"Lucca!" I called his name.
He looked furious as he glared at Damon.
"Lucca again?" Damon said with obvious annoyance the moment he saw him. "Can't you see we're having a serious conversation? You just ruined it."
"I don't care what I ruined," Lucca replied coldly. "Stay away from my girlfriend!"
When Lucca called me his girlfriend, I looked at him in confusion. Then I remembered that I had never corrected Damon's assumption that Lucca was my boyfriend.
"Not your wife yet," Damon said confidently. "I can still steal her."
I couldn't believe how blatantly he said those words right in front of me, as if he didn't care.
What if Lucca and I were really in a relationship?
Wouldn't that be disrespectful?
Damon was openly expressing his interest in me without the slightest bit of shame.
"Stay away from her," Lucca warned.
He pulled me behind him, shielding me with his body as if he were determined to protect me.
If I had to rate his performance, I would give him a perfect score.
I always thought Lucca was just a snob.
Turns out, he was a good actor too.
"Now you're acting like a good boyfriend?" Damon scoffed. "Remember this, Lucca. You were never good, and you never will be."
His eyes burned with anger.
He was genuinely furious at Lucca.
I noticed Lucca clenching his fists as though he was about to attack.
I didn't know what to do.
We were the only people in the parking lot.
If they started fighting, it would be impossible for me to stop them.
"Do you want to fight me?" Damon challenged with a grin. "Then come on, Lucca. You know I'll never back down from a fight against you."
"Damon, please stop!" I shouted, hoping he would listen.
Instead, he simply smiled at me.
"Is this really the boyfriend you're proud of, Seraphina?" he asked mockingly. "If I were you, I'd choose someone better."
"And who's better?" Lucca sneered. "You? You'll never be better than me. Remember that. I'm stronger than you."
"Then prove it," Damon said with a grin. "I haven't seen your skills since I stopped sending my minions after you."
The moment Damon finished speaking, Lucca charged toward him and threw a powerful punch.
I gasped.
Lucca kept throwing punches while Damon effortlessly dodged every single one with a smile on his face.
Was there really someone who enjoyed fighting this much?
I had thought Damon was only a little crazy.
No.
He was completely insane.
"Lucca! Damon! Stop it!" I screamed.
Neither of them heard me.
They were too focused on attacking each other.
I desperately looked around for someone who could help.
Where were Dominic and Damian?
Why had they let Lucca come here alone?
I gasped loudly when I saw Lucca grab Damon's collar and lift him into the air.
Yet Damon kept smiling, completely unfazed despite dangling several feet above the ground.
Lucca's strength was unbelievable.
I couldn't help wondering how he had lifted Damon so effortlessly when they were both tall and well-built.
Yet Lucca held him as though he weighed no more than a child.
He wasn't even sweating.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.
I thought Dominic and Damian had finally arrived.
Instead, ten people wearing black hoodies emerged from the darkness.
Their faces were completely hidden.
"Lucca..." I called.
He immediately looked at me before following my gaze toward the hooded figures.
Damon suddenly laughed.
Lucca released his grip on him.
In an instant, the hooded men charged toward us.
Lucca quickly pulled me behind him to keep me away from the fight.
The force of his pull caused me to fall onto the ground.
But Lucca didn't notice.
He was already focused on fighting the hooded attackers.
How could he possibly fight all ten of them by himself?
Damon simply stood nearby, watching with a smile.
So they really were his men.
I stood up and tried to approach Damon, hoping to convince him to stop this madness.
But I froze.
I couldn't take another step.
Before my eyes, Lucca punched one of the hooded men so hard that he was sent flying several meters away.
No ordinary person could do that.
How...
How could Lucca possess that kind of strength?
He threw those men around as if they were nothing more than trash bags.
Just moments ago, I had been worried because it was one man against ten.
Now...
It looked like the ten men were the ones who needed help.
They were sent flying in every direction before crashing onto the ground.
"See that?" Damon said as he suddenly appeared beside me. "That's how strong your boyfriend is."
I hadn't even noticed him walking over.
"Did you know that he isn't an ordinary person?"
"Damon..." My voice trembled.
The words refused to come out.
My mind couldn't process everything I had just witnessed.
