“Winston, where are you going? Your tutor will be here soon!”
At the urgent call from his mother, Winston turned his head and shouted as he galloped off on his horse.
“I’ll be back in time! Lancelot really wants to run today!”
“But Lancelot can’t even talk…”
Madam Campbell muttered in exasperation, but Winston was already far off, disappearing from sight. She let out a sigh, yet a wry smile spread across her face. Her youngest son, talented in so many areas, had a particular passion for horseback riding. Though he had only been learning for a few months, he rode with such skill that even seasoned equestrians were astonished. It was as if he truly communicated with the horse, moving as one. Everyone who witnessed it couldn’t help but be impressed, and every time, Madam Campbell felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
That child is certain to manifest as an Extreme Alpha.
She was absolutely convinced. There was no concrete evidence, but her instincts had never been wrong. Winston would manifest as an Extreme Alpha, inherit the family, and eventually ascend to the highest position.
Just imagining it sent shivers of excitement down her spine. None of her other children had manifested, but Winston was different. Harold, too, was keeping a close eye on their son’s extraordinary talent and potential. His future was set on a golden path.
I should have some lemonade prepared for when he returns.
Humming to herself, she turned and walked back into the mansion, her light steps reflecting her good mood.
It was summer, and the sun hung high in the sky. The intense sunlight bathed the world in its glow, making the towering trees appear as if they were stretching endlessly upward. Lush green leaves swayed in the breeze, and the cool wind whipped against Winston’s body as if trying to lift him off his horse.
“Haha!”
Laughing gleefully, he urged his horse forward, galloping at full speed. Only after covering a considerable distance did he finally rein in the horse. Panting, he patted its neck, and the horse responded with a light shake of its head.
“Shall we head back?”
As if asking for the horse’s opinion, Winston checked his wristwatch. There was still plenty of time before his tutor arrived. If he returned now, took a shower, and changed, he would be right on schedule.
Just as he was about to turn back toward the mansion, his gaze landed on a small, isolated guest house standing in the distance.
Ah…
Winston pulled the reins and stared at it for a moment. The pristine white guesthouse had been unused for years, until about two or three years ago when someone started living there. Back then, Harold had suddenly brought an unfamiliar East Asian boy to Delight and had him stay in the guesthouse. Everyone had been taken aback by the unexpected situation, but his father had only given a brief explanation—that the boy was a distant relative who had lost his entire family, so he had taken him in.
That was all Winston knew. Since then, he hadn’t heard anything more.
It was as if the boy didn’t exist at all. Winston wondered if that so-called relative even truly lived there.
“Shall we go, Lancelot?”
As if responding, the horse took a step forward. The weather remained clear, and the breeze was refreshingly cool. Winston guided his horse toward the guesthouse, steadying his breath as he went. The closer he got, the more his chest fluttered with anticipation.
How old is he? I heard he’s around my age. Could we be the same age? Could we become friends?
Or maybe the place is empty.
It was strange—if a person was truly living there, how could there be absolutely no news about him? Winston had even asked the servants, but not a single one claimed to have seen him. As he rode on, he tried to recall the scattered memories he’d nearly forgotten.
A sudden breeze swept through, tousling his hair. Without thinking, he brushed it back from his forehead—only for his hand to freeze mid-motion.
Someone was sitting in the vast clover field spread out in front of the guest house.
The person had black hair, slightly long, brushing against their shoulders. Their frame was small. Winston guessed that the boy was either his age or younger.
His horse’s pace slowed instinctively. Sitting tall in the saddle, Winston stared intently at the figure. The boy was so still, it was as if he were frozen in time, completely absorbed in whatever he was doing.
Ah.
It wasn’t until he got closer that Winston finally saw what the boy was doing.
The boy was carefully examining the clovers, plucking one with delicate fingers—only to let out a quiet sigh and lower his gaze again. He would stare at the clovers, then pluck one. Then stare again, then pluck another. He continued this process at a steady, unhurried pace.
Winston found himself watching for a long time before, without even realizing it, he spoke.
“Are you looking for a four-leaf clover?”
At the unexpected voice, the boy flinched and lifted his head.
The moment those wide eyes turned toward Winston, he was struck speechless, utterly lost for words.
An angel.
That was the only thought that came to him.
Milk-white skin. Rosy cheeks. Those large eyes gazing directly at him. A small yet perfectly shaped nose. And below it, slightly parted, full lips.
I must be dead.
The thought came to Winston in a daze. How else could he possibly be seeing an angel?
His face burned. His heart pounded so violently it felt like his ribs might crack under the force.
He had never seen someone this beautiful before. His mind went completely blank.
The boy blinked slowly.
Long lashes fluttered down, then lifted again, and as they did, a single tear slid down his cheek.
At that moment, Winston lost himself entirely.
Yes, just like this.
Just like that day long ago, Yu-jin sat there, exactly the same.
Winston nudged his horse forward, approaching him carefully. Yu-jin, who had been staring vacantly at nothing in particular, suddenly sensed movement and turned his head.
His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Winston standing just a short distance away.
Just like that day.
Ah.
Winston exhaled shakily.
That day, I should have known—it wasn’t Michael who stole my soul. It was Lilith.
A bitter smile spread across his lips.
***
“Haa…”
Yu-jin let out a deep, weary sigh as he walked, holding the child’s hand.
Why is this place so damn big?
Trying to search the entire Delights estate was a foolish idea. When he was younger, he had been practically confined to the guest house, and even when he ventured outside, there were only a few places he could go. And now, after years away, his memories had blurred, leaving him completely unfamiliar with the reality of this place.
After walking a considerable distance, the truth finally sank in—one that filled him with utter despair.
Without a car, there’s no way out of here.
That left him with only one option.
Could I… drive?
The moment the thought surfaced, sheer terror crashed down on him, leaving his mind hazy. His breath hitched in panic, his shoulders rising and falling with every desperate inhale. He knew he needed to calm down before he unsettled the child, but the more anxious he became, the worse his breathing grew.
Hoo… hoo…
He struggled to steady his breath when suddenly, his daughter’s voice rang out.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
The sound snapped him back to reality. He lifted his head to see Angela waving at him excitedly.
“Look! Over here! There’s an owl!”
Ah.
A sigh unconsciously slipped from his lips.
There were four mansions in Delights—the largest, of course, being the main estate. Beyond that, three modest guest houses stood at varying distances, and the one Yu-jin had lived in was the farthest and smallest of them all.
But to Yu-jin, that guesthouse had always felt too large.
A space meant for one person was too vast, too hollow, sometimes so suffocatingly empty that even the sound of branches tapping against the window would terrify him. But that lonely place had once transformed into the warmest, most beloved haven in the world—because of love.
And now, that very same guesthouse stood before him once more.
His steps, which had been gradually slowing, came to a complete stop without him even realizing it.
Far ahead, Angela hopped excitedly near the front door, eagerly waiting for him to catch up. But Yu-jin remained frozen, his gaze locked on the small house.
It looked far more worn down than he remembered.
The once-pristine white walls had patches of peeling paint, exposing the raw wood beneath. Rust had spread around the old nail holes, staining the surface with ugly brown streaks. The windows were coated in layers of dust, so clouded that it was impossible to see inside.
Anyone could tell—it had been abandoned for years.
“Daddy, come on! Daddy!”
Impatient, Angela ran back to him, grabbing his hand and tugging him forward. Yu-jin let himself be dragged along, taking reluctant steps toward the house.
One step. Then another.
The closer he got, the heavier his chest felt, the dull thudding in his heart growing louder with every step.
