<Chapter 107>
#12. Black Cloud (5)
“What is it?”
Malek smiled gently at Melty’s question, his eyes bright and face full of anticipation. While slowly massaging Melty’s ears, which were perked up to listen to his words, he whispered:
“Just ask hyung. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Really?”
“Of course~”
Angel stared at Malek, who was continuing his conversation with Melty in a cheerful voice while matching his eye level, with an expression like he’d bitten into rotten fruit. It kept giving him chills to watch someone who used to collect people’s necks as easily as cutting through grass piles now acting so affectionately.
Though he hadn’t explained the specific reason to Melty, Angel could roughly guess what “method” Malek was referring to. Based on what he’d observed of Malek Crosel’s tendencies while living together, he estimated that at least dozens of lives hung in the balance depending on Melty’s nod.
“Ahem, ahem! Don’t worry. It will be resolved quickly.”
At Angel’s intervention, Melty, who had been contemplating whether to ask Malek for help, turned his gaze toward him. Simultaneously, Malek’s ominous gaze also fell upon Angel. Feeling cold sweat dampening his back, Angel forced his lips into a smile.
“The, the two of you haven’t seen each other for a long time. Wouldn’t you brothers lack time to spend intimately together? There’s no need for you, Malek-nim, to trouble yourself over something that will be resolved soon anyway. Ha, haha.”
Though it wasn’t something he had thought through before speaking, his lips moved as if oiled and produced quite plausible words. Angel, belatedly satisfied with what had flowed out smoothly, met Malek’s gaze as he looked at him straight on with sharp eyes, one corner of his lips turned upward.
Malek snorted at Angel, who quickly turned his gaze away as if he’d been stabbed by something, and then ruffled his brother’s hair beside him.
“Since he says so, what would you like to do?”
“…Is it really nothing serious?”
“Yes. Of course!”
At Melty’s question, Angel desperately put on a smiling face and nodded vigorously. In truth, it was too significant an incident to dismiss as “nothing serious” as he had said out loud. Although it hadn’t been officially announced yet, there was quite a large pool of blood where Iel’s clothing had been found.
Because of this, the scales were tipping toward “murder” rather than “disappearance,” and the false charge against Calix was close to “homicide.” However, he hadn’t actually lied to Melty and Malek. While it certainly wasn’t a simple matter, based on what Angel had observed of Calix so far, he could confidently assert that he would get out of this without much trouble.
“There’s a limit to what can be done based on suspicion alone without evidence. He’ll probably be released soon.”
“Just ask hyung, I’m telling you.”
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want to trouble hyung over something so minor.”
At Melty’s words, spoken with a broad smile, Malek clutched at his heart. As Malek bent over, making an “urgh” sound, Melty grabbed his arm in alarm and shook it.
“Hyung? Are you hurting? Are you okay?”
“…My brother… is so cute that my heart aches.”
“…”
Malek laughed out loud as he embraced Melty, who was scolding him with an embarrassed face, saying, “Don’t say such things outside.” Unlike the two brothers creating this heartwarming scene, Angel’s eyes, watching them, had grown cold.
‘…I knew he was doting, but what kind of excessive sentimentality is this….’
Angel couldn’t fathom which part of what Melty had just said was cute enough to make one’s heart ache. What had turned an ordinary conversation extraordinary in an instant was Malek’s exaggerated gesture.
Seeing the sincerity dripping from his eyes—enough to open a bee farm—it seemed he genuinely thought Melty’s words were adorably heart-wrenching. It created such a disconnect from the Malek Crosel he had observed until now that it felt jarring. As he was patting himself on the back, relieved that he hadn’t overtly gagged, his eyes met Malek’s.
“Is there something you’d like to say?”
Malek smiled at Angel, who reflexively smiled by lifting the corners of his mouth. Unlike the smile he had shown Melty, this artificial smile made Angel swallow hard. Malek, who had been staring at Angel, turned his gaze to Melty, who was munching on a cookie.
“If it’s nothing serious, I wonder if we needed to meet here.”
“Ah. That may be true, but I thought it would be better for Melty-ssi to know in advance what’s happening inside. Once we go in, many eyes will follow us, so explaining there would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“Aha?”
Despite his light tone, Malek’s eyes scanned beyond the window. Naturally, Angel followed his gaze and looked out the window as well. Beyond the window, many people were going about their daily lives. Not understanding why Malek’s gaze had suddenly turned to the window, Angel tilted his head in puzzlement.