It all felt impossible.
It felt like I was dreaming.
"You're not dreaming, babe," Damon said with a grin. "Lucca has superpowers."
He looked at me with amusement.
"Now tell me... after seeing all of that, do you still like Lucca?"
So this had been Damon's plan all along.
He wanted me to discover the secret Lucca had been hiding.
My heart pounded against my chest.
I didn't know what to do.
Within moments, every one of Lucca's opponents was lying unconscious on the ground.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
Nor was he breathing heavily.
It was as though defeating ten armed men had been nothing more than a simple warm-up.
"Lucca... you're still as strong as ever. I'm so proud of you," Damon said with a smirk.
Lucca remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on Damon. His fists were still clenched, and his breathing was steady despite taking down all ten men without breaking a sweat.
"What?" Damon chuckled. "Not even a 'thank you'? I went through all that trouble just to prove to your girlfriend that you're special."
"Shut up, Damon," Lucca said through gritted teeth.
"Oh?" Damon raised an eyebrow. "Did I hit a nerve?"
Lucca took a step forward, making Damon grin even wider.
"You never change," Damon continued. "Always trying to protect people by hiding the truth. Tell me, how long were you planning to keep lying to her?"
I looked at Lucca, hoping he would deny everything Damon had said. Instead, he remained silent.
My chest tightened.
The silence was louder than any answer.
"Lucca..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "Is... is what he said true?"
He slowly turned to me.
For the first time since I had met him, I saw hesitation in his eyes.
"Seraphina..."
"Answer me." I took a step back. "Please."
He lowered his gaze for a brief moment before looking at me again.
"...Yes."
My heart sank.
"No..." I muttered, shaking my head. "No, that's impossible."
"You saw it yourself," Damon interrupted with a satisfied smile. "Normal people don't throw grown men across a parking lot like they're made of paper."
"Enough," Lucca warned.
"But it's the truth." Damon shrugged. "She deserves to know who she's been spending time with."
I stared at Lucca, unable to process everything that had happened.
The impossible strength.
The speed.
The way he had defeated ten men without even looking exhausted.
None of it made sense.
"What... are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucca closed his eyes for a second before opening them again.
"I'm sorry."
That wasn't the answer I was looking for.
Before I could ask another question, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the parking area.
Several men dressed in black suits rushed toward us.
"Boss!" one of them shouted as they stopped beside Lucca.
Their eyes immediately scanned the surroundings before noticing the unconscious men scattered across the ground.
One of them let out a sigh.
"We're late again."
Lucca's POV
"Lucca... you're still strong. I'm so proud of you," Damon said before smirking at me.
That was when I realized I had fallen right into Damon's trap.
I looked at Seraphina. She was staring at me blankly before shifting her gaze to Damon's minions, who were now sprawled across the parking lot. I had used my strength without thinking, completely forgetting that Seraphina was watching.
Damon had provoked me enough to unleash the anger I had been trying to suppress.
I clenched my fists as the realization sank in.
He had won.
He had used Seraphina to expose the secret I had been hiding all along.
"Now tell me, Seraphina," Damon said with a grin. "Do you still want Lucca to be your boyfriend? He's not an ordinary person."
I frowned at him. He was shamelessly ruining me in front of Seraphina, and I couldn't even deny it because she had witnessed everything with her own eyes.
"I'll go find Mira," Seraphina said softly.
Without waiting for a response, she turned her back and walked toward the hotel's entrance.
Soon, Damon and I were left alone.
I was about to attack him again, but he suddenly sprinted away from me.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, dude. Good luck!" he shouted before flashing me a grin that reminded me of a rabid dog.
And just like that, I was left standing there alone.
In a matter of seconds, Seraphina had discovered that I wasn't an ordinary person.
Now, how was I supposed to get the ring if she decided to distance herself from me? She would probably think she wasn't safe around me anymore.
"Lucca!"
I recognized Dominic's voice and saw him walking toward me with Damian.
"Where have you been?" Dominic asked. "We've been looking for you. After we talked, you just walked away without telling us where you were going. What are you doing here in the parking lot?"
He laughed lightly.
Would he still laugh if he knew what had just happened?
