Even though Jeong Taeui had never had experience riding a horse before, he still secretly admired the outstanding skills of the person on horseback. The horse calmly walked in front of them and then stopped as if it had never run so fast. If it weren’t for its panting breath, he wouldn’t have known how fast it had run.

A soft voice suddenly rang out above him as Jeong Taeui stared into the black eyes of the white horse with a cautious look on his face.

“Looking for me…….?”

With those words, the rider flicked the reins twice against the horse’s side, and the horse tilted. Only then did Jeong Taeui snap out of his daze and look up at the person on horseback.

It was a young man with platinum blond hair that seemed to shine. His sad blue eyes held a weary boredom, and he had a slender figure.

Jeong Taeui knew him. Although they had only met once, he left an unforgettable impression.

Just the day before yesterday. In Berlin, more than 200 km from Dresden. In a deserted church when he was caught in a torrential downpour.

The young man indeed recognized Jeong Taeui as well. Those bored eyes showed a slight tremor.

“Um……. you…….”

The young man leaned over the horse, scrutinizing Jeong Taeui from head to toe as if checking if he had made a mistake.

“You said you never met him, but it looks like you two knew each other before.”

Richard broke the strange atmosphere. Jeong Taeui avoided the young man’s gaze, which had been fixed on him, and turned away with a vague smile.

“Yes, a short while ago we met by chance……. But Christina Tarten……. is it…….?”

When someone suddenly appeared before him, Jeong Taeui forgot his manners for a moment and pointed directly at that person.

As soon as Jeong Taeui finished speaking, the expression on the young man’s face immediately changed.

The indifferent and bored face turned cold as ice. He looked down at Jeong Taeui with a terrifying, emotionless expression.

In that instant, Jeong Taeui immediately realized he had made a mistake. Although he didn’t know where he had gone wrong, he knew he had erred.

The young man looked at Jeong Taeui with a ghostly, emotionless face, then suddenly muttered to himself in a low voice.

“Oh, I see……. okay……. okay……. that’s right. Indeed, that’s the case……. so…….”

No matter how much he thought about it, Jeong Taeui could not understand the disjointed words the young man had just said. He remembered that the boy had said similar strange things in the church.

“Are you here for the book?”

The young man suddenly asked, and Jeong Taeui raised his eyebrows in response.

“…….That’s right. But Christina…….”

“Yes, I took it……. He said he would send someone else, and it turned out to be you.”

Jeong Taeui looked bewildered at the young man in front of him.

All the pieces pointed out that he was Christina – the one who stole Kyle’s books. But the name didn’t quite fit his gender, and here he was being called Christoph.

“…….? Is it really you?”

Jeong Taeui asked in doubt. An unexpected character appeared, making the reliability of the information he received significantly reduced.

Is this young man truly the one he’s looking for? Kyle had clearly stated that the person was Christina…….

As Jeong Taeui was trying to recall his memories, the sedan that brought them there moved, and another car took its place. These were the young people he had just met outside the iron gate.

After handing over the car keys to the valet, they quickly got out. Seeing Jeong Taeui, the young man, and Richard standing opposite each other as if facing off, they suspiciously looked this way but still boldly approached.

“It’s been so long since you’ve come back that you’ve probably forgotten where the riding tracks are.”

“If you don’t know, don’t block the way in places like this; go play in the stables.”

One person sneered. It seemed their hostility had shifted from Jeong Taeui to the young man on horseback.

Beside Jeong Taeui, who was silently observing the tense atmosphere, Richard frowned quietly.

“Stop it.”

“Look at this; since this guy came back, everything has been messed up. And this unrelated guy here, why is he even here?”

One of the young men stepped forward. It was the driver, possibly the eldest among them.

The atmosphere here wasn’t good either. Not good at all.

Jeong Taeui stood ‘watching the scene from across the river,’ hoping the flames wouldn’t reach him. Perhaps this intense, hateful atmosphere didn’t form overnight.

One of the youngest stepped forward and lightly kicked the horse, his gaze sweeping over Jeong Taeui.

“Let me think, what did you say? Christina, right? Ha, that’s right. It looks half male, half female, so Christina is fitting. Christina——”

At that moment.

The young man on horseback looked down coldly at them and the one who had just spoken.

“It seems you’ve forgotten who I am because it’s been too long.”

