Author's note: I had to cut it here, originally, I had two other scenes planned but damn it grew a lot lol. Anyway, things will start to heat up a bit next chapter with Azazel's meeting and another time skip for more juicy parts of the underworld arc. Rias's time is approaching too. Bunch of things, honestly. A bit overwhelming, but I think I'm doing a good work. I just finished my first midterms on Saturday, that's why I didn't update in case anyone didn't know. We return to the usual schedule after this.
Let me know what you all think!
Disclaimer: All characters depicted in this story are eighteen years of age or older. Any sexual content involves only consenting adults. This is a work of fiction.
A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 66: The Kidnapping.
Dante Andromalius.
Serafall was uncaring of the eyes of every Lord as she sprinted to arrive at her father's seat almost as soon as I did.
The rest of the Lords didn't leave the room. I was somewhat surprised when many grouped up with their friends, or even people that voted against their plans just to have some talks. Many watched me, but more out of scheming and greed than any negative planning.
These were the devils I had hoped to see. Not idiots like that Zepar who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut.
Some were outright disappointing, like Lord Bael and some of his ilk, which included the three idiots that had been bothering Nyra while I was gone. They had, surprisingly, remained silent throughout the whole meeting.
I had expected them to do something, but I was willing to wait and see.
I was curious what their plans would be. I hoped they at least made it interesting, if nothing else. I didn't know how much disappointment I could take.
"Lord Sitri, a pleasure finally meeting you face to face," I smiled politely. "I've heard many things about you from both of your daughters."
"Dante," Serafall hissed, looking panicked between my smile and her father's worried eyes.
Why was he looking at me like I was about to jump him like a degenerate?
He snuck a look towards Zepar's chair.
Whoops.
"Good things, I hope," he said after a moment, his eyes finally returning to me.
It was like he did a complete 180 because instead of the worry that filled his soul before, it turned into anger and confusion, focusing on my relationship with his overly serious daughter.
"The very best," I lied with the same smile.
He had come into a couple of conversations, but truthfully, I didn't know much about Sona's family. Something I planned to correct, whether they wanted to or not.
"What exactly are you planning, Dante?" Serafall stepped in front of her dad as if she was protecting him.
Something that Lord Sitri didn't like or even appreciate, considering how his eyes narrowed in offense.
It was cute that he thought he didn't need protection from me.
"Hm, getting to meet one of my peers?" I asked innocently. "You know how important it is to be respectful and socialize with the other Lords."
Some devils close to us choked on their spit as Serafall's eyes started twitching.
"Socialize," Serafall deadpanned in disbelief. "You."
I nodded proudly, "But of course. I'm a young Lord and wouldn't mind learning from more experienced ones."
Before Serafall could call me out on my bullshit and probably curse me in front of all these esteemed nobles, Lord Sitri stepped around her.
He gently but firmly pushed his eldest daughter to the side.
As a proud Lord of a very important house in the underworld, he didn't appreciate needing to be shielded by his own daughter. Especially the one who left the family to become a Satan and wouldn't overtly help her roots because devils would call it favoritism or some bullshit.
As if we weren't devils.
His soul also changed into pure indignation by the time Serafall was firmly behind him.
I could see where Sona got her seriousness from. Serafall was probably like her mother.
I couldn't wait to meet her, too. I had an inkling it would be hilarious.
"I don't need you to run interference for me, Lady Leviathan," Lord Sitri said firmly, his tone leaving Serafall shaking her head in sadness. "Lord Andromalius and I are merely having a polite conversation between… peers."
Despite the very obvious way her father was showing he didn't appreciate her protectiveness, Serafall didn't move out of the way.
"Exactly," I smiled warmly, "Just two men talking."
Lord Sitri didn't return the smile. It didn't look like he particularly liked me.
I wondered why.
