Prologue.

A morning rain poured heavily, seemingly endless, and by afternoon, the downpour began again with no sign of stopping. The wind carried the rain, relentlessly beating against the window panes before trickling down.

Lately, these rains came and went unexpectedly. After each heavy rain, the temperature dropped, and although it was late spring, it remained quite cold. When this rain stops, it will probably stay chilly for another day or two.

“The weather is really strange today……”

Jeong Taeui murmured as he stared at the rain pounding against the window in the living room, which faced the yard. It had been raining continuously for the past few days, but today the rain was particularly heavy.

But it’s fine like this.

Inside the house, it was hard to hear the rain through the thick glass windows. All Jeong Taeui could sense was the water trickling down the slightly swaying door.

It felt as if the entire world was submerged.

And beneath the floor, quietly and lazily, Jeong Taeui lay there.

He was sprawled on a thick rug under the curtain behind the sofa, in a discreet spot where no one would notice.

The freshly laundered curtains, dried in the sun yesterday, had a faint fresh scent. It was a pleasant aroma, perfect for a rainy day like this.

This was where Jeong Taeui often lazed around.

Although everyone in the family now knew he liked to nest here, it was still a perfect spot to bask in the sunlight or draw the curtains for shade without being seen.

The first time Rita caught him, Jeong Taeui was warned two or three times by the old lady not to lie in the corner on the floor like that anymore. However, seeing Jeong Taeui curling up in that cramped spot and doing his best to avoid her gaze, the old lady seemed to feel sorry for him, or perhaps found him quite pitiable, so she stopped scolding him. As a result, the small corner behind the sofa in the living room has now become Jeong Taeui’s familiar and quiet little nest.

It was really comfortable.

On a sunny afternoon, there’s nothing better than opening the window to let in a gentle breeze and occasionally dozing off under the shade of the curtain. And on a rainy day like today, it’s also wonderful to feel the coolness of the floor and listen to the faint, intermittent sound of rain through the window.

If it weren’t for Ilay occasionally coming out of the study or his office and sitting on the sofa right next to where Jeong Taeui lay, flipping through the newspaper and casually extending his arm off the sofa, pretending not to notice while patting Jeong Taeui, this little corner would be an incredibly satisfying place to rest. 

“It’s really nice……”

Jeong Taeui sighed wearily, closed his eyes, and mumbled to himself: “Today is a ‘completely peaceful day” It’s not too sunny, and there’s no need to worry about sudden storms. Kyle came home early today, so everyone is at home. There’s nothing urgent to do and no incidents or accidents causing any anxiety.

“Nice, today is just perfect.”

Jeong Taeui sighed contentedly.

Is there any other place better to freeload than this one?

By now, Jeong Taeui was so familiar with this house that he had forgotten he was living in someone else’s home and no longer thought about it.

Jeong Taeui had leisurely rolled around every nook and cranny of this house.

Thinking back, he had been living here like this for several years. Except for the rare occasions when he decided to go on vacation, he almost never stepped out of this neighborhood. The boundaries within which he could move freely were limited to a part of the neighborhood. Although it was almost in name only, unfortunately, Jeong Taeui was still considered a globally wanted terrorist.

Another wanted criminal, more ruthless than him, was also in this house, or rather, he often went out without any hesitation. Though he didn’t know what he was doing, there were times when this person said he had work to do and left, only to return within a few days.

At such times, Jeong Taeui felt that the world was truly unfair, but he didn’t feel too bitter about it. He wasn’t frustrated by having to stay at home because, in any case, the work Kyle asked him to help with was more than enough to keep him busy. The tasks that would take a skilled assistant like James only half a day to complete would take Jeong Taeui much longer.

And unfortunately, as Kyle’s company grew, the amount of work also seemed endless.

Well, thinking about it, he wasn’t shamelessly freeloading; after all, he was working hard to help the company. Jeong Taeui nodded proudly as he recalled the thick stack of documents he had to process late into the night and had just handed over to James this morning.

There was nothing to complain about. Life was long, and even if he had to stay in ‘prison’ for a few years, he wouldn’t find a more comfortable and luxurious one than this. Although it was a bit regrettable that he couldn’t meet the people he missed, they were all busy with their own piled-up work. Moreover, although rare, sometimes someone among them would still come to visit Jeong Taeui…….. Like two and a half years ago when his uncle visited and stayed for just one day.

