Diego was currently at a banquet hall. He was attending the banquet Grace had requested some time ago, and fortunately, he’d entered without any particular mistakes and was spending time.
Everything that met his eyes was simply unfamiliar. The splendid banquet hall, the performance that enhanced the atmosphere, the people all dressed in their finest. Feeling a sense of alienation as if he were in a place he shouldn’t be, he’d been briefly chewing over memories of the past when Grace, who had been chatting with ladies nearby, approached this way.
“The event will start soon, so just a little…”
That’s when it happened. Diego saw some middle-aged lady with prominent feather decorations approaching this way. Following him, Grace also turned around, then greeted her with a smiling face.
“Hello, Auntie.”
“It’s been a while, Grace. You seem to get prettier as time goes on.”
“You’re too kind.”
Diego quietly watched the two. Primarily, it was true he’d come because of the escort, but he was also performing his original task of searching for suspicious people as Martin had advised.
Did she sense his gaze? The lady’s face turned toward Diego. But just then, as the music changed, the buzzing banquet hall suddenly became quiet.
“Today’s guest of honor is arriving.”
Speaking in a small voice like a whisper, Grace clapped her hands like the other people. Confirming that her aunt’s gaze was also directed that way, she looked up at Diego and spoke quickly.
“Shall we move spots?”
At the welcome words he’d been hoping to hear, Diego nodded slightly and moved his steps.
“That way would be good.”
The place Grace pointed to was near a pillar at the back of the banquet hall. Conclusively, it was an excellent choice. Unless one deliberately turned around, people’s gazes wouldn’t be directed there, and thanks to his tall height, he could see almost the entire banquet hall at a glance. Above all, the exit was nearby, so it seemed it would be easy to leave as well.
Soon, a neatly dressed middle-aged man looked around at those present and opened his mouth. He’d heard it was a banquet held for some young lady’s debutante, and it really was. Following perfunctory greetings thanking everyone for gracing the occasion, the performance that had briefly stopped resumed once again.
The atmosphere changed quickly. While there were people freely enjoying the prepared wine and tea food, there were also couples showing off elegant ballroom dancing on the stage prepared in the center.
Suddenly, childhood memories surfaced in Diego’s mind. Old memories, now faint, of enjoying pleasant parties that, though not as splendid as this place, were still joyful. As if scolding him for continuing to indulge in useless reminiscence, Grace’s voice interjected.
“Shall we go out and dance a song too?”
Her light green eyes were sparkling playfully. Diego touched his chin with a troubled expression.
“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult.”
Then Grace burst into laughter.
“I’m joking. No matter what, it wouldn’t be polite to ask you to do something that wasn’t planned.”
“…I see.”
Looking at Diego, who was inwardly relieved, Grace smiled even more deeply. After seeing him always focusing silently on his assigned tasks, seeing him flustered like this made her feel as if she’d discovered a different side of him.
In her slightly averted gaze, she saw a familiar young lady approaching this way. Putting aside her desire to tease him more, Grace spoke with a grinning face.
“That young lady is today’s banquet host.”
Diego also saw the girl approaching with quick steps. Soon, reaching nearby, she greeted them with a bright smile.
“Thank you so much for coming.”
“Of course I had to attend. Congratulations on becoming an adult, Miss Ireta.”
“…!”
In that moment, Diego’s shoulders flinched.
‘…Ireta?’
The other party’s gaze turned this way. A lovely voice flowed out next.
“Are you here with Lady Grace?”
“That’s right.”
Then the girl lightly grasped her skirt hem and gave Diego a warm greeting as well.
“Thank you so much for coming today.”
The face he met again was only bright, without a single wrinkle. Diego reluctantly nodded slightly, and after exchanging a few more words with Grace, Ireta approached other people.
Only then did Diego slowly move his tightly closed lips.
“Is that young lady’s name Ireta?”
“That’s right. It’s an unusual yet pretty name, isn’t it?”
