Chapter 13: A tool? (2)

I turned 5 last month and with that milestone, also came the opportunity to finally make a contract with a celestial body.

However, we couldn't do it immediately. A multitude of reasons, which included but was not limited to: the stars not yet aligned and et cetera. Grandpa Yamamoto wrote in his book on the importance of timing, it was crucial to wait until the right moment. I wasn't dumb enough to risk my life just because I was a little impatient. We would have to wait until some time had passed before making the contract.

Not only that, but the contract had to be made in a specific location, deep within the Barbatos territory, where a special spatial place had been designated for this very purpose. It was also traditional

It had been two months since Violet had joined us, and although she hadn't yet spoken a single word, she had made significant progress in communicating with us. She now responded to some of my questions with nods, which was a huge improvement from when we first met.

I had also grown increasingly convinced that Violet was becoming attached to me, as she had grown increasingly clingy in recent days. More so, than usual

I had taken it upon myself to teach Violet how to read and write, and although I wasn't entirely sure if she had knew how to read now, her handwriting was absolutely beautiful. Even Grayfia had grudgingly admitted as much.

She also had a unique preference for writing letters, it seemed. At least, that was the impression she left on me because that's the only thing I've seen her doing without me telling her to do so. Every time I caught a glimpse of her, she was scribbling away on a piece of paper, a quill or fountain pen held daintily between her fingers. It was clear that she took great care in crafting each word and sentence, she was very meticulous

She also had a fondness for the tactile nature of the typewriter. I discovered this quite by accident one day, when one day when she followed me, I found her repeatedly glancing at a dusty old typewriter in the storage room. So I gave it to her, to which we come to the present day where she uses it quite often

I guessed that the clack-clack-clack of the keys and the ding of the bell at the end of a line seemed to soothe her.

Thus these days, all the non-important letters were handed over to her.

Grayfia also helped her with the intricacies of dressing and grooming herself in a manner befitting a lady. In the beginning, Grayfia had to assist her with even the most basic tasks, such as fastening buttons and tying ribbons, but as time passed, she became more adept at managing her appearance on her own.

Despite the practical assistance, Grayfia's attitude towards her still remained somewhat cold and aloof, it was clear that she had not fully accepted her. Unlike me, who had developed a bit of trust in her.

I asked her about her background, but she didn't say much....Well, she didn't say anything at all. I was very curious about her past but didn't push any further. She would tell me about it someday

She also had an endearing habit of giving a military salute from time to time. I couldn't help but wonder if it was a remnant from her training or from where she was from previously. It was a small detail, but it added a level of intrigue to her character that left me wanting to know more.

She now usually wears a white ribbon-tie dress with a Prussian blue jacket, the material of the dress flowing effortlessly as she moves. The jacket sits snugly on her shoulders, accentuating her frame. She compliments the outfit with a white, pleated silk skirt that grazes just above her ankles, giving a glimpse of her heeled, long leather boots that are of a deep brown. The boots, polished to a shine, add a touch of elegance to her overall appearance. She completes the look with brown gloves, covering her delicate hands.

Her hair was more tidier and less scruffy than before, it looked silky. It was tied in two braids behind her, secured with a red ribbon that reached her waist, adding a pop of colour to her ensemble. The ribbon, tied in a neat bow, gives off a sense of femininity and grace.

"Violet, come here" I said, not looking up from the desk as I carefully placed the pen down and neatly folded the piece of paper I had been writing on. Violet, who was carefully inspecting some paperwork lying around, turned towards me at the sound of my voice and approached me without hesitation.

I carefully picked up the metal container that sat atop a small, flickering flame on a stand. The container was warm to the touch, and as I tilted it, the crimson liquid within sloshed gently. I poured a small amount of the liquid onto a specific part of the letter, the wax absorbing it eagerly. Setting the container back onto the stand, I picked up a wax stamp that was intricately carved with runes and pressed it firmly into the liquid wax. The runes on the side of the stamp glinted momentarily as my mana flowed through it. I lifted it, revealing a perfect impression of the emblem of the Barbatos - looking bold and mighty

Feeling a sense of satisfaction, I turned my head to the girl beside me

"Let's go to the garden," I said, pushing my chair back as I stood up. "I need to check something with your Sacred Gear," I finished, as I began to walk away, with Violet closely following after me, leaving the room in silence.

The newly-crafted letter lay elegantly on the desk, the parchment perfectly aligned with the edges of the wooden surface. Beside it, an unused envelope rested, its pristine white surface untouched by ink or wax. The envelope was clearly intended as the final destination for the letter, once the seal had been properly affixed...but, upon closer inspection, a word could be seen in the bottom right corner of the envelope, neatly written in elegant cursive script.....Grauzauberer

As I stepped into the garden, the clouds above me seemed to loom heavy with the promise of rain. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the leaves on the trees rustled in the wind, as if they too could sense the impending storm.