Jeong Taeui rolled over, over again and thought: ‘It seems like that place is about to have a holiday. I wonder if my uncle will come this time?’ Although he said he was rolling, in reality, it was just a matter of turning over once in the narrow space.

“You’re not a cat, you know.”

Suddenly, a voice sounded right above his head.

A faint silhouette reflected through the glass window where raindrops were creating small rippling trails as they fell.

When Jeong Taeui looked up, he saw the notorious terrorist wanted internationally – Ilay Riegrow – who had been holed up in his room with a computer until midday, now sitting on the sofa. 

“It’s not as cramped as it looks. But you’re right, if you were to lie down, it might be a bit……, but go ahead and try.”

Jeong Taeui pretended to relinquish his spot, which was just enough for him alone, and rolled over to make room for Ilay. Ilay didn’t respond, his indifferent gaze quietly directed at the small space just a half step away from the sofa.

“…….”

“…….”

“Well, we could rest together for a while……—”

“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

When Ilay turned back and actually intended to lie down with an indifferent expression, Jeong Taeui quickly spoke up and rolled back to his original position.

From the beginning, even if Ilay lay down alone, this nook was far too cramped compared to his much larger frame of.

Jeong Taeui had made a joke but realized after speaking that this man wasn’t someone who understood such jokes. If he hadn’t quickly rolled back, Ilay would have genuinely intended to lie down and squeeze in the small space with him.

Determined not to give an inch, Jeong Taeui held his ground. Ilay, seeing this, laughed lightly before settling back down on the sofa. Perhaps he hadn’t truly intended to disturb Jeong Taeui’s rest. A moment later, Jeong Taeui heard the rustling sound of the newspaper from last night, wrapped in a plastic bag, which had been delivered about half an hour ago.

“Is there anything interesting in the news?”

“Not really.”

The brief conversation ended there.

Jeong Taeui curled up and turned away.

The rain continued to pour down heavily in the vast yard. He suddenly felt sorry for the trees that Peter had painstakingly trimmed yesterday.

The courtyard with its old iron fence, only as tall as the window, allowed a clear view of the road outside. Although this house was situated in a quiet and spacious residential area, it was set far back, so hardly anyone passed by. Nine out of ten people who came into view of the courtyard were likely to enter. Therefore, to watch passersby, he had to look further away, towards a small intersection a few blocks ahead.

However, today no one was on the road due to the heavy rain and strong wind. And rightly so, on a day like this, everyone would prefer to leisurely sip tea in their warm homes.

“……..”

Jeong Taeui really wanted to fry some pancakes, but it was only an hour or two until dinner, and he could easily imagine Rita’s cold stare if he ate anything before the main meal. Moreover, the ‘Dong Dong Ju’ rice wine that had been shipped here by air had just run out not long ago. Pancakes and beer were good, but not the perfect combination……

Jeong Taeui licked his lips regretfully.

At that moment.

Beyond the vintage fence, under the torrential rain on the main road, a figure appeared. The person emerged from the end of the alley, gradually approaching the house.

It was a very tall man, and the black umbrella he was holding made it nearly impossible to see his face. He was dressed in an elegant black suit with a black tie and black shoes. Except for the ivory shirt, the man dressed entirely in black did not give off a gloomy or somber vibe. Perhaps it was because his leisurely steps in the pouring rain seemed more like he was enjoying a stroll.

So, it seemed that someone was visiting the house.

Jeong Taeui thought unconsciously without reason.

“It looks like we have a visitor.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled as if to himself. Surely, the person sitting on the sofa had heard, but there was no reply as if he hadn’t, only the sound of pages turning in the newspaper.

Soon after, the grandfather clock in the corner of the living room began to chime. The heavy pendulum slowly emitted five familiar sounds.

As the lingering sound of the clock’s chime slowly faded away, the intercom system’s bell began to ring. He heard the light footsteps of Rita coming from the kitchen. Next, he heard the old lady’s voice talking to the security guard. It seemed that the guest would be arriving soon.

Should he get up if a guest was coming? Although he thought this, Jeong Taeui lazily continued to lie in his little corner and roll around for a bit longer.

After all, he hadn’t been lying down for very long. He was in a very good mood right now. Besides, the guests of this house were different from those of other houses. This place routinely hosted visitors who came and stayed, so it had become an everyday occurrence. Jeong Taeui didn’t even bother to lift a finger.

Well, no, he should stand up at least to observe basic courtesy.

Jeong Taeui started to sit up when suddenly a newspaper unexpectedly flew and hit him in the face.