It was as Grace said. The reason one name he’d heard in passing still remained in his memory was precisely because it wasn’t a common name.
Soon a bitter smile formed. Even so, how likely was it that this young lady was the same person as the ‘Ireta’ the boutique owner had mentioned? If that were the case, Roman would have attended this occasion too, but Diego hadn’t spotted him. The reason he could say this with certainty was that no matter how many people gathered in one place, he was confident he would recognize him at a glance.
“……”
He ended up letting out a long sigh. A pitch-black mass resembling disillusionment spread larger and larger in his chest. On the subject of not even being able to confess because he feared their current relationship would end, the way he kept even the smallest things related to Roman in his heart without missing anything felt pathetic even to himself.
Dark, sticky beyond measure, and twisted into a distorted form—that emotion.
It was truly fortunate that Roman didn’t have the ability to read people’s hearts. Otherwise, he would have been cast out long ago.
“Shall we go eat something?”
“I’m fine.”
Though dinner time had passed, he didn’t particularly feel hungry. And because of his exceptional physique, he inevitably drew attention even when he didn’t want it. There seemed to be quite a few people who knew Grace, and if it became known that she’d come with him, nothing good would come of it.
“Then let’s head back.”
“If it’s because of me, it’s fine. I’ll stay here, so please go ahead.”
“No. I planned to just greet them and leave from the start, but I asked because you seemed like you might be hungry.”
If that was the case, there was no reason to remain here any longer. Diego tactfully extended his right arm toward Grace, and after confirming she’d linked arms with him, he moved his steps at an appropriate pace.
***
Though rain poured, thanks to the viscountess lending him an umbrella, he could avoid becoming a drowned rat. Arriving home, Diego knocked on the door forcefully. As if she’d been waiting in the living room, the door opened immediately and Emily’s face appeared.
“Welcome home, Hyung.”
As always, Emily welcomed Diego with a bright smile. Then words spoken in a small whisper reached Diego’s ears.
“You know, Roman is at our house right now.”
At the unexpected words, Diego unconsciously made a surprised expression.
“Roman is here?”
“Yeah. He stopped by while passing through, and when he asked if he could wait until you came home, I told him to go ahead.”
“Good job.”
He walked hurriedly inside, but Roman’s figure wasn’t visible. Emily’s voice, following behind, continued.
“He’s in your room. Should I boil some warm tea?”
“Please.”
“Okay. Oh right, did you eat dinner?”
“I ate before coming.”
In truth, he’d been on an empty stomach the whole time. Grace had asked if he wouldn’t like to have dinner together, but knowing it was only a polite gesture, he’d courteously declined and returned home.
As tension released, hunger washed over him, but from the moment he heard Roman was at the house, his heart became impatient.
Diego hurried toward his room. The door was closed. After hesitating briefly, he made a sound in a small voice. But no answer came. Only then did Diego carefully turn the doorknob and open the door.
A small oil lamp dimly illuminated the inside of the room. Soon Diego’s heart began to beat rapidly. He could really see Roman lying on his bed.
“……”
From the moment his gaze touched his face, Diego couldn’t take his eyes off him. Roman’s eyes were closed. Seeing that he didn’t move even though he’d made sounds twice, it seemed he was fast asleep.
He belatedly understood the reason his heart was rippling strangely. Though they’d been in a deep relationship for over half a year, Diego had never once seen Roman asleep until now.
Thinking of Emily who would be alone, Diego had always dressed immediately after relations ended, and far from holding him back, Roman’s atmosphere was rather like issuing an eviction order. But today, not only did he visit suddenly, but he even got to see him sleeping, so it felt like receiving a gift.
…What business had brought him here?
As he gazed quietly, a small sound flowed from Roman’s mouth.
“Mm…”
“Are you awake?”
Seeing him toss and turn, Diego hurriedly spoke up. But Roman’s eyes remained closed. A faint wrinkle was etched between his brows.
