(Ravel's POV)
I stared in wonder, shocked by the sudden announcement.
L-Leviathan-sama?! Why would she be here?
I looked to my left to see Ruto… I was honestly surprised by his frozen state. He looked literally frozen, his eyes glued to a certain spot. He didn't tremble or anything… It was like his body just stopped in time. His expression, however, did not remain frozen. His previous cheer had turned into an empty, almost glazed look.
"Ruto…" I said in almost a whisper. I tried grabbing his hand, but he flinched and I jumped away. He glanced at me, a startled look in his eyes.
He bowed his head. "... Sorry…" But he still sounded so distracted. The Queen of Rias, the Priestess of Thunder, frowned, but said nothing and did nothing.
"Make way for the Maou Leviathan-sama!" One of the other loyalist Devil guards ordered. I was truly shocked.
No… she couldn't be…
When the crowd had cleared enough that I could see her, I was honestly stunned.
Leviathan-sama was dressed in actual clothes befitting a noble. She walked with an impressive calmness and seemed to possess none of her previous cheer.
"It's her…" I stared at Ruto again. His previous shock had changed into a sense of longing. He stared at his former King with such longing eyes. I felt a sharp pain in my heart. Even though I was right next to him…
Then I saw that the crowd around us was beginning to part for the Maou who was currently walking in our direction.
No! No no no! She can't really be considering Ruto back by force, can she?! It's not fair! I won the wager fair and square! She can't abuse her power like that, at Onii-sama's wedding no less! She can't!
I hugged Ruto nervously, hanging on for fear that Leviathan-sama would just snatch him and flee.
When Leviathan-sama stopped in front of us, I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage.
For a brief moment, we stared at one another in silence.
"I would like to extend congratulations to your older brother for his wedding." Was the first thing she said. Then I remembered my place and bowed. Even if she was my servant's former master who may possibly be plotting to steal him back, she was still a Maou-sama.
I felt somewhat nervous at Leviathan-sama's cold gaze. She had been far more cheerful the last time I saw her.
Then her gaze became directed towards another. Ruto.
The golden-haired servant simply stared back without hostility or reverence.
"Ruto." Leviathan-sama said tersely.
"Serafall."
Then Ruto knelt, gently grabbing Leviathan-sama's hand and placing his lips gently upon the back of her hand.
When they looked at one another once again, I did not miss the sudden warmth. They both stared at one another in a way that could only be called "lovingly". They looked as if they desired to remain in each other's presence until the end of time. I felt… jealous. Ruto had looked at me with fondness and care, but never had I received such a look. Not even after I… After I agreed to give him the honor of me being his woman.
Was this what true love looked like?
Leviathan-sama then shot a sharp look at the other attendees who had gathered around. "My business is not your own!" I couldn't help but sense a hint of a complaining tone under her breath. Regardless, everyone immediately turned away, many of them going back to what they had been doing before, frightened by the prospect of incurring the wrath of a Maou-sama.
Once they had turned away, Leviathan-sama and Ruto returned to gazing at one another, Ruto standing up and facing his former master.
"I've missed you." Ruto said those words, his voice cracking slightly as he repressed what I suspected to be joy.
Tears appeared in the corner of Leviathan-sama's eyes. "I've missed you too…I… I couldn't bear to leave things just like that…" She then turned to me, bowing her head. "Sorry for lying, Ravel-chan, but I had a different reason for coming than what I said…"
My chest tightened. She's really going to do it! I have to stop her or do something! I… I don't want my Queen to leave me!
"I've come to say goodbye." Even larger tears formed in her eyes. "Every part of me… I want to fight tooth and nail to get you back…" Leviathan-sama began to choke as she suppressed sobs. "... But I know you would scold me if I caused so much trouble… so… this is goodbye…"
Ruto sniffled, clenching his own fists as tears rolled down the sides of his face. "I… I know. You're silly sometimes… but you know right and wrong… Even if this is goodbye, I want you to know one thing…" Ruto took Leviathan-sama's hands into his own, trying to force a happy smile in this farewell. "I love you, Serafall. I always will."
