Kim Yerim, the White Tiger of Kim Family

Born  within the four walls of the Kim Estate, Yerim is the only surviving daughter of the head of Kim family. Two of her siblings died on unknown causes, leaving her the only heir to the family's secret and inheritance. All eyes are on her, she was taken care by many maids and nannies as her own father took every countermeasures to make sure his daughter will not get the same fate as her other siblings.

Yerim is a very unpredictable girl, one thing she stays there, the other she went missing. But her father always find her hiding in plain sight. The grand mansion of the Kim family echoed with the sounds of daily life, the clinking of silverware, hushed conversations, and the faint hum of activity. Six-year-old Yerim, with her jet-black hair and lively brown eyes, added a spark of energy to the opulent surroundings. On this particular day, her bubbly personality was on full display.

As the sun bathed the mansion in a warm glow, Yerim's laughter resonated through the halls. She had decided to play a game of hide-and-seek with the maids, her infectious giggles drawing the attention of everyone in the household. The maids, accustomed to her playful antics, took up the challenge with smiles on their faces, unaware of the surprise Yerim had in store for them.

The mansion turned into a maze of ornate rooms and elegant corridors as the maids scurried to find the spirited little girl. Yerim, however, had a trick up her sleeve. Unbeknownst to the maids, she had perfected the art of hiding in plain sight.

In the midst of the commotion, Yerim slipped away, finding refuge in the shadows of a grand hall. She stood perfectly still, her small frame blending seamlessly with the lavish tapestries that adorned the walls. Her laughter silenced, replaced by a mischievous glint in her eyes.

The maids, growing increasingly puzzled by Yerim's disappearance, enlisted the help of the family members. The search intensified, with worried calls of her name echoing through the mansion. Yet, Yerim remained elusive, hidden in plain sight as if she were a part of the very fabric of the grand estate.

Her father, a man of keen observation and intuition, noticed the stillness in the hall. As the maids continued their frantic search, he approached the seemingly empty space where Yerim stood. A knowing smile played on his lips as he locked eyes with his daughter.

"Yerim," he called gently, acknowledging her innate ability with a subtle nod.

Yerim stepped out from her concealed position, a triumphant grin on her face. The maids, astonished by her sudden appearance, couldn't help but marvel at the young girl's uncanny talent for disappearing in plain sight.

Her father, recognizing the uniqueness of her gift, saw beyond the game. In that moment, amidst the opulence of the Kim mansion, he glimpsed the potential for something extraordinary. Yerim's ability to blend in, a trait not commonly associated with their family, hinted at a different kind of power—one that would set her apart in the dangerous world they inhabited.

As the maids sighed in relief and Yerim reveled in her victory, her father's gaze lingered on her, a silent acknowledgment of the extraordinary path that lay ahead for his youngest and most unpredictable child. The playful game of hide-and-seek had unwittingly unveiled a facet of Yerim's character that would shape her destiny within the enigmatic legacy of the Kim family.

{trigger warning: death}

The night was draped in a cloak of darkness as Yerim, on the verge of her 16th birthday, looked forward to a dinner with her father. He had insisted on this meeting, a rare occasion in which he sought to impart a sense of normalcy to his daughter's life despite the shadows that lingered over their family.

As Yerim settled into the luxurious interior of her father's car, there was a fleeting sense of tranquility. The city lights twinkled outside the window, casting a gentle glow on the streets below. The hum of the engine and the distant city sounds provided a backdrop to what should have been a simple father-daughter dinner.

However, fate had other plans. In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted. Another vehicle, dark and menacing, careened out of the shadows, ramming into the side of their car with a force that shattered the illusion of normalcy. The impact was jarring, metal against metal, glass shattering like fragile illusions.

The world outside the vehicle spun into a disorienting blur. Yerim's senses heightened as adrenaline surged through her veins. In the midst of the confusion, she became aware of the ominous figures emerging from the shadows—assassins, cold and methodical, closing in on her father's wounded car.

Despite the chaos, Yerim's father, though injured, managed to convey a steely determination. With urgency in his eyes, he uttered words meant only for her ears, entrusting her with a burden that transcended the ordinary life he had hoped for her.

"Protect the legacy," he whispered, his voice strained with pain and urgency.

As the assassins approached, they showed no mercy. Shots rang out, piercing the night with a cruel finality. Yerim's father, the guiding force in her tumultuous life, fell victim to the violence that constantly lurked in the shadows of their world.

