Yukino Yukinoshita had never imagined that she would one day feel distressed because a man had become intimate with another woman.
She hadn't even thought she would ever develop a close relationship with any boy.
Her relationship with her father was decent—certainly better than her relationship with her mother or sister—but she had never felt this miserable just because her father favored her sister. Back then, she only wanted to prove to her parents that she wasn't inferior to her sister.
Men around her often tried to get close to her. After all, she was quite cute; Yukino never denied this, and would even calmly praise her own appearance in front of strangers. She was well aware of her looks, but because of that awareness, she knew exactly why those men wanted to approach her.
Wanting to be together just because she was cute?
To Yukino Yukinoshita, that was nothing but a "fake."
What she had always sought was the "genuine"—something not decorated or packaged by appearance, reputation, or external trappings.
If someone liked her for her looks or the external persona she presented, then they didn't like "Yukino Yukinoshita" the person; they liked a beautiful girl who happened to be named Yukino Yukinoshita. Once someone more beautiful or excellent appeared, that person would feel the same attraction and desire for proximity, because that was what they were truly chasing.
In Yukino's eyes, that kind of affection was a sham.
Unfortunately, people usually preferred fakes, while she was the only one constantly searching for the genuine.
Because of this, Yukino never believed she could develop a close relationship with any member of the opposite sex. She didn't even bother to pretend, being as cold and sharp-tongued as possible to scare off anyone who approached.
This attitude toward life was her nature, her "genuine" self, and so she refused to hide it.
If someone had told her past self that today she would be grieving because a man was being intimate with another woman, she would have scoffed in disdain.
But her past self could never have imagined that everything she once believed in and recognized was, in fact, a fake as well.
Whether it was her mundane life or the world she had always wanted to change, it all turned out to be superficial—genuine fakes!
The truth of this world was actually hidden beneath that mundane surface, lurking in the shadows and the darkness. That was the genuine reality of the world.
Frankly, Yukino was indeed grateful to Leon. Grateful that he gave her the opportunity to see the truth of the world and obtain something genuine.
Therefore, though she didn't say it aloud, Yukino had long since accepted everything—including the fact that Leon viewed her as his possession and a member of his harem, a concept that would have seemed absurd and laughable to her in the past.
Of course, it helped that Leon hadn't forced her. He hadn't dragged her into it. If he had, given her personality, she likely would have tried to change the situation or simply fled his side, even if it meant becoming a stray devil.
But Leon didn't do that. Even if he was flirtatious and spoke boldly, he never forced her to do anything before she was ready. Despite constantly claiming she was his possession, his servant, and a future harem member, he had never been disrespectful to her in the beginning.
Things like barging into her room without knocking while she was changing to chat while she was naked, or soaking in an onsen together—none of that happened in the past. It was only after Yukino accepted and tacitly consented to the situation that he became so unscrupulous.
He always had a sense of boundaries. He seemed loose-tongued and uninhibited, thoroughly enjoying the life of a devil who could indulge his whims, but in reality, he never truly ignored her feelings.
He cared deeply about the state of mind and thoughts of each of his peerage members.
He was concerned about the inner hearts and feelings of every servant.
He called himself their master, but he didn't treat them like slaves. His daily interactions with them were more like being with friends.
He often mentioned that the Gremory family cherished their peerage members for generations, but in the eyes of Yukino and the others, he went above and beyond. At times, he practically doted on them.
Every one of his actions came from the heart.
His feelings for his servants might not have been "pure" in a traditional sense, but they were absolutely sincere.
Unlike the social interactions at school or the worldly sophisticated manners where a smile often hid calculations, every second spent with that man felt like his most authentic state and attitude.
That was why she, Asuna Yuuki, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and Mahiru Shiina were all willing to stay by his side. Even if they didn't talk and just sat together reading, it wasn't uncomfortable.
It was quite incredible.
One had to realize that the four of them were true "flowers on a high peak." Usually, it was rare to see them being so sociable.
Yukino was notoriously solitary, but even Asuna, Utaha, and Mahiru were people who preferred their own company over group activities. The faces they showed the public were merely masks maintained for basic social circles.
Even a girl like Eriri, who seemed to get along with everyone, would surely prefer hiding away to draw her doujinshi rather than chatting with people who didn't know her true self.
The reason a flower is "on a high peak" is that it is not only beautiful but also difficult to approach or touch.
But with Leon, that rule seemed to have lost all effect.
It was clear that these four "flowers" had all accepted Leon and tacitly agreed to their current relationship.
Yukino knew this day would come eventually.
That man ultimately wanted a harem, so how could he possibly refrain from making a move on so many lovely women?
Girls are actually much more perceptive and observant than boys imagine. Unless they are truly naive or simple-minded, they can almost always tell what a boy is thinking.
Do you think leading a girl into a grove is a subtle move?
Do you think when you take a girl to a hotel and claim you "just want to sleep and rest," she doesn't see how disingenuous you're being?
Wrong. Completely wrong.
