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For the past month, the living situation in the Suru estate had been tense to say the least. Jevi had done his best to ignore it, going out for work and training as much as he could. The younger Suru had no clue why things felt off, but it did make him anxious and worried. The same went for his mother, Saki, who had tried to figure out what was going on together with her son, yet neither could come to a conclusion. The only one who knew what was going on was Daiki, and the man grew more irritated and impatient by the day as if he was waiting for something to happen. Jevi surmised that he might just be annoyed with the fact that Jevi was not falling back under the man’s control. For someone who had been in charge for most of his son’s life, suddenly losing that control might have upset him. However, the real reason that Daiki was getting impatient is because he was waiting for word from Hinota’s father. After plotting how to get back at both Jevi and Hinota, he had decided to write the man a letter about his daughter’s disrespectful behavior on his estate. While he had embellished the story a bit, the core of the matter was still truthful as he could not risk a lie coming out even if her father would believe his word over Hinota’s.
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Finally, he had received word from her father and the letter made him grin ear to ear. He was asked what the proper compensation was, and of course Daiki returned a letter by asking Hinota to simply come over to his estate and apologize in person for her shameful behavior. The reason behind this was to get back at Jevi. His son would have to witness first hand the humiliation that Hinota would have to go through, and considering the feelings Jevi held for the young woman that would be the worst hell imaginable for him. By showing this power to his son, he would be able to force him into submission by threatening to do it again in the future. Making Hinota pay for his disobedience and rebellious nature was going to be much more effective than trying to beat sense into him. Jevi had always been like that, and while Daiki was aware of it he never figured he’d have to resort to these matters to get his son under his thumb.
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Though due to Hinota’s interference, Jevi had grown into himself more than he had anticipated. Yes, he was struggling, but he was standing his ground more than he had in the past and even talked back in a manner that made it hard to argue. He had become far more articulate, and had started to learn how to play the political game slowly but surely. That’s why Daiki had to reach for even more underhanded methods to get his control back and ensure Jevi knew his place. He was too far into this to change his perspective anymore, and admitting his own mistakes was something Daiki would never do because of that.
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The day would of Hinota’s visit would follow rather quickly after Daiki had been able to get in touch with her father. The man certainly did not waste time, and the only reason he had been late in his reply was due to being away on a mission. Daiki had to ensure that Jevi saw all of this firsthand from start to finish, and so he summoned Edgar to his side. “Edgar, go fetch Jevi if you would be so kind. He needs to be here for a certain visit.” There was a grin on the man’s face as Edgar bowed to his employer and dutifully went about his tasks. “As you wish, Lord Suru.” The butler had a bad feeling about what was going to go down, and so did Saki who had witnessed the interaction between her husband and their servant. “Who is visiting today? I was not aware we were having guests.” Daiki turned to his wife, that same grin still on his face as he spoke nonchalantly about what was to happen. “Oh, Princess Yuiee is coming over to apologize for her appalling behavior during her last visit. Is that not kind of her?” There was a mocking tone to his voice, as Saki’s face fell and realized what Daiki was going to make Jevi walk into. “You did not…” Daiki’s eyes turned stern, showing that he was serious. “Did you believe I was going to let such disrespect go unpunished? I will set this whole thing straight today, and there’s nothing you or Jevi can do about it.” Saki was panicking, but did not show it. She could not warn Jevi in time, and even if she did everything had already been set in motion. All she could do was attempt to support her son through this, but she did not know how which just made her feel even worse.
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Jevi was currently out back in the stable, tending to Jasmine as it was about time he did so again. He was in the middle of brushing her mane, humming softly to himself as Jasmine was relaxed and let him spoil her. As he did so, Jasmine moved her head closer to Jevi so she could rest it on his shoulder and press her head against his a little. Jevi chuckled softly as she did this, speaking in a warm, affectionate tone. “Why thank you, you make it a lot easier like this, girl.” It just meant her mane was closer, so he could properly take care of his white mare. These were the moments where Jevi felt at peace, and could put his problems and issues to rest. His focus was entirely with Jasmine, however his peace would soon be disturbed as Edgar came into the stables, looking quite distraught. “Lord Suru…” Jevi turned to look at the man who had worked for his family for longer than he had been alive. “What’s the matter, Edgar? You look upset.” Edgar bowed in apology before standing up straight and speaking once more. “I’m not entirely sure, but your father has requested your presence in the living room for a certain visit.” Jevi tilted his head quizzically, wondering what this could be about.
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He put the brush down and nuzzled the side of Jasmine’s head, whispering to his mare. “I’ll be back later, okay girl? I’ll even braid your mane to make up for it.” He smiled as he felt Jasmine press her head back against his, patted her and then turned away to return to the estate. He put his jacket back on, and walked alongside Edgar as he fixed it. “Thank you for coming to get me, Edgar.” The old man smiled, much preferring his younger Lord and Mistress than his actual employer. “Of course, my Lord. You may always count on me.” Jevi returned the man’s smile, knowing full well that Edgar spoke the truth.
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It would not take long before Jevi and Edgar returned to the living room of the estate, and he could notice the tension had gotten worse than it had been. His mother looked pale, as if she had seen a ghost, and his father just looked like he had won some kind of bet, all smug and proud. Jevi looked from his distressed mother to his father before speaking. “Father, why did you call for me? Who is visiting?” Daiki kept that annoying grin on his face as he addressed his son. “They should be here any moment now.” And right he was, as a maid came up and informed him the guests had arrived. “Take a seat with your mother. I’ll be back in a moment.” Jevi was unsure of what was going on, but decided to wait and see for the time being and took a seat next to his mother.
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As Daiki went to fetch Hinota, Jevi took the opportunity to speak to his mother. “Mom, what’s going on?” Saki frowned and moved her hand over to Jevi’s, taking it in her own and squeezing it. “The one visiting is Lady Yuiee, she is here to apologize for her behavior during her last visit… Your father contacted hers to straighten this out.” Jevi’s eyes widened, as everything now finally clicked into place for him. That’s why his father had been so impatient and irritated, and looked so smug just now. “He did what?!” The flash of anger in Jevi’s eyes was unmistakable, but Saki just squeezed his hand harder. “Keep calm. I know you can do this.” Saki tried her best to support her son, and Jevi nodded as he took a deep breath to prepare himself.
