Jeong Taeui didn’t respond. Instead, he flicked away the spent cigarette and put another in his mouth. While he lit it, he didn’t look at the man standing beside him. Then he lit another. By the time the third cigarette was halfway done, he suddenly spoke up.

“When I feel this bad, even looking at you makes me feel somewhat reassured. That alone proves how far downhill my life has gone.”

Ilay looked down at Jeong Taeui with a curious expression. It was as if he had heard something incomprehensible or utterly unimaginable. A trace of confusion crossed his face. But Jeong Taeui kept his eyes fixed forward.

“……But?”

Ilay slowly and gently urged Taeui to continue by repeating the word. Jeong Taeui took a long drag from his cigarette before mumbling.

“But he doesn’t even have that. He doesn’t even have that.”

“Aha.”

Ilay nodded as if understanding something. When Jeong Taeui was about to take out his fourth cigarette, Ilay snatched the pack from his hand.

Finally, Jeong Taeui turned to Ilay with an unhappy look.

“Well…… Anyway, he’s been expelled. So when he leaves, I’ll go back to Berlin too.”

“Hmm. When Christoph leaves, you’ll go back to Berlin too?”

“Yes. I only came to collect the book from him. There’s nothing else to do here.”

“Is that so……”

Ilay took a cigarette from the pack, placed it in his mouth, and returned the pack to his vest pocket. He quietly blew smoke out the window and mumbled to himself.

“Then perhaps he’ll stay here a bit longer.”

“Huh?”

“Christoph will leave after the final decision on the successor has been made.”

At Ilay’s words, Jeong Taeui stared at him. Then he frowned slightly. Ilay just smiled amusingly at Taeui.

“It’s already decided that he must leave Tarten immediately.”

“He won’t leave right away.”

Jeong Taeui looked at him with a puzzled expression. Then suddenly, he glanced towards Christoph’s room.

The old man had entered the room after Jeong Taeui finished smoking three cigarettes and hadn’t come out yet.

……Ah.

“Has the decision been changed? Did the old man cancel it himself?”

“No, it wasn’t the old man. You heard it too. Richard said he would take back what belonged to him from Christoph.”

But Christoph refused.

“If the old man himself persuades Christoph, then maybe. But just by Richard’s words, I don’t think he would act on it.”

“The old man didn’t ask Christoph to stay to help Richard.”

Ilay spoke as if reading Jeong Taeui’s thoughts. He seemed to enjoy blowing smoke out as if savoring a snack.

“But he didn’t ask him not to come back to Tarten either.”

“What does that mean?”

“Always follow your heart. Don’t forget the name Tarten. That’s always been his words.”

Jeong Taeui watched the smoke Ilay exhaled outside the window. As the gray smoke dissipated in the air, he sighed softly.

“How did someone raised under his care turn out this way?”

“Why do you think that?”

Faced with Ilay’s counter-question, Jeong Taeui didn’t answer. Even if it was just speculation, he didn’t want to say it out loud.

“……I need to rest. If Christoph leaves tomorrow morning, I’ll go back to Berlin with him. It’s best to rest early.”

“Tomorrow morning…… I don’t think so.”

Ilay only said that and narrowed his eyes slightly.

When Jeong Taeui looked at Ilay with surprise and was about to say something, the door to Christoph’s room opened. The old man came out with the same calm and composed demeanor as when he went in.

Upon hearing the door open, Ilay tossed the cigarette butt out the window. Ilay walked towards the old man, leaving Jeong Taeui to look down at the flower bed below, checking for any fire.

“Are you done? Let me escort you back to the main building.”

“No need. You still have unfinished business. Continue your conversation and rest well tonight. I will go downstairs to check on my grandchildren.”

The old man waved and smiled. Then he looked at Jeong Taeui, who had turned around, and smiled awkwardly.

“You must be busy. However, enjoy your time at Tarten. If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it as you said.”

The old man left those words and smiled before turning away. Ilay followed him, but the old man said a few words over his shoulder and waved him off. Ilay, seeming not to insist, bowed and stepped back after a few polite attempts.

The old man walked slowly down the hallway, turned the corner, and disappeared from sight. Jeong Taeui stood there for a moment before heading towards Ilay – more precisely, towards his own room.

