“I was just about to leave.”
The moment he heard that sharp-edged voice, the man’s eyes narrowed slightly. He shouldn’t let his emotions show, but with Seo-yul right behind him, he couldn’t suppress them completely.
Clenching his trembling fingertips into a fist, he barely managed to smooth out his crumpling expression. He even attempted to lift the corners of his lips, but that was beyond his ability.
“It certainly looks that way.”
The master of the district took a step closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Then, he glanced behind him at the people following. Only then did the man ease his previously fierce expression.
“Shall we take a walk together for a moment, Vincent?”
The moment the words left the district master’s lips, he turned away first. Vincent had expected him to take Seo-yul with him immediately, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Had he not yet met with the leader of District 5? Or had he met with him but still behaved this way? Or perhaps the reason he had come looking for Vincent had nothing to do with Seo-yul at all.
Shoving aside the swirling thoughts, he spoke to the attendant who had quietly sidled up beside him.
“Don’t let anyone into the bedroom.”
“Understood.”
After entrusting Seo-yul’s care to them, Vincent followed the district master as he walked away. People gathered in the hallway acknowledged them with polite greetings, but he ignored them all.
The district master moved past the banquet hall, bypassing the staircase, heading toward the central greenhouse. It seemed access had been restricted in advance, as there was no one else in sight except for the two of them.
The master of the district, who hadn’t looked back once on the way there, finally turned as soon as he stepped onto the lush green grass of the greenhouse.
“Come here.”
Even with age, his beauty remained untouched by time. He gestured with a smile that was as radiant as ever. It was an unwelcome summons, but Vincent played the role of the obedient son and stepped forward.
“I believe we can have an uninterrupted, meaningful conversation here.”
If that were truly the goal, he could have simply waited for Vincent in his office. The reason he had come in person was undoubtedly to pressure him.
Vincent gazed at the master of the district, standing bathed in the bright moonlight. Only then did he begin to notice what had escaped him earlier.
“Your cheek is slightly swollen.”
As he lightly tapped the district master’s cheek and spoke, the older man widened his eyes, as if suddenly remembering something he had forgotten. But the moment of surprise was fleeting.
Raising his hand slowly, the district master rubbed his cheek. Whether the pain still lingered, he briefly furrowed his brows, but he didn’t look displeased at all. If anything, he seemed to like it.
“I thought taking a hit might ease my anger, but it did nothing of the sort.”
It was no secret within the district that there was something strange about the relationship between the two district leaders. The master of District 1, indifferent to most, treated the leader of District 5 with a distinct kind of attention.
Still, each had their own family, and in particular, the master of District 1 had countless concubines. So the rumors circulating were dismissed as baseless gossip, stories spun by those with nothing better to do.
But now, Vincent was certain. The truth was different.
“Did the leader of District 5 demand the return of his son?”
Now that he knew the district master had met with him, there was no need to beat around the bush. Instead of answering, the district master simply turned away, stepping deeper into the greenhouse.
If Vincent wanted to continue this conversation, he had no choice but to follow. Exhaling a slow breath, he walked toward the district master, who had stopped near the lake.
“Does the boy wish to stay by your side?”
As Vincent reached him, the district master turned and asked. The unexpected question caught him off guard, and for a moment, he couldn’t lie. The slight tremble in his crimson eyes spoke more honestly than words ever could.
“If he does not wish to remain with you, what will you do?”
“…It doesn’t matter.”
After a brief silence, Vincent finally responded, his voice steady. At that, the district master simply smiled. Being a Shining must come with certain inevitabilities—because even in this, they were eerily alike.
—Return my son to me.
That had been Han Jae-hoon’s very first words upon entering his bedroom. Luis had anticipated as much, but the fact that he cut straight to the point without so much as a greeting left a bitter taste.
So, yes, he had been a little difficult on purpose. He could admit that. But he hadn’t expected Jae-hoon to slap him for it. Though, in hindsight, perhaps he had deserved it.
—I made a promise to Vincent. If he became the next district leader, I would give him whatever he wanted.
