That morning, inside a secluded chamber of the royal palace, the King, Miera, and Kuro sat together. Before each of them rested a cup of warm tea, releasing a gentle fragrance into the air. The atmosphere appeared calm—yet the conversation awaiting them was anything but light.
"So, Kuro," Miera began seriously, "what did you see inside Luna's magic core?"
Kuro let out a quiet sigh. "While she was speaking to me, she looked extremely nervous. Her eyes went white… and then she collapsed."
He stared into the surface of his teacup, his reflection wavering in the liquid. Then, without another word, he stood up, carrying the cup with him as he walked toward the window.
"How should I even put this…" he muttered softly.
His shoulders rose slightly, like someone about to announce something important.
"I must admit—I am proud of myself for being a genius. One of the Seven Grand Archmages, the Root-Origin Mage—Kuro Forest—will now declare this…"
His gaze sharpened.
"That girl… Luna Altheria Meyer… is a terrifying monster."
The King froze. Miera straightened her posture, startled.
"Are you certain?" the King asked quietly.
"Absolutely," Kuro replied without hesitation. "The Thunder Vein that appeared during the Dragon attack—that magic was hers. There's no mistake."
Miera exhaled slowly, a faint smile forming. "I suspected as much. Can you explain in more detail?"
Kuro returned to his seat, his expression grave. "When my magic touched her core, I glimpsed something—just before my spell shattered. A shadow appeared… a robed mage activating magic. It wasn't something she intentionally revealed. It was a magical memory embedded deep within her root origin."
Miera fell silent for a moment. "And yet… she looks so innocent," she whispered. "But that power… it's truly dangerous."
The King stared blankly ahead. For a moment, words completely failed him.
---
Meanwhile, in the royal garden, the Prince and Luna sat side by side, surrounded by the gentle fragrance of spring flowers. Resting on the Prince's lap was a thick book bound in deep blue. He glanced at Luna and held it out to her.
"This is for you. You like reading, don't you?"
Luna blinked in surprise. Her eyes widened as she looked at the book, then back at the Prince, as if unsure she had heard correctly.
"Are you serious, Prince?"
"Of course. Aren't books always precious to you?"
Slowly, Luna accepted it. The moment her fingers touched the cover, she hugged it tightly without realizing it. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"I… I don't know what to say," she whispered. "But when you say it's precious… I just can't stop crying."
"Why are you crying?" the Prince asked, slightly panicked.
Luna hurriedly wiped her tears and shook her head, not wanting to worry him.
"Oh, right," the Prince continued. "You'll be going back to your home this afternoon, won't you?"
"Yes. I'll be going home," Luna replied softly.
The Prince nodded, then reached into his pocket. This time, he pulled out a gold necklace adorned with a blue gemstone that shimmered like the sky itself.
"This too… is for you."
Luna froze. "Prince…?"
"The pendant is blue. Just like your eyes. I thought… it would suit you."
Luna instinctively tried to refuse. "But you already gave me a book… I can't accept so much."
The Prince gently raised his index finger and placed it against Luna's lips, stopping her words.
"This necklace is a gift for accompanying me to the Torres family's birthday banquet. Please accept it."
Before Luna could respond, the Prince carefully placed the necklace around her neck. The golden chain rested elegantly against her skin, the blue pendant reflecting sunlight as if it were truly glowing.
Luna touched the pendant carefully. A small smile bloomed on her lips—warm, sincere, and shy.
After spending some time talking together, Miera suddenly appeared at the garden entrance, waving with a gentle smile.
"Luna! Come here."
Luna turned with the Prince. "Yes, Miera."
She stood and looked at the Prince. "Just a moment, Prince."
He nodded calmly. "Go ahead."
Luna walked over to Miera and stood beside her. Miera gently patted Luna's shoulder.
"Come to my room for a bit. Let's talk."
Luna nodded lightly. "Alright."
The two of them left the garden together, while the Prince watched their backs with a faint smile before returning to sit beneath the shade of the trees.
---
Luna and Miera sat facing each other in Miera's room. The scent of warm tea filled the air as Miera slowly poured it into two cups. She then sat across from Luna, looking at her gently.
