Winter Swan

"KAIL!"

With her scream, something astonishing happened.

Kail's face, which had been blank so far, started to change slowly. When he heard her call, it looked like he had been hurt, like he was stabbed. Turning around slowly, he murmured, "So I was right. It's me. You and me."

The bystanders heard him and glanced at each other knowingly.

Silje continued to scream his name urgently. Once she started, she couldn't stop. The desperation and hurt in her voice were haunting.

She called out to him with all her heart and soul. She was begging him to help her.

"KAIL!"

The girls covered their ears and the boys frowned uncomfortably. Silje's scream was too powerful and hard to bear.

"KAIL!!"

One of the bullies grabbed her hair and yelled at her, "Shut up! Be quiet."

It was an ugly scene. Silje was covered in blood and the boys started to drag her away by her hair while she continued to scream Kail's name.

"KAIL…! KAIL!"

The bullies couldn't take it anymore. They punched her head and ordered her, "Shut up! Shut up, bitch!"

"…KAIL!"

"Stay still!"

They continued to drag Silje away, when suddenly, a dark figure shadowed them. The bullies gasped when they realized who it was.

In front them was Kail, the cruel king, silently smiling at them.

His words were quite pleasant, "So, how long did you think this was going to be allowed? Did you think I didn't mean what I said? Was it fun going behind my back?"

He seemed calm, but his eyes were burning. These kids touched what was his, and Kail wasn't going to let them get away with it.

The kids started to back away in fear. They were shocked by the strange turn of events.

Kail walked towards Silje without hesitation and said to her, "Get up."

It was a gentle but firm order. As soon as Silje moaned, his expression changed. It was only for a moment, but he looked at her with love and pain. He gently caressed her hair and asked quietly, "Can you walk?"

When Silje shook her head, to everyone's shock, Kail lifted her up to carry her and started to walk away.

"Oh my god, look at him!"

"What is happening?"

"Kail took her side. They must be really dating!"

"Is this really happening? I can't believe this."

The bystanders started to murmur among themselves in shock, but Kail ignored them.

He looked down at her, only her, and started to whisper.

"…I was always alone. I was lonely, but I thought that was normal. Then I met you. I knew it was you, but I have not bet all of myself for you. Until now. I knew my attraction for you was real, yet I still tested you. Even until just a moment ago, I was still wondering if I could give myself up for you completely. I wondered if I could give away my life for you, but I have always known the answer. Ever since I first saw you, I knew I would love you till I die. I have no choice but to love you, because you are just like me."

His voice was so quiet that only Silje could hear his confession. Under his intense gaze that was only for her, she felt breathless.

She was attracted to him. He was right. She had no choice but to feel this way about him. He was seductive, intense, and dark. His eyes mirrored hers.

It was instinct. Fate. They were the same. Two of a kind in this entire world. The same species.

Soulmates.

At this moment, Kail protected her with his life. No one could defy him in this school.

Except for Felicien.

Kail left the school building and was walking on the snowy ground with Silje in his arms when Felicien blocked him. Remembering what Felicien did to her, Silje trembled in fear.

Kail asked him quietly, "Do you still have something to say to me?"

Silje looked up at Kail and shivered. He looked calm, but she knew how deadly he could be.

But Felicien seemed oblivious. He replied, "Frankly, I hate that bitch."

Felicien was determined to win this fight. He continued, "Of all the girls in this school, why did you pick this Asian bitch? Do you not get it, Kail? You are embarrassing us. You are shaming us in front of the entire school. There are plenty of other girls. Better girls."

"Are you finished?" Kail asked coldly. Before sitting her down on the ground, he spoke to her in a gentle, sweet voice.

"Wait for me here, okay? I'll be quick."

Silje's eyes widened at his tenderness. Kail turned around to face Felicien and the gang.

He asked, "Do the rest of you feel the same way as Felicien? Is that it?"

Kail's voice was still calm, but it was clear he was furious. All of his goons flinched, except for Felicien, who looked determined. He stood his ground, making Kail smile.

"I see. So this is how it is, huh?"

A silence fell.

The grim ripper was back, and he was ready to take lives. Kail smiled as if he was enjoying this situation.

This was going to end badly.

Felicien hesitantly approached Kail. He said in a hoarse voice, "Kail, I have respected you as our leader for a very long time. I found your coldness and charisma amazing, but now… Ha! All I can see is you falling for a stupid Asian girl. I think it's time for you to leave."

And with that, Felicien gestured. Suddenly, one of the gang members came from Kail's behind and hit his head with a metal pipe.

Thud!

The girls screamed in shock.

"AAHHH!"

It happened so fast that Silje couldn't believe her eyes. It was clear that the pipe hit him hard, but Kail didn't make a sound. He slowly turned around as if nothing happened. In fact, he looked amused.

"Were you waiting for this moment? Hiding and waiting to attack me from behind?"

A stream of blood fell from Kail's head and the girls screamed again.

Kail continued to smile as he slowly walked toward Felicien and the others. He truly looked like a madman at this moment.

"Oh my god!"

Gunther and Gunhild screamed in fear as Kail got closer to them.

"Did you see that, Felicien? He was hit by a pipe, yet he is still walking. Kail's going to kill us all!"

"I knew this was going to happen! I told you we shouldn't go against him! What are we doing to do now?"

"GYAA! We're all going to die!"

Felicien gritted his teeth and screamed, "Just take him down! What are you all doing? Just kill him!"

The others had no choice. They grabbed their metal pipes and started to attack Kail all at once.

The girls screamed again.

"Gyaa!"

Silje couldn't believe what she was seeing in front of her. It was like watching a bad dream because it seemed so surreal.

Kail, the strongest and the most vicious person she knew, was being beaten with metal pipes by his own gang.

Thud! Thud!

"…"

He was hit so many times and he was bleeding profusely, yet despite it all, he was walking toward her, trying to return to her.

Even at this moment, his eyes were only for her.

Silje watched in shock.