UNDERWORLD – RAVEL PHENEX'S ROOM
The knock on the door came controlled, firm enough to announce presence without forcing entry, and Ravel reacted immediately, already knowing who was on the other side even before confirming. Her body moved quickly over the bed, adjusting her posture as enthusiasm appeared effortlessly. The door opened right after.
"You can come in." Ravel sat up better on the bed, her smile already visible. "I was waiting for you."
Lady Phenex entered without hurry, closing the door behind her while observing her daughter closely enough to notice her state. The level of excitement wasn't subtle, and that said more than any words. She walked to the bed and sat beside her without resistance.
"You seem too confident." Lady Phenex kept her tone calm, but direct. "So I imagine you've already decided what you're going to do."
"It's practically settled already." Ravel leaned her body slightly forward, not hiding her excitement. "You managed to talk to Lady Vanelana, didn't you?"
Lady Phenex didn't respond immediately, just held her gaze for a second before confirming simply.
"I did."
Ravel's smile widened instantly, the reaction coming too fast to be contained, as if that confirmed exactly what she had expected to hear.
"I knew it." She crossed her legs on the bed, maintaining a firm posture. "Then there's no problem. If Lady Gremory didn't refuse… that already opens the path."
Lady Phenex didn't agree.
The pause was short, but enough to interrupt the flow of her daughter's confidence before she could move further.
"She didn't close the path." Lady Phenex kept her tone steady. "But she didn't open it either."
Ravel didn't back down.
"That's already enough." She answered without hesitation. "If she didn't oppose it, then there's no reason to stop it."
"There is." Lady Phenex replied at the same pace. "Rias."
The answer came direct, without softening.
Ravel held her gaze for a moment, absorbing the words before responding, without letting her confidence drop.
"She won't stop it." Ravel rested one of her hands on the bed. "That's logical."
Lady Phenex tilted her head slightly, observing her daughter more closely, as if evaluating the exact point where her conviction started to drift from reality.
"You're treating this like it's a simple negotiation." She crossed her arms lightly. "It's not."
"It's not complicated either." Ravel replied without losing rhythm. "I'm offering an advantage."
Her words came firm.
Convicted.
"I'm a Phenex." She kept her gaze fixed. "I have political value, I have status… and now I have a clear reason to change sides."
Lady Phenex didn't deny it.
But she didn't reinforce it either.
"That's true." She replied without changing tone. "But it's not the only factor."
Ravel frowned slightly, not out of doubt, but because she didn't accept that as enough to create a real problem.
"What could weigh more than that?" She kept her tone direct. "He defeated Riser. He already broke the link with our family. That only reinforces the move."
"Not for Rias." Lady Phenex replied immediately.
"What do you mean not?" Ravel leaned slightly forward, keeping her gaze fixed on her mother. "She already got what she wanted… the contract ended."
"Exactly because of that." Lady Phenex kept her tone steady. "Rias hated that contract from the start, hated the idea of being forced to marry someone she didn't choose, and that was never a secret to anyone."
Ravel frowned slightly, but didn't retreat.
"But now it's different." She crossed her arms, organizing her reasoning. "It's not an imposed marriage anymore… it's me choosing."
"For you, it's a choice." Lady Phenex replied without changing pace. "For her… it's still a contract coming from the same family that tried to bind her."
Ravel opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated for a second before continuing.
"But I'm not the one being imposed." She kept her tone firm. "It's me and Gasper… it's completely different."
Lady Phenex didn't respond right away.
'Even Lucifer-sama interfered to break that contract…' the thought came clean, without affecting her expression. 'And you think she'll accept another one coming from us…'
She kept her gaze on her daughter for another second before speaking again.
"You're ignoring the weight of what happened." She crossed her arms lightly. "Rias won't easily accept anything that reminds her of that scenario."
Ravel didn't back down.
"She might not like it." She tilted her head slightly. "But she can't stop it."
Lady Phenex remained silent for a moment, analyzing her daughter directly.
'Ravel… how can you be so naive…' the thought came directly. 'At the end of the Rating Game it was already clear… that dhampir isn't a simple servant…'
Ravel noticed the look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are you doubting me?"
"No." Lady Phenex replied in the same steady tone. "I just think she won't want to formalize a marriage contract with our family… even if it's with a servant."
The pause was short.
But direct.
"It's better for us to focus on getting you into his peerage."
Ravel stayed silent for a second, reorganizing her line of thought before responding, and this time the answer came more aligned.
"You're right." She nodded slightly, without losing confidence. "If I enter his peerage… the rest comes after."
Lady Phenex didn't interrupt.
Ravel continued.
"And once I'm inside…" She rested one hand on the bed, her smile returning. "I can get closer to him without interference."
The pause was minimal.
But loaded.
"I can make him choose me."
Lady Phenex didn't react immediately, keeping her gaze on her while absorbing the intent behind the words.
"It won't be simple." She finally replied. "Rias won't make it easy."
"I don't need her to make it easy." Ravel answered without hesitation. "I just need an opportunity."
Lady Phenex remained silent for a moment, evaluating her daughter's conviction without breaking her own composure.
"I'll help you." She said at last. "But you need to understand that you're entering a space where someone already exists."
Ravel frowned slightly, not fully understanding the statement, keeping her gaze fixed on her mother as she tried to process it within her own scenario.
"What do you mean… someone?" She tilted her head slightly. "Are you talking about Rias?"
"Yes." Lady Phenex replied in the same tone. "They may already have a relationship… or they're very close to starting one."
Ravel didn't react with resistance.
Her answer came simple.
"I don't see a problem." She shrugged, her confidence intact. "That's normal."
The pause was short.
But direct.
"Onii-sama had several." Ravel continued without hesitation. "My father too."
Lady Phenex didn't interrupt.
"That was never an obstacle." Ravel kept her gaze firm. "So it won't be now."
"Arranged marriage was also common." Lady Phenex replied immediately. "And you know what happened."
Ravel didn't retreat.
Her words came without hesitation.
"Mother… just trust me." She leaned slightly forward, keeping her gaze fixed. "I'll make it happen."
"Then don't forget who you are." Lady Phenex kept her tone firm. "You are a Phenex… you don't humiliate yourself for anyone."
Ravel nodded instantly, without looking away.
"I won't, mother." She kept her gaze firm, without any wavering. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
The pause was short, but her posture didn't change.
"I will protect this family."
Lady Phenex kept her gaze on her for a moment, evaluating without responding immediately.
'…Just like me.'
She let out a slow breath before answering.
"Then don't fail."
Ravel didn't look away.
"I won't fail." The answer came without hesitation, maintaining the same level of firmness. "I'll make it work."
Lady Phenex nodded slightly, accepting the answer without extending it, because at that point there was no more need to correct or restrain.
The decision was already aligned.
And this time, both of them were on the same side.
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