Passion: Diaphonic Symphonia Novel - Chapter 72

Christoph clicked his tongue. And with dragging steps, he headed to Richard’s room, one floor below his own.

—Why do you hate Richard so much?

Jeong Taeui had asked him once. It was a question he had heard several times, not just from Jeong Taeui.

Just as there’s no reason to like something, there’s no reason to dislike it. It’s far more common for likes and dislikes to accumulate from trivial, unconscious things rather than from a specific event.

From the beginning, Richard disliked Christoph. He didn’t know why. At some point, he just suddenly felt it. Ah, this person dislikes me.

And gradually, Christoph came to dislike Richard. The reason was—

“…Are you alone?”

Christoph, who had burst into Richard’s room without knocking, stood at the door and looked around the room suspiciously.

The old man was not visible.

And in one corner of the room, Richard was sitting in a chair by the bed, talking on the phone with someone.

Whether he was on the phone or not, Christoph looked around the room once more and frowned.

“Where’s the elder?”

“…Just a moment.”

Richard didn’t take his eyes off Christoph as he quietly spoke into the receiver, pressed the hold button, and then hung up the phone. Then he looked at Christoph coldly and began to speak.

“What is it, Christoph? It’s unusual for you to come to my room.”

“…”

Christoph glared at him.

It seemed the old man hadn’t come here. Whether he had already come and gone or hadn’t arrived yet, it was clear he wasn’t here now.

Although he had come here looking for the old man, now that they had met, Christoph had something to say to Richard. According to the elder’s words, Christoph had decided to assist Richard for a while, so he had to say it.

—From now until the succession is decided, for a while, I will be with you and help you with your work.

“…”

However, he only mouthed the words, barely visibly, but they didn’t come out. He didn’t want to say them.

Richard patiently waited for Christoph to speak. Christoph tried to speak, then frowned and closed his mouth a couple of times. He grew anxious himself and clicked his tongue.

Meanwhile, Richard didn’t rush him. Instead, he leaned back in his chair leisurely, interlaced his fingers, and watched Christoph. A relaxed, almost amused light flickered in his gaze.

At that moment, he realized.

This man already knew what Christoph was going to say.

How—?!

The moment that thought reached him, Christoph shut his mouth. He glared at him with icy blue eyes, then bit his lip and turned to leave.

How?! It was obvious. He already knew. He didn’t know how he had petitioned the elder, but he already knew Christoph would act this way.

Rage surged.

He was furiously angry, his insides churning.

Just as he turned to leave the room, about to slam the door shut, a slow voice from behind him called out to Christoph, stopping him.

“The elder isn’t here, Christoph. Didn’t you come here to tell me something? Why don’t you finish what you have to say before you go. Otherwise, who knows when we’ll see each other again.”

Hesitation.

Christoph stopped. And slowly turned around.

The reason he stopped wasn’t because Richard told him to finish what he had to say. It was because that leisurely tone, as if he saw right through everything, was extremely irritating.

“…Did you tell the elder?”

Christoph asked in a low voice, and Richard raised an eyebrow. A hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

“The elder? Me? Tell him what?”

“You wouldn’t have stopped me just to pretend you don’t know, Richard.”

His fingers twitched. He wanted to slap that man’s face.

He disliked that about him. Yes, he really hated that side of him.

Always with a smiling face that put people at ease, yet you could never tell what he was thinking behind it. He always seemed to be a step behind, but then you’d realize later that countless situations had unfolded exactly as he wished.

Christoph glared at him directly. As if he wouldn’t miss even the slightest hint, without taking his eyes off him.

And Richard, finally, smiled. Slowly. That kind, good-natured smile.

Christoph’s lips twitched. Richard rarely showed him that kind of smile. Unless he had an ulterior motive.

“To the elder—well, it’s not like I specifically told him anything, but I merely comforted him because he seemed disappointed. Because he particularly cherishes you.”

“…”

“Of course, it’s not just that; it’s also not bad for Tarten if you help me with my work, so the elder went to you. Yes, what did the elder say to you?”

His interlaced hands lightly tapped his knee. That leisurely gesture also bothered him. That relaxed smile. The crinkling of his eyes.

“…You hate me.”

Christoph blurted out, and Richard closed his mouth. Christoph continued to speak to him, who looked puzzled by the sudden break in context.

“Then why do you want me to help you with your work? We could just never see each other again.”

Only then did Richard seem to understand Christoph’s words. “Ah, that,” he muttered softly, nodding his head, then opened his mouth nonchalantly.

“It’s not a big reason. First, for Tarten’s sake.”

Richard slowly rose from the chair. He walked towards the window, drew back the curtains, and looked down at the outside, where darkness had already fallen, and continued to speak.

“Regardless, this place will soon be mine to inherit. It is my responsibility and my wish to make this place prosper. And you, whether you want to or not, have received Tarten’s education, and above all, you are very well aware of the current situation. With guests from the Middle East arriving soon, you are the perfect person to assist me and work for Tarten.”

