Night had fallen over Kuoh Academy's old school building, specifically on the second floor. In the dimly lit bedroom, the red-haired girl at her writing desk turned around to see a silver-haired maid erging via a teleportation circle. Her once-calm expression instantly grew tense.
"Apologies for visiting so late, Lady Rias."
Stepping clear of the glowing red magic array, the silver-haired maid offered a short bow; the circle faded away behind her. Rias bit her lower lip.
"Grayfia… why did you suddenly co here?"
Though Rias phrased it as a question, her expression showed she already knew the answer.
With the teleportation circle now gone, the desk lamp was the only source of light. Its soft glow flickered on the maid's figure, outlining her alluring curves beneath the conservative uniform.
"Though it may be a bit late, Lord Sirzechs Lucifer—your brother—asked to bring you this year's 'belated' birthday wishes, Lady Rias."
"Birthday… That was way back at the start of the month—now it's practically the end of April," Rias quipped, feigning nonchalance.
"I apologize, but there were reasons. many matters require his personal approval."
Grayfia's tone was calm, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Originally, Lord Lucifer wanted to finish his workload early and co celebrate in person. Unfortunately, he was swamped, so he had no choice but to entrust with conveying his well-wishes."
"Mm, well… it's all right."
Hearing her earnest apology, Rias—who'd been sounding sarcastic—felt a pang of guilt.
"I know my brother's busy. Besides, I'm not a little kid. He knows I won't throw a tantrum just because I didn't get a birthday greeting. But… thanks for bringing it anyway, Grayfia."
She hesitated. "So, that's all, right? Nothing else pressing?"
Rias's voice carried a faint, hopeful note. 'If that's it, then maybe—'
Of course, reality rarely went the way one hoped.
"There is one more matter."
Grayfia's quiet statent doused Rias's final sliver of hope.
"It concerns your engagent, Lady Rias. Now that you've turned eighteen, the Phenex family is requesting you return to the Underworld soon for the wedding."
"…"
A heavy silence filled the room. Rias stayed half-turned in her chair, unmoving. The lamp illuminated her crimson hair but left her face in deep shadow, obscuring her expression.
"My… engagent."
"Yes. That's the ssage the Phenex family asked to deliver before I ca here."
Like the Gremory clan, the Phenex clan was one of the Underworld's Seventy-Two Pillar nobles—both sides being among the few remaining pureblood devil lineages after the ancient war. Their marriage pact was political, with no real feelings involved; it was all about preserving pureblood devils.
Originally, this engagent wouldn't have fallen to Rias—her older brother Sirzechs stood in line ahead of her. But once Sirzechs Gremory assud the mantle of Satan "Lucifer," the heir of House Gremory defaulted to Rias.
As the saying goes, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown," but in her case, it was more like she hadn't chosen that crown—she was forced into it.
She could refuse...
But that would bring endless conflict and condemnation. As a pureblood devil noble, refusing to "do your duty" in reviving the devil race? She'd be slapped with a heavy label. Not only House Gremory, even Sirzechs—now Lucifer—would be dragged down.
That, Rias could never accept.
Plus, her father, Zeoticus Gremory, had passed away.
From a purely objective standpoint, the Gremory na was carried on by only Rias and her mother, Venelana Gremory.
In many ways, House Gremory was on shaky ground; any extra strife could risk them being kicked out of the Seventy-Two Pillars altogether.
Hence…
"Heh—"
Rias let out a soft, trembling sigh.
"All right… I see. Thanks for going out of your way to tell , Grayfia."
She fell silent, but Grayfia didn't vanish. After a short pause, the maid spoke again in that asured tone:
"In truth, if you truly cannot accept this engagent, Lady Rias, there is one way—"
"I know—just have my brother handle it, right?"
Before Grayfia could finish, Rias cut in with a bitter smile.
Yes, with Sirzechs's power as Lucifer, breaking off a betrothal was just a matter of a command. But the engagent was so politically charged that if he intervened by force, the other nobles of the Seventy-Two Pillars would raise doubts about his leadership, undermining his standing as Satan.
Because of her personal obstinacy, Rias would not cause her brother—who'd fought so hard to reach his rank—this massive scandal.
"Anyway… I understand now. Thanks for coming, Grayfia. Please give my brother my thanks. I'll… think it over."
Rias ended the topic with quiet finality. Grayfia nodded, understanding. She cast a quick glance at the notebook on Rias's desk, then stepped backward and bowed. A new red teleportation sigil, bearing the Gremory crest, flared at her feet, lighting up the room.
In a flash, she was gone.
The teleport's magical aura dissipated, leaving not a trace; the rest of the old school building remained unaware.
❁❁❁❁
In the hush that followed, Rias stared at the spot on the floor where the seal had been. Then she sank back into her chair, tilting her head toward the ceiling, raising a fingertip to press against her lips.
"You said… you'd co rescue … didn't you?"
❁❁❁❁
anwhile, at the Keikain household…
"C'mon, Bokue, dinner's already done—so now it's ti to 'Eat Your Big Sister.' And hey, tomorrow and the day after are weekend days. We can hole up for two straight days, yeah?"
"You trying to kill yourself, or…?"
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