303 Drown

When Sona told her that Riser couldn't meet her, Rias was confused, and at the same time, she was helpless. Nevertheless, she didn't go back immediately since when she returned, she knew that she needed to take care of many things in her home. 

At this point, there was no one that she could rely upon, and her mother was working hard to take care of their Gremory domain. 

While her grandma and ancestor helped out, Rias knew that as the heiress, she needed to do something, yet when many things happened, it was overwhelming, and she wanted to have a little escape, ignoring everything and enjoying a moment of peace. 

When she thought about this, she felt jealous and hated by her big sister-in-law, Grayfia Lucifage. She was jealous that with Grayfia's power, there was nothing that could stop her, and Grayfia could do whatever she wished without anyone stopping her, but at the same time, she also hated her since Grayfia wasn't there when the Gremory House was attacked by Tannin. 

While Tannin's issue was resolved by Riser, the aftermath of the incident was so heavy that she wished that everything was just a dream. 

Moreover, this incident also happened when he disappeared. 

At that time, when she knew he disappeared, her world stopped, and everything was crumbling. By that time, she realized that she had fallen for him. Regret and despair were probably the biggest feelings she felt at that time as she just didn't know what to do since she knew that she couldn't meet him, but as the heiress of the Gremory and the urge of her mother, in the end, she could only grit her teeth and kept fighting, especially when her house was in crisis. 

Still, when the crisis ended and Riser appeared once again, the dawn came to her.

It was something that she had been waiting for, so after she left the rest to her family, she decided to visit Riser with Koneko and Akeno. Her family and the others didn't stop her since Riser's support was needed for their family. 

Unfortunately, Rias couldn't meet Riser. 

While Akeno could enter due to her status as Riser's lover, and Koneko was also the same as she had a friendship with Ravel and also the little sister of Kuroka, Rias couldn't do the same. 

Nevertheless, Rias decided to wait since Riser's city had always intrigued him. This place made her calm, and she just didn't need to worry about anything as this place gave her peace of mind. 

Unfortunately, this peace was broken when she heard that he didn't want to meet her. It shocked her, and she couldn't even listen to Sona's words before she decided to wander around the city absentmindedly. While she could tell Sona's worry, she knew that there was nothing Sona could do since every decision was on her husband, Riser. 

After Riser disappeared, Rias knew that the one who was devastated the most was Sona. At that time, she wished to stay by Sona's side, waiting for him, but when her home was on the verge of destruction, she could only grit her teeth and leave. 

Yet, it was also because of this that she couldn't be the first person who greeted him. 

Rias wondered whether Riser had misunderstood her. 

"No, he isn't someone like that." 

Rias knew that Riser was a tsundere, and he was probably just awkward to meet her, especially when their last encounter was rather weird. She promised him to give her virginity, but then, those things happened. 

Rias wasn't sure what was happening when Riser disappeared, but she knew that his days definitely weren't easy and his fight was full of brutality, yet he still held on and kept fighting so he could return to everyone. 

Rias was in distress when she thought about it and wished to stay by his side, but she knew that it wasn't appropriate for her to do so. Many things happened, and her mind sobered. 

When Issei passed away, it was like everything was clear to her, especially all of the stupid and childish actions she had before. 

Yet, sometimes, Rias also wondered why Riser suddenly changed. It was like he had become a different person. 

"If he is like that before..." 

If Riser was like this, would all the trouble occur?

By then, it wouldn't be weird to say that Rias' situation would be the same as Sona's, especially when her brother was Sirzech Lucifer. 

However, everything had become like this. Nothing could be changed unless one went to the past. 

Unfortunately, Rias didn't have the power of the Agares House, and the power she inherited was the power of destruction. 

As she walked around the city, she thought about many things since there was really nothing that she could do at that moment. Yet, even if he didn't agree with her meeting, she still wished to meet him, hoping fate would meet all of them. 

Then, as she walked, she came to the lake where Riser and Sona confessed all of their feelings. It was also the place where Sona told him that she didn't mind him having a harem. 

"I am really despicable..." 

Rias knew how ugly she was, especially when Sona kept helping her, yet she kept hating and even had this unreasonable fury whenever she met Sona. Yet, she knew that Sona was innocent. Everything was born from her jealousy, as she wished to be in Sona's place. 

The more she thought, the more she wondered whether she was worthy of him. 

Rias also realized that Sona was more suitable to become his wife. 

Sitting on the bench built near the lake, Rias stared at the lake absently. She wasn't sure why she did this, but she stood up and walked toward the lake, ignoring the water, and kept walking until the water reached her waist.

Even so, she didn't stop. 

For a human, when they pass away, they would enter either hell or heaven, depending on their actions. However, if they have a good relative, they might put you into heaven to curry a favor and gain the friendship of your relative. 

It was like how Issei's grandpa entered heaven because Issei was known as the strongest. Even if Issei's grandpa was as perverted as his grandson and even bothered the mothers of Issei's classmates, he was still able to enter heaven. 

Yet, what about the devil?

When they die, where will they go?

Would they enter heaven? Hell?

Or would they enter an eternal darkness, a peaceful place where nothing could be seen?

Rias wasn't sure, but soon, the water drowned her head as she sunk into the lake. 

"Rias!" 

Rias wondered whether she was dreaming, but she saw the man that she had been waiting for coming toward him. 

Was this a dream?

Was this a place after a death?

Rias didn't know, but she was happy as she saw how emotional he was. When he reached her, she stretched her hands toward him eagerly and kissed his lips deeply, ignoring the water that was about to drown her.