Some time later…
The large double doors of the meeting room opened silently.
Alear entered calmly, now fully dressed in attire suitable for formal occasions. His hair was still slightly damp from his recent bath, combed back elegantly. He wore a tailored suit that accentuated his upright posture and the well-defined physique he had regained over the course of the week. The impeccable white shirt contrasted with the black jacket, while the understated tie completed the appearance of a true demonic lord.
As soon as he entered, he found two figures waiting.
Serafall was sprawled in her usual armchair, legs crossed carelessly, one of her high ponytails swaying as she nibbled on the tip of a hot-pink painted nail. Upon seeing him come in, she lifted her face with an exaggerated pout.
"Ale-chan took waaaay too long!" she complained, her voice dripping with childish drama. "I was this close to sending Lotte to drag you out of the bath by your hair, you know? Muuu…"
Alear paused at the threshold of the room for a second, raising an eyebrow.
"I could hardly meet my future wife covered in sweat-soaked clothes and reeking of physical exertion…" he replied, his voice low and perfectly calm. "That would be… indelicate."
Serafall blinked once. Twice. Then her cheeks exploded into a shade of pink that rivaled his eyes. She pressed both hands to her face, letting out a muffled squeal that was half excitement, half feigned embarrassment.
"F-future wife?! Ale-chan said 'future wife'! On purpose! Without being forced!" She threw herself back in the armchair, kicking her feet in the air like a teenager in a cuteness overload. "Kyaaa! My heart! My heart is going to explode!"
Paying no mind to the dramatic display, Alear — already accustomed to her outbursts — turned his gaze to the other occupant of the room.
Seated in the opposite armchair, legs elegantly crossed and a teacup balanced delicately between her long, slender fingers, was Venelana Gremory.
She was a breathtaking mature beauty. Her hair was a near-luminous light brown, falling in soft, silky strands that framed her face with natural elegance. Her features were delicate and perfectly harmonious, blending youth and maturity in ideal proportion. Her violet eyes were perhaps the most mesmerizing aspect — clear and deep at the same time, possessing a glassy sheen reminiscent of polished amethysts under soft light. They held a rare mixture of maternal tenderness and silent authority, a gaze capable of comforting with warmth or commanding absolute respect without ever raising her voice. Her lips were full and naturally well-defined, touched with a soft rose lipstick. Her skin was fair, smooth, and flawless, with a soft, luminous quality reminiscent of porcelain.
The dress she wore was formal and impeccably elegant, attire befitting the Lady of the Gremory Clan. Made of a noble fabric — perhaps thick silk or refined satin in a warm brown tone — it followed her curves with almost devotional precision. The neckline, moderately deep, formed a gentle "V" that framed the valley between her breasts, which, it must be said, were enormous: full, heavy, and perfectly shaped, projecting naturally beneath the fabric, creating a generous, soft curve that rose and fell with her calm breathing. There was an almost palpable sense of softness and warmth just from looking, as though the fabric itself were being gently strained by that abundance…
At that moment, he felt particularly grateful for possessing Mystic Eyes with extraordinary visual acuity. Without even turning his head, he could use his peripheral vision to discreetly observe the impressive pair of breasts that dominated her silhouette. They were absurdly voluminous, almost on the same level as Minamoto no Raikou's — which, in itself, was already noteworthy.
Hm… alright, perhaps that was a little perverted on his part. But it wasn't as if he was trying to deny it. In a way, that inclination suited his new demonic nature; it seemed lust had become the dominant "sin" in this life. Still, it wasn't something that controlled him — merely an occasional impulse, firmly reined in by his own will.
In the end, he simply let the thought pass naturally, like someone who recognizes a temptation, briefly appreciates it… and moves on without making a big deal out of it. After all, even a demon needed to maintain at least a minimum of dignity.
On the other hand, Venelana kept her violet eyes fixed on him, appraising him with a mixture of genuine curiosity and unabashed appreciation. Her full lips curved into a slow, perfectly polite smile.
