Epilogue
The gunshots that echoed through the banquet hall that day were two in number. However, one never even reached him, embedding itself into the solid marble floor, while the other pierced cleanly through Jeremy’s shoulder.
And just like that—so absurdly and effortlessly—the rebellion of Jeremy Shining, who had attempted to deceive people with mere color, ended in failure. The meaningless inauguration ceremony was canceled.
With news of Vincent Shining’s return—someone they had all believed to be dead—everyone naturally assumed that the one with the most vivid color would take the position of District Leader.
Yet, defying all expectations, the new District Leader was Ina, the fifth Shining. For the first time in District 1’s history, a woman had taken the title.
Considering the state of the district, Ina Shining kept the inauguration ceremony brief. A small, private event was held, attended only by the district’s elite. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s severed head was displayed in front of the mansion.
Some might call it cruel beyond measure, but the people of District 1 simply said it was befitting of the Shining name. After all, the Shining were capricious, ruthless, and cruel.
Once she fully assumed control, the first thing Ina did was purge the stagnant Elders. With the severing of the blood-bound alliance between the District Leader and the Elders, the district faced a period of great upheaval.
Jeremy’s head, which had been put on display as an example, was only the beginning. One by one, those involved in the past events were strung up alongside him. Among them were several Elders from the Central District.
It took half a year for the chaos that had seemed endless to finally settle, for the district to regain some stability. There was still a mountain of problems to address, but at least she could breathe easier now.
“District Leader.”
A cautious voice called out to Ina from the office doorway. She sat in her chair, gazing at the Human Moon. At her gesture, the approaching aide delivered unexpected news.
“…I see. He’s dead.”
With Jeremy dead and completely driven out of District 1, only two Shining remained in the mansion—Ina and Joshua. Of course, in Joshua’s case, being alive was a mere technicality. He had remained breathing, but barely.
But that, too, seemed to have ended today. The news the aide brought was of Joshua’s death. He had simply stopped breathing while lying there, just as he always had.
“What a hollow death.”
The Joshua Ina remembered had been arrogant and insufferable. He never even acknowledged those with faint colors, and because of that, the number of times they had exchanged words could be counted on one hand.
A relationship devoid of affection, without even shared memories—less than strangers. And yet, now that Joshua was gone and she was the sole remaining Shining in the mansion, Ina couldn’t help but feel a lingering bitterness.
“And a letter from Vincent has arrived.”
“That guy?”
He had completely ignored her request to stay at least until the inauguration, only to reach out now? Ina pouted as she glanced at the letter the aide had placed on her desk.
The white envelope bore just a single character: Vin. Officially, he had discarded the Shining name and was now simply using Vin.
She never understood what was so special about that ridiculous name, as if someone had just chopped the end off Vincent. But for whatever reason, he seemed to like it.
Tearing open the envelope, she found a single, almost empty sheet of paper. No formalities, no greetings—just straight to the point. Ina smirked as she crumpled it slightly in her hand.
“What does it say?”
“It says… ‘Congratulations.'”
“…Excuse me?”
Half a year had passed since she became District Leader, and now he was congratulating her? That was just like him. Letting out a deep sigh, Ina leaned back against her chair.
When she had asked where he planned to go, he hesitated before answering, “Somewhere untouched by moonlight.” A place divided into day and night, with clear, distinct seasons—somewhere like District 5, where that Omega had lived.
—Just so you know, don’t bother looking for me.
He smiled as he warned her. Of course, he had chosen to abandon the Shining name and leave District 1 entirely, but with his vivid color, he could always pose a threat to Ina’s position if he so wished.
It wasn’t that she distrusted him, but just in case, she had planned to keep tabs on his whereabouts. But with such a direct warning, she couldn’t even have him followed.
So, to this day, Ina had no idea where he was. She could only assume he was happy, finally with the person he had longed for.
“I just don’t get it.”
He had been the most Shining-like of them all—yet, at the same time, the least like one. That was the Vincent she remembered.
***
After Seo-yul’s sudden death, even their father had lost his mind and disappeared. The tragedies had piled up so quickly that Se-yul hadn’t even had the time to grieve. He was the only one left to take responsibility for District 5 now.
With the district in complete disarray, there hadn’t even been a proper inauguration. No proper transition of power either. Rebuilding the mansion and stabilizing the district’s economy had consumed all his time—days blurred together without pause.
