Her grandmother?
Michael recalled Yuna’s grandmother to be Xere Montgomery, the very woman who revolutionized the Sanctum Duels and turned the world from a disorganized chaos, into one with a pretty good justice system like it had right now.
Even though the Montgomerys were not as stupidly wealthy as the Conglomerates, they were still being talked about in the same level and breadth as the Vanderbilts, the Oscorpes, and the others. That was how influential Xere was.
He didn’t think that she would visit New Sparta.
"Why wouldn’t she tell me?" Michael asked himself.
Gabriel got up off his seat and wrapped his hand around Michael. "Don’t take it to heart, my friend. It took me two years before Neytiri allowed me to see her family. That’s just how women are, you know. They’re delicate creatures."
Neytiri immediately elbowed her boyfriend and pried him off of Michael. "He’s an idiot... but in this case, there’s probably a good reason as to why she didn’t tell you. Xere Montgomery isn’t exactly a person who’s known for her laxness when it comes to her family, especially her treasured granddaughter.
And uh..."
"And?"
Michael pressed Neytiri.
"And it’s well known in the Upper Echelons that Yuna was supposed to be the successor of Xere, becoming a true neutral force that oversees everything in the world.
But... just recently, everyone can see that she chose a side. She became your Arbiter. So I’m guessing that Yuna is currently getting lectured about this."
So in short, Yuna was currently in trouble because she helped Michael in the Archery Tournament.
And because she didn’t want the blame to be put on him, she went to her grandmother by herself, taking the full brunt of the fault.
"So she’s in trouble because of me?"
Neytiri shook her head. "My friend is a strong person. She’s not someone who cowers under pressure. She chose you, and she will live by it. You just have to trust her and let her fight for her choice."
With those words of advice, Neytiri turned her attention back to the tournament, letting the thought marinate in Michael’s mind.
And as Michael pondered on her words, he felt a nudge on his shoulder.
Gabriel gestured for him to come closer.
"Do you want to know where she is?" he whispered.
"I..."
Gabriel tapped on Michael’s chest. "That’s your girl, bro! You should fight for your love!"
"Lo–love?!"
"Yeah! Rescuing a dame from distress is a man’s romance! So go and show your dedication!"
Gabriel tapped Michael’s chest for the last time, leaving behind a small folded piece of paper that slotted perfectly into his shirt pocket.
With a wink, Gabriel turned away from Michael and let him decide what to do.
Michael took out the paper from his pocket and read its contents.
It was an address.
...
...
...
Being a Montgomery was a very hard thing to do.
Special abilities meant special responsibilities.
Yuna was supposed to become a Diplomat, rather than an Arbiter.
A Diplomat was someone that went around the world, settling debates and problems against two different parties, making sure that they still followed the rules and regulations of the Sanctum Duel.
An Arbiter was someone who specifically worked for one organization. They were the private lawyers of this world.
Of course, many Montgomerys choose to become an Arbiter, simply because it was more luxurious than being a Diplomat.
Arbiters were privately employed by companies who could give them resources and wealth thanks to their work.
But a Diplomat, on the other hand, meant that you were a public servant, doing your duties simply because they were your responsibility. There was no treasure at the end of that road.
Yuna was destined to become a Diplomat. With her unique talents and skills, her grandmother envisioned for her to become a Global Diplomat, someone who didn’t bow against the Conglomerates and held them to the same standards as a lowly farmer.
She was to become an honorable judge, with her eyes blindfolded and ears fully open to nothing but the truth.
But Yuna changed her course, much to the chagrin of her grandmother.
"Are you sure with your choice?" Xere asked.
Xere Montgomery stood at the end of a brightly lit room, standing in front of a statue of a man holding two entire planets on his back. This was the Montgomery symbol. A man burdened with discerning both the truth and the lie in the world.
"Yes, grandmother," Yuna replied.
