The issue lies in the book.

No matter how turbulent this family becomes or how fiercely its members compete, it has nothing to do with Jeong Taeui.

All he had to do was leisurely search for Kyle’s books and then quietly say goodbye to them. He just wanted to live quietly as an outsider and find the hidden books in this mansion. No matter what happens, Jeong Taeui would neither see nor hear anything. That was all he wanted.

However, right from the start, things did not seem to go smoothly. Perhaps the last chance for him to turn back was when the guard said, “That person is not here,” in front of the iron gate.

By the time he realized it, the opportunity had already passed. Jeong Taeui had no choice but to fulfill his duty in this deep, dark pit.

“Where the hell are those books……..”

Jeong Taeui sighed and muttered.

Christoph had taken about ten of Kyle’s books.

And in his simple bookshelf right in front of him, Jeong Taeui could not find any of them.

He had seen on Kyle’s bookshelf that every book there was an antique. Its appearance was entirely different from common books, so even if they were mixed with other books, there was no way he could not distinguish them.

Jeong Taeui stared blankly at the few shelves and slowly turned his head. On the large bed just an arm’s length from the bookshelf, Christoph was lying with the blanket pulled up to his neck.

When Jeong Taeui knocked on the bedroom door and stepped in, Christoph slightly opened his eyes and looked at Jeong Taeui, but then he frowned as if feeling annoyed and closed his eyes again. After a few seconds, the wrinkles on his forehead disappeared as well. It seemed he wasn’t pretending to sleep but had actually fallen into a deep sleep.

Not long ago, he had still blocked him at the door and told him not to step into his room, but last night, he suddenly called the internal line to Jeong Taeui’s room and left a message: [‘Wake me up at 7:00 A.M’] then hung up. Jeong Taeui stared at the disconnected receiver, pondering for a while whether it was really okay to enter this guy’s bedroom and wake him up the next morning. However, even if he wanted to call back to confirm, he had no way of knowing his room’s phone number. So this morning, he stood before this room. Even though he knocked on the door, there was no response from inside, so he opened the door and stepped in.

“Chris, you told me to wake you up at 7. It’s 7 o’clock now.”

Jeong Taeui spoke, but Christoph did not reply, seeming to be in a deep sleep as he could hear his heavy breathing.

Jeong Taeui took the opportunity to look around the bedroom once more but did not find what he was looking for here either.

There weren’t many books in this room. Besides a small bookshelf next to the bed, he could not find any other books. He had heard there was a separate reading room, so perhaps the books he needed were there.

While the room’s owner was still in a deep sleep, Jeong Taeui carefully examined every corner of the room but, as expected, found nothing.

It would indeed be strange if it were that easy to find.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head and sighed. Anxiety and nervousness still filled his heart.

He needed to find it and return as soon as possible. He didn’t have much time left.

Right now, he couldn’t accurately estimate how much time he had left. Or rather, even if he could calculate it, it would be useless.

“…….Oh my God…….”

Jeong Taeui moaned and pulled a stool placed at the end of the bedroom, then sat down.

Yesterday, right after Christoph called and hung up, he received some tragic news.

While Jeong Taeui was still staring at the phone and wondering what Christoph had eaten to suddenly change his mood and allow him into his room, the phone rang again.

Exactly when Jeong Taeui intended to call back and ask, “Do you want me to wake you up in the room you banned me from entering?” and while he was struggling to find his extension number, the phone rang again after a few dozen seconds. Jeong Taeui didn’t think much, perhaps it was Christoph.

“Yes, what is it?”

After a moment of silence on the other end, Jeong Taeui heard a hesitant voice.

[“Who are you waiting for a call from?”]

“Oh, nothing at all.”

Because Christoph had just hung up, he thought it was him.

“But what is it, Kyle?”

Jeong Taeui said cheerfully. He heard laughter on the other end of the line.

[“It seems like your relationship with Christoph is still good.”]

“Oh…….—About that……..”

Jeong Taeui wanted to respond but couldn’t.

He didn’t know if he was truly living well when thinking about those cold, deep eyes. Still, his life wasn’t in immediate danger, so perhaps their relationship was quite good?

[“What about the books? Have you found them yet?”]

“Oh, not yet. But I plan to wake him up tomorrow morning, so I’ll check to see if he left them in the bedroom.”

“……. oh, so your relationship is indeed better.”