Sometimes, she cooperates not because your methods are clever, but because she is willing.
Thus, as Leon became increasingly bold about barging into their rooms and more enthusiastic about bathing with them, the girls had already roughly calculated that he was about to make his move.
Even Yukino had mentally prepared herself for this.
The current scene wasn't particularly surprising to her.
However, there was one thing Yukino found somewhat hard to accept—
"Even if he was going to make a move, shouldn't it have been on me first?"
Who was she?
She was the first servant he took in after becoming an High-class Devil and debuting as a "King."
And Asuna Yuuki? She was a latecomer!
Why did she get to go first?
Yukino Yukinoshita strongly expressed her dissatisfaction.
Click—
An hour later, the bathroom door opened.
Wrapped only in a towel, Leon walked out amidst the steam rising from the bathroom. He had a refreshed look on his face, as if he had just finished a professional massage. Anyone looking at him would only see one word: "Satisfied."
But before that breeze-like expression could settle, Leon's body froze.
Standing before him was a young girl with her arms crossed, looking at him with cold eyes.
"Why... why are you here?"
Leon was stunned and completely caught off guard.
"What?" Yukino said coldly. "You really don't want to see me here?"
"It's not that..." Leon's face was stiff as he asked, "How... how long have you been here?"
Leon hoped she had just arrived.
That way, he might avoid total social death.
Even though he was usually casual and free-spirited, this was the first time in two lifetimes he had finally "tasted meat" and understood the wonders of women. He really didn't want someone overhearing things they shouldn't.
Unfortunately, his small wish was destined to remain unfulfilled.
"I suppose I arrived quite early," Yukino said expressionlessly. "After all, someone claimed they wanted a harem, yet surrendered so quickly. Could it be that I arrived late?"
"Bullshit!" Leon instantly exploded, practically jumping as he shouted, "Who surrendered quickly? I only did that the first time because—"
He stopped mid-sentence and fell silent.
Right. If Yukino had even heard that, she had indeed been there for a while.
And he had indeed suffered a total social death.
Leon suddenly felt like life wasn't worth living.
"Where's Asuna?"
Yukino didn't care at all if her trashy master was socially dead. she glanced toward the bathroom and asked.
"Cleaning up inside..."
Leon replied dryly.
"Hmph."
Yukino wanted to say more but didn't know what, so she just glared at him, let out a cold snort, and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Leon panicked and lunged forward, hugging her.
"What are you doing?!"
Yukino was startled, her face turning crimson as she raised her voice in question.
She couldn't help it. Leon was wearing nothing but a towel. Being hugged by his bare chest like this allowed her to smell the scent of his body wash and shampoo.
For the usually touch-averse Yukino, this was a massive shock to her heart.
But Leon didn't let go.
"Listen... let's make a deal," Leon said, hugging the girl and smiling sheepishly. "Don't tell anyone about tonight, okay?"
Leon wasn't afraid of people finding out he had "eaten" Asuna.
It was bound to happen eventually, and he never hid his intentions. Even if it were discovered, he could calmly accept the contemptuous looks from his servants.
But the other thing was different.
As Yukino said, it was a blow to his image as a man who constantly talked about building a harem.
Even though he had quickly regrouped, returned to the fray, and proven his capability and stamina, he still didn't want anyone to know he had surrendered too quickly due to overexcitement the first time.
This matter had to stay buried between him, Yukino, and Asuna. No one else could know.
"Do you actually feel shame?" Yukino struggled, but seeing she couldn't break free from his embrace, she sneered, "Isn't your skin always thick as a fortress wall?"
"That depends on what it is!" Leon said with a determined look. "Other things are fine, but not this. This absolutely cannot be spread!"
"Why?" Yukino countered. "Haven't you always said we are the closest to each other, a community of destiny that will be together for tens of thousands of years? What is there that needs to be intentionally hidden?"
"How is this the same?" Leon's corner of his mouth twitched. "This is personal privacy. Everyone has a sense of shame. I don't ask you guys to report which day of the month your period arrives, do I?"
"Nobody would report that to you anyway!" Yukino was genuinely annoyed and said crossly, "I have no interest in going around publicizing your stupid blunders. Let go of me!"
Yukino started struggling again.
Instead of letting go, Leon held her even tighter.
"I say, since you arrived so early, why did you stay here the whole time?" Leon calmed down, his IQ returning to his brain as he suddenly said, "You wouldn't happen to have some weird hobby for eavesdropping, would you?"
"Who has such a weird hobby!" Yukino got even angrier, her eyes cold. "You suddenly lay hands on someone, and you expect others not to hear?"
"Strangers definitely shouldn't." Leon stared fixedly at Yukino, then suddenly smiled as if he had seen through something. "But as for you... it's actually fine."
"After all, you are my first servant."
His words made Yukino freeze.
In the next second, Leon suddenly swept Yukino off her feet, causing her to let out a cry of surprise.
"What are you doing?!"
"You."
"???"
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