5 – HR Side Story 9

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.

So, around this time, the people of Heavy Rain City would often walk around getting hit by light rain. Carrying an umbrella every time was a hassle for the people of a city that lived with rain its entire life.

Unlike other people, Ryle, who had no reason to get hit by rain, suddenly looked up. As usual, it was a busy period where it was hard to even step outside once. A thought crossed his mind at the sound of rain tapping on the window.

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 how time had passed so quickly, looking back, countless memories were piled there.

At Ryle’s question, the Secretary naturally took out a tablet and checked. It had been a long time since matters regarding Hae-jin had occupied the top of the Chief Secretary’s most important task list.

“It is reported that he had his lunch on time. Shall I try contacting him?”

“No, I’ll do it.”

Having made up his mind, Ryle set down his pen and picked up his phone. The fact that he only exchanged 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. He sent a brief text asking what he was doing and placed the phone within arm’s reach. It was likely nap time, so the reply might be delayed.

Originally, the Butler used to send detailed reports of Hae-jin’s daily routine, but that had stopped long ago. Ryle had realized that contacting him directly 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 every way, these were days overflowing with happiness for Ryle.

“By the way, 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 up. Urgent schedules had to be pushed through while the Chairman was diligently processing work. Since he had sent a text, there was a chance the Chairman might act impulsively depending on Mr. Bright’s answer. It was a knack acquired after years of assistance.

“Hmm.”

Ryle scanned 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 in the secretary’s office who would be busy organizing the invitations.

Ryle’s official birthday was approaching.

“What should we do about the partner?”

“I’ll go alone, so leave it blank.”

Ryle stretched once, spoke simply, and picked up his pen again. There were many useless matters surrounding his legal birthday. Just thinking about navigating that schedule already felt tedious.

Since it was nominally the Chairman’s birth anniversary, congratulations flooded in. For the most part, these were little more than desperate attempts to get close to Vermouth.

He wished he could just accept the greetings 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 firm, 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 symbolic importance of the capital was also significant.

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 he could feel motivated.

“Sigh…”

Feeling a surge of fatigue, Ryle carefully rubbed his temples. It was a headache that invariably occurred as his legal birthday approached.

In truth, his birthday was the anniversary of his parents’ death. Even if a boisterous party was 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, 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 involuntarily stiffened at the suggestion.

“Yes. He is your official lover.”

“….”

Naturally, he also desperately wanted 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 around the world, the press, and even politicians all congregated. He couldn’t fathom how much attention and scrutiny would pour onto Hae-jin if he revealed his face there.

Although Hae-jin had told him he didn’t need to hide their relationship, the things one had to endure when stepping 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 position remains vacant. I believe this is an appropriate time to take action.”

“What kind of talk is going around?”

“…Idle gossip suggesting that the relationship might not be serious. We are trying to suppress it, but since you’ve 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 guess. A person who has been in the position of a lover for a long time but is never brought to official events. Even if there were no problems, those people would squeeze out creativity to slander. It was practically 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 was bothersome, he used to bring a secretary to every party; however, after Hae-jin entered 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 open.

Either way, it was irritating. He only 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 was mentioning it, it meant the level of talk regarding Ryle’s partner had reached a dangerous level. In such a situation, attending the party alone again could provide a full-blown pretext for rumors.

As it was, Ryle, who had reached a marriageable age, received too many advances. Ryle was sick of people who meant nothing to him constantly clinging to him under the pretext of the party.

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 carefully and gauge Hae-jin’s reaction.

“…I will.”

The sound of rain hitting the window reminded him 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, returning slightly earlier than usual, kissed the cheek of Hae-jin, who had been reading a book. Hae-jin didn’t stop a faint smile from spreading at the soft skinship. As he set down the book and reached out, Ryle naturally took his hand and pulled him up.

The two headed toward the backyard of the mansion, chatting 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 grew dim had become Hae-jin’s new routine.

He had graduated from his university last year. Since it was a course without many difficulties, graduation was smooth. He was still on friendly terms with Brown and Miller, whom he had attended with, but they couldn’t meet as often as before. Brown had gone back to a state university, and Miller had found employment at a small company.

Thanks to that, Hae-jin was pausing and resting 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.

The reason he could stand in place and think calmly without any worries was thanks to Ryle. Ryle provided full support so that Hae-jin could find interests he didn’t even know he had.

Actually, 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, where 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 imitating 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. Despite that, choosing to go to a city university rather than the one he had originally aimed for was Hae-jin’s choice. Walking that same path from the past no longer held any meaning.

So, holding the hand that comforted him, Hae-jin decided to stop for now. The time when he was anxious about whether he would have money for tomorrow’s hospital bills 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.

“My birthday celebration parties will be held in succession soon. 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 finally realized. That he must have always needed a partner.

Even during the five years they were together, there were constant parties. From small high school graduation parties to the social parties hosted by Ryle, a partner would have been a given.

“Was it a party that required a partner?”

“Yes. In the past, a secretary accompanied me, and until now, it’s been empty.”

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.

“Just in case… you’d misunderstand and think I’ve been bringing other people around.”

“I guess so. That could have happened.”

“No.”

When Hae-jin added that playfully, Ryle smiled and wrapped his arm around Hae-jin’s waist. Only after Hae-jin nodded in acknowledgment did Ryle carefully let him go, his face becoming serious again.

“…However, if you attend the party with me, you’ll receive a different kind of attention than before.”

“Is that so?”

