He had thought they looked very much alike the first time he saw them.

If they looked this similar, anyone could tell they shared a blood relationship.

Though there were differences with her having softer and more gentle features than Christoph and her eyes slightly drooped. But overall, this woman’s appearance was truly remarkable.

“So you could say she is his much older sister.”

Jeong Taeui was suddenly mumbled. Ilay was standing next to him, added: “You could think so because the age gap is about twenty years.”

The woman was much younger than he had imagined and resembled Christoph more than he thought.

When Christoph’s mother – Bianca – stood in front of the main stairs of the Tarten main hall, Jeong Taeui silently admired her. She looked so much like Christoph that she was beautiful like a sculpture.

When her car stopped, Christoph had gone down the stairs and opened the car door. As soon as she stepped out of the car and stood next to him, anyone looking at the two who looked identical could tell they were family, whether they looked like mother and son or siblings.

After getting out of the car, she looked at Christoph and said briefly: “Long time no see.”

That’s all……

Christoph respectfully bowed: “Yes, mother, how have you been?” But she just bowed politely and no longer looked at Christoph.

She stood in front of the door and slowly observed the surroundings. Starting from the paved road leading from the main gate to here, the meticulously decorated courtyard, the symmetrical The West Wing and The East Wing and finally, the main building.

She narrowed her eyes. Taeui could see her chest heaving as she took a deep breath.

“This place hasn’t changed at all.”

She whispered with a sentimental tone and stood there for a long while. Then she looked up at the main building and started to climb the stairs. Christoph quietly followed her.

In a hidden corner of the stairs, Jeong Taeui stood watching Christoph with a curious look.

This was the first time he had seen Christoph like this. No longer the cold or indifferent gaze, only calmness and courtesy remained. Just like a well-bred nobleman.

“This elegant appearance and demeanor match so well……”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head slightly.

He still had a feeling something wasn’t right. Not just because of the unfamiliar feeling of seeing it for the first time. After looking at Christoph for a while, Jeong Taeui suddenly realized the reason.

Christoph was not looking at anything. He quietly followed Bianca, only looking at her back. No, not even looking at her back, he was just heading towards her like an old toy waiting for her to wind it up.

Jeong Taeui looked back at Bianca. She was so beautiful and graceful that it was hard to believe she was the mother of a thirty-year-old man. She looked very happy. Around her sparkling eyes, a rising desire and a smile like a blooming flower on her lips.

As she was climbing the stairs, her eyes suddenly stopped when she saw Taeui and Ilay standing there.

When she saw Jeong Taeui, she slightly frowned with a questioning look. But then when she turned her gaze to Ilay, she stared at him. She did not take her eyes off Ilay until she reached the top of the stairs and she suddenly smiled brightly when she reached the last step.

“Is it true? You are the little master of the Riegrow family! How long has it been?”

“Long time no see, ma’am.”

Ilay replied with a polite smile as she approached him, lightly intertwining his hands and slightly bowing his head.

“It seems you are here for the succession decision. Are the other members of your family well?”

“Yes, thanks to your concern, everyone is well.”

Ilay’s answer was brief and concise with only a fake smile on his lips. Although he clearly didn’t want to talk for a long time, she still smiled brightly without showing any discomfort. No, really, nothing could spoil her mood at this moment.

Christoph followed her up the stairs and stopped two steps behind her. Jeong Taeui watched Christoph, who always stood politely with his head bowed and did not make eye contact with others with a puzzled look.

At that moment, her gaze turned to Jeong Taeui.

She looked at Jeong Taeui with a questioning look and then turned to Ilay again.

“This is the first time I have met this person……”

“He is Christoph’s guest.”

“Oh, I see.”

At Ilay’s brief reply, she slightly nodded and glanced at Jeong Taeui. Only when Ilay added – “And he is also my friend and living with me in Berlin” – did she respond once more – “Oh, really” – then smiled and greeted Jeong Taeui.

Jeong Taeui vaguely smiled back at her greeting. Then Richard opened the front door and stepped outside.

He might have only come out after seeing her car stop at the door, greeting her with the usual warm smile, nothing more, nothing less.

