The problem was the books.
No matter what storms arose in this household, no matter how the respectable young men fiercely competed in a tense atmosphere, it was essentially none of Jung Tae-ui’s concern.
His plan was simple: quietly find the books Kyle wanted, say his farewells, and be done with it. Like a mere bystander, he would drift through the mansion as if he were there and not, searching for those books. That was the thought Jung Tae-ui held in his heart.
However, from the very beginning, that hope showed signs it would not be smooth. Perhaps the last chance to turn back was when the guard at the iron-barred gate said, “There’s no such person here.”
By the time he realized the truth, that opportunity had long since passed, and Jung Tae-ui had no choice but to fulfill the duty entrusted to him within this pit of discord.
“Where the hell are these damn books...”
Jung Tae-ui muttered with a sigh.
The books Christoph had taken from Kyle numbered about a dozen.
Yet, none of them were visible on Christoph’s small bookshelf before him.
As Jung Tae-ui had seen many times in Kyle’s collection, each book was old. Their appearance differed markedly from common books, so they would not blend in unnoticed among others.
He stared quietly at the small bookshelf, then slowly turned his gaze.
Within arm’s reach from the shelf stood a huge bed. Christoph lay beneath the covers pulled tightly up to his neck.
When Jung Tae-ui knocked and entered the bedroom, Christoph briefly opened one eye and glanced at him, then frowned as if annoyed and closed his eyes again. A few seconds later, the crease between his brows disappeared, suggesting he was truly asleep, not pretending.
Though Jung Tae-ui had just recently been told not to enter the bedroom even if standing at the threshold, last night Christoph had whimsically called through the intercom, “Wake me at seven in the morning.”
Staring quietly at the now-disconnected handset, Jung Tae-ui pondered whether it was really alright to enter Christoph’s room and wake him at seven the next day.
But he had no way to call back without knowing the intercom number, so he ended up in the current situation: knocking on the bedroom door without response, then entering without permission.
“Chris. You said wake me at seven. It’s seven.”
Jung Tae-ui spoke, but Christoph, deep in sleep, showed no reaction—only steady breathing.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jung Tae-ui scanned the bedroom thoroughly but found nothing he was looking for.
In fact, there weren’t many books in the bedroom—only a small bookshelf beside the bed. He’d heard there was a separate study, so perhaps the books were there.
Peering into every corner while the room’s owner slept, the books he sought were nowhere to be found.
Then again, it would be strange if they were that easy to find.
Scratching his head, Jung Tae-ui sighed. Yet anxiety and unease churned restlessly in his chest.
He had to find them quickly and leave. Time was running out.
No, he no longer could accurately estimate how much time remained. Or perhaps it was pointless to try.
“...Ah, damn it...”
Jung Tae-ui dragged a neatly placed stool from below the bed and plopped down with a groan.
The tragic news had arrived just after Christoph’s sudden phone call and disconnection last night.
Curious about what change of heart had allowed him access to his bedroom, Jung Tae-ui stared at the phone.
Then the phone rang again.
He wanted to call back to confirm, “Do you mean for me to enter the bedroom you forbid me to enter and wake you?” but lacking the intercom number, he hesitated.
When the call came again within seconds, he had no doubt it was Christoph.
“Hey, why?”
Answering as if to say, “Did you want to tell me not to come in again?” there was a brief silence, then a voice said, “Were you waiting for a call?” causing Jung Tae-ui to hesitate.
“No, no. Christoph just called and hung up a moment ago, so I thought it was him. But what’s going on, Kyle?”
Jung Tae-ui answered warmly. Kyle’s amused laugh came through.
“So you’re still getting along with Christoph, huh?”
“Ah—well—”
Jung Tae-ui wanted to answer but couldn’t.
Considering Christoph’s cold gaze and indifferent tone, he couldn’t tell if they were really on good terms. Still, he wondered if he should say, “Well, I guess they get along since Christoph isn’t in danger yet.” This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.
“How about the books? Found any?”
“No, not at all. But I’ll go wake him tomorrow morning and check the bedroom.”
“...Ah, so things have improved between you two.”
Though he didn’t know how things had improved, Jung Tae-ui nodded and accepted it.
Scratching his head, he thought about Kyle’s human relations briefly before changing the subject.
“By the way, has Illye contacted you? Don’t tell me he tried contacting while you weren’t there again...”
“...Ah. That.”
Again, another vague answer.
His once calm heart began to beat ominously.
“He called while I wasn’t around, but apparently Rita answered.”
“...”
Kyle’s embarrassed voice tickled his ear.
No, Rita must be on my side. Even though she seems strict and cold, I know she’s actually kind.
Pressing firmly on his aching chest, Jung Tae-ui pressed, “So?”