“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 explosive interest just from the fact that he was 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 a lot of questions.”

Ryle’s voice grew increasingly low 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 if you want.”

However, contrary to his words, his expression and pheromones were quite desperate. That’s why Hae-jin could fully understand. Exactly what it was that Ryle was worried about.

He 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 after 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 too?

“…Really?”

“Yes. Let’s go together.”

Interlocking his fingers with the remaining hand, 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 skyscraper from inside the car. Ryle answered calmly, but he seemed excited.

The building was a hotel chain operated by Vermouth. He said he 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 comprehend what it meant to open all the halls, but he decided not to ask further. He was also worried about how he had managed to clear out a luxury hotel that was usually fully booked and hard to stay in.

“Do you usually use this place?”

“…Usually, yes.”

Seeing Ryle answer a beat 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. However, he had overheard from the Chief Secretary that the secretary’s office had suffered greatly because a sudden order to clear 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 haggard complexion was more prominent.

“Liar.”

“Hmm…”

Realizing that Hae-jin already knew, Ryle slightly covered his mouth and averted his gaze. 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 place.”

“A place more spacious than 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 wildly. It felt like being licked by a large dog, and 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 was 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 that 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 adamant. His stubbornness to match with Hae-jin was clear, so Hae-jin stopped trying to stop him. Ryle, preparing for his own birthday party, looked truly excited, like a child.

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 pushed into Hae-jin’s mouth.

“Nng…”

He was constantly worried about the clothes the tailor had fitted this morning. Unaware of those feelings, Ryle kept clinging to Hae-jin, layering pheromones until the very end.

He had been marking him for a long time before leaving, and he didn’t seem to tire. When Hae-jin hesitated about whether it was okay to be marked at a party with many people, Ryle insisted that because it was a party, it was absolutely necessary. He claimed he was anxious because there are many cases of people flirting to have casual encounters at parties.

A refreshing pheromone, as if an entire forest had been transplanted, filled Hae-jin’s lungs. The marking was deeper and more persistent than usual, causing his mind to gradually grow hazy. It was a marking so intense that Hae-jin’s own pheromones were completely buried, barely detectable.

Ryle, who had made Hae-jin limp with a barrage of kisses, finally pulled away after a long while. 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. It was only upon entering the hall that Hae-jin understood what it meant to “open up the entire banquet hall.” As befitting a luxury hotel, the structure seemed to consist of several party halls clustered together, but the walls that had looked seamless from the outside were all temporary partitions. Once they were all removed, it became a magnificent, large-scale hall.

A giant chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling. It was a glamorous and modern design, quite 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 closely mirrored 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 significantly more modern than the mansion.

Numerous people were gathered in small groups throughout the party venue, holding glasses of champagne. He wondered if parties were always this large, or if there were more people than usual because of Ryle’s desire to show him off.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about you…”

The person who had offered congratulations to Ryle naturally struck up a conversation with Hae-jin. He was an elderly man with graying hair and a very intimidating face.

“My partner, Hae-jin Bright. Hae-jin, this is Chairman Guter of MINK.”

“Hello.”

Following the introduction Ryle made in the middle, Hae-jin barely managed to offer a greeting. Despite saying only one word, the elderly chairman looked back at Hae-jin with a surprised expression.

The surrounding gazes shifted toward him once again. Hae-jin was breaking into a cold sweat from 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 other guests. Hae-jin felt as though he was receiving more business cards today than he would in his entire life.

Though Hae-jin had initially stood stiffly while clutching a card, he had now become adept at turning around and handing them to a waiter holding a silver tray. In an organizer placed on the tray, the 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 team who had been following alongside the waiter naturally widened their distance.

The tide of people rushing toward them was naturally cut off. In a short span of time, a circular void formed around the two of them. He had heard it was a tacit rule to ensure the party host didn’t collapse while greeting guests. Even knowing that, Hae-jin got the impression that Ryle was stopping people quite frequently. It seemed he was being considerate of Hae-jin’s frail body.

Thanks to this, he had intermittent breaks that made 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 stares became.

By the time the two appeared at the party, the guests were already in full swing. He had worried that they were too late because of the kissing, but he was told that it was proper for the host to appear slightly late.

…Considering the fervent gazes, Hae-jin suspected Ryle might have lied for his sake again. Ryle, who was wetting his throat with champagne while Hae-jin sat in a chair, lowered his body 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 into his ear, asking the part he had been curious about.

“Why does everyone react like that whenever you introduce me?”

He asked seriously, worried that perhaps he wasn’t greeting them correctly or was making some 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. Ryle gripped that hand firmly and supported Hae-jin’s body as he rose.

As he did, he explained 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, while 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 would receive a greeting from Ryle and then turn away quickly, unable to even speak to him. When he asked what that was about, he received a flabbergasting explanation.

“Those are people 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 nonchalantly. 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.”

More than double 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 typically receive an invitation.

What he told 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 he invited random nobodies; even if 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. Since they might continue to attend such events together, it was a way of warning others in advance so they wouldn’t dare be rude.

Most attendees would have been satisfied just by exchanging a greeting and making an impression. It was a win-win.

“Hmm. I’ll try to get used to it.”

After listening quietly to the explanation, Hae-jin nodded cautiously rather than asking further questions. Noticing that Ryle seemed a bit thirsty, he took a glass of non-alcoholic champagne from a waiting waiter and handed it to him.