“Aunt Bianca, it’s been too long.”

Richard approached with his hands slightly spread as if welcoming a familiar person and her face lit up when she saw him. Like a light being turned on, her face became even more joyful and emotional.

“Oh dear, Richard. You’ve really grown up a lot! My dear Richard, you look so strong now.”

She approached Richard and hugged him tightly. Richard gently patted her back a few times and then slowly stepped back. Then he glanced at Christoph standing behind her.

“I’m sorry, aunt. I intended to go to the airport to pick you up, but there were some issues early on and I didn’t have the time. I wanted at least to have Christoph pick you up, but that wasn’t convenient either……”

“Oh dear, it’s alright. You sent a car to pick me up and that’s enough. I didn’t want to take up your time while you’re busy with family matters. Your work for the prosperity of Tarten is more important, so it’s perfectly fine.”

She smiled gently and shook her head.

Jeong Taeui looked at her and wondered if Christoph would look like that when he smiled. Then he saw Christoph standing silently behind her like a stone statue.

Even though the woman who looked exactly like Christoph smiled so brightly, even imagining Christoph smiling didn’t help Taeui visualize him smiling like that. If Christoph smiled, it would probably not be as bright but more solemn――.

“Please come inside. You need to meet and greet the elders first.”

“Oh, right. I shouldn’t be standing here.”

She clapped her hands together and whispered as if suddenly remembering something, then lightly stepped through the door that Richard had opened. Christoph, who was standing still, followed her.

But as Christoph was about to step through the main door,

“Christoph, can you help me a bit?”

Richard, who had opened the door for Bianca, gently called. When Christoph looked at him, Richard smiled and asked Bianca, who was walking ahead,

“Can Christoph go with me, aunty?”

She opened her eyes wide and looked back, slowly nodded as if surprised.

“Of course. Feel free. I would be delighted if my son could be of help to you, Richard.”

She spoke with utmost sincerity and smiled gently at Richard, then continued walking with a servant who had approached her.

When she disappeared inside the building, the space fell silent for a moment.

Jeong Taeui weakly tilted his head, feeling a vague sense of dissatisfaction, but at first glance, he couldn’t figure out what it was. He could only continue tilting his head in confusion. Then he looked at Christoph standing silently in front of him and tried to smile.

“Christoph, you really do look just like your mother. Anyone who sees you can easily tell you two are family.”

Christoph only responded quietly: “Yes.”

He wasn’t completely absent-minded or unfocused, but he was very quiet. His slightly lowered eyes didn’t look around.

He had been like that from the beginning.

Since Bianca arrived and Christoph had been waiting in front of the building, he had always stood silently on the stairs like a statue. Even when Jeong Taeui tried to start a conversation, Christoph only responded briefly and half-heartedly, not seeming to listen intently. However, he didn’t entirely ignore or fail to hear.

To be specific, his personality had changed to become more introverted and silent.

“Wake up, Christoph.”

At that moment, Richard approached Christoph and spoke coldly. Christoph just raised his eyes to look at him. His eyes gradually showed discomfort and coldness.

Christoph sighed softly as he lifted his head. As he rubbed his shoulders and arms as if tired, he gradually regained his usual demeanor. But his face still had a stiff and unrelaxed look.

“She hasn’t changed at all.”

Ilay suddenly laughed.

“It’s been almost 10 years since I last met her, but nothing has changed.”

“That’s right. The last time I met her was around that time too.”

Richard seemed to be reminiscing, counting the time as he turned to look at Christoph and asked.

“Even so, it’s not been that long for you, right?”

Christoph didn’t answer. He pursed his lips and turned his face away as if he didn’t want to respond. Seeing that, Ilay answered on his behalf.

“The last time he was on leave was 4 years ago. So, at least 4 years.”

“Indeed, a reunion of mother and son after a long time.”

Richard nodded.

And then, Jeong Taeui, who had been standing beside, finally understood the unusual sense of discomfort he had felt earlier.

From the moment she got out of the car, she hadn’t looked at Christoph once. From entering the building until disappearing inside, she only exchanged pleasantries with him. Christoph did the same.

