Hana's Perspective
Damn… I'm so nervous.
I don't want this. Not like this. Not now.
Why does everything always get decided over my head?
I didn't even have time to prepare myself.
It all happened too fast.
Out of nowhere: "Hana, you're leaving the house tomorrow. You're no longer welcome here."
And then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world: "Oh, and by the way, you're engaged to some woman. She'll pick you up tomorrow at 3 PM."
Just like that.
No explanation. No consideration.
As always.
I hate them all.
Mages. Nobles. This whole damn world.
Yes, I'm scared. Terrified.
What am I supposed to do?
I'm just a normal woman small, fragile, without magic.
No spells. No tricks. Just… normal.
Not even a full noble. Half-blood. Half-worth.
I hate my life here, yes…
But at least I know this hell.
I know every cruelty, every humiliation.
Out there with her, with my supposed fiancée…
I know nothing.
The future is a black hole.
Is she cruel? Cold? Ancient? Ugly?
I have no idea and that's exactly what terrifies me.
If it goes badly… I wouldn't even be able to defend myself.
No chance.
Mages aren't like ordinary people.
Their power… it's terrifying.
Unimaginable.
All I can do is hope. That's it.
Hana glanced at the large clock in the foyer.
2:55 PM.
Tick… tock… tick… tock…
"I'm losing it…," she muttered.
Her heart was pounding in her throat.
I should really get going.
Her fingers shook as she grabbed the small, worn suitcase her entire life in one bag.
Her legs felt like jelly as she moved toward the heavy front door.
Each step echoed over the cold marble floor.
Her thoughts spun like a carousel spinning too fast out of control, breathless, dizzying.
Please… don't let it be worse. Just… a little better than here.
And then she reached for the doorknob.
Thank goodness… the rain had eased.
But the sky was still dark and heavy as if it could pour at any second.
Hana stepped carefully onto the gravel path.
Her fingers clutched the suitcase handle like her life depended on it.
What's wrong with my legs?
Stop shaking… please.
Frustrated, she slapped her thigh.
"Pull yourself together…," she whispered.
"Not now… not the time."
But her body didn't listen.
Her knees wobbled, her breaths shallow as if fear had paralyzed every muscle.
I need to hurry… she's probably waiting.
Hana swallowed hard and rushed toward the gate. The suitcase bounced behind her.
Please… please be pretty. At least that. Not old. Not scary.
If I have to be engaged to a woman, at least… not ugly.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, followed by a nervous smile.
Yeah… that's the bare minimum, right?
She crouched behind a wide tree trunk, half-hidden in shadow, and peeked out.
Her eyes landed on the tall woman next to a black SUV.
Long, jet-black hair, confident posture…
Elegant. Intimidating.
That must be her, Hana thought.
She swallowed.
From what felt like a safe distance, she watched the stranger's every move.
Her fingers gripped the suitcase handle tightly.
Her heart raced.
I can't see her face clearly… but she's pretty.
Well-groomed, too. Definitely not old maybe 23, 24?
Hana blinked nervously through the dim, rainy light.
But her height… damn, she's even taller than my father.
At least 182… maybe 185 centimeters.
A nervous knot twisted in Hana's stomach.
She's so present… so dominant.
Should I run? But… where to?
Home? No. If I ran, they'd beat me, drag me to her, and throw me down right in front of her.
Damn… I have to decide.
She looks a little annoyed… maybe because it's past 3?
What if she loses it? What if she hits me as soon as I get closer?
Hana bit her lip. Heart hammering.
I don't want this. I don't want any of this.
And… how is one supposed to act as a fiancée?
What do you say? How do you look? How… move?
I'm so inexperienced. I never thought about being engaged ever. Not to a man… not to a woman.
Yuna's POV
Yuna leaned casually against her black SUV as the rain tapped softly on the roof. Her emerald eyes drifted slowly across the courtyard and finally landed on a small, delicate figure.
So… that's you.
A crooked smile curved her lips.
The young woman probably thought she was hiding behind the tree. But the way she peeked out nervously made her anything but invisible.
