The guards, shaken by the ruthless threat, started hesitating, passing the responsibility of answering onto one another. They nudged each other in the ribs and exchanged glances before one finally stepped forward, pale as a sheet.
“T-That is… well…”
“Speak clearly so I can understand.”
His patience, already thin, wore out in an instant. The guard, avoiding his increasingly menacing gaze, swallowed hard before continuing.
“The district leader sent his aide to escort the guest inside. So we… we only followed orders and cleared the way…”
Among the guard’s wavering words, only one thing stood out—district leader. That meant that during the entire time Seo-yul had been away dealing with the district’s affairs, the guards had simply stood by and watched.
Unable to contain his fury, he grabbed the guard by the throat. The man’s body lifted off the ground, limbs flailing in desperation.
“Did I not put you here to protect this place? And yet, not once, but three times, you’ve failed to stop unwelcome guests. Tell me, why should I trust incompetents like you?”
“I-I’m s-sorry—”
He flung the struggling guard aside and strode toward the others, who had been keeping their mouths shut as if this had nothing to do with them.
The moment he drew his gun and aimed it at their heads, the remaining guards, who had felt relieved that someone else was taking the fall, suddenly scrambled to voice their belated apologies.
“Tell me. Should I still trust you?”
Click. The safety was disengaged as his finger curled around the trigger. The barrel was aimed dead center between the trembling guard’s brows, and after a moment of fearful hesitation, the man finally forced out an answer.
“B-But we… We only followed protocol. We were told to prioritize the district leader’s orders…”
“…What did you just say?”
“T-The district leader’s orders take precedence—Ugh!”
Contrary to his expectations of an immediate death, the gun barrel pointed at his forehead suddenly disappeared. Slowly opening his eyes, the guard saw that the man was still standing right in front of him. Overwhelmed by terror, he instinctively staggered backward in an attempt to escape.
Lowering his gun, he let out a humorless chuckle. The realization struck him again—aside from Seo-yul, there was nothing in this place that he could truly call his own.
How ridiculous.
Even the guards he had stationed here to protect this place prioritized the district leader’s commands over his own. If the district leader had decided to send Seo-yul away while he was absent, these men would have simply let it happen.
And by the time he returned, it would have already been too late. Even if he tried to salvage the situation afterward, what could he possibly do?
Since he bore the name Shining, even stepping outside the mansion required the district leader’s permission. If a Shining left the premises without authorization, they would be executed—no questions asked.
How utterly powerless.
Unless he stayed by Seo-yul’s side at all times, there was no way to protect him. And yet, he had left for an entire month chasing after Night, completely unaware of this. How foolish.
But he couldn’t just remain by Seo-yul’s side forever. The district leader would relentlessly assign him tasks, and if he refused, it was obvious that Seo-yul would be used as leverage against him.
“The district leader took Seo-yul hyung away, didn’t he?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Answer me.”
“Y-Yes. The aide came and briefly escorted him away.”
The moment he heard the guard’s response, he turned and strode toward the district leader’s office. It probably wouldn’t help much, but he still made sure to order the guards not to let anyone else in.
He cut across the lobby, climbing the stairs to the upper floors. Those who recognized him bowed deeply in greeting, but he had no time to acknowledge them.
The district leader had been right—unless he became the only Shining, there was no way to protect Seo-yul in this place. The problem was that he had let himself believe that things could remain as they were, lulled into complacency by fleeting happiness.
One moment of carelessness, and he could have lost everything.
“Young Master Vincent.”
The aide waiting outside the office called his name as he approached. He motioned for the door to be opened without a word, and rather than asking why he was here, the aide simply knocked—as if he had already been expecting this visit.
“Come in.”
The second permission was granted, Vincent shoved the aide aside and pushed the door open.
The district leader stood in front of the window, greeting him with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Vincent.”
“I greet the district leader.”
