Chapter 03
Kallion glared at me, as if even my calm smile was suspicious. Then he stood and left.
I just watched him walk away.
Of course he’d be doubtful. Before the wedding, I was always openly showing I liked him. And now I was cold and distant.
But now, truly, my heart no longer fluttered when I saw him.
If it did beat at all, it would only be from hatred.
I recalled his guarded, irritated expression and let out a dry laugh.
Why had I ever loved someone who looked at me like that?
What part of him did I cling to so desperately?
Just as he once said—I must have been a woman with no pride.
And all for what? That first meeting?
Thinking back, I laughed bitterly.
Back then, I was so desperate for any attention or kindness.
For that lonely little girl, even Kallion’s cold kindness must have felt like a miracle.
***
My childhood was lonely and dark.
I was just one of many children in the Heister family—small and insignificant. That was me.
The Heister family had long controlled the power of fire spirits, but that power had faded over generations. My father, the current head, kept having children to try and restore it.
Since only sons could inherit this power, he had as many sons as he could. Out of seven sons and five daughters, only the eldest had even a trace of that ability. The rest of us were considered worthless.
Those without power had to fight desperately for recognition.
That created constant rivalries and jealousies, even among the concubines and mistresses who raised us.
And I, the smallest and weakest, was always an easy target for their frustrations.
My mother had died giving birth to me, so I had no one to protect me.
My father didn’t even remember all our names, so I was sure he had forgotten I existed.
I first noticed my powers when I was around eight.
One day, my whole body felt like it was burning. I collapsed with a high fever, and saw flames gather in my hands.
That was when I realized the fire spirit had chosen me.
But even as a child, I knew that revealing my power would only bring trouble.
Especially because I was a girl. Even if I had power, it would never be accepted.
They’d use me for the heir’s sake, if anything.
So I hid it—completely. I lived quietly, like I didn’t exist. I did what I was told. Stayed in the shadows.
Just like on that day.
At a grand banquet hosted by the Heister family, I sat quietly in the garden, staring at the lights from inside.
“I’m hungry…”
All I could do was wait for the banquet to end.
Maybe, if I was lucky, I could eat the leftovers.
My siblings—favored by Father or with powerful mothers—were inside, eating delicious food.
But that world felt impossibly far from me.
Then…
“Huh? Did someone get here before me?”
A boy with jet-black hair like the night sky stood above me.
He looked annoyed by all the bright lights, like he had escaped them.
“Hey, kid. Mind if I sit here?”
Kid…? He didn’t look that much older than me. Maybe a few years.
I nodded silently.
He sat across from me and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, clearly tired.
From his purple eyes, black hair, and the crest on his coat, I could tell he was from the Valdormer family.
Despite their cruel reputation, he looked quite neat and composed.
His dark hair shimmered under the moonlight. His violet eyes looked like gemstones.
As I snuck glances at him, my stomach suddenly growled loudly.
Grrrrk—
Embarrassed, I quickly bowed my head.
I could feel him staring at me.
Then he quietly held out his hand.
“Want this?”
In his hand was a cookie wrapped in cloth.
The cookie looked sweet. My eyes were fixed on it, but I hesitated.
Seeing my hesitation, he tilted his head.
“Did you not get to eat because you were working?”
He must’ve thought I was a servant or a maid’s daughter.
Well, I did look nothing like a proper daughter of the Heister family.
Unlike my siblings with red hair, mine was a dull, faded blonde.
Embarrassed, I tried to ignore the sound of my stomach again, but I finally took the cookie.
The moment I brought it to my nose, the sweet smell made my head spin. I ate quickly, crunching noisily.
I could feel his gaze on me, but I didn’t dare look up.
Then, without a word, he placed his coat over my head.
More like tossed it at me, but still…
“I guess Heister doesn’t even give its servants proper meals or clothes, huh?”
He must’ve seen me shivering and thought I was cold.
Even though he insulted my family, I just kept chewing my cookie.
I didn’t want to tell him I was a Heister.
I was afraid his kindness would vanish if he knew.
So I stayed silent.
From across the bench, he watched me closely.
“Go ahead and eat. I’m not taking it back.”
His casual kindness made my nose sting with tears.
It had been so long since anyone treated me like this.
No one had ever looked at me without hatred or disgust.
Just like a baby bird imprints on the first thing it sees, I carved him into my heart that day.
***
We met again later as the daughter of Heister and the son of Valdormer.
He recognized me—and at first, he seemed surprised. Then he frowned deeply.
He must’ve thought I had tricked him.
We met a few more times, by accident or fate.
The more we met, the colder he became…
But I, a naive girl, didn’t know how to stop my feelings—or even how to hide them.
Eventually, I turned twenty.
Most of my siblings had already married, and those who hadn’t were called to Father.
“One of you will marry someone from the Valdormer family.”
Everyone was shocked.
The Valdormers were our mortal enemies.
To marry into that family was like being sentenced to death.
“This is a political deal. You can’t back out. But since it’s the heir, he won’t kill you easily.”
Which meant—yes, it was still incredibly dangerous.
No one spoke. It was clear everyone was afraid.
“Ungrateful brats! I fed and raised you all, and you can’t even do this for your father?! Fine, I’ll force—”
But before he finished, I stepped forward.
“I’ll do it, Father.”
“What?”
“Let me be the one to marry him.”
That was the first time I saw him smile.
He clapped my shoulder like he was proud.
But it didn’t feel warm.
It felt like a stranger was touching me. Unfamiliar. Cold.
After that, the marriage happened quickly.
***
Looking back now, I had walked into the fire willingly.
After marrying him, both I and my child eventually died.
I looked down at my hand, dyed orange in the sunset.
Soon, a bright orange flame danced above it.
The fire spirit energy passed down in Heister…
Even though it was said to only awaken in men, it had awakened in me.
And I passed that power to my child, Denian.
It’s likely that power was the reason he was targeted.
Denian was born with the powers of both Valdormer and Heister.
I looked out at the orange-tinted sky.
This time, things will be different.
Denian died when he was three.
So this time, as soon as I become pregnant, I’ll escape from the Valdormers.
But before that—I must find out who’s after him.
That’s the task I must complete.
