45.
Yu Jin. A boy born from a woman whose origins were unknown. Born with delicate features and called an angel, at some point he started living like a delinquent, selling his body.
‘It’s not strange.’
Like mother, like son, it seemed he had inherited her tendencies.
“I heard he has angelic looks.”
At this unexpected praise, Ahmed replied with a sour expression.
“Well, he does look like that.”
“I heard he’s quite enjoyable in bed too.”
Even though his own blood was being insulted right in front of him, Ahmed didn’t feel offended. In his mind, Yu Jin wasn’t classified as family.
“But why are you talking about this?”
“Do you know the Granadan Guild?”
It was one of the top five guilds in the empire.
“I know the third son of that guild, and he says he wants to get close to Yu Jin. He’s willing to do anything for it, but recently Yu Jin hasn’t been doing that kind of thing.”
Ahmed rolled his eyes as he listened to Count Lumine’s words.
“If you can arrange a meeting, I will provide a suitable reward.”
“Tsk.”
Ahmed clicked his tongue at Count Lumine’s words. Why did they like men sleeping with men so much? The empire didn’t restrict love based on gender, but Ahmed didn’t fancy other men. Though Yu Jin was quite appealing, he had never thought of touching him since he was still a man.
‘But they want someone like that.’
In the fight for the position of family head, the more money, the better. Moreover, the price was the useless youngest. Ahmed nodded and said,
“Alright, if you tell me the reward, I’ll try to arrange a meeting.”
He’s just someone who sells his body anyway, what difference would it make if he slept with one more person? Ahmed readily agreed.
Yu Jin shuddered at the sudden chill he felt. He was in the gambling house again today, but strangely, Count Lumine was nowhere to be seen. That made him even more uneasy.
‘I hope he’s just lost interest.’
He wasn’t sure. Yu Jin, trembling slightly, decided to think about something else. It seemed better to have more constructive thoughts than about the clingy Count Lumine.
‘Things in the back alleys are going well.’
Hans and Green’s gang had suffered near-annihilation. Hans had his throat cut by Jinhyeon, and Green was caught while fleeing and imprisoned. In such a situation, it would make sense for Blando to step up, but he was rather cautious. It meant he had good judgment of the situation. If so, it might be easier to meet and persuade him.
He had never been to the back alleys, so he was a bit curious.
“No luck today.”
Today, he had won only once since arriving at the gambling house and kept losing after that. Because of this, Yu Jin’s followers were also a bit deflated. Yu Jin only stood up after losing a bit more wealth. He planned to return to the mansion early to rest as he wasn’t feeling well.
“The God of Luck is leaving!”
“But we didn’t even win today.”
“Well, it happens sometimes.”
The gambling house manager smiled broadly for the first time as he saw Yu Jin off. On the way back to the mansion, it started raining. The light drizzle gradually became heavier, beating against the carriage windows. When they arrived at the mansion, people rushed out with waterproof covers and umbrellas.
Thanks to this, Yu Jin’s body was barely wet, but his mood sank, perhaps due to the humidity.
“You don’t look well.”
Keith said, rubbing Yu Jin’s head.
“Yeah. I feel strange and bad.”
“I’ll have them light the fireplace and prepare a bath. Let’s have some warm tea too. That should make you feel better.”
“You think so?”
Yu Jin acted spoiled with Keith for the first time in a while.
“Pat me more.”
Keith gladly obliged Yu Jin’s request. As the large hand gently rubbed his head, the strange anxiety gradually disappeared. And around that time, a guest arrived at the mansion.
A man in a gray raincoat took out an envelope and handed it to a maid he encountered. The envelope bore the seal of Lucid. It didn’t take long for it to reach Yu Jin’s hands.
Was this why he had felt bad all day? Yu Jin took the envelope and tore the end. Inside was an invitation card along with a sheet of letter paper.
The sender was Ahmed.
The content was simple. Go to the address on the enclosed invitation card. If you don’t do as told properly, you will face consequences later.
“This is almost a threat letter?”