Alear held her gaze for a second, then inclined his head in the slightest bow.
"You must be Miss Gremory, I presume…?"
Venelana blinked once, surprised. She blinked again, as if confirming she had heard correctly. Then her smile bloomed, soft and warm, yet carrying a feline trace of cunning beneath the gentleness.
"Oh?" she murmured, setting the porcelain teacup down on the saucer with an almost musical clink. "Not 'madame,' not 'lady'… how refreshing. Those words always make me feel as though I've aged two centuries in one go…"
She turned her eyes back to him, assessing him openly, making no attempt to hide her interest.
"Yes, you are correct, Lord Gäap and Häagenti. I am Venelana Gremory. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
"The pleasure is entirely mine…" Alear nodded once, walking to the armchair reserved for him — the usual one, facing the door with a privileged view of the entire room. "And please, feel free to call me Alear. Formal titles still… don't quite suit me yet. Especially that double one. It's quite recent…"
Venelana's laugh came low and soft, a warm sound that seemed to wrap the room like velvet.
"I can imagine. Awakening after years of absence only to discover you've inherited two noble houses… both extinct… would be disorienting enough for anyone…"
She rested her chin lightly on her hand — an elegant yet casual gesture — her eyes sparkling with an almost maternal curiosity tinged with playful mischief.
"But add to that a fiancée who also happens to be one of the Four Great Satans…" Her gaze slid sideways, landing with gentle malice on Serafall, who still seemed shaken from her earlier excitement. "Well… that turns 'busy' into quite the modest word, wouldn't you say?"
Venelana laughed softly again, a warm, velvety sound that seemed to caress the air.
Serafall huffed, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks.
"Hey! Don't talk like I'm some kind of burden, Venelana-chan! Ale-chan loves being my fiancé, right Ale-chan? Right?"
"Most of the time…"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Venelana covered her mouth with delicate fingers, muffling a giggle that escaped like champagne bubbles.
"Oh my…" she murmured, her violet eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. "You two are adorable together. A dangerous combination of aristocratic coolness and pure sugar explosion…"
She straightened in her chair, the movement causing the dress fabric to whisper against her skin and accentuating even further the generous curve of her breasts, which rose and fell with her controlled breathing. The deep neckline caught the light, creating soft shadows that seemed deliberately drawn to mesmerize any gaze.
"But, returning to the reason for my visit…" She shifted her tone skillfully, slightly more serious, though the smile never fully disappeared. "I came on behalf of the Gremory family to discuss a matter that, unfortunately, can no longer be ignored…"
She lifted the teacup once more, taking a slow sip before setting it down with millimeter precision.
"The territory that once belonged to House Gäap… has been under Gremory administration for nearly two centuries. We have invested heavily in it; in fact, at least eighty percent of my family's annual profit comes from that territory. Given the importance of the matter, we had to resort to the last available option — arranging a meeting through Serafall-sama in order to speak with you…"
"My husband is going mad at the possibility of losing it; it would drive the Gremory family to bankruptcy… He wanted to come personally for more in-depth negotiations, but I ended up taking the lead in the situation, since he is not currently in a condition to make political decisions. He is easily swayed by emotion. I hope you don't mind negotiating with me, Alear…"
Alear rested his chin on his hand, elbow resting naturally on the arm of the chair. His magenta-pink eyes settled on Venelana with an almost lazy calm. Then he smiled.
"I don't mind at all." He tilted his head slightly, regarding her like someone appreciating a work of art. "In fact, I find the situation far more pleasant this way. Talking to a beautiful woman is definitely preferable to negotiating with a dour older man…"
For a brief instant, silence hung in the room.
Then Venelana smiled.
It wasn't exaggerated or theatrical; it was soft, satisfied, almost feline. Her delicate fingers touched the rim of the teacup again as she tilted her head slightly.
"Negotiations are far more productive when both parties can speak… comfortably. So I'm glad you feel comfortable with me handling the Gremory family's side of the discussion…"
Her voice sounded light, but there was a strange glint in her violet eyes.
