"Well, my guardian was a little...special, you see?" David said, a faint smile tugging at his lips, a glint of mystery in his eyes.
"How so?" Anora asked, her brows furrowing with curiosity, her head tilting slightly as she awaited his explanation.
David, sensing the need to guide her off-track, raised a hand.
"Heeey, Don't interrupt again. Now, back to the story. After hearing his words, I couldn't help but take it as a challenge to uncover what made Kevin so interesting. So, I began watching him, observing every move he made, and the results left me more baffled than I could have anticipated."
He leaned forward slightly, as though letting her in on a well-guarded secret.
"He was a whole year younger than me but far sharper, far calmer than the other children his age. While most kids sought companionship to feel included, Kevin? He didn't care. Not one bit. If anything, he outright ignored them like they were nothing more than shadows in his periphery. It wasn't just indifference—it was deliberate, a quiet refusal that infuriated almost everyone."
Anora listened intently, her sharp eyes taking in the subtle shifts in David's tone. The weight of his words began to paint a vivid picture in her mind.
"I, on the other hand," David continued, his voice softening, "knew I had a home to return to—a place waiting for me, responsibilities to fulfill. I trained daily under my guardian, the way any heir should. Every move, every lesson was meant to ensure I reached Level 1, at the very least. During those training sessions, other kids treated us like clowns performing martial tricks, keeping their distance as though we were outcasts. My guardian didn't mind, and neither did I. In fact, we welcomed it. Their absence gave us room to focus. But Kevin...he was different. Unlike the rest, he didn't sneer or judge from afar. No, he stood there, watching—silent, calculating—for no more than a week."
As David spoke, Anora noticed the subtle tension in his posture, the way his words seemed to carry a weight that even he wasn't entirely aware of.
"While he observed, I did the same. But Anora," he paused, shaking his head slightly, "my patience was wearing thin. I couldn't figure out what made him so...noticeable in my guardian's eyes. Sure, he looked fit for his age, and yes, he had this uncanny ability to observe others with a focus that was...eerie, almost. And sure, his arrogance rivaled my own, ignoring everyone around him despite not having a background like mine to justify it. But that was it. There was nothing—nothing—that made him interesting."
David's frustration was noticeable, and Anora couldn't help but lean forward, drawn deeper into his narrative.
"At that time," he admitted, a wry smile appearing across his face, "I thought I'd have to confront him directly to understand him. But, as luck would have it, there were others who lost their patience before I could."
Anora's lips parted slightly as she absorbed his words, her mind racing ahead, trying to anticipate where the story was heading.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," David continued, his voice taking on a faraway quality. "Five teenagers—humiliated and ignored by Kevin—decided they couldn't stand it anymore. Their wounded pride pushed them to go through his bag, desperate to find something, anything, that would make him wounded."
David's expression darkened as he recounted the events. "Their frustration peaked when they found nothing worthwhile. Just clothes, a toothbrush, a few books, and some letters—unnamed, anonymous pages filled with what they assumed were meaningless words. And then, one of them, overcome with anger, tore a letter apart in front of the others. That's when the idea struck them."
David's voice grew quieter, the tension in the room intensifying. "They thought, if these letters were precious enough for him to keep safe, then destroying them would surely be the perfect revenge. And just as they were about to grab another, there he was. Standing at the entrance. Silent. Watching."
Anora's breath hitched as she imagined the scene. "What did he do?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
David hesitated, his hand trembling ever so slightly. Anora noticed but chose not to interrupt.
"Every single one of those teenagers," David said slowly, his voice steady but chilling, "walked away with at least three broken fingers, fractured hands and several teeth missing—teeth they'll never see again. The one who tore the letter? He didn't walk away at all. I won't describe his condition, but...he was barely alive."
Anora's eyes widened, her mind struggling to reconcile the brutality with the boy David was describing.
