🕯️ Kang Estate — Morning
The mansion woke up like it always did.
Silent. Polished. Controlled.
But something subtle had changed.
The air felt… watched.
Not by cameras.
By something else.
🖤 Eden’s Routine
Lee Eden sat by the window, knees tucked close.
Morning light spilled over him, soft and indifferent.
He watched the garden below.
Guard rotations.
Servant paths.
Camera blind spots.
He wasn’t counting them.
He was learning them.
A knock came at the door.
Two servants entered.
They bowed too deeply.
“Breakfast is ready, sir.”
Eden blinked.
“…Sir?”
The servants hesitated.
“…We were told to address you properly.”
A pause.
From somewhere upstairs, a voice had clearly spoken.
Eden slowly smiled.
“…Okay.”
🩸 Upstairs — Taehyun’s Decision
Minjun stood beside the desk.
“…You changed the staff protocol?”
Taehyun didn’t look up from the documents.
“Yes.”
“…Why?”
Silence.
Then—
“So they stop underestimating him.”
Minjun frowned.
“…He’s a guest.”
Taehyun finally stopped writing.
His pen paused mid-line.
“…Is he?”
That question wasn’t for Minjun.
It wasn’t for anyone.
🌙 Eden Walks Again
Later that day, Eden walked freely through the mansion.
No escort.
No restrictions.
But now—
people followed him with their eyes.
Careful.
Measured.
Respectful.
Or afraid.
He stopped near the greenhouse glass corridor.
Inside, rare black roses bloomed.
A servant whispered behind him.
“They don’t usually bloom in this season…”
Eden tilted his head.
“…They like it here.”
The servant blinked.
“…Sir?”
Eden smiled softly.
“Nothing.”
But the roses inside the greenhouse…
leaned slightly toward him.
Just barely.
🖤 First Test
A man in a suit entered the mansion that afternoon.
Not a servant.
Not a guest.
An outsider.
He bowed to Taehyun.
“Boss Kang. I came to discuss territory expansion.”
Taehyun didn’t respond immediately.
Eden stood behind the staircase, watching silently.
The man continued.
“…We’ve heard you recently acquired something unusual.”
Taehyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Say what you mean.”
The man smiled.
“Just a boy.”
Silence dropped instantly.
🩸 Eden Moves
From upstairs, Eden descended slowly.
No rush.
No hesitation.
He stopped a few steps away from Taehyun.
The outsider looked at him.
“…So this is him.”
Eden blinked.
“…Hello.”
The man laughed lightly.
“You don’t look dangerous.”
Eden nodded.
“…Most things that are dangerous don’t.”
A pause.
Taehyun’s gaze shifted slightly.
🖤 The Collapse
The man stepped forward.
“Tell me, boy… what exactly are you supposed to be?”
Eden looked at him for a moment.
Then answered softly.
“…Something you shouldn’t touch.”
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The man froze.
“…What did you say?”
Eden smiled faintly.
Still gentle.
Still calm.
“I said don’t touch me.”
The temperature dropped.
The outsider suddenly stumbled back.
Like something unseen had pushed him.
His breath shook.
“…W-what is happening—?”
He turned to Taehyun.
“Boss—this place—”
But Taehyun didn’t move.
He was watching Eden.
Carefully.
Quietly.
🩸 Aftermath
The outsider left within minutes.
Pale.
Shaking.
Refusing to look back.
Silence returned to the mansion again.
But it was different now.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Alive.
🌙 Taehyun & Eden
That night, Taehyun stood in front of Eden again.
Closer than usual.
Eden looked up at him.
“…Did I do something wrong?”
Taehyun didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“No.”
A pause.
“…But you’re not normal.”
Eden blinked.
“…I never said I was.”
Silence.
Then Taehyun stepped closer.
Just enough that Eden had to look up slightly more.
“…What are you?”
Eden stared at him.
Long.
Soft.
Unreadable.
Then smiled faintly.
“…Someone you decided to keep.”
That answer should’ve meant nothing.
But it didn’t.
🖤 Final Scene
Minjun watched from the shadows.
Uneasy.
“…Boss… this is getting unstable.”
Taehyun didn’t look away from Eden.
“…I know.”
A pause.
Then quieter—
“…But I still want him here.”
Inside the room down the hall, unseen—
Eden sat alone.
Fingers resting lightly on his sleeve.
And for a brief second—
the reflection in the glass behind him smiled…
before he did. 🩸
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