I turned to Violet and asked her to show me all the weapons she could summon. With a nod, she began to summon a collection of tools, each one appearing in her hand as if by magic. First, she produced a pair of sleek, silver daggers, their edges glinting in the dim light. Next, she summoned a sword, its hilt adorned with intricate engravings and its blade shining brightly. She then produced a bow, its string taut and ready for use, followed by a staff. A spear materialized in her hand next, its point sharp and deadly, and finally, she summoned a bayonet rifle, its barrel gleaming and its stock polished to a shine. However, she did not summon the main axe, the weapon I asked her not to show

Just as I was about to continue, I received a sudden message through telepathy, it was from Grayfia. The range for telepathy was limited, short-distance, only able to extend to the boundaries of our mansion and the surrounding gardens, but it was enough for this message

I was surprised when she informed me that a guest had arrived, seeking an audience with me. This was an unusual occurrence, as it was the first time anyone had ever come to visit me in person. I instructed Violet to stay and wait as I made my way in the mansion, my curiosity piqued by this mysterious visitor.

As I stepped into the spacious living room, my eyes immediately fell upon a figure seated on the plush sofa. The man was engaged in a conversation with Grayfia with a tea set placed on the coffee table in front of him. She nodded occasionally, as she poured steaming hot tea into the delicate porcelain cups. What I didn't notice was the subtle frown etched on her face, a clear indication of her annoyance.

As I approached, my mind raced as I recognised the familiar face of the visitor and upon realising who it was I unconsciously scowled. However, I quickly composed myself, schooling my expression into one of neutrality

It was Sirzechs Lucifer

Upon seeing me, he got up from his seat with a bright smile on his face and extended his hand towards me, inviting me to shake it. I returned the gesture with a fake smile plastered on my face as I grasped his hand and shook it. I then took a seat across from him on the opposite sofa. Grayfia, noticing my presence, walked towards me and poured me a cup of tea as well. She then stood behind me, her posture straight and proper, like a diligent and attentive maid.

"Thank you Fia" I said in an overly affectionate tone.

Grayfia raised an eyebrow in response to this, her expression betraying her confusion. However, it didn't take her long to understand the reason behind it. A hint of amusement danced in her eyes, secretly slightly delighted by it, but she maintained her composure and did not let it show.

"You're welcome, Young master," she replied with a beautiful and heart-throbbing smile

Sirzechs's smile twitched a little seeing that. He had been trying to engage her in conversation for the past 10 minutes, but she had remained quite distant. But as soon as I entered the room, she seemed to immediately thaw

I felt a little smug about that

"It's been a while Lord Lucifer, how may I help you?" I asked him cutting straight to the point.

He didn't take offense to my directness and instead, a small smile graced his lips, "Ah, please, dispense with the formalities. Sirzechs will do just fine," he said, his voice smooth and cultured.

I was about to retort, but he interrupted me, "I insist," he added, his tone firm but not unkind.

I sighed, understanding why Grayfia was so often annoyed by him in the anime, "If that is your preference, then please call me Diablo"

He just nodded, then suddenly I started hearing the distinct sound of water droplets falling against the window panes, each droplet creating its own unique melody as it hit the glass.

I turned my head towards the window and saw that it was raining heavily outside, the raindrops hitting the ground with a soft pitter-patter. The rain was coming down in sheets, obscuring the view beyond the window. Sirzechs, who was sitting across me, also noticed the rainfall. He looked out the window, his expression contemplative as he watched the rain fall.

"It's a good weather…... for ducks," he chuckled as he made a joke, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

"Indeed it is" I said in a monotonous manner

"Now, how may I assist you, Sirzechs?" I asked, my tone a little cold

"I would like to propose an alliance between House Gremory and House Barbatos," he said, not seeming to mind my tone, "Even though I am no longer the heir, my father, the Clan Head, has appointed me as its representative. This alliance will also, of course, be backed by me, the Satan Lucifer," he added, his voice steady and confident.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow in interest. Despite my personal feelings towards him, I knew better than to let my petty jealousy get in the way of important matters like this, "And how do you propose we go about this alliance?"

"House Gremory is willing to share 40% of its shares in the Gremory Large enterprise," My eyes widened at that

The Gremory Large Enterprise was a powerful and influential business venture owned and operated by the Gremory clan. With a presence in both the Underworld and the Human world, the enterprise boasted a diverse range of interests and investments.

In the Human world, the Gremory Large Enterprise operates a number of travel agencies and hotels in major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. These hotels are known for their luxurious amenities and high-end services, making them popular among the wealthy elite. The Gremory Large Enterprise is also involved in the film industry, producing and distributing high-quality movies and television shows.