"You mentioned my youngest daughter," Lord Sitri continued, his tone polite, but the urge to strangle me was there and growing by the second as my smile turned into a wide grin, "I can only hope she speaks well of us, considering she has been rather… distant despite having visited the underworld many times during the past year. In fact, she has missed the last three summons because of… scheduling conflicts."
"Has she?" I asked, feigning mild surprise. "I had no idea, Lord Sitri, but I'm sure she hasn't lied. She's always been a very good girl, and absurdly responsible for someone her age ever since I met her at her birthday party. She's a very hard worker, Lord Sitri, you should be proud of her. And I have been… involved in the development she's gone through. I'm sure you'll be surprised the next time you see her."
Serafall put her face in her hands and groaned.
Lord Sitri wasn't as easy to read just from body language as his daughter, but his eyes narrowed just a bit.
"Involved," he repeated carefully, almost hissing the word by the end, "I see. And does this… development… leave her any time to remember her own parents?"
That was the dad speaking.
It was almost endearing, reminding me of Hadrian and Celestine.
And I respected him more for it. Many lords didn't seem eager to approach me, some even watching from a distance to see if I would embarrass the Lord in front of me, yet he didn't care.
All he cared about right now was that I was the devil keeping his little girl away from home.
"She always ends up really tired," I sighed thoughtfully, knowing how hard Sona trained in her efforts not to fall behind Tandy.
Serafall squeaked in outrage for some reason.
"But it's a good thing I'm here, either way," I nodded. "Something I have learned these past few years is how important family is. I would be honored if you and Lady Sitri joined us for dinner tonight at the Ashen Court. It would give you a chance to see Sona, and for us to properly acquaint ourselves."
He stared at me.
I chuckled in amusement. "I promise you she'll be there, even when she tries to run away because she's shy. I have come to learn that I have some… sway over her."
Serafall made another strange sound.
Lord Sitri didn't speak for a moment, but we both knew what his options were and how he would be seen if he picked any of them. He could refuse, obviously. He would be called a coward who was afraid of me, or an uncaring ass that didn't care about his daughter and was just using her to get something out of me.
Both things were false.
And he saw me as the rest of these Lords did. An overconfident brat.
Unlike Serafall, who knew that her father would be walking into the dragon's lair.
But after I dangled Sona in front of him… well, we could say our table would be fuller this time.
"A simple dinner?" Lord Sitri asked, his soul fighting between the desire to have a nice family time and just punching me in the face.
"A small gathering, I assure you," I nodded calmly, "we Andromalius prefer to stay humble even with our sudden rise to nobility. And I can promise you that you'll love my mother's cooking skills."
Serafall looked like she was some seconds away from having an aneurysm.
"I'm going too," Serafall blurted out immediately, dropping her twitching hands from her face and glaring at me like I was the worst thing that had happened to her life. "If my parents are going, so am I."
"Oh?" I chuckled, my grin widening even more. "How could I ever say no when a Satan wishes to grace my family with her presence?"
I turned around, looking for my next destination some seats away from Lord Sitri's, waving from behind my back as Tandy approached me with a grin.
"Just send me a message when you're ready; I'll teleport you there."
I gave Tandy a quick kiss on the cheek. "Wanna be thanked by Misla later, love?"
She giggled perversely as very wrong ideas swam inside her soul.
"Of course I do," she huffed, also looking at the other Lord, who turned excited and worried once it was clear we were coming his way.
"Lord Vapula!" I smiled. "Do you and your wife have some plans tonight?"
The heat from the glare I received from the other side of the room felt nice.
But that didn't compare to the flare of hope and eagerness coming from the older devil in front of me.
Didn't Misla suggest we should diversify? I had the perfect idea for that.
Sirzechs Lucifer.
One Hour Later.
I let out a breath as the final member of the council finally teleported away.
Standard Council meetings were stressful enough, and honestly, I preferred it when Hadrian Andromalius took the place of his son. At least he was more controlled.
His son, on the other hand, hadn't even waited for the meeting to start to sow chaos, and despite everything, I knew he was a young devil who would change the underworld for the ages.