"Luna dear," Miera said softly, "I once promised I would tell you about your family's past… the Meyer family. Do you remember?"
Luna nodded slightly.
"But before that," Miera continued, "I want to ask you something. Is it true… that you did nothing in the forest besides nearly being eaten by wolves?"
Luna nodded again. "That's true. I was just running because I was scared."
Miera smiled faintly, then leaned forward and lightly tapped Luna's nose with her fingertip. "My dear… the Thunder Vein that appeared over Farmedas belongs to the Meyer family. And you… are the only Meyer left."
Luna flinched. Her large eyes widened, her hands unconsciously clutching her skirt.
Miera continued in a low but serious voice. "Two hundred years ago, according to the original historical records—not the public version—Celis Meyer came from a distant kingdom and became a hero who helped defeat the Demon King. But… he was betrayed. Murdered by the first king's soldiers—Albert Adnan."
Luna fell silent. Her lips trembled, tears beginning to gather.
"Then Celis's younger brother, Bertold Meyer," Miera went on, "married a woman from Farmedas. His nobility was stripped away, and he was forced to live as a commoner. His descendants survived… all the way to your father. That good man who was burned alive. You knew that, didn't you? And now… only you remain."
Tears fell from Luna's eyes. "That's so cruel…" she whispered.
Miera immediately embraced her tightly, gently rubbing her back like soothing a small child. "The current king wants to atone for the sins of the past. He truly doesn't want you to come to harm."
"But…" Luna looked down, her voice trembling.
"The Thunder Vein magic core is the Meyer family's inheritance," Miera explained softly. "I don't know whether you used it consciously or not. You can even walk and speak while sleepwalking. So perhaps… your body moved on its own back then."
Luna shook her head, confused and anxious all at once. Miera offered a thin smile, trying to calm her.
Then—the door slowly opened.
The King entered.
And Luna—usually gentle and polite—looked at him with pure hatred, as if the centuries-old wounds of the Meyer bloodline had awakened within her.
The King stepped toward Luna, but she stood abruptly and retreated several steps. The sudden movement startled Miera, and even the King himself seemed taken aback.
"Lun—" the King began, but Luna cut him off.
"Enough!"
The King froze. Miera could only stand there, stunned—she had never seen Luna this tense.
"Luna… please listen first," the King said gently.
Luna lowered her head, her body trembling—not with fear, but with restrained rage. The King then placed a file of documents on the small table nearby.
"This contains information about your family," he said slowly. "I couldn't find any remaining Meyer lineage beyond your grandfather's father. But from that generation to you, all records list Alcarius nationality. That means… you originate from the Kingdom of Alcarius, the central capital."
Luna slightly lifted her face. "And?"
"I don't know whether the Kingdom of Alcarius is aware of the tragedy that befell the Meyer family two hundred years ago," the King said earnestly. "But one thing is certain—I do not want your bloodline to vanish from this world."
"And?" Luna's voice began to crack.
The King looked deeply into her eyes, as if searching for courage within himself.
"Would you… in the future, when you are grown… marry my son? Your first child would bear the surname Meyer. If you wish, all your children may carry the Meyer name. I am willing to erase the Adnan name from the royal lineage to ensure the Meyer family does not go extinct."
Miera's eyes widened. Such a request… even she hadn't expected the King to go that far.
Luna was silent for a moment. Then she lifted her face—but what appeared was not shock, but hatred so intense the air in the room seemed to freeze.
"You think I would marry the bloodline that slaughtered my family?" Luna whispered, her voice low and sharp.
"What are you really thinking, King? I will not do it. I never will."
The King recoiled. Miera instinctively clutched her chest.
"Let the Meyer name disappear from the earth," Luna continued, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Those who can thank a sinful land do not deserve the protection of Meyer magic."
Her words were sharp—but what followed was even more shocking.
"During the Dragon attack… I shouldn't have used my magic for this rotten land at all."
Miera covered her mouth, eyes wide. The King was utterly speechless.
Without giving them a chance to respond, Luna turned and ran out of the room. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the palace halls before fading away.
Miera stood frozen, her face pale. The King pressed his fingers to his temples, shocked and unsure how to react.
Luna had left the palace—carrying tears and a rage on the verge of eruption.