Christoph silently raised his head with an uncomfortable expression. He spoke coldly to Richard.

“You have something to do, don’t you? Aren’t you going?”

Richard raised his eyebrows in response to his reluctance to listen to Christoph’s tone.

“Work? Let’s see. Today’s schedule is over……”

“Hmmm~” – Richard furrowed his brows, thinking and tilted his head. Christoph frowned and glared at him with displeasure.

“There’s nothing keeping me here.”

His tone was full of irritation. Richard then looked at Christoph as if it was amusing and responded calmly, softly.

“Or do you want to stay with your mother since it’s been a long time? In that case, feel free, Christoph. She will be staying at Tarten until the succession decision is made, so you can see her anytime you want……. Of course, if she wants to see you.”

Christoph closed his mouth. He glared at Richard with eyes full of anger but did not refute.

Jeong Taeui was watching them with a feeling of unease. Then he frowned and clicked his tongue. He scratched his neck and looked at Richard.

“It seems you don’t like Christoph’s mother.”

Though the statement was blunt, there was no other way to ease the situation.

Contrary to Jeong Taeui’s intention of wanting to change the subject, Richard chuckled softly and shook his head.

“No one is more loyal to Tarten than she is.”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t dislike her.”

Jeong Taeui said with a sigh. Richard slightly raised his eyebrows but did not answer. He only smiled faintly. But then he suddenly looked at Christoph with narrowed eyes and spoke gently.

“How ironic. The one most rebellious against Tarten like you is loyal to her. Even though her love is only for Tarten and not for you.”

Immediately, Christoph’s expression changed drastically. From anger to hatred and from hatred to murderous intent.

Even feeling the clear intent to kill directed at him, Richard didn’t blink. On the contrary, he smiled happily. At the same time, he pretended to raise his hands in surrender and took a step back.

“Alright. Today, I’ll leave it up to you. Right now, you can go see her—she’s probably in the patriarch’s room—or go back to your room and sit like a doll.”

Christoph glared at Richard with dark, furious eyes for a long time, then suddenly turned and walked quickly towards the The West Wing, disappearing inside it.

Since coming here, every morning Jeong Taeui would wake Christoph up.

Although waking Christoph had become so familiar that it had turned into a habit, every time he did it, he thought that Pygmalion* must have felt this way.

(Pygmalion from Greek mythology*: Pygmalion was a talented sculptor living on the island of Cyprus. He created a beautiful and perfect ivory statue of a woman. Pygmalion woke the statue and it turned into a living person.)

Christoph was not someone who easily woke up in the morning and rarely woke up before Taeui. So most of the time, even when Jeong Taeui entered the room and stood by the bed, Christoph would still be sleeping.

Therefore, taking advantage of the few minutes before waking Christoph up, Jeong Taeui would often pull a chair to the bedside and sit watching him for a while.

Christoph had a very good sleeping habit; he lay on his side and didn’t move at all. If you looked closely, you could see his chest slightly rising and falling, but his white skin made him look like a delicate wax doll.

“……Christoph.”

When it was time, Jeong Taeui gently called him. Although not easily awakened in the morning, Christoph had a keen sense of hearing and would slowly open his eyes. Still lying in his sleeping position, only his eyelids would open. At that moment, it felt to Jeong Taeui as if he were witnessing a statue turning into a person.

He saw this face every morning, but every time he looked, he felt deeply moved.

“Wake up. It’s time~”

Jeong Taeui gently whispered to him and then stood up.

He walked to the window, opened it to let in the fresh air and tied the curtains back.

“The sunlight is beautiful…… On days like this, one should go out and have fun. What’s your schedule like today? Is it fully packed again?”

It seemed the yard had been watered, the sunlight reflecting on the water droplets clinging to the low trees and grass in the garden made the scene glitter beautifully.

Jeong Taeui squinted while looking down at the courtyard for a moment, then turned around. Seeing no response, he thought Christoph might have fallen back asleep, but when he turned around, he saw Christoph sitting dazed on the bed.

His eyes were cast down to his vaguely clenched hands, seeming still drowsy as if in a dream.

