Serena didn't say anything else, she just stood, her crimson scarf flicking over her shoulder as she walked toward the door. Aiko, blinking in confusion, grabbed one last dumpling before reluctantly following her out.
Sienna barely noticed them leave.
Her heart was pounding as she stared at the flickering holographic screen.
The name "Mom" glowed softly in the dimly lit room.
She hesitated.
Then, taking a deep breath, she reached out and tapped the screen.
The moment the call connected, the warm face of her mother appeared in the projection.
Her mother was still as elegant as ever, her silver hair tied in a simple bun, her soft eyes filled with a wisdom that only years of experience could grant.
But the second she saw Sienna's face, her expression changed.
Her mother's smile faded.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, concern flickering across her features.
"Sienna," she said gently. "You've been crying."
Sienna's throat tightened.
Just hearing that—just knowing that her mother could see right through her—made her chest ache even more.
She bit her lip.
And then, everything poured out.
"Mom…" Her voice was already trembling. "Jasper—he—he did something awful."
Her mother said nothing, only nodding slightly, silently urging her to continue.
Sienna took a shaky breath.
"He… he wanted me to hate him. He—he deleted all my work… or at least, he made me think he did. He let me believe that everything was gone, that my career was ruined. He made me feel so—so worthless. And then, when I confronted him, he just… stood there. He didn't care. He just—"
Her voice cracked.
"He threw away the necklace I gave him, Mom. Right in front of me. Like it meant nothing."
Tears burned in her eyes again, but she wiped them away angrily.
"I screamed at him. I called him every name I could think of. I told him I hated him. And he just… accepted it."
Her mother listened patiently, her expression unreadable.
Sienna inhaled shakily.
"And the worst part? It worked. I do hate him. Or at least… I should."
Her fists clenched.
"So why does it hurt so much?"
The room fell into silence.
Her mother watched her carefully for a moment, then sighed softly.
"Sienna."
Her voice was gentle but firm.
"Stop crying."
Sienna blinked, a little stunned by the sudden shift in tone.
"But—"
"No excuses, young lady," her mother interrupted. "I raised you stronger than this."
Sienna bit her lip.
"But Mom, he—"
"Yes, I know what he did. And I also know that you're not as innocent in this as you think you are."
Sienna froze.
"What?"
Her mother's expression softened, but there was something unwavering in her gaze.
"Tell me, Sienna—if you really loved him, why did you put your work above him?"
Sienna's breath hitched.
"I—I didn't—"
"Yes, you did."
Her mother leaned forward slightly, piercing her with those knowing eyes.
"You say he doesn't understand love. But do you?"
Sienna's mind reeled.
"I—of course I do! I tried, Mom! I tried so many times! I told him, I showed him—I did everything I could!"
Her mother shook her head.
"You showed him what you thought love should be. But did you ever stop to think about what love means to him?"
Sienna felt her stomach drop.
Her mother's voice softened.
"Sienna… I know you meant well. But Jasper isn't like you. He's never had a family. He's never had someone he could rely on. Love, for him, is a foreign concept. And instead of being patient with him… you tested him. You gave him conditions. You expected him to just understand something he's never known."
Sienna's hands trembled as she clenched her lap.
"But I just wanted him to—"
"To love you back?"
Her mother tilted her head.
"Or to be the person you think he should be?"
Sienna stopped breathing for a second.
Her mother smiled gently.
"Love isn't about proving a point, Sienna. Love is a sacrifice. It's not about making someone understand—it's about choosing them, even when they don't understand. It's about living as one spirit, not two competing minds."
Sienna's throat felt tight.
Her mother let the words sink in before continuing.
"If you really love him, stop trying to control how he sees love. Instead, show him—by never leaving, by always being there, no matter how many times he tries to push you away. If he insults you, smile. If he humiliates you, laugh. If he tries to break you, prove to him that you're unbreakable."
Sienna felt something shift inside her.
Her mother's eyes softened further.
"My daughter doesn't know how to give up. So don't give up on him now."
Sienna let out a slow, shaky breath.
She smiled weakly.
"You always know what to say, huh?"
Her mother chuckled.
"Of course. I raised you, didn't I?"
Sienna exhaled, finally feeling lighter.