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While Jevi and Saki were waiting in the living room, Daiki had gone to the front of the estate and saw Hinota and Junjie coming out of the carriage. “Welcome, Princess Yuiee. Lord Bai. I am glad to see your father has received my letters. I was worried there for a second that he would ignore the shameful behavior of his daughter, but I had expected no less from a man of his stature to want to right these wrongs. I know what it’s like to have a rebellious child, as you know.” Even if he addressed them with proper titles, it was abundantly clear from his tone of voice that he was mocking them and the situation they found themselves in, knowing there was little they could do about it. He could quite easily deny it too if called out on it. “Please, follow me inside. This is no place for a proper apology.” And as such, Daiki lead the two to the living room. From the look on Jevi’s face, Daiki could already tell that Saki had told him what was going on, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Jevi would witness the full process of his beloved Princess getting humiliated, and making him understand what was at stake if he did not start to listen. He took a seat in his chair, crossing his right leg over his left and folding his hands together. “Now, I am curious to hear what you have to say for yourself.” Jevi could deck his father in his face right now, and the fire in behind his eyes was unmistakable. Yet, he could do nothing. If he acted out now, things would get worse for Hinota, and that’s something he had to avoid at all costs. Thankfully, Junjie was here too, which was somewhat of a relief.

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Jevi is informed of the situation by Edgar and Saki, while Daiki leads Hinota and Junjie into the estate and waits for his apology.

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As Daiki greeted Hinota and Junjie, he did not exactly get the response he was hoping to get out of her. If she did not fall into despair in front of Jevi, then getting control back over his son may not be as easy. Then again, everything had only just begun, he just needed to see how long she could keep up this façade she put on of being stupid. He had met her once and knew better than that, but he decided to play along at least a little bit. To hear her father apologized for the late response, and hearing the man’s praises, made Daiki nod in understanding. “I most certainly do, and understand the struggles like no other. I have the utmost respect for your father.” In his eyes, Hinota’s father had succeeded where he had not, as Hinota obediently did what was asked of her and yet he was stuck with a selfish son who only thought about his own wants and needs. He could not agree more with Hinota’s father that allowing disobedience only rotted a family from the inside. Sadly, Jevi seemed to think otherwise. “It truly can, your father is a wise man.” He did not seem to realize that he himself was the corruption bringing his family to ruin.
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When he brought Jevi down once more with his words, it seemed Hinota was able to turn his words against him, but in such a manner that he could not really refute them either. It brought a slight frown to his face, but he reminded himself that he still held all the cards. “Our definition of a “fine son” seems to be quite different. Yet, I will chalk that up to your understandable inexperience.” He was not going to let this woman praise his son just like that, when the whole purpose of today was to break him down into a willing puppet. Jevi needed to be reminded of his position within the family, which boiled down to nothing more than a tool to elevate the family name of Suru within Clover. While it was true that Jevi had begun to make a proper career for himself, it was not under his control and that’s where Daiki’s issue was. He wanted that control over his son back, by any means necessary. So, he brought Hinota and Junjie inside to where Jevi would already be waiting alongside Saki. The retainer did not bother Daiki much, as he knew the man could not step out of line either for fear what it could mean for his mistress. The same went for Jevi himself, so none of them could do much of anything to take away his control of the situation.
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As they entered the living room, Jevi was obviously tense. He knew what was going to happen, and he knew he was powerless to stop it too. The fact his father had orchestrated all of this behind his back really did not sit well with him, not to mention bringing ther people and families into their dispute. This was between them, yet his father had no backbone to actually face him on his own now that Jevi had learned to stand up for himself unlike when he was a mere child. However, one glance at Hinota seemingly being so peaceful did help him relax, and it even brought a smile to his face. Just seeing her alone did that, regardless of the situation it seemed. Since Daiki had been watching his son’s reactions closely, he noticed and felt an anger rise within him. Why was he smiling? That was not according to his plans.
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Saki had noticed too, and while Daiki didn’t understand his mother certainly did as she too saw that Hinota looked like she was at peace. Saki smiled warmly to the young woman offering her some more of the special tea. Even in this situation, she was exceptionally thoughtful and kind. “Thank you, dear. I certainly hope we will be sharing some stories over tea once more in the near future.” To Saki the relationship between Jevi and Hinota did not really play into her own with the Princess. She enjoyed being around the young woman, and saw her as a friend. She gratefully accepted the carry case from Junjie, giving the man a subtle apologetic smile for the situation they found themselves in.
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The interaction between his mother and Hinota helped Jevi keep his calm a bit longer than he had expected. To hear that she had even been preparing a gift for his father, however, was agitating to say the least. Daiki deserved no such niceness, but he understood it was normal in Hinota’s culture to give a gift to your host. That’s something he had learned and imprinted into his memory. To Daiki, it was unexpected to hear she had considered giving him a gift. “I see. I will wait patiently then.” Such a gift, however, was not what he was interested in in the slightest. What he was interested in was her apology, and most of all how that would give him back the control within his own family. So he sat in his chair and waited, listening with glee to Hinota as she began to apologize to him. Her tone was genuine, and she seemed to understand exactly where her faults were. “Your tone shows sincerity, yet I do not know if I can believe mere words.” He was no fool, and he knew she had been taking a shot at him earlier at the front door. “In the East, I believe people show their remorse through a method named “kowtow”, correct? Perhaps that might convince me that you are truly sorry and understanding of your mistakes.”
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Jevi’s hand gripped the fabric of his trouser, trying his best to keep his cool which became more difficult the longer this went on. Hinota had nothing to apologize for, and still did, was that not enough for him? While he remained seated, Jevi could not help himself but to speak up in Hinota’s defense much like she had done for him. “Father, if it’s an apology you were after then is this not enough? Princess Yuiee has shown in both actions and words that she is remorseful. Why not leave it at that?” Daiki saw the anguish his son was in, and while his face did not show it he felt glee at the fact that his plan was working out exactly like he had hoped. “Did I not make myself clear just now? I cannot believe mere words, so no this is not enough.” Daiki sighed and shook his head. “I know you are gullible, naïve, and incompetent, but I did not realize it was to the point where you cannot even grasp such a simple concept.” Jevi grit his teeth. The insult wasn’t even the issue, it was the fact he was so casually disregarded. But what could he do? Anything he did would only make things worse for Hinota in the end. Daiki turned back to Hinota, once again waiting. “With that rude interruption out of the way, we can get back on track with your apology.” Saki frowned at the entire situation, and knew Jevi was moments away from exploding. She once more grabbed his hand, attempting to help calm him down. This was clearly far from over.

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Jevi tries to reason with his father, but is shut down right away, as Daiki demands further apology from Hinota.

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To hear Jevi had found a new teacher, or rather a teacher had found him, was surprising to say the least. At first he was discontent with Hinota defying him once more, yet the explanation had caught Daiki off guard. Apparently, Lord Bai was not just a guard or retainer, he was a nobleman himself and a swords master to boot. Though many had asked him for training, he had never once accepted it, though for some reason the man saw potential in his son and offered to train him himself. “Is that so? Well, then I hope he will not disappoint you.” Apparently, Junjie might even teach Jevi more than just sword skills, as the man was a master in hand-to-hand combat too. Junjie himself did not say much, merely giving a bow in recognition of being talked about, but Daiki certainly felt uneasy about this. Why were these two so keen on working alongside his son? What had Jevi done to get them to that point? Someone like him who barely knew how to interact with nobles had somehow managed to get the Imperial Princess and her bodyguard on his side. Perhaps they had just taken pity on the boy, that was the only thing that made sense to Daiki at this point.