Does she really think I don't see her? How adorable…
Yuna crossed her arms, studying her calmly.
Small… slender… almost fragile. This must be her Hana.
A few raindrops rolled off her leather jacket as she shifted her weight to the other leg.
She looks like she's about to run any second. Or break into tears. Or maybe both.
A quick glance at the watch.
Five past three. I don't want to rush her… but if she hesitates any longer, I'll have to fetch her myself.
Maybe she's scared…?
Yuna's gaze narrowed slightly as she continued watching the nervous young woman.
Is it my mana? Can she feel my power?
A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.
But… I feel nothing from her. No mana. Not a trace.
A faint frown appeared on her forehead.
Is she hiding it on purpose? Or… does she have none?
A quiet snort.
Unlikely. No mage would hide their mana entirely during a first meeting. Most would practically throw it in your face to show who's in charge. Territory marking. Typical.
She crossed her arms again.
So what is she then? Not a mage?
A quick glance back at Hana, still too scared to come out.
Normal humans can't sense my mana…
Then her nervousness isn't a reaction to my power it's just fear. Pure human fear.
Yuna's expression softened. A touch of regret mixed into her gaze.
I imagined this differently…
But she really is beautiful.
Even more beautiful than in the picture.
Doesn't matter. I'm not waiting any longer.
Yuna drew a deep breath, straightened up, and started moving. Step by step, she approached the tree behind which the delicate girl was hiding.
Hana's POV
Shit… she's coming toward me.
She saw me!
Before Hana could think about what to do, her body acted on instinct.
Before she knew it, she was running. Away from the tall, unfamiliar woman.
Toward the nearest tree.
Just run.
Out of pure fear.
Yuna's POV
She's absolutely adorable…
Like a frightened little kitten.
Does she really think she can run from me?
Yuna smirked softly.
Cute… really cute.
She gathered her mana, letting it flow into her legs and feet in the blink of an eye. A crackle ran through the air as she activated her lightning element.
The moment Hana turned, Yuna was already there.
A brief impulse and she sliced through the air faster than the eye could follow.
Hana didn't even have a chance to take a single step.
"You're Hana, right? …My fiancée?"
Hana's POV
Hana couldn't form a single word.
She just froze. Her body stiff, paralyzed with fear.
What… just happened?
Wasn't she standing by her car a second ago?
I… I couldn't even turn properly. Not even a step.
Yuna was stunned by the situation.
What do I do? Did I scare her so much she can't even move?
"Hello? Hana… Earth to you," she said softly, trying to keep her voice gentle and soothing.
"I'm Yuna your fiancée. Come with me to the car first, okay?"
She took a deep breath, gave a small, elegant bow, and stepped closer.
Carefully, she reached for Hana's trembling hand.
Yuna leaned forward slightly and pressed a firm kiss onto her pale skin.
Her red lips left a faint, barely smudged mark on the back of Hana's hand a silent sign of possession and tenderness.
Hana was completely overwhelmed.
She couldn't comprehend anything. Everything was happening so fast too much at once.
What… is happening here?
She wanted to answer, wanted to speak… but only shaky, uncontrolled sounds came out.
"I… uh… uhh…"
Her voice broke. Her throat was dry, her heart pounding. Her legs wanted to run, but her body felt frozen.
Yuna's warm hand on hers felt like a touch from another world gentle, yet intimidating.
Did… did she just kiss me?
Why?
I don't understand.
Why would she do that?
Hana stared at the faint lipstick mark on her hand. Her heart raced, her thoughts spiraling.
She's completely frozen…
She can't even speak properly.
Is she really that scared of me?
Yuna looked at the pale, trembling face before her and felt a pang in her chest.
I don't understand any of this… Is it me?
Or… maybe it's how she grew up?
Was she abused at home?
I know nothing about her.
Nothing at all.
Just her age and now, what she looks like.
Yuna leaned in slightly and spoke in a warm, gentle voice:
"You don't have to be afraid of me, darling… everything's fine."
A soft, apologetic smile played on her lips.
"I'm sorry if I scared you. That really wasn't my intention."
