"Woooahhh…!" Issei's jaw nearly hit the ground as he gawked at the massive mansion before him. His voice carried the same awe as a child stepping into a dreamland.
Beside him—excluding Rias and Akeno—Asia, Koneko, and Kiba all wore similar expressions of surprise. None of them had expected this.
The mansion looked less like a house and more like a grand palace pulled straight out of a fairytale painting. Sunlight spilled over its white stone walls and tall windows, making the entire building gleam softly against the backdrop of the sky. A long path paved with marble led up to its ornate doors, lined with trimmed hedges and blooming roses.
The air was alive with the flutter of butterflies drifting lazily through the flower beds. Birds sang in the branches of ancient trees, their melody weaving with the faint trickle of water. To the side, a pond glistened under the light of the setting sun, where a pair of pure-white swans glided gracefully across the surface.
Even Koneko, usually stoic and reserved, let her golden eyes linger a little longer than usual.
Arthur, walking a few steps ahead, stopped before the gates and turned to face them. He smiled at them.
"Alright, everyone," he said, "for the next ten days, this will be your battlefield… and your hell. You'll train here."
🔹🔹🔹
The heavy double doors of the mansion swung open with a muted creak, and what greeted them inside made the peerage halt mid-step.
A perfectly aligned row of maids stood on one side of the grand hall, their postures flawless, their gazes sharp yet welcoming. Opposite them stood a single butler with hair of silver and the dignity of someone carved out of old legends.
Together, their voices rang out in practiced harmony.
"Welcome, honored guests—and Arthur-sama."
Issei nearly choked. "Ehhhh?! M-Maids?!" His eyes darted left and right, overwhelmed by the sight of so many beautiful women lined up with military precision.
"Behave yourself, Issei." Rias said to him.
Arthur stepped forward casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Thank you, Pleiades." His words carried warmth, as though he had known them for a very long time. Then, turning back to Rias and her peerage, he said simply, "Give them your bags."
Rias, however, froze. Her blue eyes widened, and she took a step closer to Arthur. "Wait… Arthur, don't tell me—are these really the Pleiades?"
Arthur blinked at her in mild surprise. "You… know about them?"
That caught his attention. The Pleiades never left Nazarick. Their whole existence was tied to serving within its halls. How could Rias possibly know their name?
"Of course," Rias replied, voice low and reverent, as if she were recalling what her brother told her. "Or more precisely, I've heard of them. In Nazarick, they are said to be the Ancient One's most trusted maids. Ancient One never moves without at least one of them by his side."
The hall went quiet for a heartbeat. The maids exchanged glances, their usually unreadable expressions flickering with the faintest of emotions. "I like her." Luspus whispered.
Even Yuri Alpha, whose composure rarely faltered, allowed a subtle smile to grace her lips.
"Thank you for your kind words, Miss Rias," Yuri said politely, inclining her head ever so slightly.
The silver-haired butler finally spoke, his deep, commanding voice cutting through the silence like a blade through silk. "Now then, Pleiades—assign them to their rooms."
"Yes, Sebas-sama," Yuri replied crisply. Then she turned to the devils, her tone soft but firm. "Each of you, please follow one of us."
After they all left, Sebas bowed to me. "My Lord, what are your orders?"
Since Arthur didn't have much time after last night with Rias, Sebas only knows that he will be coming; he doesn't know the reason.
It never ceased to strike him—after all this time, their devotion hadn't dulled, not even a fraction. Every gesture, every word, was absolute, as if they breathed only for him.
Even after all this time… their loyalty doesn't waver. I wonder if any other pantheon can claim servants like these. No… Other gods might have warriors, or priesthoods, or golems that obey. But servants like Nazarick's? Living, breathing devotion? That's something unique.
"I want you and Pleiades to train them." Arthur said to him.
"Train? My Lord." Sebas said in confusion, so Arthur clarified his doubt.
"There is a Rating Game happening in the Underworld ten days from now, and Rias is going against one of the Phenex clan. You know how nasty their regeneration is. I want you and the Pleiades to shape her peerage into something that can overcome that. Strong enough to claim victory."
Sebas's head lifted slightly, his eyes as sharp as an eagle looking at Arthur. "As you command, my Lord."
🔹🔹🔹
After placing her bag in the room assigned to her, Rias smoothed out her skirt and glanced around. The mansion was vast—larger than most noble estates in the Underworld—and its labyrinthine halls made it easy to lose track of direction.
She wandered for several minutes, searching for Arthur, but the silence of the estate yielded no clue. Eventually, she crossed paths with Sebas. He guided her outside toward the gardens.
Even though the sun was high up, the air was cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. Beyond the lantern-lit pathways, she spotted a small four-pillared pavilion, its roof shaped like an elegant umbrella. There, seated with the composure of one entirely at ease, was Arthur. At his side stood one of the maids.
The maid was an elegant, snow-white-skinned, black-ponytail beauty. She looked opposite of Grayfia in some sense; that's what Rias thought, at least.
As Rias approached, the maid straightened and bowed respectfully to Arthur. Her long black hair swayed slightly with the motion.
"I will be going, Arthur-sama. Please call me if you need anything."
Arthur inclined his head. "Okay, Narberal."
Without sparing Rias so much as a glance, the maid—Narberal—glided past her. Rias didn't even notice that, as she already sat across from Arthur and asked a question that had been eating at her from the moment she was introduced to Pleiades.
"How did you bring Pleiades here? And why did you bring Pleiades here?"
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