The Memories Within the Fallen Sword Palace

Surrounded by walls, with no entrance or exit, the surroundings of the Fallen Sword Palace were shrouded in mystery. Kimoon extended her hand and touched the wall, realizing she could now freely pass through it.

Three years had passed, yet the interior of the Fallen Sword Palace remained unchanged. Bright and immaculate, it seemed to be regularly maintained and cleaned.

Ascending the steps, Kimoon arrived at the living room, where she had last been three years ago.

Three years prior, on the night of Shizuru's wedding, Kimoon, distraught and despondent, had attempted suicide by cutting her wrist. As blood drained from her body, her consciousness began to fade, slipping into unconsciousness. In the haze, she saw a figure calling out to her, it was Zui Ai.

When Kimoon woke again, it was the next day. To her surprise, she found herself back at the Ishtar Private Upscale Villa in the Crystal City of the Purple Kingdom. There was no trace of the wound from the previous night's self-harm on her left wrist. Instead, there was a blue-purple phoenix tattoo in the same spot. Kimoon tried everything, but she couldn't remove the tattoo.

Kimoon had attempted suicide several times thereafter, but each time, when she reached the brink, the blue-purple phoenix would enter her heart, dissolving her desire to die. Kimoon thus believed herself cursed to "live on."

Unable to end her life, Kimoon secluded herself within the villa, avoiding contact with the outside world, drowning herself in alcohol and dreams. It was as if in response to her need, Seju appeared. Claiming to be Yoko's successor, Seju came to live with Kimoon. Initially, Kimoon paid her no mind, ignoring her presence. Seju, unperturbed, simply brought various wines and joined Kimoon in her debauched routine. Eventually, after a drunken night, the two mistook each other for their beloved, furthering their physical relationship. Subsequently, they began to understand each other gradually. With Seju's presence and the passage of time, Kimoon slowly regained herself and resumed her efforts in the entertainment industry.

Entering the bedroom, Kimoon found a room laid with smooth grass mats. Inside were the low beds she had slept on before and a wardrobe. Opening one side of the wardrobe, she found some children's clothes. Were these the clothes she wore as a child? Kimoon wondered.

Recalling her lonely childhood spent within the Fallen Sword Palace, Kimoon couldn't help but feel resentment and sadness. She could barely remember how she spent each day then. She vaguely recalled masked maids regularly bringing her food and clothing, ensuring her material comfort. However, as she never spoke to anyone or received any instruction, she remained clueless about how to communicate with others until she met Shizuru in the Purple Kingdom.

Then, one day, when she was about five years old, Kimoon discovered a breach in one of the walls, finally allowing her to leave the Fallen Sword Palace.

During that time, Kimoon wandered until she reached a green space. Several children around her age were playing there, one of whom particularly drew Kimoon's attention. Unbeknownst to young Kimoon, it seemed that the child also sensed her presence and curiously turned to look in her direction. Kimoon, timidly hiding behind a towering tree, watched the group quietly, unnoticed by them.

Every day thereafter, Kimoon would return to that green space, hiding on the sidelines, silently listening to the conversations between the children and adults. Occasionally, she would peek out to watch the children frolic and play. All of this filled Kimoon with envy, yet she remained unsure of how to interact with others, thus continuing to hide away on the sidelines.

One day, a woman teaching the children a word caught Kimoon's attention: "mother." From this, Kimoon understood the meaning of the word and recalled the face of the woman who occasionally appeared in her dreams. Next to the word "mother," the woman placed a bouquet of flowers. Inspired, Kimoon decided she wanted to give her mother flowers too.

Picking a small blue-purple flower by the roadside, Kimoon lay on a path, waiting for her mother. Despite the heavy rain, she refused to leave, believing her mother would come. Indeed, Zui Ai appeared, accompanied by the little girl who had caught Kimoon's interest.

With the bouquet in her hands, Kimoon ran towards Zui Ai. She wanted to give the flowers to her mother. Although it was Kimoon's first time seeing Zui Ai up close, in her heart and in her dreams, she felt intimately familiar with Zui Ai's face and figure. Kimoon was overjoyed.

But suddenly, it seemed she collided with something and was bounced back, landing on the ground. Though puzzled, Kimoon still happily held the bouquet high and uttered her first word in life: "mother."

However, Zui Ai remained unmoved. The little girl called her mother too, and Zui Ai caressed her tenderly, showering her with affection.

Kimoon felt both envious and hopeful as she called out "mother" once again and uttered her second word: "flower." She wanted her mother to know that she wanted to give her this bouquet.

But Zui Ai remained unmoved. It was as if Zui Ai hadn't seen Kimoon at all, walking away hand in hand with Ruo Pu. Confused by this, Kimoon tried to continue calling out for her mother, but found herself unable to produce any sound. Wanting to turn and follow Zui Ai, Kimoon realized her body wouldn't respond, frozen in place.

Frozen in place, Kimoon held the flowers aloft. Though Zui Ai had released her from the spell, Kimoon remained as if ensnared, unable to move until several maids brought her back to the Fallen Sword Palace.

Though young Kimoon didn't understand what had happened that day, she sensed her mother's rejection. Was it because she disliked her? Or perhaps she didn't like the flowers? Since then, Kimoon often lay in the courtyard, gazing at the sky, pondering what she might have done wrong. She pondered endlessly how she could make her mother accept her flowers.

Shortly thereafter, Kimoon was sent to the Purple Kingdom to live with Yoko.

Returning to the present from her reverie, Kimoon opened the other side of the wardrobe and found some adult clothing, elegant dresses worn by the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Light. Such garments usually bore the owner's insignia, but these had none. Who placed them there? Were there members of the royal family residing in the Fallen Sword Palace? With these thoughts, Kimoon quickly folded the clothes and placed them back as they were, then turned and left.