Care and Command
Narberal moved like quiet lightning through the west wing, one hand steady on the half‑open door to Grayfia's suite. Inside, the silver‑haired maid helped her mistress recline against goose‑down pillows, checked the water rune cooling the room, and offered a light broth scented with mint root.
"Thank you, Narberal."
Grayfia's voice remained composed, but her complexion told the story of motherhood and morning sickness locked in a daily duel.
Outside, Lucien and Souma Kazuya strode along the windowed corridor, parchment lists hovering in soul glyph rings around them: trade permits, road wards, grain‑tax petitions. Lucien's crimson gaze lingered on the door to his mother's chamber.
"Everything in order?" he asked without pausing.
"I have a midwife cadre on standby," Narberal replied. "And I prepared the ginger tonic your mother requested."
Lucien nodded once, grateful, focused, and followed Souma toward the council chamber.
A Mother's Inquiry
Later, Grayfia summoned both Albedo and Velzariato a quiet solar.
"Sit, both of you," she said, folding her hands over her small, still‑flat bump. "I wish to speak as both your mother‑in‑law and a mother."
Albedo took the left divan, posture immaculate, golden eyes pinned to Grayfia with zealous devotion. Velzaria claimed the opposite seat, tail coiling languidly, draconic gaze cool but respectful.
"Do you truly wish to marry my son?" Grayfia asked plainly.
"I exist for his joy," Albedo answered without hesitation.
Velzaria's answer was softer but rang like tempered steel. "I will temper his fire with my own, and we will forge an empire. After losing my duel, I promised to be Lucien's mate to the day I died, Lady Grayfia."
Grayfia's stern façade melted into a small smile. She shared stories of young Lucien hiding lost kittens in the library, dueling shadows in the courtyard, and sneaking cookies meant for Sirzechs. Both women listened raptly, one dreamy, the other amused, and when Grayfia finished, they bowed in silent promise. Grayfia chuckled softly. "He was a stubborn child. He wouldn't stop training, even with a fever. He burned with purpose, even then."
Dungeon Baptism
Meanwhile, Rias led her peerage, Akeno, Koneko, Gasper, and Yumi, through the Eternal Vault's portal. Lucien's squad flanked them for safety.
Floor One greeted them with spectral wolves adapted to fire and lightning; Akeno's holy thunder faltered until Yamato shattered the pack with a ki‑charged kanabō.
Floor Two twisted mana currents to dull size‑changing magic; Gasper panicked, but Kuroka dispelled the field with shadow seals.
Rias herself unleashed the Power of Destruction on a stone guardian, earning a nod of approval from Velzaria.
By the time they returned, Rias's cheeks blazed with triumph and respect for the vault's cruelty.
Rias and her team pushed themselves. Yumi tanked twin ogres. Gasper supported with dark shields. Akeno and Kiba paired off with tactical precision.
Lucien's Eternal Dusk Domain was unleashed on the third floor's boss, consuming the Lich-Root's reinforcements in spiraling shadow.
[SYSTEM – VAULT RUN COMPLETE]
Yumi Yuuto – "Unyielding Blade" Title Acquired
Gasper – Shadow Bloom Crystal (+15 mana regen in dark zones)
Rias – Power of Destruction Resonance +3%
Loot Box: Flamewoven Cloak of the Firstborn [Bound]
Four Maou on the Guest List
A crimson crow familiar landed on Lucien's desk, unfurling a scroll in Sirzechs' unmistakable handwriting:
Your banquet intrigues all realms, little prince.
Expect not only me but Serafall, Ajuka, and Falbium.
Lucien's pulse spiked. He rang a bell; Narberal, Souma, and a phalanx of maids formed a half‑circle in seconds.
"Perfect is no longer enough," Lucien declared. "The four Maou are attending—plus half the noble houses."
Souma merely adjusted his glasses. "Understood. Contingency tier upgraded to 'Divine Cataclysm.'"
Lunch, Tonic, and Twins
Midday light spilled over an intimate dining nook where Venelana sliced honeyed fruit while Lucien poured a dark, shimmering tonic into a crystal cup.
Grayfia accepted it and drank. His mana sigils flared gently lavender beneath the glass.
"What's troubling you?" he asked.
Grayfia set the cup down, warmth in her eyes. "My dear son… you're going to be a big brother."
Lucien froze; shadows rippled around his boots in silent excitement.
