Night deepened, and moonlight spread across the shrine courtyard like a layer of silver frost.
Akeno had changed back into her shrine maiden outfit. She sat beneath the eaves with her legs dangling over the edge, swaying them lightly.
Rias sat down beside her, leaving only the width of a fist between them.
Inside, Genichi lay on the tatami in the inner room. The effects of the drug still had not fully worn off, though he could move again.
He kept his eyes shut, pretending to be asleep, while his ears practically stood at attention.
Akeno was not the least bit worried that Rias would truly be angry.
She understood this young lady far too well.
The reason she had dared to snatch food from Rias's mouth was because she knew exactly where Rias's limits were.
Rias Gremory, heiress of House Gremory. Younger sister of the Devil King Lucifer. One of the brightest jewels among the new generation of devils.
Those titles sounded glorious, but every one of them was a shackle.
She was the face of House Gremory, so she could not do anything that would damage the family's reputation.
She was the younger sister of the Devil King Lucifer, so she could not embarrass her brother.
She was a model for the new generation of devils, so she could not leave herself open to criticism.
And yet, compared to her engagement with House Phenex, all of those shackles were nothing.
That engagement was the thickest chain binding her down.
Akeno turned her head and looked at Rias's profile.
Under the moonlight, her features looked soft and delicate. Her crimson hair spilled over one shoulder, and her emerald eyes gazed into the distant night sky, lost in thoughts no one else could see.
"Rias," Akeno said softly.
Rias turned to look at her.
Akeno did not beat around the bush. "When are you planning to break off the engagement with House Phenex?"
Rias's expression stiffened slightly.
After a moment of silence, she answered, "I'm trying to find a way."
"What way? By dragging it out?"
Akeno's voice was calm, but every word struck where it hurt.
"Are you going to drag it out until Genichi becomes a high-class devil? Until he becomes an ultimate-class devil? Until he becomes a Devil King? The longer you delay, the more House Phenex will believe you've accepted your fate. By then, backing out will only be harder."
Rias said nothing. She only lowered her head and looked at the hands resting on her knees.
Akeno knew what she was thinking.
Before ending her engagement with House Phenex, no matter how much Rias liked Genichi, she would not cross that final line with him.
Because doing so would only harm him.
House Phenex would never tolerate their fiancée being claimed first by one of her own servants.
They would find every possible way to kill Genichi.
Rias had House Gremory and the Devil King Lucifer protecting her. Nothing would happen to her.
But Genichi was different.
He was only a middle-class devil, a servant who had been reincarnated just a few days ago.
For House Phenex to kill him would be as easy as crushing an ant.
House Gremory would not offend House Phenex for the sake of a middle-class devil.
Neither would the Devil King Lucifer.
No matter how much potential Genichi had, unrealized potential meant nothing. Once someone died, that was the end of it.
In the world of devils, the death of a genius who had yet to mature was not even news.
And if Genichi died, Rias would not even be able to avenge him.
House Phenex would only have to call it an accident, and everything would be swept clean.
Rias was called the next head of House Gremory, but "next" was the key word.
The current head was still her father.
More than that, her position as heir was really only transitional.
The true next head of House Gremory was the Devil King Lucifer's son—her brother's child.
Rias was merely the "acting" heir guarding that position for the family after her brother inherited the throne of Devil King.
Her authority was not as great as it appeared. Her choices were not as numerous as they seemed.
That was the foundation of Akeno's confidence in taking the first step.
She knew Rias would not truly blame her, because Rias had no way to blame her.
Akeno had given Genichi what Rias could not.
Akeno had done what Rias did not dare do.
Rias worried about this and hesitated over that.
Akeno worried about nothing.
Akeno looked at Rias's silence and sighed inwardly.
This young lady was wonderful in every way, except that she carried too many concerns.
"Rias," Akeno said.
Rias raised her head.
Akeno looked at her, her tone serious. "Do you know why I did this?"
Rias did not answer.
"It wasn't just to help you keep Genichi. It was also to make you understand something."
"What?"
"If you keep dragging this out, Genichi won't be the only thing you lose."
Rias's expression changed slightly.
Akeno gave her no time to process it and continued, "Sona has already made her move. She sent Tsubaki to find Genichi and called it sparring practice. Do you believe that? Genichi turned her down once, but can he turn her down a second time? A third? The resources of House Sitri are no worse than House Gremory's, and you know Sona's methods. If she becomes determined to poach him, how long do you think you can hold her off?"
Rias pressed her lips into a thin line.
Akeno knew she had listened, so she added more fuel to the fire. "Even if Sona doesn't poach him, what about everyone else? You saw Genichi's potential. In just a few days, he advanced to middle-class devil and defeated Tsubaki, who was only one step away from becoming a high-class devil. When he becomes a high-class devil, an ultimate-class devil, a Devil King—do you really think Sona will be the only one watching him?"
Rias said nothing, but Akeno saw the hands on her knees clench.
Akeno softened her voice. "Rias, I'm not trying to force you. I just want you to understand that some things are gone once you miss them. You can wait, but Genichi won't. Sona won't. The world won't."
Rias remained silent for a long time.
The moonlight cast faint shadows across her face, making her expression difficult to read.
At last, she spoke in a very quiet voice.
"I know."
Akeno looked at her and waited for her to continue.
"I know I've delayed for too long," Rias said, her voice slightly hoarse.
"I also know this isn't fair to Genichi. But I have no choice. My brother gave his approval to the engagement, and House Phenex won't let go easily. I need time. I need leverage. I need a reason House Phenex cannot refuse."
Akeno looked at her, complicated emotions rising in her chest.
This young lady truly had never had it easy.
Since childhood, she had been treated as a piece on the family's board. Every step had been arranged for her with perfect clarity.
She wanted to break free, yet one shackle after another always held her back.
She wanted to move forward, yet there was always someone dragging her back.
"Then hurry," Akeno said, a hint of urgency in her voice. "Don't make Genichi wait too long."
Rias looked at her and suddenly smiled.
It was a faint smile, tinged with relief.
"Akeno, thank you."
Akeno paused. "For what?"
"For doing what I didn't dare to do."
Rias's voice was sincere. "Thank you for helping me keep Genichi."
"Although your method made me very unhappy. I won't hold this matter against you, but Genichi's lawful wife can only be me. You can only be the mistress."
Akeno looked at her and fell silent for a long moment.
(End of Chapter)
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