The Vermouth family had originated from nobility. For Ryle, who was born and raised in a great mansion, such things were as natural as breathing. The situation where Hae-jin, who had 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 nervous before attending the party. He couldn’t master all the tedious etiquette in just a few weeks of learning. Most likely, even the people attending this event 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 took the glass Hae-jin had sipped from, he whispered in his ear. He could provide a sanctuary for Hae-jin to hide in at any time.

“Don’t worry about that. If you do something, 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 that was exactly why Ryle didn’t want to show him to others. Ryle let his own pheromones, which were heavy to the point of obsession, linger nearby. He could feel the Alphas around them gradually distancing themselves.

He had done the right thing by marking 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, the thought of others even sensing his pheromones was an unbearable waste.

“Phew, I’m ready now. Let’s get this over with.”

“Alright.”

Hae-jin’s face, speaking with such grim determination as if receiving congratulations were a battle, was incredibly cute. Ryle had never dreamed he would one day share the experience of how tedious this task could be with someone.

Without hiding the smile surging up again, Ryle kissed Hae-jin’s cheek.

**

“Phew…….”

Hae-jin, having finally completed the monumental 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 mentioned he would go up on a small podium to give a few general remarks; Hae-jin felt he now understood why Ryle always seemed particularly exhausted around this time.

He said that immediately after that, they would have a small private gathering. A few heads of top conglomerates were to gather to discuss something.

Ryle said it was fine for him to join in that entire process, but that felt 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 Hae-jin could rest alone.

While walking diligently, he passed by a lounge open to the party attendees. Glancing inside, he saw that there weren’t many people, and Hae-jin hesitated. His legs were still fine, but he wondered if it was necessary to go all the way to the further location to rest.

After a moment’s thought, Hae-jin decided to sit here for a while. Perhaps because he had been too nervous, his body felt more exhausted than expected. If it became too uncomfortable, he could always leave and go to the private lounge then.

As Hae-jin moved to enter the public lounge, the bodyguard accompanying him spoke up.

“The private lounge is that way, Mr. Bright.”

“Ah, am I not allowed to go in 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, a few pairs of eyes turned toward Hae-jin. Still, the gazes weren’t as piercing as they had been when he was with Ryle.

Most of those sitting were either quite young or quite old—people who lacked the stamina to enjoy the party standing up the whole time. Since he was the only one in the young adult age group, Hae-jin awkwardly found a spot in the corner to sit.

Fortunately, there was a large chair that looked perfect for sinking into. It was also good for hiding his hair to some extent.

“Please sit beside him.”

“No, it’s fine.”

However, despite his efforts, the bodyguards stood beside him with their hands behind their backs. Only after repeatedly urging them to sit down did they glance around and sit beside Hae-jin with stiff expressions.

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, only the sound of low 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 to see the person approaching. This was because the atmosphere inside the lounge had become more chaotic than when he first entered.

The reason became clear immediately.

“Hello. I greeted you earlier, but…”

“Ah, hello.”

The person who suddenly approached Hae-jin offered another greeting 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 this 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 your kindness with all my sincerity.”

The pheromones naturally floating around him began to flutter with a kind of anticipation. Only then did Hae-jin realize that he truly could have refused the business card.

“I’m afraid you cannot come any closer.”

The moment he took one more step forward, the bodyguards, who had already stood up, stopped him. Since it was a party, they hadn’t interfered while their employer was talking to someone, but it seemed there was a certain line.

“Haha, my apologies. What do you think, Mr. Bright?”

One might have felt offended, but the man instead stepped back and spoke boisterously. Looking at the person who sent him an expectant gaze with a gentle face, Hae-jin groaned inwardly.

It was utterly 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 that kind of authority. 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 color, which, to Hae-jin’s interpretation, had a very peculiar nuance, much like his expression.

“I apologize for the intrusion. Well then, excuse me.”

Before Hae-jin could fully process it, the man stepped back with moderate politeness. As he left the lounge, his hesitant expression remained as an afterimage.

“…….”

Looking around, all the gazes in the lounge were concentrated on Hae-jin. Furthermore, he saw a group of people glancing at him as they approached from outside the lounge.

With a deep sigh, Hae-jin finally headed quietly toward the private lounge.

**

“How was today?”

“Hmm…….”

That night. Ryle, who had been waiting anxiously for Hae-jin to finish his shower, asked. Naturally taking the towel draped around Hae-jin’s neck, he began to dry his hair for him.

While Hae-jin took a short moment 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 shared his impressions nonchalantly.

“It was okay. It was actually more interesting than I thought.”

It was certainly a new experience, so his curiosity had been great. The thought that there were such fascinating worlds in existence 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 could be popped 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.

“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 now.

Lobbying at a party was natural, but he first worried if Hae-jin’s mood had been offended. He wondered if it had been a mistake to assume nothing would happen since he had assigned a private lounge to Hae-jin.

“I told them that I don’t have that kind of authority, but will that be a problem later?”

However, a somewhat strange comment dropped atop his mountain of worries.

“You said that?”

“Yes. I think I shouldn’t have taken the business card. I didn’t know…”

At Ryle’s peculiar expression, Hae-jin immediately became discouraged. As soon as Ryle’s expression stiffened slightly, he became restless again and scooped Hae-jin up, placing him on the bed.

“No, no. Not that part. It’s because you said those things, Hae-jin.”

“Those things?”

“Why did you say you didn’t have the authority, Hae-jin?”

Ryle gave a bright smile and pointed out exactly what bothered him. Still unable to fully understand, Hae-jin hesitantly voiced his thoughts.

