By Zephyria 
As mid-April passed, the temperature gradually rose. To the point where it was no longer cold even if one just got hit by the falling rain.
That’s why, around this time, the people of Heavy Rain City would often walk around getting hit by light rain. Carrying an umbrella every single time was a tedious task for the people of a city that lived with rain its entire life.
Unlike others, Ryle, who had absolutely no reason to be caught in the rain, suddenly looked up. As usual, it was a busy stretch of days where it was difficult to step outside even once. The sound of rain tapping against the window sparked a stray thought.
I wonder what Hae-jin is doing.
“Chairman?”
“Any news from the mansion?”
It had already been five years since they had been together. While he wondered where the time had gone, looking back, countless memories had piled up there.
At Ryle’s question, the Secretary naturally pulled out a tablet to check. It had long been the case that matters regarding Hae-jin sat at the top of the Chief Secretary’s most important task list.
“He is said to have had lunch on time. Shall I try contacting him?”
“No, I’ll do it.”
Having made up his mind, Ryle set down his pen and pulled out his phone. The phone he used exclusively to exchange messages with Hae-jin made his social circle seem almost narrow.
A smile brushed his lips as he read through the trivial past conversations with Hae-jin. After sending a simple text asking what he was doing, he placed the phone within arm’s reach. Since it was likely nap time, the reply might be delayed.
Originally, the Butler used to send detailed reports of Hae-jin’s daily routine, but that had also stopped long ago. Ryle had realized that contacting him directly to ask was the best way.
Hae-jin, who had been awkward at first, now often reached out first. Whenever he wanted to eat out, he frequently visited the office to match Ryle’s clock-out time. In many ways, these were days overflowing with happiness for Ryle.
“Oh, Chairman. The guest list for the party has been finalized.”
The Secretary, who had been standing in front of him waiting for the approval of important documents, glanced at the time and spoke again. Urgent schedules had to be pushed through while the Chairman was diligently processing his work. Now that he had sent a text, there was a possibility the Chairman might act impulsively depending on Mr. Bright’s answer. It was a knack acquired after long years of service.
“Hmm.”
Ryle, scanning the list sent by the Secretary on the monitor, checked a few irritating names and sent it back. Upon confirming this, the Chief Secretary forwarded it to the subordinates who were likely busy organizing invitations in the secretary’s office.
Ryle’s official birthday was approaching.
“What should we do about the partner?”
“I’ll go alone, so leave it blank.”
Stretching once, Ryle spoke simply and picked up his pen again. There were many useless matters surrounding his legal birthday. He was already sick of the thought of getting through that schedule.
Since it was nominally the Chairman’s birth anniversary, congratulations poured in. For the most part, these were closer to desperate attempts to get on Vermouth’s good side.
He wished he could just accept the incoming congratulations and be done with it, but since it wasn’t a solo enterprise, appropriate social activity was necessary. Once the meaningless struggles were filtered out, the remaining companies were those worth maintaining relationships with as the owner of the corporation, so he had to show an appropriate response.
Thus, a social party was held on the day of his birthday in Heavy Rain City. And a few days later, another party was held in the nation’s capital. Although the roots of the company were established in the metropolis of Heavy Rain, the symbolism of the capital was also important.
Of course, the invitees were selected every year through strict criteria. Some gossip magazines even joked that the invitation list for this party was essentially a list of the most influential companies of the past year.
Regardless of what others prattled on about, for Ryle, these were days where he couldn’t even be in his lover’s arms and had to receive congratulations that calculated profit day after day. His schedule for several weeks was entirely occupied by party-related matters. Preparing a party fitting of his status, the meticulous execution of two separate parties, and the return gifts for networking afterward. Naturally, there was no way for motivation to spring forth.
“Whew…”
Feeling a surge of fatigue, Ryle carefully rubbed his temples. It was a headache that habitually occurred as his legal birthday approached.
In truth, his birthday was the anniversary of his parents’ death. Even if boisterous parties were planned, his birthday was not celebrated at his mansion.
In particular, the fact that the death of the previous Vermouth couple was dishonorable had been his original sin and flaw from the start. Before he had established his position like this, there were boors who would even come to Ryle’s birthday party to whisper about that fact.
It was only after meeting Hae-jin that Ryle could be purely congratulated on his birth. It happened after Hae-jin suggested they set a birthday and celebrate each other.
“Chairman, how about attending this party with Mr. Bright?”
“…With Hae-jin?”
The Secretary, who had been silent until then, spoke. Ryle’s expression inadvertently stiffened at the suggestion.
“Yes. He is your official lover.”
“……”
Naturally, he also had a heart full of desire to take Hae-jin as his partner.
However, because of the nature of the event, he hadn’t even dared to bring it up. It was called a social party, but it was a gathering where business figures from all over the world, the press, and even politicians assembled. He couldn’t fathom how much attention and scrutiny would be poured onto Hae-jin if he showed his face there.
Although Hae-jin had told him that they didn’t need to hide their relationship, the things he would have to endure if he stepped into the spotlight were on a different level. There was a difference in the scope of media interference between being talked about as someone known privately as Ryle’s lover and appearing together in an official setting. The former was treated as a person’s private life and handled with caution, while the latter became a matter that could openly appear in the news.
Ryle was happy enough with their current stability, so he did not want to place a heavy burden on Hae-jin.
“There are also rumors circulating because the partner’s spot remains vacant. I believe this is an appropriate time to take action.”
“What kind of talk is going around?”
“…Idle chatter suggesting that the relationship might not be serious. We are trying to suppress it, but since you have been dating for a long time, it’s difficult to block everything.”
“……”
The Secretary was conveying this in the most restrained language possible, but Ryle could easily predict it. A person who has been in the position of a lover for a long time but is never brought to official events. They were a crowd that squeezed out creativity to slander even when there was no problem. It was no different from giving them a justification to belittle Hae-jin.
Of course, Ryle had anticipated this and tried his best. Since even having a partner by his side had originally been bothersome, he used to bring his secretary to parties; however, after Hae-jin joined his life, he simply went alone. Attending a party without a partner was very unusual, but he did it to give the impression that he was keeping Hae-jin’s spot vacant.
Either way, it was irritating. He simply wanted Hae-jin to be peaceful, yet there were so many people adding their comments.
“Why don’t you just ask him?”