"Eeeeeeeeee!" Leviathan-sama squealed, her tears pouring out at an even greater rate. "Me too! I will always love you Ru-tan! I love you so much!"
For a brief moment, I thought they would kiss. They looked like they really wanted to. But no. They clearly longed for one another, but they dared not invite temptation nor any further pain by reminding themselves it was farewell.
… This feeling in my chest… like my heart is breaking. I was being allowed to keep Ruto…so why was my heart breaking?
They slowly slid their hands away from each other's, Leviathan-sama still crying as she smiled.
"I… I should go tell Sirzechs-chan that I'm here. He won't be happy if I don't announce to him that I've also decided to attend." Leviathan-sama said to excuse herself. Then she walked off… but the gaze shared between her and Ruto continued to linger until they were both out of each other's range of sight.
"I… I believe I should also return to my master's side." I had completely forgotten that Rias' Queen had also been with us, observing the events that unfolded. "The ceremony is due to begin soon." Then she, too, walked away.
The heavy feeling in the air seemed to make it hard to breathe.
"I'm fine, Ravel…" Ruto lied, shocking me by how easily he sensed my intention to try to hug him. I wanted to give him some warmth, but he wanted nothing from me. I opened my mouth to say something when a grand door to the side of the room opened.
The one who appeared was Rias Gremory. She was dressed beautifully, but her glamorous appearance was spoiled by a perpetual frown full of discontent. She lost to Onii-sama, so it was only natural that she wore such an expression.
Before long, she was joined by Onii-sama who shared a cocky smile.
The wedding ceremony had been about to start when—
"Buchouuuu!"
E-Eh?!
I barely registered Ruto finally raising his head, his previously saddened and hopeless expression replaced by shock and… hope?
"Haru…" I heard him whisper in the smallest voice. Rias Gremory shared the same level of shock, eying the door that led to the hall from which the voice appeared. Then from the door appeared a familiar figure, the same figure over whom Ruto had cried. The perverted Pawn of Rias Gremory!
"To all the high-class devils here! And Buchou's brother, Maou-sama! My name is Namikaze Haru from Kuou Academy! I have arrived to take back Buchou, Rias Gremory-sama!" He declared for all of the High-Class Devils in the room to hear. Many of the Devils in the room responded with outrage.
"Hey you! Do you know where this….." A person who seemed to be a guard came to stop him. "HURK!" He let out a sharp gasp of pain as a powerful blow from seemingly nowhere knocked him up into the air.
"Don't touch my bro, you damned dirty apes!" Ruto was grinning in a completely cheerful way, completely different in the way. I had spent all day with him… and he had such a hopeless and empty presence about him. But now, he was completely revitalized. He looked so alive and… happy. His Sacred Gear was active and he was effortlessly fending off the attacks of the guards who tried to attack the perverted Pawn.
Another guard came at Ruto's side but was knocked away by a familiar swordswoman.
"Ah! It feels just so much better, fighting next to Ruto again!"
Two more were punched away by Rias's Rook.
"Ara ara, I would feel so left-out if I just let my adorable Kouhai do all of the work!"
The remaining guards were electrocuted by the Priestess of Thunder.
"Ruto… Yuuki… Koneko-chan… Akeno-san. Thank you!" Namikaze thanked all of them.
"R-Ruto! What are you doing?!"
Ruto grinned despite the situation, raising one fist. "The way I see it, you didn't order me NOT to help, Haru! So until you do, I'm going to finally follow what my heart desires!" Then he knocked out another guard. I stared, my eyes wide.
… Is this… is this truly what he desires…?
The Pawn, Namikaze, stood upright once more and faced Onii-sama with a confident look. "Buchou, Rias Gremory-sama's virginity belongs to me!"
