What the hell is this?
Yeo-min doubted whether the scene unfolding before his eyes was real. Of course, the stench wafting from the decaying corpse quickly made him realize this wasn’t a dream.
Raising a hand to cover his nose and mouth, Yeo-min flipped over the lifeless body. He could tell right away that it wasn’t Seo-yul from the man’s sturdy build, but he still needed to confirm the identity of the unfortunate soul.
‘That attendant from before.’
It was the servant Vincent Shining had hired after kicking him out. Shaking off the dried blood, Yeo-min straightened up—only to belatedly notice the figure lying on the bed.
Even from a distance, he could tell it wasn’t Seo-yul. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize Seo-yul after seeing him countless times. Still, just in case, he cautiously approached the bed.
‘Han Se-yul….’
At first, he thought he was seeing things. And for good reason—this wasn’t District 5, but District 1, and more specifically, Vincent Shining’s bedroom. There was no way Han Se-yul could be here.
But no matter how many times he looked, the person lying on that bed was undeniably Han Se-yul. Even though it had been a long time since he last saw him, Yeo-min recognized Se-yul in an instant.
Instinctively reaching out, Yeo-min caught himself and withdrew his hand. He had to leave this place. A severed connection should never be mended.
Especially now, when the end was near.
“…Ha.”
Letting out the breath he’d been holding, Yeo-min turned away. He was about to leave the bedroom and resume his search for Seo-yul when someone grabbed his wrist. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“…Who are you?”
Se-yul’s voice was faint, as if he had only just regained consciousness. But the grip on Yeo-min’s wrist was unbelievably strong, as though Se-yul was pouring all his remaining strength into it.
The room was dark, but the sliver of light spilling in from the open door was enough for them to see each other’s faces. The pressure on his wrist tightened, as if demanding him to turn around.
“Ugh.”
“I asked… who you are.”
Se-yul’s voice grew clearer than before. Unable to wait any longer, he climbed out of bed and grabbed Yeo-min’s shoulder. The moment the stranger slowly turned to face him, Se-yul couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.
“Choi Yeo…min?”
Why was someone from his past—someone who had already become a mere memory—here? And of all places, why in Vincent Shining’s bedroom?
His mind, tangled in confusion, struggled to make sense of the situation. As Se-yul stood frozen, unable to process the sight before him, Yeo-min released his lower lip from between his teeth.
“…I’m sorry.”
With that quiet apology, he struck Se-yul hard at the nape of his neck. Caught completely off guard, Se-yul lost consciousness in an instant.
It wasn’t something he should have done to someone who had just woken up, but there was no time to waste being held back. After justifying his actions to himself, Yeo-min carefully lifted Se-yul’s limp body and placed him back on the bed.
‘He looks exactly the same as when he was a kid.’
His fingertips brushed against Se-yul’s cheek. Though Se-yul, unconscious, showed no reaction, Yeo-min flinched and hastily withdrew his hand.
The reason he had first been drawn to Seo-yul was because of Se-yul. They only shared the same jet-black hair and dark eyes, yet the atmosphere around them—the subtle presence they exuded—was enough to make it impossible to look away.
‘That was a long time ago.’
Now, his heart belongs entirely to Seo-yul. But once, Se-yul had meant a great deal to him. Perhaps, he had even been his first love. That must have been why this moment felt so bittersweet.
Se-yul had adored Seo-yul. Despite only being able to see his brother for a few days each year, he had loved him so dearly that Yeo-min had even found himself jealous of someone whose face he had never seen.
And so, he felt guilty. By the time this night was over, Seo-yul would disappear somewhere deep, beyond reach. Se-yul would never see him again—unless Seo-yul wanted him to.
Leaving the sleeping Se-yul behind, Yeo-min exited the bedroom. Now was not the time to get lost in past ties. He had to find Seo-yul.
‘He’s still in the mansion.’
During the Day of the District, all movements in and out of the mansion were strictly monitored. That meant whoever had killed the servant and taken Seo-yul was still here, somewhere inside.
