How could Jeong Taeui possibly deliver himself to the tiger's mouth after confidently telling
Ilay that he would leave? No, even if he had come and known that he was here, the moment
he heard that Rita had informed Ilay of his outing, he would have immediately fled from
here.
Jeong Taeui felt a bit breathless, his shoulders shaking as he took a deep breath. Christoph,
beside him, asked.
"Are you crying?"
"I AM NOT!!!!"
Jeong Taeui yelled back.
He has been here since two months ago?
So that means he's been here all this time since he left home.
From the very start, when he saw Richard here, Jeong Taeui should have immediately asked
what task he had entrusted to Ilay.
"....Why is he here?"
"Because it's almost time to decide the successor."
Jeong Taeui raised his head and looked at Christoph, who had given up the fight, and sharply
asked.
"What does that mean?"
"The head will soon step back, so it's time to decide the successor of Tarten. More than two
decades have passed since the competition began. The decision of the successor among the
candidates needs to be reviewed by the Riegrow family, who have been long-time allies of
Tarten. Although their influence isn't substantial, tradition is tradition."
"What a strange thing. Would he really take on such a troublesome and complicated matter?
And it's not even his own family's business?"
"Yes, initially, I thought Kyle would come, or at least Helena from the US, but it turned out to
be him. Quite surprising…"
Christoph said, then fell silent, staring into the distance. He interlaced his fingers and
pondered for a moment before glancing at Jeong Taeui.
"?"".... …."
Jeong Taeui felt suspicious under that silent gaze. Christoph immediately averted his eyes.
Something was definitely off. Jeong Taeui squinted, leaning towards Christoph. If you want
to say something, just say it. Jeong Taeui's sharp gaze silently urged Christoph.
Christoph thought for a moment, then finally opened his mouth.
"But."
"Huh?"
"Did you offend him? Why are you making such a fuss? You didn't know he was here, but
even if you met, why think so much about it?"
This time, Jeong Taeui fell silent. Christoph, sitting on the chair, leaned down to look at
Jeong Taeui, who was sitting on the floor. He stared straight into Jeong Taeui's eyes and
continued to ask.
"Did you steal the book that madman likes?"
"Do I look like you!?!"
"Or….. Ah, I see…"
Suddenly, Christoph muttered as if he had just thought of something. Jeong Taeui looked
nervously at his mouth, wondering what he was going to say next. His lips curved into a
vague smile. Though not like the familiar smiles, it still looked like a smile.
"Right. Now that I think about it, you did say that. Past life karma…. Did you run away from
your past life's karma and get caught again…?"
"I didn't run away!"
Jeong Taeui replied dejectedly. Christoph muttered 'Really?' as if he understood, his eyes and
mouth curving up.
Seeing that delicate face, Jeong Taeui suddenly had another thought.
He really doesn't know how to smile properly.
Even a mocking smile seems difficult to express.
".....You….."
Jeong Taeui stared at Christoph's lips. He wanted to reach out and lift the corners of his
mouth. But as soon as Jeong Taeui reached out, Christoph frowned and sat up straight.
Jeong Taeui, embarrassed, rubbed his own lips with his finger. Christoph stood up from the
chair with a smile. He took out a book placed sideways on the bookshelf next to him, glancedat the title, stepped over to the opposite bookshelf, and put it back in place, shrugging.
"You don't need to worry so much. Look, after returning to Berlin, I don't know, but at least
while he's here, that madman can't do anything to you."
Christoph took out another book next to the one he had just replaced, frowned, and placed it
back on the front shelf, complaining coldly, 'You misplaced it, this one is about philosophy.'
Jeong Taeui was silent for a moment. Clearly, he could rearrange them more effectively and
quickly, but instead of focusing on that, he was more concerned about Christoph's previous
statement about why Ilay couldn't do anything to him while here.
Christoph looked seriously at Jeong Taeui, who was in deep thought. That gaze seemed to
understand everything.
Jeong Taeui closed his mouth, took a deep breath, then slowly opened his mouth again. He
thought he should first address the most suspicious question.
"Why only 'while here'? Is this place monitored?"
But Ilay wouldn't care about any prying eyes when he wanted to do something.
Jeong Taeui wondered, looking at Christoph. He continued to take out the books Jeong Taeui
had misplaced and rearranged them.
"Because now you are with me, and he is with Richard."
"....Huh?"
