SPW 80

“A long time ago.”

“…When, a long time ago?”

Sarang, who had hesitated for a moment, did not swallow the question he wanted to ask. Because he felt that Florian would give him an answer.

“When my grandfather was still in good health.”

Florian, who had been looking at Sarang who had turned to face him, flopped down and lay on his back. He could feel Sarang’s gaze following him. A Border Collie. Whoever it was, they had given him a perfect nickname.

Just like his nickname, Sarang stealthily lay down beside him, using his left arm as a pillow and resting his cheek on it. Florian didn’t leave Sarang’s gaze, which was watching him from his side, unattended for long. He turned to lie in the same position, and his eyes met Sarang’s. The distance was a single span. An interval close enough to feel each other’s breath and scent.

“When I was seven.”

He had never brought this up himself before. Because it wasn’t something that would be enjoyable to talk about. The heartless Duke Dietrich hadn’t even assigned Florian a single counselor, fearing that the secret might leak out. The fact that Florian was able to grow up so respectably was all thanks to his mother’s efforts.

“I was kidnapped, Sarang.”

But why, of all things, am I telling this story to a child I won’t even love? Because I don’t want to bring up the story from the dream? It was an excuse. Florian had enough ability and reason to change the subject to another story. Or he could have just made up a lie.

For Florian, an exceptionally skilled businessman, spouting words he didn’t mean or dazzling someone with flamboyant but empty rhetoric was as natural and easy as breathing. But to Sarang, Florian wanted to speak only the truth. He would rather say nothing at all.

Right, Sarang didn’t need to know everything. If necessary, Florian could speak lies as if they were truth.

“The accomplices were a nanny, a drug dealer, and a junkie. It was a combination that was unlikely to succeed from the start. Thanks to their foolishness, I was able to survive safely.”

Sarang did not hide his surprise. It was different from the reaction people commonly show when they hear a difficult or overwhelming story. He didn’t pretend not to be surprised while hiding his pity and sympathy, and he didn’t barely suppress his curiosity and offer a socially appropriate consolation that was neither too light nor too heavy.

Sarang didn’t hide his surprise, worry, pity, sympathy, or sadness. His glossy eyes looked moist, as if they would well up at any moment.

“The reason I react so sensitively to Sarang’s touch is probably because of the trauma from back then.”

No, this time it wasn’t because of the trauma. The cheering message, exactly the same as in the dream. It felt like a warning that this time too, he would drive Sarang to his death. Anxiety struck Florian’s heart like a bolt of lightning.

“Sarang.”

“…”

“Do you feel sorry for me?”

Sarang, who was staring blankly at Florian, opened his red lips.

“Yes.”

Florian did not hide his bitter smile.

“Still, hearing it from Sarang, it doesn’t feel bad.”

“…”

“My mother. It took less than two years for my mother, Grace, to find out the truth. Because I couldn’t endure it any longer.”

“What… couldn’t you endure?”

“Well.”

It must have been the sense of betrayal and anger towards his grandfather, Duke Dietrich.

“Sarang.”

Florian, who quietly called Sarang’s name, slowly reached out his hand.

“You must feel very sorry for me.”

A clear teardrop touched his white fingertips.

“Do you want to comfort me?”

The wet fingertip gently caressed Sarang’s eyes. Sarang’s lips trembled, unafraid even as he entrusted himself to that touch.

“Why… did you endure it… for two years?”

“…”

“Did no one comfort Rian?”

At the unexpected question, Florian couldn’t say anything.

“No one for two years…?”

He could have easily brushed it off with a light joke, feigning his usual composure, but Florian couldn’t. He could only keep his eyes fixed on Sarang, who was crying for him, worrying about him, and getting angry for his sake. Florian felt a twinge in a corner of his chest, somewhere in his gut. He was amazed by Sarang, who completely pitied the seven-year-old Florian, and…

“Sarang.”

Florian slowly lifted his upper body, planting one hand on the floor to support his weight. Then, he gradually lowered his head. His soft, tender lips pressed down firmly on Sarang’s eyes. Florian, who kissed in succession Sarang’s cheeks that would rise up when he smiled and the straight bridge of his nose, looked down at him.

