Holding Vin’s hand, I arrived at the garden. Thanks to the mansion’s lighting, which was brighter than usual, the garden—normally pitch-dark at night—was now illuminated enough to see ahead.
“Do you think anyone saw us?”
“Yeah, I don’t think so.”
Only after reaching a spot out of people’s sight did Vin finally let go of my hand. As I caught my breath, Vin looked around, then took off the suffocating wig and glasses, shaking out his tousled hair.
“That must’ve been really hot.”
“Rather than hot, it was just a bit stifling.”
Now back to his original appearance, Vin smiled brightly under the moonlight. When I stepped closer and tidied up his disheveled hair, he lowered his head to make it easier for me.
“There, all done.”
Black hair suited him well, but he was even prettier as himself. I found myself staring absentmindedly at his flame-colored hair shimmering dreamily under the moonlight when Vin, still holding my hand, sat down on the soft grass first.
“Seo-yul hyung, sit too.”
I took off the cloak draped over my shoulders and gently sat down beside Vin. Naturally, my gaze drifted up toward the sky, where the cold moon hung.
I stared at the artificial lights devoid of any warmth before closing my eyes. Maybe it was just my imagination, but the sound of insects chirping in the forest seemed louder than the music playing in the mansion.
“When will it end?”
“It’s still a long way off.”
“I’m already exhausted.”
I opened my eyes and rested my cheek against my raised knee. If I could, I would return to my room, fill the hot tub with steaming water, and soak in a bath.
But as Vin said, the party wouldn’t be over anytime soon. Han Jae-hoon still had to greet all the guests, then everyone would raise their glasses to toast my birthday before he announced the next district leader. Even roughly estimating, there were at least three more hours to go.
“It feels so far away.”
Even though I had already decided to accept it, the position of the next district leader still weighed heavily on me. Just imagining the moment Han Jae-hoon introduced me in front of everyone made my heart lurch—how was I supposed to handle it?
As I let out a deep sigh, Vin, mirroring me, rested his cheek against his knee and met my eyes. In his vivid flame-colored irises, my gloomy expression was clearly reflected.
“The announcement is coming soon, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Are you worried?”
“Yeah, a lot.”
Vin slowly reached out and gently rubbed my forehead. His cold touch lingered, leaving behind a distinct sensation, as if a line had been drawn across my skin. That spot felt colder than the rest.
“Do you want to run away?”
His sweet whisper sent a visible tremor through my eyes, unable to hide my true feelings. Honestly, I was tempted. I couldn’t leave this suffocating place on my own, so I had secretly wished for someone to take me away.
“Let’s run away together, Seo-yul hyung.”
Vin stretched out his hand toward me, as if waiting for me to take it. Countless times in my mind, I had already reached for that hand. But unfortunately, no matter how much I focused on the sound of the crickets in the grass, the distant music from the mansion still lingered in my ears.
“How could I? They’d cause a huge fuss if I disappeared.”
“That’s true.”
His crimson eyes quickly concealed their disappointment, curving into their usual gentle smile. If we had stayed like that a little longer, I might have actually taken his hand. Instead, I clenched my hesitating fingers into a fist and lifted my cheek from my knee.
“Should we go back?”
This brief escape was enough. Leaving the stifling banquet hall for a breath of fresh air had helped, but it was time to return to reality.
I stood up and brushed off the bits of grass clinging to my clothes. Just as I reached out to pick up the cloak I had set aside, a hand shot out and grabbed me.
“Ow, Vin.”
His grip on my wrist was so tight that the veins on the back of his hand stood out, deep blue against his pale skin. Even when I called his name again, his hold didn’t loosen.
“Ugh!”
Before I could react, my vision flipped upside down. When I came to my senses, I was lying on the soft grass. Above me, framed against the dark sky, was Vin, staring down at me.
“Seo-yul hyung.”
He called my name in a low voice. Something about his tone felt different, making me tense up. I pushed against his shoulder to move him away, but he didn’t budge.
“You smell good.”
“What?”
Muttering to himself, Vin suddenly lowered his head and buried his nose in my neck. Every warm breath he exhaled tickled against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Move. You’re acting weird.”
“You smell like cocoa, Seo-yul hyung.”
At his unexpected words, my eyes widened. Vin slowly lifted his head, staring at me intently. Backlit by the glow of the night, his crimson eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
Vin’s uncharacteristic behavior sent a wave of unease crashing over me. I needed to get out of here. The moment my instincts blared like a siren, the scent suddenly poured over me like a waterfall.
