Yoru didn't know what to say anymore. The atmosphere in the room had reached an unbearable level of awkwardness. Sirzechs wore a bitter smile, while Grayfia continued to stare at him coldly, showing no sign of softening.
"Um… I'll leave you two to talk. I'll go sleep in the room next door."
The tension in the room was nearly as chilling as the icy aura Yoru naturally emitted. With a wry smile of helplessness, Yoru stood to leave—but was stopped by a hand pressing gently on his shoulder.
It was Grayfia.
Her doll-like, exquisite face remained unreadable—no trace of emotion. But at some point, without his noticing, she had moved a little closer to him.
"Come on. Let's sleep together tonight."
"Eh… ehh?!"
Yoru was stunned. For a moment, he couldn't react. Hadn't she just firmly rejected Sirzechs a moment ago? Why was she suddenly suggesting they sleep together now?
Grayfia clearly had no intention of explaining. She firmly took Yoru by the hand and pulled him along to leave the room. As she turned away, Yoru caught a glimpse of her expression—and fell silent.
It was a face twisted in pain, nearly despairing.
In that instant, Yoru understood: Grayfia's sudden change of heart was nothing more than a form of retaliation… against Sirzechs.
So why the hell are you two dragging me into your mess?!
Yoru's face twisted in a mix of disbelief and bitter laughter.
As he turned his head, he caught Sirzechs smiling at him in gratitude, nodding slightly.
Letting out a long, helpless sigh, Yoru could only nod back in response to Sirzechs's silent plea.
With a loud slam, the bedroom door shut.
Grayfia led Yoru into the neighboring room. In the dim light, they sat at opposite ends of the bed. Silence once again overtook the space, drenched in awkwardness.
"Um…"
Feeling like he ought to say something as a man, Yoru began to speak—but Grayfia cut him off.
"…I'm truly sorry… for dragging you into something like this."
"Ah… it's—it's fine. I mean, I am a member of the Gremory family now. Still, I was really surprised. I didn't think Lord Sirzechs would…"
Yoru gave a bitter chuckle, while Grayfia lowered her head slowly.
"…Sorry."
Seeing that his words had caused her pain, Yoru apologized again with another awkward smile.
"It's okay. This was entirely Sirzechs's own decision. It has nothing to do with you. So… please don't feel guilty or responsible."
She forced a faint smile. That smile—fleeting and fragile—seemed to melt the ice in the air. It struck something deep in Yoru's heart.
So much like her…
Grayfia's gentle smile was almost identical to hers… to Riveria.
"No, it does have something to do with me. Don't forget—I'm a part of the Gremory family now."
Yoru's gentle words made Grayfia blink slightly. Then she nodded.
"Yeah… you're Rias-sama's servant. You are part of the Gremory family."
Her smile turned bitter. Even though she said that, no one else in the Gremory household knew this secret.
This pain… this weight… was something only Grayfia and Sirzechs bore together.
Though they loved each other deeply, even a simple embrace was beyond reach.
Hundreds of years had passed like that—long enough for Grayfia to nearly forget what it felt like to love Sirzechs.
Every time such thoughts surfaced in her heart, Grayfia would curl up in pain and cry, mourning her own unfaithfulness.
Her sense of morality and duty weighed heavily upon her.
She couldn't even forgive herself for thinking about being with another man—let alone actually doing it.
Even if she and Sirzechs were destined to remain spiritually bound yet physically apart, Grayfia would never agree to his absurd wish—to find happiness with another man while still his wife.
"…So, Grayfia-onee-sama… Is it okay if I call you that?"
Yoru spoke gently. Grayfia blinked in surprise, then slowly nodded.
"Because I'm part of the Gremory family now, I'm your family too, Grayfia-onee-sama.
So, after learning about this… there's no way I could just ignore it.
I don't want to see Lord Sirzechs continue to suffer like this. And I don't want you to keep suffering either."
Yoru spoke sincerely.
Without realizing it, he had moved closer to Grayfia and was now sitting beside her.
He gently leaned into her, slowly wrapping his arms around her.
Grayfia didn't resist. She only gave a slight struggle before silently closing her eyes, as if resigning herself to it.
"…I… I'm a little tired."
Everything that happened today had clearly exhausted this strong yet fragile woman.
Eyes closed tight, she spoke softly—but what she meant was unclear even to herself.
Yoru knew it was impossible for Grayfia to accept him so easily.
This kind of thing had to happen slowly. Only after her guilt and inner turmoil completely faded could she truly open her heart.
But Yoru was now certain:
Grayfia's love for Sirzechs had long since faded.
What remained was nothing more than duty.
As the heir to the Lucifuge family, her role was to serve the Demon King, Lucifer.
Her feelings for Sirzechs as a man had been buried long ago beneath the burden of duty.
Even earlier, when she spoke of "upholding the dignity of Demon King Lucifer," it was clear that title held more weight for her than Sirzechs the person.
This was proof. Purely Platonic, spiritual love doesn't exist.
If two people who love each other can't even hold or embrace one another, then all that remains is pain.
"…Okay. If you're tired, then sleep, Onee-sama.
Tonight, you're not alone.
I'll be here with you—until you fall asleep."
Yoru's gentle words seemed to touch the deepest, most fragile place in Grayfia's heart.
This woman—famous across the Underworld as the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation, the strongest Queen—let a single, glistening tear roll down her cheek.
Then, like a delicate petal, she lay against Yoru's chest, relaxing at last.
And without thinking of anything more… she drifted into sleep.
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