As the tension eased, my legs, which had barely been holding me up, collapsed beneath me. Choi Yeo-min, who had rushed over in a panic, knelt down beside me as I sank to the ground.
“Are you okay?”
His urgent gaze scanned my condition. I nodded blankly. Seeing that the blood splattered on my face and clothes wasn’t mine, he let out a relieved sigh.
“Thank god… really…”
Choi Yeo-min muttered as he pulled me into an embrace. I could feel his body trembling against mine. Hesitating for a moment, I raised my hand and patted his broad back.
“Are you crying?”
“…No. I’m not crying.”
Despite his words, his voice wavered. A quiet, breathy laugh slipped from my lips, and noticing it, he quickly released me as if trying to prove he was fine. His face was composed—except for the tip of his nose, which was flushed red.
Slowly, I turned my gaze to the passage ahead—empty, silent. For just a brief moment, when Choi Yeo-min called my name, my heart had stirred violently.
I had wondered if it was you who had come looking for me…
“Seo-yul, the bell rang six times.”
Choi Yeo-min carefully took my hand as he spoke. It was only then that I remembered our promise. I nodded.
On the final day when the bell rang six times, Choi Yeo-min and I had vowed to leave this place. To escape from this hell he spoke of—to finally, completely break free from you, who had entangled me so cruelly.
“I’m all set.”
Choi Yeo-min reached into his pocket and pulled out a small switch. I didn’t ask what it was, but I could easily guess what it would bring about.
I knew that many people would get hurt—or die. But I chose to turn a blind eye.
When I nodded, the unease that had clouded his face lifted, brightening into relief.
“You’re not having second thoughts, right?”
“…No.”
“That’s all that matters.”
He smiled faintly and helped me to my feet. It had been a long time since I’d last eaten anything, and I felt weak. Leaning against him for support, I took a step forward.
Originally, we had planned to leave before the seventh bell rang. But from the way Choi Yeo-min looked, it seemed like he intended to leave right now.
As we walked through the empty passage beyond the central greenhouse, I finally came to a stop.
“Can you give me just a little time?”
I couldn’t leave like this. Since this was the last time, I had to sever everything completely so that our ties would never reconnect—my lingering attachment, your feelings.
“Who are you—”
Choi Yeo-min started to speak but quickly shut his mouth. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he let go of the hand he had been holding so tightly. His expression, which had briefly clouded over, smoothed out as he forced a small smile.
“Come back before the bell rings. I’ll be right here.”
“…Thank you.”
With that brief farewell, I turned my back on Choi Yeo-min. Then, following the path I remembered, I ran.
To the place where he was—the place I had never thought I would willingly return to.
***
“He ran away.”
Hearing the report, Jeremy didn’t bother hiding the sheer contempt on his face. Was it really so difficult to guard a single Omega? And yet, in that short window, he had escaped.
Jeremy pressed his fingers against his throbbing temple, trying to suppress his irritation. The man standing before him squirmed uncomfortably at the sight of Jeremy’s increasingly twisted expression.
Among the many children of the District Leader, Joshua was undoubtedly the most infamous for his foul temper. But despite looking almost identical to him, Jeremy was known for being far more gentle and reserved.
However, watching him now—tensed with unspoken rage—it was clear they were twins born from the same womb. He didn’t even have to raise his voice; the way he exuded anger was identical to Joshua.
“Shall we go after him?”
“No, leave him.”
Han Seo-yul was nothing more than a tool to shake Vincent Shining. There was no need to bother.
Waving a dismissive hand, Jeremy signaled for the man to leave. Bowing deeply, the man swiftly disappeared.
Now alone, Jeremy clenched his jaw, swallowing his anger. Only after a long while did he finally rise from his seat.
He stood in front of the mirror and finished the rest of his preparations. Then, stepping out of the room, he walked down the quiet corridor.
It had been some time since the sixth bell had rung, and a considerable number of people had already gathered in the banquet hall.
“We greet the young master of the District.”
Those who acknowledged him gave their formal greetings, and he responded with a slight nod. Since he was a Shining of a paler shade, there were no sycophants clinging to him, but he preferred it that way.