I just couldn't say whether he would do so for the better or for the worse.
I suspected the only reason I didn't have a headache was thanks to how strong I was, unlike Serafall, who looked like she was moments away from needing to be hospitalized.
Could devils even have aneurisms? I had a feeling I would find out one day because of that brat.
"Well," Ajuka muttered through a small smile. He sat on the couch across from me, his fingers moving with a rhythm as a recording of the meeting showed on a holographic screen. "That was certainly entertaining."
Ajuka had started showing a lot more emotion ever since the High-Class exam, when Dante Andromalius entered our eyes.
It had been a long time since I saw my friend acting this way, but I couldn't say I liked the petty streak that somehow came with the change.
I just wasn't sure if Dante himself was to blame or if Ajuka just decided out of nowhere to enjoy the suffering of others.
"Sure, entertaining," I repeated flatly. "He broke Zepar's spirit with a glance, somehow, spat in the face of centuries of marriage laws, admitted being in a relationship with my adorable Rias, and then went ahead and essentially claimed Lord Sitri's daughter as his own. In front of the entire Council."
I grew more dumbfounded as I continued, "And that's not even the impressive part, Ajuka. Or scary; I'm still unsure what to call it. He did so in front of Sera… and she didn't do a single thing?! What kind of blackmail does he have over her? I could see how much she wanted to strangle him, but she never did!"
I turned to look at Grayfia, who looked disapprovingly at my disbelieving expression. Still, even she was curious about the young Lord as she didn't say anything and just looked at Ajuka.
She had met the boy more than I had at this point, but even she was unsure of what to think about him, apart from the fact that he tricked her the first time, or tricked Rias, to be more precise, so that they'd be alone.
Because there was no way in hell the boy I just saw walking over all those Lords would be nervous at Grayfia's presence. Not to the point he was according to her retelling.
My words made my best friend snort.
Snort! I knew it was just us three in the room, as Serafall had teleported her father away with a panicked look not long after both the Andromalius and Vapula slapped the face of Lord Bael with their very public conversation about joining for dinner because Misla Bael missed her parents.
Everyone could read between the lines that Misla Bael didn't miss her husband.
But since when did Ajuka snort so openly? With so much amusement he didn't even bother to hide?
That wasn't even mentioning the other slap he caused even without trying, completely walking past my father who no doubt expected an invitation as well considering that the boy claimed his relationship with Rias!
Ajuka shook his head even as he grew serious.
"Does it surprise you how he acts compared to how strong he is, Sirzechs? Were you that strong at his age?" He asked a question that had been on my mind ever since we approached the boy outside the chambers.
He hid his strength behind his clan trait for the whole meeting, and I doubted anyone but Ajuka and I felt the depth of that young man.
It was honestly absurd, and from the little I had heard Ajuka talk about him, I doubted that was everything, or that he didn't manage to hide something even more impressive even from both of us.
The only reason I managed to sense anything at all was thanks to my control over demonic power. There was only one devil in history who had better control than me, and he was sitting in front of me.
I still wasn't sure how he managed to destroy Zepar's chair. The only reason I accepted it didn't simply malfunction was that Ajuka was a hundred percent sure the blond had caused it, even if he too was unsure how.
It was absurd.
"Serafall came pouting to me a couple of months ago about how she couldn't rip him a new asshole without giving her all," Ajuka said. His face looked like he wanted to laugh but managed to keep it inside, somehow.
But I couldn't focus on that strange expression on his face as much as the words that came out of his mouth.
Even Grayfia's eyes widened despite her usual blank expressions.
"He fought Serafall?"
"Calling it a fight might be a bit too far," Ajuka shrugged. "He pushed her buttons too much, and she snapped; then he supposedly teleported them to the Gusion Castle, and Serafall tried… significantly. Not giving it her all, but still more than what someone his age should be capable of withstanding."
"So he is like us," I slumped into the couch as Grayfia's hands fell on my shoulders.
