The earth still smelled of the dead.
A soft wind rolled over the graveyard as mourners dispersed in slow, somber clusters. Some wept sincerely. Others watched, calculating, cloaked in pretense. All eyes, eventually, trailed to her.
Kiera stood at the edge of her father's grave, eyes fixed, lips unmoving. Her black hanbok fluttered gently around her ankles, and though her body was still, her jaw clenched with quiet rage. Lee Soo stood behind her, silent and steady — not touching, but close enough to hold her up if she fell.
And then came the slow, familiar shuffling of expensive shoes and expensive egos.
"Jung-Ha."
She didn't need to look to know it was her grandfather — Jung Su, the great patriarch of rot disguised as wisdom. He came flanked by her uncle Jung Hyun, a leech in human clothing.
She turned. Cold. Straight-backed.
"My granddaughter," Jung Su said, smiling the way politicians smile at cameras. "You've grown into such a striking woman. You did well to come back. Your father would be proud."
Her eyes didn't blink. "You hated him."
Jung Su's smile faltered. Jung Hyun's eyes narrowed.
"You always called him reckless," she continued. "Said he made foolish choices. One of those choices was me, right? The foreign daughter who was better off forgotten."
A hush fell. Only the wind dared to whistle.
Jung Hyun stepped in. "Jung-Ha, that is no way to speak to your grandfather"
"No," she snapped, her voice sharp and unshaking. "That is the exact way to speak to the man that ruined my father's life."
She looked around at the people watching — pretending to mourn, pretending to care.
Her gaze locked on Jung Hyun. "And you—"
Jung Hyun's face twisted, but Kiera took a step forward, letting the fire in her voice burn through the cold air.
"I put you in the hospital when I was three. You lost your eye to a toddler." She chuckled. "Imagine what I could do now."
The laughter died on her tongue, turning to ice.
"If I find out that any of you had anything to do with my father's death…" She tilted her head, smiling again — slow, predatory. "Don't even come near me. That will be the end of you."
Lee Soo said nothing. But he moved beside her — a quiet warning in his own right.
Jung Jin, who had been watching Kiera from across the parking lot, muttered
"She's dangerous,"
"She's grieving," Carolyn replied, arms folded.
Jung Jin turned to her. "Don't act like you don't know what she's capable of."
"She's her father's daughter." Carolyn replied with a proud smile.
"And that's exactly the problem. She'll fight like him. Die like him too."
Carolyn stepped closer, her voice low, and her eyes dark. "Or maybe she'll do what none of you expected — win. She'll make every one of you bleed for what you did to her. For what you let happen to her as a child."
Jung Jin scoffed. "Oh! So what do you suggest we do? Run? I will never run from an exiled princess."
"Glad to know that you acknowledged her as a princess but she's actually a queen and that word exiled will soon be used on you and your little kids."
Jung Jin's face hardened, but Carolyn walked away, leaving her stewing in her silence.
Jung Ri approached as Kiera stood by the hearse.
"Kiera…"
She turned slightly.
"Jung-Ha, I haven't really gotten the time to speak to you and I don't think you have any good memory of me but I used to do your hair, remember? Blue ribbons. You'd dance around the courtyard pretending you were a princess…"
For a moment, Kiera's eyes softened. But then her lips pressed together, and she nodded without warmth.
"If you were so nice to me, you wouldn't let them manipulate my father's marriage and you wouldn't watch me go. Part of me feels you liked me and part of me feels you are just like the rest and I don't want to regret anything, so it's best you don't walk up to me again" she said quietly and walked away.
Eun Sang found her near the cherry blossom trees.
"They're blooming early this year," he said with a small smile. "Maybe it's a sign?"
She snorted. "A sign of what? Ghosts?"
"You used to love these trees."
"I used to love a lot of things."
"Be careful of who you push away" Eun-Sang said out of nowhere and that shocked Kiera.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.
"Jung-Ri, could be genuine"
"Nice one eavesdropper, I have to ask my mom about her but she is till considered an enemy. I'm in a battle field Eun-Sang, not some friendship island"
They stood in silence before Eun Sang dared to chuckle. "You know, you're scarier now. Still pretty, though."
Before Kiera could respond, Lee Soo's voice cut in sharply.
"We're leaving."
Eun Sang raised his hands, backing off with a grin. "Jealous fiancé, huh?"
Lee Soo stepped between them, his hand barely brushing Kiera's arm. "She's had enough for one day."