Onii-sama made a face one could not explain with words. Others had more obvious reactions.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OH MY SATAN-GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ruto hunched over, clutching his stomach as he burst out into laughter. He was laughing so hard that tears were coming from his eyes. "Man, I've really missed Haru spoiling epic moments with horrible wording! Hahahahahaha!" Despite the situation…he was laughing. My Queen… who had been showing such sadness… He seemed truly happy to be with anyone but me.
"Oi! Shut up, Ruto! Stop spoiling my moment, you jerk!" Namikaze screamed at him. Despite the harsh words, Ruto grinned before sticking out his tongue playfully.
"What's going on, Riser?"
"Hey, Rias-dono. What's the meaning of this?"
Relatives and authorized people were making unsettled faces were panicking. Devils, just like humans, become confused when they face unexpected things.
"It's an event that I organized."
Then a man with crimson-hair who was at the far back walked towards us. It was the person who was drawn in the portrait earlier.
L-L-L-LUCIFER-SAMAAAA!
Oh no! Oh no no no no! This is bad! I have to get Ruto disentangled from them before he's punished as well!... Wait. Lucifer-sama arranged this?!
"Onii-sama." Rias said, surprised by the sudden events.
"I wanted to see the power of the dragon, so I asked Grayfia." was the Maou's explanation. In a way, I felt relieved. A worst-case scenario in which Ruto had secretly slipped that mischievous Pawn a ticket in ran through my mind. If this all blows up, it will mostly be Rias's servants who are on the receiving end of the punishment.
"Si… Sirzechs-sama!? You can't do something irresponsible like this!" I heard someone exclaim.
"Who cares." What an irresponsible answer from a Maou-sama! "The Rating Game from last time was very entertaining. But it was one-sided because my sister who has no experience at the game had to face the genius Riser-kun."
"… So Sirzechs-sama, you are saying that the last game isn't fair?"
"No, no. I don't think so." Lucifer-sama waved off the accusation. "If a Maou such as myself says that, then I would be making the old nobles look bad. The connection between the High-Class Devils is important."
"Then, Sirzechs. What do you want to do?" It was Lord Gremory who spoke, a man who shared many resemblances with his children.
"Father. I want to make my cute little sister's engagement party into a flashy one. Dragon versus Phenex. Don't you think it's the ultimate event?" Lucifer-sama asked. "To stir up the party by having a battle between legendary creatures. Nothing can beat this entertainment."
Everyone in the hall became silent with Maou-sama's words. Sirzechs-sama then looked at Namikaze.
"Dragon user-kun. You have my permission. Raiser, can you show your power once more right in front of me and Rias?"
Onii-sama smirked after hearing Maou-sama's wish. "Alright then. I cannot decline if Sirzechs-sama asks me. I, Riser Phenex, will show my last performance before settling down!"
Hmph. Well… I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have Ruto observe the true power of the Phenex once more. Maybe if he sees the potential I have to grow in strength…
I didn't even know where that thought would go. My Queen… around me, he was polite, pleasant, and kind and I deeply loved him… but my feelings were never reciprocated. But when his old friends showed up, he gained a new sense of purpose and looked so alive…
"Dragon user-kun. What prize do you want when you win the match?"
"Sirzechs-sama!?"
"What are you saying!?"
The relatives of the Gremory clan and the Phenex clan began objecting to the sudden words of Lucifer-sama, as they should be!
Onii-sama won the first Rating Game fair and square! The possessor of the Red Dragon should be happy he hasn't been executed on the spot!
"He's a Devil," The Maou-sama explained, "so we need to give him something great for asking him to do something. Now Dragon user-kun. I will give you anything. A Peerage? Or the most beautiful woman?"
"I ask you to give me Rias Gremory-sama back." The Maou-sama made a very happy face when Namikaze answered him without any pause.
"Okay then. If you win, you may take Rias with you."
It appeared that there would be one more battle before this whole matter was finally finished.
"Thank you very much." Namikaze bowed my head to Lucifer-sama who went back to the end of the hall.