Rias
Father had returned to the estate.
He entered with the sort of presence only certain noble Devils and very large men ever managed.
Ise sat straighter at once.
Yuki did as well, though with her it was barely noticeable.
Father’s gaze moved over the room, and then his face broke into a grin as warm and overwhelming as ever.
“Rias!”
He crossed the room quickly enough that decorum barely survived the attempt and embraced me with the force of a man entirely unconcerned with appearances in front of guests.
“I’m home, Father,” I said, because if I didn’t answer immediately he would only hold me tighter.
He released me with visible reluctance and then looked over the rest of the room.
His smile widened.
“So these children are your new servants.”
Children.
It would have been insulting from almost anyone else.
From Father, it was only affectionate and impossible to resent.
He greeted them in turn, his manner much larger and less precise than Mother’s.
That, too, helped.
Ise looked less as though he was facing a test and more as though he had been swept into the orbit of someone overwhelming but sincere.
Yuki, however, grew a little more still.
I think it was partially because he was the head of the Gremory house, and partially because she didn't know how to deal with someone of his status acting like a doting and kind father.
Her face was perfectly composed, but I could see a small bit of confusion and apprehension enter her eyes as she watched him
He reached Issei at last.
“Ah, Hyoudou Issei-kun, it is good to see you again.”
Ise stood quickly and bowed. “Y-Yes!”
Father laughed at his frantic energy
“I see you are still a lively one. Good.”
Ise looked utterly lost as to whether he had passed or failed.
Mother entered and looked at Father with an exasperated smile before gesturing for us to enter the dining room.
Dinner followed in a room large enough that a human family might have held wedding receptions in it.
The servants were precise.
The food was exquisite.
The atmosphere was far less formal than one would expect, but Ise remained slightly too stiff through most of the first course.
Father enjoyed that.
Mother enjoyed it more quietly.
Akeno certainly noticed both.
Conversation moved around the table with increasing ease.
There were questions about the trip, about the train, about the house in the human world, about everyone settling in.
By the time the conversation had progressed far enough that the tension from our arrival was beginning to ease, Father leaned back in his chair, looked at him, and decided it was time to have a conversation with my Ise.
“By the way Hyoudou-Issei-kun…”
_________________________________________
Akeno
Zeoricus-san turned to Ise-kun and leaned back slightly in his seat.
“By the way, Hyoudou Issei-kun...”
Ise-kun sat up straighter immediately and turned to Zeoricus-san.
“Yes!”
I had to cover my mouth to hide my smile at his reaction to speaking with Rias’s father.
“How have your parents been since I saw them?” Zeoricus-san asked.
Ise-kun relaxed by a fraction.
“They’ve been well.” Ise-kun answered, still stiff. “When I told them that I would be visiting Buch- Rias-sama’s home they were excited to hear about it and asked for me to bring them something back. I thought it was a bit much after our home had just been rebuilt…”
Zeoricus-san looked interested.
“So they would like a souvenir. Hmm…”
He rang a small bell that had been sitting on the table next to him.
A butler quickly appeared by his side.
“What may I do for you, master Zeoricus-san? The butler said.
“Yes, I’d like you to prepare a castle for Hyoudou Issei-kun’s parents.” Zeoricus-san replied.
Ise-kun’s jaw dropped at that.
“Understood. Should I prepare a traditional European style castle or a Japanese style castle, sir?
Ise-kun went pale.
“That is a good question. Hyoudou Issei-kun, what style do you think your parents would prefer?” Zeoricus-san asked.
“T-That is too much! Something much smaller would be an acceptable souvenir for them!” Ise-kun quickly said.
“Dear, the amount of land in Japan is too small for the average person to have a castle. We should come up with something else.” Venelana-san said.
“Is that so? If a castle wont work I wonder what would…” Zeoricus-san wondered aloud.
Rias came to Ise-kun’s rescue.