“Ugh.”
I raised my hand to cover my nose, trying to block out the suffocating fragrance that wrapped around me like a vice. But no matter how hard I tried to hold my breath, it was useless. The overwhelming scent seeped through my skin, shaking me to my core.
“Wait, Vin, I— I can’t breathe.”
I turned to the side, trying to escape from him, but his arms caged me in, blocking my way. My heart pounded wildly, making it even harder to breathe, and to make things worse, my vision started to blur.
I gasped for air, drowning in the dizzying scent, when I suddenly felt another person’s breath drawing closer. Soft strands of hair brushed against my sweat-dampened neck, tickling my skin as they trailed downward. But before Vin could move any further, the sound of footsteps echoed in the distance.
“Young Master!”
At the sound of the butler calling for me, the intoxicating fragrance vanished. I seized the moment and pushed myself up with all my strength. Caught off guard, Vin toppled onto the grass.
“I….”
His crimson eyes swirled with confusion, darting back and forth as if struggling to make sense of what had just happened. This was the Vin I knew—bewildered, lost. Completely different from the strange presence he had been moments ago.
“Butler, I’m over here!”
Fixing my disheveled clothes, I called toward the voice. The approaching footsteps weren’t just from the butler. More people were coming. I quickly grabbed Vin’s wig and glasses and tossed them to him.
“Vin, people are coming.”
“…Ah.”
While Vin hastily put on his disguise, the butler arrived, glancing between the two of us hidden in the darkened garden. He clutched his chest in relief.
“You disappeared without a word. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”
“Sorry, I just needed some fresh air.”
The butler let out a deep sigh before urging me to return before Han Jae-hoon noticed my absence. I handed him the cloak I had loosely draped over my shoulders and turned back to Vin.
“Vin.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go back.”
Hesitantly, Vin stepped forward, sneaking his hand toward me. For a brief moment, the unfamiliar look in his eyes from earlier flashed in my mind, and I almost flinched away.
“…Come here.”
Thankfully, I caught myself in time and reached for his hand first. Behind his glasses, his uneasy, wavering eyes settled the moment he felt my grasp.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
The suffocating scent had vanished without a trace. Had that overpowering fragrance affected Vin as well? With no way to find an answer, I pushed the thought aside and made my way back to the banquet hall.
“Hyung, where did you go?”
The moment I stepped inside, Se-yul clung to my side. I let go of Vin’s hand, loosening the tie constricting my throat as I quickly scanned my surroundings.
“Where’s the water?”
“Over there.”
Following Se-yul’s pointing finger, I hurried my steps. I had thought I was fine, but I wasn’t. The scent still lingered around me, and after a brief delay, a relentless fever was beginning to take hold.
‘I need to take my medicine.’
I headed to the refreshment table in the corner of the banquet hall. Taking the pills from my pocket, I slipped them into my mouth and reached for a glass with trembling hands.
The pill slid down my dry throat. Now, I just had to wait for it to take effect. But there were too many people. The noise, the lights—everything was overwhelming. It felt like I might lose consciousness at any moment.
“Seo-yul hyung.”
Vin had found me again, reaching out, but I instinctively flinched back. He stopped immediately. Behind his glasses, his crimson eyes wavered with barely concealed hurt, but instead of stepping away, he steadied me as I swayed.
“Are you okay? Your face is pale.”
“I think I have a fever.”
“A fever?”
His cool hand pressed against my forehead, checking my temperature. Confirming his suspicion, Vin immediately glanced around, likely searching for the butler. I grabbed his wrist, shaking my head. The medicine would work soon—I didn’t want to make a scene.
“Seo-yul hyung…”
“Just a little longer… I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Pushing Vin’s hand away, I forced myself forward. My vision, once clear, suddenly wavered. And before I knew it, I was collapsing onto the cold marble floor.
“Baby!”
Pushing through the crowd, Han Jae-hoon rushed to me, gathering my limp body into his arms. My already blurry vision darkened even further. Jae-hoon, the butler, Se-yul, Vin—everyone’s voices became distant.
‘I need to get up.’
My hazy mind told me to move, but I couldn’t even lift a finger. My slow-blinking eyelids finally closed completely, and as they did, the deafening noise around me faded into silence.