“I used to think the old man was quite amiable.”

“Oh, now?”

Jeong Taeui looked at Ilay with a puzzled expression but didn’t ask further. Ilay didn’t answer what wasn’t asked either.

Yes, to build such an empire, he couldn’t have just seemed amiable and kind. Surely he had his negative traits as well. It wasn’t necessary to know if there wasn’t a deep relationship. It was better not to know.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head.

“Well, I’ll go back to my room…… Should I say goodbye to Christoph?”

He mumbled, recalling Christoph’s sad face, then headed towards Christoph’s room and hesitated before knocking on the door.

There was no response from inside.

Taeui knocked again, more carefully this time. Ilay, without hesitation, opened the door wide.

“Christoph, are you asleep?”

In Ilay’s straightforward manner, Jeong Taeui put his hand to his forehead and thought: ‘Yes, he’s always like this.’ The scene inside the room slowly revealed itself.

As expected, Christoph wasn’t asleep after the old man left.

Perhaps still in the same position as when he spoke with the old man, he sat properly at the desk, staring at the empty chair opposite where the old man had sat.

Jeong Taeui looked at Christoph in confusion, while Christoph stared into space as if deep in thought – or like a lifeless doll.

“Christoph, are you okay?”

When Jeong Taeui asked, it took a while before Christoph slowly raised his head.

Chris suddenly stood up and walked straight towards Jeong Taeui. The sudden approach made Taeui pause and say: “What’s wrong?” but Christoph didn’t come closer.

Christoph brushed past Jeong Taeui without even glancing at him. He didn’t look at Ilay standing right behind Taeui either.

Christoph flung the door open and stepped into the hallway. His tense footsteps gradually faded away.

“Huh……?”

Jeong Taeui looked around in confusion. But Christoph was gone, leaving only Ilay staring at the door.

“Where…… did he go……?” – Jeong Taeui mumbled. He wondered if he should chase after Christoph, but seeing Ilay nonchalantly heading towards the window calmed him down.

“Maybe he remembered something suddenly.”

Ilay stood by the window, back turned, and mumbled softly. His voice sounded happy. It seemed his mood was quite good tonight.

Jeong Taeui stood there for a moment, then scratched his head and sat down on the stool near the bed.

Should I go back to my room? Yes, I should. Wash up and go to sleep, that’s the best thing now. A can of beer before bed would be even better.

But as Taeui was about to get up and head back, the image of the room’s owner popped into his mind.

“Hope he’s not out horse-riding in the dark, that’s dangerous.”

The other day, Christoph had rushed out dangerously wanting to ride a horse. It could happen again now.

“Well, even in that case, Christoph won’t be in danger. ……But hey, Taei.”

Ilay’s voice suddenly dropped. Jeong Taeui lifted his heavy head to look at him.

“Before worrying about him, don’t we have some unfinished business?”

Ilay turned around, placing his hand on the frame and leaning against the window, looking at Jeong Taeui. His face had a faint smile, looking quite pleased.

“……?”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head.

Do I have some unfinished business?

Ilay slowly approached Taeui. The gradual, slow approach felt like a predator stalking its prey, instilling a primal sense of threat.

Strange. Despite Ilay maintaining a calm expression and smiling, Jeong Taeui felt a chill run down his spine.

As he was pondering the reason, Ilay spoke.

“So let me ask again. What did you do with Christoph?”

“Um……?”

Jeong Taeui replied naively, prompting Ilay to remind him.

“Yes, precisely. The look in your eyes. A faint smile on your lips but eyes that slightly squinted as if laughing, yet contained something chilling.”

“Christoph…… huh?”

Jeong Taeui couldn’t immediately grasp the context, so he asked Ilay directly. Ilay, now closer, willingly pointed it out.

“When I came to call Christoph, you stopped talking. Now continue. What did you do with Christoph?”

At that moment, Ilay’s words hit Jeong Taeui like a bucket of cold water. All his fatigue vanished instantly.

But as Jeong Taeui widened his eyes and became alert, Ilay had already closed the gap, standing just a few steps away.

“Wait! Wait! You’ve got it all wrong!!”

“Got it wrong, huh……”

Ilay stopped, standing before the stool-bound Jeong Taeui.