“Father, anything we would normally give someone would only trouble Ise’s parents. They don't have much greed in them or desire for anything grand.” Rias said.
Zeoricus-san nodded at that.
“I see. Then I will give them a few bottles of alcohol instead.”
Ise-kun slumped in his seat.
He looked like he had dodged a bullet.
Then Zeoricus-san spoke again.
“Hyoudou Isse-kun.”
Ise-kun sat up again instantly.
“Y-Yes?!”
“From now on, you may call me ‘father-in-law’.
Then Ise-kun nearly died.
His eyes went wide enough that I briefly worried they might remain that way forever.
“F-F-F-Father-in-law!?”
I brought one hand lightly to my mouth to hide my smile.
It did not work particularly well.
Across the table, Xenovia looked interested with an obvious stare.
Asia-chan had gone very red.
Gasper-kun stared back and forth between Ise-kun and Zeoricus-san in confusion.
Yuuto-chan lowered her gaze, though the small curve at her mouth indicated that she was also trying not to smile.
Koneko sat quietly, posture neat, expression almost unreadable.
She had been quieter since we had arrived in the Underworld.
It was starting to become more obvious the longer we were here.
Yuki-chan looked at Ise-kun’s panic and then slowly looked to Rias like she couldn't believe that this is where the dinner’s conversation had gone.
Yuki-chan had been acting more reserved and distant since we had arrived, and that was to be expected considering everything she had told us.
But this seemed to have broken through that for at least the moment.
Rias rose immediately from her seat.
“Father!”
Her face was flushed and it sounded more like a whine than anything else.
“Dear, you're getting ahead of yourself.” Venelana-san said
“But the armor is crimson and red. It fits so well.” Zeoricus-san
“Dear. There is an order to these kinds of things.”
Zeoricus-san let out a sigh and relented to his wife.
Ise-kun looked confused.
It seemed he still didn't get it.
It was impressive how dense he could be sometimes.
Rias was staring at her plate with a bright red face.
Venelana-san turned to Ise-kun.
“Hyoudou Isse-san. Would it be alright if I called you Issei-san?” She asked.
“Yes! O-Of course!” Ise-kun replied.
It was cute how easily flustered he was.
“You’ll be staying here for a while, correct?” Venelana-san asked.
“Yes. I will be here as long as Bu- Rias-sama is. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I believe that it would be the perfect opportunity for you to learn gentlemanly behavior. You’ll be studying manners while you stay here.”
“Manners?” Ise-kun looked completely confused.
“If you are going to keep being at my daughter’s side,” she said pleasantly, “then you should begin learning proper manners more seriously.”
Yuuto-chan had to cover her mouth and look away to stop a laugh from coming out.
Xenovia looked like the idea of learning manners had left a sour taste in her mouth.
There was a loud bang as Rias quickly stood up and planted her hands onto the table.
“Mother! What do you think you are trying to do? I have been quiet while you and Father tried to manipulate things, but that is enough!”
Venelana-san’s smile disappeared and her eyes narrowed at Rias.
“Be quiet, Rias.”
I winced internally realizing that Rias was about to get scolded thoroughly in front of everyone.
Yuuto-chan dropped her hand from her face to her lap and instantly looked fully composed.
Yuki-chan glanced at us with a small questioning look.
“You’ve already caused issues by canceling your engagement with Riser Phenex, remember?” Venelana-san said, “The only reason that happened was because you received special treatment. Do you have any idea how much effort both your father and Sirzech’s had to put into repairing relations between us and other High-Class Devils? Your father had to explain the actions of his selfish daughter using one of the legendary Dragons to cancel her engagement. Your position as sister of the Maou may give you some special privileges, but there is a limit to what can be allowed.”
Venelana-san was glaring lightly at Rias by this point.
I think most of us had known there would be fallout from the way that Rias’s engagement was canceled, but apparently it was much worse than we had thought.