The president of the Gremory Large Enterprise was none other than Zeoticus Gremory, the current head of the Gremory clan. This was also a way to give jobs to Devils under the services of their clan

Even though I didn't need the money, I couldn't refuse this generous amount offered to me on a plate. I was actually even planning to create a similar company.....Hmm, I would have to ask Grayfia about that later.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch, what do you want in return Sirzechs?" I said

"All that the Gremory Clan asks for is an engagement to link the two clans," Ah shit, do I have to marry Rias? It's not that I hate her or something. I just don't want to be forced into a marriage with someone I don't love, no matter what the benefits are. Just as I was about to reject him, I froze at his next words, "Between me, Sirzechs Lucifer and Grayfia Lucifuge."

CRACK!

The teacup in my hand cracked, as a sense of disbelief and rage washed over me. Even Grayfia, who stood behind me, couldn't help but frown at the words that had just been spoken but did not say anything as she was just a maid now. Despite her status as a Lucifuge, she now served me, so she automatically belonged to the Barbatos clan. Thus technically, me being the clan head, I could do with her as I please

This bastard....This bastard had the fucking balls to ask for the hand of MY Grayfia.

I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself, focusing on the task at hand. I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgement.....I processed everything carefully

I chuckled inwardly, this asshole true goal was never the alliance, he just wanted Grayfia. This was merely a pretence

Alliance? Don't give me that shit. Even though Grayfia may belong to the Barbatos clan, this man had no ties to his own clan anymore. He was Satan Lucifer, a powerful and influential figure in his own right. Even if he may show favouritism to his old clan, the clan and him were separate entities

The thought of handing Grayfia over to anyone was unbearable to me, no matter what the benefits were. I would rather die than let that happen...but he's still a Satan, so I suppose I should show him some respect

I stood up from my seat, my movements calm and composed, and walked towards the door. Sirzechs looked confused by my sudden departure, but I paid him no mind.

Just before I walked out of the room, I stopped in front of the door and said, "Fia, it seems our guest is not feeling well. He appears to be a little... delusional. Would you please escort him out of the premises?"

Grayfia struggled to keep a straight face as she tried not to giggle, "Yes, Young Master," she said calmly. "He does look rather unwell," she added before turning towards Sirzechs. "Shall we, Lord Lucifer? Please follow me," she said, her tone polite but firm.

I just walked towards my bedroom

Respect? Pftttt.....Fuck you

As I settled into my bed, I let out a sigh of frustration. My peaceful solitude had been interrupted, and my mood was now sour. I grabbed a book from the side table, eager to lose myself in its pages and forget about the conversation that had just transpired

As I delved deeper into the book, my thoughts were consumed by something else. These sudden outbursts of emotion that I had begun to notice. They weren't frequent, but when they did occur, they were intense and unmistakable.

One happened in the party, when Riser had looked lustfully at Grayfia.

Another occurred when I was furious at the audacity of my Zanpakutō spirit

And most recently, one had happened just moments ago.

They were unusual. I had always considered myself to be a calm and collected individual, but these intense emotions seemed to be a new development. Though I do admit those emotions would have been still there, they wouldn't have been that intense....I didn't understand. Was it simply my overthinking, or was it something more? Could it be a side-effect of being a Devil? Hmmm, I made a mental note to research this further.

For now, I focused on the soothing sound of raindrops pattering against the window, as I continued to read my book in peace and tranquility.

After two hours, Grayfia told me to come for lunch. The rain had not let up, instead it had rained more heavily. On the way to the dining room, I, as always, stopped by Violet's room to call her.

"Violet, come out! Lunch is ready," I called out, knocking on the door.

When no one came, I knocked again and called out, receiving the same result. I opened the door, "Violet?"

She wasn't there.

I went to the office and looked, but she wasn't there. I then checked the library, but she wasn't there either. I searched the entire mansion, calling out her name as my worry and anxiety grew

During these past two months, I-I may have grown quite fond of her...I couldn't help it! I was the one who took care of her and taught her during this time after all. Even though she was emotionless most of the time, she had her moments when she was quite endearing.

I still remember the time when she ate with us for the first time and how I had to teach her how to use utensils. It was adorable

I also remembered how Grayfia once made her cook, which, by the way, was a disaster. The kitchen had never been dirtier and I actually think the food was radioactive

I couldn't help but smile inwardly as I recounted those memories....Yeah, she had grown on me, alright

Hearing my shouts, Grayfia soon found me, "Young master, what's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked, her tone laced with concern as she scanned my face for any sign of distress.