It was too cold and commanding for something sent to the youngest. Yu Jin then looked at the invitation card. The card was ordinary except for the use of high-quality paper. The sender was the third son of the Granadan Guild, and the content was simply an invitation to visit a party at his residence.
“Brother, do you know what kind of person the third son of the Granadan Guild is?”
“Roughly. The one running the Granadan Guild is a viscount family, but recently the viscount stepped down and his eldest son took the position. The guild is now run by the younger brothers, with the second son being the actual manager.”
“Seems like the brothers get along well?”
“They do.”
Keith made a bitter expression. He seemed to be thinking about the Lucid family, which was in stark contrast to them.
“I heard the third son is especially loved by his older brothers because of the big age difference. Come to think of it, he had his coming-of-age ceremony earlier this year.”
Although Keith said he only knew roughly, the content he shared was more detailed than expected.
“Is that so? We’re both the youngest, but our situations are different. But why did he invite me?”
“He must like you.”
“Me?”
Yu Jin chuckled. How could anyone genuinely like a delinquent who sleeps around? They’re probably just trying to take advantage of him easily.
“I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not it. Yu Jin, you’re worthy of being loved.”
Keith is saying that because he’s Keith. Other people wouldn’t think that way. By the way, the fact that Ahmed’s threat was attached to such an invitation meant that the third son of the Granadan Guild was someone useful to him. But Yu Jin didn’t want to go do something good for others. Especially if that other person was Ahmed.
‘But I can’t not go either.’
Ahmed was a gloomy and persistent guy, so Yu Jin didn’t know what kind of retaliation might come. Even when he used to live in the Lucid mansion, Ahmed was the one who tormented Yu Jin the most.
Well, everyone tormented Yu Jin more or less, even if it wasn’t Ahmed.
Yu Jin tore Ahmed’s letter into small pieces with his hands. Since he couldn’t take direct revenge yet, he had to vent his anger like this at least. Keith, who was watching him, asked,
“…Are you going?”
“I have to. You know what kind of person Ahmed is, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
Keith bit his lip tightly.
“I wish you wouldn’t go this time.”
Yu Jin wanted that too. But he had to go. Whenever Ahmed caused trouble, it was always the twins who suffered the most damage.
“It’ll be fine.”
It has to be fine. Yu Jin muttered this as he checked the date on the invitation card again.
Two days later, Yu Jin headed to the place written on the invitation card. The mansion where the third son of the Granadan Guild lived was a bit larger and more splendid than where he lived. Is this the difference between a loved youngest child and one who isn’t?
Yu Jin smiled bitterly. Seeing this, Keith repeated what he had said many times before.
“If anything happens, make sure to shout. I’ll come running.”
“Would that be okay?”
“You are more precious to me than anything else. So don’t hesitate.”
Hearing Keith’s words, the trembling in his body stopped. With these kind and reassuring words, he finally made up his mind. Yu Jin decided not to call Keith no matter what happened to him. It was enough for him to suffer alone.
Why had he decided to ruin himself? Wasn’t it to protect Keith and Haruna, who were like family even if not related by blood?
‘So I have to protect them this time too.’
Yu Jin made a firm resolution. The carriage that crossed the wide garden stopped not right in front of the mansion, but at a slightly distant annex. And they called it a party. Reading the other’s intention left a bitter taste in his mouth. Still, Yu Jin pretended to be calm as he got off the carriage.
“Welcome!”
The one who came out to greet him was a young man who seemed to have just come of age, still with some youthful features remaining. His bright smile, as if without any worry, seemed to highlight the difference between him and Yu Jin, further dampening Yu Jin’s mood.
“I’m Ferdin von Granadan. I haven’t been in high society for long, but I’ve heard a lot about you, Yu Jin. That’s why I wanted to meet you.”
Ferdin reached out his hand as if to escort Yu Jin, without any thought of maintaining proper etiquette. Thinking this, Yu Jin greeted him.
“I’m Yu Jin. Thank you for inviting me. Shall we go inside?”
As Yu Jin ignored the outstretched hand, Ferdin withdrew it with an embarrassed expression.
