Winter Swan

Kail's home was much bigger than Silje expected.

Squeak.

After they got off his car, they opened the giant metal front door and walked in. Silje was greeted by the luxurious and giant reception area and the servants were waiting with their heads bowed respectfully in front of the marble stairs.

Wood floors, extravagant decorations, and expensive furniture.

The living areas were surrounded by huge windows overlooking the gorgeous garden.

It was an intimidating and elegant castle. Silje could see the swans swimming in the garden pond through the windows. Inside the house, calm classical music was playing. All the lights were on, almost blinding Silje.

Suddenly, they heard the ominous clicks of the high heels coming down the stairs. When Silje looked up, it was a woman with platinum-blond hair in a white muslin dress and a fur shawl.

"Kail…!"

Her voice echoed as she walked towards them slowly.

"Kail."

Silje wondered who this beautiful woman was, but when she saw Kail's cold expression, she figured it out.

It was the evil witch.

'I can see that it is a fitting nickname.'

Kail smiled, but it was a frightening grin. It was very clear that this woman was his enemy.

"What do you want, Stepmother?"

Kail's stepmother.

Silje studied her secretly. The tension between mother and son was intense. They obviously hated each other.

"What do you mean what do I want, Kail? You brought home a guest, so I should of course greet her properly. Don't you think? This guest is especially important since it is YOUR guest."

Kail's stepmother spoke mockingly with a nasty smile and Silje realized she was mocking her. Kail's stepmother looked up and down at Silje and said to her with a contemptuous smile, "Welcome to our home. I am Kail's stepmother, Ingrid Skaki Bruntland."

Ingrid put on an icy smile and offered her hand to Silje. But with a foul grin, Kail took Silje's hand and started to walk away.

"Kail!"

Ingrid became red with anger.

"How dare you act so rudely to me in front of a guest!"

Kail didn't even blink. He just continued to pull Silje towards the stairs. He looked like he was enjoying this situation greatly.

"I'm curious, Ingrid. Since when did you care about my guests? Stop playing the kind hostess and just leave us alone. Your fake kindness makes me want to vomit."

Ingrid's face crumpled.

"Fine. Do as you wish."

Ingrid glared at him and added, "I suppose I shouldn't embarrass you in front of your guest."

She smiled elegantly, and to Silje's shock, Ingrid raised her hand and slapped Kail's face hard. Kail continued to smile coldly as he grabbed Ingrid's raised hand. Ingrid also giggled and said to him.

"Bringing the Asian bitch to our home like this… How dare you! You bring shame to all of us, Kail. Don't you get it? What would the servants think and say about all this?"

Kail squeezed Ingrid's hand and smiled evilly.

"Firstly, you need to apologize for insulting my woman. Secondly, the servants are already used to a horrible bitch like you, so I'm sure they have nothing bad to say about my girl. Everyone knows what you are really like, Ingrid."

"How dare you!"

Ingrid was about to continue when she screamed in pain.

"Gya!!! AHHH! Let my hand go."

Kail bent her hand in an unnatural angle and he seemed determined to make Ingrid apologize.

"… Kail, what do you think you're doing? Let go of my hand, NOW!"

Ingrid gritted her teeth and refused to give in. Her face was becoming red and blue at the same time, and the servants watched nervously.

As the lady of the house, Ingrid was being embarrassed in front of her entire household.

"Let me go! Now, you bastard!"

Ingrid finally exploded but Kail didn't seem to care at all.

"…"

He wouldn't let her go.

Kail just continued to stare at Ingrid coldly.

Icy green eyes. They were beautiful yet terrifying at the same time.

"AHHH! I said let go of me, you bastard!"

Ingrid continued to shriek and when it seemed like there was going to be no solution to this, Silje decided to step in.

"Let her hand go, Kail," Silje said to him quietly. "That's enough. I'm fine."

Kail turned to Silje and with a faint smile, he threw Ingrid down to the floor.

Standing up with a limp, Ingrid tried to strike Kail again but Silje stopped her.

"You should stop now."

Silje grabbed Ingrid's hand and for the first time since they arrived, Ingrid really saw Silje. Ingrid looked at her with shock and disgust as she spat out her words.

"What is this? Ha! I suppose dirty animals always end up together. Your nasty smell makes me sick. Just get out of my sight."

Ingrid looked smug while Kail stood silently with his arms crossed. He respected Silje and trusted her enough to be able to take care of herself, so Kail remained quiet.

After a short silence, Silje replied calmly, "I agree with you that there is a bad smell here, but I think it's from you. It is the smell of horrible racism and this house seems to be filled with it. I think you should open the windows to air it out. I would love to never see you again."

Ingrid's eyes widened in shock at Silje's unexpectedly sharp counterattack. She became speechless.

"…"

When he saw the stupefied expression on Ingrid's face, Kail laughed.

"Haha."

It was a genuinely happy laugh. Ingrid yelled, "What did you say, you Asian monkey?!"

Silje remained confident and looked at Ingrid with obvious contempt. She replied, "I must admit that I did at first feel apologetic for disturbing you in your own home. But only for a second. I quickly realized that you are not worth my thoughts and emotions. I will leave right away only because I can't stand the smell of this nasty racism in this place. I don't want to be associated with trash like you."

"W-what! What did you say!"

Ingrid's eyes widened and she screamed, "You are both crazy! Get out of my house now! Get lost! Dirty Asian bitch! Kail, you bastard!"

Kail smiled and lifted Silje to carry her upstairs.

"Let's go to my room."

He carried her upstairs as if they were newlyweds on their honeymoon. The servants watched with open mouths. Ingrid froze in shock and fury, and when they disappeared from her sight, she murmured loudly, "… I will kill them. I will kill both of them. You Asian bitch! You think you won this time, but you are mistaken. I will never forget this day. I will make you pay with your blood and tears."

Ingrid walked out furiously.