Ilay, having finished reading the newspaper, had tossed it over the back of the sofa, and it landed squarely on Jeong Taeui’s face. Though it didn’t hurt much, the papers fluttered down from his face and scattered on the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“They’re here?”

But before Jeong Taeui could complain, he heard Kyle’s voice coming down the stairs from his office. Each step Kyle took brought the creaking sound of the wooden stairs.

As Kyle stepped off the last stair and onto the first floor, the front door opened.

Jeong Taeui remained seated on the rug behind the sofa, a newspaper draped over him. He watched as the man entered, accompanied by the sound of pouring rain.

The man placed his black umbrella outside the door, then stepped inside and slowly lifted his head to look at Kyle, before shifting his gaze to Ilay sitting on the sofa.

A slow smile spread across the man’s composed face. His eyelids and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. Only then did Jeong Taeui get a clear look at the man.

The first impression was that the man resembled a cold stone, as if no needle could pierce him no matter where it pricked. The only part of him that seemed capable of bleeding was his smiling face, but even that seemed difficult to touch.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head.

Among Kyle’s friends, there were occasionally those who left an unforgettable impression when they visited this house.

And this man was one of them.

However, compared to the other guests, this man left an even stronger impression. The black suit, suitable only for a funeral, would have looked gloomy on anyone else, but on him, it appeared elegant and refined.

It was not easy to leave such a good impression with such a peculiar appearance and demeanor. That much was certain.

Jeong Taeui looked at the man and sighed inwardly. Although from his position, partially hidden by a large potted plant, he couldn’t see clearly.

While lost in his thoughts, Jeong Taeui missed the best moment to leave.

“Welcome. It’s been a while. It must have been hard to get here in the rain.”

“Not at all. It’s been a long time since I saw rain, so I intentionally walked from the main road. How have you two been?”

“Hmm? It seems to have rained quite a bit lately, hasn’t it? No rain over there?”

Kyle led the man into the living room and sat on a chair at a right angle to the sofa where Ilay sat. The man sat opposite.

Jeong Taeui’s current position no longer afforded him a view of the man. He blinked a few times, then let out a soft sigh before leaning back against the sofa, right where Ilay was sitting, and directed his gaze out at the pouring rain.

The man’s slow voice, with a subtle Austrian accent, blended well with his appearance.

“I didn’t know Eastern Germany was so large. This month alone, Berlin has had heavy rain four times, but not a drop in Dresden……?”

Jeong Taeui heard Ilay’s voice, accompanied by laughter, right behind him. As expected, Ilay’s mouth never uttered anything pleasant. Jeong Taeui unconsciously tapped his head against the sofa, naturally receiving no response.

Indeed, it was odd that a place less than 200km from Berlin hadn’t seen any rain.

“No, I’ve been in Riyadh since March and only returned a few days ago.”

The man smiled and responded comfortably as if he knew Ilay. Jeong Taeui yawned, then closed his mouth and rolled his eyes in thought.

Riyadh, huh…… He never wished to hear that name filled with painful memories again.

Wasn’t that place the origin of the terrorist acts that made the man behind him infamous and wanted worldwide?

“Ah, I see. It seems the rain in Germany didn’t reach the Middle East.”

However, the terrorist’s own brother just smiled nonchalantly upon hearing that name, and the terrorist himself didn’t seem to care at all.

“Riyadh. Come to think of it, there isn’t much time left.”

When Kyle changed the subject with a serious tone, the sound of small teacups being placed down could be heard. Just a moment later, that warm fragrance wafted past his nose. It was the black tea Rita had just brought in.

If he were to stand up now and ask Rita for a cup…… Forget it. Before he gets stabbed to death.

The conversation paused for a moment, as if everyone were enjoying their tea simultaneously.

Jeong Taeui closed his eyes, only able to savor the faint aroma of black tea.

Ilay, who normally didn’t pay attention to the guests Kyle brought over, for some reason was sitting here drinking tea with them today.

No, he couldn’t see whether Ilay was drinking or not. Or maybe this wasn’t Kyle’s guest but Ilay’s?

Before Jeong Taeui could figure out the answer to his question, Ilay broke the awkward silence.

“So, what about the inheritance issue?”

He was annoyed.

His voice, as if wanting to quickly end the troublesome conversation, revealed his irritation. The man who had just sat down, however, didn’t seem to be bothered and calmly put down his cup.

“There are still about four months until the decision.”

“Four months…… It seems the chosen person has already been decided, so I wonder if it’s necessary to wait that long, but well, rules are rules.”

