Just as Christoph was about to speak…….

“That’s too good of an offer to answer immediately. He will surely think it over tonight and give a satisfactory answer.”

Richard smiled and looked at Christoph as if to say: ‘Isn’t that right?’ causing Christoph to look back at Richard, slightly bewildered.

While Christoph was stunned, Richard, who had skillfully phrased his words as if he would slowly persuade Christoph to follow their wishes, made Al Faisal nod as if understanding.

Then he ended the conversation by saying: “Think it over, and we’ll talk again later.” After that, he started chatting with the older person next to him about something else. And once again, everyone’s attention gradually dispersed.

“If you plan to send me under them as a pawn, it’s better to drop that idea.”

Richard was considering sending Christoph to work under Al Faisal, but Christoph firmly voiced his opposition. Richard glanced at him with an indifferent tone, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

“After all, you have nowhere else to go. Don’t you want to go to the Middle East?”

“I don’t mind going, but if you’re thinking of involving me in the relationship between Tarten and them, then forget it. I have no intention of having anything to do with Tarten anymore, not even a little.”

Richard said nothing.

As everyone continued their calm and gentle conversation, they continued dining as if nothing had happened, and kept chatting with those nearby.

At that moment, Christoph had almost forgotten about the topic when a low voice suddenly spoke beside him.

“Stay in Tarten, Christoph.”

The decisive words, leaving no room for choice, caused Christoph to stop and look at Richard. He looked back at Christoph with a calm expression, as if he had just given a casual greeting, while raising his eyebrows slightly.

“Don’t joke around. Don’t you remember what I said? As soon as the succession decision was made, it was over between me and Tarten. I will never come back. And I will have nothing to do with it.”

“You owe Tarten. Moreover, it’s a massive debt that you wouldn’t be able to repay even in a lifetime through normal means……. They don’t just look at people’s abilities and future. If you work for Tarten from now on, I can erase that debt for you. With your abilities, it wouldn’t be hard to secure an important position.”

Although it wasn’t something he could decide on his own, Richard still spoke as if it were so. Christoph coldly responded.

“…….What are you scheming?”

“If it doesn’t matter where you go, then what’s the difference between working in the Middle East—or anywhere else—and working in Tarten?”

Christoph looked at Richard with a puzzled expression.

Somewhere else or Tarten.

Working anywhere wouldn’t make much of a difference. But here, this man was still there. Richard Tarten was still here. And here were the people of Tarten. Those who had never shown any real emotion, not even for a moment.

“Christoph Tarten. Stay here.”

“…….Why? Isn’t this humiliation enough for me?”

Christoph mumbled in doubt.

Suddenly, Richard’s hand holding the knife stopped. He slowly turned to look at Christoph with cold eyes.

“…….You know it well.”

Christoph’s gaze also turned cold.

“Remember this, Richard. Even if I accept Al Faisal’s offer, I will never be a bridge between Tarten and them. I will abandon the name Tarten. Anywhere will be better than here.”

Richard stared at Christoph for a moment, then turned away. He then wiped his mouth and raised his glass as if nothing had happened. Christoph glared while Richard sipped his wine, causing Christoph to tense up.

Without warning, a hand tightly grabbed Christoph’s crotch. The hand gripped so firmly that he swallowed hard for a moment, and without hesitation, unzipped his pants.

“Are you crazy, Richard? Where do you think this is――?”

“Well, I’m just curious.”

However, contrary to Christoph’s stiff face, Richard continued drinking his wine calmly without stopping. When Christoph tried to stop that hand, it only gripped tighter, causing Christoph to turn paler and forced him to let go.

“Do you wonder if they would still give you a job if they caught you here, legs spread, crying with your backside exposed?”

Richard whispered, his voice snaking into Christoph’s ear, especially emphasizing that Al Faisal was very strict about following rules.

“―…….Richard, don’t do this.”

Christoph’s voice was very small.

But even though it was impossible not to hear, Richard still didn’t stop. Every time those fingers moved, Christoph tried to stay calm despite his trembling body.

“Christoph, stay here.”

“This is not like what you said before.”

Christoph weakly protested, his face gradually turning pale. On the glass, their reflection was clear. Richard, still inexplicably calm, showed no signs of what was happening as he conversed with others.