He said that and half-opened the window. A cool night breeze blew in through the gap. He lightly waved his hand, as if he had made eye contact with someone outside the window, and continued.

“Second, at this crucial time for the succession decision, your messing around in my territory has severely damaged my reputation. From a position where I must be perfect in all matters and skillfully resolve any problem, that is. In other words, my leadership and control are being questioned. …Thank you very much, Christoph. For interfering with me again like this.”

Somehow, his voice sounded amused. Even though it shouldn’t have, there was a subtle hint of laughter, as if he was anticipating something pleasant.

“However, if you agree to work under me now and assist me, that can be smoothed over. The ability to make someone you don’t get along with work for you is also a very important aspect. In this regard, you must faithfully help me.”

Richard stopped there.

Richard, who had narrowed his eyes as if enjoying the cool night breeze that suddenly flowed in, then slowly turned to Christoph. And to him, who was silently watching him, he stated the last reason.

“Third, to see you in a state you dislike.”

The moment the words left Richard’s mouth, Christoph’s eyebrows twitched slightly. But he didn’t get angry, only snorted.

“Honest, I like that.”

“Don’t forget, Christoph. You were originally meant to work under me your entire life, had you not given up the succession. If you hadn’t run away so cowardly, you would have been my subordinate until you died. —That’s been reduced to just a few days of helping me.”

Richard said in a low voice. For the first time since Christoph entered the room, a faint, suppressed harshness seeped into his usually relaxed voice.

Christoph glared at him intently, then opened his mouth.

“I won’t do it. Do you think I’d do what you want?”

Even with that sneering remark mixed in, Richard didn’t flinch. Instead, as if he had regained his smooth composure, he suppressed the harshness within and brought back a faint smile.

“Even if the elder told you to help me?”

“—…”

Christoph frowned slightly.

The words “I still won’t do it” didn’t immediately come out.

He had intended to obey anything the elder said. For him, he could endure something unpleasant for a few days. He had come with that intention.

And yet, facing this man, the words to readily nod and go under him wouldn’t come out. An instinctive repulsion tangled his tongue, preventing him from agreeing.

“…I won’t…”

Richard looked amused as Christoph spoke in broken sentences, hesitating. He watched Christoph for a moment, savoring his hesitation and the unpleasant look he gave Richard without averting his gaze, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I’ve kept them waiting too long.”

He clicked his tongue as he approached the phone he had put on hold.

To Richard, who picked up the receiver again, Christoph shouted angrily.

“Richard, we’re not done talking yet.”

“Of course, we’ll finish talking. But before that, it would be rude to keep them waiting too long, so I’ll finish my call first. I was just thinking of hanging up anyway, but the other party wouldn’t let me go. …Ah, right. Christoph, would you like to take it? I think that would be better.”

Richard held out the receiver to Christoph. Christoph looked between the receiver and Richard with a mix of bewilderment and hostility.

“Why would I take your call—”

“You’d do well to take it. It will certainly help you make a wise decision.”

Richard chuckled softly. His finger released the hold button.

From the receiver, held out to Christoph, who had suddenly lost even his unpleasant expression, a small voice emerged after a brief silence.

Hello? Hello…?

That beautiful, high-pitched voice, tinged with a slight anxiety, was a voice Christoph couldn’t possibly fail to recognize, no matter how softly it came from the receiver.

Instantly, the expression vanished from Christoph’s face.

To Christoph, who stood staring blankly, not even thinking of taking the receiver Richard held out, Richard lightly shook the receiver.

Christoph only lifted his eyes to look at Richard.

“Won’t you take it…?”

Richard asked with a faint smile.

Christoph stared intently at him, then slowly took the phone. As he took it, his fingers brushed against Richard’s, and he flinched, almost dropping the receiver. But Richard quickly caught it and whispered gently, ‘Oh, be careful.’

Christoph put the receiver to his ear. Hello? Hello? The anxious whispering voice was right by his ear.

“…Mother.”

When Christoph spoke quietly, his voice low and hoarse as if he was gripping his own throat, the voice on the other end of the line paused. After a few seconds, the voice spoke again.

‘Christoph…? Why are you there?’

Her voice rose slightly, sounding puzzled. For a moment, while he stammered, saying he had some business, Christoph felt a gaze pouring down on his face. It was a gaze that seemed to devour every single one of his expressions, a gaze that was confident its desires would be fulfilled.

‘Oh, yes… yes… that’s right, you’ll be helping Richard with his work, so you’ll have a lot to talk about.’

Her voice was quite different from when she had called Christoph a moment ago. A faint anxiety and unease still lingered, but she was much calmer, and her voice sounded joyful and excited.

‘Richard told me. He said you’ve been away for a long time, so shouldn’t you return to Tarten soon? Of course, I’d rush back there anytime if he just called. He’s a generous and broad-minded person, he said he’s already forgotten about your quarrel. Isn’t he a truly good person?’