Meanwhile, so much had happened in District 1. Due to the distance, news always reached District 5 last, but eventually, he learned that, against all expectations, the new District Leader was not him—it was Ina Shining.
“Unexpected.”
He had been the closest to the position, yet he had chosen to abandon the Shining name and leave District 1.
Losing Seo-yul must have shattered him. Perhaps even more than it had broken his younger brother.
He had been denied the chance to mourn. His emotions had dulled so much that even when he thought of Seo-yul or their father, not a single tear fell.
But the ache in his chest still remained, deep and relentless.
Their absence weighed heavily on him, but the burden of leading a district was even greater—it crushed him under its weight. Only now did Se-yul begin to understand why their father had no choice but to be so cold and ruthless.
“Young Master.”
The butler entered the office without knocking, calling out to Se-yul. It had already been over a year since he had become District Leader, but the butler still addressed him the same way. Se-yul never bothered to correct him.
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived…”
There was no sender’s name on the envelope the butler handed him. Opening it, Se-yul pulled out a sheet of paper densely filled with writing. At first, he read it indifferently, but soon his expression darkened.
“What’s wrong?”
“When… When did this arrive?”
“Pardon? I just checked the mailbox a moment ago…”
Before the butler could even finish speaking, Se-yul abruptly rushed out of the office. He had no idea who delivered the letter, but since there was no postage stamp, it clearly hadn’t been left by a postal worker.
Can I still catch them?
He sprinted toward the estate’s mailbox, but as expected, there was no one there. Was he already too late? Letting out a deep sigh, he unfolded the letter again.
Neither the envelope nor the letter itself bore a name, yet Se-yul recognized the handwriting immediately. This was from his brother, Seo-yul.
He had been so certain Seo-yul was dead, but then how had this letter reached him?
If Seo-yul was alive… if he had personally delivered this letter… even just for a moment, Se-yul wanted to see him.
Just a few seconds would be enough. Please…
“I miss you, hyung…”
His vision blurred as his eyes burned hot. Tears—ones he had thought had long dried up—began to flow again. Clutching the letter tightly, Se-yul collapsed onto the ground and sobbed for a long time.
***
To Se-yul,
I think this is my first time writing you a letter. It feels really awkward. And since I’m not very good with words, this is even harder.
Honestly, I struggled a lot with what to say. Even now, I’m not sure if sending this letter to you is the right thing to do. But I never even got to say a proper goodbye to you, and for that, I feel so sorry.
I don’t think about it every day, but I miss you and Father often. I also find myself thinking of the mansion in District 5. By now, spring must have arrived there, since winter should be over.
When the flowers bloomed in the garden, we used to pick them and make wreaths together. Ah, maybe that’s too long ago. But I loved those memories so much that I still dream about them sometimes.
There’s so much I want to tell you, but when I try to write it down, the words don’t come as easily. Still, despite everything, I’m doing well. So don’t worry about me.
I don’t know when, but I’ll come see you before too long. And I have someone I want to introduce you to. You already know them. Maybe you can guess who I mean just from that.
Until then, take care of yourself. Stay well, my little brother.
It had been a while since he had slipped the letter into the mailbox, yet Seo-yul still lingered in front of it, unable to walk away. His gaze remained fixed beyond the fence, toward the mansion in the distance.
Noticing this, the man beside him approached quietly.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see him?”
“…Yeah, I’m sure.”
Though he said that, Seo-yul’s expression told a different story. His face, laced with longing and sorrow, was carefully schooled into neutrality as he finally turned back to face him.
“Shall we go now?”
Seo-yul was the first to extend his hand.
By now, this should have felt familiar, yet every time Seo-yul reached out to him, his chest swelled with emotion. How many twists and turns had led them to this moment?
Unable to suppress his feelings, he grasped Seo-yul’s pale, delicate hand and kissed him first. Seo-yul’s eyes widened in surprise before he broke into a radiant smile.
“I love you, Seo-yul hyung.”
“I love you too, Vin.”
Exchanging confessions brimming with emotion, the two walked away from the mansion filled with memories.
Above them, the pitch-black night sky stretched endlessly, and as always, the cold moon shone starkly against it.
The End
The world building is interesting. Though I gotta say I got tired of MC being selfish and tone deaf. Makes sense that only thing that stopped him was the imprint.