Gremory Estate — Aftermath
The heavy doors slammed shut after Riser left. The echo lingered longer than it should have, filling the silence with his presence even in absence.
Zeoticus sat in his chair, silent, his face grim. Venelana's fingers trembled slightly as she lifted her teacup, only to set it down untouched.
Moments later, the doors opened again—Rias entered, her crimson hair swaying with each step. She'd heard something, enough to storm into the hall with indignation.
"Father, Mother, what happened? What did he say?"
Zeoticus exchanged a glance with Venelana, then sighed. "The engagement is… no more. Riser came to formally cancel it."
Rias blinked, disbelief flashing in her blue eyes. "W–What? Cancel? He cancelled? Not me?!"
Venelana's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes, Rias. And he had… much to say about you."
"What did he say?!" Rias demanded, her pride flaring.
Her mother hesitated, but Zeoticus' voice cut sharply. "He said you were nothing but a spoiled child. That your confidence was empty, your accomplishments nonexistent. That without our family name and your brother's status, you would have nothing."
Rias froze, her breath catching in her throat.
Venelana looked down, sadness mixed with a flicker of anger. "He compared you to Sona Sitri… and said she was a true noblewoman. That she had all the qualities you lacked."
The words stabbed deeper than Riser's flames ever could.
Her pride screamed in denial, but some part of her, deep down, knew his words carried truth. The Rating Game losses, the dependency on her brother, the constant shielding from responsibility…
"I… I…" Rias clenched her fists, trembling. "How dare he—!"
But before she could unleash her fury, a magic circle lit up in the corner of the hall. The sigil of Lucifer.
Sirzechs stepped out, his expression unusually dark. His crimson eyes scanned the room. "I heard what happened."
"Brother…" Rias' voice shook, relief mixing with shame.
Sirzechs' gaze hardened. "So. He truly said those words… in this hall, to your faces?"
Zeoticus nodded slowly. "Every word."
Sirzechs' aura rippled dangerously, the weight of a Maou filling the chamber. "To insult my sister like this… to declare her unworthy…" He trailed off, clenching his hand.
But behind the fury, there was a flicker of thought. Why do his words sting so much? Because… there is truth in them.
The Underworld — Noble Gossip
It didn't take long. By the next evening, the entire Underworld was ablaze with whispers.
"Did you hear? Riser Phenex cancelled his engagement with the Gremory heiress."
"He confronted Zeoticus and Venelana themselves—called Rias a spoiled child with no merit!"
"Madness! Or perhaps… brilliance. To publicly choose Sona Sitri instead… It changes everything."
Some nobles scoffed, dismissing him as arrogant. Others, though, murmured with new respect—because in one move, Riser had shown the will to defy the Lucifer's family and the insight to align with the Sitri.
And many began to whisper another word: dangerous.
Sitri Household — Reactions
When the news reached the Sitri estate, Lord Sitri himself sat in silence for a long while before speaking.
"So he truly did it," he muttered, setting aside the report. "That boy looked me in the eye and said he would cancel his engagement with Rias… and he meant it."
Lady Sitri sighed softly. "It is bold. Reckless, even. But… it shows he is serious about our daughter."
Serafall, usually playful, was for once still. "Fufufu… that baka-phenex. He actually went and spat all that at the Gremorys? Ooh, Sirzechs must be fuming! Hehehehe."
But her smile softened when she looked at her little sister. "So-tan… you're really at the center of this now, aren't you?"
Sona had been silent the entire time, hands folded tightly on her lap.
When she finally spoke, her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the turmoil within. "He's reckless. To confront the Gremorys directly like that… it will paint a target on his back. On mine as well."
Her words were logical. Her expression, however, was tinged with something else. Worry.
Worry for him.
Her mother noticed, a gentle smile curving her lips. "You're concerned for him."
Sona turned away, cheeks heating slightly. "I… It's not about him. It's about consequences."
But the redness in her ears told a different story.
Serafall leaned closer, sing-songing. "Ufufu~ So-tan is worried for her reckless fiery fiancé~ Hehe, how cute~"
"Serafall." Sona's voice was sharp, but her eyes betrayed her fluster.
Still, as the laughter faded, her heart beat heavier than before. Riser Phenex… what am I supposed to do with you?
