Ebony Castle

He turned his back to the station worker who was watching him closely and walked away. With his backpack slung over his shoulder, he tried to walk as normally as possible. Every step he took felt like his stomach was about to violently empty everything he had eaten that day.By the time he reached inside the station, a pain struck the back of his head as if he had been hit with an axe.“Haaah….”His vision darkened, and he couldn’t see anything. Doha clung to the wall, barely managing to stay upright. He tried to lean casually, desperately hiding his face to avoid the gazes of passersby.The taste of blood filled his mouth, as if he had bitten his tongue. When the pain subsided briefly, Doha dragged himself toward a nearby restroom.As soon as the door closed behind him, his legs gave out. He collapsed onto the cold, tiled floor of the restroom. Crawling into the nearest stall, he shut the door and immediately vomited. Even after emptying his stomach, he convulsed as if trying to rid himself of something more, spitting up stomach acid.“Huu… haa….”He tried to calm himself, wiping his mouth, but it wasn’t easy. Though he knew in his mind that the seizure would pass eventually, this time it felt different. The fear of it not ending gripped him. It had been a long time, and the pain felt harder to endure. His airways constricted as if they were being choked, making it impossible to breathe. It felt as if someone had gripped his fragile brain inside his skull and was squeezing it mercilessly.His knees were pressed hard against the cold, dirty floor. Half-sprawled on the floor, Doha was involuntarily banging his forehead against the restroom wall in a futile attempt to alleviate the pain.“No… I can’t….”His body trembled violently, from the cold and the pain. Every breath he took filled his lungs with the acrid stench of the restroom. The sound of footsteps passing by, the door to the restroom opening and closing—these external noises mixed with the agony within him. What time was it? Doha struggled to breathe as he fumbled through his coat pockets. His phone fell to the wet floor. 7:38, then 7:39. Doha gritted his teeth and tried to stand.The numbers on his phone’s screen changed mercilessly. 7:40. The train to Inverness, just a few meters away on the platform, was leaving without him.“Huu… uh….”Then, as if collapsing, his body shook uncontrollably. The cold, dirty restroom in a strange station in an unfamiliar city. The patterns on the floor and the yellow light from the ceiling seemed to rush toward him, overwhelming his senses.The feeling in his fingers flickered in and out as he reached for his phone. Just like before he had gone to Tristan for the first time, no matter how hard he tried, his fingers refused to cooperate. It felt as though all the treatment he had undergone had meant nothing, like he was reverting to how things used to be as easily as that.With trembling hands, Doha fumbled to turn on the phone and bring up his call log. His fingers, shaking uncontrollably, randomly pressed at the screen.The dial tone rang three times. Click, the call connected.“…Eden?”A slightly surprised man’s voice came through. Hearing it, Doha’s pain seemed to flare up again, worse than before, as though a single drop of water had reignited his thirst.“Eden. What’s going on?”There was a sharp edge to the gentle voice. Doha tried to steady his breathing before speaking.“Say… anything….”“Sorry?”“Just… say something, anything… for a bit….”When Tristan touched him, the pain would disappear so easily. If he could just close his eyes and open them to find Tristan in front of him, he felt like he could give up anything. The fact that he needed Tristan so badly made him feel pathetic, and it brought tears to his eyes.“Is something wrong? Where are you? Eden… answer me. What’s happening?”Doha didn’t really hear the words. He just desperately soaked in the sound of Tristan Locke’s voice—the air that had lingered in his lungs, traveling up his throat and out between his lips.His stiff fingers finally dropped the phone. The man’s voice, suddenly urgent, faintly rose from the phone as it lay on the floor.“Eden, please, just tell me where you are. Are you at the airport?”His body trembled violently. The sensation in his fingers faded as they touched the cold floor. He tried to speak to calm Tristan’s increasingly panicked voice, but instead of reassuring words, a sob escaped his mouth.“My hands… I can’t feel my hands.”“Eden—”“If everything I’ve done—the treatment, the rehabilitation—if it all becomes useless, what then? What if I go back to how I was? Then….”He gasped between sobs. Tristan was saying something, but Doha couldn’t hear him.“I just barely started playing again….”Had he grown complacent after recovering something he thought he’d never have again? He knew it could all end at Tristan’s whim.