Jeong Taeui scooted back on the stool, but it was futile. Sitting on the stool, he could only move a few inches.

“First of all, let me tell you, nothing happened. I’ve never done anything like that with anyone other than you – meaning, since meeting you, I’ve never done it with anyone else. Not even once!”

“Really? Coincidentally, I feel the same! Since I slept with you, I haven’t slept with anyone else!”

Ilay’s statement almost as if declaring – ‘I’ve always been faithful to you’ – truly surprised Jeong Taeui. He didn’t think Ilay would fool around with others, but hearing it directly felt oddly surprising.

“Yes…… really? Me too……”

Jeong Taeui awkwardly scratched his neck out of embarrassment. Ilay also smiled. Seeing that smile, Jeong Taeui felt relieved. Anyway, hearing those words temporarily shut down his brain.

While still in a daze, Ilay leaned in and whispered softly into Taeui’s ear.

“Then what did Christoph’s words mean?”

“Ah, that…… As you know, he’s quite naive. He once touched my private area, that’s what he was talking about.”

“Ah ha. Your private area? Christoph? ……How did that happen?”

“Well, that……”

Jeong Taeui, naively confessing everything, suddenly paused when he saw Ilay removing his gloves.

Ilay discarded the gloves carelessly, the same gloves he usually wore to ruthlessly kill and cut throats, revealing his white hands.

This wasn’t a bad sign. If Ilay removed his gloves, it meant nothing terrible would happen. If he wore the gloves, it would be more worrying.

However, as the gloves fell to the floor and those white, beautiful hands were revealed, Jeong Taeui’s heart leaped.

“No, you see, he didn’t know anything. S-so……”

“Huh? So after touching your private area, he called it sex? Ha ha ha, that’s odd…… Does that mean in his mind, his relationship with you is similar to yours with me?” 

“Uh? Uh―is that―what it means……?” 

Strange. The conversation was veering off course. While the statement wasn’t wrong, it was deviating from Jeong Taeui’s intention and desire. 

“In other words, he thinks his relationship with you is similar to your relationship with me!” 

“No! N-no way……” 

Jeong Taeui quickly denied, waving his hands. However, Ilay had already unbuttoned his cuff and gently kicked the stool Jeong Taeui was sitting on without hesitation.

“……!!!!!”

The stool was pushed back, hitting the bed hard. Jeong Taeui lost his balance slightly when the stool hit the bed.

Although he didn’t fall and his upper body only shook 2-3 times, when he regained his balance and stood upright, the situation had become serious. One of Ilay’s white hands was on Jeong Taeui’s collarbone, pushing him down.

Jeong Taeui instinctively tried to resist but to no avail. Despite his beautiful exterior, behind it lay unimaginable strength.

“Taei. I think I made it clear before. This belongs to me.”

That hand slowly pressed down from his collarbone to his stomach. Jeong Taeui held his breath under the weight.

What do you mean ‘belongs to you’…… Jeong Taeui’s weak whisper had no strength.

Suddenly, memories flooded back. Indeed, this man had said such things before. Somehow, he had etched that into Jeong Taeui’s subconscious. Even if he didn’t want to remember, he couldn’t forget it.

The hand moved close to his waistband and then slid under his shirt. The hand moved from his stomach to his chest, brushing over every part of his skin.

Jeong Taeui found it strange that such a pale hand could be so hot.

“How could someone else touch what belongs to me? You should never let others touch this, right? Why did you let someone else touch what’s mine?”

“Touch what! I didn’t let anyone touch me!”

Previously, the thought of asking why it was his flashed through Jeong Taeui’s mind, but he knew it would be useless to ask. And beyond that, a feeling of frustration welled up.

Does he think I’m that easy, giving my body to anyone?

Jeong Taeui’s indignant cries didn’t sway Ilay. With his other hand, Ilay easily pulled down Jeong Taeui’s pants. When he pulled down his underwear, cold air rushed to his lower body.

“Have you forgotten? I can engrave it into you as many times as needed. So deep that you’ll never forget that this body is mine.”

Ilay’s voice was relaxed. As if he was joking, a faint smile appeared on his face. But at any moment, he could suddenly leave, saying it was all a joke.

But……

“……Are you mad?”

Jeong Taeui frowned and asked.

