Chapter 26 – Only a Sister
Inside the Warborn family's meeting room—
Sarena and Garros sat side by side, facing Daela, who lounged across from them with that same blank, unreadable face.
Garros tilted his head. "Why are you here?"
"We called Kaden. Not you. So—oust. Get out," he said, waving her away like some annoying fly.
And to him, Daela was annoying. Every time it was about Kaden, she showed up—sticking her nose in things, acting like she had the right. Even when it didn't concern her, she'd show up, and if she didn't like it? She'd oppose them without blinking.
A truly bold little brat.
Which is exactly why Garros didn't want her here today. Not today. Today, they were finally going to tell Kaden the truth. Something they'd held back since the moment he was born.
"Go train or something, Daela," Sarena said, calm as ever.
And that's when the alarm bells rang in Daela's head.
If even her mother was telling her to leave?
'It means it's something I won't like,' Daela thought darkly.
Which only made her want to stay more.
She shook her head. "I'll stay."
Garros's lips twitched.
A second later, the entire room started to shake.
The table rattled. Wall decorations toppled. Cracks spidered across the marble floor. Dust rained from the ceiling like ash from a storm.
And the pressure? Still rising.
Daela frowned—but she didn't move. She was used to this. Her father always pulled this shit whenever she opposed him about Kaden. Always tried to intimidate her.
But it never worked.
And it always ended the same way—
"Stop it, Garros," Sarena said coolly, eyeing the collapsing décor. "Break one more of my ornaments, and you'll be the one paying for it."
Garros turned to her with a wild grin. "Oh? And what are you gonna do about it?"
Sarena mirrored that grin without blinking. "Beat your ass, dear husband."
"HAHAHAHA! That's it, Sarena! Come! It's been so long since we fought!"
Yeah. Every damn time.
Knock knock.
The room froze.
A knock echoed, followed by a familiar presence stepping inside.
Kaden Warborn.
Instantly, the pressure died. Garros and Sarena turned toward their son.
"Hello, everyone," Kaden greeted with that calm smile that somehow always cut deeper than any scream.
He looked at the wrecked furniture, then back at his parents.
"Were you at it again?" he asked knowingly.
Garros crossed his arms like a sulking child. "Why are you acting like you're the parent here?"
'Ahhh, I was so ready to fight Sarena,' Garros lamented silently.
'Stop your bullshit, Garros. Act your damn age,' Aeron muttered inside his head, fed up as always.
Garros ignored him.
He was used to the old man's nagging by now.
Kaden walked in and sat beside Daela, who didn't even glance at him.
"So," he said. "Why'd you call me?"
And just like that, the mood shifted.
The playful air vanished. Sarena and Garros straightened up. The silence grew heavier.
"We called you to inform you about something," Sarena said.
A small flash of light—then a letter appeared in her hand.
Kaden noticed the ring on her finger.
Space ring, he noted silently.
Sarena continued, "This is an invitation from the Cerveau family. A formal meeting between you and the heirs of the three major families."
She paused.
"But there will be a fourth person joining you. Someone who also awakened a legendary-rank Origin."
Daela tensed beside him.
Kaden tilted his head, curiosity piqued.
"She's called Rea Thornspire," Sarena said, voice suddenly flat. "Your fiancée."
Silence.
Kaden blinked slowly. His eyes moved from his parents to Daela—who turned her head toward him at the same time.
He gave her a crooked smile.
"I must've misheard, right, sister? I don't actually have a fiancée?"
Daela nodded, eyes narrowed. "I thought the same. Thanks for confirming, little brother, I thought my ears were failing me."
Sarena and Garros both twitched.
"You heard right, Kaden," Sarena said with that serious-mom tone. "Her name is Rea. And you'll meet her at this summit. So be on your best behavior."
Kaden and Daela were both unimpressed.
"Are you kidding?" Kaden asked, frown deepening. "Since when do I have a fiancée? Why did I never hear of this?"
"Well," Garros said with a shrug. "You're hearing it now."
Daela leaned forward slightly, voice ice-cold. "Who decided this?"
"Your grandfather," Sarena replied, irritation finally showing in her voice.
Kaden laughed—a short, bitter sound.
"Someone I've never even met made this decision for me?"
He had never once seen his grandfather. Barely even heard about him. And now that ghost of a man had decided who Kaden was going to marry?
It left a sour taste in his mouth.
But Kaden didn't argue. He could tell from the way they said it—this was already settled. He couldn't undo it.
So he exhaled.
"Fine."
That single word silenced the room.
Sarena and Garros both blinked.
They knew Kaden. Mature. Calm. Always thinking. But this fast?
Even for them, that was surprising.
Sarena smiled sweetly. "Thank you for understanding, my dear."
Garros, of course, lost his mind.
"HAHAHAHA! That's my boy!" he roared, slapping his thigh like a drunk uncle at a feast. "He is not some whiny brat!"
Kaden just smiled quietly. Said nothing.
But someone else wasn't smiling.
Daela.
'A girl? A fiancée? For what?'
'He doesn't need a fiancée...He just needs a sister.'
Her thoughts started spiraling, growing darker with every breath. She thought about finding this Rea girl. Thought about hurting her. Torturing her. Killing her, maybe.
And she meant it.
"Are you okay, sister?" Kaden asked, snapping her out of her spiraling.
She blinked. Looked at him. His eyes held concern.
Her heart melted.
'My little brother is too cute!!!!'she screamed inside her head.
Outwardly, though, she was cold as ever.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Kaden smiled. "Good."
Daela's mind went blank at that sudden smile. But after a second, her lips twitched. A tiny, invisible smile crept out.
Just a ghost of one.
'Yes... he only needs a sister.'
Definitely.
—End of Chapter 26—