Chapter 27

This wasn't good. While I'd gotten stronger, there was no way I could escape her.

I forced an awkward smile. "L-Lady Gremory, you must have mistaken me for someone else. It's a p-pleasure to meet you." 'Just play dumb' I thought.

Venelana's eyes narrowed, her smile unwavering. "I may be old, but I'm not that old to forget warning you to stay away from my daughter. Or have you forgotten?" As she spoke, her magic flared. Sirzechs wisely, took a step back.

Around us, onlookers shifted nervously, sensing the rising tension. However, one person stepped forward in front of me.

"Stop it, Mother! Ryou-kun saved me!" Rias declared, standing protectively in front of me. 'You make it sound like you were about to die' I thought.

"And warning him to stay away? What is that about?" Rias pressed, her voice sharper now.

Venelana's smile grew more playful as she smoothly suppressed her magic, as if nothing had happened. "Fufu~ Rias, I didn't know you were so smitten with him already."

I raised an eyebrow turning to Rias. Her face flushed, almost matching the color of her hair. 

Sirzechs stepped in, his voice carrying a hint of humor. "Mother, I think that's enough teasing, don't you? I'm sure Ryou-kun is tired, like he said earlier."

Just my luck. Venelana's gaze settled on me once again, and she didn't miss a beat. "Oh, that's fine. He can stay with us tonight. Rias, the rest of you will be staying as well, I assume?"

I really didn't want to stay in the Underworld, but judging by the way things were going, I had no choice. Rias asked Issei to contact his parents, informing them he and Asia would be staying at a friend's house. The rest of the peerage didn't seem to mind.

"That's wonderful! I'm sure Zeoticus would love to meet you, Ryou-kun," Venelana said cheerfully, looping her arm through mine before I could protest. A teleportation circle appeared beneath us all, and just before we vanished, she turned to Sirzechs. "Make sure to come for dinner, dear."

With a flash, we reappeared in front of the largest mansion I had ever seen.

"This is one of our smaller houses, Ryou-kun," Rias remarked as she pulled her mother off of me.

The doors swung open, revealing rows of maids lined up in perfect formation. With a synchronized bow they greeted us, "Welcome home, Lady Gremory, and esteemed guests."

The display of precision left me impressed. 'They must practice this a lot.'

As we stepped inside, the mansion's interior gleamed with meticulous cleanliness. 'Makes sense considering the number of maids here.'

Venelana, already in full hostess mode, waved her hand in a shooing gesture. "Yuuto-kun, take the boys to the bathhouse. Off you go."

Yuuto nodded and led us through the mansion.

-Koneko POV-

I watched Ryou walk away from the others, my eyes glued to him the moment he appeared. His scent had changed. In the beginning, it had carried a sharp tang of evil and chaos, a sense of being cursed that I couldn't shake off. As time passed, that scent only grew stronger.

At the mountain range, my senses had always gone haywire around him. It was overwhelming; whatever was happening to him felt like it was breaking him apart.

But now, while his aura still radiated chaos and remnants of a curse, the underlying evil was gone. It was replaced by something oddly comforting, a sweetness that reminded me of plums.

'I wonder how he did it' I thought as I walked alongside the other girls, my curiosity piqued.

-Akeno POV-

I felt a thrill of excitement as I watched Ryo-kun standing over the Phenex.

'Fufu~ Not long now, Ryo-kun~' I giggled, Rias glanced at me, her expression a mix of confusion and concern, but I simply flashed her a playful smile.

'He'll be mine first, Rias-chan. Fufu~'

-Ryou POV-

The bathhouse was enormous, and all of us were relaxing. 'Maybe this isn't so bad' I thought as I dozed off for a nap. But my luck was still running short.

Suddenly, Zeoticus Gremory walked in. He locked eyes with a startled Issei, frowned, then turned his gaze to me and scowled. 'I really don't want to fight a man while naked.' Instead of confronting me, he looked away and started cleaning himself.