I didn't know how to feel about that. It was good that he was on our side, supposedly, but he was too much of a loose cannon for me to accept all the same.
"No," Ajuka shook his head as a grin grew on his face. "I don't know what he is. But he is not just like us. His control over demonic power is at the same level as mine but in a different form. He can create things in a way I had never seen before. His Bishop is a complete mystery. I couldn't find a single paper, or even a single post on mortal social media about a Tandy Bowen. No one in the supernatural world had heard of her, either. And I tried to dig anything with all my contacts."
"You know that worries me more instead of calming me down, right?" I glared at him.
"It's the most interesting thing I've dealt with in decades, if not centuries," he shrugged uncaringly, "and you can't deny that seeing Serafall act that way is a breath of fresh air. It's usually her making us panic with what she knows. And Falbium is finally working after I managed to dose him regularly without his knowledge."
"He's going to end up killing the boy, Ajuka," I sighed even as my lips twitched.
We felt bad for our friend, truly, but after centuries of doing a big part of what was supposed to be his work, it was damn time.
Maybe a couple of years more like this and we would feel bad enough to stop. At least for a couple of weeks. It wasn't nice of us to drug our friend.
The room darkened similarly to a year ago on that High-Class exam that changed my friend, and before I could stop Grayfia, she launched an ice spear the size of a house its way.
"Careful there, Lady Lucifuge," a bored tone came out of the Darkness as Dante stepped through the fog. "You almost killed a Lord that supports the New Satans' rule."
"I can hear the fear from here, Dante," Ajuka deadpanned.
I couldn't help but notice how Ajuka's eyebrow was twitching.
"You'll get it next time, maybe, Ajuka," Dante snorted with a mocking smirk that somehow felt more natural than the expressions he had during the meeting. "Using conceptual sealings in the room was a nice touch, but not there yet. It's like you don't want the reward I promised."
I gaped at the brazen young devil, then my mouth opened even wider as Ajuka's eye itself started trembling.
"I will learn all of your secrets by myself, Andromalius, and I will gloat in your face while I do so," Ajuka snorted in irritation.
An unnatural, yet somehow genuinely excited smile appeared on the blond's face.
"Lord Andromalius," Grayfia said sharply as her demonic power filled the room.
And yet, the young man didn't even react.
"You are trespassing in the private room of the Satans."
"Ah, right." He nodded. "Lord Lucifer, Lord Beelzebub, Lady Lucifuge. You're hereby invited to dinner, yada yada."
"Excuse me?" Grayfia said frostily. "There are proper channels every Lord has to go through to request an audience with the Satans."
"Yes, yes, I know. I can't just barge in here and just kidnap you as much as I would like," Dante sighed, completely uncaring of the dangerous look appearing in Grayfia's eyes. "But I already invited the Sitris and the Vapulas; the only one missing is a Gremory, and no offense, Lord Lucifer, but your dad is kind of an ass right now, and I would prefer to avoid unpleasantries inside my dining hall. So, considering that Rias took her whole peerage to the Ashen Courts not that long ago, Lord Lucifer is the best thing available."
He had a big smirk on his face as he continued, "I know Lord Lucifer wouldn't want to have his little sister feeling all sad and alone, right?"
I found myself understanding Serafall a little bit better.
Manipulative little shit.
"Dante," I stood up, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation before my wife jumped the foolish brat. "As much as I appreciate the offer, this has been a very taxing day. Furthermore, if my sister is truly there, I do not wish to…"
"Yes, yes, a devil taking time to be with his family is favoritism," he interrupted smoothly with a roll of his eyes. "I'm sure the original Lucifer would be rolling in his grave in jealousy for never even thinking of something this vile and sinful. But your sister needs some backing from the family that, according to her, has decided to stand against her freedom. She's currently beating the shit out of a training dummy, but I saw how jealous she was at the news of Sona's family arriving."
His eyes turned serious.
