Han Jae-hoon left, and I sat there in a daze for a long time.
Honestly, when he told me to return to District 5 together, I wanted to take his hand. I really did.
But more than anyone, I knew that wasn’t an option. So, with difficulty, I pushed him away. That was the best choice. Because I could never go back to District 5.
‘I don’t want to see others sacrifice themselves because of me anymore.’
No matter how hard I tried to forget, the moment I closed my eyes, that crimson glow would flicker in my mind. The inferno that consumed the mansion, the people dying in the darkness, and even Se-yul collapsing right in front of me.
If I ever returned to District 5, he would definitely come after me.
I climbed out of bed and pulled back the blackout curtains that were blocking the light. I waited for my vision to adjust from the sudden brightness. The sun was just as vivid as the cold moonlight in the sky.
‘It’s so bright.’
I couldn’t even remember the last time I saw the night sky turn completely black. How long had I been here? It wasn’t as if that much time had passed, but it already felt like years had slipped by.
How much longer would I have to stay trapped in this tiny bedroom? It wasn’t like before when I was Seo-yul, sick and confined to my room. This time, I was imprisoned by someone else.
—It doesn’t matter anymore. Even if you’re sick, even if you’re hurt, as long as you stay by my side.
If I couldn’t leave this place before the Day of the District ended, I would be locked away for life. They might throw me into an even deeper place, bind me so tightly that I wouldn’t even be able to think about escaping.
‘This really is a hardcore 19+ story.’
The longer I lived as Han Seo-yul, the more I forgot that this was a world inside a novel. Then again, this place felt more like reality to me now.
I could barely recall who I was before I became Han Seo-yul. What kind of person I was, what my face looked like—it was all fading. The only thing I still remembered was my name. Jung I-hyun.
The plot of the novel had already changed in so many ways. Vincent Shining and Choi Yeo-min, the original protagonists, didn’t even seem to have the slightest chance of ending up together.
Instead, Vincent Shining had become obsessed with someone who didn’t even exist in the novel—Han Seo-yul. And of all people, that just had to be the body I possessed. Or rather, the identity that had now completely become mine.
‘Maybe I should have never gone there in the first place.’
The day the moon was unnaturally obscured, I heard the scream of an unfamiliar child. And when I followed that voice down, I found you.
I didn’t want to regret saving you when you were left for dead, your body covered in blood, abandoned in that warehouse. But lately, I can’t stop thinking.
What if everything went wrong because of me? What if my attempts to make things better only ended up ruining everything?
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking, I turned around. A servant I had never seen before peeked cautiously through the slightly open door, scanning the room. When I stared at him intently, he hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
“Sir Jeremy sent me.”
Only then did I remember my promise with Jeremy.
As I approached, the servant quickly handed me a small, hidden note from his sleeve before slipping out of the room.
I only opened the note once I heard the door click shut behind him.
Unfolding the crumpled piece of paper, I read the single line scrawled on it.
“The bell will ring. Meet me in the garden beside your room.”
Traveling too far was impossible, but if it was just the garden next to my bedroom, I could always use a walk as an excuse to step outside.
However, since the servant assigned to watch over me would undoubtedly remain close, perhaps it would be better to tell him about the arrangement rather than take the risk with Jeremy.
If I left the mansion with him, he had promised I would be able to meet Se-yul. I had kept my end of the bargain—now it was his turn.
‘What should I do?’
If only I had a way to contact Jeremy. But unfortunately, being unable to leave my room freely meant there was nothing I could do.
All I could do was wait for Jeremy to send another servant to sneak in and deliver notes like this. And in a situation like this, what could I even do?
‘I’ll go out tomorrow.’
For now, I would take Jeremy’s offer.
***
As the final day drew closer, Joshua grew more desperate. Once the next District Leader was announced, everything would be over. Time kept slipping away, yet nothing was changing.
Even Jeremy, who had once been so determined to kill Vincent Shining, had gone silent. Meanwhile, the elders had begun seeking ways to secure their own survival—even after Vincent took power.
‘If things continue like this, I’ll be erased.’
Once a single Shining was chosen, everyone except the select few he deemed worthy would be forced out of the mansion.