As if cutting through his brooding thoughts, the Secretary wrapped up the situation. Taking a deep breath, Ryle’s mind raced.
If the Secretary mentioned it, it meant the level of talk regarding Ryle’s partner was reaching a dangerous level. In such a situation, attending the party alone again could provide a full-fledged pretext.
Moreover, as Ryle had entered the marriageable age, there were too many advances. Ryle was sick of people who meant nothing to him constantly clinging to him using the party as an excuse.
If Hae-jin stood by his side, and if their relationship became more solidified because of it, it would be perfect. Ryle’s heart fluttered at the sudden hypothesis.
It seemed a good idea to ask cautiously and gauge Hae-jin’s reaction.
“…I will.”
The sound of rain hitting the window made him think of Hae-jin once again.
“You’re home early.”
“Yeah. I thought we could take a walk together before dinner.”
“I’d love to.”
Ryle, who returned a bit earlier than usual, kissed the cheek of Hae-jin, who had been reading a book. At the soft skinship, Hae-jin didn’t stop a faint smile from spreading unconsciously. As he set down the book and reached out, Ryle naturally took his hand and helped him up.
The two of them headed toward the backyard of the mansion, chatting leisurely about what they had done all day. In truth, it was a day without much of a routine, but Ryle loved it when Hae-jin told him the trivial details of his day.
The walking path, which had been widened and made easier to walk for Hae-jin’s legs, had recently been adorned with beautiful lights. Thanks to that, taking a walk here when the evening light was dim had become Hae-jin’s new routine.
He had graduated from university last year. Since it was a course that wasn’t difficult, graduation was smooth. He was still friends with Brown and Miller, whom he had attended with, but they couldn’t meet as often as before. This was because Brown had entered a state university and Miller had found employment at a small company.
Thanks to this, Hae-jin was standing still and resting for a moment at a crossroads in his life. He was thinking deeply about what he wanted to do in the future and challenging himself with various hobbies.
It was thanks to Ryle that he could stand in place and think calmly without any worries. Ryle provided full support so that Hae-jin could find interests he didn’t even know he had.
In fact, Hae-jin had almost lost his way again this time. Seeing the friends he had barely reconnected with busily going their own ways made his heart feel a bit empty. He also thought of the past when he had missed the timing despite being the same age as them.
Even trying to walk in step with them wasn’t easy. When he asked himself if following the lives they lived would truly make him happy, the answer was no.
Ryle told him that he had the ability to provide whatever Hae-jin wanted to start again. Nevertheless, choosing to go to a city university instead of the university he had originally aimed for was Hae-jin’s choice. Walking that same path from the past no longer held meaning.
So, holding the hand that comforted him, Hae-jin stopped for a moment. The time when he was anxious about whether he would have tomorrow’s hospital fees had passed. Now that he could spend time entirely for himself, he decided to think deeply again. Just like a few years ago when he decided to try going to university.
While holding this hand that still supported him warmly.
“Soon, my birthday celebration parties will be held in succession. Not the birthday we decided on.”
“I know.”
After a brief silence, Ryle brought up a new topic. While answering calmly, Hae-jin’s mind was complex. He had also heard the stories surrounding Ryle’s birthday.
A pain different from his own had occurred to the Vermouth family. He felt sorry for Ryle, who must have carried that on his shoulders since childhood.
“…By any chance, would you attend the party as my partner?”
The following words were an unexpected proposal. Since Ryle had never made such a suggestion before, Hae-jin realized it now. That he must have continued to need a partner.
Parties had been held steadily during the five years they were together. If even a small high school graduation party had a partner, it must have been natural for the social parties Ryle hosted.
“Was it a party that required a partner?”
“Yes. In the past, the Secretary accompanied me, and until now, it has remained vacant.”
It was a pure question asked casually, wondering if he had been too indifferent, but strangely, Ryle’s speech quickened.
Finding it a bit odd that he was explaining details he hadn’t even asked about, Hae-jin looked at him, and an awkward excuse followed.
“I was afraid you might misunderstand and think I had been bringing other people around.”
“I suppose so. That could have happened.”
“No.”
When Hae-jin added a playful comment, Ryle smiled and wrapped his arm around Hae-jin’s waist. Only after Hae-jin nodded in agreement did Ryle gently let him go, his face becoming serious again.
“…However, if you attend the party with me, you will receive a different kind of attention than before.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s the first time I’m accompanying someone, and since you’re an Omega, Hae-jin…”
Hae-jin could understand the hidden meaning behind the trailing words as Ryle gauged his reaction.
There was already a record of him drawing explosive interest just by being in a relationship with a man famous for his Omega phobia. If they appeared together in an official setting, it was obvious that it would ignite like fire in a field of dry reeds.
“The press will have a lot to say, and the attendees might ask many questions.”
Ryle’s voice grew increasingly subdued and dark. It was strange, considering he was the one who had invited him. It almost felt like he was listing only the negatives to make Hae-jin give up.
“You can refuse as much as you want.”
However, contrary to his words, his expression and pheromones were quite desperate. That’s why Hae-jin could fully understand. Exactly what Ryle was worried about.
He had said he wanted a peaceful life. If he appeared as his partner, many things would likely change from how they were until now.
Would that life not be peaceful? Could he endure it?
While these thoughts crossed his mind, Hae-jin suddenly realized. Even reflecting on all the situations Ryle worried about, his own heart wanted to attend as his partner.
“I’ll go.”
The answer was quick. Perhaps it was because he had been contemplating what he liked lately, but hardening his heart took only a moment.
At his answer, Ryle’s expression brightened like spring flowers. However, he looked particularly poignant today, unable to erase a sliver of anxiety.
Many things that weren’t peaceful might happen. But Hae-jin could also be certain. That no matter what happened, he could trust Ryle.
He was the one who had stayed by his side with all his effort for the past five years. So, wouldn’t it be okay for him to try once as well?
“…Really?”
“Yes. Let’s go together.”
Interlocking his fingers with the hand still holding him, Hae-jin answered in a firm voice.
“You’re using this entire place as a party venue?”
“Yes.”
On the day of the party, Hae-jin asked in disbelief while looking up at the super-tall building from inside the car. Ryle answered calmly, but he seemed excited.
The building was a hotel chain operated by Vermouth. He said they planned to connect all the luxury banquet halls on the upper floors into one for this party. He added that all the rooms below had been reserved for the guests.
