Kim sat quietly at the desk, an ink pen resting between her fingers while a small bottle of ink stood beside her. An old book lay open before her, its pages covered with intricate symbols she had been carefully drawing. Her entire focus was fixed on the book as she dipped the pen into the ink and continued writing.
"Done."
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
"What's that?"
Kim jumped in surprise.
"Ah! Big brother! Don't scare me like that!" she complained, placing a hand on her chest. "If you startled me a second earlier, everything I drew would've been ruined."
Kint chuckled and dropped onto the bed behind her.
"Sure, sure. But what were you so focused on that you didn't even notice me entering the room?"
"That's not true," Kim puffed her cheeks. "Every time I work on something, you come along and ruin it with your mischief."
"Then tell me what you're making," Kint said with sparkling eyes. "I'm curious now."
Kim hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I've been reading a few magic books recently. So I was trying to create a new spell."
"A new spell?" Kint instantly leaned forward.
"Not exactly," Kim corrected. "I only modified an existing one to make it easier to use. It's still incomplete."
"Come on, try it once."
Kim quickly searched for an excuse.
"It's not ready yet. I've succeeded in some parts, but there are still a few problems left."
Kint slumped back in disappointment.
"Damn it. I thought I'd get to see something amazing today."
Kim scratched her cheek awkwardly and laughed.
At that moment, the door opened.
Queen Melonda entered the room.
Both Kim and Kint turned toward her. The queen walked over and sat beside Kint on the bed.
"What happened, Mom?" Kim asked.
Melonda looked at her.
"So, how was it?"
Kim blinked before smiling.
"It was great. Ms. Lawine is really kind."
Kint immediately joined the conversation.
"Tell me about Kondo's house. Shin said it's huge."
"It is," Kim replied. "Even their kitchen is luxurious."
"Kim."
The sudden interruption made Kim stop mid-sentence.
She turned toward her mother.
Melonda's expression had become serious.
"I want to ask you something."
Kim nodded.
"Why are you so obsessed with Kondo?"
The question struck like lightning.
For a moment, Kim froze.
The room fell silent.
Kint immediately sensed the atmosphere changing and hurriedly tried to intervene.
"Mom, what kind of question is that? Why don't we eat first and—"
"Sit down."
Melonda's voice left no room for argument.
"This is between me and Kim."
Kint quietly sat back down.
Melonda's gaze never left her daughter.
"I'll ask again. Why do you like Kondo so much?"
Kim lowered her head.
No answer came.
Silence spread across the room.
Even Kint felt trapped within it.
He had seen Kim act like this countless times before. Whenever she didn't want to answer something, she would simply lower her gaze and remain silent.
But this time felt different.
After a long pause, Kim smiled.
"I don't really understand the difference between liking someone and loving someone," she said softly. "Kondo isn't an obsession. He's my first love."
Kint listened quietly.
He knew Kim wasn't lying.
Yet somehow, her smile felt fake.
Melonda noticed it too.
"Kim," she said gently, "I know you're telling the truth. But that smile isn't real. Do you think I can't tell when my own daughter is hiding something?"
The smile vanished from Kim's face.
"Mom, I've already told you. He's my first love. I don't know why or how it happened. I just want to see him happy. No matter what I have to do, I'll do it."
A faint smirk appeared on Melonda's lips.
"Tsk. This generation mistakes attraction for love."
She crossed her arms.
"Love isn't something that appears after a single glance. Love means care. Responsibility. Understanding another person. I don't want you regretting today's decision in the future."
Kim quietly listened.
She had no answer.
Her fists slowly tightened.
Melonda noticed immediately.
In fact, that was exactly what she wanted.
Inside, she smiled.
Good.
Bring it out.
You've been hiding something deep inside yourself for far too long.
Tell me what's troubling you.
Tell me what kind of mother I failed to become.
Even if I have to use Kondo as an excuse, I'll make you speak.
After several moments, Kim finally relaxed her clenched hands.
"Kondo is a very kind person."
Her voice was calm.
"When Dad and I visited King Veld, do you know how most people looked at us?"
A bitter smile appeared on her face.
"As if we were slaves. Some of them didn't even like seeing us sit beside them."
Her eyes softened.
"But Mr. Sam and Ms. Lawine were different. They never treated me like a monster. They treated us like normal people."
She looked up.
"And I saw the same thing in Kondo."
A genuine smile appeared on her face this time.
"I'll never regret choosing him. And I think you'll come to like him too."
Kint stared in disbelief.
Kim was actually praising someone other than him.
Has she really changed this much? he wondered.
Melonda remained expressionless.
"You're still a child, Kim."
Her voice was firm.
"We are monsters, not humans. Humans will always look at us differently."
She sighed.
"The world is cruel. Whether it's kings, nobles, or even governments, most people see monsters as nothing more than slaves."
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
"I told your father long ago that we shouldn't send our children to school. Children raised in noble households who've never stepped in dirt won't accept people like us."
Kim lowered her eyes.
"Maybe you're right, Mom."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But I'm not talking about everyone else."
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"I'm only talking about Kondo."
A tear nearly escaped her eye.
"I don't care what others think. I just don't want him to see me as a monster."
Melonda instantly realized she had gone too far.
She stood up and walked toward her daughter.
Gently, she placed a hand on Kim's head.
"I don't want my precious daughter making a mistake."
Her voice became soft.
"People don't always keep the promises they make today. If your feelings change one day, I won't be surprised."
A faint smile appeared.
"But I am curious."
She looked directly into Kim's eyes.
"I want to see whether Kondo truly loves you... or whether he'll turn out to be just like everyone else."
Kim grabbed her mother's hand and pressed it against her cheek.
"He won't."
Her answer came instantly.
"He's different."
Melonda smiled.
"Fine. I'll believe you."
Then she stood up.
"Now come eat."
"I'll be there in a little while."
"Alright."
Melonda glanced at Kint.
"How long are you planning to eavesdrop? Come on."
"Okay, Mom."
The two left the room together.
As Melonda walked through the hallway, a small smile appeared on her face.
Kondo... what exactly did you do to my daughter?
The girl who barely spoke to anyone suddenly argues with me.
Maybe you really are some kind of magician.
Back inside the room, Kint patted Kim's back before leaving.
"You've changed a lot."
Then he disappeared through the doorway.
Kim watched him leave.
You're right, big brother.
A lot has changed.
She smiled softly.
But Kondo has always been like that.
He worries more about others than himself.
Even when he's weak, he's always the first one to help someone in need.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
The car accident.
The smile vanished from her face.
Slowly, she walked back to the desk.
Her hand rested upon the book covered with the magic circle she had drawn.
The symbols began to glow.
One by one, the markings rose from the page and flowed across her hand.
Then they moved upward—
into her eyes.
The room fell silent.
Kim stared at the glowing symbols reflected within her pupils.
Her voice became cold.
"With this..."
The last traces of light disappeared into her eyes.
"...I can kill any human."