He didn’t know what “better” meant, but Jeong Taeui nodded. He scratched his head, thinking about their relationship, then suddenly remembered something and immediately changed the subject.

[“So……. has Ilay contacted you? Maybe he tried to contact you when you weren’t there…….”]

“…….Ah, well…….”

Once again, Kyle responded vaguely.

His previously calm heart started pounding as he waited.

[“He called when I wasn’t there, but Rita probably answered.”] 

“…….”

Kyle’s awkward tone made him strangely uneasy.

NOOOOO. Rita would be on his side. Jeong Taeui knew the seemingly strict and cold old lady was actually very kind-hearted.

Jeong Taeui rubbed his pounding heart, urging Kyle to continue. “Hmm” – Kyle took a long breath and finally spoke.

[“It seems like Rita didn’t know, so she said you were out. So if he needs anything, he should contact you on your mobile.”]

“…….”

Jeong Taeui had left his phone in Berlin.

Thinking about the phone likely ringing in vain with no one answering beside his bed, Jeong Taeui felt his face drained of blood.

“So……. Kyle, have you informed Ilay…….?”

[“I’ve tried to contact him, but I can’t reach him. So I haven’t conveyed the message yet…….”]

The phone suddenly felt slippery. Jeong Taeui’s hands turned white. Maybe it was his mood, but his fingertips were turning blue.

Kyle quickly noticed Jeong Taeui’s unusual silence and added.

[“Let me call him again. Don’t worry. It’s okay. He’s not stupid enough to think you’d run away.”]

To be precise, are you thinking I’m not stupid enough to run away from him?

Jeong Taeui thought. Suddenly, the world seemed dark. He felt like he was alone on this path with no one on his side. Kyle and even Rita, whom he had trusted, did they see this opportunity and start nurturing sinister ambitions? Even such miserable thoughts began to rise in his mind.

Kyle tried to comfort him with a few more words, saying he would try to contact him, so don’t worry. Jeong Taeui became gloomy for a moment and hung up the phone.

At this moment, one thing was certain.

“If you dare to go out, and you’re dead with me.”  – Those were Ilay’s words to him.

Jeong Taeui had left Berlin.

Ilay already knew he was out.

Even though he had prepared himself mentally, he still wanted to avoid as much damage as possible.

He had thought he would quickly find the book and pretend he had never left.

So, indeed, there was only one way left.

He had to return home before him and act like he knew nothing.

“I’m still home, why did you say I went out and came back?” He would feign ignorance and deny, even if it might be a bit exhausting.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head in frustration.

Alright, once again, the main issue was those books.

By any means, he had to find them. Whether by theft or blackmail, he just needed to run to Berlin.

Jeong Taeui took his eyes off the bookshelf and stood beside the bed, awkwardly kicking its leg.

“It’s past seven o’clock. Aren’t you getting up?”

Although it wasn’t too hot now, the weather was warming up. Jeong Taeui looked down at Christoph, who was peacefully sleeping wrapped in a thick blanket. His fair cheeks were slightly flushed. The sound of steady breathing was tranquil. Occasionally, his long lashes fluttered gently.

“Are you going to sleep for the rest of your life…….?”

Seeing the beautiful person asleep, Jeong Taeui’s heart pounded, and he lightly patted his chest while muttering.

No matter how he looked at it, it was like a sculpture. He felt amazed that the statue was breathing. He suppressed the urge to touch that statue-like face once. He understood how uncomfortable it would be for an eccentric person who avoided contact to be touched.

“Not getting up…….? ……. Then I’ll touch you to shake you awake?”

Jeong Taeui pretended to touch the blanket. Surely, touching the blanket wouldn’t cause a fuss…….

But at that moment, as soon as he felt the weight of Jeong Taeui’s finger on the blanket, Christoph opened his eyes as if he had never been in a deep sleep.

He opened his eyes like a doll, blinked a few times, and just looked at the ceiling, then slowly turned his gaze to Jeong Taeui, who had already withdrawn his hand.

“……. Get up. You told me to wake you at 7 o’clock. It’s past seven.”

“…….. So noisy…….”

“You told me to wake you up!”

The only thing he said to the person he carefully tried to wake was ‘So noisy.’

Jeong Taeui frowned, fighting the urge to pinch those soft-looking cheeks.

Christoph slowly sat up from the bed. He sighed heavily as if his blood pressure was low, relaxed while pressing his hand against his forehead as if he had a headache, and groaned.