“But that’s company business…”

“If you told me right now that you wanted the Chairman’s seat, I’d gladly give it to you.”

Despite Hae-jin trying to be rational, 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 just joking. He gave Ryle’s shoulder a playful nudge and said,

“Anyway, the pheromones that Alpha gave off were a bit strange. I can’t put my finger on the exact nuance, but it felt like they meant something was odd or unexpected?”

“An Alpha?”

“Yes.”

This time, Ryle’s expression hardened in an instant. Wondering what was wrong, Hae-jin looked at him, only for Ryle to frown and speak firmly.

“Tell me the next time you meet bastards like that.”

“…What?”

Hae-jin asked, his voice sounding more skeptical than concerned.

“Tell them that if they don’t want the company to be blown to pieces, they should stop hitting on you, regardless of any requests.”

“What is that even supposed to mean?”

As expected, it was another nonsensical statement. Hae-jin was certain that Ryle was intentionally saying funny things because he was worried that Hae-jin’s first party experience would remain a bad memory.

Hiding a small giggle, Hae-jin crawled up onto the bed. After exchanging jokes for a while, a sudden wave of fatigue hit him. In particular, once he realized that receiving a business card wasn’t a big deal, the tension he hadn’t realized he was holding suddenly vanished.

“Hurry up and sleep.”

“Okay.”

Unaware that not a single word Ryle 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, as usual, it was an overreaction, and Hae-jin boarded Vermouth’s private jet in comfortable clothing. He was told that separate time would be provided to prepare for the party upon arrival.

“Do you like it?”

Ryle let out a low laugh and asked as he watched Hae-jin look around the interior of the plane with a blank expression. Feeling a bit shy, Hae-jin rubbed the back of his neck and replied,

“I’ve flown before, but… this is my first time on a private jet.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve used one too.”

Ryle usually just booked existing flights, as operating a private jet was inefficient.

However, this time he had naturally prepared the private jet. He wanted Hae-jin to feel as comfortable as possible during the flight. Seeing Hae-jin look around the cozy, renovated interior with an excited expression, it seemed like the right decision.

“It’s also my first time visiting the capital.”

“Is that so? How is the seat? Your legs aren’t hurting?”

“No. I think I’ll be fine even on a long flight. Let’s go abroad for a trip 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 let out 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 on.

Before long, the panoramic view of Heavy Rain appeared below the ascending plane. Seeing his hometown from the sky felt strangely unfamiliar.

“By the way, 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 were businesspeople, Hae-jin asked in surprise. Ryle continued his explanation as if it were nothing.

“Unlike entrepreneurs, politicians are stubborn. When there’s a special occasion like this, even if it’s a hassle, you have to pretend to pay attention to make things easier in the future.”

“I see…”

As Hae-jin nodded, his fine black hair fluttered. Watching him, Ryle finally couldn’t resist and sprang up the moment the seatbelt sign turned off.

Ryle, who had been sitting opposite him, moved over 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 guided him to 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, a very satisfying rumor had spread: that the Chairman of Vermouth had fallen so hard for an Omega named Hae-jin that he had completely lost his mind.

Along with that, there were rumors that he was obsessing over him to an excessive degree, perhaps due to the intensity of the marking that day, but Ryle didn’t care. In fact, he welcomed the rumors. He hoped this would prevent 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 a closer location so that he wouldn’t have to enter public spaces out of exhaustion 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 along with the request, 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 worried.

Investigating the associates of politicians and businesspeople for lobbying was like a war without swords. Researching individual preferences was a mandatory step.

Therefore, Ryle intended to reward anyone who found something that appealed to Hae-jin. Since Hae-jin rarely spoke about the things he liked, wouldn’t it be right to give a reward to someone who found something for him?

However, Hae-jin seemed troubled because he wasn’t used to such behavior. Gently smoothing out the furrowed brow of his deep contemplation with his fingertips, Ryle whispered,

“There’s an even simpler way.”

“What is it?”

Intrigued, Hae-jin met his gaze with dark eyes. Yielding to the sensation of falling into those two eyes, a smile naturally formed on Ryle’s lips.

“If it’s hard to give a flat refusal, just say you’ll think about it.”

“Think about it?”

“And then do absolutely nothing.”

“What?”

Seeing Hae-jin’s expression as if asking what on earth that meant, Ryle kissed the corner of his eye again. He delighted in Hae-jin’s increasingly rich emotions. Thanks to that, he couldn’t possibly stay still with him in front of him. Fortunately, Hae-jin was gradually becoming accustomed to Ryle’s frequent physical affection.

While the sight of Hae-jin worrying seriously was certainly adorable, it was time to settle things. He worried that if he left it as is, Hae-jin might get stressed by overthinking.

“That’s just how it is. There are people who take everything they can get and then ignore the other person anyway.”

“Ah…”

“In the first place, they aren’t rushing to sign a contract immediately. If they say something like that, it’s just some lunatic being rude. 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” implied that he was in a position where he could think about it. In Ryle’s opinion, Hae-jin was vastly underestimating his own ability.

“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 you’re scared?”

Only then did Hae-jin relax his expression and look out the window with a more comfortable face. To keep him feeling at ease, 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 ordering some snacks to be brought out, Ryle was able to enjoy a flight 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 more composure than before. The fact that the venue was familiar was especially helpful. He hadn’t known that Vermouth had a hotel chain in the capital.