He had expected him to be confused. However, Sarang’s clear eyes were filled only with his feelings for Florian. Sarang’s wholehearted feelings, directed only at him, suddenly touched Florian’s deep abyss. How could he not love Sarang? At the same time, the half-destroyed sedan, the bright red blood that had drenched the Wellington emblem, cooled Florian’s head.

I don’t want to drive Sarang to his death this time either. I don’t want to see Sarang lonely forsaking the world by himself like in the dream. Perhaps this feeling is affection. I want it to be only affection, Sarang.

Florian, who smiled faintly, whispered.

“If you feel sorry for me and want to comfort me, you can just hug me tightly without a word.”

“…”

“That’s all you need to do, Sarang.”

A faint sweet scent wafted from Sarang’s tears. Like the eyes of an innocent child, like the eyes of a pet that loves only one person its whole life. Florian, who was silently looking into his clear eyes, was about to sit up and create some distance.

“…”

Two hands had reached out and were hugging Florian’s waist and shoulder blades tightly. Florian’s chest, which was forced to lean even further, touched Sarang’s. Thump, thump. Sarang’s heartbeat clung directly to Florian’s heart. Sarang could not hide his love, which had been precariously brimming and had finally overflowed. Not one bit.

“Just this once…”

A clear tear rolled down the corner of Sarang’s eye as he pleaded softly.

“Just this once.”

Florian could have curved his eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth, smoothly pushing Sarang away. He could have drawn a line with a smile and hurt Sarang once again. There were many other ways for Florian to reject Sarang.

But Florian obediently gave his body over to Sarang’s touch. A courage, weak like a new sprout, and therefore bound to become strong, was transmitted from Sarang, who trembled as if holding a frost flower that would soon shatter, yet held Florian tightly and wouldn’t let go.

Ah.

The moment Sarang’s lips touched his, the moment a warm tongue parted his lips and flowed in like sweet water, Florian ended up closing his eyes. Once again, the area under his eyelids ached and his chest felt tight. It was heart-rending. He was amazed and touched by Sarang, who completely pitied and grieved for the seven-year-old Florian he had never even met.

Their breaths mixing in the hot air, the sticky touch of their skin, their overlapping body heat, the faint body scents that covered each other. A kiss that felt infinitely precious. A clumsy kiss. The sounds of summer blowing in from the open window.

For some reason, Florian felt that he would not be able to forget this summer for a long, long time.

☀️

Everything happened quickly. No matter how thoroughly you prepared and braced for something, it didn’t always go as planned. Knowing this, Florian still had a hard time suppressing the anger that wouldn’t easily die down. But now was not the time to dwell on emotions. Florian, who quietly opened his closed eyes, had already organized his thoughts. Pushing away the time he had spent with Sarang, which felt as distant as a dream, Florian spoke with a cold face.

“Contact Korea. Tell them it must be broadcast within today.”

“Yes, boss.”

Florian, leaving Bailey who was taking out his phone at the same time as he replied, gripped the corner of the desk tightly with both hands. On the tablet, the scandal that would be thrown out into the world before the sun rose tomorrow was plastered with provocative photos and phrases.

“We’ve decided to broadcast it instead of the documentary that was scheduled to air.”

“Sarang?”

“It’s his heat week, so he should be resting at home.”

“Cut the power to the mansion, and his cell phone, no, tell Allen to stick right by his side.”

“But, since it’s his heat week, it won’t be easy for Allen to be near Kim either.”

“To earn his keep, he should be able to endure that much, don’t you think?”

Florian, who gave a cold glance, put on his overcoat.

“Get the car ready.”

“Yes, boss.”

Bailey obediently withdrew.

“The castle?”

“As you ordered, filming and outside visits have been prohibited since then. Only necessary staff are at the castle, boss.”

It meant that for the past three months, the summer palace had been completely cut off from the outside world.

Miller, who was waiting in front of the car, saw Florian’s face and handed over the car keys on his own accord. Miller, who received an urgent look from Bailey, just shrugged and got into the passenger seat. He would definitely arrive at the mansion in less time than Miller. That’s how unrivaled Florian’s driving skills were. Most of the time, when getting out of a car that Florian had driven in such urgent situations, Bailey would just be inwardly thankful to be alive.