The following morning arrived far sooner than anyone would have preferred. The Gremory household, despite its grandeur, operated with strict efficiency, and the maids made sure that none of their guests overslept.
One by one, the residents were gently but firmly awakened, reminded that even after a night of celebration, responsibilities such as school could not simply be ignored.
Arthur prepared himself without complaint and took a moment to bid farewell to his hosts. Unfortunately, Sirzechs had already departed earlier in the morning, leaving before Arthur had the chance to properly thank him for their conversation the previous night.
Even so, the atmosphere remained warm, and the farewell carried a sense of familiarity that made the mansion feel far less like a place of nobility and more like something closer to home.
Once classes began, Arthur found himself far more interested in experimentation than lectures. He activated his newly acquired attribute, carefully channeling energy into it.
Almost immediately, his perception shifted. The world around him took on a faint bluish tint, as if reality itself had been filtered through a different lens, and alongside that visual change came something far more significant—his comprehension surged dramatically.
It wasn't just faster thinking.
It was deeper understanding.
When he turned his attention to his chemistry textbook, the results were almost absurd. Concepts that would normally take weeks or months to fully grasp unfolded before him in mere minutes. Complex formulas, reactions, and theoretical principles connected seamlessly in his mind, as though he had been studying them for years.
'It works exactly the same way as in the novel…'
Arthur leaned back slightly, processing the implications. Unlike the original user, who had been limited by their energy reserves and physical capacity, he possessed both an effectively limitless source of power and a body capable of sustaining the strain. The difference in potential wasn't just noticeable—it was overwhelming.
During the break, he decided to push things further.
Retrieving a grimoire from his inventory, Arthur began studying magic in earnest, feeding more energy into the ability as he did so.
His mind operated at an extreme pace, breaking down symbols, structures, and theories that would normally be incomprehensible at his current level. Even then, the strain was noticeable—not as pain, but as pressure, as though his brain was being forced to adapt faster than it naturally should.
Still, he continued.
By the time the afternoon arrived, Arthur had made far more progress than he had expected, though he knew this was only the beginning. Magic was not something that could be mastered overnight, no matter how powerful his abilities were.
Eventually, he made his way to the Occult Research Club room, intending to relax for a while. Unlike the others, he had no obligations to fulfill contracts, so his time there was usually spent talking, eating, or simply enjoying the company.
However, the moment he approached the door, he noticed something different.
Voices.
More than usual.
Sensing unfamiliar presences inside, Arthur paused briefly before knocking.
"Darling, come in."
Akeno opened the door with her usual smile, though there was a subtle hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Do we have visitors?"
Arthur stepped inside, his senses immediately picking up the distinct energy signatures of two Devils. He hadn't noticed them earlier, likely due to how absorbed he had been in his studies, but there was no hostility in their presence.
"Technically… you do."
Rias answered from inside the room, her tone carrying a slight amusement.
At that moment, the two women seated on the sofa stood up.
Arthur's gaze settled on them.
The first was unmistakably Ravel.
Her appearance had changed subtly yet noticeably. Her blonde hair, now streaked faintly with orange, cascaded down in her signature drill curls, though they seemed fuller, more vibrant than before. Her figure had become more pronounced, her presence more refined, and most importantly—her power had increased significantly. Even without focusing too deeply, Arthur could sense that she was no longer the same as the day before.
Standing beside her was another woman who bore a strong resemblance, though her aura was far more mature. Her light blonde hair flowed freely, and her expression carried the composed elegance of someone accustomed to authority.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Red Dragon Emperor. I am the mother of Riser and Ravel."
Lady Phenex introduced herself with flawless etiquette, her posture and tone reflecting her noble standing.
Arthur returned the gesture calmly.
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Phenex. You may call me Arthur."
After exchanging greetings, both parties took their seats, facing one another across the room. The atmosphere shifted subtly, becoming more formal, more focused.
Sensing this, Rias stood up.
"I'll leave you two to talk. Akeno, come with me."
Akeno followed without protest, though not without casting a brief, knowing glance at Arthur before leaving. The door closed behind them, leaving only Arthur, Lady Phenex, and Ravel inside.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
Arthur asked, his tone polite but direct.
Ravel visibly reacted to the question, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as her fingers tightened slightly against her dress. Her composure from earlier wavered, her heart racing in a way she couldn't fully control.
Lady Phenex spoke first.
"I came to thank you for sparing my son's life yesterday. Given your power, ending his life would have required no effort at all, yet you chose restraint. As his mother, I am deeply grateful."
She lowered her head slightly, her sincerity unmistakable.
Arthur shook his head lightly.
"It wasn't anything worth thanking me for. I had already promised your daughter that I wouldn't kill him… didn't I, Ravel?"
Her name alone was enough to make her stiffen.