The moment he saw the Vermouth logo, Hae-jin felt a sense of relief without realizing it. 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 entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling glass window, providing a great view of the city. The skyline, which had a different kind of beauty than Heavy Rain’s, 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 the 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’s signal, he thought it was someone he should be introduced to.

The two were standing almost side-by-side, but the man deliberately shifted his path toward Ryle. If he had walked straight, he would have been in a position to see both Ryle and Hae-jin at once, so it was a bit strange.

The man, who appeared to be middle-aged, had a fairly good build, but his impression wasn’t very pleasant. It was to the point where Hae-jin momentarily thought he had the typical face of a politician.

“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 continued to speak 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 man was someone not worth introducing, as Ryle put it, it was strange since they had been standing together the whole time.

After pondering for a moment, Hae-jin stepped back. He figured that if it were a place where he was supposed to be, Ryle would have called him eventually. 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 offer his greetings, eventually disappeared elsewhere after talking only to Ryle, without ever casting a glance at Hae-jin. Immersed in the exciting topic, Hae-jin quickly forgot the man’s slightly odd behavior and focused only on the conversation.

Standing alone, Ryle cast a cold gaze at 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 very purpose, Ryle had to leave his spot frequently.

Hae-jin did not accompany Ryle to every meeting. Ryle 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 verifying the identities of those surrounding Hae-jin did Ryle leave.

The atmosphere of this party was slightly different from the last one. While the friendly atmosphere toward Hae-jin remained, the process of probing him 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 do anything to harm Hae-jin. In particular, James, who had deliberately arrived late to the party 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 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 some image laundering, he had emerged and 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, Ryle would have immediately pointed out that dog-like attitude. Fortunately, Hae-jin was a step away due to his conversation with others. Because of this, when Ryle immediately changed his tone in response, the man’s trick became nothing more than a low-class provocation that didn’t even need to be mentioned.

However, unpleasantness was unpleasantness. Ryle 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 looked for Hae-jin. Although the bodyguards were guarding him, he did so just in case.

He figured Hae-jin would be sitting in the private lounge by now.

Just as he hurried his steps 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 for the first time in 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 reality of his anxiety. Upon hearing that, Ryle walked straight ahead, engraving the faces of the group gathered there into his memory.

“Actually, I have a piece of information I obtained.”

“What is it?”

“I heard that the Omega was found to be in a position where it’s difficult to even convey 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 intended it that way.”

His mood had now become uncontrollably unpleasant. The reason these people were huddled like this in a silent hallway was simple. This was near the private lounge provided to Hae-jin.

It was a malicious act of talking nonsense so that the person in question could vaguely hear it. This was because there was a prevailing perception that the person who responded seriously to words exchanged at a party was the bigger fool. If pointed out, they would often turn the tables and claim that the other person had eavesdropped on their private conversation. These were tricks that Ryle himself had experienced many times in his youth.

The whispering voices shook dirtily 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 babble, as if intoxicated by the attention given to him.

“Moreover, 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, surely abandoned without parents…”

“Shut that mouth of yours.”

Ryle knew that in such situations, pretending not to hear was considered a great virtue for enduring. He had spent his own life ignoring the filth poured over him, pretending not to hear and not to care.

But now, etiquette be damned, he had to shut that dog-like man’s mouth immediately. He simply could not tolerate such words being poured onto Hae-jin.

As Ryle’s pheromones surged like a storm, everyone with a trait took a step back. James, who was crushed by it head-on, shut his mouth as if his windpipe had been grabbed, since he was an Alpha.

“Drag him out.”

Ryle gave a ruthless order to the bodyguards following him. People looked shocked and bewildered by the unprecedented situation of someone being forcibly dragged out in the middle of a party. James, seized by the bodyguards, turned red and struggled.

“Wa-wait…”

“Quiet!”

“How could you do this to me…!”

At the command to shut him up if necessary, the security guards practically dragged James out of the room. As the commotion grew, people’s gazes began to converge on them. While cleaning up the aftermath would be a headache, Ryle had more urgent matters.

“Hae-jin.”

He hurriedly opened the door to the private lounge Hae-jin used.

He wondered if Hae-jin was inside, crying in distress. He desperately hoped Hae-jin hadn’t heard the things about his family. He should have shut James’s mouth sooner. Weighed down by every possible worry, Ryle sought out Hae-jin, feeling as if he were being strangled.

“Ryle?”

However, Hae-jin was wearing headphones and holding a gaming console. Unaware that the door had opened, he startled at the sudden presence nearby and snapped his head up.

In front of him, a child who looked about ten years old was peering at the game screen with him. As Ryle recalled, it was a child brought along as a companion by one of the party guests.

“Ah, then I’ll die… uh…?”

“….”

“Is something wrong?”

Hae-jin asked, his eyes widening as he finally noticed Ryle’s frantic expression and the chaos outside. The child sitting in front of him also looked up at Ryle with a slightly frightened face, startled by the sudden situation.

Only then did Ryle realize that the things capable of gouging out Hae-jin’s heart had not crossed this wall, and his tension vanished instantly.

“…It’s nothing. I just cleared out some drunks.”

“Ah…”

Hae-jin wore an expression that suggested he was surprised such nuisances existed even at a party like this. To be drunk at a party where the upper class gathered—it must have been an utter embarrassment.

Watching Hae-jin’s brow furrow slightly in disbelief, Ryle let out a hollow laugh.

**

The party proceeded smoothly after that. The guests, initially startled by the commotion, chose to keep their mouths shut once they saw who was being dragged out.