Xere walked forward. She was tall for a Montgomery, stalwart like the statue behind her. Her golden coat hung over her shoulders. It seemed like it could slide off at any second, yet it never actually did.
"I’m not surprised you would choose your own path," Xere said. "But I didn’t think you’d choose someone from the Lower Queens region."
Yuna looked up, about to say something, but Xere got ahead of her.
"But I know you, my granddaughter. I know your capabilities and your insight. If you think that this company is something worthwhile, then I fully believe you."
Yuna’s eyes widened. "Really?"
When she walked into this place, Yuna was fully prepared to go defend her choice of becoming Reborn’s Arbiter relentlessly. She wouldn’t budge, no matter how much her grandmother tried to dissuade her.
But surprisingly, none of that happened. In fact, it seemed as if Xere was even slightly happy that she made this choice!
"How could you be surprised, Yuna? You think that I’m a heartless monster who’ll deprive my treasured granddaughter of what she wants to do?"
Yuna quickly shook her head. "No–no! It’s just that... you’ve always said that you wanted me to be a Diplomat all my life."
Xere walked towards her and rubbed her head like she did when she was a child.
"That was just a thing that a road you could take, not the road you should. I always wanted you to choose your own path.
If you had chosen to become a swordsman when the Order wanted you to be a Heavenly Knight, then I would have allowed you to be their student. I just want you to be happy, my little fox."
Yuna felt a warmth spread through her heart. She immediately lunged at her grandmother, giving her a hug that had been long overdue.
They spent a good minute in a hug, before Xere broke the silence.
"So... are you going to introduce me to him?"
Yuna immediately flinched. "What?"
"The boy," Xere said. "I have a feeling that this ’choice’ of yours isn’t entirely a business decision."
Yuna’s cheeks burned at her grandmother’s words.
"Mich— we’re just good friends!" Yuna insisted.
But Xere didn’t seem to believe her words one single bit. "Uh huh... are you sure about that?"
Yuna nodded fervently. "Yes!"
Then, Yuna’s words began to falter, her cheeks burning even more redder.
"I think so... he... he treats me like one," Yuna said softly.
Xere couldn’t help but laugh at her granddaughter’s embarrassment.
"I was like you once. Your grandfather was the densest of all men in the world, even more so than GodForge pieces, hahaha!"
Yuna looked up at her. "How... how did you make him yours?"
Xere gave Yuna a cheeky smile. "I took him by the collar and said to him: date me or else."
This gave Yuna a shock. That’s it?! Wasn’t that more like a threat rather than a romantic confession?
"After that, your grandfather was mine, and the rest, was history."
Yuna didn’t know if she should take her grandmother’s words to heart. It only worked for Xere because of her imposing presence. Yuna couldn’t be like that. She wasn’t that forthright.
"I can’t do that!"
Xere shrugged. "Well, if you can’t do that, then just do it the simple way. You just confessed to him."
Immediately, Yuna shook her hands. "No, no, no, no! I can’t do that! That’s too much!"
"I didn’t raise my baby to be a quitter. Just do it."
Yuna twiddled her fingers. "But what if... what if he doesn’t feel that same? What if he just wants us to be friends?"
Xere crossed her arms. "What if he does?"
Those words sent Yuna into a spiral. Even when she lived two lives, this was the first time she felt this frustrated. At least when she was an idol, she didn’t have to worry about this. She was prevented from worrying about romance, so she didn’t have to.
But now...
"I still can’t! He’s... he’s too busy! And he’s Michael. He’s always going to be Michael. He’s always going to put his company over anyone. And that’s good! But I know that he will not reciprocate any of what I feel."
Xere looked at Yuna, lifting up her face from her chin. "Are you sure about that?"
Yuna’s eyebrows furrowed, a wistful expression written on her face. "Yes—"
But just as she was about to say that, they suddenly heard the sound of a door opening from behind.
"If you have anyone to blame, it’s me."
They turned around, seeing a golden-haired boy with a hurried look on his face.