Kyle finally spoke after a pause.
“She apparently unknowingly told him you were out. So she said to try contacting you on your cellphone.”
“...”
His cellphone was left behind in Berlin.
Recalling how his cellphone must have rung uselessly beside his bed, Jung Tae-ui felt the blood drain from his face.
“So... Kyle, did you...?”
“I tried to contact Illye but couldn’t get through. So I haven’t relayed the message yet...”
The handset slipped from his ear. His hands grew pale, his nails turning blue as if from cold.
Noticing the silence, Kyle hurried to add,
“No, I’ll try contacting him again. Don’t worry. He’s not stupid enough to think you ran away.”
More precisely, he thought Jung Tae-ui wasn’t foolish enough to run away from him.
Suddenly, the world darkened. Jung Tae-ui felt utterly alone. He had no one on his side. Even Kyle and Rita, whom he trusted, might have been waiting for this opportunity. Paranoid and unfair thoughts flared.
Trying to comfort the suddenly gloomy Jung Tae-ui, Kyle insisted he’d contact Illye again, but Jung Tae-ui barely heard him and hung up.
One thing was clear.
Illye told Jung Tae-ui, “If you leave, you die.”
Jung Tae-ui had left Berlin.
Illye knew Jung Tae-ui had left.
Though prepared, it was a situation he wanted to avoid.
He wanted to quickly find the books and return, pretending nothing happened.
Now, only one conclusion remained.
He had to return home before that guy and pretend not to know anything.
If he was home and asked why he left and came back, they probably wouldn’t scold him. It might be tough, though.
Jung Tae-ui tore at his hair.
Yes, the problem was still the books. No matter what, he had to find them first. Then, whether by stealing or extorting, he’d flee back to Berlin.
Turning his gaze from the bookshelf, he stood beside the bed again and kicked the useless bed leg.
“It’s past seven. Not waking up?”
He looked down at Christoph buried deeply in a thick down comforter, despite the warming weather. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Christoph’s pale cheek showed a slight blush. His steady breathing was peaceful. Occasionally his eyelashes twitched.
“You’ll sleep forever...”
Like watching Sleeping Beauty in the forest, Jung Tae-ui lightly tapped his pounding chest and murmured.
He still looked like a sculpture. Breathing seemed miraculous. He wanted to stroke that face once, but forcibly restrained himself. Christoph’s aversion to touch, never tolerating anyone touching him, was well known.
“Not waking up? ...I’ll shake you awake. Can I touch you?”
Jung Tae-ui pretended to poke Christoph’s arm through the cover. Surely he wouldn’t make a fuss over being touched through the blanket...
But as soon as his finger’s weight pressed on the blanket, Christoph opened his eyes as if blinking like a doll.
He stared at the ceiling. After a few seconds and blinking a couple of times, he slowly shifted his gaze to the withdrawn Jung Tae-ui.
“...Get up. You said to wake me at seven. It’s past.”
“...Shut up...”
“You asked me to wake you...!”
That was Christoph’s reply to being woken.
Fighting the urge to grab his soft, smooth-looking cheek and tug hard, Jung Tae-ui frowned.
Christoph sat up on the bed, breathing heavily as if suffering from low blood pressure. Holding his forehead with one hand, he groaned softly.
“Ah... shut up... be quiet...”
“...?”
Jung Tae-ui looked at him with a puzzled expression, raising an eyebrow and glancing sideways.
Christoph, as if unaware of Jung Tae-ui’s presence, held his head with one hand and muttered while grinding his teeth softly.
“Shut up... my ears hurt...”
No outside sound came through the closed door and window. The only noise in the room was Christoph’s low mumbling.
Watching Christoph sigh or moan, indistinguishable, Jung Tae-ui whispered quietly with a slight frown.
“...Christoph... Chris?”
His shoulder twitched.
As if hearing a voice for the first time in his life, or as if something suddenly thrust its head out from nowhere, Christoph looked at Jung Tae-ui.
His eyes were helpless.
Like a mentally broken person, his gaze was unfocused.
His deep, sea-like eyes—the blue so intense it almost looked black—looked at Jung Tae-ui.
“...Chris.”
Unconsciously, Jung Tae-ui reached out his hand.
Christoph, seemingly absent-minded but perhaps unconsciously, slightly shrank away.
Jung Tae-ui stopped his hand.
Calling “Chris” once more, Christoph blinked once. His eyes opened and closed as usual—indifferent and expressionless.
“I hear sounds.”
His low voice mumbled almost like to himself.
“What sounds?”
“Continuously here... mumbling. Constantly. Like ants crawling in my ears, tiny and unceasing...”
Jung Tae-ui remained silent, then quietly said,
“I don’t hear any sounds.”