Inside the house, the atmosphere was heavy cold.
In the living room, Taekyun sat on the couch, posture straight, face unreadable.
His gaze sharp enough to make anyone bow their head.
Even without a word, his presence filled the entire room.
In front of him stood Haneul, his clothes still slightly damp, his hair falling softly over his eyes.
But he wasn't trembling.
There was no fear in him only confusion, as if he didn't understand why everyone looked at him that way.
Beside him, Lihan stood quietly, scanning the boy from head to toe.
The servants lined along the sides whispered among themselves.
"He's beautiful…" one said softly.
"But why is he here like this? Is he after Sir?"
Another shook their head.
"No one can get close to Sir. He'll never accept someone like that."
Upstairs,
Bora was struggling to hold little Haru, who kept pulling away.
The quiet girl who rarely spoke a single word was suddenly restless, her small hands reaching for the door.
Bora held her tighter.
"Stay here, haru," she whispered.
But Haru's voice, soft and shaky, escaped her lips.
"mogi(Haru's puppy name)"
Bora froze.
It was the first word Haru had ever spoken.
And she kept saying it after touching that strange boy's face.
"How is this possible?" She looked at other maid.
Back in the living room,
Silence spread like frost.
Taekyun's voice broke it calm but sharp.
"Who is he?"
Lihan lowered his gaze slightly.
"Sir… he's the Omega I told you about."
Taekyun's eyes shifted toward Haneul.
For a brief second, his composure wavered just barely.
He had seen the photo before, the report, but in reality…
The boy's presence was something else.
His pale skin, soft lips, and the calm way he stood even under scrutiny there was no fear in him, only quiet innocence.
Taekyun rose slowly from his seat, his steps steady.
He stopped in front of Haneul, tall enough that the shadow of his figure covered the Omega completely.
"Are you from another world?" his voice was low, smooth, but carried authority.
Haneul looked up.
"Yes."
His voice was gentle, but clear not stuttering, not afraid.
He said it like it was a simple truth, and that honesty somehow made the air between them heavier.
Taekyun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So why did you"
Before he could finish, Haneul moved.
Without hesitation.
Without guilt.
He reached out small hand brushing against the Alpha's cheek.
Everyone gasped.
The servants froze.
Even Lihan's breath hitched.
But Haneul didn't flinch.
He just looked at Taekyun with soft eyes, innocent, curious as if he didn't understand why that touch was forbidden.
As if he was simply trying to know if the man in front of him was real.
Taekyun froze completely.
That warmth faint, fragile, yet steady spread from his skin to his chest in an instant.
His heartbeat skipped once, hard.
No one had ever dared touch him.
And yet this Omega did not out of boldness, but out of pure sincerity.
For a split second, the coldness in his eyes melted, replaced by something uncertain.
But it vanished as quickly as it came.
He stepped back, jaw tightening.
His voice came lower, rougher.
"Don't touch me."
Haneul blinked, confused. He didn't bow, didn't apologize he just tilted his head slightly, as if wondering what he had done wrong.
There was no fear, no guilt just that quiet warmth that made Taekyun's walls crack again.
Lihan quickly stepped forward, sensing the tension.
He bowed slightly.
"Sir, I'll take him with me," he said carefully. "I'll look into this."
Taekyun didn't reply his gaze still locked on Haneul, who was being led away.
The Omega turned once, looking back at him with calm eyes .
And that gaze innocent yet haunting followed Taekyun even after he left the room.
For the first time that morning, Taekyun felt something he hadn't felt in years.
Warmth.
And it scared him more than anything else.