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Regardless of such revelations, it did not stop Daiki’s plans and so he brought Hinota and Junjie inside the estate. Both Jevi and Saki had already been waiting, and while the atmosphere was tense at first once Jevi noticed how peaceful Hinota looked he found himself relaxing as well. To see that she was not in distress meant he should not be either. Jevi wanted to be her support, the wings beneath her wings so to speak, and definitely not the one to weigh her down. She had even prepared gifts for his parents as per her culture’s tradition. His mother was graceful as always, as Saki accepted the gift and mentioned she looked forward to sharing the tea with Hinota in the near future once more. Hinota responded in kind, and even Jevi could tell their friendship was special to them and had nothing to do with him. That was something he was grateful for, because he knew his mother also lacked friends due to their home situation. She was not keen on bringing people around here, so seeing that she had bonded with Hinota was great. As for his father, his gift was still in the works, though Daiki clearly was not interested in such things right now. His main goal here was to get Jevi to submit to him, and Hinota was the tool he needed in order to do so.
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The apology Hinota gave went off without a hitch. Her words were chosen carefully, and her tone reflected her remorse even if she likely did not believe it herself. Jevi hoped against all odds that this would be the end of it, but of course it wasn’t. His father commented that he did not believe her tone alone and wanted Hinota to show her apology in action, demanding her to kowtow in front of him. At this point, Jevi could not hold himself back from speaking up. His father had gotten the apology he wanted, and should just end it here, yet the response was exactly what Jevi had expected. More hurtful words and basically telling him to keep his mouth shut and listen. He could feel his anger building, especially because Hinota had gotten on her hands and knees for him without a second thought. It was disgraceful, and not at all what she deserved. However, it was Junjie’s voice that called out in a strict manner, reprimanding Jevi about showing emotions.
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Jevi looked back towards Junjie, not breaking eye contact with his Master as he listened without complaint. Junjie wanted him to think back to when they first met, and how he had prodded and poked to get a reaction out of him. To get him to break. He related that moment to battle in general, showing Jevi that if he let his opponent get under his skin he would be thrown off balance and he’d lose. A fight he had the advantage in would suddenly turn into a disadvantage, or at least become an uphill battle. Without many more words needed Jevi understood what Junjie was saying, and he understood why Hinota had been so calm and peaceful regardless of the situation. Of course she did not want this, nor did she accept it, but she did what she needed to do in order to not give Daiki the satisfaction and result he was looking for. When Junjie told him he was his first and only student, Jevi was a bit surprised. He knew the man was unlikely to take students, but had he really been the first? This made his heart swell with pride, because suddenly it meant so much more that Junjie saw potential him. It showed him that the part of himself that he took the most pride in was not something build on a lie, and that made all the difference in the world.
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Once he had heard Junjie out, Jevi stood up calmly and gave him a slight bow. “Yes, Master. My apologies. I will show you that you did not make a mistake in taking me on as your student.” There was a warm smile on his face, as he wanted to show much more gratitude to Junjie than he currently could. Still, the lesson was understood, and he knew what he had to do now to support Hinota as well as win this battle for himself. Daiki, on the other hand, could not believe what he had just witnessed. His son had shown such obedience to this man without a single complaint, a single question, a single hint of disappointment or disagreement. He was even smiling?! His eyes were no longer on Hinota, as his hand smacked down hard on the armrest of his chair. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Daiki got up as well, his full focus on Jevi alone as rage was clear in every bit of his body language. “Since when are you the type to listen without a fight?! To show such respect to your teachers?! For years I’ve tried to get you to behave like this, and now you do for someone you barely know?!” He was basically fuming at this point, however Jevi innocently tilted his head as if he did not understand the questions asked. “What do you mean, father? I have always called my sword instructors by the title of Master and showed them nothing but the utmost respect. Why would I treat my current Master any differently?” It was true, as he had always listened very well to the teachers who taught him the ways of the sword and gave them plenty of respect. Of course, Jevi knew what his father truly meant, but this would just get the man to lose his mind even more.
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And it did, as in his anger Daiki raised his left hand and brought it down in a swift movement, backhand slapping Jevi across his left cheek. The hit came down so hard that his ring cut into Jevi’s cheek, leaving behind a cut that made Jevi bleed. Alongside that, the crack of a tooth could be heard. Of course, Jevi’s head moved with the impact, yet he himself remained standing firmly. Not a cry of pain came from him as much as his cheek stung. The one who did respond immediately was Saki, as even she had not expected Daiki to strike Jevi in his face the way he had. “Daiki!” She shot up from the couch, tending to her son immediately as she looked at his cheek and the wound with worry. Jevi remained calm, he knew he had both Saki and Junjie here to support him through this. He knew what was expected of him. There was no way he was going to run from his father anymore, no matter what the man was going to throw at him. Just like Junjie, he would go through his trials and tribulations and come out stronger. He let out a calming breath as he spoke in a soft voice. “I’m alright, mother. There’s no need to worry.” Did he want to retaliate? Of course, but he knew now that being calm and showing no reaction was the best retaliation he could give his father as Daiki stood there speechless, surprised by his own action and unsure of how he could wrestle back control now. His plan had not gone at all as he had hoped, and now he had dug an even deeper hole.

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Jevi understands Junjie’s lesson, and uses it against Daiki when the man loses his mind over the fact Jevi is simply listening to Junjie.

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The explanation of Hinota regarding Junjie and Jevi’s relationship as master and student made less and less sense the more he heard about the man’s position and accomplishments. Someone regarded so highly had taken an interest in his failure of a son, and Daiki could not make heads or tails from it. Trying to maintain the high ground, Daiki told Junjie that he hoped Jevi would not disappoint him, and again he was in for a surprise when Junjie turned Jevi’s failures upon him as a father. Jevi had not disappointed Junjie, but his former teachers had let him down. There was this talk again about working with a physical sword, and Daiki could barely contain a scoff at the thought. Jevi had been whining and asking for one since he was a child of only five years old, but Daiki had always told him he did not need it as he could make any sword he wanted whenever he wanted. It was a waste of time in his opinion when his magic needed the most work. That’s what would bring him power and standing in this world, not some silly swords. To hear Junjie dig into this mistake was annoying to say the least, but due to how Junjie talked about it Daiki was not in a position to argue.