“Jeremy.”
At the familiar, cheerful call, he lifted his head.
Joshua was approaching with his arms wide open. The brilliant moonlight pouring through the transparent ceiling made his vivid red hair gleam.
It was almost nauseatingly red.
“Did you get some rest?”
“It’s always the same.”
He answered in a slightly sullen voice, but Joshua, oblivious as ever, didn’t seem to notice. Just when it seemed like he was about to step back, he instead leaned in, pressing his lips close to Jeremy’s ear.
“What about what we talked about before?”
Of course. He had wondered why Joshua was suddenly acting so friendly in front of all these people. Letting out a deep sigh, Jeremy gave a half-hearted nod. There was no need to mention that Han Seo-yul had escaped.
“After tonight, it’s all over.”
Joshua’s eyes were filled with anxiety. If he was so worried, he should have handled it himself instead of hiding behind Jeremy. No doubt he was keeping his distance in case things didn’t go as planned.
What was he supposed to do with such a selfish brother, someone who only cared about himself? Jeremy clenched his trembling fingers into a fist and forced his usual gentle smile.
“The young master of the District has arrived!”
At the loud greeting, the crowd in the banquet hall turned their attention toward a single point. Pushing Joshua aside, Jeremy caught sight of the man descending the white staircase.
His presence alone was awe-inspiring.
Jeremy had long since accepted that he could never possess what Vincent Shining had. That fact was so absolute that it didn’t even allow room for jealousy.
Vincent rarely appeared at banquets, so the guests were visibly excited. He was not only the most likely candidate for the next District Leader but also the one who shone the brightest under the moonlight.
Even as he stood among those desperate to flatter him, his attention was elsewhere.
“Ina.”
The name he called belonged to another Shining. Ina, who had been conversing with an old acquaintance, stiffened for a brief moment before smoothing her expression and stepping toward him.
A faint smile spread across Vincent’s otherwise impassive face. What happened next left the room in silence.
He bent down and whispered something into Ina’s ear.
At a glance, it looked like a tender moment. Considering Ina was the only one Vincent had ever danced with, it was natural for people to suspect there was something between them.
Those unaware of the sharp scent of pheromones in the air might believe that. But the Shining in the banquet hall knew—this was no affectionate conversation.
Of course, the whisper was too quiet for anyone to make out exactly what was being said.
“I’m counting on you,” Vincent murmured in a gentle voice.
With so many eyes on them, Ina couldn’t even let out an exasperated sigh. She simply nodded. Satisfied, Vincent gave a faint smile before turning away.
Once their conversation ended, he left the banquet hall. Ina, rubbing the back of her neck, turned back to resume the discussion that had been interrupted.
“What exactly is the relationship between Lord Vincent and Lady Ina?”
Someone finally dared to ask the question that had been on everyone’s mind.
Ina wanted to snap at them for spouting nonsense, to curse them out, but she kept her tone neutral.
“We share the same father. We’re siblings.”
Despite her answer, the misunderstanding in their eyes didn’t fade. She found it too tedious to explain further. It didn’t matter—by tomorrow, any lingering misconceptions would disappear on their own.
—Find someone for me.
It had been a while since the sixth bell rang when Vincent had suddenly appeared before her.
Gone was his usual composed demeanor. He was anxious—shaking, even.
Caught off guard, Ina asked who exactly he was looking for.
“My Omega is gone,” he had said.
The one he had treasured so much, the one he had kept locked away in his bedroom.
After calming him down, Ina immediately ordered the soldiers to search the entire estate.
District 1’s mansion was absurdly large, but if the soldiers combed through it, finding a single Omega wouldn’t take long.
She couldn’t understand why a mere Omega was so important to him. Shining men were known to take many concubines, so why was he so fixated on having just one mate?
It was just an Omega.
Even with the soldiers deployed, Vincent couldn’t conceal his unease. Unable to sit still, he went off to search for his Omega himself.
There was still time before the final banquet began, but no one knew when the District Leader would make his entrance. Vincent had to return before then.
‘No matter how I look at it, I think I backed the wrong horse.’
