Chapter 1

While Sean was silent, Laura felt worried. Just as she wanted to apologize before he grew angry, she was surprised when he burst into hysterical laughter.

At first, Laura stood in silent astonishment, but then she laughed back and asked, "What's so funny?"

Sean replied, "What our family tells us is complete nonsense. How could they call someone as cute and small as you a beast?"

Laura said, "I'm not a monster."

Sean answered, "I know you're not, but my family told me that your kind are bad monsters, and I was warned to stay away from you all. The truth is, we are not all like that, but we believed their lies. They made us hate each other because of old feuds."

Laura smiled. "I don't see you as a monster now. Are you really not one?"

Sean grinned. "Do you see horns and a big tail on me?"

Laura laughed softly. "I don't mean that. I mean, are you a bad person?"

Sean hesitated. "I don't know if you see me as a bad person."

Laura replied, "I can't tell yet; this is practically our first real conversation."

Sean smiled. "Then our conversation will have to be a long one. At the end of it, you can tell me whether I'm a bad person or not."

After finishing her work on the farm that day, Laura went down to the river to meet him. Over time, they grew close. Laura came to see Sean as a loyal, faithful friend—almost like an older brother whom she deeply respected. But Sean did not see her that way at all.

One afternoon, a girl sat by the riverbank in the woods, dangling her feet in the cool water. She was sixteen, with long dark black hair and pale white skin. Sitting quietly, she suddenly sensed someone approaching. When she turned, she saw a boy with dark skin and red hair, around eighteen years old.

Their eyes met for a fleeting second before the girl scrambled up in fright, turning and running swiftly away from him, accidentally dropping her handkerchief behind.

The boy picked up the handkerchief and watched her fleeing form, calling out, "I won't hurt you! Why are you running away?"

Naturally, she ran. It was the law of her family: never get close to the rival clan. They had taught their children that the red-haired people were fierce, bloodthirsty monsters, warning them to flee the moment they appeared.

And the other family taught their children the exact same thing. Yet, as he watched her run, Sean didn't think she was a deceitful beast at all; instead, she looked like a frightened rabbit. He smiled at her panicked, comical expression, then pulled out his spear to catch some fish.

Whenever Laura visited her favorite spot by the river, she would find the dark-haired, red-haired young man sitting there. Day after day, they met in that exact spot.

Finally, one day, the timid Laura took a risk. With a heart full of fear and hesitation, she spoke up: "Excuse me."

Young Sean turned toward her, waiting for her to finish. Laura continued, "Did you see my handkerchief? I dropped it a while ago."

Sean played innocent. "Really? What does it look like?"

"Never mind, I'll go," Laura said, turning to flee as usual.

But Sean, determined to have a real conversation with her at last, stood up, gently caught her hand, and said, "Wait."

Laura whipped around, terror in her eyes. The bedtime stories of her childhood—tales of vicious monsters—weighed heavily on her mind, and she fought back tears.

Noticing her fear, Sean immediately let go of her hand and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Just as she tried to back away, Sean pulled her handkerchief from his pocket and asked, "Are you looking for this?"

Surprised, she whispered, "Yes... will you give it back?"

"Come and take it," Sean challenged.

Laura approached cautiously, stretching her hand out from a distance to grab it. When she couldn't quite reach, she tried to tug it away, but Sean still held tight.

Holding back tears, Laura pleaded, "Please, let go."

Sean looked into her eyes. "Why do you keep running away? Do you really think I'm a monster?"

"Yes, you are," she whispered.

One day, Laura stepped out of her house and hurried to the river, looking radiantly happy. Sean noticed immediately. "What happened? Why are you in such a good mood?"

Laura smiled brightly. "What do you think?"

"I have no idea. Tell me," Sean urged.

Laura stepped closer, her face glowing with excitement. "I'm getting married!"

Sean's smile faded, replaced by a sarcastic expression. "Are you joking with me?"

But Laura remained entirely serious. "It's the truth. A man from our village asked for my hand. He's handsome and kind, and I think I'm going to live happily with him."

Sean stared at her. "What was your answer?"

Still smiling, Laura said, "Of course I agreed."

Sean stood up abruptly, his expression darkening with anger. "Why?!"

Laura blinked in surprise. "What's wrong with you? Why aren't you happy for me?"

Sean stepped closer. "Of course I won't be happy."

Frustrated, Laura asked, "Why not?"

Sean closed the distance, placed his hands gently on her shoulders, and said, "Laura, I..."

Sensing he was about to cross a line, Laura cut him off, pushed his hands away, and turned to walk off.

Sean called out after her, "I love you!"

Laura froze in her tracks. It was the exact word she had dreaded hearing from him. Though she stood completely still, she didn't look entirely surprised—as if she had known his true feelings all along.