The mere sight of that brazen face made his blood boil, but for now, he forced himself to remain composed and bowed deeply.
The district leader turned away from the window and approached him.
“Rise.”
As soon as permission was given, Vincent straightened his back. The district leader, now standing directly in front of him, lightly patted his shoulder.
The way he looked at Vincent—gentle, as if he understood everything—was utterly repulsive. What the hell do you think you know?
Vincent clenched his trembling hands into fists, forcing down the storm of emotions threatening to surface.
Eight years. For eight long years, he had done everything the district leader asked of him, enduring it all for one reason alone—to see Seo-yul again. Even if it meant abandoning his humanity.
In just a few more days, this wretched ordeal would finally end.
No matter how furious or disgusted he was, he had to endure.
He had suffered for eight years—what were a few more days?
“You made a promise to me. That if I became the only Shining, you’d give me what I wanted.”
“Yes, I did.”
The district leader answered without hesitation. Vincent steadied his shaky breath, swallowing all the words he wanted to say, and instead, made the man reaffirm his promise.
“You must keep your word. You cannot break it.”
How arrogant—he was outright warning him. A laughable threat, one that clearly meant break your promise, and I’ll kill you. Amused, the man merely chuckled.
Judging by the way Vincent had come running here, it seemed unlikely that Han Jae-hoon’s son had told him anything. If he had, knowing his temperament, he would have stormed in with his gun drawn.
How utterly ridiculous.
Indifferent to most things, yet strangely volatile when it came to Han Jae-hoon’s son. If he ever wanted to rule this district properly, he couldn’t afford to let trivial matters shake him. If anything, this only made one thing clearer—
Han Jae-hoon’s son had to be removed from Vincent’s side.
His use had long expired. His existence had already succeeded in luring Han Jae-hoon into this district, so there was no need to keep him around any longer.
At the right time, he would simply be discarded—pushed out beyond the district’s borders.
Once Vincent became the next district leader, he would face severe restrictions on leaving the mansion. That meant all he had to do was exile the boy to the farthest reaches of the district, ensuring they would never meet again.
Given enough time, all emotions faded—whether it be longing, affection, or attachment. No feeling could withstand the passage of time.
Eventually, he’ll give up.
Hiding such sinister thoughts beneath a smile, the district leader offered no clear answer—neither affirmation nor denial. Yet, that ambiguity was all Vincent needed to decide his next move.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Leaving behind a polite farewell, he stepped out of the office. Before the door fully closed, he glanced back—just in time to see the district leader waving a pale hand in mock farewell.
Suppressing the scowl threatening to crease his brow, Vincent forced himself to lower his head in a final bow.
The door shut, and the aide immediately blocked his path—a silent command to leave.
“Have a safe return.”
Without a word, Vincent turned on his heel.
The district leader’s office sat at the farthest end of the mansion, meaning the journey back was painfully long.
Halfway down the deserted corridor, Vincent finally let his emotions slip through.
His tightly clenched fists trembled violently.
This encounter had made one thing painfully clear—the district leader had never once intended to keep his promise. Even if he eliminated all the other Shinings and seized control of the district, could he truly protect Seo-yul?
Even as the next district leader, he would be forced to undergo years of successor training. If he ever had to leave for an extended period, just like now, and the district leader decided to get rid of Seo-yul…
There would be nothing he could do.
Get it together.
Soon enough, he would become the next district leader. He would be the perfect Shining, just as the district leader demanded.
And he would take control of District 1.
But the real battle started now.
He had bought himself time with the lie about pregnancy, but it wouldn’t last. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.
If Seo-yul had truly conceived a Shining, they wouldn’t be able to lay a hand on him.
But if he hadn’t—then throwing out one Omega would be the simplest thing in the world.
He needed insurance. A guarantee. Something that would ensure Seo-yul’s absolute safety.
—We can help you obtain exactly what you desire, Lord Vincent.
It was time to seek out the place where light could never reach.
