Inside the room, there was another room.

When opening the heavy door inside the spacious office of the main building, Jeong Taeui was first surprised by the interior being much larger than imagined, and the second thing was that he felt this wasn’t a place he should enter.

Christoph entered first, Jeong Taeui followed, and finally Ilay stepped in. Then he quietly closed the door.

They were completely isolated from the slightly noisy atmosphere of the outer rooms.

Only separated by a door, the space inside and outside was completely different. Outside was an open space for outsiders, while this place was only for those closely associated with the Tarten family.

Inside the room, about five or six men were waiting for them.

A cold and silent atmosphere enveloped the place, making the temperature seem to drop a few degrees.

“You called for me?”

The one to break the silence was Christoph.

Although he clearly felt the cold silence directed at him, Christoph did not show any fear or hesitation. In fact, his tone carried an annoyance that almost sounded like reproach.

The reactions of those facing Christoph were varied. Some glared angrily, some clicked their tongues, and others had awkward expressions.

Jeong Taeui stood quietly beside him, his gaze directed at the man who showed no emotion. Among them, the one he recognized was Richard.

Only the bandaged arm under his suit indicated any inconvenience. But Richard, whom Jeong Taeui had seen covered in blood the previous day, now stood next to them looking calm. When their eyes met, Richard greeted Jeong Taeui with a gentle nod, true to his style.

Next, Jeong Taeui’s gaze fell upon the window.

A small old man stood by the window where the evening sunlight shone in. He was the only other person besides Richard that Jeong Taeui had seen before, the head of the Tarten family.

Christoph also saw the old man almost simultaneously with Jeong Taeui, his gaze narrowing slightly. When the man standing in the center spoke, Christoph’s expression turned as impassive as a statue.

“I want to know what happened last night.”

The man with the heavy voice, aside from the old man, seemed to be the oldest among them.

“You already know everything.”

Christoph answered indifferently. The man addressed as ‘uncle’ raised his eyebrows, looking at Christoph with displeasure.

“Why do you think I know everything?”

“I think you’ve already heard from him.”

Christoph briefly glanced at Richard without turning his head. When attention turned to him, Richard raised his eyebrows but did not react otherwise.

The uncle slowly looked at Richard and then turned back to Christoph.

“So, the story goes that Moritz and some others caused trouble at the bar, and you injured them. Then you went to where Richard was and fought with other brothers, correct?”

Christoph merely nodded slightly as an answer.

Jeong Taeui, standing behind Christoph, thought that Christoph at least believed Richard would not lie to benefit himself. But he also wondered if it was a matter of trust or simply understanding the other’s character.

As Jeong Taeui pondered that difference, the uncle’s gaze shifted from Christoph to him.

“You were the one with Christoph last night, correct?”

Only then did Jeong Taeui realize that the question was directed at him. He nodded slightly and responded: “Yes, that’s right.”

Even without looking directly, he could feel the cold gaze on him.

It was a look that evaluated and judged others by their own standards.

Jeong Taeui did not intend to care about the judgment of unrelated people, but he also did not want to pretend to be a polite young man. He raised his head and looked directly at the man.

The old man standing behind still had no intention of speaking. It seemed he had entrusted the decision-making entirely to the uncle, who was perhaps the second in command of the Tarten family. The old man only observed them, looking like a kindly elder.

Jeong Taeui turned back to the uncle, who had finished his observation and asked.

“What do you think?”

Jeong Taeui could not answer immediately.

That question was difficult, and the man was hard to read.

This uncle was a difficult person to read.

Jeong Taeui could not sense whether the man before him had goodwill or malice, what he was thinking, or how he felt.

He sighed quietly as he looked down at his feet, then raised his head.

“I think instead of giving my opinion about them, it’s better to let them express their views to each other.”

In his mind, Jeong Taeui silently added that he did not know enough about the situation to make any judgments. The uncle nodded coldly and said.

“That is a useless thought.”

Jeong Taeui only gave a weak smile.

“I am an outsider and do not intend to help or hinder anyone in the Tarten family.”

He was not qualified to be in this place. To Jeong Taeui, this place was no different from an ill-fitting shoe*, extremely uncomfortable.

 (*Ill-fitting shoe: Refers to something that is not suitable or comfortable.)

The uncle made a slight “Hmm” sound and stared at Jeong Taeui. He looked longer than before and then asked.

“I hear you are Christoph’s guest. What kind of person are you?”

Once again, Jeong Taeui could not answer immediately.

The man always asked difficult questions. Though the question was very general, what he wanted to know was Jeong Taeui’s relationship with Christoph, the reason for being here, and his identity. Jeong Taeui hesitated, not knowing how to answer. He did not know what the right answer was and what should not be said.

The current situation of the Tarten family and his circumstances.

Considering all of that, Jeong Taeui glanced at Richard. He was a bit surprised to realize that Richard knew about him but said nothing.