Unlike Angel, Malek narrowed his eyes and began mentally counting the people who had been bothering him since earlier. The count that started at one stopped only after reaching seven. Although it was daytime and an active hour when people were moving vigorously—perfect conditions for hiding one’s presence—it was impossible to escape his eyes, which had become as sharp as they could be.
‘I thought I’d filtered them out sufficiently…’
Though he didn’t show his displeasure because Melty was beside him, he had no intention of tolerating it indefinitely. Dealing with those loitering around the Padrian mansion was also to prevent any unpleasant incidents that might happen to his brother staying there.
None had shown hostility, but some of them were certainly monitoring Melty at someone’s behest. Having figured this out, Malek pondered how to handle it quietly. Turning his head at the burning gaze on his face, Malek looked at Angel and continued speaking with a nonchalant smile.
“Why weren’t you caught?”
“…Do you wish I had been? I just arrived yesterday.”
“Usually when suspecting a culprit, one should first grab their accomplices.”
After finishing his words, Malek smiled brightly. After rubbing his seated brother’s hair, he slowly rose to his feet.
“Though they might have been aiming for something else.”
“Hyung? Where are you going?”
“Just going to the bathroom for a moment. If there’s anything else you want to eat, order it.”
Malek’s gaze, which had smiled at Melty, touched and then left Naru, who was resting on his wrist with a languid expression. Angel slowly shook his head as he watched Malek’s retreating figure, heading in a completely different direction from the bathroom.
“Angel-ssi. Angel-ssi.”
Angel finally turned his gaze away from Malek’s back at the softly whispering voice. Confused by Melty, who had hunched over as if sharing a secret, Angel responded:
“Yes?”
After slightly raising his head to confirm that Malek was out of sight, Melty lowered his posture again and asked:
“They wouldn’t believe me if I said Calix-ssi was with me the whole time, would they?”
“Most likely not.”
“Then is there anything I can do?”
“Pardon?”
A dazed question flowed from Angel’s mouth at Melty’s serious inquiry. Despite his response, Melty continued with a grave expression:
“I can’t just sit by while my lover is being falsely accused.”
Clenching his fist with burning resolve, Melty belatedly glanced at Angel as a thought occurred to him. As Angel’s face registered confusion at his sudden change in behavior, Melty opened his mouth with complete sincerity.
“Um, I’m sorry. I know Angel-ssi likes Calix-ssi…”
“What?? What are you saying? Are you trying to ruin my perfectly good future?”
Melty blinked blankly at Angel, who was so startled he nearly jumped out of his seat. It had been Angel who had praised Calix in front of him until his mouth went dry, saying how handsome and amazing he was. Since Melty had been certain that Angel liked Calix, Angel’s current reaction was even more confusing to him.
“I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but that’s absolutely not the case. What I like is gold coins. Of course, I like jewels too, but nothing surpasses the feeling of gold coins in hand.”
“But you always praised Calix-ssi.”
“That’s…”
Unable to admit that it was due to Calix’s order to improve Melty’s image of him, Angel swallowed dryly instead of answering. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he said with a serious face:
“I was praising the money Calix-nim has.”
“But last time you said Calix-ssi was handsome…”
“I prefer gold coins to handsome faces.”
Melty blinked his round eyes, at a loss for words at Angel’s resolute statement. With Angel’s repeated emphasis, Melty nodded with an awkward smile. Seeing his somewhat understanding expression, Angel sighed in relief. He had no desire to be the subject of unnecessary misunderstandings.
“Ahem. Well… about what you were saying earlier?”
“Ah…”
Belatedly remembering that his words had been cut off, Melty spoke again with sparkling eyes.
“I can do anything well! Even though Calix-ssi is in a suspicious situation, it doesn’t seem like they’re suspecting me at all.”
“That’s true…”
“Because outsiders are prohibited from entering, it must be difficult for Angel-ssi to move around for a while. And originally, I was supposed to accompany Calix-ssi as Angel-ssi’s substitute.”
Angel quietly nodded in agreement with Melty’s words. Although he was startled at first, his argument had merit. Angel glanced sideways, staring at where Malek had disappeared, still not having returned.
“Hyung would absolutely say dangerous things are forbidden… but I want to do what I can.”
Melty hurriedly spoke, realizing who Angel was looking for. Angel, who had been deep in thought, tapping his chin with his index finger, readily agreed with Melty’s persuasive argument. While he knew well that Calix wasn’t someone who would easily give in, having a person who could infiltrate internally was important.
“Then I’ll ask a few favors of Melty-ssi.”
Melty’s eyes sparkled brightly at Angel’s words after organizing his thoughts.