Of course, at the time, he hadn’t believed the day would actually come. But for the sake of District 1, he had to fulfill his part now.
He wanted nothing more than to cast out that disgusting Omega immediately, but what could he do when his son wanted him? Worse still, the next Shining could only be seen in that Omega—making it all the more impossible to let him go.
—Jae-hoon, I cannot grant your request.
His voice carried sincere regret, but Jae-hoon refused to listen. He jerked his hand away, his gaze filled with resentment.
—But I can arrange for you to briefly meet with your son.
The district master spoke hurriedly, managing to stop Jae-hoon just before he turned away. The word briefly clearly displeased him, and for a moment, he seemed ready to protest. But in the end, he merely nodded.
That was why the district master had deliberately come all the way here—to pull Vincent away from the bedroom, keeping him at a distance.
Whether Jae-hoon had actually met his son by now, he didn’t know.
And after this, it would no longer be his concern. It couldn’t be.
“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving.”
Unable to bear the prolonged silence any longer, Vincent gave a slight nod and turned away. Contrary to his expectations, the district master didn’t try to stop him as he walked away.
Had he really come all this way just to have such a meaningless conversation? Or was he hiding another motive? Vincent remained on edge, but he knew better than to try and read a Shining’s true intentions.
What a pointless waste of time.
***
As promised, the district master took Vincent away somewhere, disappearing from sight. Han Jae-hoon, who had been lurking among the crowd gathered in hopes of exchanging a word with the district master, moved the moment Vincent was gone.
He headed straight for the bedroom.
“You cannot enter.”
Jae-hoon had heard that all the guards had been sent to patrol the estate, but one man still remained stationed outside the bedroom door.
There was no time for lengthy explanations. Left with no other choice, Jae-hoon swiftly took down the one blocking his way.
“Ugh—”
“Just sleep for a little while.”
A sharp strike to the back of the neck, and the guard’s wary eyes grew unfocused before his body slumped. Jae-hoon carefully leaned him against the wall before forcefully pushing open the tightly shut bedroom door.
“Seo-yul!”
The room was nearly pitch dark, the blackout curtains drawn tightly closed. Relying on the faint light spilling in through the open door, Jae-hoon scanned the room. Soon, his eyes landed on a shifting shadow atop the bed.
“F-Father…?”
A familiar voice called his name. Then, stumbling off the bed, the figure that emerged was unmistakably the son he had longed to see.
Fighting back the tears welling up, Jae-hoon rushed to him. Seo-yul, frozen in shock at his sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment before awkwardly opening his arms.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No… I’m fine.”
Seo-yul had always been small, even back in District 5, but seeing him again after so long, he looked even more frail.
As Jae-hoon pulled away slightly, he finally noticed what he had failed to see at first.
The unmistakable marks covering his bare skin told him everything that had happened here. He didn’t even dare to look at the ruined state of the bed.
Because if he did, he was certain he would lose the last shred of control he was holding onto.
“You…”
Jae-hoon was at a complete loss for words, staring at Seo-yul in shock. It was only then that Seo-yul seemed to realize his own state, hurriedly pulling the blanket over himself.
Jae-hoon needed to reassure him. But no words came out.
What kind of father could witness this and still remain sane?
“I’m fine. Please don’t worry,” Seo-yul said with a strained smile, trying to comfort him instead.
Jae-hoon barely managed to suppress his emotions, reaching out to gently pat Seo-yul’s trembling shoulders.
Right. He had to remember why he had come here. That was the only thing that mattered now.
“Seo-yul, let’s go home.”
His sole reason for coming to District 1 was to take Seo-yul back.
The laws of the district were meaningless—just as Vincent had forcibly taken Seo-yul, Jae-hoon would do the same if necessary.
But not yet.
At least not until the Day of the District ended. As the representative of District 5, he couldn’t make a move so easily.
The only option was to wait for the day when everyone left the estate.
Now that he knew exactly where Seo-yul was, all he had to do was find the right moment. It wouldn’t be difficult.
At least, that was what he thought.
“I’m sorry. I can’t go.”
But Seo-yul refused.
