Suddenly, his eyes fell on the large mirror hanging on the wall next to the bed. He caught sight of his reflection in the mirror.

His face was as red as a beet. At some point, from his face to his neck, everything not covered by clothes had turned bright red.

“……―!!”

Seeing that image, he felt even hotter and his face turned even redder.

His mouth was dry. Jeong Taeui raised his hand and gently rubbed his cracked and dry lips.

Then suddenly, he heard the sound of water being poured. Perhaps someone was pouring tea or some other drink. After hearing the sound of someone drinking for a while, Richard’s voice spoke again.

[“Then make him unable to live alone.”]

[“Ah…… but that’s a matter of personality. For someone like Taei, that’s difficult to achieve. But for someone like Christoph, it might be possible.”]

Jeong Taeui bitterly thought that if they had finished their serious conversation, they should get up and go their separate ways. Why were they still sitting and chatting while drinking tea? He pouted in annoyance.

Christoph…… Thinking about him, Richard muttered and inadvertently chuckled. That low laughter sounded strange.

But Richard didn’t say anything more about that. He just curiously asked another question.

[“What do you like about him?”]

[“What do I like? Hmm……”]

[“Even you and Christoph are both so infatuated with him. Honestly, no matter how much I look, I can’t understand why.”]

Thank you for not understanding. If there were another person like Ilay or Christoph clinging to him, he would probably think his life was about to end.

“One is enough…… One Ilay is more than enough. I don’t want anyone else.”

Jeong Taeui sighed and mumbled.

Since a few years ago.

All the limits he could accept and also give had been filled. The rest in his mind were only the bare minimum needed for Jeong Taeui to exist as himself.

……But it seems there’s a lack of communication.

Jeong Taeui got up and sat down then crossed his legs.

He felt like he was experiencing emotional instability but it was actually due to a lack of communication. He didn’t expect that man to think that way.

Of course, no matter how close the relationship, it’s natural that one can’t fully understand the thoughts of another but he didn’t expect that man to misunderstand him this much.

“How strange…… He’s not someone who doubts the words of others. I’ve told him I like him so many times. But why doesn’t he realize?”

Or perhaps – if he were allowed to speak with prejudice – did he think Jeong Taeui was like a Gemini with blood type B, passionately loving today but cold as ice tomorrow?

“In fact, that seems more like his personality” – Jeong Taeui muttered irritably, frowning.

“Besides, think about it rationally. I’m willing to obediently spread my legs and endure those sufferings to be with you before something so cruel it could extinguish a century-long love in an instant and you think it’s because of some trivial feelings?…………Damn it, I think in this life, I’ll never find anyone I can pour all my feelings into like that again……”

While Jeong Taeui was feeling tears welling up because of his situation and predicament, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and in the meantime the voice from the headphones continued.

When Richard spoke in a perplexed tone, as if he couldn’t understand Ilay and Christoph’s preferences, Ilay sneered as if it were obvious.

[“Your preference is for sweet things. Small, delicate girls. Tay doesn’t fit that preference at all so of course, you wouldn’t find him attractive. No matter how you look at it, you won’t understand what’s appealing about him.”]

[“But just because it’s not my preference doesn’t mean I can’t recognize someone else’s charm. But—Yes, he’s a good, reliable person. Truly a good friend. But sexually, I just don’t get the appeal at all.”]

[“No need to understand. If everyone understood, I’d be in trouble. Christoph is troublesome enough already. If it weren’t for a relationship spanning nearly 30 years, he’d have been in the other world long ago.”]

Ilay clicked his tongue with apparent dissatisfaction. Then, as if he had thought of something, he fell silent for a moment before quietly speaking.

[“Come to think of it, have you slept with Christoph?”]

Ilay asked with a light chuckle. Richard seemed surprised by the unexpected question and remained silent for a moment.

[“Christoph wasn’t your type before. I used to think you’d be excited to see someone crying and suffering but you’ve long since stopped touching any girl even remotely like Christoph. So I thought your preferences were very clear.”]

[“Is that so?”]

Richard chuckled. But right after, he firmly added,

[“Even now, that type of face isn’t my preference. I don’t want to see that face crying and suffering…… Yeah, I don’t like that face.”]

Richard laughed bitterly. But even so, he answered Ilay’s question.

[“Luckily, the flavor wasn’t too bad so there was some interest. But…… it’s fine.”]

Richard spoke lightly. But it seemed like he didn’t want to prolong the conversation. The word: “……fine” seemed to cut off the dialogue, leaving no room for further words.

Jeong Taeui unconsciously raised his hand to rub his furrowed brow.

He didn’t want to and he didn’t like talking about what it felt like to sleep with someone. Moreover, at least at this moment, he didn’t want to hear Richard talking about Christoph.

It was clear that Richard was forcing himself on others and that wasn’t something nice so he didn’t want to see or hear it.

If they were saying these things in front of him now, he might tear off Richard’s smiling face. Jeong Taeui thought and sighed in frustration.