Christoph clicked his tongue, annoyed, and forcefully placed a book back into its correct
position.
"Here, whether you like it or not, you belong to my side. Don't you?"
Christoph briefly glanced at Jeong Taeui when saying the last part. Jeong Taeui shrugged and
replied.
"I've said I'm not suited for these factional things."
However, what he said wasn't wrong. Jeong Taeui was indeed on Christoph's side in this
house. Though he wanted to remain neutral, the others didn't seem to think so.
"So Ilay is on Richard's side?"
Jeong Taeui said, thinking of Ilay, feeling it was a bit unreasonable. But it seemed like he had
a close conversation with Richard.
"He isn't someone who would choose to support any faction."From what Jeong Taeui knew, Ilay Riegrow only supported himself. He always acted
according to his own will and judgment for his benefit.
"Rick is in a neutral position. He can't lean towards anyone as long as he's here to decide the
successor."
Christoph shook his head and interrupted him.
"I heard he's staying with Richard."
"Yes. But Richard is just one of the candidates for the successor…. That means he has to be
fair to all members and those around them."
Christoph took out a book hidden from view, tapped it lightly with one hand, and looked at
Jeong Taeui, who was staring at him. Jeong Taeui slowly nodded.
"If that's the case…. So because I'm on your side, he can't hastily touch me, right?"
Though he still had doubts about whether Ilay wouldn't really do that, Jeong Taeui hoped it
was true. He lowered his head, then looked up.
"But can you decide the successor? No matter how close the two families are, it sounds
absurd. Tarten and Riegrow."
"Huh? Oh, not that. Ten people have the decision-making power. One person alone can't
decide who will inherit this huge kingdom. That's right, even if not all ten will give fair
opinions."
Christoph waved his hand. Precisely, the book in his hand.
"Among the ten, only two aren't related by blood to us. So, in terms of overall ratio, their
decision doesn't have much weight. I said, by tradition, it needs Riegrow's approval. Whether
it's Kyle, Helena, or Mr. and Mrs. Riegrow, as long as it's someone from the direct line."
"Probably no one guessed Rick would come."
Christoph laughed and added. Jeong Taeui sighed.
"Anyway, while Rick is here, he can't do anything to you because he has to maintain his
neutrality. Of course, he can't help you either."
"Help? What could he possibly do to help me here?"
"Maybe some trivial things, like getting those books someone at Tarten needs to return."
"....Oh."
That's right. Jeong Taeui just remembered that and nodded blankly.Who knows if Christoph would return the books if Ilay directly intervened. But if they were
Kyle's books, Ilay probably wouldn't get involved. Even so, Jeong Taeui felt a bit regretful
about losing the chance to easily retrieve the books. He clicked his tongue.
Then, as if remembering something, he stared at Christoph and said.
"But what is this? There aren't any books here."
He had sweated all afternoon, searching through the library for Kyle's books, but couldn't
find any trace.
"No books? What do you think fills this room?"
Christoph exhaled and thumbed over his shoulder. Countless bookshelves holding a treasure
trove of books.
"But no Kyle's books."
"Kyle's books? If it's those, I've kept them elsewhere. They need to be carefully preserved.
The temperature and humidity must be adjusted, and even the light should be considered.
Such books can't be left here casually…. Are you sure you want to take those books back in
perfect condition?"
Christoph looked at Jeong Taeui with deep concern.
No, you're the one making everything complicated with your words.
"Stop talking nonsense and give me back the books. I need to go home as soon as
possible…!!!!!!!!"
"Go home as soon as possible? Why?"
Christoph looked at him curiously. Jeong Taeui opened his mouth but couldn't say a word,
just blinking. Right, thinking back, there was no reason to rush home now. He had already
confronted the man he most wanted to avoid. His body felt drained.
"....."
Christoph looked at him puzzled, repeatedly asking, 'Why? Why?' But those words didn't
reach Jeong Taeui's ears.
He lay flat on the floor.
Maybe past life karma isn't the issue. He didn't even know what went wrong from the start.
And to solve the fundamental problem….
"Anyway, I have to return to Korea for a while…"
Jeong Taeui muttered like a moan. Christoph leaned down and towards Jeong Taeui upon
hearing those whispered words."Missing your homeland due to mental and physical exhaustion?"
"... I need to go back to find an exorcism ritual…."
"Exorcism? What is that?"
"..."
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