I closed my eyes again, hoping for some peace, but soon felt someone move in close. I opened one eye to confirm it was Zeoticus. "You and Sirzechs caused me quite the headache, boy. But I've also been presented with a significant opportunity. So as the head of the Gremory clan, I thank you. And as a father, I will reward you."

That caught me off guard. 'What could he possibly give me?' "Your reward is that I won't try to kill you." Yuuto and Issei nervously chuckled at that, and I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you, as a father, want to kill me and not as the Gremory head?"

He smiled, explaining, "When I made that contract, I was focused on the political gain, but I was also thinking of her future." I glanced up at the ceiling, contemplating his words. It made sense; as a father, he wanted to ensure his daughter's security and the family's status. I wasn't entirely sure how those of "lower birth" were treated, but I assumed it wasn't the greatest, even if some devils were striving for a better future. As clan head, he had to think of the connections it would create.

"Reward accepted then, Lord Gremory," I replied.

"Zeoticus is fine, Ryou-kun. I believe it's time for us to get out. Venelana will have the food ready by now."

With that, we all got up and got dressed. I slipped back into the kimono the maids had cleaned, and as a group, we headed to the dining area. 'Hope this goes well.'

-Kunou POV-

That strange man was on TV, and he was kicking that bird's butt! Mother was watching with me, chuckling as I jumped around excitedly.

But then I stopped, frowning as I turned to her. She was watching me with a curious look. "Mother, he promised to meet me again. I want to see him! Can you make that happen? Please?"

She chuckled, a teasing glint in her eyes. 'Oh no, she's planning something.' "Fufu~ of course I can, but I'll have to see if Lucifer-sama would be okay with his little sister coming over." I frowned at the thought of the Ruin Princess. 'I don't like her.'

Mother laughed, then grabbed me and started tickling me. "Mother, hahaha, stop!" But she only continued, her laughter filling the room.

-Ryou POV-

We had just arrived at the dining table, and I was now seated between Sirzechs and Grayfia. Zeoticus sat at the head of the table, with Redhead and Akeno across from me when I suddenly shivered. 'Is someone talking about me?'

"Are you okay, Ryou-kun? If you aren't feeling well, you can go back home," Redhead asked, concern evident in her voice. I gave her an awkward smile. "I'm good; I was just thinking about how good this food looks. Thank you, Lady Venelana and Lord Zeoticus."

And it did look good, there was plenty of food, along with Devil wine. "Well, eat up, everyone! Don't want it going cold. And for the last time, Ryou-kun, just call me Venelana."

Not wanting to waste another second, I dove into the food and wine. I noticed Grayfia's disapproving gaze at my table manners, but the food was just too damn good. By the end of the meal, I had devoured an entire roasted pig and twenty bottles of Devil wine. I was now on my last bottle under Venelana's gentle insistence that I shouldn't be drinking so young.

Afterward, I wandered into the gardens. They were beautiful. I spotted a gazebo nearby and walked over. There, Redhead sat in a white nightgown, overlooking another part of the garden.

"Beautiful, isn't it, Ryou-kun?" Of course, she noticed me.

"Yes, it is," I replied, sitting next to her and gazing in the same direction. "Thank you. Even if my Onii-sama did ask you to help."

I chuckled. "I could declare your hand, you know? Bind you to me and become the head of the Gremory clan." I waved my arms dramatically. "I would become the first human to head a devil clan!"

She laughed, leaning against me. "You know they wouldn't let that happen, and it wouldn't be so bad."

I looked at her and noticed the blush on her cheeks. I responded. "I think marriage is a little too far for us to consider right now. I mean, we're eighteen, and we barely know each other."

She looked up at me. "You're right. But, Ryou-kun?" I hummed in response. "Could we go on a date when things calm down?"

Truth be told, I wasn't sure about romance. Even with my memories back, I just didn't think it was for me. But looking into those deep green eyes, I knew my answer. "I would love to, Rias."

We sat in comfortable silence after that, until she excused herself to get some sleep. I wished her a wonderful night.

As I gazed at a flower that looked like it was withering, I couldn't help but think. 'Seems my luck might finally be turning around.'