"E-Eh?! Ah… y-yes…"
Her voice came out softer than she intended, her thoughts in complete disarray. She knew why they were truly here, and the awareness of it only made her more nervous.
Lady Phenex's expression shifted, becoming more serious.
"There is another matter we must discuss. It seems my daughter has… caught your interest. Enough so that you would grant her a power unlike anything our clan has ever seen."
Her words carried weight now.
"Lord Arthur, would you be willing to share more of that power with the Phenex Clan? In return, we are prepared to offer anything within our means."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward Ravel.
It was subtle.
But deliberate.
Arthur noticed.
"Are you offering me your daughter…?"
Lady Phenex met his gaze without hesitation.
"If you choose to interpret it that way, then yes. The Phenex Clan is willing to offer the hand of our only daughter in marriage."
She paused briefly, her expression unreadable.
"Or perhaps… we have misunderstood your intentions, and you do not hold any interest in her?"
The room fell silent.
Ravel's body tensed instantly, her breath catching as her heart pounded loudly in her chest. She didn't dare look directly at Arthur, yet she couldn't look away either. The fear of rejection, something she had never truly experienced before, settled heavily within her.
Arthur listened quietly before responding, his tone calm and sincere rather than dismissive.
"No, that's not the case. I do think Ravel is a beautiful and kind girl, and I won't deny that I find her appealing. However, I want to make one thing clear… I need to know whether this is truly what she wants. I have no intention of forcing anyone to stay by my side."
His gaze shifted toward her, not with pressure, but with genuine intent.
Ravel froze for a moment, clearly not expecting the question to be directed at her so directly. For someone raised in a noble household, where decisions were often made for her, being given a choice like this felt unfamiliar… and overwhelming.
She raised her head quickly, almost panicking at the implication.
"O-of course I'm not being forced…! I mean… I…"
Her words faltered as her confidence crumbled under Arthur's steady gaze. Her cheeks flushed deeply, her fingers tightening against her dress as she struggled to articulate what she was feeling.
"I… I also think Arthur is very handsome… and strong…"
By the end, her voice had dropped into a quiet murmur, barely above a whisper, yet in the silence of the room, it was more than enough to be heard.
Arthur's expression softened slightly.
"That's enough of an answer."
Lady Phenex, who had been observing the exchange carefully, allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Her daughter's reaction had confirmed everything she needed to know, and more importantly, it reassured her that this arrangement would not become a burden for Ravel.
"In that case," Arthur continued, shifting the conversation forward naturally, "I have no objections either. So, how much of that fire do you require?"
Lady Phenex straightened slightly, her composure returning, though there was a clear hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"Our immediate family consists of six members… including Ravel."
Arthur nodded once, understanding her intent.
Without hesitation, he extended his hand, and a sphere of golden flame materialized above his palm. The [Flame of Life] burned softly, its glow gentle yet overwhelmingly pure, radiating an energy that felt fundamentally different from anything demonic.
Then—
He created another.
And another.
Until ten identical orbs hovered in the air before him.
The room itself seemed to react to their presence, the atmosphere growing warmer, yet not in a suffocating way, but rather in a comforting, almost sacred manner.
Lady Phenex's composure broke for the briefest moment.
Her eyes widened slightly, her instincts screaming at her to claim the flames immediately. As a pure-blooded Phenex, she could feel it instinctively—this was not ordinary fire. It was something far beyond what their clan had ever encountered, something that could elevate their abilities to an entirely new level.
"This is… far more than we expected…"
Her voice carried a trace of genuine astonishment, something rarely seen from someone of her standing.
Arthur simply smiled.
"Consider it an investment."
Lady Phenex let out a soft breath, her earlier tension dissolving into something far more genuine.
"Just as we believed… I can rest easy knowing my daughter will be in the care of someone both powerful and generous."
With practiced elegance, she retrieved a set of ten specially prepared flasks, each designed to contain high-grade energy. One by one, the orbs of flame were sealed within them, their glow dimming slightly but their power clearly preserved.
Once that was done, she turned her attention to Ravel.
"Ravel, you will remain here from now on."
The words were firm, yet not unkind.
"We will send someone later with your belongings. From this point forward, you are to support Sir Arthur as his future wife. Make sure you conduct yourself properly."
Ravel nodded, her earlier nervousness still present, though now mixed with a quiet determination.
"Yes… Mother."
Lady Phenex stepped closer and pulled her into a warm embrace, one that lingered just long enough to convey more than words could. Their conversation that followed was quiet, meant only for the two of them, and Arthur, respecting their privacy, deliberately suppressed his senses to avoid overhearing anything.
A few moments later, they separated.
Lady Phenex gave Arthur one final look, one that carried both gratitude and expectation.
"I will leave her in your care."
With that, she departed, her presence fading from the room as quickly as it had arrived.
Silence followed.
-
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