Calming his mind, he waited for the right moment to go after the Apostle again. As he glanced at the firmly closed bedroom door, he was about to quietly slip away when suddenly, Vincent burst out from inside.
Startled, Yeo-min quickly returned to his position and, as if nothing had happened, bowed deeply toward Vincent along with the guards.
Had the two fought? Vincent’s expression was as menacing as could be. Everyone seemed to think the same thing—he was not to be messed with. They even held their breath cautiously.
“You.”
“…Yes?”
Vincent’s finger pointed directly at Yeo-min. As he cautiously lifted his head and stepped forward, Vincent pulled something from his coat and tossed it to him—a small black pouch.
“Go to Ina Shining.”
“Ina… the young lady?”
From what Yeo-min had observed so far, Vincent had no contact with the other Shinings. Of course, since Shinings were constantly forced into endless competition, it was rare for them to have good relationships. But even among them, Vincent was an anomaly.
A lowly birth from an Omega, a Shining who had once been “disposed of,” now nothing more than the Hound of the District, taking on all the filth no one else wanted to touch.
Even among Shinings, most considered him beneath them, avoiding or outright ignoring him. There was no one who would build a connection with him. At least, that was how it had been until now.
Yet suddenly, he was ordering Yeo-min to go to Ina Shining. When had the two of them formed any kind of association? There had been no reports of this.
“And pass on this message as well. The moment he wakes up, she is to inform me immediately.”
“Understood.”
Receiving the cryptic order, Yeo-min immediately set off for Ina Shining. On his way, he ducked out of sight to examine the pouch Vincent had given him. Inside was an ointment known for its effectiveness in treating wounds.
‘Why would he send this?’
Tucking the ointment back into the pouch, Yeo-min hurried toward Ina Shining’s quarters. As he racked his brain, he came to a realization—the real message to be delivered wasn’t the ointment but something else entirely.
‘No way…’
The fact that someone was expected to “wake up” meant they were in bad condition. And in this mansion, there was only one thing that could leave someone in such a state—torture.
Severely tortured to the brink of death, the Apostle had been brought here to be kept alive.
The Apostle Yeo-min had been searching for—was with Ina Shining.
Yeo-min quickened his pace.
***
After finishing the long conversation, he excused himself, saying he had something to take care of. I snapped back to my senses and reached out, but he had already left the room. The sharp click of the door closing made me shut my mouth, the words I had been about to say dissolving in my throat.
I had simply assumed he was doing well. After eight long years, meeting him again as an investigator sent by the young master of District 1, I thought he was living as a proper Shining, receiving the respect he deserved.
But the story he told me was nothing like what I had known. The things he had endured to reach this position were horrifying—brutal and merciless.
—Do you know why people call me the Hound of District 1? Because a dog follows its master’s orders, no matter what. Even if that means killing someone.
The reason he killed without hesitation was because time had hardened him. To survive, he had to abandon even himself. The guilt that any human should naturally feel had dulled, worn down to nothing.
For eight years, he had lived suppressing even the emotions that should have been his right as a human. And in those moments, he had held onto thoughts of me to endure. I had no words to offer him in return.
If I had known, I would never have sent you away. The words burned at the back of my throat, but I had no right to say them.
He had been avoiding my gaze the whole time, but finally, he looked me in the eyes. Though his voice had been calm, his eyes burned with unspoken emotions.
—Why did you abandon me?
The question, repeated to himself countless times, was filled with resentment. But almost immediately, he tried to take it back, as if it was nothing. He forced a smile, telling me to forget he ever said it. My heart dropped.
If only he had just resented me with all his might, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so wretched. Instead, it was as if the ground had fallen out beneath me, plunging me into an endless abyss.
The choice I had believed was for his sake had only scarred and broken him beyond repair. And the one who had made it impossible to ever return to the past—was me.
Just as you had destroyed my world, I had destroyed yours.
‘What have I done?’
After sending Vin away, I had foolishly trusted the promises of the adults and cut off all contact. I should have kept checking on him, making sure he was okay. But because I was struggling, I closed my eyes and ears to everything.
Unlike me—who had tried to forget you, convinced we would never meet again—you had clung to the hope of seeing me once more.
If I had known that, I would have done anything to bring you back from District 1.
—I’ve never once wanted to see you. So stop deluding yourself, and once you’re done here, go back to your district.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have pushed you away so cruelly.
Click.
At the sound of the door opening, I finally lifted my head. He stepped inside, briefly pausing when our eyes met before closing the door and approaching me.
“Did you cry?”
He reached out and gently brushed my cheek as he asked. Only then did I realize—I had been crying. The pain in my chest was so overwhelming that I hadn’t even noticed the tears falling.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“……”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
He gave a bitter smile and wiped away my tears. This time, when his hand pulled away, I didn’t let it slip through my fingers.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to hear that.”
He cut me off firmly. As he saw my tears begin to fall again, he let out a deep sigh. Then, he spread his arms open, as if telling me to come into his embrace.
I hesitated before stepping closer. With a swift motion, he pulled me into his arms, lifting me onto his lap. His hand gently patted my small back.
You’re the one who should be comforted, and yet, you’re the one comforting me.
“I just don’t want you to push me away, Seo-yul hyung. I want you to treat me like before. Call me Vin. Be kind to me again.”
His voice, steady at first, began to tremble.
I tried to lift my head to look at him, but his large hand pressed gently against the back of my head, holding me still.
“Please… don’t abandon me.”
The one in front of me wasn’t Vincent Shining, the man who had shattered my world. It was Vin, the sweet boy I had loved and missed endlessly.
He was pleading with me—begging me not to leave him.
Instead of answering, I wrapped my arms around his neck. His shoulders, which had tensed for a moment, soon relaxed, and the hand that had been pressing against my head slipped away.
Only then did I lift my head to meet his gaze.
A soft brush of lips—barely a touch—before he pulled away just as quickly. And then, as if he were crumbling, he buried his face against my chest and whispered.
“Call my name.”
“…….”
“Call me the way you used to, the way only you did.”
Even as he pleaded, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
When I still didn’t respond, he spoke again, his voice more desperate. Please, just say my name.
Unable to bear the pain in his eyes, I shut mine tightly.
The warmth of his body, once pressed so close, suddenly pulled away. He grasped my face, his fingers digging roughly into my cheeks. The pressure made my face contort in pain.
Even as he saw my discomfort, he didn’t stop. His lips crashed against mine, forceful and unyielding, prying them open.
“Mnngh…!”
I couldn’t breathe. His kiss was violent, overwhelming, and I couldn’t push him away. My lips burned as they were bruised and torn, the taste of iron filling my mouth—but he didn’t stop.
My body, which had been wrapped in his arms, was thrown onto the bed. Before the mattress had even settled beneath me, he was already on top of me.
The harsh sound of fabric tearing made me squeeze my eyes shut.
His teeth grazed the marks he had left on my neck just days ago, sinking in once more as he whispered in a voice thick with need.
“I’m never letting you go. So don’t even think about leaving me.”
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw his face twisted in anguish.
His crimson eyes, glistening with unshed tears, trembled violently before drops began to spill, falling onto my cheeks one by one.
“I love you, Seo-yul hyung.”