The problem came afterward. As if intending to regain his notoriety through this, James spent the following days spreading nonsense that was nothing short of noise.

At first, James launched a barrage of criticism at Ryle for breaking the party’s unwritten rules. He claimed that Vermouth had infringed upon his physical freedom because they felt uncomfortable with him making legitimate remarks. His intention was to create a mess by mixing in suspicions regarding the Vermouth Corporation.

Perhaps because his next general election was precarious, he seemed to want to showcase himself as a representative attacking a chaebol. It was a pathetic sight, as he lunged at Ryle, claiming that a weakness had finally appeared in a man who had remained flawless despite all attempts to bring him down.

However, some of the people who had overheard James’s remarks at the time began to actively push back. They testified repeatedly that James had been kicked out for making discriminatory remarks about the Chairman’s lover, completely unrelated to public affairs. This was thanks to them finding their own way to survive after fully sensing Ryle’s menacing pheromones and aura.

Soon, Ryle’s full-scale retaliation began.

James’s past political scandals, which had been settled, resurfaced. This was because new evidence had been discovered proving the scandals that had been hushed up with large sums of money at the time. The few remaining connections James had eventually all turned their backs on him. In effect, his lifeline as a politician had been severed.

Everyone who attended the party realized from the circumstances that this was Vermouth’s revenge. While admiring Ryle’s astonishing ability to gather information, some complaints also surfaced that he had dragged out the aftermath of the party for too long.

However, Ryle disregarded the unwritten rules of the party and dealt a crushing blow to everyone who had added malicious words at the time. Though not as severe as James, he ensured they all suffered a loss—including those who had testified late.

Gradually, the gossip vanished. Some even expressed self-reflection, saying it was wrong to have tolerated such insidious behavior as part of “party culture” in the first place.

Because of the word ‘discrimination’ that appeared in the testimonies, everyone realized why Ryle had been so angry. Thanks to that, rumors of how much he devoted himself to his lover became firmly established throughout the capital and the political sphere.

On the other hand, Ryle provided ample rewards. The child who had been with Hae-jin was the child of a gaming company executive who attended the party. Upon hearing that Hae-jin had a great interest in the news of a new release, Ryle was told that arrangements had been made for Hae-jin to test the game in advance with the child.

At Hae-jin’s word that he had a wonderful time, Ryle decided on an investment of an unprecedented scale. This was despite the fact that the gaming company hadn’t approached Hae-jin specifically for lobbying. Thanks to this, a foundation was laid for the game Hae-jin wanted to be released a bit earlier.

However, even as he wrapped everything up step by step, Ryle’s mood remained uneasy. It was because the most fundamental issue had not been resolved.

That was the fundamental position of weakness that Hae-jin occupied.

“….”

Having lived his entire life as a Dominant Alpha, this was something Ryle had never considered. Although he had the shackles left by his parents, he had never stood in the position of a congenital underdog.

That part kept weighing on his mind. If Hae-jin were to leave him in the future, it would undoubtedly be a situation where Ryle was the one abandoned. Even then, people would surely label Hae-jin as the Recessive Omega who was discarded by the Chairman. While his resolve to stay by Hae-jin’s side for the rest of his life was firm, Ryle hated the very possibility of such a situation.

He wanted Hae-jin to have more rights. Even if Hae-jin were to grow tired of Ryle later, he didn’t want him to simply vanish as a ‘nobody’ as he was now; he wanted him to take his rightful share with both hands.

He wanted Hae-jin to have stronger power. So that no matter what situation arose in Ryle’s absence, he wouldn’t be hurt by the words of others. So that he could rightfully take what remained.

As Ryle worried about things in the distant future, his expression momentarily went blank. A good idea had suddenly flashed through his mind.

“…Hmm.”

It was also a long-held wish filled with his own desire. Because of this, Ryle fell into deep self-reflection, wondering if he was using this situation as an excuse to satisfy his own greed.

**

Ryle had been strange for the past few days.

Ryle’s emotions had always been somewhat volatile, but the last few days were excessive. He said the aftermath of the party from a month ago was mostly settled, so Hae-jin wondered if something else had happened.

Hae-jin had also heard about what happened at the party belatedly. He didn’t know exactly what insults the politician named James had hurled at him. Since it was just insults and there was no reason to know the specifics, he decided to ignore it.

Of course, looking at the noisy media, he could roughly guess. It was a situation he had seen too often while growing up, so it wasn’t even new.

The problem was the shock Ryle felt after witnessing it firsthand. For a while, Ryle apologized for even the smallest things from the past and often fell into deep thought.

At times, he would emit pheromones that seemed to float aimlessly, only to have them sink the moment their eyes met. Hae-jin felt a strange sensation, as if he had struck Ryle with his gaze.

“Who are you texting?”

“It’s Billy.”

“That kid contacts you too often.”

The weekend had arrived. The two were having a tea time in the garden for the first time in a while. Since it was a day with exceptionally clear sunshine, as a citizen of Heavy Rain, Hae-jin couldn’t resist coming out of his room.

While pretending to read the book he had brought and carefully observing Ryle’s pheromones, his phone rang. A glance revealed a cute message from Billy.

“Billy hates being called a kid. Anyway, he contacted me behind his father’s back saying he wants to come over to play games.”

“He’ll get scolded again.”

“I’m perfectly fine with it, though.”

Billy’s father was the man who had enthusiastically talked about the next new game at the party. While others had drifted away from the technical details, Hae-jin found the conversation incredibly exciting.