“Christoph…… Are you feeling unwell again this morning?”

Jeong Taeui hesitated for a moment, then asked. Christoph finally lifted his head. His blue eyes look like glass, looking straight at Jeong Taeui. But it wasn’t clear if he was actually seeing Jeong Taeui, as he remained silent for a while.

“Christoph?”

When Jeong Taeui called his name again, Christoph slowly nodded. Then he whispered, like a sigh,

“It’s okay. I’m just still sleepy. I just had a dream.”

Jeong Taeui leaned against the window frame, folded his arms and gently asked Christoph, who was still drowsily looking at the edge of the blanket.

“What kind of dream?”

“A dream about my childhood. But it wasn’t something that actually happened. It was just my dream as a child.”

“What kind of dream?”

Christoph thought for a long time…… still deep in thought. Perhaps because he was still drowsy or had just woken up, the memory of the dream was gradually fading, so he couldn’t answer immediately.

Jeong Taeui opened the refrigerator, took out some water and poured it into a glass. When he handed the glass to Christoph, Christoph looked at it for a long time, as if wondering what it was, then began to drink as he realized what it was. Each time he took a sip, he spoke a little.

“I couldn’t communicate with anyone. It was clearly not a language I didn’t know, but I couldn’t understand it. They couldn’t understand the language I used either. I didn’t understand what they said and they didn’t understand me…… Eventually, I couldn’t say anything.”

The story didn’t have much plot to be considered a dream story, but by the time he finished, the glass of water was empty and Christoph seemed more awake.

He placed the glass on the bedside table and quietly sighed. After sighing, he was fully awake.

Christoph looked at the clock on the bedside table with his usual indifferent eyes, then tilted his head in puzzlement.

“It’s only 8:00.”

“Yes, it’s time to get up.”

“We only need to be ready to leave by 8:30.”

Though it was only waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual, Christoph glared at Jeong Taeui as if he had lost three hours of sleep.

“No wonder my head feels heavy and it’s hard to get up……”

Christoph grumbled sulkily, then lay back down and tried to burrow into the blanket. Jeong Taeui quickly pulled the blanket away and threw it aside.

“Christoph. Before going out, you need to say good morning to your mother. So get up now.”

After saying that, Jeong Taeui calculated the time in his head again. Yes, although there was some leeway, getting up now would help avoid a rush later.

However, just as Jeong Taeui said that, Christoph burrowed into the blanket and lowered it just enough to reveal his face. It was a very strange face. He stared at Jeong Taeui with a peculiar expression as if hearing a bizarre story. Then he tilted his head slightly.

“Did my mother call me……?”

A small and weak voice. It made Jeong Taeui feel like Christoph was an innocent child. Jeong Taeui also felt strange and replied,

“No, but…… you don’t have to be called to say good morning.”

When Jeong Taeui answered, Christoph’s big eyes gradually closed. The doubt and surprise disappeared as he seemed to think: ‘Oh, is that so.’ like he was quietly disappointed.

Christoph pulled the blanket up a little more.

“If she doesn’t call, then I won’t go.”

At that calm voice, Jeong Taeui just blinked at him.

No…… the voice didn’t sound very angry or sulky, but the way he said it……

“Hey, hey. You’re not a child sulking because of a quarrel with your mother. Why say that? If you’re living in the same house, you should greet the elders in the morning and evening.”

Jeong Taeui pulled the blanket down, this time all the way to Christoph’s waist. Christoph frowned and looked at Jeong Taeui with a displeased expression, then muttered as he sat up. He ran his fingers through his tousled hair and sighed, a mix of a sigh and a groan.

“I guess I said it wrong. Let me rephrase: ‘If my mother doesn’t call, I can’t go!’”

Christoph corrected himself.

Just changing one word, Christoph frowned and then suddenly grabbed his hair, brushing it angrily. He kept grabbing and releasing his hair – it’s a habit whenever something was bothering him – then got out of bed.

“Waking me up early just makes my head heavier…… I’ll go wash my face.”

Christoph grumbled unhappily and walked towards the bathroom. But he suddenly stopped, turned around and opened a drawer to take out a bottle of pills. He roughly poured several pills into his palm without counting and swallowed them.