Hae-jin couldn’t understand what it meant to open all the halls, but he decided not to ask further. He was also worried about how they had managed to empty a luxury hotel that was usually so fully booked that it was hard to even stay there.
“Do you usually use this place?”
“…Usually, yes.”
Seeing Ryle answer a step late, Hae-jin narrowed his eyes. He had heard that the party was originally planned to be held on a moderate scale at the Vermouth headquarters where Ryle worked. But he had overheard from the Chief Secretary that the secretary’s office had suffered greatly because a sudden order to empty the hotel had been issued.
The Secretary seemed to want to hint that the Chairman was looking forward to it very much, but in Hae-jin’s eyes, the man’s hollow complexion was more prominent.
“Liar.”
“Ummm…”
Realizing that Hae-jin had already heard, Ryle slightly covered his mouth and avoided eye contact. It was obvious he was smiling, so Hae-jin pulled his arm to make him look.
Sure enough, a face overflowing with happiness since morning came into view. Since it was a face he wanted to tease, Hae-jin decided to press Ryle further.
“I heard you changed it suddenly. Why?”
“Just because. I needed a spacious venue.”
“A venue more spacious than the Vermouth headquarters?”
“Yes. Even though it’s a nominal birthday, I have a gift I want to show off.”
“……”
Ryle pulled the speechless Hae-jin onto his lap and began kissing Hae-jin’s cheeks frantically. It felt like being licked by a large dog, so he wanted to push him away, but fearing his clothes would wrinkle, Hae-jin was left helpless.
The past two weeks had vanished in a blur of preparations for today. There were dozens of tailcoats tailored for the party. He didn’t know why such a process was necessary, but because Ryle had been excitedly leading the charge, Hae-jin had to repeatedly put on and take off clothes obediently.
He thought all men’s tailcoats looked the same, but once he put it on, it was different. Especially when standing side-by-side with Ryle, it was fascinating how they looked like a matching set, like a couple.
In his chest pocket was a blue pocket square that resembled Ryle’s eyes. Conversely, in Ryle’s chest pocket was a black pocket square. Since it was made of silk, it wasn’t that strange, but a black cloth on a black tailcoat was a bit puzzling.
Both Hae-jin and Mark had tried to persuade Ryle to change the decoration, but he was immovable. His stubbornness to match with Hae-jin was clear, so Hae-jin stopped trying to stop him. Because Ryle, preparing for his own birthday party, looked truly excited, like a child.
Eventually, looking at the pocket squares decorating their chests side-by-side, Hae-jin let out a small chuckle. Then, Ryle’s lips, which had only been visiting his cheeks, finally pressed deep into Hae-jin’s mouth.
“Mmm…”
Hae-jin couldn’t stop thinking about the clothes the tailor had visited this morning to fit. Unaware of his concerns, Ryle kept clinging to Hae-jin, layering his pheromones over him until the very last moment.
He had spent a long time marking him even before they left, and it seemed he never grew tired of it. When Hae-jin hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to be marked at a party with so many people, Ryle had insisted that it was precisely because it was a party that he must do it. He claimed he felt anxious because there are often many cases of people flirting in hopes of a casual encounter at such events.
A refreshing pheromone, as if an entire forest had been transported there, filled Hae-jin’s lungs. Under the marking, which was denser and more persistent than usual, his mind gradually began to grow hazy. It was a marking so intense that Hae-jin’s own pheromones were buried, barely detectable.
After showering him with kisses and leaving Hae-jin feeling limp, Ryle finally pulled away. By then, the car had already arrived at the parking lot leading to the direct elevator.
“Now, shall we head up?”
“….”
Looking at Ryle’s bright expression, Hae-jin simply wrinkled his nose.
“Congratulations, Chairman.”
“Thank you.”
The party had begun, and the atmosphere was ripening. Only upon entering the hall did Hae-jin realize what it meant for the entire banquet hall to be opened. As expected of a luxury hotel, it seemed to be a structure where several party halls were clustered together, but the walls that looked seamless from the outside were all temporary partitions. Once they were all removed, it became this magnificent, large hall.
A giant chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling. It was a glamorous and modern design, different from the one in the mansion. It was equipped with a device that subtly shook the crystals, causing pearlescent halos of light to flutter here and there.
The reliefs on the walls and other decorations resembled Ryle’s mansion. In particular, it looked a lot like the grand banquet hall where they usually had Christmas dinners. He had learned in his ‘History of Architecture’ class that this was a trial version of the historic Vermouth Manor, but seeing it in person, it felt much more modern than the mansion.
Numerous people were gathered in small groups throughout the party venue, holding glasses of champagne. He wondered if it was always this large-scale, or if there were more people than usual because Ryle had mentioned wanting to show off.
“It is my first time meeting you. I have heard much about you, but…”
The person who had offered congratulations to Ryle naturally struck up a conversation with Hae-jin as well. He was an elderly man with graying hair and a very intimidating face.
“This is my partner, Hae-jin Bright. Hae-jin, this is Chairman Guter of MINK Corporation.”
“Hello.”
Following the introduction Ryle made in between, Hae-jin barely managed to offer a greeting. Despite him saying only one word, the elderly Chairman looked back at Hae-jin as if surprised.
The surrounding gazes shifted toward him once again. Hae-jin was breaking into a cold sweat because of these awkwardly excessive reactions.
“I shall see you again, then.”
After a brief chat, the old Chairman handed Hae-jin a business card and disappeared to acknowledge others. Hae-jin felt as if he were receiving all the business cards he would ever get in his entire life today.
At first, Hae-jin stood stiffly holding the card, but he soon became adept at turning around and handing it to a waiter holding a silver tray. In an organizer placed on the tray, business cards were neatly slotted in order.
“I’ll step away for a moment.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Ryle, observing Hae-jin’s expression, spoke with a wave of his hand. At that, the security teams who had been following along beside the waiter naturally widened their distance.
The tide of people surging toward them was naturally cut off. In a short moment, a circular void formed around the two of them. He was told it was an implicit rule to ensure the party host didn’t collapse while greeting guests. Even knowing that, Hae-jin got the impression that Ryle was stopping the crowd around them quite frequently. It seemed he was being mindful of Hae-jin’s frail body.
