What's a Woman
A woman is someone who could give up wealth, power, even herself for a man. If she were to give up again, she would unthinkably do so. Still, to this day, her mud-like heart would instantly scream his name from time to time.
Katharine wasn't any ordinary woman. But to throw away everything for love—that is an unremarkable feat even for love itself.
That night—how could I forget that night? The rain cried just like today. Stars were brighter than usual and the moon illuminated like a second sun. To this day I still remember how breathtaking it was. Katharine spoke, looking down and rubbing the golden ring on her hand. It shined through the candlelight, giving an aura that is hard to describe.
Her eyes softened. "But something was different about him that day. Even I didn't expect him to confess to me like that."
Katharine slowly raised her head, and then her gaze locked on Lila's eyes. "My daughter, there are some things you don't know about me… that I kept away from you."
Lila was stunned by her mother's expression. It was no more than a mere second, but she saw that glimpse of regret in those greenish eyes.
"What haven't you told me?" Lila spoke while looking deep into her mother's eyes. Those brown-textured eyes—any man could fall for them just by taking a peek.
Still, no matter how elegant they were, they failed to hide the sorrow deep within them.
"I…"
Katharine shattered her gaze, quickly escaping from Lila and helplessly looking toward the old wooden window nearby.
"Lila… there are a lot of things I have kept from you. Every moment I want to, I want to reveal them, but…"
"But even if I want to… it's still not the right time."
Then she stood and slowly walked toward Lila, taking her hands gently.
"You deserve much more than this life, my daughter. So… so much more."
She muttered so quietly that even Damien couldn't clearly hear the last sentence. Then she lifted Lila by her hand and admired it greatly.
Lila, still stunned—shocked and confused by her mother's sorrows—slowly stood up while taking a glimpse at Damien.
He was seated comfortably in an old wooden chair close to a window, still looking astonishing. But his eyes were directly on hers. They never lifted for a single second.
A sudden warmth flushed into her heart in an instant. Her heartbeat became faster, and louder than usual.
"Hmph… just by looking, how does he make me feel like this?"
Her mind whispered, even unknown to herself. She tried to avoid this sudden rebellion of her heart by quickly looking away from him. But that warmth she felt never left her.
It stayed like a drifting willow—but it didn't drift away. It crumbled down, staying in her wounded heart deeply, permanently.
This all took place in her imagination, in her mind. In real life it only lasted a minute.
Her mother was still holding her hand tightly. It gave off the same warmth that made her heart flutter when looking at Damien.
Rain seemed to have started outside. It roared, ignoring every cry the wilderness made. Wind followed the rain, brushing from small bamboo plants to large, untouchable pine trees.
Damien, still stunned by the mother and daughter, stayed quiet. Sitting on a small wooden chair placed close to a window, he listened to the rain. The noise was harsh and comforting at the same time.
A raindrop dropped on his face. Katharine's house had many spots leaking raindrops like this. They were clearly living a hard, distasteful life. Damien's heart grew heavy just by imagining how hard life was for Lila and her mother.
Even though he only met them once, he could never look away after witnessing this tragedy.
"Mother, if you saw them you would help them too, right?" Damien sighed in dissatisfaction.
He chose not to meddle in these affairs and looked for a way to escape from this so-called marriage first. Any tight-minded person would also do so.
"This was a brief encounter. How could I marry a girl even if she is so beautiful? I just met them, and how is her mother trusting me so much?"
This was his first thought. But realizing how much drier the situation was for Lila and Katharine, he couldn't let himself confess this was righteous.
"Damien, come here."
Katharine called Damien in a pleasant tone. He got up curiously and slowly walked toward them.
Katharine took Damien's hands and placed them in Lila's.
It was sudden, but a chill came down his spine after contact with Lila's delicate, flower-like soft hands. They were cold, but still smooth and delicate like the feather of a hummingbird.
Damien looked straight into Lila's face—still apple-red cheeks, those brown eyes that could misguide any man.
When Damien first found Lila, she was covered in dust and blood, her eyes filled with tears. At that time, he didn't prioritize her looks or any other quality in order to save her.
He knew she was somewhat exceptionally beautiful, but now, when he got a closer look, he saw how astonishingly beautiful this girl was.
Lila, bathed in yellow candlelight, appeared like an angel that came from heaven itself. Her long brown hair brushed her forehead, and the back of her hair was long enough to touch her knees. Even her worn-out, tight gown didn't diminish her beauty.
"How beautiful…"
Damien, mesmerized, fought with his own will, his own desire, his own heart.
"No, I still need to go."
He clenched his teeth. Convincing himself wasn't easy. But due to constant training as a hunter, he had already mastered the cruelty of perseverance.
On the other hand, Lila wasn't calm at all. Her heart betrayed her. It didn't just claim war against her—it provoked the soul out of her body.
Those blue eyes unflinchingly looked directly at her, and those pale, snow-like hands held her own hand, giving a warmth she never received.
"This is too much. Why do you make me feel like this?"
Her thoughts quickly formed without consent.
But right then Katharine spoke:
"Damien, I have one request."
Her voice was serious but gentle, and for some reason it echoed through the whole house, beating the noise that the outside rain made.
"What is it?" Damien raised his voice with caution.
"Swear… swear that you will protect my daughter once I'm gone."
Before he could answer, Lila spoke uncontrollably:
"Where… where are you going, Mother?"
Damien, stunned, his curiosity rushing forward to question her—but in the next moment he saw those eyes flickering with hope and sadness.
He tried to swallow his own words. No matter how unreasonable it sounded, he chose to say it:
"I will protect her with my own life. I promise you."
He didn't know why this sudden encounter made his heart so restless. Even Damien began to question himself. If she were someone he met recently, he would not have trusted her with her own daughter.
"I know Liora's son would never disappoint me."
She spoke quietly, looking at both of them. Her expression was genuinely happy, and also sad—like someone parting away.
"how.... how does she know mother"
Damien was puzzled. Before he had time to raise a question, suddenly his and Lila's hands began to shine with bright yellow light. It was magic, and for a second it outshined the small candlelight and lit up the whole house. And in an instant, it disappeared.
And so did Lila's mother, Katharine.