"Lucca... did something happen?" Dominic asked, his expression turning serious.
"I guess it did," Damian said calmly.
"What happened?" Dominic asked again.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Seraphina knows," I answered, feeling completely defeated.
"What do you mean?" Dominic asked, still confused.
Just then, we heard groans of pain behind us.
Damon's minions were slowly getting back on their feet.
Dominic's eyes widened as realization dawned on him.
"What? How? What did you do?" he asked frantically.
"Damon provoked me. I saw him talking to Seraphina, so I went over to her. I didn't realize it was all part of his plan. He wanted Seraphina to see what I really am."
I sighed heavily once more.
"That's a huge problem," Damian said calmly, crossing his arms. "Not just for Lucca, but for all of us."
He was right.
If Seraphina decided to stay away from us, everything would be over, especially for me.
How was I supposed to get the ring and break the curse if she refused to see me ever again?
Another sigh escaped my lips.
Because I lost control of my anger, I had revealed my true nature to Seraphina.
And it was entirely my fault.
"Where's Seraphina?" Dominic asked.
"She went to find Mira. I don't even know why she was here in the parking lot alone with Damon."
"I'll try talking to her," Dominic offered.
"Don't," Damian stopped him. "Just give her some time. It won't help either of them if you approach her now."
Dominic slowly nodded.
I looked up at the night sky.
I had messed up again.
And this time, I had messed up big time.
Seraphina's POV
"Sera! I thought you wanted to go home," Mira said when she saw me walking toward her.
After everything I had witnessed, I didn't have any energy left.
"I couldn't find your driver or the van," I lied.
The truth was, I didn't know how to face Lucca anymore.
Are you curious about what I was thinking and feeling?
Oddly enough, I wasn't afraid of him after what I had witnessed. If anything, I was curious. How did he possess such incredible strength? Was he even human? Or was he half-human and half-alien?
I didn't know.
My thoughts kept occupying my mind so much that I barely noticed what was happening around me.
Would Lucca be worried that I might avoid him after discovering his secret?
If Mira had witnessed what I did, she would probably have been even more shocked than I was.
But this wasn't the right time to tell her.
In fact, I didn't think I would ever be able to bring it up.
"Hey, Sera. Are you still with me?" Mira snapped her fingers in front of my face, pulling me back to the present.
"Ah... yes," I answered.
"I already called the driver. He said he'll be waiting at the entrance. Do you want me to come with you?" Mira asked.
"I told you, your parents need you here. I can manage on my own," I replied.
But could I really? A while ago, I couldn't even manage my own emotions.
"Hmm, okay. Just call me if you need anything. I was looking for my boyfriend too, but I couldn't find him."
I simply nodded before heading back outside.
This time, the van was already waiting at the entrance.
The driver opened the door for me, and I climbed inside. As soon as I leaned back against the seat, a long sigh escaped my lips.
How was I supposed to face Lucca now?
Did Dominic and Damian know about his secret too?
Most likely.
They had been friends since childhood, according to Dominic.
Did Dominic and Damian have powers just like Lucca?
Why was I so curious about all of this?
I sighed once again.
"Is something bothering you, Ma'am?" the driver asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
"Yeah... a little," I answered.
"You look exhausted from the party. Did something happen?" he asked kindly.
Even though I didn't have the energy to explain, I didn't want to ignore him. He was only being polite.
"I'm an introvert," I said with a small smile. "My social battery is completely drained."
He chuckled.
"I understand. A nice cup of tea might help you recharge. Or maybe a good night's sleep."
I smiled back.
"Thank you. I'll definitely have some tea when I get home."
Talking to him somehow made me feel a little more at ease.
A few minutes later, we arrived at Mira's mansion.
The driver got out and opened the van door for me.
"Thank you for bringing me home," I said.
"You're welcome, Ma'am. I have to head back now. Ms. Mira might call for me at any moment," he replied with a polite nod.
I returned the gesture before heading inside.
As soon as I entered my room, I took off my accessories one by one before trying to remove my gown.
It wasn't easy since I had to pull down the zipper by myself, but after a few attempts, I managed.
There was no one to help me, and I didn't want to disturb the maids. They were probably already resting.
