Conquer My Heart

Prologue

 

On a winter night without even a hint of moonlight, the black forest resonated with the chill wind, emitting a low, eerie wail.

That ominous sound vanished into some abyss, leaving no echo behind.

The bitter cold forbade the forest from crying any longer. Snow piled knee-deep, and the brook had frozen white.

Tree branches, burdened by the weight of the snow, swayed precariously, occasionally dumping heavy clumps of snow to the ground whenever a fierce wind blew through.

A girl, no older than 12 or 13, sprinted through the forest in tattered rags.

Crunch. 

The packed snow crumbled under her small feet as she ran, never looking back.

Pale as the snow itself, she charged forward like a phantom. Her breath escaped in faint white clouds as the icy dawn wind sliced at her skin, but she didn’t falter, nor did she pause.

Woof! Woof! 

The sound of hunting dogs echoed faintly in the distance- a cruel, relentless noise.

The wind might have made it difficult for the dogs to catch her scent, but their determination to capture their prey was unmistakable.

The girl stopped briefly, gasping for breath.

Her small face remained as expressionless as an ice doll, her eyes as lifeless as a corpse’s.

The barking grew closer, making her glance down at her knees.

Her thin ankles, bearing dark bruises, seemed to have been bound by shackles not long ago.

Her scrawny legs trembled from the cold and hunger, barely able to support her weight.

Crack. 

She snapped a nearby branch and struck her own shin with it.

Thud. 

Drops of crimson blood spattered onto the snow, marking the white surface with splashes of red.

Despite the pain, she hobbled forward and started running again.

The biting wind brought stinging snowflakes with it, swirling and slashing past her.

Her silky, raven-black hair tangled around her thin neck before fluttering upward like black silk caught in the storm.

Squinting through the raging snowstorm, the girl narrowed her eyes.

‘My sweet child… Live long, longer than any of us, for the sake of your poor brother, for your father who met his cruel end, and now for my life as well. No matter what, survive.’

Splash. Splash.

The girl leaped into the partially frozen brook, the icy water numbing her legs in an instant.

Without hesitation, she crossed the wide stream and disappeared into the forest on the other side.

How long did she run?

The barking of the dogs grew fainter, the distance between them widening.

Dawn approached, and the snowfall lessened, the wind settling into a calm. Even then, she ran with all her might, her chest burning as if it might burst.

The sky gradually brightened, tinged with the red hues of morning.

Completely exhausted, the girl collapsed on the ground, her shoulders heaving as she gasped for air.

“Oh, my! Oh, dear heavens! I thought I’d encountered a forest spirit!”

A gentle voice called out from in front of her.

The girl, too weak to move, barely managed to lift her face.

A man in his sixties, adorned with a luxurious hat trimmed with fox tails, stood there, staring at her with wide, astonished eyes.

He took in the sight of the peculiar, foreign-looking girl, examining her closely.

She was a strange one. Despite her filthy rags, there was an undeniable grace about her. Could she be the daughter of some noble family?

Her pure, ethereal appearance could almost be mistaken for that of a forest spirit.

Yet, there was something else about her-an alluring aura, as if the seed of a captivating charm lay dormant within her.

“Well, well! Even a forest fairy might freeze to death in this weather. Are you alright?”

Removing his thick, fine cloak, the nobleman dismounted his horse.

The girl, her wary eyes fixed on him, retreated cautiously like a feline, making the man hang his cloak on a branch and step back.

His curiosity was piqued by her extraordinary beauty.

“I won’t come closer. But take this-it’s bitterly cold, and your clothes are soaked. It’s a wonder you’re still alive. You must be someone who knows nothing of pain.”

The girl glanced warily between the man and the cloak.

Sensing her hesitation, the man reassured her.

“I won’t chase you if you decide to run.”

His voice was warm and steady, exuding an unhurried gentleness.

Shivering uncontrollably, the girl wrapped herself tightly in the thick cloak, her frail body nearly disappearing within its folds.

The man smiled softly, satisfied with her acceptance.

“Judging by your appearance, you must have come from a far-off land. This is my domain, and I am Lord Drewbury of Orlank. What should I call you?”

“…”

“Do you not have a name? Or perhaps you haven’t learned the language of this land yet, if you’re not mute?”

“Daon.”

Her voice was hoarse from disuse, but it carried an inexplicable, haunting allure that seemed to resonate deeply with anyone who heard it.

Lord Drewbury stiffened for a moment, startled by the captivating quality of her voice.

Looking straight into his eyes, the girl repeated softly, “My name is Daon.”

Important Note From The Translator :

Hello dear readers, I know some of you may expect some mature scenes here and there, but I hate to inform you that there wouldn’t be such scenes.

I picked up this novel based on a reader’s request, but I am not comfortable at all to translate these kinds of scenes.

You can complain a little, but please be understanding (⁠◠⁠‿⁠・⁠)⁠—⁠☆