Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 26

"Winston, where are you going? The tutor will be here soon!"

At his mother’s urgent call, Winston simply turned his head while riding and shouted back.

"I won’t be late! Lancelot really wants to run today!"

"Lancelot can’t talk, can he..."

Camellia muttered with a hint of exasperation, but Winston was already far off and disappearing from view.

Despite her sigh, a faint smile tugged at her [N O V E L I G H T] lips.

Her youngest son, who overflowed with talent in every area, especially loved horseback riding.

Despite having learned only months ago, he rode so skillfully that even professionals were astonished.

It looked as though he was communicating directly with the horse, and every time people praised him for it, Camellia felt nothing but pride.

That child will definitely manifest as an Extreme Alpha.

She felt certain of it.

Though she had no concrete proof, her instincts had never been wrong.

Winston would awaken as an Extreme Alpha, inherit the family, and eventually rise to the top.

Just imagining it made her whole body tingle with excitement.

None of her other children had manifested, but Winston was different.

His exceptional talents and potential were being closely watched by Harold as well.

The path ahead for him was golden.

I should have lemonade ready for when he returns.

Humming softly, she turned and walked back into the mansion, her steps light.

It was summer, and the sun blazed higher than ever in the sky.

The trees, thick with green leaves, seemed ready to reach for the heavens, and the cool breeze beating against Winston’s body felt strong enough to lift him right off the ground.

"Ha ha!"

Laughing freely, he galloped far, far away until he finally pulled on the reins and brought the horse to a stop.

Breathing hard, he patted Lancelot’s neck, and the horse lightly shook its head in response.

"Shall we head back?"

Winston checked his watch as he spoke, as if seeking the horse’s opinion.

There was still time before the tutor’s arrival.

If he returned now and showered, it would be perfect.

Just as he was about to turn back toward the mansion, his eyes caught sight of a small, white annex standing tall in the distance.

Ah...

He halted.

Someone had started living in that annex — previously unused — about two or three years ago.

At the time, Harold had suddenly brought an East Asian child to Delights and let them live there.

Everyone had been confused, but Harold only gave a brief explanation, saying he was a distant relative who had lost his family.

That was all Winston knew.

Since then, he had heard nothing.

It was as if that child didn’t even exist.

Curiosity welled up in Winston.

"Shall we go, Lancelot?"

As if the horse understood, it began to walk.

The weather was still clear, the wind cool.

Winston guided Lancelot toward the annex, slowly calming his breath.

As he got closer, his heart began to race.

How old would the boy be?

He had heard they were about his age. Could they be the same age?

Could they become friends?

Or maybe no one’s there after all.

It was strange that no word of the boy had reached him if he was alive and living there.

Even when he asked the servants, no one had seen him.

Memories long forgotten resurfaced as Winston headed for the annex.

A breeze blew gently, ruffling his hair.

He pushed it back absentmindedly—then froze.

Someone was sitting in the wide clover field in front of the annex.

The figure had black hair that reached just past the shoulders, and their small frame made Winston guess they were about his age or younger.

Lancelot slowed naturally.

Winston sat up straight and stared.

The boy sat silently on the ground, not moving a muscle.

Ah.

Only when he got closer did Winston realize what the boy was doing.

He was carefully inspecting clovers, gently plucking one, slumping his shoulders, and then repeating the process in a steady rhythm.

He kept looking, picking, looking, picking.

Winston couldn’t hold back anymore.

"Are you looking for a four-leaf clover?"

At the sudden voice, the boy flinched and looked up.

His wide eyes met Winston’s — and Winston was utterly captivated.

An angel.

That was all Winston could think.

Milky skin, flushed cheeks, big eyes staring straight at him, a small but defined nose, and soft, slightly parted lips.

I must be dead.

That absurd thought popped into Winston’s dazed mind.

How else could he have met an angel?

His face grew hot.

His heart pounded violently against his ribs.

He had never seen anyone so beautiful.

His head went blank.

The boy blinked slowly.

When his long lashes fell and lifted again, tears spilled from his eyes.

At that moment, Winston was completely bewitched.

Yes. Just like that.

Just like that day so long ago, Yujin was sitting there.

Winston gently urged Lancelot forward, drawing closer.

Yujin, staring blankly as if lost in thought, noticed the presence and turned his head.

When he spotted Winston, his eyes widened in surprise.

Exactly like back then.

Ah.

Winston let out a soft sigh.

It wasn’t Michael who had taken his soul that day.

He should have realized it was Lilith.

A bitter smile spread across his lips.

Haaa...

Having walked holding Angela’s hand for some time, Yujin let out a deep, heavy sigh.

Why is this place so big?

Trying to investigate all of Delights’ grounds had been foolish.

As a child, he had been practically confined to the annex, with only limited areas he could visit.

Now, after several years away, his memories were faint and useless.

The reality hit him hard after walking a considerable distance.

Without a car, escaping here is impossible.

There was only one option left.

Can I even drive...?

Fear surged immediately at the thought.

His breath grew ragged and desperate, shoulders rising and falling.

He desperately tried to calm himself for Angela’s sake, but the more he panicked, the worse it got.

Hoo, hoo...

He forced deep breaths, but then Angela’s voice snapped him out of it.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

When he lifted his head, Angela was waving at him excitedly.

"Look, Daddy! There’s an owl!"

Ah.

A quiet sigh escaped him.

Delights had four main buildings.

The largest was, of course, the main mansion.

Among the scattered annexes, the smallest and most remote had been where Yujin lived.

But even that small annex had felt too big for him.

Alone, the space had been overwhelming and hollow.

Sometimes, even the sound of branches hitting the window terrified him.

Yet that place had eventually become more precious and cozy than anywhere else — because he had fallen in love.

And now, that very annex stood before him.

His steps slowed and eventually stopped, though he didn’t notice.

Angela had already run ahead and was waving by the front door, urging him to come.

But Yujin stood frozen, simply staring.

The annex looked far more weathered than he remembered.

The once-white walls were chipped, exposing the ugly wood beneath.

Rusty nail holes stained the surface brown.

The windows were so dusty he couldn’t even see inside.

It looked abandoned and forgotten.

"Daddy, hurry up! Daddy!"

Unable to wait any longer, Angela ran back and grabbed his hand, pulling him along.

Yujin reluctantly followed, step by step.

With each step toward the annex, his chest tightened and throbbed dully.