“…If not, then forget it.”
The sound of footsteps still hadn’t reached the warehouse from outside.
Ruite had long since erased the memory of how desperately he had tried to escape just a few minutes ago.
“Chester, are you going to join the Knights?”
“Yeah, that’s my goal. Honestly, I hesitated before, but after visiting the Northern Branch during that training camp, I became certain. I know what I want to do now.”
“To be honest, I don’t get it. If a son is doing something so honorable, shouldn’t a parent support and cheer him on? But the Duke…”
Ruite couldn’t bring himself to mention how the Duke had opposed it, even bringing up the “reason he was born.”
Those words were far too sensitive to throw around carelessly.
“In the first place, everything is centered around my brother for my father. He probably thinks the real reason I was born was to serve as a support for the brother who will one day become the Duke. Since I was born an Alpha, he likely thought I’d be the perfect aide for him.”
“Hey, you…”
Ruite couldn’t understand how Chester could say something so heavy with such an indifferent face.
“Try resisting or something.”
“I tried, but it doesn’t work. I rebelled, and I worked hard to never miss being the top of the class from first year until now, but all I heard was that I should keep doing that to be useful to my brother.”
“What a damn father.”
“Yeah, a damn father.”
Ruite instantly regretted using such aggressive language regarding someone else’s parent, but Chester agreed immediately.
Hearing the same curse flow from Chester’s mouth felt strangely refreshing.
At the same time, Ruite realized why Chester was so obsessed with being the best, and why his personality had become so twisted.
He clearly wanted to make his existence acknowledged. He wanted his value to be accepted for who he was.
But, literally, his “damn father” had turned a blind eye.
“But you’re still achieving things in a situation like this. Honestly, it’s kind of impressive.”
“I told you. Even if you praise me like that, you won’t get anything out of me.”
“No, no, it’s not that. If I were you, I would’ve given up a long time ago, screamed ‘To hell with this family!’ and run away to live on my own. Preferably after stealing some money.”
Ruite leaned back on his hands and looked up.
The ceiling was old, with paint peeling off in spots.
“But you didn’t do that.”
“…What’s the point? Everything has become meaningless anyway.”
“Why is it meaningless? Because you aren’t acknowledged by your father?”
Chester didn’t answer. He simply took in Ruite’s face deeply and fully.
“Regardless of that, everything you’ve worked for belongs to you. It doesn’t disappear just because your father doesn’t acknowledge it. It’s up to you to choose where and how to use the value you’ve created. Just do what you want to do. It’s not that hard. It’s actually easy. Didn’t you decide to join the Knights because you realized that?”
Ruite was now looking at Chester instead of the ceiling.
The transparency in Ruite’s gaze couldn’t be hidden by the surrounding darkness.
“Ah, I mean, this is just my small opinion? You can just let it go in one ear and out the other.”
An awkward laugh escaped Ruite’s lips.
After saying it, he realized he had meddled too much.
Chester must have had his own internal conflicts and complexities, yet Ruite had spoken carelessly just because he’d caught a glimpse of his inner circumstances.
‘Is he offended?’
Since Chester didn’t reply, Ruite’s thoughts naturally leaned that way.
He expected Chester to snap, “Do you think it’s as easy as it sounds? Must be nice to be so carefree.”
“Hmm, nobody is passing by. Should I try shouting a bit?”
Ruite brushed off his clothes and stood up.
Come to think of it, if they just stayed quiet, people might not realize anyone was trapped inside even if they walked past.
However, Ruite stopped before he could take a single step.
Chester had suddenly grabbed his hand.
Before he could ask why, his center of gravity shifted backward.
Without even a chance to make a sound, Ruite was pulled by a force he couldn’t resist.
If he fell back like this, he was certain to hit his tailbone, if not injure his back. But Chester’s grip was too strong to shake off.
Expecting a surge of pain, Ruite was surprised to find his backside landing quite stably on something.
Opening his eyes, which he had squeezed shut, he saw Chester’s face incredibly close to his own.
Ruite was currently sitting on Chester’s lap.