“Tristan….”His head fell back, hitting the wall with a painful thud. After the wave of pain passed, Doha groped around on the floor for his phone.The screen was pitch black. The battery had died, and no matter how hard he listened, the phone no longer carried Tristan’s voice.In the distance, the sound of an approaching train’s horn echoed. Footsteps came closer, then drifted away again. Doha curled up tightly on the cold restroom floor as the pain surged through him once more.***“He told Dr. Hunt he was on a train. The train from London to Inverness departed at noon and arrived at Inverness station around eight in the evening. There was no Asian man among the passengers. If we include trains that stop at other stations along the way, the possibilities increase, but we’re currently checking all of them.”The secretary spoke while cautiously glancing at his superior’s face. Leaning against the wall of the entrance hall, Tristan Locke’s expression was calm and impassive. Jean, however, spoke anxiously in his place.“Can’t we file a missing person report or something?”“It’s possible, but it’s not quite at that point yet.”“If this isn’t that point, then when is it? It’s already been thirty minutes since we lost contact!”With his face flushed, Jean was held back by Hazel, who stood behind him. The secretary stepped back from the tense atmosphere and replied coolly.“Let’s not get overly excited, Jean. Neim seizures are extremely painful but not life-threatening.”“How can you say that right now?!”“And it’s likely that the phone wasn’t turned off intentionally—it probably just ran out of battery. Once Eden regains his senses and charges his phone, we’ll hear from him.”As if to prove his point, the secretary’s phone rang loudly as soon as he finished speaking. Ulysses, who had been pacing nervously, ran over, barking repeatedly.“Ulysses!”Hazel raised a finger to her lips, and the dog fell silent immediately. In the quiet, the secretary answered the call.“Yes. …I see. …Understood. I’ll get back to you right away.”Lowering his phone, he gave a brief report to Tristan.“This is Edinburgh Waverley Station. Just now, a station worker found Mr. Eden in the station restroom.”“How is he doing?” Jean quickly asked.“They said he’s fine, except for the fact that the seizure hasn’t stopped yet. He’s been moved to the station office to rest, but he refused to go to the hospital. He seems to be in quite a bit of pain, but he’s taken some painkillers, so he should feel better soon.”“He still needs to go to the hospital! And why did you hang up before talking to Eden directly? Give me the phone!” Jean insisted.The secretary paused, about to respond, but stopped when he caught sight of the expression that briefly crossed Tristan Locke’s face behind Jean.As their eyes met, Tristan spoke up.“Lowell. Get a plane to Edinburgh Airport, or, no… first, from the station to the airport….”It wasn’t the usual voice the secretary was familiar with from his employer. The end of his sentence wavered uncertainly, as if it had lost its direction. The secretary, recovering quickly from his shock, calmly replied.“The three private jets you owned were transferred last year, as per your instructions. You said you wouldn’t be needing them anymore. Have you forgotten?”“…….”“And even if we could arrange transport to a nearby airfield for Mr. Eden, getting him back here would be an issue. The roads are completely frozen. No ordinary vehicle can make it, and even with snow tires, it would be far too dangerous.”“Then what about a helicopter?” Jean asked, his voice tense.“Same problem. Unless it’s a rescue helicopter, they won’t fly in these conditions at night. There’s also the matter of security at the estate.”The secretary added, addressing the wall next to Tristan rather than the man himself.“If we used the Locke name and made the proper declarations, things would be different, but the CEO gave up those privileges when you came to this estate. You’re no longer the CEO who can demand whatever you want at any cost.”Tristan’s face remained expressionless, while Jean appeared on the verge of pulling his hair out in frustration. Pacing near the entrance, he suddenly pulled out his phone.“This won’t do. I’ll convince Eden to leave the station and go to the hospital….”“Stop. Going to the hospital won’t help Mr. Eden’s condition, and it’ll only make things more complicated later,” the secretary interjected coldly.That comment finally triggered Jean, who grabbed the secretary by the collar. Hazel rushed over to pull Jean back, while Ulysses, the dog, started barking loudly, caught up in the tension. In the chaos, none of them noticed that Tristan had disappeared.The secretary shrugged off Jean’s grip irritably before turning his head. They only realized Tristan was gone when they heard the door to the garage creak shut behind him.