The “Day of the District” was a grand festival commemorating the founding of District 1, coinciding with the beginning of humanity’s lunar calendar. During this time, all the gates that separated the boundaries were flung open, allowing visitors from other districts to flood the streets.
The chime of a clear bell signaled the festival’s start, and crimson smoke filled the sky. Since there was no darkness in District 1, they sent up smoke instead of fireworks, turning the sky a deep red.
‘Just like that time.’
The day Vin was sent away, the village festival in District 1 had been in full swing. I could still remember struggling up the hill, gazing at the red smoke rising into the sky.
Lost in nostalgia as I watched the crimson-stained scenery, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. When I turned around, he stood there, dressed in a formal uniform for a change, smiling faintly at me.
“What were you looking at?”
“Just the sky….”
Before my murmured response had even ended, he followed my gaze beyond me, taking in the smoke dyeing the once-blue sky red. The slight smile lingering on his lips gradually faded.
‘He must be thinking the same thing.’
We didn’t need to ask. We both knew. As we looked at the red-stained sky, we were both remembering that day—the day we were forced apart for so long.
Knock, knock.
The sudden sound of someone knocking snapped us out of our thoughts. We turned simultaneously to see a figure peeking in through the slightly open door—it was his aide, looking for him.
His expression hardened into a cold mask as he strode toward the aide. While they spoke by the door, I turned away and settled by the window frame, gazing out at the mansion’s garden.
“Seo-yul hyung.”
After dismissing the aide, he called out to me. When I didn’t respond, he stepped closer, pulling something from his pocket and handing it to me. It was the same kind of mansion permit that Choi Yeo-min had.
“…Why are you giving me this?”
“During the festival, security will be tight. You’ll need this permit to move around the mansion.”
I was about to scoff—what was the point when the only places I could go were this bedroom or the small garden? But then, I recalled something Choi Yeo-min had once insisted upon.
—If Vincent gives you a mansion permit, you must accept it.
At the time, I’d laughed it off, saying there was no way he would ever give me something like that. But now, the situation was different. Apparently, even stepping into the garden right in front of me required this.
Composing my expression, I took the permit he handed me. Afraid he might notice the uneasy churning in my stomach under his steady gaze, I quickly turned toward the window.
“For the time being, I’ll probably be busy. But if you ever call for me, I’ll come right away—”
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door again, cutting him off. Through the slightly open doorway, his aide peeked in and cautiously spoke.
“Vincent-nim, it’s time to go.”
He let out a deep sigh, dismissing the aide with a curt acknowledgment. Only then, after calming myself, did I step away from the window and slip the permit into my pocket.
My palms were slick with sweat from the tension. Keeping my expression composed, I discreetly hid my hands behind my back and wiped them against my clothes so he wouldn’t see.
“Take care.”
I only said it to get him to leave quickly, but his eyes wavered as if he had taken it differently. Then, a soft smile spread across his pale face.
“Yes, I’ll be back.”
***
After parting ways, he stepped outside, where his aide, who had been waiting, urged him to hurry. With an irritated sigh, he followed behind.
Now that the “Day of the District” had officially begun, the next few days would be packed with responsibilities. From welcoming guests to overseeing the entire mansion, nearly everything fell on him.
The other Shining family members would be helping as well, though aside from Ina Shining, he wasn’t sure how useful the rest of them would actually be. Especially Joshua—if he could just stay out of the way, that would be enough.
“Is the leader of District 5 coming?”
“He was on the guest list, but I can’t say for sure.”
If Han Jae-hoon came, there was a high chance Han Se-yul would come with him. According to recent reports, his body had nearly recovered. No doubt he would take this opportunity to visit Seo-yul.
Before those two could cause a commotion in the mansion, he had to make sure they saw Seo-yul was safe. He had to comfort Seo-yul as well. There wasn’t much else he could do.
‘I wish Seo-yul would just forget everything.’
It was selfish, but he wished Seo-yul would erase everything and only remember him. To Seo-yul, who had so many precious things, he felt like he had been pushed further and further away.
What was the point of keeping him here if he didn’t even have his heart?
Of course, he knew that everything spiraling into disaster was entirely his fault. But if he hadn’t done it, Seo-yul would never have stayed by his side. He would still be in District 5.
—If it’s us, we can give Vincent-nim exactly what he desires.
He had already told the Apostle what he truly wanted. A person’s heart. Even to himself, it was such a ridiculous request, but the Apostle had readily agreed.
Well, considering their religion was said to have converted over half the population of all districts, maybe they really did know how to manipulate people’s hearts.
All they wanted was the life of a district leader. And all he wanted was Seo-yul’s heart.
He knew he was beyond saving—trading someone’s life for Seo-yul’s love. But at this point, he had reached his limit.
He had long since accepted that there was no going back. The sweet, delicate boy Seo-yul once remembered had disappeared ages ago, leaving behind nothing but the bloodstained Shining that remained.
Seo-yul would never be able to accept what he had become. But even in death—or beyond it—he would never let Seo-yul go. That left him with no choice but to find another way.
“Vincent.”
As he passed by the banquet hall, Ina Shining called out to him cheerfully from a distance. Pulled from his deep thoughts, he glanced at her briefly before continuing forward.
“Would it kill you to at least acknowledge me?”
“……”
“Yeah, I was stupid to expect a greeting from you.”
Ina grumbled, sticking close by his side. Instead of answering, he let out a heavy sigh and kept his gaze fixed ahead. They might have agreed to cooperate, but that didn’t mean he had any interest in making small talk with Ina Shining.
“That thing you left in my care…”
She lowered her voice, making sure the aide walking ahead of them wouldn’t overhear. Only then did his expression shift slightly. His once-impassive gaze turned to her.
“They said it woke up yesterday—”
“No, it was even earlier than that.”
“Huh?”
“I already met with it.”
He had left the Apostle beaten to a bloody pulp and ordered them to keep it alive no matter what. Yet not only had it snuck into his district behind his back, but it had also already woken up and met with someone before he even knew.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that the Apostle had woken up?”
“Me?”
“Yes. I clearly told you to inform me the moment it regained consciousness—”
“When did you ever say that?”
Ina raised her voice incredulously. The aide in front of them must have sensed the tension because he subtly glanced back.
Ina quickly masked her expression, pretending as if nothing had happened. Once the aide looked away again, she lowered her voice and asked in a much smaller tone.
“When exactly did you tell me that?”
“I remember distinctly passing the message to you through my attendant.”
“Hey, I’ve never even met your attendant.”
Only then did he realize—the so-called second Apostle of “Night,” the one posing as his attendant, had never relayed his words. If the Apostle hadn’t come looking for him directly after waking up, he might have been the last to hear the news.
—”I am Choi Yeo-min, the second Apostle of ‘Night.'”
That’s what he had said. If he had more time, he would have assigned a different attendant to watch over Seo-yul. But among those serving in the mansion, he was the only one from District 5. Now, he wondered if even that had been intentional.
“I didn’t keep it from you on purpose, alright? Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Fine, I get it, just—drop it.”
Caught up in their back-and-forth, they arrived at the mansion’s entrance before he even realized it. The other Shining members had already gathered, taking their positions.
For a brief moment, every gaze turned to him.
Some held resentment and jealousy, some were indifferent, and others looked on with barely concealed intrigue. Ignoring the mix of emotions directed his way, he stepped forward and stood closest to the grand entrance.
“The gates will now open.”
The tightly sealed doors of the secluded mansion swung wide open.