After thinking for a while, Jeong Taeui decided to give a minimal and honest answer. Anyway, the necessary people were present; if necessary, someone would add more.

“I came here to retrieve a book I had lent but ended up staying longer than planned.”

As Jeong Taeui expected, that answer was too brief. The uncle raised an eyebrow and seemed about to say something, but Richard, standing nearby, spoke up.

“It seems he has connections with T&R.”

The uncle silently looked at Jeong Taeui. Jeong Taeui, momentarily confused, glanced at Richard but then averted his eyes.

What Richard said was not entirely wrong. Jeong Taeui did have connections with T&R and met Christoph through that, though it was not the clear truth. He remained silent after hearing those words, quietly looking up at the ceiling.

Perhaps not just his name but also his current position was unlucky, he thought to himself.

Fortunately, it seemed that the uncle and the other elders had nothing more to ask Jeong Taeui.

They conversed for a while. What Jeong Taeui could understand was very little. Not because of a language issue, but perhaps because there had been some agreements before Christoph and Jeong Taeui arrived. There were only a few questions and brief agreements.

Finally, the uncle called: “Sir”, and the old man nodded vaguely. It seemed they had reached some decision.

The uncle turned to Christoph.

“Christoph, when you renounce your inheritance and left, we agreed to overlook other issues you caused here. We thought you would never return unless it was for something important. But this time, though the reason is understandable, the consequences are beyond imagination.”

Jeong Taeui swallowed. He guessed what was coming and felt bitter. He looked at Christoph out of the corner of his eye.

Christoph remained expressionless. There was no sign of surprise or distress, only calmness. Perhaps he had anticipated this for a long time since he left, as he no longer had any affection for this place.

“So, you must leave the Tarten family. And never return. When you leave here this time, don’t come back to Dresden. That is the last way you can show respect to the Tarten family that gave you birth.”

“I will do so.”

When the uncle finished his brief verdict, Christoph immediately responded.

Jeong Taeui looked at them for a while, then quietly lowered his eyes. He did not want to look any longer.

In retrospect, Christoph had once said he had no intention of returning to Dresden, and this time he came only because he couldn’t avoid it.

So the uncle and the family’s decision not to allow him back was probably not shocking to Christoph.

However.

When he woke up on the large bed, frowned, greeted the morning, rode a horse in the forest proudly and neatly without a speck of dust, or turned the pages of a book in the library under the golden evening light. Those natural and familiar images made Jeong Taeui feel bitter in his throat. Even if he didn’t want to, this place was still the most suitable for him. At least more suitable than rolling in dust and blood.

“As the uncle said, I will leave Dresden tomorrow morning. And as long as I live, I will not return here.”

No one said anything when Christoph firmly replied. Perhaps they also felt regretful, like Jeong Taeui.

But as the uncle nodded and prepared to speak, someone spoke first.

“I will ask for his help.”

The firm but gentle words left the room in stunned silence.

Richard, who had been quietly listening, now shifted his gaze from Christoph to the uncle.

“Guests from the Middle East are coming soon, and I will welcome them with Christoph. He once worked with the Middle East in the T&R Private Task Force, so I can get help from him. That will be his way of paying for what he did this time.”

Those calm and strong words seemed unannounced.

The elders in the room looked at Richard and Christoph with surprise and astonishment. Jeong Taeui also looked at Christoph – who now showed discomfort – then at the still calm Richard and Ilay, who raised an eyebrow slightly surprised but unchanged.

“I won’t do it.”

Christoph was the first to speak.

But Richard ignored him and continued.

“It’s time to decide who will inherit the Tarten family. And I cannot convince myself that I am capable of leading Tarten if I cannot achieve favorable results from both supporters and opponents. So, to prove my ability, I will ask for his help and complete this task.”

Whatever Richard’s real intentions were, his words were not wrong. Despite having a bad relationship, Richard suppressed his emotions and proposed a reasonable solution for both sides.

However.

“I won’t do it. As the uncle said, I will leave Dresden and never return. I will cut all ties with Tarten except for the debts I owe. I will not be involved with you and will not follow your orders.”

Christoph spoke decisively with annoyance, then turned and left without hesitation.

“Chris” – Someone among the elders called his name, but Christoph walked out of the room without hearing. He passed by Jeong Taeui and Ilay, opened the door, and left.

Before anyone could stop him, Christoph was already outside, and the wooden door closed with a thud, leaving Jeong Taeui confused about whether to follow him.

After a short silence, a gentle voice sounded from behind Jeong Taeui.

“He will do it.”

Richard spoke calmly, picking up the coffee cup in front of him. A light coffee aroma wafted.

“I don’t want to expel him from Tarten. I don’t want to lose a precious brother, even if he is a troublemaker.”