Internally, she felt satisfied. It had been worth dressing up a little more today. When she decided to come personally to this meeting, she had carefully considered every detail: the chosen dress, the subtle perfume, the hairstyle that fell naturally over her shoulders… everything planned with precision. Seduction, after all, had always been as valid a political tool as diplomacy or military power.
And although the young devil before her had been extremely polite so far, impeccably controlled, she hadn't failed to notice the small signs. He hadn't stared blatantly at her cleavage, not once. But that didn't mean he was immune. For an instant, something flickered in his gaze: brief, almost imperceptible, a tiny spark of interest before it hid again behind that aristocratic calm.
Venelana was very familiar with that kind of reaction.
He was, after all, just an adolescent…
She set the teacup down gently on the saucer.
Serafall was still sulking in her armchair, arms crossed and cheeks puffed like an indignant squirrel. But when Venelana finished speaking, something in the room's atmosphere shifted almost imperceptibly.
The air grew colder, charged with tension.
She tilted her head slightly and, when she opened her eyes again, the childish sparkle had vanished.
"Well… well…" she began, voice firm, eyes sliding toward Venelana. "Since the conversation suddenly turned serious and you went straight to the point, I'll do the same. I arranged this meeting because it was a way to repay a favor I owed Sirzechs. Even so… I am still Ale-chan's fiancée. I want to make that very clear: even though I helped make this meeting possible, I will not allow anyone to take advantage of him. So, since we're being direct in this meeting, I want to hear it straight from you: what is the Gremory family's proposal?"
Although no one around could perceive it, the reason behind her firmness was far from sentimentalism or mere whim. For her, that stance was guided by cold, pragmatic analysis. The magenta-haired young man possessed extraordinary political value — something few figures in the demonic underworld could match. Protecting that youth, therefore, was not merely a personal or impulsive gesture. Given her position and the current circumstances, it was a necessity. Alear was not only her fiancé; he had become a political piece of immense relevance. His potential as a devil was terrifyingly high, considered the individual with the greatest likelihood of one day reaching the level of a Satan.
Moreover, he possessed three characteristics inherited from distinct noble houses — something extremely rare — combined with the power of a Longinus, a divine artifact whose value alone was already incalculable. In light of that, remaining by his side was not only consistent with her role as his future wife, but a decision she had made from the moment she found him awake that day.
Alear didn't even move when he noticed Serafall's protective stance. In fact, he felt a slight sense of relief upon realizing that, in this kind of delicate situation, there was at least one person clearly on his side. He had only learned the basics of politics in recent days — nothing truly deep. Still, his mind was sharp enough to navigate those turbulent waters without needing to master every political trick of demonic society…
As he observed the conversation unfold, his thoughts moved quickly. He already had a fairly clear idea of the proposal the Gremory family would likely present and, on the way to this meeting, had reflected on some conditions he could impose if negotiations progressed. Now that it was evident the Gremory would do practically anything to retain at least part of the profits from his territory, it became clear to him that they were in a far more desperate position than they were trying to show.
That realization made everything even more interesting in his eyes. Observing Venelana more closely, Alear couldn't help but notice the small details: the impeccable way she had prepared herself, the calculated elegance of her posture, the almost imperceptible subtlety of her gestures. To someone as perceptive as he was, it clearly looked like a refined attempt to shape the atmosphere of the meeting — perhaps even a subtle form of political seduction.
Considering that, in this alternate reality, devils were far more faithful to their sinful nature than in the version depicted in the "anime," he had no difficulty imagining how far certain negotiations could go. In his pragmatic assessment, the mature woman before him would likely not hesitate to use any resource available to achieve her goal. If sharing his bed were the necessary price to secure advantages for her family, it was entirely possible she would accept calmly — perhaps even with a degree of enthusiasm — especially considering his current appearance and status…
Being honest with himself, he also doubted her husband would consider such a thing particularly relevant.
