It's hard to describe precisely, but those were words that made my heart feel like it was being
squeezed. It felt like I couldn't breathe, my heart ached, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
Sometimes he said things like that.
Christoph wanted to hear every word the old man said. He wanted to do everything the old
man wanted. That way, Christoph would feel better too.
However...
In the end, Christoph couldn't nod. Deep down inside, he was still frozen. The painful scream
of his mother over the phone still echoed in his ears. That's why his body couldn't move.
"Surely, you will live well with that child. ...And then everything will change."
Change what?
Christoph couldn't understand what would change. But he couldn't ask. All his attention was
focused on the unfamiliar warmth from the old man's hand holding his. He wanted to pull his
hand away immediately to escape that strange feeling. It wasn't that he disliked it, but
because it wasn't a familiar sensation.
"Christoph. After leaving here, can you visit me sometimes?"
The old man said.
But Christoph had decided never to return to Tarten. So he couldn't answer. But if he couldn't
answer, he should say 'No'. But he couldn't say 'No' either.
In one ear, he heard the sobs of a woman. In the other ear, he heard the old man's whisper.
These sounds intertwined, making both difficult to hear clearly.
His head started to hurt. His heart pounded, and he felt the blood draining from his body. His
body didn't feel like his own anymore.
Cold sweat ran down his back. It felt like something that wasn't him was slowly taking
control of his body. It was a feeling he had experienced many times before. A terrible feeling.
The old man looked at Christoph, who didn't answer, and finally smiled gently and patted
Christoph's hand.
"Rest. I shouldn't take away your time to think."
The old man stood up and turned to leave.Christoph felt anxious. He wanted to hold the old man back and say something. That he
would do what the old man wanted, that he would follow every word he said.
But his cold legs wouldn't move.
In the end, Christoph didn't say a word, and the old man with a kind smile closed the door.
The door closed. Right before his eyes. Quietly. Surely.
Outside the door, Christoph heard a familiar voice briefly talking to the old man. Then the
sound of his footsteps gradually faded away.
Soon after, someone knocked on the door, but the sound seemed to go in one ear and out the
other. And the door opened, Riegrow and Jeong Taeui entered, but it made no difference.
In the space where the old man's footsteps had disappeared, Christoph stood alone quietly.
"―Christoph. You are my beloved child. ...You are my beloved and beautiful child"
Suddenly.
The old man's gentle words finally reached him.
Only now did Christoph realize.
Suddenly his heart ached. It felt like it was being compressed, making it hard for him to
breathe. His heart pounded painfully.
Christoph stood up. He hurriedly walked out.
He had to follow the old man. He had to catch up and tell him that he would do as he was
told.
Just a few more days. He could help that guy. Just a few more weeks, he could endure being
with that guy. After that, he would never see him again.
Christoph had no attachment to Tarten. He didn't care if he could never come back. In fact, he
didn't even want to come back.
But for the old man.
If he could visit him, accompany him on walks, talk with him.
He could do that.
Christoph didn't hesitate and went straight to the main house, to the old man's room in the
main building.
Maybe if he met the old man now, Christoph wouldn't be able to say anything again, but he
would surely understand Christoph's intentions and smile kindly, nodding.Thinking so and imagining that smile, Christoph ran straight to the old man's room, the
warmest and quietest place in the house.
"...―."
But no one was there. Perhaps the old man had gone somewhere and would return later.
Christoph felt anxious. He wanted to say as soon as possible that he would do as he was told.
Where had he gone? ...Right. He might have visited the Seoik area. Recently, he had often
spent time with Richard, the one who would surely succeed him, to teach and talk. So
perhaps he was in Richard's room.
Although he didn't want to go to that hated person's room, if he wanted to follow the old
man's words, he would have to face him frequently in the coming days.
Christoph clicked his tongue, frowned, and started walking toward Richard's room, one floor
below his own.
"―Why do you hate Richard so much?"
Jeong Tae-yi once asked that. Not only Jeong Tae-yi but many others had asked the same
question.
Just as there is no need for a reason to like someone, there is no need for a reason to hate
someone. Usually, the feelings of like and hate don't come from major events but from small
things that accumulate.
Initially, Richard didn't like Christoph. The reason, Christoph didn't know. At some point, he
suddenly realized – Ah – this person doesn't like me.
And gradually, Christoph didn't like Richard either. The reason...
"....Are you alone?"
Christoph opened Richard's door, barging in without knocking, and looked around
suspiciously.
The old man wasn't there.
Richard was sitting on a chair next to the bed, talking to someone on the phone.
Whether Richard was on the phone or not, Christoph still looked around the room again and
frowned.
"Where's the old man?"
"...Wait a moment."Richard didn't take his eyes off Christoph, spoke softly into the phone, then pressed the hold
button and put the phone down. He looked at Christoph coldly and started speaking.
"What's the matter, Christoph? It's unusual for you to come to my room."
"..."
Christoph stared at him.
It seemed the old man hadn't come here. It was unclear if he had come and left or hadn't come
at all, but clearly, he wasn't here now.
Although he came here to find the old man, seeing Richard, he also had something to say.
