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?"
"For the first question, I pulled in some favor." Arthur said.
"From the Ancient One?" Rias asked.
Arthur just looked at her for a moment and nodded.
[It's better to tell her you are Ancient than to lie to her.] Friday's voice echoed through his head.
'I am looking for a right time.'
[What is this 'right time' for you sir?]
'You know what is that, Friday.'
[chunibyo.]
'I am not.' Arthur shot back flatly.
While Arthur was talking with Friday. Rias got up from his seat and came to Arthur's side. Without hesitation, she bent down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Thanks Arthur helping. But I still don't understand why you bring Pleiades here."
"To train you guys." Arthur said,
"Really?"
"Really."
The doubt in her eyes melted instantly, replaced by overwhelming relief and joy. Without warning, Rias rained kisses across Arthur's face, her lipstick smeared all over his face, and stopped at his lips and gave him a deep kiss. When they broke apart, Arthur raised an eyebrow, his face smeared with red.
"Are you really that happy?"
"You have no idea, Arthur, to be taught by them. I didn't even dream of that. You really are the best. When you said you would make me stronger, I was skeptical, but now..."
Her voice faded as she kissed him again, this time slower, deeper. Her tongue brushed against his, drawing out a heat between them. When they finally parted, Rias lingered close, her forehead resting against his.
Her sapphire eyes locked onto his Purple ones; his eyes seemed to hide the mystery of the world itself.
"I don't know how I didn't notice this before, but your eyes are really beautiful. I didn't think I had seen such black eyes." She said.
When she kissed him previously, she unconsciously sat in his lap and now looked at his eyes; they were really close to each other as their breaths were synchronous in harmony.
Then, softly, hesitantly, she asked, "Hey, Arthur… The other night, when I came to you… when I tried to give myself to you… you said you already had experience. Was it… your lover?"
For some time Arthur didn't say anything; he just continued to look at eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"Just for," she only murmurs two words as she continues looking at Arthur.
Hearing that, a small smile formed on Arthur's face as if he had made some decision. "Yes, it was my lover."
Her heart gave a small, involuntary squeeze. "Are you currently with her?" Rias asked, hoping to hear 'no,' but instead it was the opposite.
"Yes."
The word hit her like a blow. For the first time since she'd met him, Rias Gremory faltered. She stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. "I-I-I…"
Arthur had never seen her like this before—her usual composure slipping, her confident mask cracking.
She coughed lightly, straightening her back as if trying to gather herself. "*Cough* I'll… tell my peerage that the Pleiades will be training us. Please excuse me for a bit."
She quickly turned around and walked away from him.
Arthur remained seated in the pavilion, silently watching her retreating figure.
[If you had lied, Sir, things would have been much simpler.] Friday said.
Arthur exhaled through his nose, a faint smile curling his lips. "Then what? Even if I had lied now, I'd have to tell her the truth eventually if I wanted her to be mine." His eyes drifted toward the pond, watching the swans glide gracefully across the water. "Better to bruise her pride once than shatter her trust later."
He leaned back slightly, the weight of thought heavy in his words. "Besides… isn't it normal? She's a teenager. This is the age where they dream of princes on white horses sweeping them away or of fated soulmates who appear in the nick of time."
A chuckle escaped him, quiet but sincere. "Maybe she saw me as one of those fantasies… or maybe not. But whatever she felt just now, I broke that little world of hers."
[What would you do if she decided not to be with you after this, Sir?] Friday asked, and Arthur noticed a hint of curiosity in her voice even though she was speaking in the same emotionless voice as always.
"Didn't you already know the answer to that, Friday?" Arthur asked. But the answer, she said, was not something he expected to hear from Friday.
[No, Sir. I don't know. Even if I know, I want an answer from you, not from your thoughts.]
Arthur blinked. He leaned back against the marble pillar of the pavilion, amusement tugging at his lips. "You're getting demanding lately, Friday."
But then she asked the second question, and his smile faded a little bit.
[Would you use a mind-control spell to make her yours?]
Seeing that she is serious about whatever she is doing, Arthur asked Friday a question. "I will tell you—if you tell me why you're asking me this."
[...] Friday was quiet for a time, considering whether Arthur would make fun of her or not if she told.
[I am trying understand, Sir.]
"Understand what?"
[The reason why you still let your children walk freely, even though you know they are going to bring you harm.]
Arthur stilled. For a long moment, he didn't reply. He had anticipated many things from Friday, but not… this.
"Oh." His lips curved faintly, and then he laughed. "Haa, haa, haa, so that's what this is about."
Friday continued. [I am cognizant of the biological process. They are made of your sperm and your partner's egg. That much I can calculate and accept. But beyond that… I do not understand why you give them freedom. I have already said in past that they will bring you problems, and you should dispose of them. Now there future is in the dark mist because of Lady Ophis power.]
[I am trying to understand why you smile when they disobey. Why you allow them to grow into choices that could, logically speaking, result in your current state, Sir.]
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