Chapter [129]

Ravel appeared in the living room a few minutes later, her face displaying a mix of curiosity and concern upon seeing her mother there.

"Mother, what happened? Why are you here so suddenly?" Ravel asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Romina took a deep breath, searching for words to explain the gravity of the situation without causing unnecessary alarm.

"Ravel, there's something you need to know. Your father..." Romina began, but was interrupted by Tsubaki, who returned to the room with a serious look and a tea tray.

"Please, accept this tea while we talk," Tsubaki said, offering the tray to Romina.

Romina nodded her thanks, accepting a cup of tea and taking a sip to calm her nerves before continuing.

"Your father is planning something terrible during the Rating Game. He's determined to kidnap Asia and use it as a way to punish Riser and reaffirm his authority over the Phenex family," Romina revealed, her voice trembling with the seriousness of the situation.

Ravel paled at the shocking revelation, her heart racing with concern for her friend and the imminent threat to her family.

"That's unacceptable!" exclaimed Ravel, her determination shining in her eyes. "We need to do something to stop him."

Sona, who had been listening quietly until then, intervened with a calm but authoritative expression.

"Ravel, here in Riser's house, he's the one in charge. Besides, as the sister of a Maou, I'm sure Victorius wouldn't go far risking his life by messing with me. He knows the consequences."

Sona's words brought some comfort to Ravel, but there was still a question that deeply troubled her.

"Mother, why is Dad so determined to kidnap Asia and get revenge on Riser?" Ravel asked, her voice filled with sadness and confusion.

"I... I'm not exactly sure, dear. But Riser and your father had a disagreement, and Victorius is wanting to teach him a lesson. However, I'm not sure what Asia has to do with it," Romina replied, her voice filled with sorrow for the lack of clarity in the situation.

At that moment, as Ravel absorbed her mother's words, an old memory surfaced in her mind, like a sudden light illuminating the darkness. She remembered a conversation she had with her father, Victorius, about Diodora and Asia.

"I remember..." Ravel murmured, her voice faltering with guilt as the memory emerged in her mind. "Dad came to my room asking about why Riser slapped Diodora... and I mentioned Asia's name as one of the reasons."

Ravel's confession hung in the air, creating an atmosphere heavy with emotions. Romina felt a pang in her heart at seeing the guilt in her daughter's eyes, wishing she could protect her from all pain and suffering.

"Ravel, dear, don't blame yourself for that. You couldn't foresee the consequences of your words at that moment," Romina said gently, reaching out to comfort her daughter.

As they absorbed the revelation, Sona intervened with her usual serenity.

"Crying over the past solves nothing, Ravel. What matters now is how we handle the current situation," Sona said, her calm and firm voice echoing through the room.

Ravel silently agreed, understanding the wisdom behind Sona's words.

"Romina, did you hear anything else from Victorius?" Sona asked, her expression serious as she considered the possible ramifications of Victorius's plans.

"Victorius said he'll come here the moment the Rating Game starts. He'll be accompanied by three women from his Peerage and an unknown man."

Sona nodded, her mind working quickly to formulate a plan of action.

With a graceful gesture, Sona rose from the sofa. "Excuse me, please."

Romina looked at Sona with curiosity. "Where are you going, Sona?"

"I'm going to talk to my husband. I need to ensure we're prepared to deal with Victorius and his Peerage's arrival," Sona said, reaching out to Tsubaki.

"Tsubaki, my phone, please," Sona requested.

Tsubaki quickly fetched Sona's phone and handed it to her with a bow.

"Thank you, Tsubaki," Sona said, before dialing Riser's number.

Rating Game Waiting Room

Riser POV

The atmosphere in the Rating Game waiting room was tranquil, with Merlin by my side, enjoying the calm before the storm that would be the approaching battle.

*ring ring*

Suddenly, the characteristic sound of my phone's ringtone echoed in the room, breaking the serene silence. I glanced up at the device's screen, seeing Sona's name flashing as the caller ID. With a swift motion, I answered the call.

"Hello, Sona."

"Darling, we need to talk."

"I'm all ears."

Sona explained the situation, detailing Victorius's plan and the need for us to be prepared for any eventuality. I listened attentively to her words, carefully absorbing each piece of information.

"Understood, Sona. I'm aware of what we need to do."

"But rest assured, the house is protected by various mechanisms and enchantments, and few people would succeed in invading it and leaving alive. Victorius isn't among those people."

"Riser, you can't kill Victorius, he's your father."

Could this girl read my mind? I internally questioned.

"No, host, she couldn't," the system responded, interrupting my thoughts.

"It was a rhetorical question," I muttered, returning my attention to Sona. "Understood. I don't intend to resort to extreme measures. Just using the Serefall name will make him back off, and if he doesn't, just arrest him until I arrive."

"That I can do, darling. Good luck in the Rating Game. Goodbye," she bid farewell, and I could sense satisfaction in her voice, as if she was pleased with my decision.

With a calm gesture, I hung up the phone, stowing it away in my pocket. A sense of determination washed over me as I reflected on what lay ahead. With a sigh, I thought to myself, "It's time for someone else to be the head of the Phenex family."

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