With a refreshing farewell, he disappeared beyond the wide-open door. The aide, who had been paralyzed with fear, finally regained his senses and hurriedly followed after him.
Left alone, I stared at the closed door for a long while. His parting words, asking me to take care of things for the next week, echoed in my ears like a lingering aftersound. Was this really okay? I wasn’t sure.
I belatedly bent down to pick up the fallen bandages and medicine. As I refilled the empty first-aid box, I finally let out the sigh I had been holding back and sank onto the floor.
“Thank god, I didn’t say it.”
Just a day ago, I had resolved not to let myself be shaken by him, knowing he would leave in a week. But the moment I saw his face, I had almost lost control and blurted out the feelings I had been hiding.
That I had missed him terribly. That not even for a single moment had I forgotten about him. That, in truth, I had always wanted to tell him.
‘No, stop thinking about it.’
I cut off my own thoughts and shut the first-aid box lid with force. As I stood up and brushed off my clothes, the door quietly creaked open. Turning around, I saw the attendants who had come to clean up the dining hall. They gave me a polite nod.
“We weren’t sure if your conversation had finished…”
Their eyes flickered around the dining hall, searching for him. Their frightened expressions only relaxed once they confirmed he was no longer there.
“Yeah, it’s over.”
Placing the first-aid box on the table, I left the dining hall. I felt sorry for the attendants greeting me, but I didn’t have the energy to acknowledge them right now.
My steps gradually quickened until I found myself running, breath coming in short gasps. As soon as I shut the door tightly behind me, the pheromones I had been struggling to suppress began to flare up uncontrollably.
‘That was close.’
I flung the windows open, trying to vent out the chocolate-scented pheromones that instantly filled the room. The gentle breeze rushed in, cooling my heated body as I worked to steady my breathing. Slowly, the feverish pheromones began to settle.
Leaning against the windowsill, I gazed toward the western forest. I craved a cigarette, but I couldn’t even lift a finger. The usual lethargy that came after releasing my pheromones had taken over.
Just as my blinking eyes were about to close completely, the sound of a car engine rumbled from below. Lowering my gaze, I saw Se-yul stepping outside at the same time as him.
Afraid of being caught watching, I quickly grabbed the curtains and hid myself. Luckily, the two were too engrossed in their silent battle of wills to notice me.
Peeking out from behind the curtain, I watched him. Under the bright sunlight, his fiery-red hair shimmered, swaying slightly with the breeze.
Before I could get lost in the mesmerizing sight, as if watching tiny embers scatter in the wind, their meaningless staring contest ended, and he was the first to get into the car. Se-yul, his face contorted with displeasure, soon followed suit.
The door shut, and the car carrying both of them drove off. Letting go of the curtain in my grasp, I stepped up to the window and stared until the vehicle disappeared from sight.
The first place the two of them headed was the factory at the district’s border. If they left now, they would probably return by evening. The moment I registered that he was no longer in the mansion, the tension stiffening my shoulders finally eased.
“…This is uncomfortable.”
Vin, who had once been the person I felt most at ease with, had now become the most uncomfortable presence in my life. The long gap of eight years played a part, but more than that, the true reason was my guilt.
Even though I had no choice, it was still my decision to leave Vin behind in District 1. As a result, District 5 received three times the electricity supply compared to District 1 and entered an unprecedented period of prosperity.
Now, however, that prosperity was on the brink of collapse.
— I never once forgot about you, Seo-yul hyung.
His unwavering eyes spoke nothing but sincerity. Unlike me, who cowardly hid behind excuses, he had been straightforward from the moment we reunited.
That he had missed me. That he had never once forgotten me.
He seemed to believe that it had been solely Han Jae-hoon’s decision to send him to District 1. That must have been why he had continued to long for me without change.
All those years in District 1 without me, believing that one day, he would see me again— But now, what could I possibly say to him?
“With what face could I even…”
Overwhelmed with self-loathing, I shut my eyes tight. If only I could turn away from reality just as easily. Unfortunately, the week I had to spend with him hadn’t even truly begun yet.
***
The car left the mansion in District 5 and headed toward the border where the factory was located. Inside the stiflingly cramped space, not a single word was exchanged. Both of them turned their gazes to the windows, acting as if the other didn’t exist.
Passing through the lush forest and just before the barren desert came into view, the car came to a slow stop in front of the factory. His eyes flickered slightly as he looked out the window.