Eventually, after Hae-jin sat down and listened intently, the man, who had been hesitating, brought his son. A tester version of the game was installed on Billy’s console.

He said that since beta testing was currently underway, it wouldn’t be a problem for Hae-jin to try it for a bit. So, Hae-jin had simply played hard in the private lounge with Billy, not knowing that Ryle would end up with such a long-term problem to solve in the meantime.

For some reason, Ryle seemed grateful that Hae-jin had heard nothing because he was immersed in the game with headphones on. Of course, since letting him play with his son was merely an act of goodwill, Billy’s father seemed burdened by the sudden influx of large-scale investment.

However, Billy, who had visited Vermouth Manor, felt quite differently. Upon seeing the game room, Billy became completely captivated by it. Thanks to that, he spent every day in a battle of wits with his father, desperate to come visit where Hae-jin was.

“I’m not fine. That kid keeps stealing my time.”

On the other hand, Ryle seemed very dissatisfied with this deepening connection.

He acted childishly, as if he had forgotten that he had even executed an investment out of gratitude. Even while providing a driver to ensure Billy was brought safely whenever he came to visit, Ryle never forgot to grumble every time.

“It’s my time, not yours, Ryle.”

“It’s my time that I can spend with you.”

“…It’s not very adult-like to be jealous of a child.”

“You called him a kid too.”

“….”

After teasing Hae-jin for a while, Ryle suddenly looked at the sky beyond the mansion and let out a deep sigh. Then, he began to slowly emit pheromones that were a mix of self-loathing and fragility.

Was he bothered by the fact that he was jealous of a child? Hae-jin followed Ryle’s gaze, but there was only the clear sky. It was overwhelming to keep up with his rapidly changing moods lately.

Hae-jin had asked several times why he was acting this way, but Ryle didn’t answer easily. He only said he would tell him everything when the time was right. Though curious, Hae-jin decided to respect his concerns.

Hae-jin had seen clearly how much effort Ryle had put into resolving the unpleasant incident at the party. He believed that if he waited, Ryle would tell him all the anguish he had been harboring.

With a shrug, Hae-jin sent a reply to Billy telling him to get his father’s permission properly before visiting, and then picked up his book. He tried to force his concentration back to the text.

Ryle was reading the newspaper across from him. However, seeing that he had been on the same page for an hour, it seemed his mind was elsewhere.

As he slowly turned the pages, the teacups were emptied a couple of times. He didn’t realize how time had passed; the once clear sky had begun to turn red.

“Hae-jin.”

“Yes.”

“There’s a place I want to go with you for a moment.”

Hae-jin was puzzled, as he hadn’t heard of any other plans for today. Thinking it might be dining out, he looked up lightly, but unexpectedly, he saw Ryle’s expression had hardened even more than before. His pheromones also revealed an immense tension without filter.

Barely swallowing his bewilderment, Hae-jin nodded obediently. He had a feeling that whatever Ryle had been agonizing over, he was finally ready to speak.

Naturally escorting Hae-jin, Ryle began to lead him away from the mansion. As they walked slowly, the sun dipped lower. The meadow in front of the mansion, lush and green for the season, swayed coolly in the wind. The sunset draped over it like a blanket.

It was a peaceful sight. Except for Ryle’s intensely tense pheromones.

“Come here quickly.”

“What on earth is going on?”

The place Ryle led Hae-jin to was Bright House. He could never have imagined it when it was in a residential complex, but Hae-jin’s beloved home blended naturally into the vast meadow.

Standing before the main gate for a moment, Ryle took a deep breath and reached out his hand to Hae-jin.

As he always had for the past few years, he consistently reached out his hand to Hae-jin whenever there was even a slight difference in elevation. Sometimes, Hae-jin himself didn’t mind such minor discomfort. Nevertheless, Ryle had never once forgotten to offer his hand.

“….”

Struck by this sudden realization, Hae-jin blankly reached out his hand. Though his movement was likely a bit slow, Ryle stood reliably and waited for him.

Holding hands firmly, they went inside, where countless candles were lit.

“….”

“….”

Hae-jin had wondered why all the curtains were drawn, and it seemed there was a reason. Since no light was visible leaking out from the outside, Hae-jin paused for a moment.

Looking around the interior of the house, which had become dreamlike, Hae-jin asked with a slight lift of his lips. He was almost worried that the candles might flicker because of the explosive tension radiating from Ryle.

“It’s not even Christmas, why did you put out so many decorations?”

The candles on silver trays were melting beautifully. In places where there was no room for candles, small stands adorned with fine lace were placed. Between the three-dimensionally arranged candles, numerous angel ornaments hung. From the ceiling to the stairs, down to the floor where they stood, the place was filled with halos of light.

The two walked slowly into the center of the place that sparkled like stars.

“…Today, I also desperately need a miracle-like help.”

Ryle answered solemnly to Hae-jin’s attempt to lighten the mood. He acted as if the hand he was holding was a lifeline. His stiff shoulders looked a bit pitiful.

Thus, they came to stand in the middle of the living room, in front of the family photos lined up together.

“Because of this incident… I’ve thought a lot.”

“It seemed so.”

Since Ryle had decided not to hide his pheromones, Hae-jin could clearly tell how turbulent his thoughts had been every day. Perhaps thinking he looked a bit ridiculous, Ryle lowered his head slightly and chuckled.

Raising his head again, he looked directly at Hae-jin with his blue eyes. They were eyes as clear as lake water, yet warm.