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The man had to listen as Junjie went into more detail as to why a physical sword had been important for someone like Jevi. There were places with such thin mana where Jevi would have found himself helpless to protect himself and those under his care. Considering Princess Yuiee was often one of those under his care, it troubled Junjie to know Jevi had no way to act in such places. If anything were to happen to the Princess, then the fault and blame would be brought back to the Suru family, ruining their standing in Clover. Worse, it would become known that Daiki had been the one to insist on this to begin with. “I understand where you are coming from, Lord Bai, but I am not here to discuss my parenting choices with you. In time I believe you will see why Jevi struggled with many of his teachers. Let us go inside.” Daiki cut the conversation short here, and while what he said was true, it had always been because his father and the chosen teachers never stopped to explain to him the importance of what he was learning. Jevi was a critical person, and always had been, if he did not see the value in something he would ask for clarification. Combine that with him not wanting to become someone his father approved of, and it was a recipe for disaster. However, he had always been respectful and hard-working when it came to improving his skills with the sword. Junjie also explained his lessons well, and as such Jevi was unlikely to ever run into issues while studying under the man.
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Once inside, Daiki could start his plan to bring Jevi back under his thumb by using Hinota as his pawn to break him. The man knew his son had a bleeding heart and a soft spot for the Princess, and as such it was not unlikely for him to break when he saw Hinota in such a humiliating position. Though, none of that seemed to happen as easily as he had believed. Hinota was calm and at peace, and this brought a smile to Jevi’s face at first. Once Daiki demanded her to kowtow, Jevi did end up speaking up against him, but with Junjie’s interference this was quickly put to a halt. The words his Master spoke were clear and Jevi understood exactly what he meant, putting the lesson into practice immediately. As he apologized to Junjie and promised he would ensure the man would not regret taking him on as a student, Daiki completely lost it. For years he had tried to get Jevi to a point of such obedience, yet here he was showing it to a man he barely knew? This was not the Jevi that Daiki knew, and he spoke up in anger about it. Junjie expressed his disbelief at Daiki’s outburst, pretending not to understand the issue the man had right now. “This is between me and my son!” He tried to shut Junjie up, but Jevi made things even worse when he simply played dumb. Though, even if he played dumb, what he said was true.
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Daiki knew this as well, and could hardly argue with his son about it. Junjie asked Jevi if all the lessons by teachers and parents had ever been explained to him as to why they were important, and Jevi shook his head. “I was just expected to listen, and was rarely allowed to ask questions.” This, too, was the truth. Jevi was expected to simply listen and copy, without having a thought of his own about the matters he was taught. For someone so interested in philosophy and various perspectives this never stroked well with him even when he was young. Then the expected happened, as Daiki lost his patience and backhand slapped Jevi across his cheek. The ring on his father’s finger caused a cut on his cheek, and the force was enough to make a tooth crack from the sounds of it. Jevi barely reacted to it, because it had been something he expected in the first place and he was not going to give his father the satisfaction to let him see it hurt. His mother on the other hand fussed over her son and began to tend to his wound immediately while scolding her husband in the process.
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While Daiki himself was surprised he had let it get this far in current company, he was even more surprised by how swiftly he had found himself lying on his back on the ground. In the next second, he was looking up at Junjie with a sword at his throat. He was completely helpless in this situation, and the cold tone in which Junjie spoke definitely hit home. Jevi relaxed as he heard Junjie’s words. This is what he had missed in his childhood. Someone to stand up for him and protect him. It brought a certain peace within to know that he had a teacher who was fully in his corner now, and not his father’s like his previous ones had been. Though he wanted to thank Junjie, he did not want to speak about it now in front of his father. The cut on his father’s cheek was the cherry on top. Daiki was completely speechless for a moment, getting up again as he brought his hand to his cheek. He was angry, sure, but at the same time he was helpless to do anything about it. He had not gotten the reactions from Jevi he needed, and with Junjie there he could hardly force anything out of his son either. “Tsk, this is not over.” He spoke basically under his breath. “I’m going to take care of this wound, but Princess Yuiee is not to move an inch. Understood?” He tried his best to wrestle back some of the control here, but he used his bleeding cheek as an excuse to withdraw for a moment and see if he could find a way to salvage the situation.
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With Daiki leaving the living room, Saki forced Jevi to sit back on the couch. She had not looked at her husband even once, regardless of the life-threatening situation he had found himself in or his now hurt cheek. “I’ll be right back, my dear, I’ll take care of you.” Saki’s ocean blue eyes were brimming with pride for her son as she ran a hand through his hair before pulling away to go gather some things from the kitchen to tend to his wound. As she turned around she looked at Junjie, and gave the man an appreciative bow. “Thank you, Lord Bai.” She did speak softly, not wanting to draw the ire of her husband even if he was not present at the moment, but it was clear she was grateful for Junjie’s interference. “Yes, thank you, Master.” Jevi watched the interaction between the two with a smile before his eyes drifted to Hinota. She was forced to stay in that position for now, and she had not even moved an inch during all that had happened. He hated that she had been dragged into this power struggle between him and his father, and he only had himself to blame, because he wasn’t strong enough back then to return home by himself. This was his chance to make it up to her. To show her that he could be someone in her life who she could depend on no matter what.
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Saki quickly returned with a damp cloth and began to clean the wound on Jevi’s cheek gently. “Once it’s clean I’ll cover it with some gauze, okay?” Her voice was soft and nurturing, and Jevi closed his eyes as he let his mother tend to him. He could tell her not to, and to leave it be, but she would most certainly argue with him about it. Jevi was wise enough to know he would lose that argument, so he did not even start it to begin with. “Thank you, mom.” He once more took a calming breath, knowing that this whole ordeal was not over with just yet. So long as he kept his composure they would all make it through this without too much trouble. His father’s goal was to break him, which meant so long as Jevi did not give him the reactions he was looking for he would eventually have to give up this plan of his.
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His eyes opened again and found Junjie. Without words, it was clear that his eyes were brimming with determination to see this through. Many people had told him to simply not wield his heart on his sleeve, which he had struggled with immensely. Thanks to Junjie’s practical example and his metaphor relating it to a fight Jevi finally seemed to understand not just the significance, but also how to behave in situations like these. It was a tremendous step forward for him, and a lesson he would certainly carry with him at all times from here on out. Saki finished taking care of his wound, and gave a kiss on his temple. “I cannot fix your tooth, but I know someone who can and will.” She smiled softly, clearly speaking of Hinota without mentioning her name. There was no doubt in Saki’s mind that all Hinota wanted to do now was heal Jevi, but of course she couldn’t do so at this moment. Still, that moment was not going to last forever.

[attr="class","raescroll2"]
Daiki droops off for the moment to tend to his wound by himself, giving him an excuse to withdraw while Saki tends to Jevi’s wound and thanks Junjie for his interference.