“CEO.” The secretary called, but there was no response, only the sound of keys jangling as they were removed from the garage wall. This was quickly followed by the sound of a truck door opening, prompting the secretary to dash into the garage.“CEO! Have you lost your mind?”“Let go,” Tristan said calmly as the secretary grabbed his arm. Jean rushed into the garage as well, momentarily forgetting his earlier argument with the secretary to grab Tristan’s other arm.“Mr. Locke, it’s not possible in this weather. The roads are frozen. When the weather clears, we can….”“I said, let go.”His voice was flat, his gaze steady. Though Tristan’s face showed no sign of agitation, Jean almost reflexively let go, momentarily fooled by the calm mask the man wore. Only Hazel, still holding Ulysses tightly, stepped back cautiously, sensing the underlying tension.“Jean! Take the truck keys!” the secretary shouted, yanking Tristan’s arm hard to keep him immobilized. Tristan stumbled slightly but still kept his right arm suspended, while the secretary held on for dear life.“Jean, hurry, now!”“S-sorry!” Jean muttered as he struggled to pry Tristan’s pale, bloodless fingers from the keys one by one. Once he finally had them, he threw them into the truck and slammed the door shut, locking it.“There, it’s done, right?” Jean turned to the secretary, relieved. Without a locksmith on hand, there was no way for Tristan to retrieve the keys, nor any way to drive to Edinburgh in this weather. Jean rubbed his sore hands, ready to step back, when the secretary let out a sharp warning cry.“Jean!”There wasn’t even a second to react. Jean instinctively ducked, raising his arms to cover his face, just as the sound of shattering glass exploded through the garage.When Jean cautiously looked up, he saw Tristan Locke. Blood dripped down his cheek as he stood, expressionless, with a crowbar in hand. His arm reached through the broken window, unlocking the door. He pushed aside the shards of glass on the driver’s seat and retrieved the keys from the passenger side. Without even glancing back, Tristan started the truck.“CEO!” The secretary staggered to his feet and blocked the open truck door with his body.“You can’t drive in this weather. It’s suicide!”“…Really?”Through the shattered window, Jean saw Tristan Locke smile. His pale hand, smeared with blood, gripped the gear shift without hesitation.The secretary was finally pushed back, but before the truck door could close, Jean, sitting on the ground, yelled out in desperation.“Mr. Locke! If you die, Eden dies too!”“…….”The truck stalled, and for the first time, Tristan’s eyes slowly shifted towards Jean. Those beautiful gray eyes seemed to awaken from a dream, locking onto Jean’s face.Seizing the moment, the secretary yanked the door open and turned off the ignition. He threw the keys as far as he could.“Jean! Hide the keys!” he shouted.Jean was about to ask if it was really necessary to go that far when Tristan Locke suddenly fought back like a wild animal. The secretary and Tristan became a tangled mass, rolling across the garage floor. Jean, snapping back to attention, ran past Hazel, who stood frozen with Ulysses, and darted away.“Where, where should I hide them?”As Jean crossed the entrance hall, the sound of intense scuffling echoed behind him. Ulysses had slipped out of Hazel’s grip and was growling fiercely. Jean could hear the secretary cursing loudly, likely after getting bitten by the dog.Without much thought, Jean rushed toward the familiar kitchen path. His heart was racing so fast that he couldn’t think straight. In his panic, pots and dishware clanged as they were knocked over by his large hands. No matter where he hid the key, Jean was certain that Tristan would find it soon enough.Eventually, Jean ran back out of the kitchen, frantically scanning the corridor. Somewhere in the distance, he heard the sound of glass shattering, sending a wave of dread through him.“What in the world… none of this makes any sense…”In a moment of panic, he considered opening the door to the garden and fleeing. His hand gripped the handle, but the cold that spread through his palm made him shiver. Through the glass, he saw the garden covered in white snow.Jean began opening doors one by one until he finally reached the end of the hallway. With trembling hands, he flicked a light switch.The chandelier in the dining hall flickered on, illuminating the grand, empty space. In the center of the room stood a large object that hadn’t been there the month before. A grand piano with a covered stool, draped entirely in a white sheet like an elegant statue before unveiling. The room was silent and cold, devoid of any life.Something about the sight made Jean freeze. He stood there, staring at the piano, momentarily forgetting about the key he was supposed to hide.He recalled the day the piano had arrived. It had caused an unusual stir in the usually quiet manor, with outside workers coming and going—something that only happened when Eden visited. After the workers left, the grand piano stood in the center of the dining hall. Tristan had come downstairs to inspect it, and Jean remembered how Tristan had smiled, a rare sight, as he covered the piano with the white sheet, seemingly pleased. At that moment, both Tristan and Jean had imagined Eden’s surprised face when he would see the piano.Jean stood there, staring at the piano draped in white.