This was why it hadn’t hurt when he fell.
While pulling Ruite, Chester had practically dragged him into his embrace.
“Chester, have you lost your mind—”
“Why have you been avoiding me lately?”
Chester cut Ruite off firmly.
Speechless, Ruite’s mind raced.
Why was he asking that now?
Regardless of the reason, Ruite needed to finish this conversation and get out of this embarrassing and shameful position as quickly as possible.
“I-I didn’t avoid you.”
“I told you, you’re bad at lying.”
Chester’s grip on Ruite’s arm tightened.
Only a span of distance remained between their faces.
“What’s the reason? Lately, I’ve been… t-treating you well.”
Uncharacteristically, Chester even stammered.
For some reason, the spot where Chester’s hand touched his arm felt like it was burning.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I don’t know either. You said it yourself the day I had a cold. You said you didn’t know why you were acting like that either.”
Ruite gave up on trying to find the “right” answer.
None of the words felt correct anyway.
Trying to squeeze out the truth only made him more confused.
“So, I won’t say anything. I’m not going to talk, so stop a-asking.”
Ruite thought once again that it was a blessing it was dark.
Since they couldn’t see each other’s expressions clearly, Ruite didn’t have to worry about what kind of face he was making.
Chester’s lips parted. Honestly, he wanted to press further, but how could he when Ruite was drawing a line so cutely?
“I won’t ask. Instead, don’t avoid me anymore. Don’t force a distance between us.”
“…”
“You said you don’t know the reason. Then there’s no reason to avoid me.”
Ruite tried to pull his hand away from Chester’s grip.
He intended to get up and leave the embrace, but this time, Chester’s arm wrapped around his waist.
“I’m not letting go until you answer. The only answer I’ll accept is that you won’t avoid me.”
“Isn’t that too unfair?”
“Then just say it.”
‘Could you do it if you were me?’
Ruite wanted to say that, but his lips just twitched.
When he actually tried to speak, it was as if a brake had been pulled; his mouth wouldn’t move.
Thump, thump!
A loud noise suddenly echoed through the warehouse.
“Ruite? Are you in there? It’s me, Harold.”
Finally, a savior had arrived.
Besides Harold, several familiar voices could be heard outside—undoubtedly their classmates.
“Ruite? Are you trapped?”
Ruite was about to shout back when he suddenly looked at Chester.
Even though someone had arrived, Chester didn’t let go; if anything, he tightened his hold.
“Yes! Professor, we’re trapped in here! The door won’t open, please help us!”
Chester shouted toward the outside out of nowhere.
Ruite’s eyes widened as he stared at him.
His gaze screamed, ‘Are you crazy?’
“Is Chester with you as well? Alright, I understand. Just wait a moment!”
Then, the door handle began to rattle violently.
“Hey, hey, it looks like it’s about to open. Can you let go? You’re really going to let the professor and the kids see us like this?”
“I was clear. I’m only letting go if you answer.”
“What kind of ‘answer’ is that? That’s a threat.”
“I don’t care if it’s a threat.”
Chester had clearly lost his mind today.
Had he been hit in the head by a monster during the subjugation?
As Ruite thought this, the lock moved as if it were about to fall off.
It seemed Harold was trying to rip the handle and lock off from the outside using a tool.
“Everyone, it’s almost done. Just wait a bit longer!”
‘No, Professor. Things are not ‘done’ in here,’ Ruite cried inwardly.
What made it even more maddening was that beyond the posture of being held by Chester, the hand wrapped around his waist was incredibly distracting.
His heart beat rapidly.
He couldn’t tell if it was because of Chester’s touch or the people about to burst through the door.
“It’s opening.”
“You… seriously…”
Ruite’s lips moved.
At that moment, the lock and handle fell into the warehouse with a loud thud, accompanied by a cloud of dust.
The rusted door creaked open, and moonlight spilled into the room.
“Ruite! Chester!”
Harold rushed in anxiously, followed by Magnus and several other classmates.
As the dust settled, the two figures inside the dark warehouse were revealed.