The warm and gentle voice accompanied by a benevolent smile.

“So I will ask for his help to resolve everything nicely. No matter how much he hates it.”

While the elders praised and encouraged Richard, he smiled softly as if there were no other choice. Jeong Taeui only stood silently watching him.

That gentle and warm smile never changed.

Christoph had just left the room, leaving Jeong Taeui – an outsider, alone in the room. He pondered when it would be best to leave, but that thought didn’t last long. Immediately, his uncle, who was about to speak, noticed Taeui standing there and signaled for him to leave. 

Naturally, when discussing family secrets, outsiders were not allowed to be present. 

Jeong Taeui quickly bowed politely and turned to leave.

As Jeong Taeui approached the door, his eyes met Ilay, who was standing by the door like a gatekeeper.

Ilay squinted at Jeong Taeui with a meaningful look but opened the way for him without saying a word. He even opened the door himself and made a polite gesture, as if wishing him to leave peacefully.

“There’s a saying that when someone does something that’s not theirs, they die because of it.” 

(*This can be seen as a proverb warning about understanding and respecting one’s boundaries to avoid negative consequences.)

Jeong Taeui whispered softly as he passed Ilay. Ilay squinted and replied in the same low tone. 

“If I have to die, dying from Boksangsa* isn’t so bad.” 

(*복상사 (Boksangsa): a Korean term commonly used to refer to sudden death occurring during sexual intercourse.)

“Hey, I don’t like that. Do you know how heavy you are?!”

Suppressing the urge to shout, Jeong Taeui stepped out through the open door. The door closed with a low thud behind him: “See you later.”

Standing silently in front of the door for a moment, Jeong Taeui shook his head and turned away. The busy eyes of people passing outside the office occasionally fell on him and then disappeared. It was clear that this place was not for Jeong Taeui.

It was very different from Berlin. Kyle’s home and this place were worlds apart.

In that place, even after living for many years, he never felt uncomfortable. It was no different from a home where he lived with his family. But here – perhaps because Jeong Taeui was not a member of this family – it felt like a complex community, somewhere between family and company.

He wanted to return to Berlin. The thought suddenly came to mind. That place had now become his home.

“Um…… but what if I argue with Ilay later?”

Jeong Taeui, walking away from the office towards The West Wing, tilted his head at the sudden thought.

Even if he returned to Korea, his family was no longer there. He wasn’t close with the few remaining relatives.

“So maybe moving to New York to live with my brother…… No, I probably won’t get a visa. No country would grant a visa to a terrorist. Maybe living comfortably with friends in Korea would be better. But can I return to Korea……?”

Mumbling to himself, Jeong Taeui walked towards The West Wing. The people he met in the main building were all strangers, their gazes like sharp knives. But when he returned to The West Wing, the feeling slightly eased.

……There was nowhere to return to. Other than where he was standing, there was no place to return to.

Jeong Taeui didn’t know what that felt like. It wasn’t a feeling that could be understood by imagining in his head. Only by guessing.

Where would that man return to?

“Christoph.”

Jeong Taeui softly called to the man sitting silently at the desk, only focusing on his fingernails tapping together. Christoph was aware of Jeong Taeui’s presence but didn’t look at him. He only focused on his fingertips.

Jeong Taeui sighed and stepped into the room.

“Do you need help packing?”

Christoph glanced at Taeui and spoke indifferently.

“No need. I don’t have anything I want to take from this place.”

Christoph said that he only needed to leave, and Jeong Taeui pulled up a chair to sit opposite him. A long silence ensued before Christoph suddenly spoke as if talking to himself.

“I shouldn’t have come here. I once thought I’d never return.”

But this place suited Christoph very well. Though to everyone else he was an outsider, the space of this house suited him. Even though this place was not where he was welcomed.

But Christoph would leave and never return. That made Jeong Taeui feel regretful.

“That’s right, if it causes such sadness, it’s better not to come.”

Jeong Taeui nodded in agreement. Christoph looked at him with an unhappy expression.

“I’m not hurt. Such things don’t hurt me.”

Jeong Taeui looked at Christoph, speaking with a sulking tone as if such a thing were impossible, and then Taeui laughed.

“So, where do you plan to go after leaving here? Where are you living now?”

“Anywhere I want. Anyway, when working, I have to travel all year.”

“How about Berlin? Kyle’s house is a bit far from the center, but it’s quiet and beautiful.”

“Berlin…… Kyle doesn’t like me.”

Christoph pondered for a moment and then shook his head. This was surprising. Jeong Taeui thought Chris would shamelessly raise his head and say he liked living there whether Kyle hated him or not.

“Why? But Ilay is there too.”

At those words, Christoph’s eyes became frosty.

“Rick…… No, I can’t. Berlin is a ‘terrible place’. Thinking about it, Tarten’s branch there is very big. Richard often goes there. No, that’s not a place for humans to live.”