"I'm having twins," she continued, rubbing her belly. "We don't know the genders yet, but they're as feisty as you were."
As if in answer, a pulse of muffled mana fluttered from her womb. Lucien's own aura responded as a shadow thread rose in playful arcs before settling again.
Venelana laughed softly. "They already know their brother."
Draconic Pride vs. Demonic Possessiveness
That afternoon, garden snow crunched beneath Albedo's and Velzaria's boots as they squared off, no powers, only blades. Lucien lingered behind a hedge, resigned.
"These girls will be the death of me."
Ghislaine walked past, greatsword on her shoulder. "If they kill each other, fewer wedding gifts."
Kuroka strolled beside her, tails flicking. "Or they'll bond over sparring and double‑team him in bed, nya. Luci should be at that age for young devils."
Lucien groaned.
Sparks danced as Halberd met Dragonsteel Katana. Albedo's eyes glowed fever‑gold; Velzaria's flames curled at her lips. The duel ended in a draw, halberd at the throat, katana at heart, and a grudging nod of respect passed between them.
Lessons of Heart and Crown
Rias sought Venelana and Grayfia in the lounge, nerves visible.
"Am I wrong for rejecting Riser? For staking everything on my own choice?"
Venelana answered first: "You're not wrong. Riser is an arrogant child. You will know real love when it terrifies and empowers you in equal measure."
Grayfia added, "Strength and heart are not opposites. Your brother reigns because he wields both and because I refused to let him forget either."
Rias smiled, cheeks wet with quiet relief.
Eyes on the Frozen Horizon
Crystal orbs shimmered over the council table, showing the banquet's incoming titans:
Esdeath chuckled as she froze at a mountain peak because a lieutenant questioned her gown.
Makima read her invitation; a nearby devil fainted from sheer pressure.
Mio Naruse twirled the envelope, curiosity blazing.
Magik sliced a portal with her Soulsword, expression bored but eyes calculating.
A gray-skinned girl drew her midnight-blue cloak tighter, violet irises glowing beneath her hood. A faint, six-point sigil pulsed on her forehead then vanished. "Let's get this over with," she sighed. "Father insists I evaluate this… fiancé." The orb sparked with red static. A horned, fire-wreathed, four-eyed figure loomed behind her for a moment, Trigon. Souma's quill froze. "Please tell me that was just a Lilith: "Projected paternal presence. Classification: Multiversal Cataclysm."Lucien groaned. "First Makima, now Trigon. Next, someone will invite the Phoenix Force."Kuroka: "Want me to check if she's free, nya?"
Isabella Osa tossed snowy white hair: "Been ages since I terrorized a party."
Souma marked seating charts. "If Makima sits beside Esdeath, structural collapse is 64 %. Recommend fireproof wards."
Depths of the Vault
Restless, Lucien delved solo to Vault Floor Four. The enemies adapted night‑dread shades immune to his shadows. He shifted crimson spheres of Destruction to obliterate them, yet more spawned, feeding on the debris.
Pushing past pain, Lucien seized all ambient darkness and annihilation crimson into one:
Eternal Dusk Domain shadows devoured light, sound, and resistance. Everything within thirty meters ceased.
The gate shuddered, granted him a silver skill crest… and whispered of deeper horrors still slumbering below.
Snowball Truce
Outside, Kuroka coaxed Lucien into fresh powder. She pelted him; he retaliated until Yamato, Rangiku, Ghislaine, Yue, and even Albedo hurled in. Soon, the two peerages waged war under the winter sun, laughter shaking icicles from eaves.
Culinary Catastrophe
That evening brought Rias's latest attempt at cooking. The resulting sludge hissed when exposed to air. Everyone scattered; Lucien sighed and ordered delivery from a baffled human gourmet in Rome.
"Add hazard pay," Souma muttered.
Watching Dragon God
Night settled. A lone scrying mirror floated in Ophis's void‑lit chamber. The Infinite Dragon watched Lucien laugh beside his mother, Albedo's wing around him, Velzaria at his back, shadow tendrils cradling Grayfia's unborn twins.
"This is why I marked you, young one," Ophis whispered eyes twin voids. "Show me what change a mortal can bring with calamities for companions."
Snow fell over the Lucifuge estate, soft, silent, ominous.
And far below its spires, destinies tightened like bowstrings, ready to sing at the banquet's first note.