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Daiki was done with the conversation about Jevi’s former teachers. How Junjie had so much believe in his son, he did not understand, but he would likely take those words back in the near future. The way Daiki knew his son was that he did not listen well to authority figures, though Junjie did not let up and told Daiki that Jevi had been nothing but respectful to both him and Princess Hinota. If there had been problems, they really had been with his previous teachers in his opinion. He was not interested in Jevi’s progress with the sword, because he thought it was a waste of time for him to indulge in regardless of the points Junjie brought up. Daiki did not entertain Junjie much longer, leading the two inside to start his plans. However, those plans hardly went as planned, as even though Jevi spoke up once with Junjie’s guidance he was quickly adapting. To see such obedience from his rebellious son angered him more than anything, as this is what he had been trying to get him to be for years. Once more Junjie asked Jevi a question, interfering between himself and his son which did nothing to help his mood.
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Naturally, Jevi answered his Master honestly. He would never keep anything from Junjie or twist the truth. His biggest secret had already been revealed to the man, and it had been accepted as well as understood. That’s why Jevi felt completely comfortable around him, and showed blind trust in Junjie even now when the cards were stacked against him. Instead of addressing Daiki, Junjie focused himself on Saki, as his mother actually did care for her son’s progress and well-being. She nodded along to Junjie’s words, knowing that the man was right as this was something she had tried to tell to Daiki as well. “I have tried to make this clear to my husband in the past, yet he insisted on raising Jevi in his way and found teachers who aligned with his way of thinking.” Saki heard how Jevi struggled in areas where other nobles would not, and smiled when Junjie offered to get him other teachers to help with this. He was even planning on teaching him how to handle the imperial court so he could mingle with royals from the East. Obviously, Saki knew which royal this was meant for specifically, but she’d keep that to herself. “You are too kind, Lord Bai. Thank you for taking such good care of my son. I believe some new teachers might be exactly what he needs.” She said all of this while completely ignoring her husband. She, too, was tired of his games and the way he treated her beloved son. With Junjie and Hinota backing her, she finally felt like she could make a difference.
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With everything that went on around him, Daiki’s rage could only grow. He was being ignored as well as shunned for the choices he had made in the past regarding Jevi’s upbringing. If he had just listened, none of this would have to happen, yet somehow it was his fault? What pushed him over the edge was Jevi playing dumb, and before he knew it he had struck his son across his face so hard that it left a cut and a cracked tooth. It had surprised even him, and before he knew it he found himself on the ground with a sword to his throat. Saki took immediate care of Jevi, while Junjie made it clear he was not going to tolerate any of this behavior from the older Suru. Jevi was his student now, and it was well within his rights to protect him from harm. Seeing how Junjie stood up for him allowed Jevi to relax, not too bothered with his wound or pain. Daiki mumbled something about this not being over yet, but Junjie wasn’t having it. Again, Daiki would find himself speechless and could not argue with the man. Hinota making amends was the sole reason this meeting had happened and the only reason he had some control right now. He walked off to take care of himself, leaving the others alone for the time being.
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Both Saki and Jevi thanked Junjie for his interference, and Junjie seemed pleased to see the two’s gratitude if his smile was anything to go by. He informed Saki that she could simply address him by his first name, as at current he was nothing more than Jevi’s teacher and Hinota’s bodyguard. “Very well, Junjie, then please feel free to address me as Saki as well.” Her smile was gentle and soft, as she moved to go and gather some things to take care of Jevi’s cut. Junjie took the moment to speak to Jevi about the dangers of showing his heart, and wondered if he now understood the benefits of hiding it behind masks. Jevi nodded in understanding, having fully gotten the lesson now that he had seen it in practice. “Yes, Master, I believe I do. Your examples have made it more clear than before, and I think I have found a manner in which I can mask my heart.” All he needed to do in his head was imagine it as a duel with swords. Showing all his cards, tricks, movements and strength would only put him at a disadvantage. It was better to keep his opponent guessing, as this would give him the advantage in any matchup. By not showing his true emotions on the matter, the opposition could not get a hold on him. “I just need to look at it as if it’s a duel. I cannot show all I can do, or the opponent will see through my moves. The same goes for situations such as these.” Junjie had clearly reached a breakthrough with his student, and in a surprisingly fast time as well which only showed that Jevi was indeed a quick learner if the right methods were applied.
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Even so, his eyes drifted to Hinota who had been perfectly unmoving since the moment she had bowed down to his father. He was a natural worrywart, and cared deeply for Hinota which only amplified those worries further. While he knew she was playing the same game he was just learning to play, he still did not like to see the woman he loved being degraded like this. Though he realized this was his chance to show her that he could be a dependable person in her life, someone she could come to rely on. Junjie noticed and explained that everything that happened today had been to Hinota’s expectations since that moment she had stood up for him. She had done all of that just for his growth, not minding that she had to lose this battle if it meant they could win this war. The words brought a smile to his face, as he once more realized how much Hinota cared for him regardless of their misunderstandings in the past. “Right, and I will play my part perfectly so that we can win this war… together.” It was clear those words were meant for Hinota even if he did not mention her name. They were to stay here till his father was appeased, meaning that they were not going to leave anytime soon. “Yes, this will not end today, but I will not give in.” Now that he knew what was expected of him, and understood this was the best way to support Hinota at current there was no force on Earth that would break his will to see this through.
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Saki had returned, having heard the entire conversation and only feeling more and more proud of her son. With the correct guidance he seemed to be growing so much faster than she had believed he would. It showed her she had been right all along, which was a personal victory to her. She cared for the wound on his cheek and mentioned that while she could not heal his tooth, she knew Hinota would once she could. Junjie reaffirmed this, and Jevi nodded in agreement. “That’s why I’m not worried in the slightest about this pain.” It was nothing compared to what he had experienced in the past. Though, it was the first time Daiki had hit him somewhere other people would be able to see the scar it was going to leave without any healing. The man had always been calculating enough to keep it to his torso and back where Jevi could easily hide it. It had been drilled into his head that they were signs of great shame, and he had always kept them hidden from everyone. After hearing Junjie’s story and seeing the man’s scars, Jevi was starting to become more accepting of his scars, but he was not yet fully there.
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Daiki had been gone for a little while, but now that he had the time to recollect himself he returned home with some gauze applied over the cut on his cheek as well. It obviously looked far worse than Saki’s patch up job, but he needed to stop the blood somehow. He looked more calm than before, but it was clear that he had been taken aback by everything that had happened so far. He found his way back into his chair, looking down at Hinota who had clearly still not moved even a little bit. “Now that I have had a moment to think about how you can show your remorse the best, I have finally made a decision. To show your sincere apology, you will serve the Suru family as a maid until I am convinced that you truly understand you were in the wrong and you are sorry for it. You will start today.” This meant Hinota’s time to kowtow had at least ended, as his words were spoken with a finality to them. Immediately after he looked in his peripheral to see Jevi’s response to all of this. Surprisingly enough to Daiki, Jevi looked calm and at peace, resting his back against the couch as if he was just waiting for the sign to be let go. “Do you have anything to say about this, son?” Jevi brought his hand to his chin as if in thought, before shaking his head. “No, but I do have a question.”