The hand, which had directly touched Christoph’s flesh and stroked his crotch, then began to slide deeper inside. It could have been the index finger or the middle finger – one finger was pushing inside his thigh and lightly brushing the sensitive area.

“―…….!!”

Christoph tightly gripped the tablecloth, his legs trembling slightly.

Just as that finger seemed about to sink deeper into his body, it suddenly withdrew. The hand gently patted Christoph’s thigh as if reassuring him that everything was okay. Then it started caressing the sensitive part that had just been pulled out of his underwear.

“Christoph, you don’t look well. Maybe you should rest early.”

At that moment, a calm, cold voice spoke from across the table.

While gently wiping her mouth with a napkin, Bianca addressed Christoph. As soon as Christoph’s eyes met hers, she quickly looked away. Christoph stared at her in a daze for a moment.

Hearing his name called out in such a situation made Christoph’s body stiffen. He could only mumble a short reply: “Yes, that’s right.” as all eyes turned towards him.

“That’s true, Christoph. You don’t look well.”

“Oh, there’s cold sweat on your forehead…….”

Those sitting nearby started speaking with concern. Christoph could only stare down at the table, unable to respond.

“He hasn’t been well since this morning, but with so much to do, he must be exhausted. My room is closer, so I’ll take him there to rest for a bit.”

Richard’s voice came from beside him as if it were coming from afar, even though he had stood up with concern and reached out his hand. Christoph looked at him with a dazed expression.

“Come on, Christoph……. It’s okay, stand up.”

When Richard gently took Christoph’s elbow and pulled him up, Christoph shuddered. Only then did he realize that his sensitive part was still exposed and his pants had only been carelessly zipped up.

Even though his collar was a bit askew, the jacket had covered most of it, revealing nothing. But still, Christoph couldn’t immediately stand up. He was frozen, more from shock than worry, unable to move.

“You seem very tired. Let me help you.”

Richard spoke with concern, then bent down and wrapped an arm around Christoph’s waist, almost lifting him up. Feeling his body tremble, Christoph let Richard guide him as they left the room with a brief promise to return later.

As they exited the banquet hall, leaving behind whispers: “They seem closer, don’t they?” and “Richard has always been responsible and kind…….” These words were gradually muffled as the door closed.

Once outside the banquet hall, Christoph could barely move, fully relying on Richard’s support. It wasn’t until Richard spoke with a cold, mocking tone—“Are you okay?”—that Christoph snapped out of it.

“YOU…….!”

Christoph shouted in anger, forcefully pushing Richard away.

“You……. You’re insane, Richard Tarten! You’re a pervert with no sense at all. Do you even know where we are, who’s here, and what day it is? Just a slight mistake and you could be in big trouble! Do you think I’m the only one humiliated?!”

“Never. I would never let that happen to myself, and as long as I don’t want it, you’ll never be humiliated either.”

Richard replied calmly while adjusting the sleeve wrapped around Christoph’s waist. His cold but determined words left Christoph speechless.

“Do you think everything goes according to your wishes…….?”

“Yes. Everything I do is according to my wishes.”

Christoph finally fell silent. Richard spoke with calm confidence, sure that it wasn’t a lie or exaggeration.

“Until now, there’s only one thing that hasn’t gone my way.”

“――I’m so glad to hear that.”

Christoph gritted his teeth and turned away. Richard stood there, silently watching him leave. But shortly after, Richard’s deep, sarcastic voice echoed from behind Christoph.

“Can you walk on your own?”

Christoph glared at Richard and then hurriedly walked faster. He almost stumbled due to his unsteady steps, but that was enough of an answer for Richard.

“Don’t follow me. I don’t want to see your face right now. Just go back and bore those guests with your smiling face.”

From behind, as Christoph walked away decisively and angrily after shouting, Richard slowly stopped.

“Rest well. I’ll come by tonight.”

“Don’t come! You lunatic.”

Christoph shouted angrily without caring who might hear, then stormed straight towards the west door.

Richard watched with cold eyes until Christoph’s figure disappeared around the main corridor of the building. Then gradually, a frown formed between his brows.

“Damn……. He’s really gone mad, hasn’t he?” – Richard hissed lightly through his teeth.

Indeed, it was an insane act.

He wasn’t worried about others finding out or the troubles that might arise from it. He wasn’t foolish enough to worry about that, and even if it did happen, he was confident he could handle everything smoothly.

