Chapter 20: The Marionette’s Choice

Calen arrived home, the weight of the night pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. His mind was a storm, scattered with flashes of Sienna’s face—cold, distant, and yet somehow still holding a piece of him. He had seen her again, but it was not the woman he once loved. She was different now, and in that fleeting moment of connection, he had felt the echoes of a love that had long faded.

He placed the Lucis saga book back on its shelf, the familiar feel of its pages offering no comfort now. There was too much at stake, too much uncertainty in his life.

Sienna needed me... Livra too. He thought.

He stared at the book for a long time, the question overwhelming him: How was he supposed to decide? Was he playing both sides, betraying them both? He didn’t feel like he was—he just wanted to be honest with himself and with them. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, yet in his gut, he knew that eventually, he would have to make a choice. And in making that choice, one person, one of the two people who had been his pillars, would inevitably get hurt.

Sienna had been there for me when I was at my lowest. Livra had too...

The thought twisted his insides. He couldn’t betray either of them. Yet, deep inside, he knew he was running out of time. His hand ran through his hair in frustration. His mind was racing, but all he could hear was the deafening silence of his own thoughts, each one more suffocating than the last.

With a groan, he collapsed onto the sofa, his hands covering his face, trying to block out the noise. What was he supposed to do?

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On the other side of the city, Livra walked through the cold night, her body wrapped in layers of warm clothing. The elegant white dress she wore, with its pleated skirt, was covered by a cheap, light-colored coat, and her hooded cape shielded her from the biting wind. She moved with grace through the streets of Aeris, her steps light, almost ethereal—like a fairy caught in the wind.

She had arrived at the place she once loved—the viewpoint of Aeris, where she had first met Calen during the festival. That place, once filled with the beauty of new beginnings, now felt tainted by the weight of her past, and the presence of the one person she never wanted to see again.

As she approached the viewpoint, she saw her standing there. Elenora Miren. The matriarch of the Miren family. The woman who had controlled Livra's fate from the shadows.

Livra’s heart clenched at the sight. Elenora’s cold eyes swept over her as the older woman stood tall, flanked by two imposing bodyguards. Elenora was a force to be reckoned with—a woman who had built her power on control, on manipulation, and on the will of her family. And she had no intentions of letting Livra off the hook.

About six months ago, during one of Elenora's frequent trips to the Rainshadow Archipelago, she had encountered Livra by chance. It happened after a short street performance on the lively streets of Amaris Island. Elenora, who had been making a stopover on her way to Aeris, had instantly recognized the young girl. There, before her eyes, was the prodigal daughter—the one who had tarnished the Miren name with her escape, the one who had openly insulted them, leaving a stain that Elenora, as matriarch, could not allow to stand.

Livra, the last of the Veyne bloodline, had dared to flee her arranged marriage, an act that humiliated the Miren family in the eyes of their peers. To Elenora, it was more than an offense—it was a direct challenge to her authority.

Despite the insult, Elenora knew she needed Livra’s return for her family’s greater good. If the girl were to come back, she would marry her son and become part of the Miren clan, thus restoring their family’s reputation. But before that could happen, Livra needed to pay for her audacity.

That night, Elenora confronted Livra. The matriarch made it clear that she knew the truth of her identity, and that from now on, she would be watching her every move. "You’ll do as I say," Elenora warned coldly, "or I’ll ensure your return to the Earthlands, where you'll be locked away, forgotten."

From that moment on, Livra was no more than a puppet in Elenora's hands, bound by the invisible strings of control.

Livra swallowed the lump in her throat, but she didn’t dare speak. She knew too well how this would play out. Elenora would make her life a living hell until she bent to her will.

Festival’s night, Elenora had plans. She knew there was a tireless worker at the LCC, someone who would surely be there, ensuring the water supply to Aelith Shore was ready for delivery. Calen Ardyn, always so dutiful, would be working late. He had to be stopped. And Elenora used Livra to ensure that happened.

"Ah, my little bird, you’ve arrived," Elenora purred, her smile dripping with malice. "Are you ready to work again?"

Livra’s heart twisted in her chest. She could feel the tears gathering in her eyes as she shook her head, her voice breaking as she cried out, "No! No more! I won’t do it!"

"You will," Elenora said sharply, her eyes narrowing. "You don’t get a choice, Livra. I’ve been watching you. I know about the bond you’ve formed with that boy, Calen Ardyn. I’ve had him under surveillance too. It would be a shame if something happened to him. You know how dangerous his job is... accidents are common."

Livra gasped, her stomach turning at the threat. "No… please, leave him alone! He’s not involved in this! It’s me you want, right? Take me to my father, I’ll go willingly… but leave Calen out of this!"

Elenora’s laughter was cruel and sharp. "Do you really think I care if you go back to your family? You’re mine now, Livra. You’ve shown your weakness. You’ve let your emotions get in the way. Now, I own you. And you’ll do as I say, or else I’ll make sure Calen is the one to pay for your defiance."

Livra’s knees wobbled beneath her, but she forced herself to stand tall, despite the tears clouding her vision. Her fists were clenched in fury, but all she could do was nod—defeated, broken, and powerless.

She had no choice but to obey. For Calen. For the fragile hope that she could protect him, even at the cost of her own soul.

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Back at his apartment, Calen stood before the window, staring into the cold, empty night. He had read the message Rion had sent him. He was shocked, did Sienna knew about Livra and who she were? How could this be?

Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be Livra?

He opened it, but there was no one there. Only a piece of paper, crumpled and hurriedly written. He unfolded it with trembling fingers:

Don’t go to the LCC tonight. It’s dangerous.

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Who was watching? Who knew about what he told to Rion?

He didn’t know, but one thing was certain: He couldn’t ignore this warning. Something was terribly wrong, and it was up to him to figure out what.

As Calen decided to leave, he turned to put on his coat, only to stop dead in his tracks. There, standing in the open doorway, was a figure.

"Livra? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and urgency. "Come in, but I have to go. It's urgent."

As Calen hurried toward the door, Livra grabbed his coat with unexpected force, refusing to let him go. Her face was downcast, tears streaming down her cheeks. The sleeves of her coat and the hem of her dress were stained with the traces of countless tears.

"Stay!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Don’t leave! I have to tell you something important."

Calen froze, torn. He couldn’t leave Rion—he was in danger—but Livra was distraught, crying, clearly in turmoil. Had she left that note? He needed to know what was happening before he made any decisions. He had to be sure.