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He stood up from the couch, looking directly at his father. At first it may have looked like he would go off against Daiki for his decision, which caused his father to smirk. “Which is?” There were a lot of questions Daiki had expected, such as if he couldn’t just let the Princess go. However, when Jevi opened his mouth his smirk fell once more. “Could I be excused? I was in the middle of tending to Jasmine when you summoned me here, and it looks like your decision has been made which means we’re done here, right?” Obviously this was far from what Daiki wanted to see, but what could he really say against this? It was true that he had made a decision, and he had no good reason to keep Jevi here anymore. That’s when he noticed Jevi’s cut, and was reminded of his own. “Actually, no.” He turned his attention to Hinota, who likely had gotten up by now. “I have heard you possess incredible healing magic, so I will need you to heal the cut on my cheek.” That was sure to piss Jevi off, right? Once again he checked for his son’s reaction, but Jevi had simply sat back down and waited as requested. Of course, he was incredibly angry at his father for continuing these games and using Hinota as a pawn, but he was going to win no matter what. He was not even going to request being healed himself, as Jevi was curious what his father was going to do when he had a visible scar. People would ask questions, and Jevi was anything but a liar. For now, all he could was wait and see without giving his father what he was looking for.

[attr="class","raescroll2"]
Jevi learns a valuable lesson, and has found a way to make it work for himself, which he shows by not giving in to Daiki's manipulation.

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Everything had largely gone as Hinota had planned, and Daiki had even lost his cool when he noticed how well Jevi listened to his new teacher Junjie. That show of obedience and respect is what Daiki had been after for years, and he was furious to see that Jevi had always had the capability to be that way, yet had insisted on opposing him. It was due to him losing his cool that everything had gone downhill for him, which further illustrated the lesson taught to him by Junjie and Hinota. Junjie was quick to deal with Daiki after the latter had backhanded his son, and it made the man retreat for a moment. It gave the four left in the room a chance to speak, and Saki could not help but cover her mouth as she giggled slightly at Junjie’s answer to her request of simply calling her by her first name. “Very well, Junjie, I shall not insist otherwise.” Not only had Junjie been the one to comfort her during their last visit to the Suru estate, he had now taken on Jevi as his student and for more than just sword lessons. She was eternally grateful to the man for that, and if he felt more comfortable addressing her as lady then she was not going to argue.
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While Saki was grabbing the things she needed to take care of Jevi, not wanting to wait till Hinota could do so as it could take a while, Jevi spoke with his Master. The lesson had finally set in, and Jevi nodded at Junjie’s comment about his father’s corrupted heart and how Daiki could not hide it. He noted the words were spoken quietly as to not upset his mother, and so Jevi had given no other acknowledgement to spare his mother. He did not want to hurt her more than she already was, because he knew damn well she was staying with Daiki for his future’s sake. Divorce would bring a great shame to the Suru name, and the only reason Saki would not want such a thing was for him. Even in his absence, she had stayed here and waited for him. Instead, Jevi reiterated the lesson Junjie had taught him, and explained he found a way to make it work for himself. He could tell from Junjie’s tone that he was happy to hear it, which only brought a smile to Jevi’s face. However, when his eyes drifted to Hinota, Junjie called him out on his heart showing, making him rub the back of his head with a sheepish smile. “It’s a work in progress…” Still, there were no “enemies” around right now, so that was good at least. Jevi let his mother treat the cut on his cheek, as Junjie reaffirmed they already knew this was not going to end today, and they were prepared for that. “He is.” There was no reason for Jevi to disagree, what Junjie said was right, and Jevi would take care of it in due time.
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Daiki had returned not too much later, stating that he had thought it over and figured out Hinota could show her remorse by staying at the Suru estate as a maid. All of this was to get a reaction out of Jevi, however the younger Suru was right back into duel and merely asked to be excused without showing even a bit of worry or anger over Hinota. Yes, he felt angry, but he was not going to give his father the upper hand. Daiki did not let him go, instead asking Hinota to heal him, which again did not get a reaction out of Jevi like he had hoped. Jevi had noticed the smile on Hinota’s face, bringing one to his own as she exclaimed she’d always heal someone who asks for her aid. She used one of her spells, and took care of Daiki’s “wound”, but not without telling him off about it. As she explained her abilities were second to none in Clover, she also told Daiki she thought it was insulting for him to ask her to use a spell on such a minor wound while leaving his son who had actually been injured much worse unattended. “I was getting to that...” Daiki answered, not in a position to argue, though he was going to ask for Jevi’s healing regardless. If that wound scarred, it would become harder to hide what had happened behind the closed doors of the Suru estate.
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Hinota on her end did not wait for him to command her to heal Jevi, but made his way over to him. Jevi could only sit back quietly and watched as she approached him, trying his best not to show any of his emotions on his face. While he managed for the most part, he was unable to mask the love and warmth he felt for the woman in his eyes. Hinota would certainly see it, and Saki likely would too. Jevi would let her remove the bandage from his cheek, listening to her assessment. Her soft voice and gentle touch made him want to melt into a puddle, and his heart was pounding in his chest. Hinota would note that his cheek would feel quite warm because of it, as he nodded slightly to her comment of the wound stinging. “It does.” His voice was soft, as he was barely able to speak. He was glad he could get any words out at all in his current position.
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He heard Junjie trying to stop her, but Hinota informed him that she needed to keep up her practice with this special skill that came with her Angelic magic. The fact she went against tradition with what was clearly an excuse just to be able to touch him made him fall even deeper in love with her. Ever since their last mission he had been trying so hard to move past his feelings for the imperial princess, yet it was here and now that he realized that he would never be able to. “Thank you…” Jevi whispered, his thank you encompassing far more than just his wounds getting healed. He was thankful for everything Hinota had done for him, and he could only steel his resolve to become a man she could rely on. As Hinota moved her hand away, Jevi noticed that all of his pain was gone, even in his tooth, and brought his hand to where Hinota had just touched him. This was equal parts in curiosity to feel if the wound was truly gone, as well as relishing the feeling a little bit longer. The latter would be easy to deny, though.
