“You’re awake.”
A curt voice roused Se-yul from deep sleep. His hazy, sleep-heavy gaze shifted, landing on his father.
“How long have I—”
“It’s been about two days.”
He had thought he had only closed his eyes for a moment, yet days had already passed.
With a deep sigh of helplessness, Se-yul covered his face with both hands.
Even before setting out for District 1, his physician had been worried. The long, week-long journey would take a toll on his body. Se-yul had assured them nothing would happen—clearly, that had been a mistake.
To make things worse, of all people, he had been the last one with him. If Vincent had been the one by his side when he collapsed, then it was highly likely that he had been the one to move him as well.
I got too worked up.
Se-yul had suppressed his emotions as much as possible before arriving in District 1, but the moment he saw that brazen Shining bastard’s face, he had lost control.
Spending long hours in the car had already worn him down, and then he had let his anger take over to the point where the blood had rushed to his head. No wonder his body had given out.
And as a result, he had failed to find out where Seo-yul was.
“Did you find him?”
At Se-yul’s question, Han Jae-hoon shook his head.
They both knew exactly where Seo-yul was—the problem was that Vincent Shining wouldn’t let him go so easily.
The only remaining option was a formal agreement between district leaders, which meant he would have to meet with that man.
Even just thinking about it gave him a headache.
“Father, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Han Jae-hoon schooled his expression, forcing away any sign of discomfort.
He recalled the moment he had arrived in District 1—when he had been the one to personally come out to greet him.
The elusive district leader, who rarely showed himself, had only made an exception for him.
Anyone else might have been moved to tears by such an honor, but not Han Jae-hoon.
Because he knew that the burden of handling the fallout would fall solely on him.
“Rest for now.”
Now that he had confirmed Se-yul was awake, there was no reason for him to linger.
As soon as Han Jae-hoon stepped out of the room, the waiting aide greeted him with a bright voice.
“I greet the ruler of District 5.”
Han Jae-hoon suppressed the urge to shut the door in the aide’s face. Instead, he pushed the overly enthusiastic man back and stepped outside.
When he shot him a look, silently telling him to keep his voice down—Se-yul was still inside—the aide quickly lowered his volume.
“Our district leader wishes to see you.”
Jae-hoon had said he would visit soon, but he hadn’t expected him to send someone to fetch him so soon.
Especially in such a public manner, where every watching eye could speculate on what this meant.
“You’ll have to wait a moment.”
“Understood.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jae-hoon turned and walked toward his assigned quarters.
The moment the door shut behind him, a long sigh escaped his lips.
Closing his eyes briefly, he steadied himself before heading toward the neatly arranged clothing on the side.
This was a meeting between district rulers.
It would be best to wear his full uniform.
Not only for propriety’s sake, but to ensure he didn’t misinterpret this as something personal.
This is a complete mess.
With the perpetual daylight of this place, it was impossible to get proper rest.
It had only been two days, but even that was enough to leave him exhausted.
He had barely managed to get any sleep, so it was no surprise that his face looked worn.
Checking his reflection, Jae-hoon ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it back.
His already sharp features became even sharper.
Only then did he finally step out.
“Lead the way.”
“Yes, District 5 leader.”
As he followed the aide, he could feel countless eyes trailing after him.
The elusive leader of District 1 had personally summoned him—no doubt many people envied that.
But if Jae-hoon could, he would have gladly handed this honor to one of those envious fools and let them take his place.
If it weren’t for Seo-yul, he would have.
This isn’t the way to the office.
The route the aide was taking him down wasn’t the one he remembered.
The ruler’s office was deep within the estate—secluded and heavily guarded.
But that was where the aide was leading him now.
At the end of a silent corridor, the aide stopped in front of a door and knocked.
Then, as if dismissing him, he gestured toward the slightly open gap.
Jae-hoon frowned but stepped past him and entered.
“I greet the ruler of District 1—”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Before he could even finish his greeting, the man inside closed the distance in an instant and pulled him into an embrace.
The scent that hit him was too familiar.
Jae-hoon froze for just a moment before quickly regaining his composure and shoving him away.
“You’re always so cold to me.”
“I’m here for an official discussion.”
“I know that.”
The man’s crimson eyes curved into a smile, the kind of breathtaking expression that could leave anyone utterly spellbound. No matter how much time passed, his beauty never faded.
Stay focused.
Clenching his fingers into a fist, Han Jae-hoon reminded himself of why he was here.
The only thing that mattered was taking his son and leaving this place.
He refused to let his child remain in this wretched place any longer.
“This conversation will take a while. Come inside.”
The man took Jae-hoon’s hand and led him deeper into the room.
Jae-hoon, still on high alert, followed him inside.
***
On the drive back from our brief outing, he said nothing.
Normally, he would have held my hand and stolen a few kisses, but now he stared out the window, acting as if I didn’t even exist.
He’s sulking.
I followed his gaze outside. The scenery blurred past, changing rapidly.
I couldn’t hold back a long sigh.
My chest felt tight.
—”It doesn’t have to be the truth. Just say it. Just once.”
Giving him the words he wanted wouldn’t have been difficult.
If it didn’t have to be sincere, it was nothing more than empty noise.
But the moment I said it, he would be tangled in the past all over again.
Just like he had been for the last eight years.
And if I left this place, then this twisted connection between us would finally be severed.
No matter how painful it was, time would eventually erase everything.
All I had to do was ensure that, until then, I left nothing behind—
No words.
No actions.
No room for hesitation.
“We’ve arrived.”
Before I even realized it, the car had come to a slow stop in front of the estate.
The driver stepped out and opened the door.
Vincent exited first, and I followed.
“Give me your hand.”
He had ignored me the entire ride, yet now he spoke.
I looked at his outstretched arm.
Did he expect me to place my hand there?
I sent him a questioning look, but before I could protest, he took my hand himself and forced it onto his arm.
Then, he started walking toward the estate.
Only then did it hit me—we would have to pass through the banquet hall to return to the bedroom.
“Relax. It’s your first time stepping into the public eye as Vincent Shining’s lover.”
Before I could even snap back at him, the mansion doors swung open.
Under the dazzling chandeliers, countless eyes turned toward us.
“I greet the young master of District 1.”
The elders at the front lowered their heads first, and one by one, the rest of the guests followed suit.
With me still clinging to his arm, Vincent led me through the banquet hall.
I kept my head down, trying to avoid the sharp gazes boring into me.
In my rush to escape this suffocating space, I even forgot to look for Se-yul or Han Jae-hoon.
I just wanted to leave. Now.
“That omega is—”
“Seems their tastes haven’t changed. The district leader and Vincent-nim both.”
“You can’t hide where someone comes from.”
“Perhaps the Shining bloodline isn’t as noble as it used to be.”
Their whispers trailed behind us.
If I could hear them, then so could he.
But Vincent didn’t react. He was used to it.
The restricted corridor loomed ahead.
Soon, we reached the bedroom.
The waiting servant bowed deeply at Vincent’s arrival.
Without hesitation, Vincent shoved me inside before giving an order.
“Make sure no one comes near the bedroom until I return.”
“Yes, understood.”
As soon as the door shut, the silence that had loomed around him all evening shattered.
He turned toward me, striding forward with purpose.
His crimson eyes, once calm, burned with the emotions he had been suppressing.
I instinctively stepped back.
But that only worked in his favor.
I backed up straight into the bed.
The soft mattress gave way beneath me, and in an instant, he was above me, pinning me down.
His voice, low and dangerous, sent shivers down my spine.
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