The young man spoke without a trace of anger on his face. But simultaneously, a sharp, malevolent sound cut through the air horrifyingly.

*Smack!!!*

A dry, tearing sound echoed. Red blood droplets immediately scattered across the yard. It all happened in an instant.

There were no screams, not even from the person whose flesh had just been torn by the horsewhip. He stood stunned, unable to say a word, as if he didn’t know what had happened.

And before he could regain his senses, two more dry, crisp hits followed. Only then did the deafening screams erupt.

Without any time to retaliate, the young man with his face torn open could only widen his eyes, staring at the blood flowing down his neck and soaking his coat.

“Even after 10 or 20 years, you shouldn’t forget what you mustn’t forget. I left here for ten years, and your brain has become useless. Right, why don’t you call me by that name again. Who?”

There was no hint of insane anger; the young man calmly spoke in a dull, slow voice.

‘My God…….’

Jeong Taeui belatedly shut his mouth. He guessed that name was an unpleasant nickname.

‘Kyle, you should have warned me! I almost got my skin torn by that whip too!’

However, fortunately, the young man didn’t seem intent on punishing Jeong Taeui at the moment. He jumped off the horse, stood on the ground, casually tied the horsewhip to the saddle, glanced at Jeong Taeui, and said.

“Come to think of it, you also called me that earlier, didn’t you?”

At the same time, one of the young men swung a punch, but the young man easily dodged it, and the punch only tore through the air.

“It seems not only your brain is useless……. Really.”

The young man sighed helplessly, put his hands in his pockets as if he had lost interest in the fight, and without hesitation, kicked the attacker’s knee with his riding boots.

A terrible sound rang out again. Jeong Taeui silently watched the figure awkwardly bending before him. The young man didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

Yes. Kyle had described him like this.

A childhood friend of Ilay and a colleague in the T&R special private task force.

Jeong Taeui suddenly realized.

Just the day before, when they met at the big church. This young man had visited Kyle’s house and left with the books.

Suddenly, the future before him darkened. Life was like an obstacle course, with one difficulty after another. Jeong Taeui had a bad feeling thinking about the boy being the friend of that man. It wasn’t until he heard the screams again that he regained some composure.

Though this was someone else’s family matter, he first had to stop it from escalating further. But how come no one showed up despite the bloodshed right in front of the main building?

Jeong Taeui approached them with a confused mind, but his steps halted immediately.

The young man who was continuously attacked without being able to fight back. Richard approached the young man and grabbed his arm. The young man flinched and stopped. Just a moment ago, his face was indifferent, but being touched made his eyes flash with a strange light.

“Let go?”

He looked at Richard, growling like a beast ready to tear the opponent’s throat apart.

Richard gently released his hand. With arms wide open, he took a few steps back as if facing a beast.

The young man glared at Richard, fire in his eyes, then irritably rubbed the arm that had been touched as if wanting to tear off the skin, finally speaking angrily.

“Before stopping me, manage your subordinates better, Richard. Otherwise, I’ll kill all those idiots doing stupid things.”

“I remember.”

Richard quietly responded and nodded. The young man glared at him and turned his back. He strode towards The West Wing and called Jeong Taeui without looking back.

“Hey, you. Follow me.”

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue at the blood-soaked people on the floor, silently followed, and didn’t forget to bow to Richard.

************************

Christoph Tarten.

Christina or Christoph, whatever the name.

Jeong Taeui never imagined the frail-looking young man was the mysterious, dangerous figure everyone called Ilay’s friend.

Though he guessed it had to be someone extraordinary, he didn’t expect to feel it from the first look. Besides the exceptional appearance, he seemed raised by wolves in the deep forest.

With that face and look, was he really Ilay’s friend? It sounded like a scam.

“……..The main building has offices, reception rooms, and a hall. The East Wing is for the elderly and special guests from outside. Everyone else in The West Wing are family members. Anyway, you don’t need to go to the main building or The East Wing, so just know the layout of The West Wing. The first floor is……. Are you listening?”

While Christoph was explaining without pausing for breath, Jeong Taeui just stood there. Christoph turned back to look at him when he didn’t move. Jeong Taeui then responded with an “Ah” and added,

“I’m still listening……. But. Do we really have to stand like this? Can I come in a bit?”

