The warm bathwater rippled gently as Vaelith Livan Lucifer leaned back against the edge of the luxurious bathing pool, his golden eyes half-lidded in relaxation. The scent of rare Underworld herbs filled the air, mixing with the faint traces of hellfire steam that rose from the water.
Across from him, Lilith, his ever-doting mother, sat gracefully, her crimson eyes fixated on him with an almost adoring obsession. Her delicate fingers occasionally reached out, brushing through his damp white-silver hair, as if she couldn't get enough of touching him.
"You're so beautiful, my dear son," she murmured, her voice smooth and honeyed. "Just like your father… but far more precious to me."
Vaelith exhaled slowly. He was used to this. His mother's unwavering attention, her constant affection, her way of treating him like the most important existence in the world.
If it had been anyone else, he might have found it suffocating. But Lilith… was different.
She was the one who had given him this life. The one who had raised him without ever letting him feel the void of his father's absence.
In this world, Lucifer was dead, and so was God. The old order had collapsed, leaving the remaining devils to rebuild. The Four Great Devil Houses—Bael, Astaroth, Gremory, and Sitri—were now the most powerful noble families, each trying to fill the void left by Lucifer's death.
And Vaelith?
He was Lucifer's heir. The last true-born son of the Original Lucifer.
A prince born into a world where devils were trying to redefine themselves.
"Mother," he finally spoke, his voice calm. "I assume Lord Lucifuge will be arriving soon?"
Lilith let out a soft chuckle, leaning back against the bath's smooth stone edge.
"Yes, he should be here shortly. You remember what we discussed, don't you?"
Vaelith nodded. Lord Lucifuge, the head of the Lucifuge Clan, was one of the few remaining loyalists to the Lucifer lineage. Unlike the other noble houses, which sought to gain power for themselves, House Lucifuge had always served the Lucifer family.
And now… Lord Lucifuge was bringing his newborn daughter, Grayfia Lucifuge.
A girl who, in the original High School DxD timeline, would have served Sirzechs Lucifer.
But here?
Things were different.
"Mother," Vaelith said after a moment, tilting his head. "Do you really intend for Grayfia to serve me?"
Lilith smiled, reaching forward to cup his cheek gently.
"Who else would be worthy of serving you, my love?" she asked. "House Lucifuge has always belonged to the Lucifer bloodline. Their loyalty is absolute."
Vaelith considered her words.
He already knew how Grayfia's future would play out if things followed the original story. She would become the strongest Queen, serving under Sirzechs, eventually marrying him and becoming the mother of Millicas Gremory.
But in this timeline?
Vaelith wasn't sure what would change.
His presence had already altered the course of events—the existence of Rizella, the genderbent version of Rizevim, was proof enough of that.
And then there was Sirelia Gremory—his childhood friend and future fiancée.
She was nothing like Sirzechs from the original story. She was soft-spoken, shy, and fiercely protective of him. A girl who was more like a younger sister than an older one.
With all these changes… would Grayfia still become the cold and dignified maid he remembered?
Vaelith sighed inwardly.
He would find out soon enough.
Lilith giggled, seeing his thoughtful expression.
"My, my~" she teased. "You look like you're scheming something already. Such a handsome little devil."
Vaelith gave her a flat look, but Lilith only leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead before standing up gracefully.
"Come, my love," she purred. "Let's get you dressed. We can't have you meeting Lord Lucifuge in your bathrobe now, can we?"
Vaelith sighed again but allowed Lilith to dry him off and dress him in an elegant black and silver ensemble, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he caught his reflection in the mirror.
As always, his mother had picked out something that made him look regal—a reminder to the world that he was the heir of Lucifer.
As he followed Lilith toward the courtyard, he could feel it.
A shift in the air.
The future was changing.
And he was at the center of it.