GREMORY CASTLE – UNDERWORLD
The main hall was filled with presence and power, with members of the 72 Pillar Houses spread throughout the space as the ceremony advanced under clear rules of hierarchy and prestige, and at the center of it all, Gasper maintained a steady posture, absorbing the real weight of that moment while observing the movement around him without losing himself.
"Today is your big day, Gasper-kun." Sirzechs kept a light tone as he approached, his natural smile not hiding his pride.
"Yes, Sirzechs-sama." Gasper answered without hesitation. "Thank you for managing this for me."
Sirzechs didn't take long to respond, crossing his arms lightly while keeping his gaze fixed on him.
"It wasn't me." He shook his head slightly. "You deserve it… just take good care of Rias."
Gasper nodded without changing his posture, his answer coming directly.
"I will."
Sirzechs glanced around for a moment, his reading quick before returning to him.
"My sister… where is she?"
Gasper answered in the same rhythm, without hesitation.
"With Ravel… somewhere in the castle."
Sirzechs let out a light laugh, his tone shifting subtly as he accepted the situation.
"The little Phenex girl…" He looked back at Gasper. "Take good care of her too when she enters your peerage."
Gasper didn't respond immediately, the thought coming quickly before he spoke.
"That will depend on Rias… and the conversation."
Sirzechs laughed again, this time more openly, shaking his head slightly.
"Even after so much time together… you still don't understand my sister." He kept his gaze firm. "If she were going to forbid it… this conversation wouldn't even exist."
Gasper gave a slight nod, accepting the point without arguing.
"You're right, sir."
A call from the background drew Sirzechs's attention, and he turned his head immediately before answering without delay.
"They're calling me… I need to go."
"Of course." Gasper kept his tone simple, without trying to prolong it.
Sirzechs left without hesitation, leaving the space around Gasper open, and the change was immediate as another presence approached calmly, but with clear intent, drawing attention directly without needing to announce itself.
"May we speak in private, Gasper?" Lady Phenex kept an elegant tone as she stopped in front of him.
Gasper observed her for a second, the reading coming naturally before the thought emerged.
'Not even Ravel's mother escapes the pattern… none of the women in that family are ordinary.'
He didn't let the thought show, responding naturally.
"Of course, Lady Phenex." He gestured lightly. "There's a private room reserved for me… we can go there."
Lady Phenex nodded lightly, accepting the lead without question.
"Thank you."
The two walked side by side through the castle corridor, maintaining a steady pace as the sound of the ceremony faded behind them, and the change of environment was clear when they entered the reserved room, the silence immediately replacing the external noise.
Gasper closed the door behind them, keeping his posture aligned as he turned to her, without offering a seat or starting the conversation before understanding its true direction.
Lady Phenex wasted no time.
"I'll be direct." She kept her gaze firm. "My daughter wants to enter your peerage."
Gasper didn't respond immediately, holding her gaze while letting her continue.
"And she wants to enter as Queen." Lady Phenex added, without softening the request.
"That's not going to happen." Gasper kept his gaze firm, cutting off any room for negotiation before she could insist.
The reaction came instantly, her eyes narrowing slightly, not from surprise, but from evaluation.
"So you've already decided?"
"Yes." Gasper kept his posture firm. "If she enters… it will be as Bishop."
"Do you understand the weight of what you're refusing?" She tilted her head slightly. "A Phenex as Queen is not a common offer."
"Your son didn't make her his Queen…" Gasper kept his tone steady, holding her gaze. "Why would I, who defeated him, make her mine?"
"You wouldn't!" Lady Phenex answered immediately, without hesitation.
Gasper was surprised for a second, more by the speed than the answer itself.
"So that's it… you won't insist further?"
"Would it change anything?" She kept her gaze firm, without altering her tone.
"No."
"Then there's no point in insisting." She replied naturally, closing the matter without conflict.
The pause was brief, but the atmosphere shifted direction, moving from negotiation into something more direct.
"My daughter has many illusions in her mind about you." Lady Phenex kept her tone controlled. "May I ask that you don't hurt her?"
"Yes." Gasper answered without hesitation. "I won't do anything that hurts her… but I won't give in to her whims."
"That's enough." She nodded lightly, accepting the answer without asking for more.
'Very different from the mothers I expected from the underworld.'
The reading came naturally as his gaze remained on her for another moment, not as an evaluation, but as confirmation of something that didn't match the image he had before.
Her posture hadn't changed, it was still firm, still carried authority and pride, but the way she chose not to force the situation made it clear there was a limit, and more than that, intention, something that didn't align with the simplistic idea he had formed about devils.
She didn't try to protect her daughter's status, nor impose position through force, she simply made clear what truly mattered to her, and it wasn't power, nor influence, it was the safety of someone who, to her, was still just a daughter.
Gasper didn't respond, but the conclusion was direct, adjusting his own reading without effort.
Not every devil was the same.
And not every story was as simple as it seemed.
Lady Phenex turned without hesitation, ending the conversation in the same direct rhythm it began, and her gaze didn't return, making it clear there was nothing more to be said at that moment.
"Thank you for your time." She kept her tone steady as she walked away. "I'll be going now."
"No problem." Gasper answered in the same rhythm, accompanying her for a few steps before stopping. "I'll walk you back to the hall."
The two walked back in silence, the sound of the ceremony growing again as they approached, and the separation came naturally when Lady Phenex continued forward without looking back, while Gasper shifted direction as he spotted Rias in the distance.
Rias was beside Akeno, and a smile appeared instantly when she saw him approaching, her reaction direct and unhidden.
"Where were you?" She kept her gaze on him, already anticipating the answer.
"With Ravel's mother." Gasper answered directly. "She came to intercede for her daughter."
Rias didn't show surprise, only nodded slightly, accepting the information naturally.
"I understand her."
Gasper tilted his head slightly, observing her reaction more closely.
"I thought you were still irritated with her."
"I was." Rias kept her tone firm. "But she's too naive for a devil."
Akeno joined the conversation without losing her smile, tilting her head slightly as she analyzed the situation with interest.
"She'll be a great servant for you, Gasper-kun."
"I hope so." Gasper answered directly, without prolonging it.
The presence appeared without warning, and the sound of firm footsteps was enough to draw focus even before the words.
"Rias-sama, Gasper-sama." Grayfia stopped in front of them, maintaining a flawless posture. "Please, come."
'I'll never get used to this…' The thought came dry as Gasper slightly shifted his gaze toward Rias.
Grayfia didn't wait for a response, simply turned and began moving, making it clear it wasn't a request, and the two followed right after, crossing the hall toward the central point of the ceremony.
Zeoticus was already positioned, beside Sirzechs and Vanelana, and the atmosphere changed instantly as Gasper approached, because all attention turned to him, not out of curiosity, but recognition of what that moment represented.
'Promotion… Evil Pieces…' The thought came direct, firm. 'One more step… toward freedom.'
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