According to the old man's words, Christoph would support Richard in the future, and he
needed to say that.
'―Until the decision about the inheritance is made, I will stay by and help you'
"..."
But even though his mouth moved, the words wouldn't come out. He didn't want to say that at
all.
Richard patiently waited for Christoph to speak. Christoph tried to open his mouth, then
frowned and closed it several times. He became anxious and clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Richard didn't rush him. He relaxed on the chair, clasped his hands together, and
looked at Christoph with a calm, even pleasant expression.
Suddenly, Christoph realized.
This man already knew what he was going to say.
How could that be...―?!
As soon as he realized that, Christoph fell silent. He looked at Richard with cold blue eyes,
bit his lip, and turned to leave.
How could it be like this?! It was clear. He had known all along. No matter what he had told
the old man, he knew Christoph would act this way.
Anger surged up.
Christoph was so angry that he felt his stomach churn.
He turned to leave the room and closed the door as hard as he could when a slow voice from
behind stopped him.
"If you're looking for the old man, he's not here, Christoph. Didn't you come here because
you had something to say to me? Finish saying it before you leave, because who knows whenwe'll meet again."
Christoph froze. Then slowly turned his head back.
The reason he stopped wasn't because Richard told him to finish speaking but because his
calm, all-knowing tone made him uneasy.
"…―Did you tell the old man?"
Christoph asked softly. Richard raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
"To the old man? Me? About what?"
"Don't pretend you don't know, Richard. You didn't call me back just to pretend."
Christoph's fingers curled up; he wanted to punch that man's face.
He hated that point. Yes, he really hated it.
Richard always had a reassuring smile, but no one knew what he was thinking deep down.
Chris always took a step back, but when he realized it, everything was going according to
Richard's plan.
Christoph stared at him without blinking, determined not to miss any sign, no matter how
small.
Finally, Richard smiled slowly. A friendly, kind smile.
Christoph's lips twitched. Richard rarely smiled at him like that unless he had a purpose.
"To the old man―yes, I didn't say anything specific, just comforted him because he felt
sorry. You know, he cares about you a lot."
"…"
"Of course, it's not just that. Your helping me is also good for Tarten, so he asked you. What
did he say to you?"
Richard lightly patted his knee with his clasped hands. Christoph hated that calm gesture, that
slow smile, and those smiling eyes.
"…You hate me."
Christoph suddenly said. Richard fell silent. He seemed puzzled by the sudden shift in the
conversation, and Christoph continued.
"Then why do you want me to help you? We might never see each other again."
Finally, Richard seemed to understand Christoph's words and murmured – "Ah, I see" – He
nodded and spoke gently."No big reason. Firstly, for Tarten."
Richard slowly stood up from the chair. He walked to the window, pulled the curtain, and
looked out into the darkness, continuing to speak.
"After all, I will inherit this place. My responsibility and desire is to make it prosperous. And
you, whether you like it or not, have been trained at Tarten and understand the current
situation. With guests from the Middle East arriving soon, you are the most suitable person to
help me for Tarten's benefit."
He said and opened half of the window. The cold night wind blew into the room, passing
through them. As if seeing someone outside the window, he waved and continued speaking.
"Secondly, during the crucial time of deciding the successor, you messed up everything in my
territory, tarnishing my reputation. I am supposed to be perfect and handle everything
skillfully, but now my leadership and control abilities are in doubt....Thanks to you,
Christoph, I've been disrupted once again."
His voice sounded strangely cheerful. As if he was waiting for something interesting.
"But if you help me now, I can smooth things over and remove it. The ability to make
someone who doesn't like you work for you is also an important part. So you must help me."
Richard stopped.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the pleasant night breeze, then slowly turned to look at
Christoph. With the person looking at him and saying nothing, he gave the final reason.
"Thirdly, to see you uncomfortable."
When Richard said that, Christoph only frowned slightly. He didn't get angry, just smirked.
"Being straightforward is good."
"Don't forget, Christoph. If you don't give up the inheritance rights, you will have to work
under me all your life. If you don't run away cowardly, you will be my subordinate until you
die. ―Now it's just a few days of helping me."
Richard spoke gently. Since Christoph entered the room, his voice had always been calm, but
now for the first time, there was a suppressed hostility hidden within.
Christoph stared at him and then spoke.
"I won't do it. Do you think I will do as you say?"
Although his words had a mocking tone, Richard remained unmoved. He regained his calm,
hid his hostility, and smiled lightly.
"What if the old man tells you to help me?""―…."
Christoph frowned.
He couldn't immediately say – 'Even so, I won't do it'.
He intended to follow every word of the old man. For him, he could endure a few days of
unwanted work. That was why he came here.
But facing this man, he couldn't say he would do everything he wanted. His instinctive
resistance prevented him from agreeing.
"...I will not..."
Richard looked at Christoph with interest. He watched Christoph hesitate, his fragmented
voice. He didn't take his eyes off him, as if enjoying it. Finally, he remembered something
and turned away.
"Oh, I forgot. I've kept that person waiting too long."
He clicked his tongue and walked over to the phone on hold.
When Richard picked up the phone, Christoph yelled angrily.
"Richard, we haven't finished talking."