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Jevi listened as Hinota set her own conditions, telling Daiki that she had no issues with staying here as a guest, but was not going to remain here as a maid. After all, he had asked for an apology and had been given one. She then brought up that it would be a shame if his abuse became public knowledge, as it would ruin his reputation. While her voice was sickly sweet, feigning care for the man’s reputation, it was obvious that she had Daiki in a corner. This was something Daiki could not afford to get out, and so reluctantly the man had to give in to Hinota’s request. “That will be fine, then.” It was too risky to go against her in this moment, and Jevi relaxed himself now that the worst was over. Daiki got up from his chair and straightened his clothes. “My wife will ensure the servants will have your guest rooms in order. I have business to attend to this afternoon.” With that, Daiki left the estate all together. Whether he really had business was up for debate, but he knew that he needed time to come up with a better plan in the future to get Jevi back under his thumb. This was no longer about the family as a whole. This had become a pride thing, and he could not lose to his son in this matter or he’d lose face completely.
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Now that Daiki was gone, Jevi let out a breath he did not know he had been holding in. “This just feels like the quiet before the storm…” He hunched over a bit and moved his right hand to run it through his hair, resting it there for a moment as he tried to stop the thoughts that were now running rampant in his head. Jevi was in his head, already moving on to the next battle in this war, trying to predict his father’s next move so he could be ahead of him. Saki knew Jevi’s mannerisms, and moved her hand to Jevi’s back where she let it rest. “Sweetheart, let it go for now…” Her voice was soft and nurturing, and it did make Jevi relax a little more as he straightened his back again. “I suppose you’re right. Worrying will not make me gain any ground here.” All he could do was take it day by day, keep an eye on his father and remember the lessons he was taught to deal with the man. “It will be fine.” He gave his mother a smile, convincing himself that things would work out.
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Jevi then turned to Hinota and Junjie, as he stood up. “I suppose we should focus on getting your rooms in order since you’re both going to stay here for some time. Are there any requests regarding room placements and the like? I will do my best to make all of this as comfortable as possible for you.” Without being told to, Jevi took over the role of Saki by taking care of their guests. One day he’d lead this family, and this was going to be part of his tasks. Since he felt responsible for Hinota and Junjie being forced into this, the least he could do was make it as easy as possible on them.

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Daiki is put in a checkmate, and leaves the estate for business he has for the time being. Jevi is clearly worried for the future, but pushes past it with the help of his mother before taking over the care of his guests as a true head of the house should.

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With Junjie’s guidance and clear cut example, Jevi took to his new demeanor like a fish to water. He did not show his heart to his father, masking his emotions well and not giving Daiki an inch to work with. This brought Daiki’s whole plans down, and when Jevi had shown such obedience to Junjie the man lost it and, in a moment of uncontrolled rage, struck his son harshly. This made the house of cards crumble, as Daiki found himself on the floor seconds after underneath Junjie’s sword while being told off by his son’s new teacher. It was here that Daiki had lost every bit of ground he had, and he excused himself to tend to the cut on his cheek while trying to come up with a way to turn things around. This allowed the group some breathing room to speak, and once more Junjie and Saki got along very well. She respected his wishes to not use her first name, and was more than happy to address him by his first name. While Junjie was conversing with Jevi, she was gathering some things to tend to her son’s cheek.
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When Saki returned to the couch and tended to Jevi, Junjie apologized for potentially overstepping some boundaries, but asked her why she stayed with a man who only cared for himself. Saki’s eyes did not leave her work, tending to Jevi’s cheek with a soft and calm smile on her face. Even her voice showed no shakiness or signs of weakness as she kept it even despite the sadness in her heart. “I do not mind you asking, Junjie. The answer is quite simple, really. I stay with him for the sake of my son.” Jevi’s eyes widened a bit hearing this, but he was unable to turn his head to look at Saki. “Mother…” For so long he had thought she was staying with Daiki in hopes he’d return to the man he was before Jevi had been born, but it was just for him? Saki ignored her son’s soft spoken words and simply continued. “This family, under my husband’s guidance, has struggled a lot. When Jevi ran away from home, we struggled even more so, as the rumor mill went wild with theories and accusations towards us both. You can imagine the things people said and came up with. However, if I were to divorce Daiki on top of that I do not believe the Suru family would be able to continue to exist as it does. Jevi would have come home to nothing, and he would have likely blamed himself for everything that had happened in his absence for the rest of his life. Therefore, I will stay with my husband until my beloved son can take over the family and his future is secured.” Jevi was absolutely speechless. She had sacrificed her happiness, her entire life, just for him? In the hopes he’d one day return?
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While no tears formed in his eyes, Jevi could feel that his heart was turning cold. These emotions welling up in him were becoming far too much, so as a way to cope he was simply turning them off all together. However, that was not going to do him any good right now either. He took a deep breath and focused himself on what was still going on around him. “We’ll talk about this later, mother.” Saki smiled softly, moving her hand to stroke through Jevi’s snow white hair. “We can, if you wish.” Her mind was not going to change on this, as she would sacrifice everything for her son’s happiness. His eyes drifted to Hinota, and he was called out by Junjie about it immediately. Jevi admitted learning this lesson of hiding his heart was still a work in progress. While Junjie was happy that Jevi had learned this important lesson, he moved over and whispered to the younger man that even the walls in his own home had eyes and ears which enjoyed telling stories. While there were walls which would keep the secrets, there were also those that were loyal to his father which is why he had to hide his heart even in his own house. Jevi gulped a little at this revelation, realizing that not all their servants would be like Edgar, and so he nodded when asked if he understood. “Yes, Master. I understand.” Today was packed with lessons, and right now all he wanted to do was run to Jasmine and hide away in order to give himself some breathing room. But he couldn’t do that right now, he had to stand his ground. He had to be better.
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Daiki came back downstairs quickly enough with some other demands. At first he tried to make Hinota into a maid for an undetermined time, and when that did not get a rise out of Jevi he commanded her to heal his small cut. This is where Hinota was finally able to speak now that she was no longer in the kowtow position, and she really let Daiki have it. While her tone was nothing but polite, her words were venomous as she berated the man for placing himself above his son who was injured much worse. He put himself before everyone in the family, and his actions were proof of this. Daiki had no leg to stand on, and couldn’t refute a thing, so he kept quiet while his face showed how annoyed he was. Deep down he knew she was right, but he was far from admitting such a thing. “I am certain I can elevate this family’s name in due time. Your worries are unnecessary, though appreciated.” While Daiki was playing nice, his voice showed dismissal as he just wanted these talks to end. His plans had failed this time, but he could come up with something else and would eventually get his way.
