Episode 10
Elira was walking back from school. Her steps were fast, and the anger on her face was impossible to miss.
Aiden ruined my entire day…
He's stuck to me like a magnet. Wherever I go, he shows up.
The scene from the library replayed in her mind.
She had been sitting quietly, reading a book, when Aiden came and sat on the chair beside her.
"Elira, please listen to me. Give me one chance," he said softly.
"I'm truly ashamed. I want to change. I want to prove to you that I can become a better person."
Elira looked at him for a moment. Then, without saying a single word, she left the book where it was, stood up, and walked away.
The same thing happened in the canteen.
Elira had just sat down with her lunch when Aiden appeared again and sat directly in front of her. The entire school was watching them now.
Aiden placed a piece of chicken onto her plate.
"You like chicken roast, right? Eat this."
Elira's patience finally snapped.
"What do you actually want?" she said sharply.
"You've been following me since morning—sometimes the ground, sometimes the library, and now even the canteen. You're irritating me."
Aiden put on an innocent expression.
"I'm apologizing from my heart," he said.
"I want to be friends with you. I want to fix all my mistakes."
Elira looked at him with a faint, cold smile.
He really is handsome…
Blue eyes. A sharp jawline.
If it were any other girl in my place, she might have melted already.
But I know the truth.
He isn't human—he's a devil wearing a human mask.
"I have no interest in being friends with you," Elira said firmly.
"If you're truly sorry, then first apologize to the girls you harassed.
And stop following me."
Suddenly, Aiden grabbed her hand.
"Elira… can't you even give me one chance?"
Elira yanked her hand away angrily.
"Before, I only twisted your hand.
After today, if you touch me again, I'll break it."
With that, she walked away.
As soon as she left, Sareena rushed to Aiden.
"Aiden, what's wrong with you?
You've been ignoring all of us since morning.
Why are you apologizing to that witch? She's the one who wronged us!"
Aiden's anger exploded.
"Who do you think you are to question me?" he snapped.
"Stay within your limits."
It was the first time Aiden had insulted Sareena in front of everyone.
Her eyes filled with tears.
---
Lost in her thoughts, Elira was walking when suddenly someone pulled her back hard.
"Where is your attention? You were about to get hit by a car."
Elira gasped.
"Oh… thank you."
She couldn't even see the man's face. He quickly slipped a piece of paper into the pocket of her shirt and disappeared.
---
Kim Hyun-jin sat alone in his room, thinking about Elira.
"Are you really Elira… or someone else?"
"You're far more interesting than before."
His butler, Choi, brought him food.
"Master, how long will you continue pretending to be a bully?
How long will you hide your identity?"
Hyun-jin's voice was calm but cold.
"It's not time yet.
I need revenge for my mother's murder.
I need to find out who was truly behind it—who all were involved.
Until the truth comes out, I'll keep acting weak and insignificant."
A voice came from the gate.
"Come in."
A man entered.
"Master, the paper has been delivered to Elira."
"No one saw you?"
"No, Master."
"Good.
Protect her. I couldn't save her before… but this time, nothing will happen to her.
And keep an eye on Aiden. I don't like his sudden interest in Elira."
"Yes, Master."
After everyone left, Hyun-jin looked at Elira's photograph.
"I will protect you…
I can't lose you again."
---
A storm of questions raged inside Elira's mind.
"Why has someone been following me since morning?
Why does Papa suddenly want to assign bodyguards?"
At the dinner table, Albert was carefully watching her face.
"You didn't like my decision?" he asked.
"Do you object?"
"No, Papa," Elira replied calmly.
"I'm very happy. You care so much about me."
Yes… as if this is for my protection, she thought bitterly.
Not to control me.
She pressed her fork hard into the meat on her plate.
---
A sixty-year-old man standing nearby smiled.
Dressed in black and white, with long white hair and a thick beard, his very presence carried dark energy.
"My innocent child, how are you?" Zaryon said warmly.
Neelm rushed forward and hugged him.
"Daddy, I missed you so much."
Hearing the noise, Albert and Elira came outside.
Elira's gaze locked onto Zaryon.
Who is he?
I can feel black energy coming from him… his aura is extremely powerful.
My power is still weak. I need to become stronger.
"How are you, Elira?" Zaryon asked with a smile.
"You've grown so much," he continued.
"The last time I saw you, you were so small… so weak."
His final words were spoken in a cold, terrifying tone.
This Elira isn't normal, Zaryon thought.
There's something strange about her. My magic is weakening here…
even the spell I placed on Albert is slowly breaking.
Trying to calm the atmosphere, Albert said,
"Daddy, please come inside. Let's have dinner first.
We'll talk later."
Everyone went inside for dinner.
But the darkness had already begun to move.
---
"So, Daddy… how did you suddenly come here?"
Albert asked, placing slices of beef onto Zaryon's plate.
Zaryon glanced at Neelm thoughtfully.
Earlier, Neelm had spoken nervously on the phone:
"Daddy, I'm extremely tense.
Please come to Seoul quickly.
That Elira has completely messed up my mind."
I called Daddy myself, Neelm had thought.
Alessia and Jon miss him too.
"Good decision," Albert said calmly.
---