Yuna unlocked the door to her house.
"Well, sweetheart… this is your new home from now on. I hope you'll like it, my dear."
She smiled softly, glancing over her shoulder at Hana.
"I'll make sure you do I promise. I know what's best for you… even if you might not believe that just yet."
The house was almost deafeningly quiet.
Yuna stood in the hallway with Hana, surrounded by the soft glow of dim lights and the faint warmth of a pleasant scent.
The only one speaking with her usual calm charm was Yuna.
Hana, on the other hand, stayed silent. Her eyes wandered around the room cautious, almost distrustful.
Then Hana looked at Yuna nervous, yet uncharacteristically serious.
Her lips trembled slightly, but her voice was steady, though quiet:
"Stop it… just stop this crap."
Even though it was barely a whisper, Yuna heard it clearly.
With a faintly mocking smile and a calm tone, she replied,
"Sweetheart, you don't need to whisper. If you have something to say, say it loud and clear."
Hana couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
Her fists clenched, her whole body shaking from tension, fear, and exhaustion.
Then, suddenly, it burst out of her loud, raw, desperate.
"I said stop this bullshit!
Don't call me 'love,' or 'sweetheart,' or 'princess,' or 'angel' just stop it!
You don't even know me!
So just stop calling me that, damn it!"
"I'm not stupid, you hear me?!"
Hana was shouting now her voice shaking with rage and pain.
"I hate all of you! Nobles, mages you're all cruel!
Awful people!
You just want to trick me
and once I finally trust you,
you'll hurt me,
beat me,
show me who you really are!"
Hana stomped toward Yuna, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse from screaming.
But the moment she reached her, her knees gave way, and she collapsed.
"Why… why are you doing this?" she sobbed, pounding her trembling fists weakly against Yuna's thighs helpless, tearful, desperate.
Yuna didn't move an inch.
She just stood there calm, upright. Her gaze was quiet, almost sorrowful.
She let Hana vent. No words. No resistance. Only silence.
"You know what…?"
Hana gasped for air, her voice shaking as tears kept pouring down her face.
"Let me tell you something…"
She looked down, clutching the fabric of her skirt with trembling hands.
"I'm nothing but filth…"
A bitter smile flickered across her lips.
"My own father disowned me… just threw me away. Like garbage.
Pathetic, right?"
Her voice cracked.
"Why do you pretend I'm worth anything? I'm not. I never was."
"And the funniest thing is…" Hana's voice trembled, "I'm not even a mage. No magic, no tricks just a weak, worthless human, right?"
She sniffled, wiping her nose with shaking fingers.
"I'm just Hana. The daughter of a cleaning woman who's been dead for years."
Her voice grew louder, rougher, more broken.
"My own father cast me out like trash. My stepsister, stepmother, even the maids they hit me, mocked me, humiliated me… I'm nothing. Just dirt beneath your noble shoes!"
Her breathing grew uneven. The words tumbled out of her.
"I didn't even know about this engagement until last night! I knew nothing about you! Nothing!"
Hana lifted her head, her gaze sharp like a blade.
"Well? Surprised now? Speechless? I figured. I don't belong anywhere."
Then she lowered her eyes again, her voice shrinking to a faint whisper.
"You'll probably throw me out now. Why wouldn't you? I'm not worth anything to you."
She hesitated.
"But before you do… before I end up on the street, with no home, no purpose…"
Her eyes filled with tears once more.
"Then… please just turn my light off instead.
Would you be so kind? You're a powerful mage, right? One snap of your fingers, and I'm gone. Just dust."
Yuna stood frozen. Her legs started to tremble.
Then, without a word, she dropped to her knees. Tears streamed silently down her face.
She pulled Hana into a tight embrace so tight that Hana couldn't break free.
"What are you doing?! Let me go, you witch!" Hana screamed, struggling with all her strength.
But it was useless.
Yuna's voice trembled. Tears ran down her cheeks as she held Hana close.
"Stop saying things like that…" she whispered, her pain barely hidden.
"I would never hurt you. Never. I wouldn't turn your light off… No. I'd turn it on, you hear me?"
She pulled Hana even closer.
"I'll drive the darkness out of you. I'll show you how beautiful life can be… even for you. Especially for you."
Her voice grew steadier, though still soaked in tears.
"I'll give you safety, warmth, peace a world without violence, without pain. A world where you can finally breathe. Where it's worth living."
Then she gently pressed her forehead against Hana's.
"Do you know why I want to do all this?"
A faint smile touched her lips, though she was still crying.
"Because I love you."
"I know it probably sounds ridiculous to you…" Yuna whispered softly, still holding Hana in her arms.
"But it's true. I'm drawn to you like a magnet. I can't even explain it myself."
She closed her eyes for a moment, as if gathering the courage to continue.
"Sometimes… we love someone without knowing why. Love isn't bound by time. You can love someone even if you haven't known them long."
Yuna took a deep breath and looked Hana straight in the eyes.
"And that's exactly how I feel about you."
"I have everything," Yuna said quietly.
"Power, influence, money…"
She paused, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"But what good is all that if I'm not happy? In the end, I'm just a person too… with simple, quiet longings."
Yuna's gaze softened.
"I want a woman by my side who needs me. Someone I can give something to. Someone who'll accept me just as I am. That's what I wish for."
She placed a hand gently on Hana's cheek.
"And you know what? I couldn't care less who your mother was. Whether you're a mage or not it doesn't matter. Not to me."
Hana stared at Yuna, wide-eyed, bewildered.
She couldn't understand any of it.
That someone like Yuna…
…was crying for her.
That someone so powerful had fallen to her knees.
It all felt unreal like a dream.
The car ride.
The arrival.
No… the entire day.
Hana spoke in a trembling, tearful voice.
"I… I'm sorry.
But I can't.
I want to believe you… I really do.
But I can't."
Her voice quivered.
"I'm sorry… I'm just too scared."
Yuna slowly loosened the embrace and looked at Hana tenderly.
"I know you can't," she said softly.
"You don't have to believe me.
Or trust me."
Yuna gave her a weak smile.
"I understand.
Trust has to be earned…
and I'm willing to earn yours."
She looked at Hana with a gentle, almost pleading smile.
"So… would you be kind enough to give me a chance? Please?"
Hana lowered her gaze, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Okay… I've got nothing to lose anyway."
Yuna smiled warmly, wiped the last of her tears away, and spoke in a calm, steady voice:
"Then let's start over, shall we? My name is Yuna. I'm twenty-six. Nice to meet you."
Hana hesitated for a moment, her voice shaky and fragile.
"I… I'm Hana. Eighteen… likewise."