Chapter 15: Grayfia's confession

"Lucias-sama, drink more!!"

A soldier said as he poured more wine into Lucias' glass. While the entire building was filled with the cheerful laughs and voices of the people of the country. Spreading a comfortable atmosphere across the building.

"Thanks"

He said as he accepted their offer with a smile on his face. Chugging it down without hesitation before placing it back on the table.

"Hahahaha!!! Thank you for helping us, Lucias-sama! Finally we've been freed from fearing for our lives everyday"

A man said with a wide smile on his face, looking at Lucias with extreme gratitude visible in his eyes.

"No need to thank me, that's something that I should do... since I'm responsible for all of this"

He said as he whispered the last part of his sentence. Making the soldiers look at him in confusion as they didn't manage to hear what he said.

"I'll go get some fresh air, you guys can continue enjoying yourselves"

He said with a friendly smile on his face before standing up from his heat and walking towards the exit of the room. Making the soldiers who were with him to wave their hands at his direction.

"Lucias-sama?"

A female officer said as she saw Lucias leave the building, causing her to walk towards his direction.

"Is the party not to your liking?"

"No... I just want to get some fresh air... Can you tell me where the fallen soldiers are burried?"

He said making the woman point at the north, a desolate land that was made as a cemetery to bury and honour the death of their soldiers during the war.

"Thanks"

He said before making his way towards the cemetery. Giving the female soldier a light tap on her soldier before he left her in front of the building.

"... How quiet"

He muttered as he arrived in front of the large desolate land with a large monolith erected in the middle. Containing all of the names of the soldiers who died or has gone missing during the duration of the war.

He slowly made his way to the monolith before sitting down on the ground. Looking at the names of the soldiers with a smile on his face.

"... Let's have a toast for this victory"

He said before taking out a wine bottle and two glasses. Placing one of the glasses in front of him, while the other was placed in front of the monolith.

"You did well... in protecting your country... You're sacrifices has made the country free from those demons... I'll make sure that it will remain like so... "

He said pouring wine on the glasses in front of him. Raising it in the air before giving the glass placed in front of the monolith a toast.

"I'm sure you guys resent me... since the happened because of me... I'll fix what I've started... I promise that... and I'll fulfill what you all died for... You all fought honourably, so go ahead and rest... You deserve it"

He said with a smile on his face before placing his hand on top of the monolith.

"... I'll visit you guys in the realm of death after everything's over... I'm sure that you want to meet your families again"

He said before someone suddenly sat down beside him. Making him smile before he suddenly laid down on the ground.

"I knew you would be here"

"Why are you here, Grayfia?"

He asked, causing the silver-haired woman beside him to look at him directly in his eyes.

"Nothing... I just went out to get some fresh air... Does it bother you that I'm here?"

She asked as she placed his head on top of her soft and plump thighs, causing Lucias to look at her in confusion.

"Your husband would be jealous once he sees this"

"He isn't my husband anymore... I thought you already knew that, Lucias"

She said as she looked down on Lucias with an unusually gentle smile on her face.

"Is that so... I'm honestly surprised that you two divorced after what you two have been through"

He said as Grayfia caressed his golden hair with her hands. 

"It would eventually happen, especially after Iris came back"

"... Do you regret it?"

"No, I felt a huge weight lift off from my shoulders after I let go of him... Milicas is also happy with his biological mother right now, and... he only treated me as a replacement for Iris-sama. So... I didn't really feel any regret when I divorced him"

She said. Making Lucias stretch out his hand and started to pat her head, causing Grayfia to look at him in confusion.

"I'm sure you'll find someone that will truly treasure you... There are a lot of men out there that wants to be with you. You're both beautiful and strong after all"

He said before retracting his hand before sitting up from the ground. Looking back at Grayfia who had a serious expression on her face.

"Including you?"

She asked causing Lucias to dazedly look at her direction. Making Grayfia nervously clenched her fist on top of her thighs. 

"... That's..."

He said while awkwardly scratching his cheeks. Making Grayfia frown before suddenly moving her face closer to Lucias.

"What-"

Lucias asked but was cut off as Grayfia suddenly kissed him by his lips. Placing her right hand on his cheek while she pressed her soft pink lips on Lucias.

"... Lucias... I love you"

She confessed as she seperated her lips from Lucias who looked at her, unaffected by her sudden confession.

"For a long time... I have loved you, Lucias... but... We really didn't have a great start when we met each other... so I always hesitated to say this to you..."

She said causing Lucias to look at him with a serious expression on his face. Making Grayfia even nervous than before.

"Give me some time to think about it"

He said as he gave her an assuring smile before gently patting her head. 