"I care about her. She's my friend before anything else, and if I have to kidnap her brother because he cares more about what some ants think of him, I will. Just ask Ajuka or Serafall."
Ajuka sighed. "Let's just go, Sirzechs. It's a small gathering, and Dante is not one to use our presence for political gain. You saw outside that he doesn't care about the council. Lord Vapula will keep his mouth shut, and Cassius and Myrcella are like our parents at this point."
"Enough!" Grayfia finally snapped, and the frost gathered around her palm to incapacitate the young devil.
"Stop, Grayfia," I sighed, seeing the complete lack of fear on the young devil's face, who somehow tracked my wife's movements and was looking straight into her eyes while she was behind him.
I didn't fail to notice how his hand also stopped twitching as soon as I opened my mouth.
"You are daring, Dante Andromalius," I looked at him and earned a small smile, "more than you should be."
"Thank you," he bowed, "my mother tried to correct me, but I'm too far gone."
My lips twitched in amusement.
What an amusing brat. I prefered when he aimed that audacity somewhere else.
I just needed to keep him away from Grayfia, because I knew he wouldn't mind his tongue as he should.
"We'll go," I sighed, "just give us…"
The room turned Dark, and black fog came out of the pores of the ground, and an uncomfortable coldness assaulted my being before it retreated; then I noticed we were all the way inside a castle I didn't know.
He wasn't kidding about the kidnapping.
Heh. It was a breath of fresh air. When was the last time someone even dared to treat me so normally?
"Perfect," he grinned widely, "Can I borrow Lady Lucifuge for a bit, Lord Lucifer? I want my mother to make peace with her issues. Rias is over that way, training with the rest."
He was pointing into the distance.
I was about to say no, because leaving Grayfia with someone this irritating was only going to end in chaos, but Ajuka grabbed my arm and nodded.
Grayfia's lips thinned at that, before sighing. She also nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Fine, whatever," I sighed once more. "We'll join you later."
"I appreciate that," He smiled softly. "My mother needs her closure, and I will help her realize that Lady Lucifuge is not at fault for our family's destruction, no matter what she thinks. Ah, and Ajuka, I have another deal for you, if you want. I need a favor with a spell, but we can talk about it later. Just think of what you want as payment."
The excited glint in my friend's eyes didn't feel as surprising as it would have been twenty minutes ago.
I could see how someone as brazen as this young devil would win my friend over.
Even if he was an irritating little bastard.
Dante Andromalius.
"Why the long face, Lady Lucifuge?" I asked curiously as the woman followed me in silence.
"I don't particularly enjoy your disrespect to the Satans, Lord Andromalius," she said coldly.
"But I do respect them." I looked at her confusedly before snorting. "There is a reason I decided to support them. Believe me, my Lady, you'd know if I didn't."
She stayed silent even as she continued following me.
"Right, so, just as a heads up," I began carefully, looking deep into her soul.
Surprisingly, I didn't even have to dig that deep. The near extinction of my house truly affected her during the civil war, and was, in fact, the final straw before she decided to switch sides.
She knew that the Old Satan faction didn't have anyone strong enough to face the two monsters Sirzechs and Ajuka were. The only devil on their side strong enough to contend was someone called Rizevim, who, according to Grayfia's soul, was even worse than his father.
And he didn't care at all about the devils, to the point that he only participated once during the Civil War before leaving, totally uncaring that Ajuka had killed the original Leviathan's heir.
Then Ajuka, Falbium, Sirzechs, and Serafall killed the other two.
It was a losing battle which would have ended with even more families gone, because devils were too proud to give up. But adding herself to their roster made sure that the Old Satan Faction would stop trying.
It was an event that marked who she was.
"My mother blames you for my family's destruction," I raised my hand as she opened her mouth. "Wrongly. I know. I know how much it affected you."
"You know nothing, Lord Andromalius," she said coldly.