"He should have been arrested," David admitted, his tone heavy, "for assaulting four teenagers and leaving one on the brink of death. But I couldn't let that happen. I asked my guardian to protect him, to keep him in the same foster house as me. And that's when I realized..."
David's voice softened, his eyes meeting Anora's. "Kevin wasn't someone who deceived others. It was his simplicity, his humble clothing, and his quiet demeanor—they made people misjudge him, see him as something he wasn't.
"Second, he is ruthless to those he considers his enemies, If you were his enemy, there were no limits to what he would do." David said, his tone calm yet carrying a weight that sent a chill down Anora's spine.
"And third, but most important to me," he continued, pausing as though to let the gravity of his next words sink in, "is that he, someone from a normal human family, was stronger than me. Despite being an entire year younger, he surpasses me—a rightful heir who has had the very best of everything from food to training."
Anora blinked, her curiosity burning brighter with every revelation. But before she could voice her thoughts, David added with a mysterious edge to his voice, "I wouldn't have cared this much if that was all he had."
Her lips parted, and she leaned in closer. "there's something more?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with both disbelief.
"Yes," David said, his voice dropping to a quiet intensity. "And it's a quality that makes him far more dangerous."
Anora's sharp, calculating mind kicked into overdrive. She narrowed her eyes, leaning back slightly as she studied David's face. "And what's that?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with interest.
David met her gaze, noticing the glint in her eyes. She was already calculating—analyzing the involvement of a person like Kevin in their lives. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head, weighing the best and worst outcomes of connecting their familywith someone like Kevin. She was right to see him as a double-edged sword. Mishandled, Kevin could destroy anyone, friend or foe.
"His most dangerous quality," David said, highlighting every word, "is his intelligence. And it's not my observation—it's something my guardian told me. Kevin knew I was observing him from the very beginning. He not only realized it but also turned it to his advantage. Do you understand what that means?"
Anora tilted her head slightly, her voice calm but thoughtful as she answered. "He analyzed you, identified your deep background, and then presented his qualities strategically to gain your interest and protect himself from the authorities, all while fulfilling his revenge as a bonus. Am I correct?"
David smiled faintly, nodding. "You're close, but not entirely right. You see, from your point of view, his revenge is a bonus. But after all the years I've spent with him, I've come to understand that the revenge was his primary goal. My interest in him? That was just a bonus for him."
Anora's breath hitched, her interest deepening.
"After showing me his capabilities," David continued, "he threw the ball into my court. He left the decision to me—whether I wanted to be his friend or not. And here's the thing: even if I hadn't helped him back then, he would have still managed to stay safe from the authorities. He played me, Anora. And he played me brilliantly."
Anora's brows furrowed as she pondered over his words. She reached an understanding of Kevin that left her both impressed and wary. Someone as capable as Kevin couldn't remain as a low-level member of any familyfor long. But to be certain of her thoughts, she leaned slightly toward David, intertwining her fingers with his and meeting his eyes with unwavering seriousness.
"Are you planning to make him a part of the Melbore family?" she asked, her voice low and steady, every word carrying the weight of her concern.
David didn't answer immediately, his silence thick with consideration. Finally, he turned his face away, his voice clear and resolute as he replied, "No, I'm not going to ask him to join my family. I don't think my family has what it takes to control him—or, rather, no one can."
Relief swept over Anora as she exhaled deeply, her tense shoulders relaxing. She was glad that David wasn't going to subject Kevin to the danger that came with being part of their family. After all, she knew how much Kevin meant to him. Kevin had been the only person David had invited to their secret marriage, despite the risks involved in bringing a third party into such a private event.
But before she could completely calm herself, David leaned forward with a wide, almost unnerving smile. The sudden shift in his demeanor sent a ripple of unease through her. She held her breath as he moved just close enough for her to feel his warmth, his determined eyes locking onto hers.
"So, instead of asking him to join my family," David said, his tone unwavering and filled with purpose, "I'm going to make him the protector of my generation."
The moment those words left his lips, Anora froze.