From the little he had learned about demonic society, it was not uncommon for some devils to share their wives in exchange for favors, influence, or other benefits — something that didn't seem as absurd in that world as it would in the human one. It was a society where power, desire, and ambition frequently walked hand in hand, feeding an atmosphere of institutionalized lust and debauchery…
Well, the idea of men not caring if their own wives slept with others was, in Alear's eyes, deeply repulsive. It simply didn't align with how he viewed relationships or possession. He was, by nature, extremely possessive of what he considered his, and in his mind, something that belonged to him was not meant to be shared with anyone.
Even understanding that noble devil culture was far more permissive and pragmatic in such matters, Alear couldn't help but feel a certain contempt for men who accepted such arrangements so easily. To him, it seemed more like weakness than strategy. If someone possessed something valuable, the natural thing was to protect it, not offer it to others as bargaining currency.
Still, there was a curious contradiction within him. While he found the idea of sharing what was his repugnant, the opposite perspective — taking for himself what belonged to others — held a strangely stimulating attraction. The notion of conquering or even "stealing" something another man valued awakened a certain competitive, predatory instinct within him — something that, in a way, seemed to fit perfectly with the arrogant and domineering nature of devils themselves.
For a brief moment, the more malicious part of his mind even wondered whether he shouldn't simply let the situation take that course and sleep with Venelana to see how far it could go. Externally, however, he maintained his calm, controlled expression. Before any fantasy or provocation, this was still a negotiation — and he intended to emerge from it in the most advantageous position possible…
While he was lost in various thoughts, Venelana smiled at Serafall's question. She brought the teacup to her lips once more, taking a small sip before gently setting it down on the saucer.
The sound of porcelain echoed softly.
"Naturally," she replied, her voice smooth as silk, her violet eyes meeting Serafall's with absolute calm. "It would be strange if you didn't react this way. You are his fiancée… and also one of the rulers of the Underworld. It would be concerning if you weren't protecting your interests. But rest assured, I didn't come here to take advantage of anyone…"
A short pause.
Her smile deepened slightly.
"Quite the contrary." She crossed her legs elegantly once more, the dress fabric settling over her curves in a way that naturally drew attention, though she seemed unconcerned as she continued. "I came to propose something that can be… quite advantageous for all parties involved."
Serafall narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm?"
Alear remained silent, simply observing.
Venelana then interlaced her fingers in her lap.
"The current situation is simple…" she began. "The territory of the former House Gäap legally belongs to you, Alear. That has never been in question. But at the same time… the Gremory family has administered that territory for nearly two hundred years. Infrastructure, commerce, contracts, political agreements with other demonic houses… everything was developed under our management…"
"As I said earlier, abruptly removing that territory from Gremory administration would cause… a rather unpleasant economic chain reaction."
Serafall murmured:
"Bankruptcy."
Venelana nodded.
"Yes."
Then she raised one delicate finger.
"That is why… my proposal is quite simple." Her violet eyes glimmered faintly. "Instead of fighting over this territory… why not turn it into something shared?"
Serafall blinked.
"Shared?"
Venelana nodded elegantly.
"A formal partnership between House Gäap-Häagenti and the Gremory family." She looked directly at Alear. "Territorial ownership remains yours. But administration stays with us."
Her lips curved slightly.
"In exchange…" She raised two fingers. "A majority share of the annual profits will go to you… Fifty-five percent of the annual profit to House Gäap-Häagenti. Forty-five percent to the Gremory family. What do you think…?"
Alear didn't answer immediately. He simply rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and brought his fingers to his chin, eyes fixed on Venelana as he processed the proposal.
The silence stretched for a few seconds.
Then he shifted his gaze slightly.
"Serafall." His voice was calm.
Serafall, who had been watching Venelana like a wary cat eyeing another near its food bowl, blinked when called.
"Hm?"
Alear tilted his head a little and asked calmly, "What do you think?"
Serafall blinked twice; for an instant she seemed surprised that he actually asked her opinion. Then she crossed her arms, sinking a bit deeper into the armchair while thinking.