He grimaced at the bitterness and muttered: “So bitter……” then chewed the pills like candy and walked into the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water could be heard and the bathroom door was slightly ajar. Jeong Taeui tilted his head in thought, then began neatly folding the blanket.

“Indeed, the mother and son are afraid of each other.”

Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed in his mind.

“They just differ in how they show it, but they both fear each other. Don’t you feel that?”

While Jeong Taeui was deeply thinking about Christoph’s mother, Ilay had noticed this and suddenly told Taeui.

Fear…… Jeong Taeui repeated the words and thought about the mother and son who looked so much alike.

It was indeed not easy to recognize. Jeong Taeui didn’t know exactly how they feared each other and in what way. At least, regarding Christoph’s mother.

As for Christoph……

…….Christoph was clearly different when he was with her. This also applied to anything related to her.

“……Perhaps it’s better not to meet.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled without realizing it. Only when his own voice echoed in his ears did he realize he had been talking to himself. He quickly shook his head and sighed.

But now it was unavoidable. She had come to Tarten and they were still in the same building. Even if the building was large enough that it was difficult to meet by chance unless one deliberately sought the other.

Christoph would continue as he had yesterday, always silent and closing himself off.

Jeong Taeui thought about the image of the quiet and introverted young man he had seen the day before. From an ordinary perspective, such a personality seemed much more reasonable than Christoph’s usual demeanor, but Jeong Taeui didn’t like that forced behavior.

It wasn’t normal.

“No…… If you think about it, his usual personality isn’t entirely normal either, so maybe yesterday was the same……”

Jeong Taeui mumbled to himself as he finished tidying up the bed and looked around the room, which was as clean as usual. The sound of water in the bathroom stopped and Christoph stepped out.

Christoph didn’t like water dripping on the floor, so he always dried himself almost completely before leaving the bathroom. He walked straight to the wardrobe and stood looking inside for a long time without moving.

“……Will you be seeing your mother more often now?”

Jeong Taeui hesitated for a moment, then asked softly.

He recalled that whenever Christoph received a call from her or when they met, it always made him quieter and slightly tense. He felt a bit bitter when he thought about the reluctant prospect of seeing that scene more often.

Then Christoph paused for a moment, then slowly turned to look at Jeong Taeui. He looked blankly at Taeui, not clear on what he was thinking, then turned back to the wardrobe. His hand pulled out a white shirt.

“Probably not often. My mother won’t leave the The East Wing.”

“Oh? Well, if you’re in different buildings, maybe, but don’t elderly people living in the The East Wing sometimes take walks in places like the walking paths? I’ve met them early in the morning.”

“I don’t take morning walks, so I don’t know. I’ve never met them.”

“……Yeah. When I take morning walks, I sometimes meet familiar people.”

Jeong Taeui recalled the stern ‘Uncle’ he often met at least a few times a week in the early morning and clicked his tongue.

Christoph, standing next to him, was wearing dark blue trousers and took out a tie with small patterns that matched the trousers.

“Because my mother likes to walk in the private courtyard behind The East Wing. She often enjoys tea time there too…… Unless she calls, the frequency of meetings will remain almost the same as before coming to Dresden.”

Before coming to Dresden, the frequency of meetings was entirely zero.

“Okay then” – Christoph added and took out a simple striped jacket in front of Jeong Taeui, who was scratching his head.

“Sometimes Richard might call me. To have tea with my mother.”

Jeong Taeui fell silent.

Ilay’s words echoed in his mind again.

To Richard, Bianca was indeed the perfect card to torment Christoph. A card that was absolutely effective and the easiest to use.

Christoph wasn’t unaware of that either. Although he was aware, he still had no choice but to play according to Richard’s plan, which showed the absolute nature of that card.

But anyway……

Jeong Taeui sighed in relief.

He had worried that Christoph wouldn’t know what to do and would always be as tense as walking on thin ice while living under the same roof with his mother. But fortunately, although Christoph seemed a bit less energetic than usual, he wasn’t much different.

Maybe, as he said, the chance of meeting was very rare.