Some Shining had already swallowed their pride, clinging to that vermin in a desperate attempt to remain. But Joshua refused to stoop to their level.
This place was his by right. No one else could claim District 1 as their own.
That was the way things were supposed to be.
Before that filthy insect appeared, no one had been more noble than him.
‘I have to do something. I can’t just sit here and wait.’
Drowning in despair, he had turned to alcohol, numbing himself in a haze of liquor. Now, he was completely drunk.
Staggering to his feet, Joshua reached for the gun he had left on the table.
If he saw him in the banquet hall, he would shoot him. Right there.
His alcohol-soaked brain couldn’t think beyond that.
All he could do was pray that the bastard would disappear.
The vermin that had stolen his place needed to be crushed immediately.
“Joshua.”
Just as he was about to push the door open and leave, Jeremy arrived.
When Joshua saw him standing there, he almost thought he was looking into a mirror.
But the lighter-colored hair and duller eyes made it clear—it wasn’t himself, it was Jeremy.
Noticing Joshua’s gaze shift, Jeremy let out a bitter smile.
“Where were you planning to go?”
He casually slipped the gun from Joshua’s grasp as he spoke. Joshua, completely drunk, didn’t even notice it being taken from his hand.
“To kill that bastard—”
“Vincent?”
Joshua gave a strong nod.
Technically speaking, the position wasn’t rightfully his either, but Jeremy didn’t bother to point that out. There was no reasoning with a man this drunk.
Supporting Joshua as he stumbled, Jeremy shut the door and guided him back into the room.
Even as he was being led away, Joshua continued to mutter about how Vincent needed to die.
Jeremy carefully laid him down on the bed, then kicked the empty liquor bottles rolling across the floor to the side. The mess made the entire room feel chaotic—even to him.
“Jeremy…”
Joshua, who Jeremy thought had already passed out, suddenly called his name.
Jeremy was about to leave, but at that, he sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned in.
“You called?”
Through half-lidded, unfocused eyes, Joshua looked up at him—then suddenly burst into tears. His drinking habits were as wretched as ever.
“If I become District Leader… hic… Mother will… Mother will…”
Jeremy had always known.
That Joshua’s obsession with the position stemmed from their mother.
They were born from the same womb—there was no way he wouldn’t know.
Their mother had always loved Joshua, whose colors were deep and rich.
Meanwhile, Jeremy, with his pale, diluted hues, had never been able to rest easily in their mother’s arms.
As a child, he had resented Joshua. He had felt bitter toward their mother. But once he grew older, those feelings faded into nothingness.
He had become used to it. Used to being treated differently because of his colors.
But just because he was used to it didn’t mean he had forgotten.
The bitterness, the anger—he still carried it all.
“Joshua, don’t worry.”
Jeremy comforted him as he wept like a child.
Joshua sobbed uncontrollably for a long time before finally falling into a peaceful sleep.
Jeremy’s hand, which had been patting his trembling shoulders, came to a stop.
His face hardened into something cold and unfeeling.
“Fucking idiot.”
Just because someone’s colors were deep didn’t mean they were a superior Shining.
His own brother was proof of that—an utter fool.
So easily swayed by sweet words, to the point that he’d forgotten how to be suspicious.
“Don’t worry, Joshua. I’ll make sure you become District Leader.”
Jeremy had already sent a message to Vincent’s Omega.
Tomorrow, when the bell rang, the Omega would be lured to the garden beside the bedroom with the promise of meeting someone they longed for.
Once they were captured, Vincent would come running straight into the trap.
That ever-composed bastard always lost his mind when it came to that Omega.
He wouldn’t even realize it was a setup.
Or even if he did—he would still come.
Once Vincent was dead and Joshua was installed as District Leader, Jeremy would put his final plan into motion.
He would kill every last Shining except for himself and Joshua. And finally, he would kill Joshua, too.
Then, the only remaining Shining in the world would be him.
Even if his colors were light, if he was the only one left, the standards would have to change.
“Sleep tight, Joshua.”
Jeremy pressed a light kiss to his peacefully sleeping brother’s forehead.
Then, without a sound, he rose and left the bedroom.