"Hmm…" She swung one leg. "Well… being completely honest?"
She raised one finger.
"It's a very good deal."
Venelana kept her smile, but her eyes discreetly turned toward Serafall.
Serafall continued:
"You would retain full sovereignty over the territory, you wouldn't have to deal with two centuries' worth of contracts, infrastructure, economic bureaucracy, and political agreements… and you would still receive more than half the profit. Basically, you would sit back and collect money while the Gremory handle all the boring work. From a political standpoint… it's an excellent deal…"
Alear listened without interrupting, then slowly turned his eyes back to Venelana. His gaze traveled over her figure from top to bottom with calm analysis.
Then he spoke calmly:
"Even so, I believe accepting this deal would be somewhat disadvantageous. That territory has sustained a single family for nearly two hundred years. And not just any family — I've heard the Gremory are one of the richest and most influential houses in the Underworld. If a single territory was able to fuel that level of growth for two centuries… then we're likely talking about one of the most profitable regions in the entire Underworld. That means any noble house would be willing to offer something far better to enter such a partnership… especially those opposed to the Gremory…"
Now the silence grew heavier.
Serafall let a small, amused smile appear.
Venelana frowned for the first time. Internally, however, her mind had already reached a clear conclusion. The young man before her was far more intelligent than he appeared at first glance. He not only understood the true value of that territory to the Gremory family, but had also almost instantly realized they were not in an equal negotiating position.
The words he had spoken moments earlier had not been casual. On the contrary, they were carefully chosen. To her, it felt like a calculated maneuver: an elegant way of making it clear that he fully understood the economic importance of the territory — and, more importantly, the delicate situation the Gremory family was in. In other words, he was subtly reminding everyone who truly held the power balance at that negotiation table…
Realizing this, her heart beat a little faster, caught in a strange mix of irritation and admiration. It was frustrating to be placed in such a position by someone so young, yet at the same time impossible to ignore how impressive it was. After all, this boy had awakened from a long state of unconsciousness only a week ago — and yet he was already demonstrating analytical ability and political intelligence far beyond what anyone would expect.
Well… that made things far more… exciting.
She recomposed herself instantly, leaning slightly forward in the armchair. The movement was deliberate, causing the dress's neckline to open just a little more, revealing more of the creamy skin and the deep valley between her voluptuous breasts, which looked even more tempting under the filtered light from the stained glass.
"Ah, you're right. There are many families who would love to do business with you." She spoke slowly, voice low and velvety, carrying a tone that blended business with something more intimate. Her violet eyes gleamed, locked on his, as a subtle smile curved her perfect lips. "But… not all of them would be willing to offer something… truly valuable in return."
Her body leaned forward just a little more. The neckline now clearly revealed more of the fair skin between her full breasts.
"The Gremory family, on the other hand…" Her eyes flashed. "…is perfectly willing to make this deal much more beneficial for you…"
Serafall immediately frowned.
Her eyes briefly dropped to Venelana's cleavage before returning to her face. A second later, they dropped again, as if confirming an obvious suspicion. Silently, she crossed her arms.
This woman is flirting.
It wasn't exactly jealousy she felt upon realizing it. She wasn't particularly possessive in that regard, and normally wouldn't mind something so trivial. Still, that didn't mean she was naive. Quite the opposite — she knew perfectly well the kind of influence a mature, elegant, and extremely attractive woman could exert over a young man.
And Alear was still, technically, a young devil with hormones running high.
That detail alone already made the situation somewhat… delicate in her eyes. Especially considering devils were creatures naturally inclined to follow their desires. Serafall knew Alear was intelligent, but she also knew intelligence didn't make anyone completely immune to certain kinds of provocation. So although her expression remained relatively calm, her gaze on Venelana gained a faint edge of vigilance — as though silently making it clear she had no intention of ignoring what was happening.
Fortunately, Alear didn't seem the least bit affected.
