“Rather than waiting for him to come, how about going to find him yourself and settling things?”
I was roundaboutly telling him not to fight in Korea and to return to Russia. Rashanin understood immediately.
“Return to Moscow?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t that be the best method for everyone’s peace?”
“Well.”
“Is there a problem?”
When I asked if there was a problem, Rashanin didn’t respond. Wondering what was wrong, I looked up at Rashanin standing beside me. Our eyes met.
“If that’s the case…”
The man who was moving his lips to say something suddenly closed his mouth. His face looked strange. As if surprised by what he’d been about to say, he stiffened his expression for a moment, then frowned subtly.
“Rashanin-ssi?”
“How interesting.”
“Pardon?”
“To think I’d consider taking you with me.”
It was as if he was speaking to himself, not to me. Taking what with him?
“Is something the matter?”
“No. It’s fine.”
Though Rashanin said it was fine, he didn’t take his eyes off me. His purple eyes quietly watched only me. The man looked at me like this sometimes. As if I were some fascinating creature. And as if he found it enjoyable. Meanwhile, with a ding, the elevator doors opened. We got on the elevator and I pressed the button for the first floor. The elevator quickly arrived at the first floor. When the doors opened, Rashanin waited for me to get off first. But I stood still in place.
“Please go in first.”
“Unhyuk?”
“I’ll go in a bit later.”
There was nothing to do even if I returned to the room anyway. I wanted to enjoy again the rest time that had been interrupted by Elisabeth.
“Let’s go together.”
“…?”
“The Princess will still be there.”
At the same time Rashanin finished speaking, the elevator doors closed with good timing.
“Where will you go?”
Thanks to the persistent man, profanity rose up inside me for the first time in a while. Damn vampire.
*
Not knowing what might happen if I returned to the room with Rashanin, I chose the hotel’s rooftop garden. There was also the judgment that if he ended up fighting with Elisabeth or this person called the Count, at least outdoors would be better.
Though it was raining, the rooftop garden had more people than I expected. Just as in Seoul, Rashanin was a celebrity in Jeju too. A rooftop garden staff member who recognized him at a glance guided us to VIP-only seating. After telling the man who enjoyed people-watching to enjoy his hobby, I made an excuse about going to the bathroom and reported to the Department Head about Elisabeth’s appearance and the names she’d mentioned.
Though I was walking a tightrope of playing with fire with my surveillance target, that didn’t mean I’d forgotten what I was supposed to do. I relayed exactly what I’d heard from Rashanin—that another vampire with bad blood with Rashanin might appear.
“It seems like a fight is about to break out.”
—Again?
“He said so with his own mouth.”
—What kind of behavior is this in someone else’s country.
The Department Head clicked his tongue briefly through the receiver. I agreed.
—How’s the atmosphere?
“The atmosphere isn’t bad, but I have a bad feeling.”
—Really?
“What should we do?”
—Prepare to withdraw.
“What? Withdraw?”
I was shocked by the sudden withdrawal order. In the beginning, I’d complained several times about how difficult Rashanin was and requested to be pulled out, but each time the Department Head had just told me to hold on. But now, withdrawal?
—Why? Don’t you want to?
“No. I thought you wouldn’t let me.”
—Even so, when we clearly know it’s dangerous, we have to avoid the worst-case scenario. You’re not even a field agent, and if you get caught up in a fight and get hurt, it would only be unfair to you, you know that.
The Department Head said something quite frightening. But he was right. Though I’d once run operations in the Information Department, that was two years ago. After moving to the vampire department, I’d only received simple mock combat training a few times. Because of Rashanin’s request and the Director’s direct orders, I was now acting as his guide while monitoring his movements, but in reality I wasn’t at that level.
Of course, if I was going to pull out, I should have pulled out when I got caught up in Elisabeth and Rashanin’s fight. But the problem was that I’d heard from Elisabeth that Rashanin had come to Korea because he’d fallen into ennui. With a slight connection, I could obtain high-level information that couldn’t be learned through simple surveillance, so I had to ignore the danger and continue staying by Rashanin’s side.
But even that changes when the situation worsens.
“I did almost die.”
—I know that well.
“Then when do I withdraw?”
—Not right away… Since it’s a direct order from the Director, it’ll take time. First, I’ll make the request upstairs, so just wait a bit.
“Understood.”
—Since it’s the end of the month, I’ll make it so you can return as quickly as possible. You know there’s a pile of work backed up, right?
I’d spent time with Rashanin for two weeks in Seoul and two weeks in Jeju Island. Though other agents were probably sharing my work, the Management Bureau suffered from chronic understaffing.
“If you just let me return, I’ll handle it quickly.”
—You talk big. Come up tomorrow and do some organizing.
“Yes. Understood.”
After ending the call with a promise to see him tomorrow, I stared at the phone in my hand for a long while. For things to turn out like this.
Though I’d anticipated withdrawing before Rashanin returned to Russia, this was still too soon. No, it wasn’t soon. I’d hoped it would end quickly. But regret filled my chest.
“Haah.”
Letting out a big sigh, I looked down at the shiny corridor floor. I wasn’t unaware that I was being sensitive right now. If I really wanted to enjoy it coolly and end it, I shouldn’t have these thoughts at all.
This time a sigh of dismay came out. I’d definitely crossed the boundary of simple attraction. Maybe I’d even fallen for him.
He was an excellent and cool man. His pretty face was my type too, and though his personality was bad, it was charming enough. I envied and admired his endless confidence and composure that I didn’t have. Though he seemed to do as he pleased, there was even a strange consideration…
Let’s just admit it. That I’d fallen for an excellent man. No, I’d fallen for him long ago. Rather, my feelings had deepened a bit more. That’s why I was doing absurd things like getting shot in the head, chanting “cool” like a mantra.
Once I admitted what I’d been avoiding until now, I felt relieved. Anyway, it was time to wake from this thrilling, enjoyable dream. As I organized my thoughts like that and rubbed my face, the phone in my hand vibrated. It was Seong-jin. After checking the text telling me to take lots of photos and send them, I realized it had been over 20 minutes since I’d left saying I was going to the bathroom.
Though enough time for a bathroom trip had passed, I didn’t return right away. I didn’t care if Rashanin suspected something. If it was him, he would have noticed what I was doing now. So even if I returned a bit later, he definitely wouldn’t ask why I was late. He was a man with that much sense.
This was good. Pretending not to know while knowing what each other was doing, pretending to know while not knowing, and getting by appropriately.
“They’ll think I have constipation.”
Muttering something absurd, I moved my feet. When I arrived at the rooftop garden, I could witness quite an interesting sight.
People presumed to be employees of the rooftop garden café were standing in a row whispering. Naturally, Rashanin was where their gazes gathered. In the gray world where rain was falling, the man alone was emitting a golden radiance. And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as people who could keep Rashanin in their sight were stealing glances at him.
Rashanin was staring quietly at the phone placed on the table. He looked lost in thought. As I approached, wondering why he looked so serious, Rashanin lifted his head, perhaps noticing my presence. His expressionless look disappeared and he sent me a smile full of goodwill.
I wasn’t unaware that this smile was special. Because I’d admitted I’d fallen for him, even one smile made my heart ache.
“Why were you so late?”
“If you know where I went, why ask why I was late? I have nothing to say.”
I was about to cheekily respond that I had constipation, but smoothly changed my words.
“That was rude of me.”
The man who readily admitted his fault smiled mischievously as he apologized. Thinking him hateful, I sat in the chair across from him.
“But is something the matter?”
“Hm?”
“You were making a serious expression.”
It was clearly different from the expressionless look he had when observing people. And I was seeing such a look for the first time.
