MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 684: Choke

With her striking purple eyes still fixed upon the night sky, Vega suddenly broke the silence. Her voice was soft yet curious, carrying that subtle vulnerability only a daughter would reveal to her mother.

”What do you think of him?” she asked.

”You mean Anthony?” Amara replied, her golden eyes shifting from her teacup to her daughter’s face.

Vega gave a small nod in confirmation, her gaze never leaving the glittering stars above.

For a few moments, Amara said nothing. She let the quiet linger, as if her thoughts needed the weight of silence to gather themselves. Finally, she spoke with calm composure.

”Honestly, when I was preparing for your arrival with him, I had no expectations at all. I didn’t set a standard in my mind, nor did I allow myself to create a picture of who I hoped he would be. I simply wished to meet the young man who had found a place in my daughter’s heart.”

She paused briefly, sipping her tea before continuing. ”But, if you want the truth... he is good. Better than most, at least from the little I observed while we all sat together at the dining table. He seems to carry himself well, with a good head on his shoulders. I saw no excessive pride, no unnecessary sharpness of ego. As for arrogance, well, I cannot say with certainty just yet. That will reveal itself in time. But so far, I would say he seems genuine. And most importantly, it is plain to me that he truly likes you.”

Her words were simple, not dressed in exaggeration, but they carried sincerity that Vega could trust.

Vega remained quiet for a long moment, digesting her mother’s words. She truly wanted to know what Amara thought of Anthony. Not that her mother’s disapproval would have instantly changed anything, Vega would not break off her relationship on command. She would have allowed time and experience to draw its own conclusions. Still, her heart was lighter now, as if some unspoken weight had been lifted. Everything seemed... perfect.

”Thank you, Mom,” Vega finally said, a warm smile softening her lips.

”What are you thanking me for?” Amara asked gently. ”It isn’t as though I would have forced you to end your relationship if I had disapproved of him.”

Vega chuckled, laughter spilling naturally at her mother’s words. But before she could respond, Amara’s expression shifted ever so slightly, her voice carrying a sudden playfulness.

”Besides,” Amara said, tilting her head, ”don’t you think you should be punished?”

Vega’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression freezing as though she had been struck by lightning. ”Punished? For what?” she asked, utterly bewildered.

It had been so long since her mother had mentioned punishment that the word felt foreign. Klaus’s punishments were different, rigorous training, sparring until exhaustion, or being forced to practice technique after technique until she collapsed. But Amara rarely punished her, at least not in the same manner.

”Indeed,” Amara said smoothly, her voice teasing yet firm. ”You had a boyfriend and said nothing to me. You kept me in the dark. What happened to our mother-daughter bond, hm?”

”Ahhh...” Vega mumbled, realization dawning on her face.

She had completely forgotten to share the details with her mother when she and Anthony became official. Perhaps deep down, she had even avoided the subject, uncertain of how Amara might react.

”You were away,” Vega explained quickly, fabricating an excuse. ”And I didn’t want to bother you. Who knew what burdens you had on your hands at the time? I just... I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Amara arched an elegant brow, her golden eyes glinting knowingly. ”You realize I can tell you’re lying, don’t you?” she said with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Vega exhaled heavily, defeated. ”Fine. I forgot,” she admitted, finally telling the truth.

Amara let out an exaggerated sigh, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead dramatically. ”My own daughter finally experiences her first taste of romance, and the very first thing she does is cast her mother aside. Such betrayal! Such ungratefulness! Clearly, I have failed all mothers across the universe.”

Vega’s lips twitched in frustration, caught between exasperation and amusement. She watched her mother feign despair as though drowning in grief.

”Mom,” Vega said flatly, ”you know these tricks won’t work on me anymore. I’m not seven years old.”

Amara’s dramatic act melted into a soft smile.

’They grow up far too quickly,’ she thought to herself.

For someone like her, even a century could pass like the blink of an eye. And yet, she wanted to cherish every fleeting moment, to pour her heart into Vega before the day came when her daughter would fully spread her wings and leave the nest.

”So,” Amara began suddenly, her voice shifting with disarming casualness, ”are you both having sex?”

The question struck like a thunderclap. Vega, who had just bitten into a fruit, nearly choked. She coughed violently, her face flushing as she struggled to recover.

Of all the questions she might have expected, this one had never crossed her mind.

”Mom!” Vega exclaimed, wiping her mouth with a napkin. ”Why would you even ask that?”

Amara’s expression remained entirely calm, her tone matter-of-fact. ”When you are a mother, you will understand,” she said simply, offering no explanation beyond that.

Vega stared at her mother, their gazes locking, purple against gold, in tense silence. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Vega gave the faintest nod, knowing full well there was no lying her way out of this. Her mother always knew. Always.

Amara’s expression did not harden, nor did it soften. She merely shook her head with a faint smile and said, ”Better to marry before giving birth.” Her tone carried no judgment, just a quiet reminder.

”It’s not as though we’re like normal mortals,” Vega countered after a moment, her voice steadier. ”Mortals can give birth every year if they wish. For people like us, with our high mana ranks, it takes years, before conception even occurs. I’m not worried about suddenly becoming pregnant.”

”True,” Amara admitted calmly. ”But nowhere is it written that you cannot suddenly become pregnant tomorrow.” Her voice carried the weight of cold fact, cutting through the comfort of assumptions.

Vega nodded in reluctant agreement, though her thoughts betrayed her calm exterior.

’It seems there will be no nightly activities during our stay here,’ she thought quietly to herself.

Amara, noticing the sudden stiffness in her daughter’s demeanor, gracefully changed the subject.

”So,” she began casually, ”how is Veronica doing? You two are stationed at the same military base, aren’t you?”

”She’s fine,” Vega answered, relaxing slightly. ”Mostly just running missions here and there. The military runs on points, after all. She spends most of her time accumulating them.”

”Why don’t you tell me about your own missions, then?” Amara asked, her voice carrying genuine interest. She leaned back in her chair, ready to listen.

”Honestly, they’re boring,” Vega replied with a dismissive shrug. ”I was only at the Private Military rank. How could those missions possibly be entertaining for me? The Forsaken Cult mission was the only one worth mentioning, and I’ve already told you about that.”

Amara nodded in quiet understanding, sipping her tea again.

”You could share a few details about Anthony, if you like,” Amara said, her lips curling into a knowing smile. ”Now that he isn’t here to hear it from you directly.”

Vega smirked faintly at her mother’s suggestion. The tension eased, and before long, the balcony was filled with laughter and whispers as mother and daughter began gossiping about Anthony. Their voices carried warmth, affection, and playfulness, the kind of bond only they could share.

The stars above bore silent witness to their conversation, the night stretching onward with the comfort of love, trust, and the timeless rhythm of family.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: At this point I don’t know if I’m writing a romance novel or one of peak action and adventure.

Maybe I should add a slice of life tag?