“Jean!”Hazel burst into the room. When she saw him standing there, she shook her head.“There’s no need to hide the key. The CEO won’t really go through with it.”“Are you kidding me?”She clearly hadn’t seen Tristan’s expression. Jean was willing to bet his life that if Tristan got the key in his hands, he would really drive the truck to Edinburgh.It was a five-hour drive on ice-slicked roads. On top of that, Tristan hadn’t driven in over a year, and he had never driven Jean’s truck. Unless they wanted to make headlines for causing a fatal accident, they needed to stop him now.As Jean paced the hall in indecision, Hazel spoke again.“Jean, maybe it’s better to call Eden and ask him to reassure the CEO.”“No! Why are you going along with this, Hazel?!”Jean was about to curse the indifference of Locke’s staff when the sound of something shattering echoed from the entrance hall. Hazel turned her head toward the hallway.“…Ah.”Jean sighed. It was the large ceramic vase that had been sitting in the hall. He had once asked the secretary about its price out of curiosity, only to be shocked into silence.“Jean, give me the key.”Hazel’s tone was calm. Jean hesitated but eventually handed it over. She turned and headed back toward the hall.“Hazel! You’re not seriously going to give it to him, are you? Hazel!”But she didn’t respond, so Jean hurried after her. When he rounded the corner, he saw Hazel standing in the doorway to the entrance hall. Her shadow stretched out long under the light spilling in from the hall.Jean stopped beside her and felt the cold wind hit him first. The hall was littered with shattered ceramic pieces, and near the open front door, the secretary lay slumped, his glasses gone. Ulysses, agitated, was growling at him as he circled around.By the stair railing stood Tristan Locke, holding a fire poker and staring in their direction. Blood trickled down one side of his face, dripping from his chin. His once-white shirt was stained red, his hand painted with streaks of blood. His expressionless face looked almost otherworldly. Jean shivered, unable to speak.“I have the key, CEO,” Hazel said quietly beside him.“Please don’t make more work for me. Go upstairs and rest.”“……”“Eden will be fine.”Her gentle reassurance seemed to work. Slowly, Tristan’s grip on the fire poker loosened, and the metal rod fell to the floor with a loud clang. Ulysses whimpered softly at the noise.Finally, silence fell over the entrance hall. The cold wind continued to seep in through the open door, stealing the warmth from the room. Jean stood there speechless, staring into the dark beyond the door.***It took two more days for the snow to melt. The seizures that had started the first day continued into the afternoon of the second day, returning again later that night and the following morning. During that time, Doha had been moved to Inverness on a sleeper train.It seemed someone sent by Tristan’s secretary had provided prescription painkillers and secured a hotel room for Doha in Inverness. The powerful narcotics kept him in a state of near-dreamlike haze.He remembered very little—white linens, red covers, and the crisp sheets of the luxury hotel room in Inverness. As the weather thawed and the snow melted, Doha slept curled under the sheets, unaware of time passing.Two days later, Jean arrived in Inverness with the truck to pick him up. Though Doha was happy to see him, he was too tired to engage in much conversation beyond a short greeting. The truck’s driver-side window had been replaced by a makeshift wooden board, though Doha was too exhausted to ask why.He slept the entire drive back, wrapped in a blanket in the passenger seat. Each time he woke, the sky outside grew darker.When he finally stirred from the bumpy ride, the truck was climbing the uphill path through the woods. Emerging from the darkness was the familiar sight of the mansion, its lights glowing faintly. Doha blinked at the view he had missed.“…Eden.”As the garage door began to rise, Jean broke the silence.