“Do you think our relationship is close enough for you to enter my bedroom?”

“But it’s not necessary to stand outside the door and watch you change clothes.”

Christoph stopped taking out a new shirt from the closet and glanced at Jeong Taeui standing right at the door. He had told him not to come in and to just stand there. Then he went inside, changed clothes, and continued explaining everything to Jeong Taeui.

Christoph put on the shirt and faced him.

“Ah.”

He spoke while buttoning his shirt.

“I forgot to tell you. It’s okay to look or talk. But don’t touch.”

“What?”

“Don’t touch me. Don’t touch my things unless I ask you to.”

“…….Do you have tuberculosis?”

“No. I can’t stand filth and disorder. I don’t like physical contact.”

“Weren’t you in the anti-riot unit? How could you avoid contact with people in such a job?”

“I wouldn’t take on tasks that required it in the first place……. Private Task Force? Other than that, how much did Kyle tell you about me?”

“Let’s see……. things like you’re Ilay’s friend?”

Jeong Taeui frowned slightly and spoke. Hearing those words, Christoph also frowned.

“No way. Do I look defective enough to be friends with a lunatic like him?”

“……..”

It had been a long time since Jeong Taeui felt like defending Ilay.

Later, when meeting Ilay again, he would have to talk to him about meeting Christoph. But Ilay might not care about the phrase “a friend” and only ask how he met Christoph.

“But once I get the books, I’ll leave right away. Do I need to understand the detailed structure of this house?”

Jeong Taeui asked as Christoph finished buttoning his shirt. He looked at Jeong Taeui with an odd expression, then pulled a neatly hung pair of trousers from the closet without looking back.

“Until you get the books, where do you plan to sleep, eat, and do other things without knowing the house’s structure?”

Christoph asked, looking at him.

That’s why Kyle said this wouldn’t be easy.

“When will you return the books?”

“When I get bored.”

“…….So, what’s on the first floor of The West Wing?”

Jeong Taeui immediately gave up and asked. Christoph’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he checked a tiny speck of dust on the trousers and put them on.

“The dining room and the hall are on the first floor. The west side has the living room. There’s a recreation room in the basement with games like chess and billiards, but it’s best not to go there because many idiots gather. The sauna too. The second floor has private libraries. As you see, the third and fourth floors are private spaces and bedrooms.”

After putting on the trousers and a belt, Christoph wore a watch and looked up. Seeing Jeong Taeui’s admiring gaze, Christoph asked with a questioning look.

“Oh, nothing. You look like a young master from a noble family dressed like that.”

Jeong Taeui scratched his head and spoke, then immediately realized how meaningless those words were and clicked his tongue. Clearly, it wasn’t ‘like’ but actually, he was a young master from a noble family.

Thinking back, another diamond spoon had appeared.

Christoph suddenly glanced at Jeong Taeui from head to toe. Jeong Taeui had put his luggage in the room Christoph pointed out and stood in front of the door. Naturally, he still wore the same clothes from when he left Berlin.

“…….What is it? Want me to change clothes and come back?”

“No……. I was just thinking about Rick’s poor taste.”

Jeong Taeui responded with a puzzled: “What do you mean…….?”

“And dinner is at 7 o’clock.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Christoph cut him off and walked out of the bedroom. In front of Jeong Taeui, the clock showed exactly seven o’clock.

Christoph passed by Jeong Taeui and walked down the stairs. Jeong Taeui sighed and followed.

What to say, it felt like holding a floating thread. The feeling of not grasping anything always came with vague anxiety. Like not fully adapting to this place. Though he had been thrown into unfamiliar places more than once or twice, this place was particularly uncomfortable.

From the moment he stepped into this house, he sensed the peculiar atmosphere subtly woven between people. It was a special atmosphere where intimacy and hostility coexisted in a place called ‘family.’

Even now. As they walked down the corridor, occasionally someone would pass by. Their reactions were always one of two. They were either on their side or on the other side.

“Why does everyone here form factions? What’s with the atmosphere?”

A young man passing by glared fiercely at Christoph and Jeong Taeui following behind. He asked.

Christoph, a few steps ahead, slowed down and turned to look at him.

“Kyle didn’t tell you?”

“…….? Tell me what?”

“Tarten is always in a state of internal competition.”