“Aa……. so noisy……. be quiet…….”

“…….?”

Jeong Taeui raised his eyebrows and looked at him strangely. Christoph was holding his head with one hand, seemingly unaware of Jeong Taeui’s presence in the room. He clenched his teeth and kept muttering.

“So noisy……. My ears……. hurt…….”

The windows were closed, and there was no noise in the quiet room. The only sound was Christoph’s soft whispers.

Ah…….

Jeong Taeui looked down at him. Christoph was breathing weakly; he couldn’t tell if it was a sigh or a groan.

“…….. Christoph……. Chris.”

His shoulders trembled.

It was as if he heard a sound for the first time in his life, or something suddenly appeared from nowhere. Christoph looked up at Jeong Taeui.

His eyes were so hazy.

His eyes were blurry, like someone losing their mind. Like the deep sea pressing down on his entire body. Christoph’s pale blue eyes became dark as he looked at Jeong Taeui.

“…….Chris.”

Jeong Taeui unconsciously reached out to him.

Immediately, Christoph recoiled as if his soul had been lost somewhere. Jeong Taeui’s hand froze in mid-air.

“…….Chris.”

He called once more, and this time Christoph blinked. His eyes, which had been closing and opening, returned to their usual indifferent and cold look.

“I heard it.”

He muttered to himself quietly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Here……. It’s still murmuring. Constantly. Like an ant stuck in my ear, small and continuous…….”

Jeong Taeui was silent for a moment, then spoke softly.

“I don’t hear anything.”

“……. A……. so noisy…….”

Once again, he was talking to himself.

Christoph clicked his tongue and muttered worriedly, then threw off the blanket and got out of bed. He walked straight into the bathroom. The sound of running water followed.

“……. “

Jeong Taeui silently watched the bathroom door, which was still open.

He frowned slightly, but then quickly regained his composure with a sigh.

It seemed he had woken him up. Jeong Taeui hesitated, not knowing whether to leave immediately, and picked up the blanket draped over the bed, neatly arranging the bed.

Shortly after, Christoph stepped out, leaving his wet body behind, drying his hair with a towel, and walked straight to the wardrobe.

“Normally, you wake up late. Why did you wake up early today?”

Jeong Taeui had only been there for a few days, but it was enough to know Christoph usually woke up around noon.

On the other hand, Richard, who directly opposed and differed in many aspects from him, woke up at the crack of dawn and lived a healthy and balanced life. As soon as Jeong Taeui woke up around 5 or 6 in the morning, he would open his room window for ventilation and always saw Richard jogging outside.

‘When they were young, even before being chosen as heirs, they were completely different. Christoph was a born genius, while Richard was the type who worked hard.’

Johan’s words flashed through his mind.

According to him, Richard seemed to be someone who had put in a lot of effort. There were reliable rumors that he only slept a few hours a day.

Even a newcomer like Jeong Taeui felt he was someone who did everything very seriously.

Today, when Jeong Taeui came to wake Christoph, Richard was already neatly dressed and stepping out the door. He had heard that he was going to inspect a business with a distinguished guest in The East Wing. Jeong Taeui had heard rumors that since the guest could directly influence the inheritance decision, he needed to do something to gain the guest’s favor. But such things didn’t concern Jeong Taeui. Because he didn’t seem like someone who would flatter others. Character could be faked. But sincerity couldn’t.

Jeong Taeui sighed unconsciously when thinking about Christoph, who wouldn’t get out of bed until the sun was high. Well, he had already given up his right to the throne. But Jeong Taeui couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

After a few more encounters, it seemed he unconsciously leaned towards him. Although his initial intention was to remain neutral and only find the books.

Jeong Taeui looked at the basket of underwear before the wardrobe and then at Christoph, who was lost in thought. Even though it was surprising he woke up at this hour, it was hard to give him even a hollow compliment when Richard had been up and ready for a long time.

“I have to teach the children.”

“……. What?”

Jeong Taeui was stunned by what he heard and doubted his ears. But thinking back, that seemed to be the answer to his earlier question.

If it were anyone else speaking, he wouldn’t have had any questions, but because the words came from this guy, he was taken aback.

Did he just say he had to teach the kids?

Christoph Tarten.

“Which kids?”

“The children of this family.”