He held Venelana's gaze for a moment… then spoke with his usual calm: "Since you're so willing to make things beneficial for me, in that case… I want seventy percent…"
Silence fell over the room again.
Venelana blinked.
Serafall blinked.
He continued as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Seventy percent of the profits to House Gäap-Häagenti." He raised one finger. "Thirty percent to the Gremory family, to be considered a fixed payment for administration. But don't worry — the profit you receive will be net; I will cover the costs. What do you think? That is my condition for accepting cooperation. If not, I will use my political means and take the entire territory for myself — and you can try to save your family from bankruptcy…"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Heavy enough that even the faint clink of porcelain on the saucer sounded too loud.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. Venelana remained motionless, violet eyes fixed on Alear as she absorbed every word. Behind her elegant, controlled expression, her mind was already working at maximum speed. If she accepted those terms, the Gremory family would go from being the dominant administrator of the territory to something much closer to a simple contracted manager, operating on an extremely slim profit margin.
But did they really have another choice?
The young man's calm words had made one thing very clear. This was not an open proposal for lengthy negotiations. It was a condition presented politely yet firmly. He had drawn a line and seemed perfectly comfortable holding it. She quickly realized that pressuring him with mere arguments or diplomacy would hardly change his stance.
At the same time, she knew very well the nature of devils… and the rather unconventional ways certain negotiations could take in the Underworld. In other circumstances, if Serafall were not present, the situation might have been very different. It wouldn't be absurd to imagine the same conversation taking place while she knelt beside his chair, keeping the young devil… properly satisfied with her mouth while they discussed more favorable terms. Among noble devils, that kind of "persuasion" was not exactly uncommon. However, with his fiancée's watchful eyes in the room, she knew any strategy of that sort would have to remain merely a passing thought…
While Venelana remained silent, immersed in her own thoughts about the presented proposal, Serafall watched everything closely from the other side of the room. Externally she maintained a calm, composed expression, but inside she was almost laughing at the situation. There was something strangely satisfying about seeing Venelana — one of the most feared and respected political figures in the entire Underworld — struggling to handle a younger man.
In a way, it was almost poetic. The Gremory matriarch was experiencing firsthand exactly what Serafall had dealt with over the past week. Negotiating or discussing any political matter with her future husband was surprisingly complicated. Not because he was aggressive or arrogant, but because he seemed to perceive every detail of the situation with irritating clarity.
Sometimes she had the impression he possessed some kind of sixth sense for these things. It was as if he could instantly grasp the intentions behind words, evaluate all possibilities, and choose the best course of action almost instinctively…
After a few moments of silence, Venelana finally sighed softly. Then she raised her eyes again.
"…You really aren't easy to please, Alear."
Her voice remained soft, but now there was a clearer weight behind the words. She rested her elbow on the arm of the chair and brought two delicate fingers to her temple, as though mentally reorganizing numbers and consequences…
"Seventy percent." She repeated slowly. "That would reduce the Gremory family's margin to an… extremely delicate point. Even if you covered all operational costs, we would still be managing a gigantic infrastructure with a much smaller share than what currently sustains our family's economic structure."
She sighed gently.
"In simple terms…" Her smile thinned. "…for us, this deal would be dangerously close to gradual economic suicide."
Serafall watched in silence, clearly enjoying the situation a little.
Alear, on the other hand, remained completely calm.
"Yes, it probably isn't a very good deal for you in the long term," he replied calmly. "But I never said I couldn't make the deal better."
Venelana's eyebrows moved almost imperceptibly.
Serafall also turned her gaze to him.
"I can reduce my demand to forty percent…"
Venelana blinked.
Serafall blinked too.
"Forty…?" Venelana repeated slowly.
Alear nodded.
"Forty percent to the Gremory family. And sixty percent to House Gäap-Häagenti," he completed calmly.
Even so, for Venelana, that was dramatically better than the thirty percent he had demanded earlier — and they would still retain a good portion of annual profit without worrying about the family going bankrupt…
But Alear continued before she could respond. "In exchange… there is one single condition."