"I know you a lot at this point, my lady," I smiled calmly. "I know you changed sides because of it. I know how you truly care about devilkind, and how you took the best option available to stop the bloodshed. How the last Lucifuge after your brother's death would give Sirzechs and the rest the needed cultural backing for them to take their place."
She stopped in place, and I turned to look her way.
"I know a lot more than I let on," I nodded, my eyes locked with hers. "How that fight with Serafall was the hardest battle of your life. How she almost managed to cleave you in two when you learned that the Andromalius were destroyed."
I stepped just a bit closer.
"I know that was what you needed to continue fighting, how you felt the strength of pure desperation to find someone alive in the destruction, how you managed to push Serafall back in a last-ditch attempt to have enough time to teleport away. How you found Hadrian and Celestine inside the crumbling castle, hiding inside a box with their parents killed meters away from them. How the sight of the two crying, young devils broke your heart in a way that hadn't happened in previous instances."
"I know," I repeated softly. "And how my mother and father's hatred hurts you in a way you can't explain. How you manipulated things for them to find that deal for their house on the outskirts of the Sitri territory where they would be safe. I know."
Her shoulders trembled, and I could see the panic in her eyes.
"Thank you, Grayfia Lucifuge. You helped my parents when no one else did. It wasn't your fault, no matter how much you blame yourself. Yet, you still did. And for that, I am grateful."
"How… How do you know?" she asked in disbelief, her cold exterior crumbling in its entirety.
"You don't think Ajuka would let me keep my tongue if I wasn't unique, right?" I laughed in amusement. "I know things; that's what I do. And when I don't, I learn. And you, Lady Lucifuge, earned a favor from me. I know it doesn't mean much to you right now but save it for when you need it."
"It can be anything your heart desires."
I patted her shoulder once more in thanks.
"I won't say a word about the house because I know you don't want Celestine to learn of it," I sighed, "but please. Let my mother bury the hatchet with her anger. Who knows… it might help you, too."
I started walking once more, and a minute later Grayfia joined me again with a blank expression which couldn't hide the disbelief swirling in her soul.
The guard opened the door, and I nodded in thanks before sending him away, walking all the way to the kitchen where Celestine and Akeno were hard at work.
"Akeno, give us ten minutes, please," I said firmly, and she nodded after sending a worried glance the two women's ways.
Celestine had gone still at the sight of Grayfia and stayed silent for a moment.
"Dante? What is this?" she asked almost as frigid as Grayfia.
"Putting something to rest, mother." I hugged her close to me. "Trust me."
I looked at Grayfia.
"I'm sorry, Lady Andromalius," Grayfia said after a moment of silence. "I'm sorry for not arriving sooner."
Celestine's eyes watered in an instant. I could see her almost raising her arm to push the woman away, but I held her hands.
"You did it on purpose," Celestine's voice shook. "You waited on purpose. You let my parents die so your lover could win his war."
I stayed silent even as I winced inwardly at the cutting remark.
She went straight for the jugular, but I stayed silent. I just caressed her hand.
"No, Dante," she pulled her hand away from mine. "I have waited for centuries to say this to her face."
Grayfia didn't move. She just stood there and took it with a blank expression. Her shoulders were tense, but she was going to let Celestine vent.
I could see that in her soul she didn't feel like she should defend herself, even though she knew Celestine was wrong. She blamed herself either way.
"You could have saved them," Celestine continued, her voice rising. "You were the strongest devil on our side, and you let two children bury their own parents in the dirt because you picked the other side. Do you know what that does to a child?! Do you know what it's like not even being able to hold your mother's hand as she is dying for fear of someone hearing you and returning to finish the job? Seeing through a fucking hole how life leaves their bodies without being able to do anything?! All because the great Grayfia Lucifuge was too busy deciding who to betray next?!"
I opened my mouth to intervene, but Grayfia shook her head firmly even through her wince.
"I asked you a question!" Celestine screamed, finally looking up at the taller devil and staring into her eyes. "DO YOU KNOW?!"
