Jeong Taeui wrapped the towel he had used to dry his hair around his neck and looked around the study room with a bored expression. He still remembered how surprised he was the first time he came here. At first glance, it seemed very simple. There was only a large desk and a bookshelf, a chair placed by the window – the chair where Jeong Jaeui was currently sitting – and a few decorative items on the shelves, along with a small flowerpot and a speaker on the other side of the bookshelf, with numerous music albums.

It seemed like he had seen the desk and bookshelf before in the common office of UNHRDO. He wasn’t sure if they were identical, but they looked very similar. According to rumors among the members, he had heard that the desk and bookshelf alone were equivalent to all the facilities of a classroom there.

The chair – yes, the chair that Jeong Jaeui was sitting on – he had seen at an exhibition of famous interior designers abroad not long after he was discharged from the army. The catalog introducing the exhibition was displayed grandly in a separate booth at the far end of the exhibition hall, and it seemed that its price was equivalent to that of modern astronomical equipment.

Perhaps that’s why the flowerpots and decorations here didn’t seem ordinary either, and he was speechless at the sight of the audio equipment on the bookshelf.

Although he couldn’t call himself an enthusiast, while many of his friends were interested in cars or motorcycles, Jeong Jaeui was interested in audio equipment. Therefore, he knew very well that the price of that speaker alone was equivalent to that of a small apartment in a big city.

It felt like a whole new world, but after all, the owner of this villa was a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family. Even if his succession order was far off, he was still one of the oil wealth holders. Thinking about that, Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue in annoyance and recalled Raumaan’s face.

He was a person who owned a villa like this in a place like this.

“I don’t have a prejudice against those born with a diamond spoon in their mouths, but……”

Come to think of it, that was true. Both Ilay and Raumaan, as well as Xinlu, had such personalities.

“Is it because they have too much money that their personalities turn out that way……?”

Jeong Taeui seriously considered that prejudice and shook his head.

No. He shouldn’t have such prejudices. Because when he was younger, his brother also faced such prejudices.

Being that smart must mean his personality is strange, being that smart must mean his social skills are poor, and if he’s that smart, he must be very unlucky.

But, although he usually didn’t follow common prejudices, when faced with the man named Raumaan, his prejudices seemed to deepen.

Jeong Taeui sighed as he looked at his brother, who was sitting comfortably and gazing out the window on that house-priced chair.

In any situation, Raumaan ensured that Jeong Jaeui could live as comfortably as possible. That was good. At least he didn’t use violence, either physically or through the living environment, to achieve his goal. In a situation where Jeong Jaeui could do anything he wanted, like read any book he liked, research anything he wanted to research, living a quiet, leisurely life like this was surely a happy life for Jeong Jaeui.

Jeong Taeui sighed as he watched his brother sitting comfortably and looking out the window from that house-priced chair.

No matter the circumstances, Raumaan ensured that Jeong Jaeui could live as comfortably as possible. That was good. At least he didn’t use violence, either physically or through the living environment, to achieve his goal. In a situation where Jeong Jaeui could do anything he wanted, like read any book he liked, research anything he wanted to research, living a quiet, leisurely life like this was surely a happy life for Jeong Jaeui.

Jeong Taeui sat on the floor, resting his chin on his arm on his knee, staring at Jeong Jaeui, and suddenly muttered.

“What if one day that man gets tired of waiting like this and threatens to slit your throat if you don’t meet his conditions soon?”

Jeong Taeui remembered Raumaan’s inscrutable eyes. He didn’t think Raumaan was the type to lose his temper like that. But if he actually did, what would Jeong Jaeui do? Would he nod his head because nothing is more valuable than his life?

He had never thought about it, but the Jeong Jaeui that Jeong Taeui knew seemed unlikely to do that. He would probably think for a moment with an indifferent expression and then propose an alternative solution to satisfy both parties.

But…… even if Raumaan were to charge in and attempt to behead him, if it were Jeong Jaeui, the sword would likely break into pieces, and he would somehow save himself.

Jeong Jaeui shook his head.

“He is not the type to be emotional or lose his temper like that. He is very patient, meticulous, and cold. He is someone who can suppress all his emotions and wait to achieve what he wants. So, there’s no need to worry about that.”

Jeong Taeui thought about Raumaan, trying to digest Jeong Jaeui’s words—someone who had known him much longer than he had.

Then, suddenly, the image of another man appeared in his mind. Jeong Taeui sighed and muttered to himself.

“Completely opposite of him.”

Jeong Taeui knew someone who wouldn’t hesitate to tear someone apart the moment he lost his temper.

At that moment he remembered that man, Jeong Taeui dried his hair and rubbed it with the now cold, damp towel. Thinking of the face that must be raging outside those high walls, Jeong Taeui bit his lip.

He had even thought that it might be fine to hide here as he was now. Yes, rather than living a life that could end at any moment next to that madman, perhaps it was better to enjoy a peaceful and reclusive life here – even if being imprisoned meant losing some freedom.