“I’m so glad you’re safe.”His voice was thick with fatigue. As Jean stared through the windshield, his profile was shadowed with exhaustion.The manor, just past dusk, was dark and quiet. Waiting inside the dimly lit entrance hall, Tristan Locke grasped Doha’s arm, pulling him up into his embrace as they climbed the stairs.Once inside the third-floor bedroom, Doha’s clothes were stripped off without a word. The man slid between Doha’s legs, pressing his body against him. Their lips collided, their bodies tangled without hesitation. It was urgent, almost primal, as their skin pressed together and rubbed fiercely. After what felt like an endless drought, Doha finally felt quenched, filled with relief and thirst all at once.It was an action that would have been closer to venting frustration if it had been just a bit rougher. He pinned Doha down, preventing him from moving his limbs, and mercilessly pushed beyond his limits. Red marks from his teeth and hands were left all over Doha’s body.The man’s face was pale, his lips tightly clenched. Although his rough movements were savage and greedy, his eyes were not focused on Doha. Throughout the long night, he didn’t speak a word to Doha. He merely embraced him as if fighting an endless, shapeless monster.When the endless acts finally ceased, Doha’s hands moved as if nothing had ever been wrong. The man, upon confirming this, pulled away and turned his back. Doha stared at the unshakable figure before him, then closed his eyes as if fainting.***It was dawn. Doha awoke as if emerging from a dream.A small lamp beside the bed glowed faintly. Squinting his swollen eyes, Doha turned his head. The half of the bed where Tristan Locke should have been was empty, and the blanket was neatly draped over Doha’s body.Was it a dream? The gentle touch that brushed his forehead lingered in his consciousness. Doha groggily sat up.“Tristan…”He tried to call out but coughed instead. His voice came out horribly cracked.He thought he heard the faint creak of floorboards in the distant hallway. With limbs weak as if newborn, Doha hurriedly got out of bed. He wrapped the sheets around himself, too disoriented to bother with slippers, and crossed the cold floor barefoot.Opening the bedroom door slightly, he peered into the pitch-dark hallway.“Tristan!”The faint sound of retreating footsteps stopped with a creak. Doha, gripping the doorknob for support, shivered. Soon, the sound of footsteps drew closer. A dim light flickered on in the hallway, revealing Tristan Locke standing before him in a thick fur coat, looking down at Doha.No matter how many times he saw it, Doha could never get used to that stunning face. He blinked up at the shadowed features, and the man, with a slight furrow in his brow, spoke.“Did I wake you?”He looked exhausted, though not angry like the previous night. Doha, shrinking from the cold under his bare feet, quietly asked.“Where are you going?”It was the middle of the night, with everyone else still asleep. Judging from his attire, it seemed he wasn’t just heading to the library or downstairs but was about to leave the house entirely. Doha recalled the secretary mentioning that Tristan Locke occasionally disappeared outside the mansion for half a day at a time.As the cold began to seep into his body, Doha shivered. Tristan, who had been silently gazing at him for a while, unexpectedly asked in a calm tone.“Do you want to come with me?”“……”After a few seconds of hesitation, Doha nodded. Tristan sighed briefly.“Dress warmly.”“Okay.”Leaving the door open, Doha returned to the bedroom, found his underwear, outerwear, and coat, and put them on. Fortunately, everything was there since Tristan had carried him fully clothed to the bedroom the night before. After zipping up his coat, Doha stepped out, finding Tristan still standing in the doorway.“It’s going to be a bit of a walk. Will you be okay?”He asked while handing Doha gloves. Doha nodded as he put on the gloves Tristan had given him. Even though Doha’s fingers were not particularly short, the gloves were a little too big.Following Tristan’s broad back, they descended from the third floor to the second, then from the second to the main hall on the first floor. The mansion was dark and silent in the pre-dawn hours. Doha hadn’t noticed the day before, but a window next to the front door was broken, boarded up with planks like Jean’s truck. A long, rectangular shadow was cast on the floor, blocking the moonlight.Doha, feeling as if he were floating in a dream, followed Tristan into the garage. Tristan passed Jean’s truck and got into the driver’s seat of a sedan, prompting Doha to open the passenger door and follow suit. It felt like the first time since that day at the lake that he had ridden in Tristan’s car instead of Jean’s truck.