But fortunately, it seemed they didn’t want to extend the topic either. Ilay ended the conversation by saying:

[“Next time you talk to Christoph, tell him that no matter how much Taei shines, he’s already mine. No matter how hard he tries, he won’t be able to touch him so he’d better give up and find another guy who shines even more.”]

[“Yes, let’s go with that.”]

[“Even if I speak to him directly, that guy won’t listen to me. He won’t even listen to Taei, no matter what Taei says.”]

Ilay clicked his tongue. Richard smiled faintly after a brief silence and responded.

[“Perhaps, in his eyes, Jeong Tay really shines brightly. In fact, he has a completely opposite personality to that guy, doesn’t he? Jeong Tay is very calm. Such a person is quite rare. That’s why, in his eyes, that calmness shines so brilliantly.”]

[“……Hmm?”]

It seemed like there was a hint of sarcasm in that tone.

Already having no goodwill towards Richard, Jeong Taeui immediately squinted and glared at the listening device upon hearing those sarcastic words spoken about him.

“I don’t see anything attractive about myself. But it’s not like it warrants speaking about me so unpleasantly……”

Jeong Taeui furrowed his brow and scratched the back of his head.

At that moment, when the atmosphere was growing tense, Richard suddenly broke the silence that followed their conversation.

[“If someone becomes more beautiful in the eyes of the one who loves them…… What if the person is already perfect? What if someone is so perfect that they can’t get any more beautiful?”]

As if he was talking to himself, Richard spoke in a contemplative and distracted voice.

This might not have been a question Richard expected an answer to. It seemed more like a random thought that popped into his head and slipped out.

If someone fell in love with someone so perfect from the very beginning……

“……That would truly be a tragedy……”

Taeui wasn’t sure how that would feel since he had never really fallen in love with someone like that, but he thought that if it happened, he might never be able to escape it.

But thinking about it, that hypothesis was absurd. There’s no such thing as a face so perfect that everyone would find it beautiful. Everyone’s standards of beauty differ.

If there were a nearly perfect face……

“…….Chris?”

Jeong Taeui suddenly mentioned a name while skimming through the list of famous stars in his mind. Yes, if it was his face, it could be considered nearly perfect.

However, that was only because Jeong Taeui had a favorable impression of him. In reality, there were still plenty of people who wouldn’t find his appearance that captivating.

[“A face that everyone finds perfect doesn’t exist. So there’s no need to dwell on it.”]

Ilay said nonchalantly, agreeing with what Jeong Taeui was thinking at that moment. After a while, Richard whispered vaguely: [“Yes, you’re right.”]

At that moment.

A brief silence followed, enough for someone to take two or three breaths before Ilay suddenly spoke up.

[“Well, I suppose I should be going back…… There’s only a few days left until this is all over. It won’t be long now.”]

He showed signs of getting up. The sound of fabric rustling and noises indicating someone was leaving could be heard.

Ah, maybe he should start packing up and putting these things away. After all, it would be too conspicuous to simply smile and act as if – ‘I’ve been waiting for you and overheard your entire conversation’ – which wouldn’t make sense. Moreover, there were things he heard that absolutely couldn’t be revealed that he knew.

What he heard today should be kept locked in his heart for the rest of his life. Jeong Taeui thought so and suddenly felt a heavy weight around his heart.

[“You must be very happy, Richard. The decision you’ve been waiting for over 20 years is finally coming true.”]

[“I know. Now it’s just about a week away, not long at all.”]

Richard repeated Ilay’s words slowly, as if savoring each word.

One week.

If you think about it, he was chosen as a candidate for the succession battle when he was not even ten years old and from then until now, he has lived to be trained, forged and experienced with the sole goal of inheriting Tarten. The only goal of his life has been the succession of Tarten.

The goal he pursued for decades was now only a few days away. What would that feel like?

Jeong Taeui didn’t know what that would feel like. So he could only imagine vaguely and wasn’t even sure if his imagination was accurate.

However, that feeling might not be the joy and happiness he had imagined but just some vague sensation.

[“In this situation, everything is almost decided, so we just need to wait for time to pass.”]

[“Yes, that’s right.”] – Richard quietly agreed. Then he suddenly chuckled softly.

[“So, Rick, what do you think? After three months of observing me as one of the candidates, do you feel like supporting my succession?”]

[“――It’s hard to say. Three months isn’t enough time to truly understand a person.”]

Judging from the way that stubborn guy said it, it seemed that Rick held Richard in quite high regard.

If he didn’t meet expectations, Rick would certainly have immediately spewed some biting sarcasm or scornful remarks. If he even found that troublesome, he would have decisively ended everything with a blunt reply.

It was clear that everything was still moving in the direction of Richard’s succession without any changes, Jeong Taeui thought and breathed a sigh of relief.

When that happens, Christoph will leave this place. And when he leaves, Jeong Taeui will also go. And Ilay as well, after completing his mission.

Unless there’s some unexpected intervention – and he felt it was drawing near – in just a week, Jeong Taeui would be able to relax in Berlin.

[“Three months isn’t enough, huh……”]

Richard suddenly mumbled to himself and smiled slightly. Then, with a faint laugh, he continued:

[“You’ve been eavesdropping on my personal life and you still think that’s not enough?”]