Anger crossed Rias’s face as she went to respond.
“Onii-sama has nothing to–”
“You mean that Sirzech's actions aren't related to you?” Venelana-san cut her off. “Official that is true. However, a servant was given to you by Sirzech’s just before the rating game between you and Riser was announced. Then after you lost, he talked Riser into having a match between you and one of your servants, which led to you being able to cancel the engagement. There was already discontent from those two events, but now that the Three Factions have formed an alliance, there is even more attention on you as the sister of the Maou. You have been placed into a very public position, Rias. You will not have a second chance to act selfishly. You cannot think that something like that will happen again. Do you understand?”
Rias had gone pale at Venelana-san’s words.
She couldn't say anything in response, so she sat back down despite still looking upset.
Venelana-san turned to the rest of us.
“I am sorry that you had to witness a family squabble. But getting back to topic, Issei-san, you will be going through manners lessons while you are here. You will have to experience dealing with nobles and upper society, so it will be very useful for you.”
Ise-kun still looked confused.
“But why is it only for me?”
He glanced at Rias who turned blushed and looked away.
Venelana-san smiled at him.
Then she glanced at Rias and her amile changed slightly before she spoke.
“That is a good point. Rias, is there someone else in your peerage who should be learning manners instead?”
I raised a brow at the question, not getting what Venelana-san was implying by that.
But Rias seemed to understand immediately.
She also seemed annoyed by whatever Venelana-san meant.
“Mother I already told you that wasn’t the case. So Ise is the one who will need to take manners lessons.”
Venelana-san’s eye glimmered with amusement at her daughters reply.
She glanced at Yuki-chan and I before responding to Rias.
“I just wanted to make sure. And Issei-san was the one to question it. I was just getting clarification from you Rias.”
Yuki-chan noticed the glance too.
She glanced at me as if I might be able to explain what exactly Venelana-san was teasing Rias about.
I had my suspicions of what she meant, but I simply gave a small shrug to Yuki-chan.
“So I’m the only one who has to take the manners lessons then.” Ise-lun said while looking glum. “But I’ll do it if B- Rias-sama asks.”
Rias flushed lightly and gave him a small smile.
“It will be fine Ise. They won’t be that bad.”
They absolutely would be for him.
He knew nothing about high society and Ise-kun wasn’t exactly the best student.
“Well that’s settled then. Unless Rias changes her mind Issei-san will be taking lessons during his stay.” Venelana-san said.
Rias gave her a light glare.
“Mother, please drop it so we don’t have to continue with this nonsense.”
Venelana-san chuckled and let the topic drop.
The spotlight on Ise-kun for the dinner seemed to be over as normal conversation started up again at the table.
Ise-kun sighed in relief at surviving the conversation with Rias’s parents.
Asia-chanpatted his arm comfortingly.
Xenovia looked like she pitied him for having to take the extra lessons.
Yuuto-chan smiled at him before answering a question from Venelana-san.
Yuki-chan watched Venelana-san, and Rias for a few moments before going back to eating her food only speaking only when asked something.
Zeoricus-san had noticed that his wife had been prodding at Rias over something but seemed as though he had decided not to get involved.
He was often more perceptive than people gave him credit for, but he also preferred straightforward things and often let subtler battles proceed without interference until they became a real issue.
He began to speak with Gasper-kun, who looked terrified at being spoken too at all.
As I watched everyone as the dinner progressed I wondered to myself what exactly Rias and her mother had spoken about to get Rias that annoyed at Venelana-san suggesting that she might be interest in someone besides Ise-kun.
But I guess I’d have to wait and see if I could figure it out myself.
The rest of the dinner proceeded without any other incidents besides Asia spilling a drink onto the table.
She had apologized profusely until Venelana-san had to tell her to stop.
As we left the dining hall and parted ways with Rias’s parents I walked next to Rias as the peerage went towards our rooms.
She seemed to already know what I was interested in before I said anything.