From what he remembered, there had been only one factory here. But now, there were five. No doubt, they had all been built after he was sent away. That thought alone filled him with an overwhelming urge to demolish everything in sight.
“We greet the young masters of the district.”
The factory manager and district residents, who had come out to welcome them, bowed deeply.
Se-yul stepped out first and exchanged brief words with the factory manager. Meanwhile, trailing behind him, Vin said nothing and headed straight for the factory.
“W-wait a moment—!”
Startled, the factory manager hastily followed after him. Entering through the wide-open doors, Vin cast a glance over the machines, which had been temporarily halted.
Normally, he should have taken his time inspecting the factory while listening to the manager’s explanations, but he ignored the entire schedule and went straight to the factory’s office instead.
Throwing the door wide open, he sat himself down in the seat of honor without hesitation. Crossing his legs, he pulled one of the many stacked documents off the table and began reading.
The factory manager, having rushed after him, was visibly flustered. Gathering himself with effort, he cautiously approached Vin, who was silently going through the paperwork.
“Perhaps a cup of tea—”
“Not really. I don’t feel like drinking anything.”
His lips curved in a smile, but his voice was sharp and cold, leaving no room for further conversation. It was a clear warning not to interrupt his reading.
Paling, the factory manager lowered his head and stepped back, retreating from him completely.
Se-yul entered the office belatedly and frowned the moment he saw Vin reading through the documents. Though he was trying to stay calm, it was impossible not to feel tense knowing that the papers in Vin’s hands were the ones he had painstakingly organized over the past several days.
Suppressing his discomfort, Se-yul composed his expression and sat across from him. The factory manager, who looked utterly at a loss, didn’t seem like he would be of any help by staying, so Se-yul sent him out under the pretense of asking for tea.
Vin silently reviewed the documents, while Se-yul simply observed him. Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere that had grown unexpectedly serious, but he felt like he shouldn’t interrupt.
“I’ve brought the tea you requested.”
Lacking any awareness, the factory manager actually returned with tea in hand and stepped back into the office. Se-yul forced a smile as he accepted the cup.
“You can wait outside.”
“But—”
“I’ll call you if I need anything.”
Se-yul shot the hesitant factory manager a look, urging him to leave. Fortunately, this time, he seemed to understand. Bowing quickly, the manager left the office in a hurry.
With the nuisance gone, only the two of them remained in the room.
Vin, who had been reading the documents, suddenly lifted his head. Their eyes met, and his unreadable crimson gaze curved into an irritating smirk. Se-yul couldn’t hide the way his face twisted in distaste.
“What were you thinking?”
“What?”
At the question, which lacked any clear subject, Se-yul responded curtly.
After a brief staring contest, Vin lowered his gaze back to the documents and spoke casually.
“You never liked me being around Seo-yul hyung.”
Se-yul could have easily retorted that he still felt the same way, but he chose not to. There was no need. Vin wasn’t actually expecting an answer—he wasn’t asking because he didn’t know.
Whether involving Seo-yul in all this had been the right decision was yet to be determined, but setting aside the matter of persuasion, there was no one else to keep by Vin’s side for now except Se-yul.
With the district leader absent, ensuring the attendants’ safety was solely Se-yul’s responsibility. If Vin lashed out at another innocent servant like he had today, Se-yul would have no choice but to step in.
But now that Vin carried the Shining name, any direct confrontation from Se-yul could escalate into an inter-district conflict.
At worst, it could even lead to war. Se-yul had no choice but to tread carefully. He couldn’t allow innocent lives to be sacrificed over something so trivial.
“You sure put a lot of effort into preparing all this.”
Vin flicked one of the documents lightly with his fingers. Only three days had passed since the District 1 leader sent the letter and Vin arrived in District 5.
It should have been impossible to prepare everything in such a short time, yet the documents were flawless—there wasn’t a single hole to be found. As if no improper dealings had ever existed to begin with.
Vin tossed the papers onto the table. There was nothing more to uncover. For appearance’s sake, he could have continued flipping through them, but to him, it was a waste of time.
“Why aren’t you reading more?”
Instead of answering, Vin simply smiled.
Then, rising from his seat, he lifted his foot and nudged the table piled high with papers.
The stacks collapsed in a loud cascade, scattering across the floor.
Se-yul, unable to mask his emotions, grimaced at the sight of the documents he had spent days organizing now lying in a crumpled heap.
“What does any of this even matter?”
Vin trampled over the papers as he spoke, his voice light and indifferent.