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The imperial princess then focused on Jevi and his wound, and decided to use physical touch to heal him despite the warning Junjie gave her. Jevi felt his heart flutter for a moment as Hinota was essentially breaking tradition with an excuse just to be able to be close to him. While he kept himself calm, his eyes did clearly show the love and warmth he felt for Hinota. He confirmed that his cheek stung, and Hinota apologized for herself being the reason he had to feel pain. “Please, do not blame yourself, Princess Yuiee. That would pain me more than this wound ever could.” His tone was soft and warm as he returned her weak smile with a bright one of his own. Once she pulled away, Jevi moved his hand to his cheek to relish the feeling of her touch a little longer, as well as curiosity to her magic. When she chuckled and asked if he wasn’t satisfied, he could not contain a soft chuckle of his own as he shook his head to show her that the assumption was far from the truth. “It is not every day one gets touched by Angelic Magic, so I wished to relish the feeling a little longer.” He could not tell her directly that it was her touch that he was enjoying so much, and so he did what he had learned from Enlil and Sumire and gave her an indirect compliment. The truth behind it would be clear to Hinota, but by using these words no one could pin anything on either of them. When she told him he didn’t need to thank her, Jevi simply nodded in appreciation with a smile as he was not going to fight her on it.
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From here, Hinota told Daiki what was going to happen. She did not mind staying at the Suru estate as a guest, but that was all he was going to get out of her. Daiki had no way to refute this, and reluctantly agreed to these terms and conditions before excusing himself by stating he had some business to tend to. It was a bad excuse, but no one was going to call him out of it as all of them would rather see the man leave. As he did, Jevi tried to think ahead to the next battle in this war, stating that it felt just like the quiet before the storm. Hinota agreed, but reassured Jevi that his father had learned some vital lessons before stating that she was certain Junjie had mentioned she was a tactical prodigy, and she turned out to be a political prodigy as well. None of that was surprising Jevi anymore, as Hinota was simply that amazing. “That does not surprise me, Princess Yuiee, and I appreciate you using your expertise to help my family. It is more than we deserve.” That is how he truly felt, especially after learning how much is mother had suffered for his sake. It still didn’t sit well with him, and while there was a smile on his face there was a deep sadness in his icy blue eyes.
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As it turned out, since she would need a couple of months to finish up the gift for his father, that’s how long she was likely to stay here. She could not return home till she had given her hosts a gift, and she promised to work diligently as to not overstay her welcome. While they were here, Junjie could even continue training Jevi in the meantime. It was Saki who stepped in and spoke, a warm smile on her face. “Oh sweetheart, you could never overstay your welcome here.” She hid her mouth with her hand as she giggled softly, seemingly not bothered by the state of her marriage and simply happy to have made a friend in the imperial princess. Jevi could not understand it, hearing her speak so casually, showing no sadness or pain when she had suffered ever since he had been born. For nearly two decades she had been in an unhappy marriage all for his sake. How could she still muster the strength to giggle and be so caring towards those around her? In order to distract himself, Jevi decided to help Hinota and Junjie get their rooms set up so their stay could be as comfortable as possible.
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Hinota mentioned she could stay in her carriage if it was easier, and even though she mentioned it was basically a room on wheels Jevi waved his hand to dismiss it. “None of this is too much trouble, Princess Yuiee. In fact, it’s the least we could do.” Junjie informed her that two rooms would not be needed, as he himself would not leave his mistress’s door as she slept. He hoped his sister, Luli, would soon join them so she could sleep in the same room as Hinota at which point he could have a room for himself. Jevi nodded in understanding to Junjie, not even going to argue with the man as he understood his duty. It was one he was trying to work towards himself, after all. “I understand, Master. I will let you pick the room most suited for Princess Yuiee.” He then turned to his mother, bowing to her in apology. “Mother, would you be so kind as to guide them. I have truly been slacking in my duties towards Jasmine, and I fear if I do not return to tend to her soon she may just kick down her stable door.” Jevi knew Jasmine would not do something like that, even if she would be waiting for him, but he needed to get away from here. Being near his mother filled his heart with grief of a level he had never felt, and he needed a moment to himself without drawing attention to himself. “Of course, sweetheart, I know how much of a temper Jasmine can have.” She smiled softly, and would take over the duties from her son as he bowed towards Hinota and Junjie. “My apologies Princess Yuiee, Master. Duty calls me elsewhere for the moment. I shall return shortly.”
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With that, Jevi would go back towards the stables as Saki gestured towards where the stairs to the first floor were. “Please follow me, I will show you around and show you which rooms we have available. I believe it is best that your future room will be next to Princess Yuiee’s, right Junjie?” Her smile remained ever radiant, leading her guests through the estate as she showed them the first floor and pointed towards a door at the end of the hallway to the right when one had just come up the stairs. “That would be Jevi’s room at the end. The bedroom of myself and my husband would be over there.” She turned to gesture to the left, to the room furthest away from Jevi’s. This left every room in between, a total of three in this hallway alone, open to be chosen by Hinota and Junjie. “These three rooms are free, all of them with their own bathroom, so there is no need to worry about such things. I am big on privacy, so I requested them. If we were to go past my bedroom to the left, that hallways holds two more rooms.” Of course, those were the furthest away from Jevi, but she would let her guests make their preferred choices. Once they had made a choice, Saki would turn to Edgar. “Could you please assist them in fetching the belongings they have brought with them, Edgar?” Edgar simply bowed and nodded. “I would be happy to assist, my Lady.” Saki smiled and turned to Junjie. “He will be at your disposal, Junjie.” She knew he was the princess’ bodyguard, and absolutely nothing would happen without his knowledge and approval. That’s why she only ordered Edgar to assist, rather than take over the entire duty like he normally would.
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While Saki was helping out Hinota and Junjie with getting settled, Jevi had walked back to the stables like he said he would. The moment he entered, Jasmine could be heard as her excited neighs filled the building due to her master returning to her side. However, the moment she actually noticed him, Jasmine immediately quieted down. She could sense something was wrong by his entire demeanor, so she knew not to push her excitement onto him. Jevi entered Jasmine’s stable, a weak smile on his face. “Hey girl…” His voice nearly cracked with just those words, and Jasmine lowered her head. The white mare pushed her own head against Jevi’s forehead, and this gesture alone was enough for him to break. He wrapped his arms gently around her and let the tears stream down his cheeks without making a sound. Eventually he spoke in a soft whisper, not wanting anyone to hear him, but also unable to put more strength into his voice as it was. “I never realized… How could I not have realized?” He closed his eyes and grit his teeth a little, frustration mixing in with the overwhelming sadness. “I can’t even protect my own mother, so how am I ever going to become captain and protect a kingdom? How could a coward like me ever hope to accomplish anything?” Finally he choked on his tears, and began to actually sob. He moved his head to hide it against Jasmine’s neck, his grip becoming tighter on her. “I’m hopeless… I’m going to disappoint all of them just like I did mother. I don’t deserve all their help…” Why would they put so much effort into someone who was a screw up like him? Someone who couldn’t even see how much his mother had suffered, or realized how much he had added to her suffering? Maybe everything would have been better if he had just stayed gone forever? Maybe that was still better…

[attr="class","raescroll2"]
Realizing how much his mother has suffered and is suffering is taking its toll on Jevi.

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