She wiped the last of her tears.
"Then I'll do it. I'll apologize."
Her mother's face brightened.
"That's my girl."
Sienna nodded, determined.
"I won't let him push me away anymore. I'll show him that I don't break that easily."
She had spent so much time trying to make Jasper understand love instead of simply showing him what love truly was.
No more tests.
No more logic.
No more overthinking.
She was going to prove to him that her love was unshakable.
Just as she was about to thank her mother and end the call, her mother's expression shifted.
The warmth in her eyes remained, but there was a glint of mischief hidden in her gaze.
"One more thing, Sienna."
Sienna blinked, suddenly cautious.
"What?"
Her mother leaned closer to the screen, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
"Ask him about marriage."
Sienna's brain short-circuited.
"…WHAT?!"
Her entire face ignited.
"M-Mom, I—"
"You are 21, Sienna." Her mother's voice was calm, amused. "You are not a child anymore. You are a woman. If you love him, stop waiting and make your intentions clear."
Sienna felt her heartbeat slam against her ribs.
"B-But he's—he's 17! That's a four-year difference!"
Her mother shrugged elegantly.
"And? Since when does love follow an age rule?"
Sienna stared at her, stunned.
"B-But—"
Her mother chuckled.
"If you're going to fight for him, fight for real. Don't just prove your love—claim it. And when you're done with all this foolish pushing and pulling…"
Her mother's eyes gleamed.
"…Kiss him, then bring him home. We will decide the marriage date."
Sienna's soul left her body.
"M-MARRIAGE DATE?!"
Her entire face burned.
Her mother laughed softly, watching her daughter implode.
"You are my daughter, Sienna. You do not hesitate. You do not let go of what belongs to you."
Sienna covered her face with her hands.
"Mom, stop talking—"
"No, I think I'll keep going. In fact, I'll start making wedding arrangements right now—"
"MOM!"
Her mother chuckled again but softened her gaze.
"Think about it, Sienna. Love isn't waiting for permission. If you want him, make him yours."
Sienna let out a strangled sound, somewhere between a groan and a dying breath.
She could barely process this conversation anymore.
Marriage?
Kissing Jasper?!
Claiming him?!
She wasn't ready for this—was she?
But deep inside, a small voice whispered something.
"…Maybe she's right."
Her mother smiled one last time.
"I'll be waiting for good news. Take care, my love."
And then—
The screen flickered, and the call ended.
Leaving Sienna alone with her racing thoughts.
Sienna sat there, motionless.
Her heart was pounding so loudly, she could hear it in her ears.
Her face was still flushed deep red, the word marriage circling in her mind like a meteor about to crash.
But beneath the shock, the embarrassment, something else began to rise.
A slow, burning determination.
Her mother was right.
Jasper had spent his whole life rejecting love, pushing people away.
But she wouldn't let him push her away.
She wouldn't let him decide that he wasn't worthy of love.
"I'm not letting you go that easily, Jasper Tyros."
She stood up.
Her hands clenched into fists of resolve.
Tonight, she was going to find him.
And this time, no matter what he said—
She wasn't backing down.
The moment the holographic screen flickered off, leaving Sienna in stunned silence, the room should have remained peaceful.
It didn't.
The door to the living quarters suddenly burst open.
Serena and Aiko—grinning like two hyenas who had just found the world's juiciest secret—marched inside with pure, unfiltered mischief burning in their eyes.
"MARRIAGE?!" Serena roared dramatically, clapping a hand over her chest like she had just been struck by lightning.
"M-MARRYING JASPER?!" Aiko gasped, eyes wide as moons, looking like she was about to pass out from excitement.
Sienna flinched violently, her entire body snapping upright like someone had just electrocuted her.
"W-WHAT—?! HOW—?! YOU TWO—"
Serena casually leaned against the wall, smirking.
"Oh, don't mind us," she said sweetly. "We just happened to be outside the door. Listening to everything. Every. Single. Word."
Sienna's soul left her body.
Aiko clapped her hands together, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU LOVED HIM! BUT MARRIAGE?! THIS IS NEXT LEVEL!"
Sienna covered her face with both hands, groaning loudly.