Venelana's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I imagined there would be."
Alear didn't look away.
"I would like you to be my secretary."
The silence that followed was so dense it felt almost physical.
Serafall slowly turned her head.
"…Huh?"
For a brief moment, Venelana remained silent, observing Alear with a gaze that lasted a little longer than necessary.
Behind her elegant and controlled expression, however, her thoughts were far from calm. His proposal was bold… Becoming his secretary would mean placing herself directly under his authority — something that, for someone in the position of Gremory matriarch, should be considered humiliating. Yet… instead of feeling offended, she felt an unexpected mixture of excitement and curiosity within herself.
Working directly beside him would mean giving up part of her formal independence, but it also offered something extremely valuable: proximity. Alear had already demonstrated, in just a few minutes of conversation, an intelligence and political instinct that few noble devils possessed even after centuries of experience. Being by his side, influencing decisions, watching his rise, and participating directly in his plans could prove far more advantageous in the long run than maintaining a proud but distant position…
Part of that reaction also came from her own nature as a devil. He was young, extraordinarily promising, and possessed an appearance few in the Underworld could come close to rivaling — he was, without question, very handsome. The idea of working directly for him awakened a dangerous kind of curiosity in Venelana. And, being completely honest with herself, it wasn't motivated purely by politics. There was something more — a more instinctive interest — that was slowly beginning to mingle with her thoughts…
So she laughed softly.
A warm, amused sound.
Her violet eyes sparkled with something new.
She rested her elbow on the table and tilted her face slightly onto her hand.
"Secretary…?" she repeated slowly. Her gaze traveled over Alear with a completely different kind of interest now. "Are you asking me to work directly for you? Or… does this 'secretary' position include other kinds of… duties?"
Serafall stared at Alear for several seconds after Venelana's question. Her blue eyes were completely narrowed…
"…Ale-chan."
"Before anything else…" she rested her chin on her hand, staring fixedly at him. "…would you like to explain exactly why you decided to ask Sirzechs's mother to become your secretary?"
Her tone was curious.
But there was something in it that clearly said: explain yourself very carefully.
Venelana also remained silent, watching the two. Her violet eyes were attentive, clearly interested in the answer.
Alear, on the other hand, seemed perfectly calm.
"It's simple." He looked first at Serafall, then at Venelana. "The territory in question has been under Gremory family administration for nearly two hundred years. That means practically all of the region's economic infrastructure, trade contracts, logistics chains, and political agreements were structured under Gremory supervision. And considering that Venelana herself just stated that eighty percent of the Gremory family's income comes from that territory, it's safe to assume that no one knows its administration better than she does…"
Serafall blinked.
"…Ah." She tilted her head. "So you basically want to steal the most competent administrator of the territory."
Alear shrugged.
"I prefer to call it reallocating talent to the right place."
Serafall looked at him for a few seconds.
Then let out a small laugh through her nose.
"…Heh." She sank back into the armchair. "Okay… when you put it that way, it makes sense."
Venelana continued watching Alear attentively.
"So…" she murmured, slowly crossing her legs again. "…this proposal has nothing to do with… youthful impulses?"
Alear looked at her for a moment.
Then answered with his usual calm: "The work would be purely administrative. Basically everything a high-level secretary would do. But who knows… Since you'll have to follow all my orders, perhaps I might make a rather wicked request in high consideration of my youthful impulses…"
Serafall froze completely. Then she turned her head very slowly toward Alear.
"…Ale-chan." Her voice came out dangerously sweet. "Did you just casually suggest that the mother of one of the current Satans might end up sleeping with you because of this corporate deal? In front of your fiancée, no less?"
Alear blinked once.
"I merely mentioned a possibility. Venelana is very beautiful. As for you being my fiancée, naturally I see no problem with you participating…"
Serafall pressed a hand to her face.
"My Lucifer in heaven… you really are a Devil…"
On the other side of the table, Venelana remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she began to laugh.
Softly.