“Who are the children of this family……. Why are you teaching them? Wait, what are you teaching? No, who entrusted you with this task?”

Christoph was carefully selecting underwear and stared at Jeong Taeui with a gloomy look.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that some things are suitable and some are not for certain people.”

“If anyone in this house knows more about the history of war, information, and ciphers than I do, I’ll gladly hand it over anytime.”

Christoph said, putting on his underwear with a look of annoyance, then stared at the clothes hangers.

“……. Do the Tarten educate their children like that?”

“Not all of them. This method is only for children who have the potential to inherit this house in the next generation.”

Jeong Taeui opened his mouth to say something but could only nod.

He had heard about selecting some potential heirs from a young age to educate and support them to the fullest.

But even as he nodded, he still couldn’t fully understand, so Jeong Taeui widened his eyes at Christoph.

Thinking back, his uncle was such a person. His uncle, in some aspects, was even superior to Jeong Jaeui.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head. People were indeed hard to understand.

“Don’t teach the kids any weird stuff…….”

Jeong Taeui jokes but was serious. Christoph was going through the shirts after choosing a pair of pants, glancing at Jeong Taeui with a hint of amusement.

“If they don’t understand even one sentence, they must be scolded until they cry.”

For some reason, he suddenly started humming cheerfully.

Just a moment ago, his face clearly said “annoying to death,” but now it suddenly became strangely bright.

“Why do you have to bully the kids like that?”

“One of them looks exactly like Richard.”

Jeong Taeui was speechless at his malicious smile. For two reasons.

He was surprised at the childish thought of an adult wanting to bully the child of someone he hated. He was even more surprised that Richard had a son. He had thought all the young people in Seoik were single.

“Is he married?”

“He not only got married but also divorced.”

Talking about someone else’s misfortune in such a calm voice made him feel a bit bewildered. Christoph finally chose a wine-colored shirt.

Jeong Taeui stared at him, feeling lost.

Having both social status and life experience, like marriage and divorce, and even children…….

Jeong Taeui didn’t have any competitive intentions. Just as a man, he felt very left behind. He opened his mouth wide and suddenly spoke without thinking.

“But he has never experienced being forced into early retirement after being caught by a madman and suddenly turning into a terrorist.”

After speaking confidently, a second later, Jeong Taeui slowly shrank back and sat down.

Saying that made him feel even more disappointed in himself.

Christoph looked down at him. His eyes held a strange warmth. He thought it was a mocking look, but unexpectedly, it was filled with sympathy and comfort.

“That’s much better than getting divorced because his wife couldn’t stand a pervert.”

“……. What does that mean…….”

Jeong Taeui buried his face in his knees, not even looking up. The comment about Richard was far from his impression of him. Even though he had heard clearly, Christoph enthusiastically continued.

“She couldn’t stand that pervert, so she risked her life to escape.”

Christoph indifferently spoke, knowing Jeong Taeui’s distress. He straightened his clothes one last time and said,

“Try to live strong. Well, Rick isn’t bad either. If you look closely, he’s handsome, has a lot of money, and is in good health. Moreover, with him, you can get through anything with just a smile, right?” 

“But……. you also have to consider the hardships needed to achieve that…….”

Jeong Taeui muttered sadly.

Suddenly, the future ahead looked bleak. No, it was already very dark initially. But over time, he had forgotten that. Now he vaguely remembered.

Jeong Taeui bit his nails, lamenting his miserable reality. Suddenly, he didn’t feel any movement beside him anymore.

The neatly dressed statue was looking down at Jeong Taeui in silence.

“……. Want to go with me?”

“What?”

Jeong Taeui didn’t understand what he heard or what he meant, so he only responded with a meaningless word.

Christoph just frowned slightly, looking at him with an emotionless face. However, rather than saying he was annoyed, it seemed like he was slightly dissatisfied. He was silent for a while, then spoke.

“Rick isn’t the type to be obsessed with anyone or anything. There were times before when he cheerfully let someone stay with him for a few days for his colleagues. So maybe if I say I like it, he’ll give it to me……. If you want, I can do that.”

Jeong Taeui stared blankly at Christoph and blinked. He slowly met his gaze, then opened a drawer in the wardrobe and took out a cufflink.

“If you don’t like it, then forget it.”

Christoph adjusted his cuff and spoke calmly.

Jeong Taeui silently looked at him, then sighed and stood up from his seat.