“Let me know if you’re cold,” Tristan said as he turned on the heater. Warm air rushed into the cold car, and the seat began to heat up.The car pulled out of the garage and turned onto the road. Doha gazed out at the branches passing by the window. The car was so quiet that he could faintly hear the sounds of the forest.He thought Tristan might be heading into town, but the car soon veered off course. It wasn’t towards the lake either. A narrow path appeared among the trees, barely wide enough for the car to pass through. Tristan expertly navigated the vehicle onto the rough, less-traveled road.It was a steep uphill climb. Doha had the sense that the car was circling behind the mansion, continuing upwards. The road became increasingly rugged, winding through the deep forest.When the path grew too narrow for the car to continue, Tristan turned off the engine.“From here, we’ll have to walk.”“Okay.”Though Doha’s lower body throbbed sharply just from sitting, he answered without complaint and undid his seatbelt. The air outside was colder than expected. The sharp, chilly scent of dawn mixed with the smell of pine.Taking a few steps towards Tristan, who had already gotten out, Doha accepted his gloved hand for support as they made their way up the narrow path between the trees. The crunch of leaves beneath their feet echoed in the quiet forest. The crisp sound of snapping branches filled the air. Somewhere nearby, a wild animal let out a distant howl.As strength drained from his legs, Doha clenched his teeth. He stumbled a few times, and Tristan, walking a few steps ahead, stopped and turned around. Their eyes met in the faint moonlight.“……”Tristan quietly observed him before speaking.“Should I carry you?”“I’m fine.”Doha quickly refused, only to stumble again. Tristan clicked his tongue lightly.“You don’t look well.”Doha felt it too. Despite the coat, the cold seemed to seep in from underneath, and his head throbbed as if a fever was building. Tristan turned his back to Doha, crouching slightly.“Get on.”“……”This time, it was more of a command. In the end, Doha gave in to reason and climbed onto Tristan Locke’s back. It seemed like Tristan wasn’t used to carrying someone either, as the position felt awkward. To avoid falling, Doha wrapped his arms around Tristan’s neck and rested his cheek on the shoulder of his fur-lined hood.Carrying Doha, Tristan walked steadily along the forest path. The further they went, the thicker the forest grew, blocking out even the moonlight. The trees became enormous, with trunks too large to wrap one’s arms around. The bark was rough, weathered by countless years.Tristan stopped next to a giant old tree and gently let Doha down.“…Thank you.”Doha looked around the empty clearing, and Tristan reached up to a branch, pulling down a knotted rope at the end. A rope ladder unfurled, hanging loosely from it.Only then did Doha notice the cabin perched atop the thick branches of an old tree. It was a roughly built structure, starting at about twice Doha’s height.“You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”“…No.”“Go up first.”Tristan held the ladder steady for Doha. Feeling as though he were in a dream, Doha climbed the ladder and pushed his head through the square hole in the floor of the cabin. Grabbing onto the edges, he pulled the rest of his body inside.The cabin, which had seemed small from below, turned out to be surprisingly spacious. There was a roof, chairs made from cut tree trunks, and a small table with four legs. A tree trunk rose through the center of the floor like a pillar, extending through the roof. The whole place smelled faintly of wood and earth.Tristan followed him up and lit a camping lantern. The yellow light illuminated his face clearly.“Wait here for a bit.”He spread out a blanket and handed it to Doha, then efficiently lit a small heater. As Doha wrapped himself in the blanket and sat down, he noticed that Tristan’s expression had softened since they’d arrived. The usual tension in his demeanor had somewhat faded.Looking around again, Doha could tell that the cabin hadn’t been built by professionals. The wooden beams and planks were fastened together with nails, but the angles were slightly off, and gaps allowed cold air to flow through. The floor also seemed hastily patched in multiple places. Tristan noticed Doha’s gaze and chuckled.“It’s never collapsed so far, so don’t worry.”Doha turned his head away. Tristan reached out and touched a protruding nail on the wall.“It took a long time. None of us had ever done something like this before. It didn’t turn out as perfectly as I’d hoped.”“…Did you build all of this yourself?”“I had some help from Mark with the technical stuff. Though even he doesn’t know where this place is.”Doha found it difficult to imagine Tristan—whom he knew in such a refined context—holding a hammer or wearing work gloves to construct something like this. Probably none of Tristan’s other employees could imagine it either, which explained why the secretary had no idea where Tristan disappeared to at times.When Doha looked up, he found Tristan watching him. The lantern’s warm light flickered across his sharp features.