as he tried to swallow down the surge of emotions, it wasn’t easy. If his mother—if Joshua had loved him without him needing to dye his hair, he wouldn’t have gone this far. He wouldn’t have had to destroy his own brother with his own hands.
Jeremy barely managed to suppress his anger and let go of Joshua’s chin as if shaking off something dirty. Then, he finished dressing Joshua himself, carefully smoothing out the clothes the attendants had fled before finishing.
His own reflection—hair dyed red, clad in a pristine white uniform—stood in stark contrast to Joshua, lying helplessly on the bed, unable even to dress himself.
Whatever had been before, this was the reality now.
“I wanted to make today your day, let you be the protagonist just this once. But that won’t happen anymore, will it? I’ve taken even this day from you.”
After tucking the blanket around Joshua with meticulous care, Jeremy gently ran his fingers through his brother’s hair. No matter how vividly the dye mimicked reality, it could never truly compare. But for today, it was enough to deceive the world.
“I’ll be going, Joshua.”
Leaving behind those final words for his only brother, Jeremy quietly stepped out of the silent room.
The aide who had been anxiously pacing outside brightened when Jeremy finally emerged.
“It’s time to go.”
Jeremy took the lead, and the aide and the guards followed closely behind. The security around Joshua had been cut in half, but there was no choice—some of the guards had to be allocated to the banquet hall.
The closer they got to the banquet, the more uncontrollable his heartbeat became. Thump, thump, thump. His heart pounded as if it might burst through his ribcage.
“Lord Joshua, we are arriving shortly.”
At the aide’s words, Jeremy saw the light at the end of the hallway. The glow that had once seemed so distant was now within reach.
The moment he stepped into the light, the banquet hall—the grandest space in the estate—unfolded before him.
The sweet melody ceased, and all eyes turned toward Jeremy as he entered. Their gazes, their breaths—every presence in the room was focused solely on him.
All he had done was change his hair color, and yet, the entire hall was entranced by him. Of course, they believed him to be Joshua.
His heart pounded with exhilaration. He had never known how intoxicating it felt to be the center of attention, to have everyone looking only at him. A radiant, childlike smile spread across Jeremy’s face.
“Lord Joshua.”
The aide’s voice called out a name that was not his own, causing a slight delay in Jeremy’s response. The aide approached carefully and called him again. This time, Jeremy reacted.
“You must proceed with the declaration ceremony immediately.”
At those words, Jeremy lowered the hand he had been waving to the crowd. Steeling himself, he wiped the lingering smile from his lips.
This wasn’t the time to be caught up in the excitement. He had to get through the declaration ceremony quickly and leave—before anyone realized he wasn’t Joshua.
At this distance, his eye color wasn’t visible, but if anyone got too close, they would realize in an instant that he wasn’t Joshua.
“Let’s proceed quickly.”
At Jeremy’s command, the aide nodded and stepped forward. The music that had been filling the banquet hall ceased, and the dazzling lights illuminating the room dimmed.
Moonlight streamed through the glass ceiling, pouring down on Jeremy’s head, its glow washing over his deceitful disguise. The brilliant, flame-like color mesmerized the crowd, leaving them in awe.
“I sincerely thank everyone gathered here today.”
He had always watched from the shadows, peering in from the corners where no light reached. And now, he stood at the highest place, the very spot he had longed for. A place he had admired but had never dared to dream of. Because his color had been too faint.
But now, standing here was none other than Jeremy Shining. The same Jeremy who had been ignored and scorned—even by his own brother—for his weak color. And yet, now, he was the last remaining Shining of District 1.
If Mother could see me now…
He swallowed back the overwhelming emotions that threatened to rise and lifted his gaze to the cold moonlight shining upon him.
Now, the moon of humanity, this light, this mansion, this district—they all belonged to him.
Not to anyone else. But to Jeremy Shining—
CRASH!
A deafening shatter ripped through the air, violently tearing apart the moment of glory.
Jeremy’s eyes snapped open. He turned his gaze toward the source of the sound, and the entire hall followed suit.
The only light in this room had been the one illuminating Jeremy from above. That was why, in the darkness beyond the banquet hall, he couldn’t make out the face of the figure approaching.
“Jeremy Shining.”
A voice called his name—familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
The people parted to make way as the figure strode forward and tossed something at Jeremy’s feet.
It was the very thing he wanted to keep hidden. The one person who should never have appeared here.
His brother.
“Lord Joshua?”
Someone near the front called out in shock.
And in that instant, murmurs exploded throughout the hall.
Two Joshuas—one standing before them, and one lying limp on the floor.
Which one was real?
“Turn on the lights.”
At the stranger’s command, the banquet hall was flooded with light.
No longer was moonlight the only illumination.
And now, for all to see, there were two figures—Joshua and Jeremy—clearly exposed.
Who…?
Jeremy’s frantic gaze searched for the one who had brought Joshua here.
And standing before his collapsed brother was someone he knew all too well.
The only one who had slipped through the cracks during the Shining purge.
“It’s been a while, Jeremy.”
Ina waved casually and greeted him.