"Fia! Violet is missing, do you know where she is?" I asked, my voice tinged in slight worry

Upon hearing my question, Grayfia's expression turned to one of slight frown, "..."You don't need to worry, Young master. She's outside in the garden"

"What!? In that weather? Wait, why was she outside in the first place" I was confused momentarily before sighing as I understood. She had stayed outside because I had told her to, and she had been standing there ever since....Shit, I have to teach that girl some common sense. Even Devils can get a cold, not to mention humans. It was the middle of winter and with the rain falling, it must be freezing outside

I immediately ran out of the mansion, not even stopping to grab an umbrella or any other form of protection from the rain. As I stepped out, I flinched as the cold and freezing wet rain hit my skin. I was immediately drenched from head to toe, my clothes sticking to my body.

I spotted her standing in the garden, the rain pouring down on her. Her clothes were drenched and clung to her curves, her wet hair covering her face. I didn't say a word to her, and instead, firmly grasped her hand and pulled her towards the mansion. We walked calmly but quickly towards her room. As we entered the room, I immediately locked my gaze on her.

"What were you thinking?! Why were you out there in the rain?" I scolded her, my voice heavy with anger and concern

She flinched at my tone. This was the first time I had spoken to her in such a way, and I could see a hint of fear in her expression. But, she didn't say anything, only stood there in silence.

I looked at her for a moment, my anger dissipating as I felt a pang of guilt, "Did you stay out there because I told you to?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She just nodded slowly

I felt a weight settle in my chest as I got the confirmation of my previous realisation

I sighed, my emotions a jumbled mess. "You stupid girl," I muttered, my voice laced with both frustration and affection.

I stretched out my arms and pulled her into a tight embrace. I felt her body tense up at first, but then she relaxed into my hold. I started stroking her wet hair, soothing her as I held her close.

"I'm sorry," I whispered into her ear. "I didn't mean to scare you there earlier"

"It's just...I was worried" I said after a pause, "I don't know what your life was like before I found you, and I won't lie and say that I didn't have my suspicions. But, that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is you. You're not just a tool to me. We're family, you, me, Fia, and maybe more in the future. It's us against the world."

I paused, searching for the right words to express how I felt, "Even if Fia doesn't like you that much now, I'm sure she will in the future," I continued, "So, don't care so little about yourself from now on. Because there are people who care about you. You're not a tool"

We just stayed like that for a moment, holding each other in silence. But, then I realized that she was still soaking wet. I slowly let go of her and took a step back.

"Change your clothes and dry yourself off, then come to the dining room for lunch, okay?" I said gently, a small smile on my face. I turned to leave her room, not knowing I missed something extraordinary

As I made my way down the dimly lit hallway, I caught sight of Grayfia standing in the middle of the corridor. She noticed me and immediately bowed, falling into step a few paces behind me as we walked.

"Fia, If you knew she was outside, why didn't you bring her in?" I asked, breaking the silence between us

"Young master, I thought you--" Grayfia began, but I interrupted her.

"Don't give me that shit, Grayfia," I spat out, "You know very well how she is and yet you did nothing. You need to stop this pointless hostility towards her." I said, my anger palpable in my tone. Grayfia looked stunned, her eyes wide with surprise. This was the first time I had ever spoken her name directly to her, and that too in anger. There was a hint of hurt hidden in her gaze.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before continuing, "Listen, Grayfia," I said, my tone softer now, "If you're worried that because of her I'll forget about you, you don't need to. You're irreplaceable to me. I consider her as family as much as I do you" I said as I walked forward, leaving Grayfia standing there without waiting for any response from her.

Me and Grayfia were a little awkward during lunch, but we quickly got normal after a while.

After that day, Violet seemed to become even more attached to me. She would often seek me out more and stay with me more often. Grayfia and I also resumed our outings together, and we even started bringing Violet along with us. Though the locals were a little uneasy around her, some even looking at her with disdain, because she was a human. But, no one was foolish enough to confront her or actively make her feel unwelcome. Violet, as expected, didn't seem to care at all

Next week, we were set to embark on a journey deep into the territory, to a remote observatory tower built by the Barbatos clan for my contract. Teleportation was not an option as the tower was protected by powerful runes that prevented this.

Previously, members of the clan were able to teleport to the tower with ease, thanks to an array that connected the clan's mansion and the tower. However, the array had fallen into disrepair, likely due to a lack of maintenance over the years. As a result, we would have to travel to the tower via carriage

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{{NOTE from Author-san:

-Some people during the last version had a lot of.....unique opinions about Sirzechs and how he would turn out in the future. There is only one thing I'll say, remember the character in the actual series....and yea, just wait and read for the confirmation or rejection of your suspicions. That's all I'll say 🤐

-Also one more thing, Diablo looks older than he actually is. His character might seem all over the place for ya'll. I'm trying to go somewhere with that, like how his current state as a child is also influencing him, I tried to make him kinda lax and all and having building up with that. Just....expect some character growth this arc}}