“I thought it would be good if you had power when unreasonable things like this happen.”

“….”

“So that people would no longer see you merely as a Recessive Omega, but as Hae-jin himself.”

Perhaps because of the hazy atmosphere of the house, Hae-jin felt his mood loosening and becoming languid. The sight of the family in the photos smiling brightly caught the corner of his vision.

This was his home, a place that held only warm memories. It seemed Ryle wanted to plant an even more peaceful memory within it.

“That’s why I thought it would be good if you, Hae-jin, had legal rights. So that they are naturally given to you, and no one can doubt that fact.”

Ryle, who had barely managed to speak, struggled to finish his sentence. The words were more plain than expected, contrasting with the dreamlike interior of the house.

Wondering if that was all, Hae-jin looked up at Ryle. Frozen like a statue, Ryle only sent a desperate gaze, as if he felt he had no right to say more than those words.

Slowly interpreting the meaning of those words, Hae-jin called him impulsively. In his opinion, Ryle had more than enough right.

Only Ryle had enough right.

“Ryle.”

“…Yes.”

“Be a bit more greedy.”

Hae-jin whispered, like the light rain that falls almost every day in Heavy Rain. Ryle’s eyes widened in surprise. His pheromones surged violently. It felt as if a vast forest was rustling like a wave.

Hae-jin knew that even if he had spoken softer, Ryle would always be listening to him. He knew that no matter what happened, Ryle would not let go of the hand he was holding.

“…I…”

A low, cracked voice struggled to escape his sculpted lips. Without rushing him, Hae-jin simply squeezed the hand he was holding.

“Let me… become your family.”

Finally, a steadfast wish flowed from Ryle. Almost simultaneously, he pulled a small case from the inner pocket of his jacket.

Showing the open case, Ryle slowly knelt on one knee.

“Please marry me.”

Hae-jin felt that the atmosphere was finally perfect. He also realized why Ryle had been agonizing. The word ‘family’ awakened Hae-jin like a white bolt of lightning.

Inside the small case was a ring. It was a simple design, perhaps considering his taste. It perfectly suited Hae-jin, who had no interest in jewelry.

The gem, reflecting the light softly from the candles, looked just like a constellation. Countless candles had drawn a great Milky Way between them, as if connecting this place to the sky above.

The hazy feeling lifted Hae-jin as if to carry him away on that Milky Way. Blue eyes, sparkling more than any gem, approached Hae-jin as if to be engraved upon his soul.

Gathering his courage, Ryle looked at him as if he were 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 before him.

Perhaps this was someone who would worry about Hae-jin even more than Hae-jin worried about himself.

To Hae-jin, that was exactly what the meaning of family was.

“…Alright.”

His throat felt strangely tight, but he hoped his voice wouldn’t tremble. Even for Hae-jin, who rarely expressed his emotions, this was an important moment. It was a place to reveal his sincere heart, however quietly.

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Ryle’s expression brightened instantly. As Ryle gazed at him with a sparkle that felt like a temptation, Hae-jin reached out his hand, pretending to be nonchalant.

The ring on his fourth finger looked exactly like the halos resting atop the heads of angels.

**

Ryle’s engagement was widely publicized. It was an announcement loud enough to frustrate the many people who had been eyeing 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 their days agonizing over what kind of wedding they should have.

“Phew… I didn’t know there were so many things to look at.”

“Once we just pick the atmosphere, the professionals will put together the rest.”

Ryle spoke simply, but Hae-jin was skeptical. The things currently laid out before him were already the results of those professionals’ work. It was obvious that once an atmosphere was chosen, countless other options would emerge to match it.

However, taking a deep breath, Hae-jin bravely began flipping through the catalog. 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 while, Hae-jin chose a small-scale wedding.

“Are you sure this will be enough?”

“Yes.”

Even if the scale was small, it was clear it would require a lot of effort—especially to create a sophisticated atmosphere on a cliff overlooking the sea, just like in the sample photos.

“If you want, I could have everyone in Heavy Rain attend 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 was still questioning how loudly Ryle had hinted that he had something to brag about. He mentioned that he never actually got to see the gift Chairman Vermouth had boasted about.

Unable to tell him 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 I become yours.”

Despite the gentle scolding, Ryle smiled foolishly and kissed Hae-jin’s cheek. He had been in this state ever since the proposal was accepted.

He was always smiling as if he had never been anxious, and it was apparently 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 felt buried, Hae-jin carefully hugged him back.

Then, he told him something he had been thinking about for a long time.

“First, I want to change the address on my ID.”

“…….”

Ryle’s body stiffened, as if caught off guard. Carefully gauging Hae-jin’s expression, Ryle’s face soon became serious.

The address on Hae-jin’s ID was still the old one where he had lived with his family. He hadn’t renewed it since it was first made.

Knowing this well, Ryle had made arrangements so that Hae-jin wouldn’t have to renew his ID even when he entered university.

“I 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 years passed like a gift.

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 neatly in his heart.

So, perhaps it was time for a new start. Perhaps this mansion could become his new home.

“It’s okay.”

Hae-jin, who had wandered without family, now had a new family. Though he had to send away the angel-like family Santa had sent him, he had finally grasped another happiness with his own hands.

“Alright.”

Hearing that low voice, everything truly felt okay. Confident that things would continue to be fine, Hae-jin snuggled deeper into Ryle’s embrace.

They were happy days.

(End of Side Story 1)