But no matter what, this was clearly a crazy act. Perhaps even he didn’t realize that his mind was deranged.

When Bianca called Christoph’s name and everyone’s eyes turned to him, the emotion that burst in Richard’s chest wasn’t confusion but anger.

After feeling the absurd anger, as if he had foolishly exposed something precious that shouldn’t be seen by others, Richard began to feel embarrassed about his own anger.

“……. Ha. Maybe I’m the one who needs rest.”

Richard bitterly smiled and mumbled to himself as he returned to the banquet hall. But then he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He sighed in frustration and rubbed his forehead several times before looking down at his wristwatch. Then he took a cigarette from the cigarette box on the resting table at the end of the hallway and walked towards the window. He couldn’t remember the last time he had smoked, but at that moment, it was what he needed most.

Only one day left until the inauguration.

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

A person was refused at the door, and another, despite being refused, still tried to barge in. If a dispute broke out between these two, who would be supported?

For Jeong Taeui at this moment, the answer was simple. Clearly, he had to side with the host who was refused entry in his own house.

The first knock on the door came – fortunately, or from another perspective, unfortunately – after the battle had ended.

After completing a match, Jeong Taeui was waiting in a daze, wondering when he could finally remove the cumbersome and concerning thing that was making it hard to breathe, even though some of the burden had been lifted, when the knock on the door came.

But as soon as the knock was heard, Ilay, who was lying close to Taeui’s back, gently nibbling on Taeui’s cheek and neck with his lips, didn’t seem to have any intention of removing that thing and occasionally bit hard enough to cause a sharp pain, which made Taeui startle as the knock on the door echoed again.

“Open the door!”

The moment that voice rang out, it seemed that the person couldn’t wait any longer and intended to open the door immediately, but the door was locked and only made a rattling sound without opening.

Hearing the harsh and cold voice along with the impatient knocking, Ilay sighed in frustration and shouted in annoyance:

“We’re stuck together right now, so we can’t move. Come back later.”

As soon as he heard that, Jeong Taeui slammed his head into the pillow.

“NO! At least make up a more reasonable excuse…….”

However, Jeong Taeui’s weak voice was drowned out by the increasingly forceful banging on the door. Someone outside shouted again – “Open the door!” – in a furious tone, as if intending to break in.

Ilay completely ignored the knocking and instead continued to nibble on one side of Jeong Taeui’s cheek, moving his hand down to touch Taeui’s genitals. But the incessant knocking distracted Taeui, causing him to become unresponsive below. Finally, Ilay clicked his tongue and withdrew from his body.

Jeong Taeui shivered at the strange and uncomfortable sensation when that thing, which had been growing larger, was suddenly pulled out. Although he could never fully get used to this foreign feeling, he quickly reached for a robe. As he draped the robe over his shoulders, he mumbled about the difference between humans and animals lying in their sense of shame. At that moment, Ilay quickly strode towards the door and violently flung it open.

As soon as the door swung open with a thunderous sound, the person who calmly and fearlessly entered was Christoph, a man who maintained his composure even in such a situation.

Christoph walked past Ilay’s outstretched arm bracing the door without even glancing at Ilay – who was glaring at him more fiercely than any weapon – and went straight to sit beside Jeong Taeui without saying a word. Sitting close by, just inches apart, and quietly turning his back on Taeui, Christoph remained silent. Jeong Taeui looked at him with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.

“If there’s nothing important, leave. Or if you have something to say, say it quickly and go. I’m still in the middle of something, so it’ll be a while before I’m done.”

Ilay spoke coldly, but Christoph merely glanced at him with a cold stare. Then he looked at Ilay with a gaze sharp as a knife.

“Put that disgusting thing away. You look worse than an animal.”

Christoph quickly turned away from Ilay’s naked body, which looked much like Taeui’s, and glared at Taeui with an expression of indignation.

“Why did you do that with someone like this and make me witness such a disgusting scene?!”

“NO, umm……. you should have come a little later…….”

“And you too, huh? Why do it with someone like this?! You’re human; you should be with a human! You can’t treat your body like this!”

Jeong Taeui was about to say something but couldn’t when he saw Ilay’s helpless face over Christoph’s shoulder. There was nothing to refute.