Although that man named Raumaan had said he would imprison them in a dungeon if necessary – considering his willingness to spend money to ensure Jeong Jaeui had the most comfortable life possible, without even knowing how long he would stay here until he changed his mind, and treating him like an honored guest – it seemed unlikely that would happen.

So, it was nice to be able to live a comfortable life with his brother in this little paradise.

“……”

Anyway, I have to get out. Jeong Taeui thought.

Jeong Taeui clenched the hand supporting his chin, feeling the anxiety rise in his chest. His nails accidentally scratched his cheek, and Jeong Taeui groaned in surprise.

Jeong Jaeui silently watched him and then asked.

“Who is completely opposite?”

“Hmmm? Uh……—Ilay…… Riegrow.”

For some reason, it was hard for him to say his name directly.

No matter how much of a genius Jeong Jaeui was, there was no way he could know what had happened between Jeong Taeui and that monster-like man. He hesitated before awkwardly saying the name after a long pause.

Jeong Jaeui nodded.

“Ah. Kyle’s younger brother……”

After saying that, Jeong Jaeui fell silent, lost in thought for a long time. Jeong Taeui, feeling embarrassed, remained silent as well. After a while, Jeong Jaeui slowly spoke.

“If it’s that man, then I have met him before…… Taeui, are you close to that man?”

Jeong Taeui felt confused by Jeong Jaeui’s cautious words. He never thought their relationship was close enough to be called close friends, and he didn’t want to be close friends with him either.

If he had never met him, he didn’t know if Jeong Jaeui would still ask if he was close to that man named Ilay Riegrow. But if he had met him, he must have guessed what kind of person he was.

And yet, he still asked if they were close—wasn’t that a bit much, hyung……?

Maybe, unexpectedly, Jeong Jaeui and Ilay had a brief meeting that left a good impression on each other. Perhaps Kyle had introduced the two, and they had politely greeted each other. Jeong Taeui suddenly felt sorry for Jeong Jaeui.

“No, I’m not very close to him…… But how did you meet Ilay?”

“Well…… At that time, T&R was making a gun and testing a prototype. He was curious about my luck, so he used it to shoot me.”

Jeong Taeui looked at his brother in shock at Jeong Jaeui’s calm words.

He knew Ilay was crazy, but he never imagined he could do something like that. More than that, the fact that his brother in front of him could say such a thing calmly and even ask if he was close to him was another matter.

“I’m not close to him, not at all. He even looks annoyed that he can’t chew me up and spit out my bones.”

Jeong Taeui waved his hand. He wasn’t lying, but he stopped mid-sentence because he didn’t know how to explain the details.

Jeong Jaeui looked at Jeong Taeui as if he wanted to say something, but then he remained silent. In the quiet room, Jeong Taeui silently looked down at the wood grain patterns on the floor and softly asked.

“So, hyung, do you hate him?”

Only after asking did Jeong Taeui think that his words might be pointless. He didn’t know what to do with what he had just asked. And what his brother thought about Ilay had nothing to do with him.

‘But, Ilay isn’t all that bad.’

‘No, he certainly was a bad person, but to judge him just by one meeting……’

Jeong Taeui muttered to himself. Thinking about him only brought up negative thoughts without anything good. Jeong Jaeui, watching Jeong Taeui lost in thought, spoke.

“Since that time, I haven’t seen him again, and we haven’t crossed paths, so there’s nothing that makes me dislike him. But, I…… might start to dislike him a bit.”

“Huh? Why?”

Jeong Taeui asked in surprise. But Jeong Jaeui didn’t answer.

At that moment, the soft music stopped. Jeong Jaeui stood up and walked toward the record player.

Looking at his brother’s somewhat cheerful back, Jeong Taeui thought that maybe he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He scratched his head. He didn’t oppose the idea that Ilay was a bad person, but he wasn’t happy about the possibility that Jeong Jaeui might hate him so much.

Jeong Taeui tried to call out: ‘He’s a good person, even though he’s good in his own way.’ But then he suddenly stopped. If he were asked to list Ilay’s good qualities, he realized he had nothing to say.

Watching Jeong Jaeui’s pale fingers as they skimmed through the albums to choose one, Jeong Taeui suddenly remembered another pale hand from his memory.

Jeong Taeui remembered that hand.

He knew what it looked like and what it felt like when it touched his skin.

He suddenly wanted to touch those hands again. The pale, beautiful hands that always hid in those ghastly gloves. Even the nails were beautifully delicate. Hands that were full of strength but not coarse.

“……”

Jeong Taeui shook his head.

He had been having strange thoughts ever since then.

He lay down on the floor. The cool wooden floor felt pleasant, just like the stone-paved floor warmed by the sun in the courtyard. But as he felt the pleasant sensation against his back and shoulders, Jeong Taeui remembered those soft hands of Ilay.

“I must really be schizophrenic……”

Jeong Taeui muttered to himself dejectedly.