"OH MY GOD, STOP TALKING—"
Serena grinned wickedly and mimicked Sienna's mother's voice.
"'Kiss him and bring him home. We'll decide the wedding date.'"
Aiko snorted so hard she nearly choked.
Sienna let out a muffled scream, practically dying inside.
"I WILL KILL YOU BOTH!"
Serena plopped down on the couch, smirking.
"So? When's the big day? Should we start picking out wedding dresses? I'm thinking something flowy for you—"
Sienna snapped.
"ENOUGH!"
Serena held up her hands, chuckling.
"Okay, okay. But seriously, what's your plan?"
Sienna lowered her hands, inhaling deeply.
She wasn't embarrassed anymore.
In fact, she was determined.
Her silver eyes gleamed with newfound fire as she clenched her fists.
"Jasper wants me to hate him. He wants to push me away. But he doesn't know one thing—"
She smirked.
"I'm also Sienna."
Serena raised an eyebrow.
"Okay… and?"
Sienna leaned forward, her voice dripping with confidence.
"It means my love is unshakable. No matter what he does, no matter how much he tries to push me away, I will never leave. He might ignore me. He might insult me. He might try every stupid trick in the book to make me give up."
Her smirk widened.
"But I won't."
Serena and Aiko blinked.
Then, Aiko's face lit up with pure admiration.
"WOW! THAT'S SO ROMANTIC!"
Serena snorted.
"You say 'romantic,' I say 'stalker with extra steps.'"
Sienna ignored her.
She stood up, flipping her silver hair behind her shoulder.
"Jasper doesn't realize it yet, but he's already mine. It doesn't matter if he denies it. It doesn't matter if he refuses to understand love. I will SHOW him. And when I do…"
Her smirk turned dangerous.
"He'll never be able to run away again."
Serena leaned back, whistling.
"Damn. That's scary. No wonder Jasper's in trouble."
Aiko clapped her hands together, stars in her eyes.
"I love this! It's like a fairytale—except the prince is an idiot and the princess has to trap him!"
Sienna rolled her eyes, but there was no stopping the fire in her heart.
She was done playing by Jasper's rules.
This time, he was going to play by hers.
The dim glow of the old lamp post cast long shadows on the dirt road as Jasper and Ryuji sat beneath it, their backs resting against the wooden post.
The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the distant scent of burning firewood from the village homes.
Jasper sat with his arms crossed, staring up at the sky, lost in his own thoughts.
Ryuji, on the other hand, was eyeing him critically.
"You really did this?" Ryuji finally asked, shaking his head.
Jasper didn't look at him.
"Yeah." His voice was calm, emotionless.
Ryuji snorted.
"And now she hates you?"
Jasper nodded.
"That was the plan."
Ryuji leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"You're a real idiot, you know that?"
Jasper let out a tired chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I've been told."
Ryuji sighed dramatically.
"So what now? You gonna sit here all night, feeling proud of yourself?"
Jasper finally glanced at him, smirking.
"Nah, I was thinking of watching some cool Blading matches instead."
Ryuji's eyes immediately lit up.
"Wait, really?! You mean like those insane sword battles you told me about?!"
Jasper tapped his wristwatch, and a holographic panel flickered to life above them.
"Yeah, I wanted to check the status of the Emerald Championship. Dante and Talon are competing."
Ryuji's excitement skyrocketed.
"OH HELL YES! LET'S WATCH!"
Jasper frowned slightly, swiping through the data.
"Damn. Internet connection is trash out here."
The stream buffered endlessly, the tournament live feed refusing to load.
Ryuji groaned.
"Come on, man! There's gotta be a place with better internet!"
Jasper thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Actually… there is."
Ryuji tilted his head.
"Where?"
Jasper stood up, stretching his arms.
"Homurakage's office."
Ryuji blinked.
"Wait… seriously?"
Jasper nodded.
"Yeah. He's been curious about Blading too, right? If we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone. Better internet, plus we can show Gramps what real swordsmanship looks like."
Ryuji grinned mischievously.
"Oh, I like this plan. Let's go."
Jasper smirked.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
And just like that, the two of them took off toward the Homurakage's office, completely unaware of the chaos waiting for Jasper when he returned.