But the day wasn't done.
When they returned to her father's home, a trembling maid met them at the gate.
"He's already inside, Miss. He… He arrived before the burial ended."
Kiera frowned. "Who?"
"Your uncle."
Rage. A slow, pounding drumbeat in her skull.
She burst through the doors of the house only to find Jung Hyun lounging on a luxurious chair, sipping wine like it was his birthright.
"You didn't even wait until he was cold," she spat.
Jung Hyun stood slowly, trying to hold his smugness. "This house needs a man to manage it."
She stepped closer. "You mean a rat to infest it?"
"Kiera—"
"This house isn't yours. It belongs to my father. Which means it belongs to me. You're going to pack your filth and get out."
"You think anyone believes you're really engaged to that man?" He gestured toward Lee Soo. "It's all for show."
Kiera's lips curved slowly. "Then watch closely."
"I don't get you. You are here and there, acting all sassy. That's not how things work, be careful or you'll end up regretting, just like your dad." Jung-Hyun spatted out the evil in his heart and this reassured Jung-Ha, what she was up against.
She picked up a lighter from her bag and lit it. Slowly, slowly, she moved towards Jung-Hyun. The proud man seconds ago began to sweat profusely.
"What are you doing? Hey! Stop her she's a pure psycho!!" Jung-Hyun screamed as he asked Lee-Soo to intervene.
Lee-Soo on the other hand, took a step back and a proud smile plastered on his face.
"Oh, is my uncle scared? Take your things and leave this house! I want to ruin the second eye but now's too early" she put blew of the fire and threw the lighter into her bag.
Jung-Hyun ran into his car screaming like a mad man. "She is insane, beware!!". He later drove off while the maids laughed their hearts out.
Jung-Ha introduced herself to the maids and was left alone with Lee-Soo in the living room. Silence sat between them like a wall.
"I'll sleep in the guest room," he offered.
She shook her head. "Couples sleep together. It'll look suspicious."
His brow twitched. "You really are committing to this."
"I'm kidding, we aren't even married yet." Jung-Ha chucked and Lee-Soo became embarrassed.
"Hold on, Lee-Soo, i have noticed, that you clinged so close to me through out today and I am grateful but I hope that you sleeping here today isn't because you are scared, I'll get attacked right?" Jung-Ha asked.
"Not really but I am worried about you and j want to protect you" Lee-Soo replied.
"Okay calm down, have you fallen in love with me?" Kiera asked with mixed emotions.
Lee-Soo stood there in silence and seconds later he let out a wierd laughter.
"Don't get ahead of yourself now. I am just fulfilling my promise to your father". Lee-Soo replied and coughed slightly.
Jung-Ha didn't spout a word. Instead, she moved closer to him and touched his cheeks. Lee-Soo felt his heart about to explode.
"You are red. Hmm maybe it's you who shouldn't get ahead of yourself. I don't need you to be in the same roof with me to protect me. Goodnight and remember to stay away from Aera!" Jung-Ha told and looked around before she left.
Lee-Soo watched her as she made her way her bedroom. His face expressed three emotions and they each in a simple order-joy, confusion and embarassment.
He then held his cheeks, and moved to the guest bedroom.
Meanwhile, the maids had all watched from afar and they giggled.
"They are so cute!" The head maid said and the rest confirmed.
As Kiera slept, a dream came like a storm.
She was back in the old house. The one with the red curtains and no locks on the doors.
The fire crackled behind her. A child's cry echoed through the walls — her own. Her small hands were pressed against the door while shadows clawed at the windows. The scent of smoke and blood filled her lungs. Her mother's voice screamed something — unintelligible. Then silence. And the door creaked open by itself.
Kiera gasped awake, soaked in sweat, chest heaving.
Lee Soo on the other side of the wall, beard her scream and ran into her room.
"You were screaming."
She wiped her face. "It's fine."
"No, it's not." He handed her water, then leaned against the headboard. "Everything will be fine. You just need to breathe, and learn good Korean"
"I speak enough."
He scoffed. "Jagiya. Chingu. Aegyo. You're practically fluent."
She glared. "Stop mocking me."
"I'm helping you," he said, his voice lower. "You can't survive this world alone."
Kiera stared at him and said, "can you stay with me?"
Without hesitation, Lee-Soo replied, "sure". He slept beside her and slightly patted her back till she fell asleep.