Jeong Taeui was startled.

[“When are you going to remove the recording device hidden behind the bookshelf?”]

When Richard added this, Jeong Taeui stared at the suitcase containing the eavesdropping equipment.

Hearing those words from the perspective of someone wearing headphones to eavesdrop, Taeui felt his chest tighten with guilt.

Sorry………… I didn’t intend to do this from the start, but in the end, I eavesdropped on everything…………

Jeong Taeui scratched his head.

Thinking back, Ilay was the one who set up the bugging devices, so he should bear the consequences, but Richard was completely a victim……Or rather, if he knew about it but still left it alone, then he wasn’t entirely an innocent victim, but he was still harmed.

Although Jeong Taeui felt confused and a bit guilty, the one who had set up the eavesdropping device laughed out loud. It was the kind of laugh that seemed to say – ‘I knew that already’ – In fact, Ilay had mentioned that Richard surely knew but pretended not to. And that was entirely accurate.

[“Ah, alright. There’s no need to monitor further, so I’ll remove it today.”]

Jeong Taeui heard the sound of Ilay getting up from the chair. The sound of footsteps grew louder. It seemed he was approaching the device emitting the signal, but Taeui had the feeling that he was approaching him, sending a chill down his spine.

[“But hey……”]

After the familiar sound of moving books and removing the signal-emitting device – sounds that Taeui had heard many times while organizing Christoph’s library – some strange noises followed. Right in front of him, Ilay’s voice rang out, particularly clear:

[“When are you going to remove the recording device hidden behind the drawer in my nightstand?”]

As soon as that slow, deliberate voice reached his ears.

Jeong Taeui froze. His whole body, mind and thoughts were paralyzed.

And then he slowly turned his head to look at the nightstand where the phone he had used to talk to Kyle not long ago was quietly placed.

[“That thing is even worse than a bugging device. The bugging device can’t know what you say when I’m not listening, but a recorder can capture everything and play it back later.”]

Hearing Ilay’s tongue click, Taeui with a pale face, slowly and slowly moved towards the nightstand. Then he carefully opened the top drawer. His hand was stiff just like his expression and was unable to move normally.

Inside the drawer was empty. He completely removed the drawer and gently turned it upside down.

Then. Attached beneath the drawer, there was a small chip the size of a 500 won coin. A red light kept blinking continuously.

[“Ah…… if you knew, why didn’t you remove it? Anyway, you’re usually alone in the room, so when you listen back to the recording, there’s only the sound of pages turning or your fingers tapping on the keyboard; it’s not of any value. Besides…… I’m not interested in listening to the sounds of you and Jeong Tay enjoying your moments of passion in this room.”]

[“Aha……”]

‘Oh, so everything I did on this bed with Ilay was also overheard.’ – Jeong Taeui vaguely thought in his mind, but his whole body remained stiff, holding the chip in his hand with a pale face out of fear.

That meant the sounds in this room were all recorded, meaning——.

[“Here, take it. The tape. Though today, there’s probably nothing worth recording.”]

Following Richard’s casual voice, there was a small *Click* sound as he gently handed something to someone.

[“A 3mm tape? If you don’t have the right equipment, you can’t listen to it.”]

[“Do you want to hear it? This is the tape after 5 AM, so it’s probably just the sound of you waking up and moving around.”]

[“Hmm. I’ve never used this type before…… What will it be like? How’s the sound quality?”]

A horrific scene was playing out in the headphones.

Jeong Taeui’s entire body was frozen like ice, his eyes unblinking and sitting motionless.

Meanwhile, Richard had taken the tape back from Ilay and was starting to place it into a playback device.

[“Since sound is only recorded when the volume exceeds the set decibel level, if there’s no sound or the sound is below the set level, it won’t be recorded. When sound is recorded, the time will also be displayed. So it makes checking easier. Now, listen.”]

Before long, from the headphones, a mechanical-sounding voice mixed with Ilay’s voice talking on the phone could be heard: [“Yes, because that point isn’t my responsibility, just handle it that way.”]

From the tone, it seemed like he was receiving a work-related call in the morning.

[“Hmm, it records clearly, with good quality.”] – Ilay muttered indifferently.

And then.

Finally, a terrifying sound began to emerge.

[“――Ilay, are you here?”]

The sound of Taeui’s own voice echoed in the headphones, mixed with a bit of mechanical noise.

Suddenly, a chilling silence enveloped the other side. Both sides were silent except for the sound of the machine playing back. Everyone was quiet.

*Crack!*

Jeong Taeui unconsciously crushed the chip in his hand.

However, unlike a bugging device, even when the chip was destroyed, all the recordings had already been transmitted from that wretched machine and the sound continued to play.

‘What did I say? What have I said since entering this room?’

Although he tried his best to recall, his frozen mind couldn’t think clearly. Even as he remembered bit by bit what he had said, the more he recalled, the colder he felt.

And right now, Jeong Taeui knew very well what he needed to do at this moment.

He needed to run away immediately!

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

(Indeed, Taeui had sacrificed many things: his family, friends and career…… just to stay by Ilay’s side.)