A gentle, warm, clearly amused laugh.
She covered her lips with elegant fingers as her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Ah… this is wonderful…" Her violet eyes shone. She looked directly at Alear. "An administrative contract… with optional benefits… What a dangerously tempting proposal. It's hard to refuse. Where do I sign…?"
Alear didn't answer immediately. He simply reached inside his jacket and withdrew a single folded sheet of paper.
Serafall tilted her head.
"…You walk around with paper in your pocket?"
"Useful habit…"
He placed the sheet on the small table between the armchairs. With a touch of his finger, a dark crimson glow ran across the paper's surface; lines appeared and slowly several clauses emerged — a magical contract formed in an instant…
Serafall's eyes widened.
"…Wow."
It was the first time she had seen a magical contract created in that manner…
Venelana remained silent and simply looked calmly at the paper.
Alear picked up the sheet and extended it to her as though offering a social invitation.
"You just need to sign here…"
Venelana accepted the document with elegance, but her eyes were already focused on the inscriptions.
"…A magical contract?" she murmured, almost to herself.
Alear rested his arm on the chair.
"It's quite different from the ones devils use with humans. I call it a Geis. Let's say it's a much stricter contract. If broken, the effect will likely be… rather unpleasant…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Is that a problem for you?"
Serafall made a face.
"'Rather unpleasant' coming from a devil usually means something like slow death or being bound as a familiar for a hundred years…"
"Something along those lines…"
"ALE-CHAN…"
Venelana didn't hear the brief exchange in the room.
She was busy reading.
And the further she advanced through the contract's pages… the more surprised she became.
There were no hidden traps, no predatory clauses carefully concealed among complex legal terms. Nor was there any attempt to establish permanent dominion. The agreement was clear: it would last one year. After that period, it would need to be renewed if both parties wished to continue. Additionally, there was a simple clause allowing early termination if both sides agreed.
Still, the conditions were strict. Absolute professional loyalty, total confidentiality regarding anything involving House Gäap-Häagenti affairs, and clear priority to the family's interests during the period of service. It was exactly the kind of demand one would expect from someone hiring a personal secretary in a delicate political environment. However, one thing particularly caught her attention: even within those demands, there was a clearly defined line. The contract specified that orders related to personal tasks outside professional duties could be accepted or refused at her discretion — it was entirely up to her to decide how far she wished to go…
She slowly raised her eyes.
The smile that appeared was different from all previous ones.
"…Impeccable…" Her violet eyes met his. "Strictly professional. Extremely advantageous. And surprisingly… fair…"
She tilted her head, genuine curiosity now evident.
"You really don't intend to turn me into a political slave or personal toy. How disappointing… and at the same time reassuring…"
Serafall let out an audible sigh of relief.
"Thank Lucifer…"
Venelana ran a delicate finger over the inscriptions, feeling the faint residual warmth of demonic power.
"The way you created this, however… is unusual…"
She looked up, fascinated.
Alear shrugged.
"I came up with the idea last week, thinking about how to swim against the turbulent currents of the Underworld. This contract is perfect for that. I only hope you don't try to break it prematurely or without discussing new terms. You must be well aware of what will happen based on what's written there, correct?"
"Yes, I see no problem with the penalty for breach of contract…" She turned the page. "Where should I sign?"
Alear calmly pointed to the bottom line.
"There, with blood, please…"
She extended her hand and pressed the tip of her nail against her own thumb. A small drop of scarlet blood appeared.
She touched the line on the paper, which absorbed the drop as though famished.
The circle glowed intensely.
The contract was sealed.
An invisible wave passed through the room… and vanished.
Venelana blinked slowly.
"I believe it worked? Well, from this moment forward… I am your secretary, Alear-sama."
Serafall's jaw dropped.
"…She actually signed…"
Venelana turned her face toward her with a sweet smile.
"Naturally. A good deal is a good deal…"
Then she turned back to Alear, eyes shining with renewed interest.
"So… what is the first order you wish to give me?"
___________________
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