Kyle’s voice, mingled with a calm laugh, answered.

“Let’s see. Until the final result, nothing can be certain.”

The man replied just as calmly.

From his cheerful and polite tone, Jeong Taeui could only grasp a portion of this mysterious conversation.

This man seemed to be in a dominant position regarding a decision that needed to be made. Almost an absolute advantage.

Kyle was good at flattering others, but he would never excessively praise anyone.

“So, who will be in charge?”

Immediately after, the man asked.

For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent again. In that meaningful silence, Jeong Taeui felt an urge to leave this place.

Should he stand up and pretend he had just woken up? Anyway, he couldn’t stay in this corner forever. This atmosphere was strange. Sitting here felt more uncomfortable as if he was eavesdropping.

…… ……Well, at least the man sitting behind him knew he was there. So, there was no need to force himself…… Jeong Taeui thought, shaking his head vigorously, imagining himself suddenly jumping out of his hiding place and appearing before the people immersed in their strange silence. It seemed unlikely that he could utter those words.

“I’ll do it.”

After a long silence, the one who spoke was Ilay.

“If you don’t mind the other side.”

Ilay added and slowly tapped his fingers on the armrest of the sofa, a habit whenever he was deep in thought.

Though he could only see a bit, Jeong Taeui tilted his head to glance at those long, white fingers, then sighed.

Something…… Though he couldn’t understand the development of this disjointed conversation, it seemed like Ilay was going to do something.

A strange feeling rose within him. It was rare to see this man obediently follow someone else’s request. He even said such polite words, “If you don’t mind.”

Jeong Taeui found himself in a reflective mood. He leaned against the sofa and watched the rippling raindrops falling continuously on the windowpane. In the reflection on the glass, he could see the man nodding slightly.

“It’s alright. Then please take care of it.”

And as soon as he finished speaking, the man unhesitatingly stood up, giving Ilay a look before turning to Kyle.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

…….Huh?

Jeong Taeui blinked and stared at the man reflected on the windowpane.

He had just entered this house not long ago, only long enough to finish a cup of tea, exchange a few unremarkable words, and then leave? Even faster than insurance salespeople or multi-level marketing agents.

It would have been better to talk over the phone. How strange…… While Jeong Taeui was pondering, the man walked towards the door. Kyle saw him off calmly, as if it were completely normal. Almost immediately, Jeong Taeui heard some farewells from the hallway, then *Clack* the front door clicked shut. Soon after, he saw the man’s figure outside in the yard through the window.

Just like when he arrived, the man leisurely walked away in the heavy rain under the black umbrella. He was walking along the fence toward the main road when he suddenly stopped and looked at something.

Jeong Taeui casually observed the man without thinking much, following his gaze. Climbing roses were blooming along the fence. The small but vibrant flowers, with overlapping petals in shades of deep apricot and bright red, wound around the old fence. The petals swayed in the strong wind.

The man was looking at those lovely flowers. As if the small flowers could endure the stormy rain with such beauty and vibrancy, a smile appeared in his eyes.

A man who loves flowers. How romantic and beautiful.

Jeong Taeui nodded in satisfaction seeing the man appreciating the delicate flowers that Peter had carefully tended to. He felt more comfortable knowing that people could enjoy the beauty even in the mundane things around them.

The man holding the umbrella in his left hand gently touched a flower with his right hand. A warm smile spread across his calm face.

Jeong Taeui attentively watched the wonderful man on a rainy day among the beautiful roses with warm touches, but the pleasant atmosphere created by these things ceased in the next moment.

The man’s fingers, which were stroking the petals, now crushed them in his hand with a satisfied smile.

“…….Peter…….”

Peter would be heartbroken……., for a moment, Jeong Taeui could only think of that.

While Jeong Taeui was still dazed, watching the flower, the man had already crushed the petals in his hand and rubbed the red liquid that stained his fingers.

Watching the man’s figure disappear behind the long fence, Jeong Taeui could only scratch his head in confusion.

“Really.”

Jeong Taeui suddenly stood up and muttered, Kyle, who had just entered through the front door, widened his eyes in surprise.

“You were there?”

“Yes, I was about to get up, but the atmosphere was a bit……., you were talking and I accidentally overheard…… I apologize.”

Jeong Taeui slightly bowed his head to Kyle.

However, considering Kyle’s unusual attitude of not even attempting to invite that person to stay a bit longer with polite words, it could be that the man was indeed not Kyle’s friend. It might be that their relationship was actually bad, but they had to meet for business reasons.

