chapter [39]

Riser's Mansion in Kuoh

Riser was in his room with Sona when her serious expression caught his attention.

Sona, irritated, questioned, "Darling, may I know what two exorcists are doing in our house?"

Riser noticed Sona's irritation and calmly replied, "They wanted to talk to you, so I brought them here."

Sona sighed, sitting on the bed and looking at Riser. "And what do they want?"

Riser, adopting a serious tone, explained, "They came for the holy swords."

Sona furrowed her brow and adjusted her glasses. "This is a very serious matter."

Riser agreed, "Indeed, we need to address this."

Sona decided to take action, saying, "I will talk to Rias and then converse with them."

Riser, holding Sona's hand, expressed his concern, "Darling, this is dangerous, and I want to stay close to you. But with Rias involved, it might hinder me."

Sona looked at Riser and replied, "Rias is also watching this territory."

"I know," said Riser, "but you can talk to her and stay in a supporting role while we handle this directly."

Sona agreed, "Alright. Rias owes me a few favors, and I think it's time to collect."

Riser gave a kiss on Sona's lips, saying, "Very well, let's go down and talk to Xenovia and Irina."

Sona furrowed her brow, asking, "Xenovia and Irina?"

Riser confirmed, "Yes, those are the names of the exorcists."

Sona questioned with a suspicious tone, "You've become quite close to them, haven't you?"

Riser raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Jealous?"

Sona replied irritably, "I'm not jealous, just concerned. After all, they are exorcists, and we are devils."

Riser smiled subtly, saying, "If you say so..."

Sona, impatient, urged, "Let's go talk to them, Riser."

Living Room

In the living room, the energy was charged with different emotions as Xenovia and Erza shared animated stories about their duel.

Sona's Peerage, understanding the seriousness of the moment, retreated to their rooms, leaving Tsubaki as the sole witness in the room, ready to intervene if necessary.

The arrival of Riser and Sona descending the stairs caught Yubelluna's attention. "Riser-sama."

Riser, introducing Sona to the exorcists, said, "Xenovia and Irina, I want to introduce my wife, Sona."

Sona greeted the exorcists firmly, "Nice to meet you. Now, let's get straight to the matter that brought you to my territory."

Xenovia nodded and said, "We're here for the holy swords that were stolen from the church."

"How do you know that the holy swords are here?" Sona's question echoed in the room, cutting through the silence and demanding a clarifying answer.

Taking the lead, Irina engaged in the conversation with seriousness. "We received information from the church that the Grigori stole them and brought them here."

The mention of fallen angels sparked Sona's curiosity. She furrowed her brow and exclaimed, "Fallen angels."

Sona's eyes searched Tsubaki, expecting an explanation for the lack of information about fallen angels in Kuoh. Tsubaki, taking the floor, apologized, "Kaichou, we had no information about fallen angels."

Riser, adopting a more pragmatic stance, intervened, "Now that's not important." His voice conveyed the need to focus on the immediate situation.

Irina, however, brought a grim revelation, "Kokabiel, the leader of the fallen angels, is involved in this." The mention of the name Kokabiel brought a wave of concern, especially for Sona, who knew the reputation and power of this ancient survivor of wars.

Riser, demonstrating his willingness to cooperate, addressed the exorcists, "How can we help you resolve this matter quickly?"

Xenovia, firmly, declared, "We didn't come to ask for help; we just don't want devils involved in this matter."

Sona, displeased with Xenovia's response and the way she spoke to Riser, maintained her composure, but her eyes clearly expressed her dissatisfaction. Riser, in turn, placed his hand on his head, pondering Xenovia's attitude. He reflected, "This girl is foolish. Has she forgotten what happened last time she spoke in that tone with me?"

Sona, not allowing her authority to be questioned, asserted, "This is my territory; you can't give me orders here."

The tension in the room escalated, but before the situation became more hostile, Tsubaki intervened, trying to ease the conflict: "Let's stay calm and find a solution that benefits both parties."

Riser, recovering from the initial surprise, silently agreed with Tsubaki's suggestion, hoping the situation could be resolved without unnecessary conflicts.

Xenovia stated firmly, "The only way to resolve this is for devils not to meddle."

Sona, irritated, retorted, "You brought trouble to my city, and now you ask us not to meddle?!"

Riser placed his hand on Sona's thigh.

"Calm down, Sona."

Sona, expressing her displeasure, said, "Did you hear how she spoke to you? And to us."

Riser, seeking to avoid conflicts, responded, "I don't want to start a war with the church without a good reason."

Sona sighed, trying to calm herself.

Riser said, "I don't want a war, Xenovia, but I'll kill you if you don't speak politely to my wife."

Xenovia felt pressure on her body. Irina, sensing the tension, apologized to Sona and Riser.

Riser released the pressure on Xenovia, and he stated, "I will deal with Kokabiel, and you can do whatever you want with the holy swords. This is the deal; are we understood?"

Xenovia and Irina nodded, and Riser said, "You are free to leave now."

The exorcists left the room, and Sona looked at Riser, seeking an explanation.

Riser discreetly told Merlin, "Follow the exorcists."

"Yes, Riser-sama," replied Merlin.

Sona, concerned, asked, "Is it really safe to let them roam freely in the city?"

Riser explained, "Merlin will watch them. Besides, I need bait for Kokabiel."

Sona, still worried, inquired, "Do you want to fight him?"

Riser replied, "Yes, imagine how my reputation will soar when everyone knows I killed Kokabiel."

Sona sighed and said, "I thought you wanted to avoid a war."

Riser laughed, "As far as I know, I'll be defending my wife's territory invaded by a fallen angel with holy swords made to kill devils."

Sona agreed and suggested, "Let's go to the room; I want to relieve my stress."

Riser picked up Sona and went up the stairs. Tsubaki, embarrassed, told Riser's Peerage that she was going to her room. The Peerage followed suit, dispersing to their respective quarters.

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