“Huh?”

Jeong Taeui asked with a puzzled expression. Christoph walked ahead and continued calmly.

“Tarten decides the candidate to inherit everything from a very young age. Children of the same bloodline undergo rigorous evaluations, and the three or four best are chosen. From then on, they enter a real competition. The unchosen children cheer for the candidate they bet on to win.”

His tone was calm as if just talking about the dinner menu.

However, upon hearing that, Jeong Taeui momentarily became dazed and uncomfortable. He frowned, thought for a moment, and sighed.

“Competition is the best way to reveal one’s abilities……. I don’t know the exact circumstances, but to an outsider, it seems a bit inhumane…….”

Christoph glanced at Jeong Taeui. After a while, he spoke as if talking to himself.

“A person inherently inhumane remains so even without competition.”

“It’s not about inherent traits. Well, that’s not the point. The important thing is whether the competition is truly necessary.”

“Only the chosen children can become inheritance candidates. The rest don’t need direct competition because all they have to do is wait for one of the chosen to become the heir……. Oh, but they still have a competitive mentality hoping their supported candidate will win.”

“So, the chosen inheritance candidates. If selected, they must participate in the competition? What about veto power?”

Christoph didn’t answer, as if he hadn’t heard. But the corridor was quiet, and they were only a few steps apart, so it was impossible not to hear. Only when they reached the last step of the stairs did he respond.

“Of course, there’s an option. If they don’t want to, they can refuse. I did.”

Jeong Taeui widened his eyes at Christoph’s figure in front of him. He continued walking without looking back.

“So you were one of the inheritance candidates?”

Didn’t the family elders consider personality or friendships when selecting candidates? – Jeong Taeui’s words reached his throat but were swallowed back as they hadn’t known each other long enough to speak so directly.

Then Jeong Taeui remembered something and let out an “Ah.”

He recalled the conversation between Richard Tarten and Kyle about him being the most promising candidate.

It was this. The most promising person among those eligible to inherit Tarten.

As they reached the first floor, another young man passed by. He glared at Christoph with a wary look. As the young man passed, Jeong Taeui heard a short curse.

Seeing Christoph walking on without any reaction, even though he clearly heard the sound, Jeong Taeui thought that, in this aspect, he might be better than Ilay.

Jeong Taeui sighed. The uncomfortable feeling lingered. He scratched his hand and asked.

“If you refuse, you’re no longer their competitor. What’s wrong with them? Shouldn’t they stop being wary or hostile?”

“That’s why I said they’re idiots. They’re just trying to do useless things…….”

Christoph mumbled, seemingly perplexed, then clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Jeong Taeui followed and clicked his tongue. The atmosphere in this house made him feel that any mistake would immediately freeze him. Even now, everyone he passed looked at Jeong Taeui and Christoph with hostility. Moreover, it seemed Richard had more allies than Christoph.

Should he say the future looks tough or he picked the wrong side?

“…….I’m really not suited for dividing into factions and fighting at all…….”

Jeong Taeui shook his head.

And thinking about it, this was a very disadvantageous situation. They had more heads, more humanity, and even a promising inheritance candidate……. Jeong Taeui mumbled to himself and almost bumped into Christoph, who had stopped ahead of him.

“If you want to side with Richard, go ahead.”

Jeong Taeui was puzzled and asked, “Huh?” at Christoph’s calm tone. Finally, understanding what Christoph meant, he frowned.

“Anyway, it’s just factions. I hate both. And I think you forgot I’m not here to fight. Give me the books, those books.”

Christoph narrowed his eyes at Jeong Taeui for a moment and then spoke skeptically.

“I heard you were at UNHRDO.”

Jeong Taeui closed his mouth immediately. And like Christoph, he stared at him.

“…….Kyle said that?”

“No, Kyle only said he would send someone instead.”

Jeong Taeui silently looked at Christoph. If not Kyle, there was only one person he could think of.

As he suspected, Christoph spoke as if it was nothing important.

“Why do you think Rick does all the difficult work in such a place, knowing it’s troublesome? At least, no one in the Anti-Riot is unaware.”

“Ha…….”

Not knowing how to respond, Jeong Taeui could only utter a meaningless sound.

Christoph tilted his head, sighed, and looked at Jeong Taeui with curiosity.