Grayfia flinched at that.
Because she knew. She had buried her father, who had been poisoned in the Civil War. She buried a token for her brother, who had also died during the same war. The second one without a body because there was nothing left behind.
She knew loss all too well.
And she still remained silent.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry." Celestine laughed in disbelief, the sound genuinely making me wince. "Sorry doesn't give me my parents back. Sorry doesn't give Hadrian's parents back. You get to have your wonderful husband, your beautiful son, your happy little life as a hero and a role model for all young devils. And all I get is sorry."
Akeno, peeping from the doorway, was crying.
"I hate you," Celestine hissed. "I have hated you for hundreds of years. And I don't know if I'll ever stop."
She raised her hands.
Grayfia didn't flinch; she just closed her eyes, waiting for something she thought she deserved.
But I didn't stop it because the slap never arrived. Celestine's own knees gave out, her whole body collapsing with a heartbreaking cry.
Grayfia was somehow there before I could be despite the fact I was closer, moving even faster than when she attempted to stop me the second time while I was fucking around with her husband.
She wrapped her arms around my mother, careful, as if Celestine was made out of glass and was about to break. She tucked Celestine into her shoulder where Celestine just screamed her throat raw.
The grief, centuries of it, coming undone in an instant.
Finally finding a place to let go.
"I'm sorry," Grayfia said once more, rocking Celestine's body. "I'm so sorry. I should have been faster. I should have been stronger. I should have been better. I'm so sorry, Celestine."
"Why weren't you there?" Celestine sobbed, her fists clutching at Grayfia's dress. "Why weren't you there, why weren't you there, why weren't you…"
I retreated in silence, letting them be alone for a moment.
Akeno's arms tightened around my back once I was outside the kitchen, her mascara running down her face from the tears as she hid her face in the crook of my neck.
I sighed as I patted her back.
"They'll be better later," I smiled softly. "A rocky start for something better. I promise."
"Grayfia wouldn't do that," she shook her head firmly.
"I know. She didn't. But Celestine grieved with this for a long time. And Grayfia blames herself. This will be good for both of them." I sighed, pushing Akeno away just a bit to lock eyes with her. "Can I trust you with something important, love?"
Akeno nodded firmly.
I materialized an apron with a bit of cosmic power.
"Give them five minutes. Then return to the kitchen and ensure that Grayfia remains there helping. They need different kinds of closure, but being close will help them face it instead of bottling it up."
Akeno looked at me worriedly, then at the scene of the two older devils on the floor.
"Don't you think some time alone would be better?" she asked cautiously.
I shook my head, smiling gently as I patted her head.
"Trust me on this, love," I kissed the tip of her nose and fixed her makeup with a snap of my fingers. "I'm a bit of an expert at forcing these things."
I chuckled at her face filled with fear, realizing that she could be one of my victims in the future, considering her own problems.
She totally would be.
I patted her head once more before walking outside, whistling a tune as I felt some presences enter the place.
Well… I had to meet my guests as their gracious host.
Dante Andromalius.
It took a bit for everyone to arrive, and unsurprisingly longer for the ones who were already here to return from their training, but the castle was filled with life in a way that just felt right.
It was the most visitors we've ever had.
Everyone close to me who lived here was already present.
My parents, obviously. Hadrian didn't have the same anger Celestine had against Grayfia, and he had been away focusing on the construction of another town in the territory.
He had just returned and was surprised at how many people were present, and their identities. Though not even the Satans surprised him as much as Grayfia helping my mother in the kitchen like they had worked together for decades.
The glares from my mother were there, but much less than I expected.
Tandy was here, but in the kitchen keeping an eye on things.
And causing even more chaos instead because it was hilarious. I approved.
Jean and Rogue sat next to me.
Rias, Sona, Sai, and their whole peerages returned with Sirzechs and Ajuka a while back, and they all sat at the table looking at the shocking scene in the kitchen.