After changing out of my gown, I went straight to the bathroom and took a cold shower.
Maybe the cold water would help clear the chaos in my mind.
So much had happened ever since I met those three.
And now...
How was I supposed to act around Lucca?
Was he worried that I had discovered his secret?
After a few minutes, I stepped out of the bathroom and changed into my pajamas.
Now that the long night was finally over, sleep slowly began to take over.
I needed the rest.
Tomorrow, hopefully, I would be able to think more clearly.
Ancient Times...
In the kingdom of Banhwa lived Queen Astrid and King Arthur. Their love story was truly an inspiration to everyone. As everyone knew, King Arthur loved his wife dearly. The affection he showed the queen was remarkable, and it was admired by all. As the years passed, the king remained unwavering in his devotion, even though the queen had yet to produce an heir to the throne. To him, nothing mattered more than his beloved wife.
For Queen Astrid, however, every passing year became another burden. The pressure weighed heavily on her, especially as the Queen Dowager—the king's mother—began to lose her patience.
Just like today.
The Queen Dowager paid a visit to the queen's chambers.
"Are you so busy serving this kingdom that you've forgotten to produce an heir?" the Queen Dowager asked calmly as she sipped her tea.
"Your Majesty, you know that I have been trying—"
The queen wasn't even able to finish her sentence before the Queen Dowager interrupted her.
"For five years? Trying? Can you hear yourself? What is the point of serving the people if the queen herself cannot produce an heir to secure the kingdom's future?"
The Queen Dowager's composed expression slowly turned into one of anger.
"I'm sorry, Mother," the queen whispered.
"Do not call me Mother if you cannot even fulfill the simplest duty of a queen. Produce an heir to secure the throne."
The queen was deeply hurt by the Queen Dowager's words. Yet she couldn't bring herself to defend herself because everything the Queen Dowager had said was true.
How could she lead the kingdom if she couldn't even produce an heir?
For years, she had tried.
But every attempt had ended in heartbreak.
She had suffered three miscarriages, and each one had been more painful than the last. Never once had the king blamed her. Instead, he comforted her through every loss and stayed faithfully by her side.
But as time passed, the Queen Dowager's patience wore thin.
The constant pressure only brought the queen more stress, making it even harder for her to conceive.
After leaving the queen's chambers, the Queen Dowager went straight to the king's chamber.
The king welcomed his mother respectfully and offered her tea, but she declined.
"I'll get straight to the point," she said. "I recommend that you take a concubine who can bear an heir."
"Mother... why are you saying this?" the king asked. "You know I have remained faithful to my wife."
"Faithful?" the Queen Dowager scoffed. "Your loyalty should be to the throne, not solely to your wife. The moment you became king, your greatest responsibility became protecting the kingdom's future. Tell me, how can you do that without an heir? It has been five years, Your Majesty. I fear the queen's womb will never bear a child."
"Mother, we're trying. Please... just give us one more chance."
"Trying? Until when?" the Queen Dowager demanded. "I am tired of waiting in vain. You are the last hope of this royal bloodline. Your father and I sacrificed everything to preserve this kingdom, and after five years, all you can tell me is that you're still trying? Had I known she would never bear an heir, I would never have agreed to make her queen."
Little did the king and his mother know that the queen had been standing outside the chamber all along.
After the Queen Dowager left her chambers, the queen had planned to speak with the king about what had happened. She never expected to hear the Queen Dowager discussing the very same matter with him.
"Take the concubine," the Queen Dowager continued. "Tomorrow, we will hold the ceremony to officially present her to the royal court. I will not take no for an answer, Your Majesty. I know you love your wife, but love alone is not enough to protect the throne."
Those were the last words the queen heard before she quietly returned to her chambers.
She cried throughout the night, wondering where everything had gone wrong.
She had done everything she could to conceive a child, yet every attempt had ended in failure. She faithfully consulted the royal physician, followed every treatment, and ate every food recommended to improve her health.
Yet she still failed.
For days, the queen remained inside her chambers. She refused to eat and rarely left her bed.
Her court ladies grew worried and reported her condition to the king, hoping he could comfort her.
The king had been so overwhelmed with royal duties that he had nearly neglected his responsibility to his queen. He, too, was under immense pressure from the Queen Dowager.
