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"Sigh..."
Witnessing the black-haired short-haired girl's expression change multiple times within a single second due to his mother's single statement, even with Sirzechs's personality he couldn't help facepalming with a helpless wry smile.
"Mom, please don't phrase things so strangely."
"Hmm? Strange?"
Venelana made a seemingly belated "eh" sound, somewhat suspiciously cutely placing her index finger on her lips as she tilted her head.
What was strange? She said she was Bokue's [Queen]. Was there a problem with that?
Wasn't she?
"...Anyway, it's not what you're thinking, Sona-san."
The young red-haired Maou's face still carried an awkward smile as he directed his gaze toward Sona Sitri at the living room entrance.
Sirzechs did trust there was definitely nothing messy between his mother and Bokue. After all, this entire time he'd kept Grayfia at home handling all Gremory household matters large and small—naturally including caring for his mother's meals and daily life.
If Grayfia had discovered any abnormalities, she'd definitely tell him.
But so far, Grayfia kept telling him everything was normal. So obviously what Sona was imagining was absolutely impossible.
"Mmm... yes, I know..."
Sona nodded vigorously, trying to maintain a calm expression. But her uncertain, doubting eyes had long completely betrayed her inner true thoughts.
After all, really hard not to care about this!
First, within the Underworld's peerage system, [Kings] and [Queens] maintaining pure friendship or comradeship were mostly same-gender. Like her and Tsubaki Shinra, plus Rias and Akeno Himejima.
As for opposite-gender [Kings] and [Queens] maintaining pure comrade relationships—so far the only one she knew was Sirzechs and Grayfia.
Though Grayfia was Sirzechs's [Queen], their relationship was purely comrades without romantic feelings.
Really just this one pair. No more.
Basically in other peerages, if [King] and [Queen] were opposite genders, then their relationship would be: daytime King and Queen, nighttime in bed still King and Queen—possibly playing even wilder.
As someone born into the former Great King Bael household who later married into the Gremory family, Venelana obviously couldn't possibly not understand this.
Yet she'd now personally stated the fact she was Bokue's [Queen].
This... first, Venelana was Rias's mother. Rias and Bokue had that kind of relationship. If Venelana were simultaneously Bokue's [Queen], wouldn't that be...??
Just thinking slightly, Sona felt her head starting to smoke.
At least her own family relationships were relatively healthy. So regarding those pink rumors among the previous seventy-two pillar high-class devil nobility, Sona had only heard about them.
Never expected today would actually...
"Ah, forgot to mention!"
Seeing the black-haired short-haired girl's expression growing increasingly strange, Venelana leisurely smiled and wagged her index finger.
"Actually, I originally didn't want to do this either. But at that time, almost all the girls wanted to become our Bokue's [Queen]. To avoid conflicts within the harem... mmm, I mean peerage—so I could only be the bad person, temporarily managing the Queen position for now."
Eh? So that's what it was?
Hearing this, Sona instinctively turned to glance at the living room full of girls, plus the young man like a single green leaf amid blooming flowers surrounded by all these girls.
Then connected to Rias's earlier statement when she'd first arrived: "Not quite like that."
Could these girls indeed not all be Rias's newly recruited servants, but rather all Bokue's...?
Thinking this way seemed fine.
After all, aside from serving as combat power, the Queen's most important role was existing as someone to hold down the fort when the King was absent—speaking words that all other servants would trust. That was most crucial.
Obviously Venelana fit this requirement perfectly.
Moreover, just temporarily safekeeping. Presumably after Rias's abilities grew sufficient to command respect, it would be returned...
"Everyone~ Ciallo!"
Just as Sona had barely calmed her stirred-up emotions, a familiar girl's voice suddenly came from behind—near the hallway entrance—plus sounds of the main door opening made the black-haired short-haired girl's entire body jolt sharply.
She suddenly recalled that when Venelana-obasama first appeared, she'd indeed said: "If asking about Serafall-chan—she's probably already arrived at this school, currently outside looking everywhere for you, Sona~" But she'd been distracted by subsequent words.
Plus, this voice unmistakably was—
Didn't even need turning to confirm. The next second, a certain black-haired twin-tailed girl dressed as a magical girl—holding a star wand like she'd escaped from some entertainment agency—charged in from outside, immediately giving Sona a massive hug from behind.
Oof!
Though Sona had mentally prepared, this sudden impact still nearly made her stumble forward.
"Onee-sama..."
Sona turned her head somewhat helplessly. What met her eyes was Serafall's face written all over with "cute."
Undoubtedly, Serafall was indeed very cute. Just from external appearance, if not mentioning the two's ages and relationship, most people would think Sona was the older sister while Serafall was the younger.
"Oh right, right! I heard during this time you kept asking Rias-chan about the Three Factions conference date, even saying you'd request leave on conference day. Want to avoid your big sister that much?"
While resting her chin on her sister's shoulder from behind, Serafall extended her finger to lightly poke her sister's cheek.
"Eh? Well... I wouldn't say that..."
Completely not expecting her sister to know about this, Sona immediately panicked.
"Mou~ Sona makes her sister very sad."
As if genuinely hurt by her sister's actions, Serafall blinked and forcibly squeezed out two tears.
This made Sona panic even more.
"About this... I'll explain later. Onee-sama, please don't..."
"Mmm mmm, your sister understands."
Serafall theatrically wiped away tears before clearing her throat lightly.
"After all, there's more important business to announce."
More important business?
Sona froze slightly. She'd already prepared for her sister to cause an uncontrollable scene. Yet why this sudden pivot to other matters?
Plus, what matter could make her sister so easily abandon continued chaos?
Before Sona could figure this out, Serafall suddenly released her embrace and clapped toward the entrance behind her.
"Alright, alright, come in~"
Two seconds later, under everyone's watching gazes in the living room, a Phoenix girl wearing Saikai Academy uniform with golden Audi twin-tails appeared at the living room entrance.
"...Ravel??"
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