It felt that way. Although Ilay was smiling, something inside was twisted. Somehow, it was clear that Ilay’s inner feelings were not okay.

“Mad? Yes, I’m mad because you let what’s mine be touched by others.”

Although Ilay spoke as if it didn’t matter, it was clear he was angry.

Jeong Taeui felt a sigh of resignation building up inside.

In hindsight, after all, they had lived together. Regardless of how Ilay viewed Jeong Taeui, having lived together, Ilay couldn’t feel comfortable letting others touch Taeui like that…… 

Jeong Taeui didn’t think Ilay would get jealous like an ordinary person.

“I’m sorry.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled like a sigh. However, as his mouth was about to add another apology, it closed again.

His exposed lower body suddenly felt hot.

“Il—!”

He couldn’t even complete calling his name. Before he could call, another sound escaped, making Jeong Taeui quickly cover his mouth.

Ilay’s hand gripped Jeong Taeui’s waist and thighs. Effortlessly, he lifted him off the ground, and Ilay’s mouth took hold of the sensitive part of Jeong Taeui’s lower body.

Jeong Taeui covered his mouth with one hand, while the other hand inadvertently grabbed Ilay’s hair. He gripped the hair of the man who was sucking him and tried to push his head away with all his might. But he couldn’t push him because he was too embarrassed to use his strength properly.

“……―!!”

For a moment, Jeong Taeui’s neck flushed red.

In fact, the person doing the sucking should be more embarrassed, but this man remained calm. His expression didn’t change, and he continued to gently lick the sensitive part of Jung 

Taeui down to its base.

“Il-Ilay―……!! Stop, stop, stop……!!”

“I need to check if it still tastes the same. Stay still.”

Ilay paused to say that, then continued to lightly lick Taeui’s genitals. Jeong Taeui gave up trying to push Ilay’s head away and slowly pulled a blanket over his face.

He wondered if this felt like when people ran out of the house in a panic while bathing. But that thought quickly vanished.

Even with his face covered by the blanket, the wet sounds from below continued. The licking and sucking sounds made everything feel vulgar.

This wasn’t the first time. There had been times they were naked and entangled like animals, so this was nothing new. But……

Jeong Taeui reminded himself – ‘This isn’t as bad as before’ – But the problem was that even before, despite many years, he still wasn’t used to it. He had never comfortably enjoyed it like a sport and swayed with it.

Ilay never allowed that to happen. Like now.

“……Ahhhh!! Don’t scratch, it hurts!!”

“It’s not hurting, it’s just your body reacting.”

Ilay’s mouth still held Jeong Taeui’s shaft, his lips moving as he spoke. The sensation was gentle, but at that moment, a finger began moving, massaging the inner folds of Taeui. A finger continuously probing and teasing inside made Jeong Taeui jolt.

As Jeong Taeui tried to pull away from Ilay’s hand, Ilay’s mouth tightened around his shaft. 

The hard teeth pressed against the skin, making Jeong Taeui shudder.

“Don’t bite! I’ll die!!”

“If you stay still, I won’t bite. Relax.”

Ilay’s hand gripped Jeong Taeui’s waist. The force was enough to leave bruises.

Ilay was someone who would bite if not obeyed. In fact, a few years ago, in a similar situation, Jeong Taeui had kicked his shoulder, thinking Ilay wouldn’t bite. And it came true. Ilay had bitten so hard that the mark lasted for days, even without a hospital visit.

It was one of the very, very few times the word – “Sorry” – came out of Ilay’s mouth. Since then, although Ilay didn’t bite anymore, that terrible experience left a psychological mark on Jeong Taeui 

Taeui. Whenever Ilay intended to do something similar, Jeong Taeui’s body would automatically tense up.

Like now.

“Relax.”

Ilay said while still holding Jeong Taeui’s shaft. His finger moved in circles, exploring inside Jeong Taeui, gradually expanding. Jeong Taeui felt like electric currents were being transmitted to his brain, sensing the teasing touches inside and the gentle sucking from Ilay’s mouth, making his body involuntarily tense.

“Relax.”

Ilay clicked his tongue. The finger inside Jeong Taeui’s body curved, opening him up, creating a painful sensation. Jeong Taeui instinctively grabbed Ilay’s head, trying to push him away.