As soon as he heard that the queen had fallen ill, he immediately rushed to her chambers.
The official ceremony was scheduled for the following day.
He had begged the Queen Dowager to postpone it, and she reluctantly agreed to delay it by only one week.
He had not yet told the queen about the arrangement because fear lingered in his heart.
He simply didn't know how to explain it to her.
As soon as the court ladies opened the doors, the king hurried to his queen and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
The queen immediately burst into tears.
She had missed him so much that it felt as though they hadn't seen each other in years.
"Shh... don't cry, my queen," the king whispered as he gently comforted her.
"I can't stop crying, Your Majesty," she sobbed. "I'm sorry for failing you again and again. I'm sorry for putting you in a position where you're forced to make such painful choices. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to give you an heir despite all these years of marriage. Most of all... I'm sorry for existing."
The king's eyes filled with tears as well.
Hearing those words shattered his heart.
He never wanted his beloved queen to suffer like this.
If only the Queen Dowager could understand their pain.
But when the future of the throne was at stake... every other feeling had to be set aside.
"Tomorrow is the ceremony, isn't it?" the queen asked as she gently wiped the king's tears. In return, the king wiped away hers.
"I should be the one apologizing," the king said.
"Don't. It is your duty to obey your mother's command. She's right. You have to protect the throne, no matter what."
"Even if I take a concubine, always remember that you are the only woman I will ever love."
The queen's eyes filled with tears once more. If only she had been able to produce an heir, she wouldn't have to endure such heartache. The thought of her king sharing his bed with another woman made her heart ache even more.
That night, the queen stayed with the king. Under the moonlit sky, they held each other close as if trying to make time stand still. Every embrace carried unspoken sorrow, every touch reflected the love they feared would soon be tested. They cherished each other's warmth, knowing that by sunrise, everything between them would begin to change.
The following morning, the queen returned to her chambers while the king prepared for the ceremony. Although she had been invited to attend, the king did not force her to witness it. Even he was uncomfortable with the thought of her watching him accept another woman into the palace.
Despite everything, the queen decided to attend. She wanted to see the woman who would become the king's concubine.
She instructed her court ladies to dress her in her finest robes and adorn her with the most elegant accessories. She wanted the concubine to see that she was not only the queen by title but also by grace and dignity.
After an hour of preparation, the queen left her chambers accompanied by her court ladies and eunuchs as they made their way to the grand hall where the ceremony would be held.
When she arrived, the king and the Queen Dowager were already seated on their thrones. The king welcomed her with a gentle smile, while the Queen Dowager didn't even spare her a glance. The queen quietly took her seat beside the Queen Dowager's throne.
The ceremony soon began.
The concubine walked gracefully down the aisle as though she were a bride on her wedding day. When she reached the center of the hall, the king rose from his throne and descended the steps to officially welcome her.
As the veil covering the young woman's face was lifted, the queen finally saw her.
She was young, beautiful, and elegant, the very image of the woman the Queen Dowager had always wanted for the king. Looking at her, it was easy to believe that she would one day bear the long-awaited heir to the throne.
At that moment, The queen felt even smaller.
The Queen Dowager smiled at the young woman with a warmth she had never shown me, not even on the day I married the king.
She never believed she truly liked me. She merely accepted me because the king fought for their love.
Although she came from a noble family, their rank was among the lowest of the noble houses. She had never even been considered a suitable candidate to become queen because of her status.
Yet the king chose her.
The king told everyone that he loved her, and no one could change his mind.
The queen could still remember the first time they met.
He was standing by the river, absentmindedly skipping stones across the water.
That chance encounter blossomed into friendship, and eventually, into love.
The Queen Dowager strongly opposed their relationship at first. However, the king remained steadfast, and in the end, she had no choice but to accept her.
But now...
Now that she had failed to produce an heir, even the king could no longer oppose his mother's wishes.
Still, she understood him.
And she always would.
The ceremony ended peacefully.
The concubine approached her and introduced herself. She was soft-spoken and appeared gentle and kind.
The queen silently hoped they could become friends, for the king's sake.
Months after the concubine entered the palace, her court lady announced that she had conceived.
