Bloodshot eyes, clenched fists, trembling lips. Did he really think he could threaten me in this state? The man barely suppressed the laughter threatening to spill out.
Realizing that his obedience up until now had been nothing more than an act, all for Han Jae-hoon’s son, made me want to sigh. Did preferences run in the family or something?
Looking at his pitiful figure, the man saw a reflection of himself. Han Jae-hoon and his son—neither of them were of any use to our cause. And yet, despite knowing that, I couldn’t bring myself to let go so easily. That was the real problem.
“So, why don’t you tell me what exactly it is you think you can do?”
The man’s voice was laced with amusement, but before he could even process it, his hand had already moved. However, having come here unprepared, he didn’t have the gun he always carried.
Not that it would have made a difference. Even if he killed the man right now, it would only put Seo-yul in danger. The assassination of a district leader was a capital offense—just the attempt alone was punishable by death. If he were caught, there would be no one left to protect Seo-yul.
The moment his absence was noticed, the ones lying in wait for an opportunity would rush to the bedroom and drag Seo-yul out again, just like before. And once everything was over, there would be no undoing it.
‘Don’t lose control.’
He bit down so hard that his cheeks hollowed, then slowly lowered the hand that had instinctively reached for his waist. The man’s gaze flickered to the movement, watching as the hand returned to its place as if nothing had happened.
He made sure his eyes, locked onto the man’s, were as cold as ice. Devoid of emotion, just as always. Like the Shining the man had so desperately wanted and forced him to be.
“…There is nothing.”
His belated response made the man burst into laughter, the mocking sound filling the space. Even as he heard it, he forced himself to remain composed. He had to make it seem like it didn’t affect him.
“Right, as if there’s anything you could do.”
The man’s fingers tapped against the bruised cheek. Holding back the fresh wave of anger rising within him, he prepared to leave. His composure had already been pushed to the brink; pretending to be unaffected any longer was impossible.
Just as he was about to bow deeply, the man scowled and muttered to himself.
“Tomorrow is the Day of the District. If we receive guests with you looking like this, people will start talking.”
Did he forget that he was the one who slapped me into this state? The sheer audacity left him speechless. Pushing away the hand on his cheek, he completed his bow.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Leaving behind that one-sided farewell, he opened the door and stepped out of the office. Before the door could swing shut, an aide entered, approaching the man whose expression had now returned to its usual blank slate.
“I greet the master of the —”
The man raised a hand, cutting off the aide’s greeting, then gestured with his chin toward the slightly ajar door. The aide quickly shut it before returning, prompting the man to let out a deep sigh as he spoke.
“Han Jae-hoon… is he on his way?”
“I’ve heard he’s still in District 5.”
“…Even though his son is here, he won’t come?”
If only Han Jae-hoon made a move, that irritating omega could be disposed of in an instant. But as always, things never went as he wanted. Not before, not now—never.
Perhaps he should have sent a more threatening message. A clearer warning that if Han Jae-hoon didn’t come, he would kill the son he so desperately wanted to protect. But considering how much the man already despised him, that would have only soured their relationship further.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes. The moment you give the order, we can proceed immediately.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Once the Day of the District was over, he could finally step down from this wretched position as district leader. Of course, with successor training and all, he would still be bound to this place for a few more years, but after that, he would have the freedom he had longed for.
That’s why he had to meet Han Jae-hoon before then. It was time to remind him of the promise they had made all those years ago when they were still young.
“A promise, huh….”
People often said that the Shining were fickle and cruel, never to be trusted. That every word from their lips was a sweet lie meant to shake others, a deception never to be believed.
But sometimes—just sometimes—a Shining, no matter how unpredictable, would make a promise with their whole heart, one they intended to keep for a lifetime.
If only he could understand that.
“How naïve… both of us.”
***
Ina Shining rarely stayed in her bedroom. As long as she remained out of sight from the patrolling guards, that was all that mattered. After making sure the coast was clear, Yeo-min quickly slipped into the hidden room where Sado was being kept.