The weight of grief and rage settled over Yerim like a suffocating cloak. The once-diminished city lights now reflected in her tear-filled eyes, their glow mirrored in the cold, unfeeling metal of the assassins' weapons. In that moment, the fragile veil of normalcy shattered, leaving Yerim with a burning resolve.

Her father's final words echoed in her mind, igniting a fierce determination within her. Graduation loomed on the horizon, but so did a reckoning. The assassins, unwittingly, had forged a formidable adversary in Yerim. Fuelled by a potent mix of grief, anger, and a newfound sense of responsibility, she vowed to unravel the web of betrayal and violence that had claimed her father.

As the sirens of approaching law enforcement pierced the night, Yerim's gaze hardened. Her father's legacy, once meant to be a burden lifted, now became the driving force propelling her into the perilous world of the mafia, her path illuminated by the burning embers of vengeance.

The dimly lit room fell into an uneasy silence as Yerim, no longer the carefree girl her father had envisioned, strode into the meeting. The air crackled with tension, and the hushed murmurs of the family members and trusted allies echoed in the cavernous space. Yerim's eyes, once filled with innocence, now burned with an intensity that mirrored the fire within her.

Without a word, she approached the imposing chair at the head of the table—the chair that once belonged to her father. A collective gasp swept through the room as Yerim took her seat, a symbolic gesture that signaled a shift in power, a passing of the torch stained with blood and revenge.

The family members and trusted allies, frozen in disbelief, exchanged uncertain glances. Yerim, just 18 years old, defied their expectations. Some were quick to dismiss her, their allegiance already pledged to another—Taeyeon, her older cousin and the initial choice for succession. However, Taeyeon was nowhere to be found, having chosen to disappear into the shadows during this critical moment.

In the face of dissent, Yerim remained stoic. The weight of her father's legacy pressed upon her shoulders, and the spark of determination in her eyes reflected a resolve that brooked no opposition. She spoke, her voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.

"I didn't choose this path. The ones who killed my father chose this," Yerim declared, her words sharp and laced with a newfound authority. "My father's blood runs through my veins, and his death demands a reckoning. I will not rest until those responsible pay for their sins."

Some in the room still resisted, their loyalty wavering in the face of an unexpected leader. Yerim, however, was not one to be underestimated. She addressed their concerns with a mixture of wisdom and a cold, calculated rationale.

"I may be young, but I am not naive. I've been groomed for this life from the moment I took my first step," Yerim asserted, her gaze sweeping across the room. "I understand the intricacies of our world, and I know what it takes to lead. Trust me, or don't. The choice is yours.."

Amidst the murmurs of dissent, one family member, emboldened by skepticism and perhaps a tinge of arrogance, stepped forward. "Yerim, you're too young to comprehend the gravity of our family's legacy. This world demands experience and wisdom, not the impulsive decisions of a teenager," he declared, his tone dripping with condescension.

Yerim, seated in her father's chair, looked at him with a steely gaze. The room held its breath, awaiting her response. With a composed demeanor that belied the turmoil within, she responded with a touch of sarcasm that cut through the air like a blade.

"Ah, you're right. I suppose I should be playing with dolls and attending tea parties instead of dealing with the harsh realities of our world," Yerim retorted, her words sharp and laced with biting sarcasm. "But you see, the world doesn't wait for one to age gracefully. It demands adaptation and strength. And, unlike some, I'm not blinded by the illusion of age equating to competence."

The room went quiet, the weight of her words sinking in. Yerim's sarcastic retort had exposed the hypocrisy of those who questioned her capability based on age. Her stoic demeanor and cutting wit left no room for further argument. She continued, her tone unwavering.

"I may be young, but I've been groomed in the shadows. I've watched, learned, and adapted. The world we navigate doesn't care about age; it cares about power, strategy, and results. If you doubt my ability, then watch as I turn our enemies into mere footnotes in the history of our family."

The skeptic, silenced by Yerim's unyielding words, retreated into the shadows of the room. The weight of her response resonated with the others, leaving an indelible mark on their perceptions. In that moment, Yerim's sarcastic retort served not only as a defense of her capabilities but also as a proclamation of her intent to lead with a strength and cunning that defied expectations. The room, once filled with dissenting whispers, now held an uneasy stillness, acknowledging the emergence of a new and formidable leader in the form of the young but resolute Yerim.

Yerim's transformation from a grieving daughter to the formidable leader of the Kim family became undeniable. The legacy her father had envisioned—a normal life for his daughter—had been shattered, replaced by a thirst for revenge and a ruthless determination to protect the family at any cost.

Now, she's 25 years old. She's the youngest heir to uphold the weight of their family's legacy.