The news filled the queen with mixed emotions. She was genuinely happy that the kingdom would finally have an heir, yet she couldn't deny the jealousy that quietly crept into her heart.
As soon as she heard the news, the queen went to the concubine's chamber to personally congratulate her.
"Your Highness," Miana, the concubine, greeted respectfully.
"I came to congratulate you and bring you a gift for your pregnancy," the queen said with a gentle smile. She sincerely showed her happiness that, at last, the concubine had fulfilled both the Queen Dowager's and the king's wish for an heir to the throne.
"It is my honor to receive your gift, Your Highness," Miana replied gratefully, touched by the queen's kindness.
Just then, the king entered the concubine's chamber.
At first, he was surprised to see his wife and his concubine together. However, the queen simply smiled at him before quietly stepping aside, allowing the two to enjoy the joyous moment.
The queen left the chamber with a heavy heart.
The way the king looked at the concubine made her heart ache.
That was the same look he used to give her.
It was the look he had when she conceived their child.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" one of her court ladies asked with concern.
The queen nodded, trying to reassure them, but the sadness in her eyes was impossible to hide.
As the days passed, the queen gradually fell ill.
The king, occupied with affairs of the palace and the concubine's pregnancy, was unable to visit her.
One day, while the royal physician was examining her, he discovered that the queen was pregnant.
Everyone inside the queen's chambers was overjoyed, but the queen immediately stopped them.
"Don't tell the king yet. I don't want to give him false hope again."
Despite her request, the news quickly spread throughout the palace.
The king immediately rushed to her chambers.
That night, they celebrated the wonderful news together.
For a while, everything felt as though it had returned to the way it once was.
The king visited her every night and spent the evenings by her side. He no longer visited the concubine's chambers as often, choosing instead to remain with the queen throughout her pregnancy.
Those were the happiest months they had shared in years.
The queen was eight months pregnant, while the concubine was already nine months along.
Then one fateful night, the queen suddenly went into labor.
At the very same time, chaos erupted in the concubine's chambers as she, too, began giving birth.
That night, both women delivered their babies.
One child survived.
The other did not.
The royal physician slowly lowered his head before speaking.
"Your Majesty... I'm sorry. The baby isn't breathing."
"No... no... no..." the queen cried, shaking her head violently. "Tell me that's not true. No... it can't be..."
She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was the most devastating moment of her life.
She had carried the child for months, dreaming of the day she would finally hold her baby in her arms.
After three miscarriages, this had been her first full-term pregnancy.
She had believed that this time would be different.
Instead, fate had stolen her child once again.
Meanwhile, joy filled the concubine's chambers.
Her servants celebrated the healthy birth of the young prince, and Miana couldn't wait to share the wonderful news with the king.
Before she could leave her chamber, however, one of the court ladies announced the queen's arrival.
Miana was stunned.
She had heard that the queen had gone into labor as well.
How could she already be standing?
The eunuchs escorted everyone out of the room, including Miana's court ladies and the royal physician.
Moments later, the queen entered.
"Your Highness," Miana greeted respectfully, gently cradling her newborn son.
The queen looked utterly devastated.
Her white gown was stained with blood, her hair was disheveled, and her face was pale from exhaustion.
Miana's heart filled with both fear and concern.
"Your Highness..." she called softly.
But the queen remained silent.
Her eyes never left the baby sleeping peacefully in Miana's arms.
Only then did Miana notice the tears streaming down the queen's face.
In that instant, she understood.
The queen had lost her child.
"Your Highness..." Miana called again, this time with genuine sympathy.
The queen suddenly broke down, crying and pleading as she asked why her baby had been taken from her.
Anyone who saw her that night would never believe she was the kingdom's dignified queen.
She was no longer a queen.
She was simply a grieving mother.
The moment her baby was declared dead, she had risen from her bed and walked all the way to the concubine's chambers despite having just given birth.
Even the royal physician tried to stop her, but no one dared disobey the queen's command.
With her white gown soaked in blood, she walked through the palace in search of the child she could never have.
Who, in their right mind, could walk immediately after giving birth?
Yet grief had driven the queen beyond reason.
It was a sight that would surely be remembered in the kingdom's history.