By Zephyria 
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knocking, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head. Butler Do entered carrying a tray. He replaced the cold teapot with a warm one and set down the sandwiches he had brought.
“Did you skip lunch as well?”
Watching this, Jin Seon-yu turned around and set his brush upright on the work table.
“I was actually just starting to get hungry. Thank you for the food.”
Jin Seon-yu rubbed his paint-stained hands clean. As he picked up a sandwich, he looked at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Come quickly. These look delicious.”
Watching Jin Seon-yu eat with such a healthy appetite, Seo Yi-kyung took a step forward. In fact, his arms and legs were starting to ache from standing and painting for so long. It seemed like a good time to take a break.
“Please eat slowly. I will make more and bring them to you.”
Butler Do felt as though he had one more young master to look after. With a smile, Butler Do looked at Seo Yi-kyung’s canvas. The unfinished painting had an indistinct form. It felt quite different from the paintings he usually saw.
However, art is often a reflection of one’s state of mind. Moreover, the sight of him being carried in by Han Seung-jae a few days ago had been a great shock even to Butler Do. It was only natural that a significant change would occur in Seo Yi-kyung’s emotional state.
Butler Do shifted his gaze to Jin Seon-yu’s canvas, which sat side by side. He noticed some similarities.
“Good, right?”
“Yeah.”
Seo Yi-kyung mumbled as he took a bite of the sandwich.
As Butler Do quietly stepped away to open the door, the smile gradually faded from his face. He glanced back at Seo Yi-kyung, who was continuing the conversation, and gently closed the door.
Butler Do was deeply worried about the previous incident, but he did not bring it up. To be precise, it was closer to wanting to ask but choosing not to. The person who had said they were going to visit a patient in the morning had returned with torn clothes. Between that and the blood on Han Seung-jae’s face, something had clearly happened outside. Afterward, from early dawn, Han Seung-jae had summoned a doctor and blatantly displayed his extreme displeasure.
Entering the kitchen, Butler Do placed more sandwiches on a plate. Anxiety clouded Butler Do’s face. He used to eat breakfast with the young master.
After that incident, the distance between the two seemed to have grown even wider. At least, that was how it appeared from Butler Do’s perspective. Today, Han Seung-jae had left the house early. It wasn’t just today. Seo Yi-kyung, who sat alone at the table eating a late breakfast, had a calm expression, but since he was someone who always suffered in silence, Butler Do couldn’t help but worry.
* * *
“Are you done already?”
At Jin Seon-yu’s words, Seo Yi-kyung lowered the teacup from his lips. The plate was piled high with sandwiches. Butler Do had just brought a fresh plate of sandwiches a moment ago.
“Yeah. I’m full.”
Even if he wanted to eat more, he couldn’t. Despite not eating much, a tight sense of fullness had risen within him.
“Don’t start first; just sit for a bit. Let’s paint together.”
Following those words, Seo Yi-kyung sat in the chair and observed Jin Seon-yu. His short hair brushed against his ears, and his round eyes were large and clear. His cheeks were puffed out.
Was he not crying these days? He seemed more energetic than before. Perhaps he was trying his best to appear that way. Especially since his face would occasionally sink into a somber expression.
Meeting Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes, Jin Seon-yu beamed with a smile.
“I think if I watch you paint, I’ll be able to find my touch again soon.”
It was hard to tell who should be comforting whom. Seo Yi-kyung let out a bitter smile at Jin Seon-yu’s words.
Perhaps because his stomach was full, he felt the motivation to paint. Stepping toward the canvas, Seo Yi-kyung gripped the brush tightly. He didn’t think that Han Seung-jae would be happy. He probably wouldn’t even hang it in his office.
Han Seung-jae was a man who possessed much more than just money. Born with superior genes and an extraordinary brain, there was nothing he lacked. A painting like this was merely a form of entertainment to him. Thus, Seo Yi-kyung’s primary thought was simply to reduce the debt he owed.
Han Seung-jae hadn’t specifically requested what to paint. But that didn’t mean he could just paint anything.
Seo Yi-kyung glanced sideways at Jin Seon-yu’s canvas. Should I just take that and say I painted it?
That would be a disaster. Seo Yi-kyung shook his head. Han Seung-jae was a man who loathed lying above all else. Especially if one attempted to deceive him, they had to ensure they were absolutely not caught, no matter what. However, looking into Han Seung-jae’s deep eyes made one’s blood run cold, forcing them to confess everything.
So, if he were caught…
As his thoughts reached that point, Seo Yi-kyung felt a chill run down the back of his neck. He raised the hand gripping the brush and rubbed the nape of his neck. The paint clinging to his fingertips left a long horizontal smear.
After a long time had passed, Seo Yi-kyung took off his work apron and left the painting studio. Jin Seon-yu followed, gathering his things and closing the door behind him.
