Mireyna was startled by the beauty of the girl standing before her. Her hair was incredibly long and neatly tied, black and shiny. Her skin was as white as snow, flawless, and extremely beautiful. Her height was also just right for an advanced woman's stature. From a distance, she appeared incredibly enchanting, and Mireyna felt like she was looking at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life.
Yumeko Yue noticed the girl who was staring at her in awe, then she approached and said, "Hello. My name is Yumeko Yue. May I ask who you are?"
As soon as Yumeko looked into Mireyna's eyes, Mireyna felt like she was being drawn into the depth of her gaze. Yumeko's eyes were large, glowing, and an enchanting starlight blue, a color so beautiful it resembled the deep ocean.
Yumeko's eyes were so mesmerizing that Mireyna could hardly look away. Her beauty was unique and stunning. Her hands, her fingers, were long and delicate. Her nose, eyes, and lips came together perfectly in a face that was flawless—no imperfections at all.
Suddenly, Yumeko snapped Mireyna out of her trance, asking, "Are you okay?"
Mireyna snapped back to reality and looked at Yumeko, "Yes, sorry. I'm okay. Sorry about that. Your eyes are just so mesmerizing , and you're incredibly beautiful."
Yumeko smiled, "Thank you. I hear that a lot."
Mireyna smiled, "But you really are beautiful. Do you have any mixed heritage?"
Yumeko nodded slightly, "Mixed heritage? I'm not sure. My parents are originally from Japan, but as far as i know if im not mistaken my ancestors are from China."
Mireyna was surprised, "Your ancestors are from China?"
Yumeko nodded, "Yes, my name is Yumeko Yue. Yue is a surname traditionally used by the Chinese."
Mireyna smiled and said, "Ah, that makes sense. But you are so enchanting. You don't look like the average person and you don't look like the locals here."
Yumeko smiled back, "same as you, What's your name, if I may ask?"
Mireyna replied gracefully, "My name is Mireyna Tokushiro."
Yumeko raised an eyebrow, "Oh, Tokushiro? Grandchild of the village chief?"
Mireyna nodded slowly.
Then, Yumeko said with interest, "You also look like someone with mixed heritage. Are you caucasion?"
Mireyna smiled slightly, "Yes, my mother is Italian."
Yumeko was surprised, "Wow, so that means your father is Tokushiro?"
Mireyna nodded, "Yes, my father is from this village. My mother is from Italy."
Yumeko smiled sweetly, "wow what a far place,That's why you're so beautiful. You look different from the rest. You look like a foreigner, a white person."
Mireyna giggled "yeah but a lot of people said i don't look too "white" and some of them said i look like japanese"
"so you came from italy to meet your grandparents?" asked Yumeko full of curiosity.
"eh? no no i came from Tokyo i lived there but i did travelled maybe fifth sixth times there because of my grandparents which is my mom's "
Yumeko nodded "ahh..i see i see"
Just as they were talking, they heard a voice from inside the house calling out, "Mirae? my sweet Mirae! What are you doing outside the gate? Come in honey Obācan made you your favourite matcha!"
Mireyna stepped into the courtyard of her grandparents' house. She slipped off her shoes at the entrance and quietly entered, followed closely by her two bodyguards.
Her grandmother, waiting inside, looked up with a warm smile. "My dear, who are these two young men?"
Mireyna bowed slightly. "Obāchan, they're my bodyguards. Papa hired them. Don't worry, they've been protecting me since I was little. There's nothing to be concerned about."
Her grandmother's eyes softened even more. "In that case, what would you all like to eat? We have plenty of food in the house. Anything you'd like."
One of the bodyguards spoke up, "Do you happen to have Alfredo pasta?"
Her grandmother blinked, tilting her head. "Alfredo… pasta? What kind of rice cake is that?"
Mireyna laughed. "What are you talking about? Alfredo pasta is from Italy. Here, everything is traditional Japanese food."
She turned to her grandmother again. "Grilled salmon is fine too."
Just then, her grandfather came out from the kitchen with a wide grin. "Ah, my granddaughter Mirae is finally here. I've missed you dearly."
He wrapped her in a gentle hug. "You've grown so much. How old are you now?"
"I'm fifteen now, Ojīchan," she replied.
Her grandfather nodded. "You've grown into a fine young lady. It's been a while since you came back. Where are your parents?"
"Papa and Mama are on a business trip in Las Vegas. So I came back to visit you both on my own."
Her grandmother shook her head lightly. "All they ever think about is money and work. They forget what truly matters. You're their only daughter, and yet they leave you to travel here alone."
Mireyna smiled gently, trying to reassure her. "It's okay, Obāchan. I'm used to travelling on my own. Besides, I wasn't really alone. I had my bodyguards. And I understand—Mama and Papa are working hard for my future too. Without money, how would I buy the things I need? I get it. Adults have their responsibilities."
Her grandfather beamed with pride. "My dear Mirae, you're so mature for your age. More mature than your parents, even. I'm truly proud of you."
While they were eating the meal prepared by her grandmother, Mireyna looked up and asked softly, "Obāchan, Ojīchan… Who is the beautiful girl I saw earlier?."
Her grandfather raised a brow. "Why do you ask?"
Because… I saw her earlier, and she was so beautiful and captivating," Mireyna said softly. "Her name is Yumeko Yue. That's what she told me."
Her grandfather looked at her with a warm smile. "She is the most beautiful girl in this village. Yumeko. A remarkable young lady—elegant, kind-hearted, always ready to help, especially the elderly. A rare gem."
Mireyna listened closely, her heart stirred by a quiet fascination. There was something about the girl she'd met earlier… something that lingered in her mind like a haunting melody. She wasn't sure why, but she felt drawn to her.
"But how is she any different from our Mirae?" her grandmother teased with a gentle laugh. "You're just as lovely—and even softer in nature."
"Obāchan…" Mireyna sighed with a smile, "I didn't mean it like that. It's just… that girl—she's different. Uniquely beautiful. Like someone out of a storybook."
Her grandmother's expression softened, her eyes distant with memory. "That beauty… it isn't ordinary. It's said to be the legacy of the Yue family. Their lineage is entwined with an ancient legend—one involving a flower known as the Blue White Moon, or Shiēn, as it's sometimes called. A wildflower that only grows in the highest mountains, far beyond where ordinary people wander."
Mireyna tilted her head slightly. "What does that mean?"
"It means the flower is not just rare," her grandmother explained quietly. "It's said to grant unnatural youth and timeless beauty to those who consume it. But it isn't a gift freely given."
Intrigued, Mireyna leaned forward. "So… it gives power, but there's a cost?"
Her grandmother nodded. "A heavy one. In the Yue bloodline, only one daughter may inherit the beauty passed down from their ancestors. Just one. The line always chooses a girl—and only one."
Mireyna's brows furrowed. "And.. if they have more than one child?"
Her grandmother lowered her voice. "Then the second child is considered cursed. They may die in the womb… or be born twisted by the curse. Deformed, unloved… marked by nature as a mistake. A child not meant to exist."
A hush settled over the room, the weight of the legend sinking into Mireyna's thoughts. She didn't know why, but a chill passed through her chest—a quiet knowing that this story was more than just folklore.