Ilay sneered slightly and glanced at Jeong Taeui, then sighed in frustration. He reached into the pocket of his jacket, which was draped over the chair, and pulled out something. Before Jeong Taeui could stop him after seeing what it was, it was too late as he had already thrown it forcefully at Christoph.

“AH, DANGEROUS…….!”

At the same moment Taeui reflexively shouted, Christoph tilted his head to the side. The object brushed past Christoph’s hair and embedded itself in the picture frame hanging on the wall. It was a steel nail slightly larger than a thumb. If it had hit his head, it would have been fatal; if it had hit his body, it would have broken at least one bone.

Behind Taeui, the object had lodged deep into the picture frame and then fell to the floor, rolling a few times before stopping. Taeui stared at it in shock, while Ilay slowly spoke:

“Wherever you’re going, whatever you’re doing, you’re angry enough to vent here. Christoph Tarten, wake up.”

“…….”

“Christoph.”

Receiving no reply, Ilay approached Christoph – who didn’t even get up from the bed, still lying on Taeui’s lap without moving – and grabbed Christoph by the collar, pulling him up. Then he slapped Christoph’s face mercilessly. The force of the slap was so strong it almost tore the skin. Just then, Christoph punched Ilay directly in the jaw.

“Don’t touch me!”

*Thunk* – At the moment when Ilay tilted his head back dangerously with a smile, he suddenly turned to face Christoph. As he took a step toward Christoph, something flew between them with a low thud.

The two were like magnets repelling each other, instinctively stepping back. The object that had flown between them slammed loudly against the door.

It was a steel rod that Ilay had thrown earlier.

“Heavier than I thought……. Damn, killing someone isn’t as easy as it seems.”

Jeong Taeui looked down at his right hand, impressed. While the two remained in a tense standoff, they both glanced at Taeui with a deep gaze. A complex expression flickered across their faces for a moment.

“Jeong Taeui.”

“Yes?”

“I can’t tell if you’re getting smarter or more foolish.”

Ilay murmured as he stared at Jeong Taeui sternly. Jeong Taeui scratched his head and sighed gloomily.

“If you use your fists to hit me right now, I might just label myself as an idiot.”

“Perhaps you lack the ability to learn. If I think back to the beginning, maybe that’s why I chose you.” – Taeui lamented, ruffling his hair. Ilay looked at Taeui with disappointment, sighed and turned away. He picked up a large cloak lying on the floor and put it on.

“You’re getting smarter. To the point that it makes me sigh.”

Ilay spoke in a contemplative tone, almost sighing, while Christoph stared at him with a peculiar expression. Christoph hesitated for a moment, looking back and forth between his fists and Ilay’s face, but eventually sat down on the bed indifferently.

Ilay grabbed a beer from the minibar, handing one to each of them before looking at Christoph with a cold expression.

“Nightclothes……. I don’t know why you’re dressed like that outside the bedroom, but hurry up and go to sleep. What on earth made you come here all of a sudden?”

Beneath the wall clock, which showed it was still slightly too early to sleep, Christoph grumbled irritably, tousling his wavy hair.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Take a sleeping pill. There’s plenty of medicine in the drawer to keep you sleeping forever.”

“There’s none left. I forgot to restock.”

It was only after hearing this that Jeong Taeui realized Christoph had barely taken any medication recently.

Every morning after waking up, Christoph would complain of a noisy mind and swallow his pills, but lately, he had been helping Richard with work, often staying up late and waking up each morning with fatigue and drowsiness he didn’t know how to deal with. Christoph with his tired backache and pale face, had barely touched any pills.

“…….I couldn’t sleep because it was cold.”

Christoph finally added, his gaze growing colder as Ilay looked at him with dissatisfaction and took a swig of his beer. Though summer had passed and the mornings and evenings remained cool, it was still possible to sleep outside under the stars.

“Christoph Tarten. It seems you have nerve problems; it’s best to see a doctor.”

“No, what he means is……. it’s a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings if you leave the windows open……. Is it really that cold?”

Even though Taeui tried to help Christoph, he asked seriously,  as he himself still slept with the windows open. As Ilay had said, there might indeed be a problem with Christoph’s nerves or his sense of touch.

Christoph stared intently at Jeong Taeui. After a moment of deep thought, Christoph suddenly asked,

“Would it be warmer if we hugged while sleeping together?”

“Hmm?”