"Don't feel so down, even if it isn't me. I'm sure you'll find someone that you'll love in the future. Don't let your momentary emotions to influence your decision"

He said, causing Grayfia to bit her lips before tears started to run down at the corner of her eyes. 

"E-Eh? W-Why am I crying?"

She said as she started to wipe the tears off her face, but slowly felt her arms sluggish and weak. Feeling something grasp her heart as the feeling of dread and extreme sadness to spread throughout her body. Making her body tremble as she slowly lost her strength due to the devastation that she felt.

"I-I'll leave, I-I'm sorry for making you feel awkward"

She hurriedly said before standing up from the ground. Preparing to run to her room but was stopped by Lucias who grabbed her arm.

"L-Let go-"

She said but was interrupted as Lucias suddenly hugged her body in his embrace. Wrapping his right arm around his back while his other arm buried her face on his chest.

"... You... why are you doing this... i-if you don't like me... d-don't show this kindness to me-"

"I'm sorry... but I can't leave you alone like this"

He said, causing the girl in his arms to tremble before started crying her heart out. Making Lucias hug her tighter as she started to hit his chest.

"Give me one day... I'll tell you my decision after that"

-with Riku-

"What?"

He asked with a look of surprise in his face while staring at his men. Making them repeat what they reported to him.

"Half of the demon soldiers in Central and South America have deserted and gone back to their dimension, so did the demon soldiers of other countries. That's why the army stationed around the world has managed to manager to shut off the dimension rift in their respective locations"

He reported with a serious expression on his face. Making Riku sit back down in disbelief. 

"A-Are you sure?"

"Yes, all countries have reported in such things happening. It looks like the demon army is started to collapse on itself due to the prolonged war"

He assured with a confident expression on his face. Making Riku smile in excitement as this could severely help them in taking back their world from those invaders.

"Hahahahaha!!! Finally an opportunity presented itself to us! You, contact the rest of the officers!"

He shouted in excitement before quickly signalling for one of the guards stationed at the door to go and contact the Majors and Generals of the Army. Making the guard to quickly nod his head before running at fast as he could towards the command center of the headquarters.

"Are there any other more information about the demons' and Gastreas' movement?"

Riku asked causing the man to shake his head to the side in response.

"We haven't received any news from Greenland as of now, but I heard that Lucias-sama would return today... But this information has already been relayed to Lucias-sama a few hours ago"

He reported as Riku quickly calmed his excitement down, since it would be bad if he suddenly relay an order out of excitement that could severely affect their progress for the past 5 years. Looking back at the information relayed to him as a serious question sudden entered his mind.

"... but why have they deserted? Do you have any information about that?"

He asked with a serious expression on his face. 

"We don't have any information regarding their desertion, but... it may be related to sudden conflict between the soldiers of our enemies. I heard that before they could even return to their dimension. They had to fight off their superiors, now only the nobility and a few normal-ranked demon soldiers are in our dimension"

He said causing Riku to frown as he break down the information piece by piece. Trying to predict why did the demons suddenly fought each other.

"Riku-sama!"

A soldier suddenly barged inside his office with a look of urgency. 

"W-We have recieved a new order from Lucias-sama!"

He shouted before presenting a recorder to Riku. Placing it on the table before wiping his sweat off his forehead.

"A new order?"

He asked causing the soldier to nod his head in response.

"Lucias-sama has ordered, Riku Dola, to infiltrate the demon's dimension, along with all Tiger and Hawk ranked assassins of the faction"

He relayed causing Riku to widen his eyes before pressing the play button of the recorder.

[This is Lucias Frey, do you copy?]

The familiar voice of Lucias echoed from the recorder. While the 3 people inside the office all remained silent. Removing all unnecessary noise around them as they all listened to the recording.

[Relay my orders, Riku Dola will be sent to the demon's dimension with all high ranked assassins of our dimension. He will be tasked in investigating the authenticity of the information given to us by a demon soldier. The demons are starting a revolution in their dimension, and I want Riku to assist them if ever the information that they gave us is true. He will form an alliance with the revolutionary army of the demons, and the humans of their dimension. Give them all aid that they need to overthrow their current monarch. If it's Riku, I think he already knows what to do]

Lucias said in a serious and heavy tone before he continued his words.

[Riku, I will permit you to deploy the Demonias at your command. Do anything that you deem as necessary. This could be the only chance that we have to completely wipe them out. We only have two dimensions that we need to worry about. The Gastreas' and the Demon's dimension. I will follow you in the demon's dimension once we ward off all invaders in our dimension]

[That's all, and I wish you all good luck]

He said as the recording stopped. Making Riku sigh before glancing at his two subordinates.

"You heard him! Go and prepare the assassins! I want everything prepared after 2 days! We'll immediately execute his orders as soon as we can"

"Hai!"