Thanks to that, he had intermittent breaks, making it bearable, but the gazes were still burdensome. He worried if it was taking too long just to walk around the party hall and exchange greetings. Moreover, the more Ryle pushed people back, the more intense the gazes became.
By the time the two appeared at the party, the guests were already enjoying themselves to the fullest. He had worried that they were too late because of the kissing, but he was told that it is proper for the host to appear a bit late.
…Considering the fervent gazes, Hae-jin wondered if Ryle had lied for his sake again. While Hae-jin sat in a chair, Ryle, who was wetting his throat with champagne, lowered himself upon seeing Hae-jin’s suspicious look.
“Are you okay? Shall we go rest for a bit?”
Watching Ryle check his complexion while kneeling on one knee, Hae-jin whispered in his ear. He asked about the part he had been curious about for a while.
“Why does everyone react like that whenever you introduce me?”
He asked seriously, worried that perhaps he was greeting them incorrectly or making a mistake, but Ryle simply let out a small laugh.
“It’s because I’m introducing you personally.”
Straightening his knee, Ryle whispered softly. Wanting to stand up together, Hae-jin naturally reached out his hand. Ryle gripped that hand firmly and supported Hae-jin’s body as he rose.
As he did, he added an explanation that there had never been anyone he considered important enough to volunteer to introduce personally. He firmly emphasized that this was definitely the first time he had introduced someone as his partner. Hae-jin found that expression—whether it was pride or joy—a bit absurd.
Regardless, although he still didn’t quite understand, it seemed to be one of the etiquettes applicable in such places. Even though Hae-jin had rushed to learn the basics, these details were indeed complex.
“Then what about the people you don’t introduce?”
Occasionally, there were people who only received a greeting from Ryle and were turned away quickly before they could even speak to him. When he asked what that was about, he received a baffling explanation.
“Those are humans you don’t need to worry about, Hae-jin.”
“What? No, how can you say that?”
Kissing the back of the flustered Hae-jin’s hand, Ryle spoke even more calmly. It was as if he were stating an immutable truth.
“They are people who wouldn’t normally be invited, so they should consider it an honor just to see your face, Hae-jin.”
More than twice the usual number of people attended this year’s party. This was because Ryle had benevolently expanded the guest list to include those who wouldn’t normally receive an invitation.
What he said to Hae-jin was not a lie. He truly wanted to show off Hae-jin, who stood by his side, so he had drastically increased the number of attendees. That didn’t mean just any random people had come. While they weren’t people Ryle needed to deal with personally, they were corporations that held significant positions in the country’s economy.
Furthermore, there was a need to make Hae-jin’s face widely known. It was a way of telling them in advance to be aware so that they wouldn’t dare be rude, as he might continue to accompany him to such events in the future.
Most attendees would have been satisfied just by exchanging a greeting and making an impression. It was a win-win.
“Mmm. I’ll try to adjust.”
After listening quietly to the explanation, Hae-jin nodded cautiously rather than asking further questions. Since he seemed a bit thirsty, Hae-jin took a glass of non-alcoholic champagne from a waiting waiter and handed it to him.
The Vermouth family had originated from a noble house. To Ryle, who was born and raised in a great mansion, such things were as natural as breathing. The situation where Hae-jin, who would have lived an ordinary life, asked questions to understand his world was incredibly sweet.
“If I make a mistake, you have to fix it for me, Ryle. Got it?”
Hae-jin mentioned that he had asked Mark various things while feeling nervous before attending the party. He couldn’t master all the tedious etiquette in just a few weeks of learning. Even the people attending here probably didn’t know it all.
And above all, Hae-jin didn’t need to be perfect in such etiquette. He could slowly realize that he was in a position where everyone had to bow just by existing.
Therefore, as Ryle held up the glass Hae-jin had sipped from, he whispered in his ear. He could provide a bosom for Hae-jin to hide in at any time.
“Don’t worry about that. Whatever you do, I’ll just turn it into a law.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Thinking his words were a joke, Hae-jin let out another small laugh. His face shone so brightly it was a waste for only one person to see, but because of that, Ryle didn’t want to show him to others. Ryle let his own pheromones, which were obsessively heavy, linger nearby. He could feel the Alphas around them gradually distancing themselves.
It had been a good decision to mark him more intensely than usual. Well, there was a high probability that rumors would spread about him being obsessed with his partner, but he didn’t care. Since he was already showing Hae-jin’s face, he couldn’t stand the thought of others even feeling his pheromones.
“Phew, I’m ready now. Let’s get this over with.”
“Alright.”
Hae-jin’s face, speaking with determination as if receiving congratulations were a battle, was incredibly cute. Ryle had never dreamed that he would be able to share the fact that this was a terribly tedious task with someone.
Without hiding the smile surging up again, Ryle kissed Hae-jin’s cheek.
“Phew…”
Hae-jin, who had finally completed the great task of receiving greetings, walked down the hallway, lightly patting his shoulders. Ryle had gone to prepare for the proceedings in the latter half of the party. He was supposed to go up on a small podium and give a few general remarks; Hae-jin felt he now understood why Ryle found this time of year particularly exhausting.
He said that immediately after that, they planned to have a small private gathering. A few heads of the top conglomerates were gathering to discuss something.
Ryle said it wouldn’t matter if he joined in on all those processes, but that was too burdensome. So, he readily accepted the offer to rest and was heading toward the lounge. He was pleased that a private lounge had been prepared so that Hae-jin could rest alone.
While walking diligently, he passed by the lounge open to the party attendees. Glancing inside, he saw that there weren’t many people, so Hae-jin hesitated. His legs were still fine, but he wondered if there was a need to go further to rest.
After a moment’s thought, Hae-jin decided to sit here for a bit. Perhaps because he had been too nervous, he felt his body was more exhausted than expected. If it became too uncomfortable, he could leave then and go to the private lounge.
As Hae-jin moved to enter the public lounge, the bodyguard who had been following him spoke.
“The private lounge is that way, Mr. Bright.”
“Ah, am I not allowed to enter here?”
“No. There is no such restriction.”
He asked in case the assigned locations were different for each person, but the bodyguard spoke quite firmly. Nodding blankly, Hae-jin cautiously entered the lounge. After all, it wasn’t that he couldn’t.