“Sado-nim.”
At Yeo-min’s call, Sado, who had been lying on the bed, sluggishly lifted his head. He looked better than yesterday, but still far from well. Noticing Yeo-min’s concern, Sado forced his expression to relax.
“You came again today.”
“I’d stay with you all the time if I could… but I can’t, and I’m sorry for that.”
Sado wanted to take Yeo-min’s hand to reassure him, but he quickly withdrew it under the blanket. His nails had been completely torn out, leaving his fingers in a gruesome state—he didn’t want Yeo-min to see them.
“Is there anything you need? Anything uncomfortable?”
“For some reason, the people here are taking pretty good care of me. There’s no need to worry.”
It had been days since Sado had woken up, but he still hadn’t received any news. That was because Yeo-min had disobeyed his order—he had never passed along the message to Ina Shining to inform her once Sado regained consciousness.
If word got out that Sado had woken up, the halted interrogations would begin again, and his body wouldn’t be able to withstand another round of brutal torture. For Sado’s sake, Yeo-min had to make sure that information never reached the wrong ears.
“Is everything ready?”
“Thanks to you, we’re nearly done.”
The Day of the District was almost here. So many sacrifices had been made to bring them this far, and once this period passed, they would finally be able to restore true night to District 1—just as Night had envisioned.
Suppressing the surge of emotions, Yeo-min met Sado’s gaze and remembered the other reason he had come here. It wouldn’t change the plan, but he still needed to bring up Seo-yul.
—I want to go outside.
Seo-yul had finally opened up to him, told him what he truly wanted.
“Sado-nim…”
“Yes, Yeo-min-nim? Go ahead.”
The moment he looked into those gentle eyes, the words got stuck in his throat. What difference could smuggling out a single omega possibly make to the plan? He was sure it wouldn’t affect anything—so why couldn’t he bring himself to say it?
“…It’s nothing.”
In the end, he couldn’t say a word about Seo-yul. Even though his hesitation was obvious, Sado didn’t seem the least bit suspicious. Damn. That stings.
“Yeo-min-nim, may I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course! Anything.”
Worried that his unease would show, Yeo-min deliberately answered in an overly cheerful voice. Sado’s gaze shifted past him, checking the tightly shut door once more. Then, lowering his voice, he spoke.
“Can you bring me Vincent Shining?”
“…Vincent?”
They had gone out of their way to make sure the news of Sado’s awakening didn’t reach Vincent Shining, yet here Sado was, asking to see him.
Sado nodded firmly, his urgency clear as he pressed Yeo-min to bring Vincent as soon as possible. Caught off guard, Yeo-min hesitated before eventually agreeing and leaving the room.
It wasn’t until the door closed behind him that he realized he hadn’t checked his surroundings—but thankfully, no one was there. The stark contrast between this place and Vincent’s heavily guarded territory was almost laughable.
‘Why does Sado want to see Vincent?’
This wasn’t part of the plan. They were supposed to move as discreetly as possible until the Day of the District. Breaking that rule to meet with a Shining, of all people—what was the reason?
The first word that came to mind was betrayal, but if that were the case, Sado wouldn’t have openly asked for Vincent. He would have arranged the meeting in secret.
Standing in front of the door, Yeo-min ran through countless possibilities, but he couldn’t figure out what Sado was thinking. That person had specifically warned them not to deviate from the plan, not when the decisive moment was so close.
‘Well… I’m no different.’
Yeo-min already knew why he hadn’t told Sado about Seo-yul. If he had, he would’ve been met with a firm refusal—Don’t even think about taking him. He’ll only get in the way.
But he couldn’t give up on Seo-yul. He had promised to get him out of this hell. No matter what, he had to escape the mansion with him.
‘As long as the plan doesn’t fall apart, it’ll be fine. It’s just one omega.’
Letting out a deep sigh, Yeo-min forced himself to move forward.