Before Christoph, who was shaking his head in denial, Jeong Taeui, living in such a ‘terrible place’, could only purse his lips.

The topic of Richard was not one that could be prolonged. Jeong Taeui quickly changed the subject.

“What about your other siblings…… Speaking of which, don’t you have any siblings?”

When Jeong Taeui asked, Christoph froze. His mouth stiffened, and his empty eyes stared straight at Jeong Taeui.

As if facing a complete stranger. Staring at Jeong Taeui with emotionless blue eyes, he finally slowly shook his head.

“No…… I don’t. My father passed away early.”

“Oh……” – Jeong Taeui responded vaguely, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

Perhaps it was best not to ask about this.

However, Christoph suddenly became silent. If Jeong Taeui also remained silent, it would be even more uncomfortable.

“Okay, then what about your mother…… doesn’t she have any siblings?”

“Umm. My mother has always lived alone.”

Christoph picked up the teapot beside the table. The sound of water pouring into the teacup rang out.

Christoph didn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, Jeong Taeui – who had just been a bit flustered – now felt awkward seeing Christoph act as if nothing had happened.

Jeong Taeui scratched his cheek again.

“Umm…… it seems you had a good relationship with your father.”

“My mother loved Tarten very much.”

Christoph replied shortly.

In fact, his face seemed even more normal than before when he sat there with a displeased expression. It was a blank face with no signs of anger or irritation.

“She always remembered this place. I heard she called the elders here every day. She loved Tarten even more than those born here.”

His hand suddenly stopped when placing the teacup down on the saucer.

As if time had stopped, he didn’t blink, and his mind seemed to drift elsewhere.

Jeong Taeui watched Christoph for a moment and then picked up the teapot, pouring more tea into his cup. The sound of water flowing and the steam rising from the teacup. Christoph slowly lowered his gaze to watch the stream of water.

“Speaking of which, it’s been years since I last saw my brother.”

“Brother……?”

Christoph repeated Jeong Taeui’s words like a parrot and slowly looked up. Jeong Taeui acted as if nothing had happened and pulled the empty teacup towards him.

“Since I came to Berlin, I’ve hardly gone out, and my brother has been busy, so he hasn’t had time to visit me. We only called a few times…… I only have one family member, my brother, but it’s been a long time since I heard his voice.”

Christoph quietly watched Jeong Taeui. He seemed to be listening to Jeong Taeui’s story. His face began to show a bit of emotion again.

“Brother…… Right, your brother is Jeong Jay. A lucky genius.”

“Yes. He really is lucky. Even when accidentally pouring hot water and breaking a glass, he doesn’t get hurt at all. While I’m the one who slips on the water and breaks my knee.”

“What…… he’s as lucky as you are unlucky?”

“No, not like that. It’s just an example. But he also has clumsy moments. When I got hurt like that, even though it wasn’t his fault, he felt very guilty. So I often took advantage of him to do my homework.”

Thinking about it, having a brother with a completely normal younger brother, perhaps the older brother had to endure a lot of inconveniences. The younger brother often asked the older brother to do homework, explain difficult questions, and sometimes accidentally used his name in social situations. But the older brother got no benefits from his younger brother.

But Jeong Taeui thought that whether Jaeui had an older brother or not, Taeui would still be happy about it. Just like now, with no exchange of benefits, Jeong Taeui still loved his brother very much.

He thought he should call his brother, at least to hear his voice. Christoph whispered.

“Even living so harmoniously, now you can’t meet each other.”

“Huh? Yes…… but just occasionally contacting and knowing both are doing well is good. Families can’t live together forever, right? Even if we don’t contact much, just praying that the other lives well and happily is enough.”

Jeong Taeui shrugged.

Christoph stared at Jeong Taeui and then lowered his gaze to the teacup. He looked at the warm orange liquid inside, then slowly smiled and whispered.

“Yes…… that’s good.”

It seemed like he was genuinely smiling. In fact, Christoph wasn’t really smiling, and Jeong Taeui had never seen him truly smile, but the slightly curved eyes of Christoph looked like they were smiling. So Jeong Taeui also smiled.

The late afternoon sunlight brought warmth, shining through the window like the color of the tea in the hot cup. A deep orange color almost brushed with gold, a pleasant warmth, and a quiet, lazy stillness.

Jeong Taeui turned his gaze away from Christoph’s cheek, which seemed slightly flushed from the sunlight. He drank another sip of tea, in contrast to Christoph’s gentle and soundless way. Taeui drank, making steady sounds.

Suddenly, he felt like nothing mattered anymore.

Even if the people of Tarten were noisy, even if the atmosphere in the house was heavy, even if Christoph was sentenced to exile and about to leave; at least at this moment, they were peacefully drinking tea here.

Nothing could disturb them.

Peaceful and cozy.