Upon entering, several pairs of eyes turned toward Hae-jin. Still, the gazes weren’t as piercing as they had been when he was greeting people with Ryle.
Most of those sitting were either quite young or quite old—people who lacked the stamina to enjoy the party standing the whole time. Being the only one in the young adult age group, Hae-jin felt somewhat awkward and found a seat in the corner.
Fortunately, there was a large chair that looked good for sinking into. It also allowed him to hide his hair to some extent.
“Please sit beside me.”
“No, thank you.”
However, making his efforts futile, bodyguards stood with their hands behind their backs on both sides of him. Only after repeatedly urging him to sit carefully did they glance around and sit beside Hae-jin with stiff faces.
His posture gradually relaxed. To the point where he no longer cared if his tailcoat got wrinkled. Ryle’s tip that there were spare clothes was one of the things he relied on.
As Hae-jin leaned back fully in the chair and glanced at his phone for a moment, only soft whispering echoed in the lounge. While replying to Mark’s message asking if he was doing well, he sensed someone else entering the lounge.
Hae-jin, who had been focusing on his phone, suddenly looked up and saw the person approaching. It was because the atmosphere inside the lounge had become more turbulent than when he first entered.
The reason soon became clear.
“Hello. I greeted you earlier, but…”
“Ah, hello.”
The person who suddenly approached Hae-jin offered a greeting again with utmost politeness. Unfortunately, he was one of the people Ryle hadn’t properly introduced earlier. Feeling a bit uneasy because of the kind explanation Ryle had given, Hae-jin greeted him back blankly.
“I would be grateful if you could accept this.”
To make matters worse, the man’s tone was extremely humble. Since no one had ever approached him this way, Hae-jin was slightly flustered.
“I, uh, I don’t have a business card.”
“Haha, that’s quite alright.”
Wondering if there were people who refused a business card, he naturally accepted it. However, the man, who was an Alpha, clearly interpreted that as some kind of signal.
“Ahem, could you possibly deliver a message to Mr. Vermouth? If you could put in a good word for me, I will repay you with all my sincerity.”
The pheromones naturally floating around him began to flutter, carrying a kind of expectation. Only then did Hae-jin realize that it was actually a situation where he could have refused the business card.
“It would be problematic if you approached any further.”
The moment he took another step forward, the bodyguards, who had already stood up, restrained him. Since it was a party, they hadn’t intervened while their employer was talking to someone, but it seemed there was a certain line.
“Haha, my apologies. How about it, Mr. Bright?”
Despite the situation, the man instead took a step back and spoke boisterously. Looking at the person sending him an expectant gaze with a gentle face, Hae-jin groaned inwardly.
It was incredibly awkward. After thinking for a moment, Hae-jin decided to be honest. If he could have refused the business card in the first place, saying this wouldn’t harm Ryle.
“I don’t have the authority to do that. I think you’ve come to the wrong person.”
“Is… that so?”
At Hae-jin’s firm words, the man’s eyes wavered. He looked at the bodyguards on either side of Hae-jin in turn, and his expression became somewhat subtle.
At the same time, the man’s pheromones took on a very strange hue, which, to Hae-jin’s interpretation, had a very peculiar nuance, much like his expression.
“I have caused much trouble. Well then, farewell.”
Before Hae-jin could fully ponder it, the man stepped back with moderate politeness. As he left the lounge, his expression, which seemed somewhat conflicted, remained as an afterimage.
“….”
Looking around, all the gazes in the lounge were focused on Hae-jin. He also saw a group of people glancing at him as they approached from outside the lounge.
Letting out a deep sigh, Hae-jin eventually headed quietly to the private lounge.
“How was today?”
“Mmm…”
That night. Ryle, who had been waiting anxiously for Hae-jin to finish showering, asked. Naturally taking the towel draped around Hae-jin’s neck, he began to dry his hair for him.
In the short time it took Hae-jin to find the right words, a needlessly frightened Ryle hurriedly continued.
“If it was too hard, you don’t have to go to the next party. You’ve done enough, Hae-jin.”
Thanks to resting deeply in the private lounge, his stamina was reasonably fine. The conversations at the party afterward hadn’t been that difficult either.
Hae-jin shrugged his shoulders and gave his impression nonchalantly.
“It was okay. It was more interesting than I thought.”
It was certainly a new experience, so his curiosity was great. The thought that there was such a fascinating world out there crossed his mind. Although he had lived immersed in Ryle’s wealth, this was his first time interacting with other people.
The finger foods provided at the party surprisingly suited Hae-jin’s taste. Since he was a picky eater, the snacks that fit perfectly in one bite left a quite positive impression. Moreover, everyone was friendly toward him. It would have been harder to dislike that atmosphere.
As he showed a positive reaction, Ryle’s expression brightened instantly. Feeling Ryle’s excited pheromones, Hae-jin suddenly remembered what happened in the lounge earlier.
“Oh, by the way.”
“Yes.”
“Someone gave me this business card and asked me to deliver a message to you…”
“Ah, I heard.”
Ryle had heard from the bodyguard that someone had approached. However, upon hearing that the other party had politely withdrawn, he had set it aside for the moment.
It was only natural to lobby at a party, but Hae-jin’s first instinct was to worry that he might have offended someone. Was it a mistake to assume that everything would be fine since a private lounge had been assigned to him?
“I did tell them clearly that I don’t have that kind of authority, but do you think it’ll be a problem later?”
However, a slightly strange comment dropped atop the mountain of his worries.
“You said that?”
“Yes. I think I shouldn’t have taken the business card. I didn’t know they’d…”
Hae-jin quickly became disheartened by Ryle’s peculiar expression. As soon as Ryle’s face stiffened slightly, Ryle, acting restless again, scooped Hae-jin up and sat him on the bed.
“No, no. Not that part. The fact that you said that, Hae-jin.”
“Said what?”
“Why did you tell them you don’t have authority, Hae-jin?”
Ryle, with a bright smile, pointed out exactly what bothered him. Still unable to fully understand, Hae-jin mumbled his thoughts aloud.
“But that’s company business…”
“If you said you wanted this Chairman’s seat right now, I would gladly give it to you.”
Despite Hae-jin trying to speak rationally, Ryle only gave another bizarre answer. It was absurd how he even gave a light kiss to the back of Hae-jin’s hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“What does that even mean?”
“I’m just stating a fact.”