“Still, he made a very good impression……”

Whether he was a courteous friend or someone with a bad relationship with Kyle, he still left a good impression nonetheless.

Jeong Taeui mumbled to himself, and Ilay, who was sitting on the sofa, looked up and glanced at him.

“A good impression? That guy from earlier?”

“Yes, a very good impression. Even his deep voice.”

“…….”

Jeong Taeui wondered if he had said something wrong when Ilay slightly widened his eyes at him.

He stared at Jeong Taeui for a long moment before clicking his tongue and speaking.

“That Chinese kid, this pervert, you have a good impression of all of them…… Your taste in people seems……” 

The words left unsaid did not seem to be anything pleasant, so Jeong Taeui widened his eyes and tried to shout back at him: ‘What’s wrong with my taste in people!’.

But Ilay had already looked away, his fingers slowly tapping on the armrest again.

What pervert, the man just now? He looked extremely elegant and gentle. Jeong Taeui doubted his own memories as he recalled them. The man who passed through this house and left had been polite and courteous from start to finish. Wherever he went, he did not seem like someone who would be called a pervert by others.

Well, it’s true that you can’t judge someone just by their appearance. Even the man sitting in front of him here, if you just looked at his face, didn’t he also look very calm and composed?

As Jeong Taeui stared blankly at Ilay, Kyle, sitting across from him, was also deep in thought, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the sofa. Jeong Taeui looked at the two men lost in their own worlds.

“That must have been an unwelcome guest. I thought he was your friend, Kyle…… but it seems he knows Ilay……”

Sitting between the two, Jeong Taeui broke the silence. Ilay just stared at Jeong Taeui, still deep in thought.

“Was he a troublesome guest? And talking about succession issues?…… It seems he had been to Saudi Arabia.”

As soon as Jeong Taeui finished speaking, Ilay looked at him in surprise.

“Aha, it seems your German has improved quite a bit now.”

“Huh?”

Jeong Taeui responded, looking puzzled as if to say: ‘What’s strange about that?’

“It’s not easy to speak, but if it’s just listening or reading, it’s okay…… I’ve been living here for so long; if I didn’t understand at least that much, what good would I be?”

“That’s true. Living in an environment surrounded by a foreign language, even if you don’t like it, you have no choice but to become proficient in it. But…….”

Ilay’s eyes narrowed. It looked like he was smiling, but the smile wasn’t quite normal. Jeong Taeui also squinted at him and then closed his mouth.

“At home, everyone speaks only English. Don’t you think you’re too proficient in this language?”

Hearing the insinuation in his tone, Jeong Taeui was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, he raised his eyebrows and glared at him in rebuttal.

“Why do we have to argue about something I never did? I only stay home, right? Sometimes I still go for walks around here. Besides, I don’t know how long I’ll have to live like this, so of course, I have to learn German.”

“Okay, fine. But for now, don’t go out.”

“……What?”

Just as the argument was heating up, it suddenly stopped. Jeong Taeui felt like he was singing the Katanara song and suddenly forgot a letter.

(*Katanara: Korea’s alphabet song)

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“I’ll be away for a while. During that time, you should stay and take care of the house.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

Following the flow of the conversation, the real focus should have been on the phrase, ‘Don’t go out’ but Jeong Taeui was drawn to his first sentence. Yet once again, he didn’t receive an answer.

Ilay absentmindedly stared somewhere in mid-air with a blank expression and strange gleam in his eyes.

*Tok, tok* His long fingers rhythmically tapped on the sofa.

Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore…….

Jeong Taeui even thought about trying to draw his attention by tapping on the sofa but stopped himself. After all, Ilay wasn’t someone who would lose awareness of his surroundings just because he was deep in thought. Even with a hundred thoughts in his mind, he would still be keenly aware of everything happening around him.

In other words, it meant he had no intention of answering his question. And there was no one in this world who could make him do something he didn’t want to do.

It’s true, he wasn’t someone who would report every little thing whenever something came up.

Jeong Taeui sighed softly and scratched his head.

He didn’t know where Ilay intended to go or what he planned to do. But he wished him luck in the future. Hopefully, bad luck would flee from those fierce hands.

Jeong Taeui turned his eyes to look outside. The rain seemed to have subsided a bit, but the world was still submerged in water.

And amidst the rain, his eyes wandered to the old fence. The traces left by the black-clad guest who had come and gone abruptly still remained on the climbing roses.