"Azula, is this Zuko's younger sister?"
Kahn curiously studied her.
Azula looked to be about the same age as them, but her posture and expression carried a sharpness that felt far older.
She was undeniably beautiful—Zuko himself was a handsome young boy—but her smile was laced with a cruel amusement that spoiled her charm.
Kahn frowned slightly, wondering who could've taught a little girl to wear such a dangerous expression.
Zuko had often complained about his sister, calling her wicked and unbearable. Though Zuko's words tended to exaggerate, Kahn could already sense that Azula was trouble—serious trouble.
"Mischievous, arrogant, and from the royal family," Kahn thought. "That's a disaster waiting to happen."
He decided it would be best to keep his distance.
But unfortunately, it was already too late.
Although Kahn had only given her a brief glance, his faint frown was enough for Azula to sense judgment. Her expression twisted with offense.
"What's this? You like staring at me so much?" she said coldly. "Do you want me to gouge out your eyes and keep them in my room so you can look at me every day?"
"Azula, don't scare Kahn!" Zuko protested, clearly upset.
"Zuzu," she replied mockingly, "has no one taught you manners? Don't interrupt people when they're speaking."
Then she turned back to Kahn, her eyes glinting with malice.
"Is your friend mute, Zuzu? If so, maybe we should sew up his mouth so no one gets confused. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
After saying that, she clapped her hands once in satisfaction, as if she'd just come up with a brilliant idea.
Her words sent a chill down Kahn's spine—not from fear, but from disbelief. A girl her age shouldn't even think that way.
"Whether it's my eyes or my mouth," Kahn said evenly, "I'd prefer they stay where they are. I meant no offense. If I did something wrong, I apologize."
In truth, he didn't take her threats seriously. Instead, his mind turned toward the bigger question—who had raised her to be like this?
If this cruelty was taught, not innate, then whoever did it had truly sinister motives. Especially given that she was a princess.
Azula, however, had no idea what Kahn was thinking. She only felt irritation building.
He wasn't scared. He wasn't even trembling. Why wasn't he afraid of her?
"Even if Kahn did something," Zuko cut in again, "he already apologized. You were the one who started it! If you keep being like this, I'll tell Mother!"
Azula sneered. "Zuzu, you're always such a goody-goody. Especially when Mother's around."
"Mother, look at her!" Zuko turned, exasperated.
"Alright, I know."
The voice came from nearby—a soft, gentle tone that instantly drew everyone's attention.
A beautiful woman stepped forward from the palace corridor. She had calm, kind eyes, her face radiant with both grace and authority. Her elegant royal robes shimmered slightly in the sunlight.
"Mother!" Zuko called out.
Princess Ursa—Zuko's mother—gazed up at the wall with a slight frown. "Azula, how can you climb up there? It's dangerous!"
Turning to the maid beside her, she said, "Quickly, help her down."
"No need, I can do it myself."
Azula pouted unhappily, but before anyone could stop her, she jumped from the wall, landing neatly on her feet.
"Azula!" Ursa gasped in alarm.
"I just wanted to come down quickly. See? I listened to you," Azula said indifferently, brushing the dust from her clothes without meeting her mother's eyes.
"Azula…" Ursa sighed softly, half angry, half helpless. Then she turned to the boys. "Now, tell me—what were you three arguing about?"
Zuko pointed immediately. "Azula was being mean again! She was picking on my friend Kahn!"
Azula folded her arms and gave him a mocking smirk. "Yes, Zuzu, you're always right—especially when you've got an audience."
"Mother, you see?!" Zuko sputtered.
"Enough," Ursa said tiredly. "Azula, you—"
"No, Madam, that's not what happened."
All eyes turned to Kahn in surprise.
He continued calmly, "Azula didn't bully me. We were just having a normal conversation. Zuko must've misunderstood."
Azula blinked, momentarily thrown off. She hadn't expected him to defend her.
"Kahn?!" Zuko nearly shouted. "Are you crazy?!" He bit his tongue before finishing, aware his mother was still watching.
Ursa's brows rose in surprise. "Is that true, Kahn? Azula didn't trouble you?"
Kahn shook his head. "She didn't. We just met, so how could there be bullying? Maybe a little misunderstanding, but it's already resolved."
He turned slightly toward Azula, giving her a subtle, meaningful glance.
For a brief moment, Azula didn't know how to react. No one—no one—had ever taken her side before, except her father.
The strange warmth that stirred inside her made her uneasy. Part of her wanted to lash out, to burn him just to end the feeling. But she didn't.
After a long pause, she finally gave a small, reluctant "hmph" and looked away.
Ursa frowned softly, still unconvinced. She knew her daughter's nature too well to believe the story completely. But Kahn's composure—and his decision to defend Azula—confused her.
Why would he protect the girl who'd just insulted him?
Then a thought crossed her mind—one she almost laughed at, yet couldn't quite dismiss.
Could it be… he fell in love with Azula at first sight?