“Don’t.”
“Ara, Rias, I haven’t even said anything yet.” I said grinning at her.
“I know you Akeno, you were going to ask about what Mother was talking about.”
“You’ve got me. I am curious about what she was referring to.”
Rias sighed and glanced at the rest of the peerage who were walking slightly ahead of us.
“We had a talk while everyone was getting settled into their rooms. She and I were talking about the members of the peerage when she started talking about romance and how most of the girls in the peerage seemed interested in Ise.”
I looked forward to Ise—kun, who was taking to Gasper-kun and Asia-chan.
Xenovia and Yuuto-chan were walking close to them and would join their conversation to make a comment occasionally.
“She’s not wrong. I think he has the attention of every girl in the peerage. I think his dream of having a harem isn’t that far off.”
Rias sighed.
“You’re right. And my mother was badgering me to make sure I secured the head position in it.” Rias narrowed her eyes at me, “and I will be the head wife, Akeno.”
I chuckled.
“Of course Rias. You’ll just have to learn to practice sharing since I’ll be his favorite.”
Rias glared at my smile.
“Anyways.” She said, “Mother also mentioned that she thinks that Ise will have competition over girls in the peerage.”
I gave her an unconvinced look.
“Really? And who does Venelana-san think he would have to compete with?”
Rias chuckled softly.
“Yuki apparently. Apparently, she thinks that some of the girls seem interested in her romantically. She specifically mentioned you and Koneko.”
I paused and glanced at Yuki-chan who was walking alongside Koneko-chan.
The two of them were just behind the others.
“Well Koneko-chan is particularly close to her so I understand thinking that way about her, but I only like to tease Yuki-chan.” I said. “Sure I like to see her reactions and want to draw out more from her, but I don’t know if I think of her that way.”
I paused after speaking.
I realized that I looked forward to teasing Yuki-chan as much as I did Ise-kun.
And my teasing of Ise-kun was how I liked to flirt with him.
Rias stopped my train of thought.
“That’s exactly what I said. Mother also teased me about being interested in her since I was paying so much attention to her. But that is because I am her [King] and she has a complicated past. That is why she was teasing me at dinner.”
“Ara, Rias. Ise-kun will be sad to hear that Yuki-chan has stolen you away from him.” I said smiling wiser again.
“And this is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you about this at first.” Rias said with a groan. “I explained to Mother that Yuki only seemed interested in Ise, and she mentioned that if that was true that it could make things messy.”
She paused before continuing
“Both Dragons and some Kitsune have multiple partners, and both of them can be very territorial regarding them. If that’s the case then it could cause some problems if Yuki and Ise enter a relationship.”
“I didn’t know that Kitsune were that territorial with their lovers. Hmmm… that could be an issue. But Yuki-chan did say she wasn’t interested in Ise-kun.”
“You believe her? I think she was trying to make an excuse to leave when we caught her. Anyways, like I told Mother, we have more to worry about than her hypotheticals and speculations on the romance of my peerage.”
Up ahead Ise-kun shouted, Yuuto-chan chuckled, Asia turned red, and Xenovia san tilted her head in confusion.
Rias sighed.
“I need to make sure they don’t cause a scene. Let’s go.”
She moved forward to catch up with the group and see what Ise-kun had done now.
I stayed behind for a moment.
I looked at Yuki-chan’s back while I thought about what Venelana-san had told Rias.
I thought about the look Yuki-chan had given me at the pool and how she had looked when she had fallen on top of me on Ise-kun’s bed.
It made my chest feel warm and it made me want to see more of her reactions.
I frowned at the thought.
It felt the same as when I had first started to tease Ise-kun in a way that wasn’t just bullying a kohai.
Maybe Venelana-san wasn’t entirely wrong, but I didn’t know exactly what to do with it considering I already had feelings for Ise-kun.
I guess that this was something else I would need to figure out as well.
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