There wasn’t much time left before he would have to press the switch in his pocket. In the chaos that would follow the fall of the moon, he had to escape with Seo-yul.
So there was no room for hesitation.
Clenching his trembling fingers into a fist, Yeo-min forced himself to erase the lingering sentiment swelling in his chest. Even that was a luxury he couldn’t afford right now.
***
“There’s no one here! Somebody, help me!”
He pounded on the door, screaming until his voice turned hoarse, but there was no response. He could tell he was still somewhere inside the mansion, but he hadn’t expected to end up in a place so utterly deserted.
Maybe it was like the area around Jeremy’s bedroom, where guests were strictly forbidden from entering. No, that was the most likely explanation.
Which meant there was no chance of someone just happening to pass by and help him.
“Open the door, you fucking bastards!”
Unable to hold back his frustration, he kicked the door repeatedly, but all he accomplished was making his own foot ache. Eventually, he gave up and collapsed onto the floor. This wasn’t getting him anywhere.
How the hell do I get out of here?
The sixth bell had already rung, and with each passing moment, his anxiety only grew. By now, Choi Yeo-min had probably come looking for him. If he missed this chance, there would be no other way out of the mansion.
He wanted to curse until his throat gave out, but with nothing in his stomach, he barely had the energy. With a heavy sigh, he sprawled out on the cold floor.
Staring up at the yellowed ceiling, he forced himself to sit back up. No—lying here wasn’t going to solve anything. He had to do something, anything.
Taking a deep breath, he gripped the doorknob and yanked it with all his strength. After a long, grueling struggle, the metal, which had been firmly lodged in place, finally gave way with a snap.
“Ah, fuck—!”
Losing his balance, he tumbled backward, the broken doorknob still clutched in his hand. His mind went blank for a moment, too stunned to react, until he noticed the door creaking open.
It actually worked.
The battle had been long, but the victory was his. Tossing the useless metal piece aside, he held his breath and peered through the crack in the door.
No one was standing guard. They must have been overconfident in the lock. Then again, no one would have expected a frail omega to break down a door and escape.
I really was inside the mansion.
As soon as he stepped out, the first thing he saw was the red drapery hanging from the ceiling. They had decorated all the corridors like this for the Day of the District.
Moving cautiously, he kept his body pressed against the towering columns, slipping through the halls as quietly as possible. When he reached the end of the passageway, he spotted a familiar figure walking toward the room he had just escaped from.
If I’d been even a little slower, I wouldn’t have made it out.
But it was too soon to feel relieved. The moment they realized he was missing, they would start searching. He had to find someone who could protect him before that happened.
—Seo-yul hyung.
The first person that came to mind, ridiculously enough, was him. That damned Vincent Shining. A bitter smile flickered across his lips before vanishing just as quickly.
“Fucking hell!”
A string of curses rang out in the distance.
With a loud bang, the door was flung open, and the man stormed inside without noticing him hidden behind the column. Only after the man’s footsteps faded did he peel his back away from the stone surface.
He took off in the opposite direction.
He had no idea where this path led, but as long as he was still inside the mansion, he would eventually come across somewhere familiar.
Anywhere. Anyone.
He ran and ran until his legs trembled too much to move. Gasping for breath, he finally recognized the space before him.
The central greenhouse.
The vast greenhouse was eerily silent, with not a soul in sight. Staggering down the short steps, he stepped onto the soft grass. Only when he saw the moonlit lake shimmering before him did laughter spill from his lips.
I made it. I really made it.
“Hah… haha, hahaha.”
The relief of escaping washed over him, and he couldn’t stop laughing.
Moving toward the lake, he finally caught a glimpse of his reflection in the clear water—and saw the state he was in.
Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t run into anyone.
His face and clothes were stained with dried blood. Most likely the servant’s blood. The memory of that moment resurfaced, making his stomach churn.
Tearing his gaze away, he spotted a shadow approaching the garden.
Had they already come looking for him? His eyes darted around, searching for a place to hide, when a familiar voice called his name.
“Seo-yul.”
It was Choi Yeo-min.