Watching Ryle shrug his shoulders as if mimicking him, Hae-jin assumed he was joking. So, he gave Ryle’s shoulder a playful nudge and said,
“Anyway, the pheromones that Alpha showed were a bit strange. I’m not sure about the exact nuance, but did it mean something was odd or unexpected?”
“An Alpha?”
“Yes.”
This time, Ryle’s expression hardened in an instant. As Hae-jin looked at him, wondering what had gone wrong now, Ryle suddenly frowned and spoke firmly.
“Next time you meet bastards like that, tell me.”
“…What?”
Hae-jin asked in a voice that sounded more skeptical than worried.
“Tell them that whether it’s a solicitation or whatever, if they don’t want the company to be blown to pieces, they should stop hitting on you.”
“What is that even supposed to mean?”
As expected, it was more nonsense. It was clear that Ryle, worried that Hae-jin’s first party might leave a bad memory, was intentionally saying funny things.
Hae-jin let out a small chuckle, lowered his head, and wiggled his way up onto the bed. After exchanging jokes for a while, he suddenly felt a wave of fatigue. This was likely because the tension he hadn’t realized he was holding finally snapped once he realized that receiving the business card wasn’t a big deal.
“Go to sleep.”
“Okay.”
Unaware that not a single word Ryle had said was a joke, Hae-jin fell into a sweet, deep sleep that night.
The day of the second party arrived.
It was only a few days after the party held for Ryle’s legal birthday. Until the moment they departed, Ryle worried excessively that Hae-jin might lack the stamina.
Of course, it was an overreaction as usual, and Hae-jin boarded Vermouth’s private jet in comfortable clothing. He was told that separate time would be provided upon arrival to prepare for the party.
“Do you like it?”
Ryle let out a low laugh and asked Hae-jin, who was looking around the interior of the plane with a blank expression. Feeling a bit shy, Hae-jin rubbed the back of his neck and spoke.
“I’ve flown before, but… this is my first time on a private jet.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve flown one too.”
Ryle usually just used existing flights. Operating a private jet was inefficient.
However, this time he had naturally prepared one. He wanted Hae-jin to feel as comfortable as possible during the flight. Seeing him look around the cozy, renovated interior with an excited expression, it seemed like the right decision.
“It’s also my first time going to the Capital.”
“Is that so? How is the seat? Your legs aren’t aching?”
“No. I think I’ll be fine even on a long flight. Let’s go travel abroad later.”
To think that Hae-jin even wanted to travel overseas. Ryle felt that renovating the private jet had been incredibly rewarding.
“Let’s set a schedule right away. Is there a country you want to visit?”
Hae-jin burst into a small laugh at Ryle’s obviously excited tone. He calmed Ryle down by saying he would look for a country he wanted to visit slowly later.
Before long, the panoramic view of Heavy Rain appeared beneath the ascending plane. Seeing his hometown from the sky felt strange, as expected.
“But why are there two parties?”
“Ah, there are many politicians in the Capital.”
“Politicians come too?”
Since most of the people at the previous party had been businesspeople, Hae-jin asked in surprise. Ryle continued his explanation as if it were no big deal.
“Unlike entrepreneurs, politicians are stubborn. When there’s a special occasion like this, even if it’s a hassle, you have to pretend to care to make things easier in the future.”
“I see…”
As Hae-jin nodded, his fine black hair fluttered. Watching this, Ryle finally couldn’t resist and sprang up the moment the seatbelt sign turned off.
Ryle, who had been sitting opposite him, moved across and sat in the seat next to Hae-jin. After adjusting the armrest, it quickly became a perfect spot for the two to sit close together.
“If you’re tired, you can lie down here.”
“I’m still okay.”
Naturally wrapping his arm around Hae-jin’s waist, Ryle let him lean his head on his shoulder. Since it was a familiar occurrence, Hae-jin adjusted his posture comfortably and leaned deeply into Ryle’s body. Ryle lightly kissed his fluttering hair and sank into thought.
Since the first party, very satisfying rumors had spread. That the Chairman of Vermouth had fallen so hard for an Omega named Hae-jin that he had completely lost his mind.
Due to the intensity of the marking that day, there were also rumors that he was obsessing to an excessive degree, but Ryle didn’t care. In fact, he welcomed the rumors. He hoped this would stop any fools from doing anything stupid to Hae-jin.
However, he was a bit worried about this party. Those in politics operated on a different logic than business managers.
He had to be even more vigilant than last time. He had arranged Hae-jin’s lounge in an even closer location, so that Hae-jin wouldn’t have to enter public spaces after getting tired from walking.
“What if someone asks for a favor again?”
“You don’t have to worry about it. If you like a gift they give you, you can just tell me.”
“Hmm…”
Ryle had explained well to Hae-jin that lobbying was a natural part of parties. Still, Hae-jin seemed to have many worries.
Investigating the associates of politicians or businesspeople for lobbying was like a war without swords. Researching the tastes of individual figures was mandatory.
Therefore, Ryle intended to reward anyone who found something that appealed to Hae-jin. Since Hae-jin rarely spoke about the things he liked, shouldn’t he be rewarded if someone found something for him?
However, Hae-jin seemed troubled because he wasn’t used to this kind of behavior. While gently smoothing out the furrowed brow of someone deep in thought with his fingertips, Ryle whispered.
“There’s an even simpler way.”
“What is it?”
Intrigued, Hae-jin met his gaze with dark eyes. As Ryle succumbed to the feeling of falling into those two eyes, a smile naturally formed.
“If it’s hard to refuse flatly, just say you’ll think about it.”
“Think about it?”
“And then do nothing.”
“What?”
Seeing Hae-jin’s expression as if asking what on earth that meant, Ryle kissed the corner of his eye again. He was delighted by Hae-jin’s increasingly rich emotions. Thanks to that, he couldn’t stay still with him in front of him. Fortunately, Hae-jin was gradually getting used to Ryle’s frequent skinship.
The sight of Hae-jin worrying thoughtfully was certainly lovely, but it was time to settle his mind. He worried that if left as is, Hae-jin might get stressed from overthinking.
“That’s just how it is. There are people who ignore others even after taking everything they can get.”
“Ah…”
“In the first place, they aren’t rushing in to sign a contract immediately. If they say something like that, it’s a lunatic committing a rudeness. So you really don’t have to worry this much.”
