RESERVED ROOM – GREMORY MANSION
"Tomorrow a new phase of my life begins." Gasper kept his gaze on his own hands, his fingers moving slightly as he evaluated his own body. "High-class Devil… Evil Pieces."
His gaze didn't change, but the realization was inevitable, because that wasn't just power, it was real change, and even so, his body remained the same, small, too light for what he already was inside, creating a contrast that didn't go unnoticed.
'These hands… are still small… will I grow someday?' The thought came directly, without filter, and this time it wasn't dismissed immediately, because there was something there he couldn't completely ignore.
The fear didn't come as panic, but as a silent realization that time for him might not work the same as for others, and the idea of remaining like this, trapped in a child's body while everything around him changed, created a discomfort strong enough not to be ignored. He didn't need external confirmation to understand what a dhampir was, but he also had no guarantees about how far that went, and that lack of answer was what truly weighed on him at that moment.
The image of himself in the future didn't come fully, but the possibility of no physical change at all became clear enough to generate resistance, because strength and evolution wouldn't fully compensate for a limitation that affected how he was seen, and more than that, how he could act in certain situations. Even so, he didn't allow himself to go too deep down that path, because he knew there was no immediate answer for something like that.
He lightly closed his hand, interrupting his own thoughts before they could take up more space than they should, and the decision came simple, direct, without room for doubt.
'No point thinking about that now… focus on getting stronger… that's what matters.'
The sound of footsteps in the hallway broke the silence, and Gasper raised his gaze at the same instant, already recognizing the pattern before the door even opened, his body becoming alert as he anticipated who it was. The handle turned without hesitation and the door opened right after, confirming his read before any words.
'Rias.'
She entered and locked the door behind her without saying anything, the direct movement already making her intention clear as she took a few steps into the room. His gaze dropped for a moment when he noticed the red lingerie, and the reaction came automatically, with no effort to hide it.
'What a hot girl.'
Rias didn't stop, going straight to the bed and climbing onto it naturally, keeping her gaze fixed on him as she settled in without hurry, as if that was the only place she intended to be at that moment. Her posture didn't carry doubt, only decision.
"Gasper-kun."
Gasper didn't look away, but kept his tone steady.
"Aren't you afraid your mother will scold you?"
Rias laughed softly, relaxing on the bed without losing eye contact.
"After lunch… I think it was pretty clear she approves of our relationship."
His gaze returned to her body for a second before rising again, and this time there was no attempt to hide the analysis.
"Do you like it?" Rias tilted her head slightly, keeping a teasing tone.
"Yes." Gasper answered without hesitation. "But I thought you only slept naked."
Rias smiled to the side, her reaction coming stronger than before as she moved closer on the bed.
"Today I didn't come to sleep." She kept her gaze on him, without backing down. "If you want… you can rip it off."
Gasper didn't respond immediately, but the read came too clear to ignore.
'Devils can be everything… except innocent.'
Rias laughed again, satisfied with his reaction as she lay down beside him, maintaining proximity without needing to force contact, as if that was already natural between them. The atmosphere didn't fade, it just shifted direction.
"Tomorrow is your big day." She turned her face slightly toward him. "Are you worried?"
"No." Gasper answered without hesitation. "It's an honor… that I deserve."
Rias nodded slightly, accepting the answer without questioning, before shifting the focus to something more direct.
"Ravel is going to come to me tomorrow." She kept her tone firm. "What do you want me to do?"
Gasper didn't answer right away, organizing the information before speaking, without losing control of his posture.
"Has she already left Riser's peerage?"
"I don't know yet." Rias answered in the same rhythm. "But maybe… being his sister, that should just be a formality."
The pause was short, but the thought came directly.
'Turning that idiot's sister into my servant… on the same day as my promotion… this will be interesting.'
"What are you thinking?" Rias tilted her head slightly, watching the change in his gaze.
"Nothing much." Gasper answered in the same tone. "You can tell her I accept… as my servant."
Rias didn't take long to react.
"My mother said she wants to be your queen."
Gasper let out a light sigh, without changing his posture.
"She can consider herself lucky if she becomes a bishop." He kept his gaze on her. "Queen… not happening."
Rias didn't argue.
But the slight smile made it clear she approved.
Rias kept her gaze steady for a moment, the smile carrying something deeper than simple approval, because the idea of Ravel entering that scenario wasn't neutral for her, and the memory of what she had lived came back effortlessly, bringing along the irritation that wasn't tied to insecurity, but to the meaning behind that proposal. For her, it wasn't about direct competition, it was about someone trying to repeat a pattern she herself had broken by force.
The idea of an arranged marriage coming from the same family wasn't something she could ignore, even with the context being different, and that made Ravel's presence more uncomfortable than dangerous, because it wasn't about losing space, it was about someone crossing a line she considered too personal to be treated as strategy. Her smile didn't disappear, but the intention behind it made it clear that wouldn't be accepted in the simple way it seemed.
She didn't see herself at a disadvantage, neither in position nor presence, and the comparison didn't even exist in her mind, because she knew exactly the impact she had and the place she occupied, but that didn't cancel the fact that she wouldn't tolerate someone trying to turn what she built into something imposed or negotiated. Her decision wasn't defensive, it was direct, and the way she held his gaze showed that wouldn't be discussed as something small.
Gasper noticed.
"Did you like your evil smile?" He kept his tone light, but direct, without looking away.
Rias laughed softly, the mood shifting at the same instant, the tension being absorbed without completely disappearing.
"I like that you notice other qualities in me besides my body." She tilted her head slightly, keeping the smile.
"But I also love your body." Gasper answered without hesitation, maintaining proximity.
"I know… but you can—" Rias started, but didn't finish.
Gasper didn't wait.
He held her chin and pulled her into a direct kiss, cutting her speech in half and ending the line of thought with action, while Rias didn't pull away, responding at the same instant.
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