*Gulp* – Jeong Taeui paused mid-sip of his beer.

“Actually……. if it gets even colder, it might be warm. As long as there’s no sticky sweat, it wouldn’t feel too bad. Besides, it has been a bit chilly lately.”

Christoph frowned in hesitating. Jeong Taeui simply stared at that wrinkle. He bit the edge of his beer can, contemplating the context of the conversation.

“I could do that too.”

Christoph whispered suddenly. His voice was so soft that it was difficult to hear. It might have been just a murmur to himself.

“I could hug while we slept together too. I could do that……. Since it’s cold, I’d like it too.”

“…….Christoph?”

Jeong Taeui furrowed his brows slightly.

The sight of Christoph murmuring vaguely as if in a half-dream felt surreal, giving the impression he might disappear at any moment.

“If that’s the case, then sleep hugging someone. Just not this guy.”

However, the surreal feeling that had momentarily lingered was instantly cut off by Ilay’s cold voice.

Christoph quietly looked down at his feet and furrowed his brows slightly.

“Who? Hug who?”

“Not my concern. As long as it’s not this guy, you can hug whoever you want. It’s a shame, but I also like hugging someone to sleep, so I can’t give up on this guy.”

In the atmosphere that suddenly became tense, Jeong Taeui took another sip of his beer and muttered absentmindedly as he watched the two of them glare daggers at each other.

“Then why don’t you both sleep together……. Hmm, no, I didn’t mean that…….”

As the cold, blade-like tension suddenly focused on him, Taeui immediately hiccupped and hastily waved his hand to dismiss it.

Christoph sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was clearly exhausted.

“I can’t sleep. Can’t sleep, so I start thinking nonsense, which makes it even harder to sleep.”

As Christoph mumbled as if talking to himself, Jeong Taeui pulled out a can of beer and handed it to him. Christoph took the can but didn’t open it, instead staring blankly at it.

“Why are you thinking so much?”

Jeong Taeui slumped down on the sofa next to him. Clearly, this conversation wasn’t going to end quickly. He glanced at Ilay, who was still eyeing Christoph with a serious expression – perhaps debating whether to drag him out of here – and when their eyes met, Ilay clicked his tongue.

“Well……. What’s important is what, that’s……. What, why is it like this, what should I do…….”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head, listening to Christoph mumble incoherently. He was about to speak when Ilay cut in first.

“If no one can give you an answer, and if thinking doesn’t lead to a conclusion, then thinking too much is just a waste of time.”

Jeong Taeui thought that if he had spoken more harshly and accurately, it would have sounded like what Ilay had just said. But Ilay didn’t stop there; he stood up. In just a few steps, he reached Christoph and slapped him hard across the face without hesitation.

This time, Christoph’s lip split for real. He wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb and glared at Ilay with cold blue eyes, replacing the dreamy atmosphere from before. Taeui worriedly watched Christoph’s hand instinctively groping on the bed as if out of habit, but fortunately, the only things within his reach were pillows and blankets.

“Snap out of it, Christoph. You’re out of control right now. I don’t care why, but if you want to talk nonsense, do it somewhere else. Or get a grip.”

“…….Yeah, thanks to you, I’m more alert now.”

His hand, which had been groping the bed, stopped in regret.

Christoph, who seemed ready to pounce on Ilay, suddenly gave up and obediently sat back on the bed. Then he lay down and pulled the blanket over himself. He was getting ready to sleep right there.

Right in front of Ilay, who was suspiciously watching, Christoph lazily shifted to one side, leaving just enough space for another person to lie beside him. Then he nonchalantly looked at Jeong Taeui, patting the empty spot next to him.

“If you’re sleepy, you can sleep here.”

“…….No, that’s my bed…….”

“I sleep very quietly, so you don’t have to worry.”

“You do sleep as still as a doll without moving, but that’s not the issue.” – Jeong Taeui mumbled, but then Ilay squeezed in between him and Christoph.

Ilay stood by the bed, looking down at Christoph from above, slowly massaging his wrist as if preparing for something with an expression that clearly indicated he was about to cause trouble again.

“Christop…….”

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

Just as Ilay opened his mouth, Christoph quickly spoke first.

As usual, Christoph’s indifferent gaze focused on Ilay, and he asked casually as if inquiring about the weather outside.

“What did Malik say to you back then?”