These devil ladies surprised me in the best way possible.
Sona's mom, Myrcella Sitri, was rising through my ranks of favorite devils at breakneck speeds, just below Misla. I could see where Sera got her craziness. The woman had cackled excitedly when she met me even as her husband, Cassius, glared at me.
They met Sona a bit before, and Myrcella kicked the shin of her husband hard when he tried to get Sona to apologize for ignoring them. In front of all of us. Just before squealing excitedly and hugging the stuffing out of Sona.
Then she saw my mother hard at work and decided to join her with a wide grin on her face.
All while Sona and her dad groaned in literally the same way.
Serafall just sat at the table with a pout after Myrcella kicked her out, saying that they didn't want a fire to happen in such a beautiful castle.
Lord and Lady Vapula, Valerius and Cressida, respectively, had their own sentimental meeting with Sai and Misla. Then Cressida dragged her daughter away to help in the kitchen, saying it would be fun.
Sai and Valerius looked at each other and decided to ignore the growing chaos in the crowded kitchen.
Kuisha then decided to join the fray, leaving the table with a small smile.
Nyra arrived late, taking a seat next to Serafall and glaring at me at the same time before sharing a commiserating look with the Satan who cried against the goth's shoulder.
Sona's peerage were having fun gloating in secret at how nervous their king was acting.
Same with Rias's, barring the kid who hid in the dungeons for some reason. He was the dhampir she mentioned, if I remembered correctly. I would fix that situation soon. I had to do so before she activated the rating game card for her freedom.
Sirzechs looked at his wife with a fond smile.
In a matter of minutes, the kitchen had dissolved into pure chaos. The esteemed Lady Sitri and Lady Vapula had entirely forgotten their status, laughing loudly as flour dusted their expensive dresses. Celestine even forgot to glare at Grayfia as they passed utensils with each other.
It didn't take long for the kitchen to start purging the dead weight.
Rias tried to join in, only for Grayfia to gently but firmly turn her around by the shoulders and march her back to the dining room before she could touch a knife. Sona attempted to organize the vegetable chopping, which resulted in her mother tossing a wet towel at her face and telling her to return to the table.
No one wanted to deal with Sona and her need for order.
Sona stomped back to the table, her face entirely red, and slumped into the chair next to her dad with an adorable pout.
Cassius patted her head, and she couldn't hide how happy that made her feel as she pushed her head against his hand.
Jean and Rogue, fully aware of their own limitations, wisely didn't even try to approach the kitchen. They just sat next to me, sipping on their drinks and watching the highest nobility of the Underworld act like children.
I leaned back in my chair, looking down the long table.
Lord Cassius Sitri and Lord Valerius Vapula were staring blankly at the kitchen doors. They had come here expecting something with the weird new Lord, and instead, their wives had completely abandoned them to gossip and cook more food than was needed.
I wouldn't be able to cheat my way out this time. Not with the absurd amount they were making.
I snapped my fingers, materializing a bottle of Tandy's latest attempt at whiskey and a bunch of glasses before sliding them to everyone present.
"Right, as we're accustomed to at this table, let me take your attention for a bit," I smiled brightly.
The younger devils' eyes went wide as my hand rose to my head.
Ajuka's eyes were the next to open once he realized what I was about to do.
"We thank the Lo..." A spatula hit me directly on the back of my head, and a fuming Celestine glared at me from the door.
"No praying on the table, Dante!" she screamed.
I glared at the party pooper before sighing.
"Fine, whatever," I huffed and looked to the side.
I soaked in the disbelieving eyes of everyone present who hadn't been my victims the previous time.
Another grin grew on my face.
"Since I can't do that, let me move to the second point," I continued calmly, "Say a single word if you don't like my mother's cooking, and I'll rip your tongues out."
A second spatula hit me once more as Celestine promised murder with her eyes.
Ugh. Totally worth it.
I sipped on the drink with a small smile as the younger devils laughed.
It was good to be home.
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