After all, they had spent an entire year together, not just a brief moment.

Sean pressed on, stepping two paces closer while she kept her back to him. "I love you, so please... don't marry him. Don't marry another man."

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm late," Laura said, breaking into a run.

Sean reached out his hand, calling her name, but she ignored him and fled. Reaching her house, she slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it while breathing heavily, her mind racing with Sean's confession.

She had suspected his feelings for a long time, but she had chosen to ignore them, hoping he would never confess so she could safely tell him about her engagement. She had never expected such a violent, emotional reaction from him, always viewing him as the kindest friend who would put her happiness above everything else.

But Sean was a man with deep feelings, unable to simply accept that the woman he loved would marry someone else, lie in another man's arms, and become entirely out of reach.

Several days passed, and Laura stopped visiting their usual meeting place. Sean waited for her there day after day until he couldn't stand the agony any longer. Determined, he sneaked into her village wearing a hat pulled low to hide his distinctive red hair.

While Laura was busy harvesting crops on the small farm behind her house, a shadow fell over her. She turned around with a gasp to find Sean standing behind a tree.

"Laura," Sean asked softly, "why haven't you come for days?"

Confused and panicked, Laura replied, "I've been busy."

Sean stepped forward, and his hat slipped from his head. "I know. You've been busy preparing for your wedding."

"What are you even doing here?" Laura hissed in a panic. "If anyone sees you, they'll arrest you!"

"Laura, please," Sean pleaded, "don't marry another man."

"Sean, go! Before they catch you!"

Instead of leaving, Sean pulled Laura into a tight embrace, his voice thick with sorrow. "I really love you so much. I can't hide it anymore—my feelings are too big to contain. I can't bear the thought of you being with another man. My heart breaks just imagining him holding your hand. I feel like I'm going to die."

Laura couldn't push him away. She knew his feelings were entirely genuine, and her heart ached for him. He was her dearest friend, and she didn't want to hurt him.

Suddenly, she heard the voices of her family's men approaching. Panicking, she pushed Sean back, shoved the hat back onto his head to hide his red hair, and whispered, "Go!"

"I won't go alone," Sean said stubbornly. "Come with me."

"Go now! I'll come to you after everyone is asleep," she promised, desperate to get him to safety.

Believing she was finally going to run away with him, Sean smiled through his relief and hurried away.

That night, after the entire household fell asleep, Laura slipped quietly out of the house and made her way to the river. She found Sean waiting for her with eager anticipation, having prepared the spot with flowers.

Laura approached, a deep sadness weighing on her heart because she knew what she had to do.

Sean ran toward her with open arms, but Laura raised a hand to stop him. "Don't come any closer."

Surprised, Sean halted. "Why?"

"Because tomorrow, I become another man's wife."

Anger flashed across Sean's face. "Then why didn't you agree to run away with me?"

"I never said I would."

"You told me we'd meet after everyone fell asleep!"

"Yes," Laura said softly, "because I wanted to tell you face-to-face that we can never meet again after today. This is our last meeting." She lowered her gaze. "Once I'm married, I can't see you anymore. My husband would suspect me of betrayal—especially since we belong to two warring families."

Sean's voice trembled with rage and despair. "Don't say that! Don't tell your husband anything. You're not actually going to marry him, right?"

"I'm sorry, Sean. This really is the end. I'm so glad I met you."

Laura stepped forward and gave him a brief, sorrowful embrace. "I'm sorry I let you down. I've always seen you as a dear friend and an older brother. I truly hope you can eventually see me the same way."

She pulled away and began to walk backward into the darkness, turning to give him one last, melancholy smile. "I wish you happiness with a wonderful woman, and I want you to wish the same for me. After all... we were just friends who crossed paths for a little while."

As she retreated, Sean cried out, "Don't go, Laura!"

But she kept walking until she vanished entirely into the dark, leaving Sean standing alone in the shadows, paralyzed by hopelessness and despair. Why must she marry another man? Why is this happening?

The next morning, the village buzzed with wedding preparations. Guests and family members gathered happily, waiting for the bride to make her entrance.

Meanwhile, Sean sat alone by the river.

He couldn't accept it. He couldn't fathom the thought of Laura resting in another man's arms, sharing a bed, and living a life with a stranger. He couldn't bear the thought of his sweet, innocent girl belonging to someone else.

Suddenly, Sean stood up, his eyes burning with fury. "I won't let you marry another man. You're mine!"

Seizing his sword, he turned and stormed furiously toward the wedding venue.

Amidst her friends helping her adjust her wedding decorations, Laura sat smiling, happy with her marriage and believing she had finally put an end to her turbulent chapter with Sean. But suddenly, she saw him emerge—striding toward them with a sword in his hand, driven by pure rage and vengeance.