Furthermore, there was a benefit to Hae-jin acting that way. Saying he would “think about it” represented that he was in a position where he could think about it. In Ryle’s opinion, Hae-jin was drastically underestimating his own value.
“If it’s too hard, you can just stay stuck to my side the whole time.”
“…If I’m really scared, I might have to do that.”
“Oh dear. Should I hope that you’re scared?”
Only then did Hae-jin relax his expression and look out the window with a more comfortable face. To ensure he kept thinking comfortably, Ryle reacted exaggeratedly to Hae-jin’s words. As Hae-jin laughed and pushed his shoulder as if telling him to stop, it felt as if sunlight was pouring from his face.
After instructing that some snacks be brought out, Ryle was able to enjoy flying for the first time in his life.
The party proceeded similarly to the first one. Thanks to that, Hae-jin was able to respond to people’s greetings with a bit more composure than before. The fact that the party venue was familiar helped even more. He hadn’t known that Vermouth had a hotel chain in the Capital as well.
The moment the logo reading ‘Vermouth’ came into view, Hae-jin felt a subconscious sense of relief. It was like finding a familiar place in a city where the buildings were taller and more complex than in Heavy Rain. He found it very strange that he had come to feel so familiar with the word ‘Vermouth’.
The decorations inside the party hall were more modern than the ones in Heavy Rain. Hae-jin liked that one side was a full glass window, allowing a clear view of the city. The skyline, which had a different charm from Heavy Rain, seemed like it would remain in his memory for a long time.
“It’s been a long time, Chairman. Congratulations.”
While chatting with the party attendees, someone approached from one side to exchange greetings. Since the time for walking around and introducing themselves had already passed, it seemed the person had arrived late to the party.
Sensing someone approaching, Hae-jin set down his champagne glass and tried to move toward Ryle. Seeing Ryle glance at him, he thought it was someone he should be introduced to.
The two were standing almost side by side, but the man deliberately turned his steps toward Ryle. It was a bit strange, as he would have been able to see both Ryle and Hae-jin at once if he had just walked straight.
The man, who appeared to be middle-aged, had a decent build, but his impression wasn’t very good. It was to the point where the thought that he had the typical face of a politician momentarily crossed Hae-jin’s mind.
“Thank you, James. This is…”
“Haha, I received the details of the meeting that took place in Heavy Rain recently. You’ve made a series of very interesting proposals.”
“…I see.”
However, the man who approached spoke incessantly before Ryle could even open his mouth. Ryle, who had been slightly turning his body as if to call Hae-jin, now looked only straight ahead.
Hae-jin, who had been waiting to approach, tilted his head in confusion. He watched a bit longer, but Ryle didn’t signal him again. Even if the person wasn’t worth introducing, as Ryle put it, it was strange since they had been standing together the whole time.
After contemplating for a moment, Hae-jin eventually stepped back. He thought that if it were a place where he was supposed to be, Ryle would have called him, even if late. Perhaps he had misread the atmosphere earlier.
When Hae-jin returned to where he had been standing, the people he had been talking with welcomed him back warmly. An executive from a game company he liked was in the middle of sharing behind-the-scenes stories about the release of their next new title.
James, who had come late to greet them, eventually disappeared elsewhere after talking only with Ryle, without even glancing at Hae-jin. Immersed in the exciting topic, Hae-jin quickly forgot the man’s slightly strange attitude and focused only on the conversation here.
Standing alone, Ryle sent a cold gaze toward James as he turned away after leaving his greetings.
“…….”
Parties in the Capital often involved small-scale gatherings happening simultaneously. Since people from the political sphere attended, they annoyingly preferred gathering in small, intimate groups. Since the party was held for that purpose anyway, Ryle had to leave his spot constantly.
Hae-jin did not accompany Ryle to every meeting. Ryle was worried about him being alone, but he was relieved to see Hae-jin getting along well with the people he met at the party. Only after thoroughly grasping the personal details of those surrounding Hae-jin did Ryle leave his side.
The atmosphere of this party was slightly different from the last one. While the friendly atmosphere toward Hae-jin remained, the process of probing was longer. Since it was far from Heavy Rain, the rumors people heard arrived a step later.
Therefore, he had to be more careful. He had to ensure that enemies clinging to Ryle didn’t cause any harm to Hae-jin. In particular, James, who had intentionally attended the party late and ignored Hae-jin’s existence, bothered Ryle. Usually, those who openly did stupid things in front of him always brought about irritating results.
James was a member of a long-standing political family. He himself had held a seat as a representative based on that background, but a few years ago, he was embroiled in a fatal political scandal. After somehow laundering his image and escaping, he was aiming for a comeback, but it was lackluster. He was barely maintaining his power through connections that had long been tied to his family.
If Hae-jin had been by Ryle’s side, he would have immediately pointed out that dog-like attitude. Fortunately, however, Hae-jin was a step away due to his conversation with others. Because of this, when Ryle immediately changed his tone and responded, the man’s trick became nothing more than a low-class provocation that didn’t even need to be mentioned.
Still, unpleasantness was unpleasantness. He knew the man was someone who habitually discriminated based on trait or race, but to dare do so even in front of him. The more he thought about it, a strange anxiety welled up. Therefore, as soon as he was released from the meeting, Ryle searched for Hae-jin. The bodyguards were protecting him, but he did it just in case.
He probably would be sitting in the private lounge by now.
Just as he walked hurriedly with that thought, a man’s booming voice echoed from a corner of the silent hallway. A few people were gathered around him.
“Hmph, there’s a limit to how much they can hype him up as a lover. He’s just an inferior gene, isn’t he? The circumstances of him attending as a partner after five years are obvious. That Omega must have begged quite hard.”
“But Chairman Vermouth seems to cherish him quite a bit. There were rumors that he even increased the number of party attendees just to show off his lover.”
The beginning of the words he heard seemed to reveal the substance of his anxiety. As soon as he heard that, Ryle walked straight forward, etching the faces of the group gathered there into his mind.
“Actually, there’s a piece of information I’ve obtained.”
“What is it?”
“I heard it was discovered that the Omega is in a position where it’s difficult to even deliver a single word to the Chairman. Someone who heard it directly at the last party told me, so it’s reliable information.”