She saw Hana's shoulders rise and fall slightly, as if she were struggling internally.
"You don't have to speak if you don't want to, okay? No pressure. Let's just go to the car slowly for now, alright? Then we'll take it from there."
Yuna closed her eyes briefly, breathed deeply, and held Hana's delicate hand a little firmer. Not roughly. Not forcefully. But firmly.
Firm enough that Hana couldn't pull away.
You stay with me, Yuna thought. I won't let you disappear.
Yuna gave a gentle tug to guide Hana forward, but her fiancée barely moved. Her legs trembled so violently she swayed with every step, as if she could collapse any moment.
Yuna immediately stopped.
Damn… she can't even walk properly. She's shaking that badly?
She turned fully to Hana, taking her in. Hana's face was pale, lips quivering, gaze empty trapped somewhere between fear, shock, and overwhelm.
"Hey… it's okay. You don't have to be strong if you can't right now."
Her voice was softer now, barely a whisper.
Yuna slowly reached out to stroke Hana's head a soothing, tender gesture.
But the moment her hand moved toward her hair, Hana flinched in panic. Instinctively, she ducked, expecting a blow. Her trembling fingers shot up to shield her face.
Now she's going to hit me…
Hana's thoughts raced.
She's probably out of patience. Just because I didn't run… because I didn't answer…
Hana started crying. Quiet at first, barely audible but in the next moment, sobs shook her tiny frame.
She was completely at her limit.
The only sound breaking the silence was her muffled sobs, the desperate gasps between tears as if she were trying to swallow down the pain.
Clumsily, she tried to wipe the tears away with her free hand. But the more she tried, the harder they came.
Yuna looked at Hana with deep compassion.
She's severely traumatized…
Her body language told me everything more than a thousand words ever could.
The way she crouched… the way she raised her hand to her face, expecting a blow.
This fear runs deep.
She's afraid of me. Afraid of being hurt.
And yet… I feel infinitely sorry for her.
But this…
She's the person I've been searching for all these years.
She's not just afraid of me…
She's afraid of mages in general I can feel it clearly.
This all feels unreal. Almost like a strange dream.
I imagined our first meeting so differently.
Honestly… I thought she'd be like all the others from good families:
Arrogant, spoiled, defiant.
But what I see now…
…is none of that.
Before me stands no, cries a small, delicate, completely overwhelmed woman.
Fragile. Frightened. Traumatized.
And somehow… it makes me sad.
Yuna simply stood still.
She said nothing, made no move she was just there.
The rain had almost stopped, but the air was still damp and heavy.
Between them hung silence, only broken by Hana's soft, trembling sobs.
Yuna didn't want to overwhelm her.
So she waited. Patiently, calmly… until Hana had calmed a little.
"Feeling a bit better now, darling?"
Her voice was gentle, almost loving.
"I'm not a monster you need to fear."
She smiled faintly, glancing at the gray sky.
"But if you want, we can stay here a bit longer.
Maybe you'd like to shake off the rain."
A teasing note crept into her voice.
Then she looked back at Hana.
"Or… we can slowly head to the car, okay? Only when you're ready."
Hana nodded a tiny, silent gesture.
Step by step, they walked side by side until they reached Yuna's black SUV.
Yuna opened the door, then turned to her with a gentle smile.
"You don't have to talk if you don't want to.
If you feel like it, we can chat a little on the way just casually, okay?"
She paused, looking at Hana seriously.
"But when we get to my place… we'll talk. Whether you want to or not."
Hana's thoughts:
What… is happening? I don't understand this at all anymore.
Why didn't she hit me? Why is she… so kind?
I'm not a mage. The daughter of a simple cleaner who's long gone. I'm nobody. Why would someone like her a high-ranking noble, a powerful mage be nice to me? It makes no sense.
I'm nothing compared to her. A parasite, treated like trash by my family and thrown out. That's all I am.
There has to be a catch… something's wrong.
Yuna and Hana finally sat in the car.
No words were exchanged only the steady, loud patter of rain on the roof.
Drops streamed down the windows while the sky sank into a gray veil.