“Are you leaving now? I will have the car waiting outside.”
Butler Do, who had been in the living room, walked back the way he came. Jin Seon-yu, putting on a long jacket, spoke to Seo Yi-kyung.
“Don’t overdo it. Your face is really pale right now.”
Seo Yi-kyung didn’t know what his face looked like. He simply watched as Jin Seon-yu examined his complexion with concern.
Jin Seon-yu got into the car prepared by Butler Do. Despite Jin Seon-yu’s attempts to stop him, Seo Yi-kyung came out to see him off. He was someone who visited to help him. Furthermore, for now, he was the only person from whom he could learn to paint.
The newly hired driver bowed politely to Seo Yi-kyung before quickly turning to sit in the driver’s seat. Jin Seon-yu rolled down the window and waved.
“Get home safely.”
As the car drove away smoothly, Seo Yi-kyung turned around. When he heard from Butler Do that the driver had been changed, a faint sense of guilt rose in a corner of his heart. It had been a minor accident. Yet, Han Seung-jae had cut him off cleanly, leaving no room for hesitation.
Step, step. Seo Yi-kyung entered the house. The helpers passing by gave him polite nods. This, too, was likely because of Han Seung-jae.
Seo Yi-kyung reached the elevator. He stared intently at his reflection in the door. His thin shoulders and slender neck were ghostly white. Though the handprints had vanished, faint marks remained on his cheeks. Moreover, as Jin Seon-yu had said, there seemed to be no color in his face at all. It wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment. That was likely why Jin Seon-yu had looked at him with such worry.
Ever since seeing Seo Yi-kyung being carried out in Han Seung-jae’s arms after fainting, Jin Seon-yu had paid more attention to his eating and encouraged him to take breaks while painting.
When the elevator doors opened, Seo Yi-kyung stepped inside. After the doors closed, Seo Yi-kyung hesitated for a moment before reaching out and pressing the button for the basement.
The house was shaped like a ‘-‘ and consisted of two floors above ground and one basement level. The bedrooms and study were on the second floor. The painting studio, where Seo Yi-kyung spent most of his time, was on the first floor. Other than that, Butler Do, the resident chef, and the helpers stayed on the first floor. The basement was a space used almost exclusively by Han Seung-jae. Consequently, Seo Yi-kyung had no reason to go there.
Ding. A clear, crisp sound echoed.
As the elevator doors opened, a long hallway unfolded. Looking at the doors divided to the left and right, Seo Yi-kyung walked out.
There was still time before Han Seung-jae returned. Moreover, lately, he had been leaving for work early and returning in the early hours of the morning more frequently. So, it should be fine to look around for a bit.
“…Not here either.”
Seo Yi-kyung closed the door he had opened. He continued his walk to the opposite side. The row of rooms showed no signs of use.
“This is a bathroom.”
Looking at the large bathtub placed in the center, Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulders stiffened. It was because he recalled the time he and Han Seung-jae had entwined their bodies in a tub filled with cold water. At the time, because the water was so cold, he had clung to Han Seung-jae, rubbing his body against him. Just thinking about it made Seo Yi-kyung’s cheeks flush.
Closing the door again, Seo Yi-kyung continued walking. This place, too, showed no sign of being used. Everything was as clean as if it were brand new.
“Where is it?”
He thought he should have asked Butler Do instead of coming down blindly. Seo Yi-kyung looked around. Not here either.
Seo Yi-kyung grabbed the handle of the next room and slowly opened the door. Peeking his head inside, Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes widened.
“Is it here?”
Seo Yi-kyung entered without hesitation and looked around the room, which resembled a massive gym. The spacious area was even larger than the painting studio. However, compared to the studio, the ceiling was relatively low. Nevertheless, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t take his eyes off the sight of the dazzling equipment lined up.
Han Seung-jae always exercised here before going upstairs. Despite being so cold, he radiated a tingling heat from his entire body every morning.
In the space where even the temperature and humidity were controlled, the white sandalwood scent emanating from Han Seung-jae’s body was thick. Since it was a place he visited every morning, it wasn’t strange for his scent to be embedded there. It seemed Han Seung-jae never missed a workout.
Seo Yi-kyung fiddled with a piece of equipment within reach. As he did, he looked down at his own arm. His slender wrist had bones protruding sharply. His fingers, stained with paint, looked equally powerless.
Regardless of his careless behavior that day, Seo Yi-kyung had felt the helplessness of his own body the entire time he was dragged in by the nape of his neck. It was the same moment he had stabbed his shoulder with a fork. Even though he had used all his strength, it hadn’t even penetrated properly, and his neck had only been pressed further.
What would have happened if Han Seung-jae hadn’t come?
Seo Yi-kyung touched his own neck with his hand. His reflection appeared in the mirror that occupied an entire wall.