“Hmm… then are Chairman Vermouth’s actions all just for show?”
“Well. Some parts seem a bit excessive for that…”
“He might have aimed for that.”
His mood had now become uncontrollably unpleasant. The reason these people were huddled like this in a silent hallway was simple. It was because this was near the private lounge given to Hae-jin.
It was a malicious act of talking nonsense so that the party involved could subtly hear it. This was because of the prevailing perception that the person who responded seriously to words exchanged at a party was the bigger fool. If pointed out, there were many cases where they would turn the tables and claim that the other person had eavesdropped on their private conversation. These were tricks that Ryle himself had experienced several times in his youth.
The whispering voices shook filthily like grass under the wind. While confirming which bastard was saying what nonsense, Ryle quickly approached them. The people who noticed him first flinched and shut their mouths.
However, James, who was facing away, didn’t notice and continued to flap his lips. It was as if he were intoxicated by the attention given to him.
“Furthermore, there are rumors that he was originally a whore who just helped with pheromone release.”
“Ja-James.”
“Looking at him, he’s an inferior species, so he must have been abandoned without parents…”
“Shut that mouth of yours.”
Finally, a steadfast longing flowed from Ryle. Almost simultaneously, he pulled a small case from the inner pocket of his jacket.
Opening it to reveal the contents, Ryle slowly dropped to one knee.
“Marry me.”
Hae-jin felt that the atmosphere had finally become perfect. He also realized why Ryle had been hesitating. The word family awakened Hae-jin like a bolt of white lightning.
Inside the small case was a ring. It had a simple design, perhaps considering Hae-jin’s tastes. It appealed perfectly to Hae-jin, who had absolutely no interest in accessories.
The gem, reflecting the candlelight with a soft glow, looked exactly like a constellation. Countless candles had drawn a massive Milky Way between them, as if to connect this place to the heavens above.
A dreamy sensation lifted Hae-jin, as if it might carry him away on that Milky Way. Blue eyes, sparkling more than any gem, approached Hae-jin as if to carve themselves into his soul.
Gathering his courage, Ryle looked up at him like a man awaiting a sentence. Hae-jin wondered when he had become so accustomed to Ryle’s face as he looked up from a kneeling position.
Perhaps someone who would worry about Hae-jin even more than Hae-jin worried about himself.
That was the same as the meaning of family that Hae-jin knew.
“…Okay.”
Strangely, his throat tightened, but he hoped his voice wouldn’t tremble. Even for Hae-jin, who usually didn’t express himself well, this was an important moment. It was a place to reveal his sincerity, however small and low the voice.
Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Ryle’s expression brightened. To the man sparkling as if to seduce him, Hae-jin reached out his hand, pretending to be composed.
The ring placed on his fourth finger looked exactly like the halo atop an angel’s head.
Ryle’s engagement was widely announced. It was a loud proclamation, enough to frustrate the many people who had been targeting him.
Since things had come to this, Ryle said he wanted to accelerate the wedding preparations. He wanted to bind them legally and firmly so that no further noise would arise.
Since there was no reason to delay, Hae-jin agreed. Thus, the two spent day after day agonizing over what kind of wedding they should have.
“Sigh… I didn’t know there were so many things to look at.”
“Once you just choose the atmosphere, the experts will put together the rest.”
Ryle spoke simply, but Hae-jin was skeptical. The things currently laid out before him were among the results those experts had put together. It was obvious that once the atmosphere was chosen, countless other options would emerge to match it.
However, taking another deep breath, Hae-jin began to flip through the catalog bravely. In truth, he didn’t have anything else to do, so there was no reason to find it difficult.
“I think this one would be good.”
After struggling for a long while, what Hae-jin chose was a small-scale wedding.
“Are you sure this is enough?”
“Yes.”
Even if the scale was small, it was obvious it would require a lot of work—especially to create a sophisticated atmosphere on a cliff overlooking the sea, like in the sample photos.
“If you want, I can make everyone in Heavy Rain come to our wedding.”
“Is that not what you want, Ryle?”
Hae-jin later had the chance to hear more from Billy about the background of why the party guest list had suddenly increased. Billy still wondered how loudly Ryle had hinted that he had something to brag about, mentioning that he never actually got to see the gift Chairman Vermouth had bragged about.
Unable to bring himself to say that the gift was himself, Hae-jin chose silence. Recalling that moment, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Ryle.
“That’s also true. Because it’s the honorable moment when I become yours.”
Despite the quiet scolding, Ryle smiled foolishly and kissed Hae-jin’s cheek. He had been in this state ever since the proposal was accepted.
He walked around smiling all the time, as if he had never been anxious; apparently, this was so strange that the Secretary’s office was filled with daily worries about the Chairman. Being with him, Hae-jin worried that Ryle might actually float away into the sky because of his pheromones, which were bouncing around so lightly.
Seizing the opportunity, Ryle began to cling to him in earnest. Embraced so tightly he was practically buried in Ryle’s arms, Hae-jin carefully hugged him back.
Then, he told him something he had been thinking about for a long time.
“First, I’m going to change the address on my ID.”
“…….”
As if it were unexpected, Ryle’s body stiffened. Carefully observing Hae-jin’s expression, Ryle’s face soon became serious.
The address on Hae-jin’s ID was still the old one where he lived with his family. It was because he hadn’t renewed his ID after making it.
Knowing this well, Ryle had made arrangements so that Hae-jin wouldn’t have to renew his ID even when he entered university.
“You can leave it as that address forever. If that’s what you want.”
He had suffered for five years in this mansion. After that, surprisingly, five gift-like years had passed.
It was a stark contrast, but Hae-jin now wanted to place more weight on the latter. It had been five years filled with warmth and happiness, enough to fill the void left by his family.
Neither Ryle nor Hae-jin decided to change their respective surnames. No matter where he was, Hae-jin would still be a Bright. He buried the memories of his family gently in his heart.
So, wouldn’t it be okay to make a new start now? Wouldn’t it be okay to make this mansion his new home?
“It’s okay.”
Hae-jin, who had wandered without a family, now had a new family. Though he had to send away the angel-like family Santa had sent him first, he had eventually grasped another happiness with his own hands.
“Alright.”
Hearing that low voice, everything really felt okay. Confident that things would continue to be fine, Hae-jin burrowed deeper into Ryle’s embrace.
They were happy days.