“Even if I want to relax, I can’t……―Ah……Ah Ah!!”

Jeong Taeui cried out, almost in tears. He didn’t know if his pleas reached Ilay, but the fingers kept scratching inside him. Jeong Taeui cried out, nearly in tears, as Ilay’s finger stimulated his sensitive spot.

Ironically, this was Jeong Taeui’s erogenous zone.

Soon, Jeong Taeui’s shaft hardened. Ilay’s mouth tightened, his tongue wrapped around, and his lips sucked hard, making Jeong Taeui feel like he was suffocating.

The feeling of climax came quickly. When Jeong Taeui held his breath, he felt like he was about to explode……―.

“…………?!”

……But he couldn’t. Ilay’s white hand gripped the base of his shaft, his mouth moving away.

“Ilay……”

Jeong Taeui looked at Ilay in bewilderment.

Ilay gently kissed the tip of Jeong Taeui’s shaft and whispered.

“Listen carefully and nod, Taei. First, if you let anyone else touch you there again, I’ll kill him and then make sure you can’t use your shaft unless it’s with me. If you want to go around with a dildo and chastity belt for the rest of your life when not with me, then feel free to use your body as you wish.”

Jeong Taeui winced and widened his eyes as he listened to Ilay’s words, feeling the climax turn into torturous endurance. But Ilay didn’t stop there.

“Second, in any situation, you must prioritize yourself above all. If you dare to hurt yourself, even slightly, to help someone else, I’ll make that person suffer more and make you cry with regret until your wound heals without a scar.”

“What……! How can you predict how a wound will happen……! And moreover, not many people touch each other’s crotch, but you could accidentally touch someone in a public bath or pool!!!”

Jeong Taeui shot up and shouted.

Cold sweat broke out. Ilay rarely jokes, so he couldn’t ignore any of his words.

“If you get hurt by accident, it’s okay. If you accidentally touch someone in a public place, it’s okay. I’ll decide based on the level of intent. ……Understand?”

“That’s oppression! One can’t live like that—!”

However, Jeong Taeui’s protests were cut off.

Ilay’s hand gripped the base of his shaft, his tongue licking the glans, and his finger scratched and stimulated the sensitive spot inside, adding fuel to the fire burning to the core.

“Listen, I can—”

“Just nod. ……Understand, Taei?”

Although Jeong Taeui cried and screamed, Ilay didn’t yield. He only issued a firm command.

For some reason, Jeong Taeui felt like nodding meant digging his own grave, so he looked at Ilay with worried eyes. The pressure from Ilay’s hand increased.

“Ahh…… Wait……”

The stimulation just now was enough to make him dizzy, and if it went any further, it would become unbearable. Jeong Taeui felt desperate.

He tried to place his hand on Ilay’s, but Ilay only continued to stimulate his shaft. Then Ilay lowered his voice and whispered gently.

“Why are you resisting? What’s the problem? All you need to do is ensure no one else invades you and avoid you get into trouble. That’s simple, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but……”

But the accompanying conditions were too harsh. Just thinking about them made Jeong Taeui pale.

Ilay looked at Jeong Taeui with a probing gaze and then raised an eyebrow.

“Then think about it some more. I’ll continue my work while you think.”

Ilay said nonchalantly and continued moving his finger deeper into Jeong Taeui. The sensitive noises coming from his body, the blush-inducing sounds, began to resonate…… the area started to get wetter.

But before blushing from the sounds, Jeong Taeui was startled by a strong wave of stimulation.

“……Wait!! I’ll do it, I’ll do what you say!! So……―!!”

“Take your time to think. Maybe another ten minutes. That way, I can enjoy myself and savor it slowly.”

Almost shouting, Jeong Taeui finally shut his mouth and swallowed hard. Ilay bent down, his tongue gently licking the now wet area.

“Actually, I’ve been wanting to try this for a long time. This spot is bright red and twitching; I wonder how fresh it will taste. It must be delicious.”

Ilay’s breath and soft laughter tickled Jeong Taeui’s lower region. He couldn’t bear it anymore, so he leaned over and hugged Ilay’s head tightly.

Damn bastard, just let him suffocate and die.

Though he cursed and felt bitter inside, he had no time to think further.