“I never thought I’d bring anyone else here.”“……”“I guess I can’t escape here anymore. You’ll find me, after all.”Though Tristan’s tone was light, there was a trace of bitterness at the end of his words. Doha started to speak but stopped, pulling the blanket closer around himself. There was only one blanket and one chair. This place had clearly been built with no thought for anyone else.A dull ache spread through his body, and when Doha raised his eyes, he saw a triangular window in the roof, offering a small view of the sky. Against the deep, mysterious blue, stars twinkled like scattered dust.It was a view rarely seen in London. Doha blinked repeatedly, inhaling the cold air. Faint clouds passed by the window, momentarily obscuring the stars before they reappeared. The night forest felt so isolated and still, as if the outside world didn’t exist.There was a soft fluttering sound. Doha turned his head to see a small moth flying around the yellow lantern. It repeatedly bumped against the glass, unaware that it couldn’t pass through, fluttering back and forth around the light.Watching the moth, Tristan spoke quietly.“If I had met you when I was younger, I would’ve hated you with everything I had.”“……”“People who desperately wanted something, who relentlessly pursued their goals… I always disliked those kinds of people. And yet, I couldn’t help but be drawn to them. Their passion would overflow, and I felt like even the tiniest part of it could color my world.”Tristan picked up a small twig and gently extended it toward the moth. The moth, sensing the movement, fluttered away.“I’ve never had that in me. Even though I was born in a position where I could have everything I wanted… Maybe because of that. I’ve never understood the reason for living the life I was supposed to live, or doing the things I was supposed to do. I’ve just endured it, without knowing why, all my life.”His voice remained calm, devoid of emotion. Under the rough blanket, Doha shrank a little.“Everything wore me down. Every single thing… without exception. And at some point….”His words trailed off. The moth circled the lantern again, its wings brushing the glass. Tristan set the twig down and turned the heater up for Doha.His hand, after adjusting the heater, reached toward Doha. A pale, graceful hand rested lightly on Doha’s head, then gently touched his forehead. Doha instinctively leaned closer, seeking warmth from the cold hand.“You have a fever. We should go back.”Despite his words, Tristan didn’t remove his hand. His delicate fingers traced the space between Doha’s eyebrows, brushed the small, round tip of his nose, and outlined the shape of his lips. It was a careful, tender gesture, as if he were memorizing Doha’s features.Doha rested his cheek against Tristan’s cool, smooth palm, and without thinking, he looked up. A small reflection of the lantern’s flame glowed golden in Tristan’s eyes.Their gazes locked for a long moment. Tristan Locke, his lips curving slightly, spoke softly.“Yes. You always leave me like this, running off to places I can’t follow.”“……”“In all the moments of your life—when you despair, when you rejoice, when you struggle and succeed—I am never there.”“……”“All the important parts of your life are there, not here. I know that. If someone were to write your story, my name might appear, but my place would not.”His quiet words sank into Doha’s ears, one by one. Feeling the warmth of Tristan’s touch, Doha closed his eyes. The glow of the lantern played softly behind his eyelids.It almost seemed as though the sun would never rise. That the outside world, beyond the treehouse, had been erased by the night, leaving only this moment to linger forever.***When the garage door opened early that morning, the secretary was waiting at the foot of the grand staircase in the foyer. His employer entered, carrying the limp pianist in his arms. The scent of the winter forest clung to his coat.With one arm in a sling from a dog bite, the secretary bowed deeply. As Tristan Locke passed by without a glance, he paused at the base of the stairs.“Lowell.”“Yes.”From the edge of his vision, the secretary saw the sleeping pianist’s pale face. Holding him protectively, Tristan sighed softly and said,“Prepare the London house.”“Yes.”“Contact the company as well. I’ll return as soon as I get back.”“Yes, CEO.”The secretary responded professionally. Without another word, Tristan Locke carried the man in his arms up the stairs. The secretary remained deeply bowed at the bottom of the stairs until Tristan’s figure disappeared from view.