The fight was over. Well, if you could even call it that. The portal opened, and out from it stepped Raza. Immediately, his mother rushed forward and embraced him.
“I’m sorry, Mom. This wasn’t supposed to go like this,” Raza said quietly.
“No. I’m proud of you, Raza. It’s over. I’m proud of you,” Rhea replied, holding him tightly.
Raza let out a deep sigh and hugged his mother back. She pulled away, cupping his face, her fingers deliberately brushing over the small burns on his skin. Raza allowed her to fuss over him; he had never complained about her overprotectiveness.
He glanced around the hall. The devil nobles stood in silence, all eyes fixed on him. No one could ignore him anymore. Raza spotted Sairaorg in the crowd, grinning and nodding at him. Raza couldn’t help but smile back.
His mother stepped aside. Next to approach was Regulus—his father.
“Raza,” Regulus began, pausing for a long moment. “You have done well and exceeded expectations.”
“The elders?” Raza asked.
“They won’t be in a position to complain anymore. Whether they want to or not. That was the deal, after all.”
“I see.”
Regulus hesitated, then continued, “For what it’s worth… I can’t ask you to forget or forgive the past. But I was wrong about many things. I should have stood up for you the day you were born. Because of my duties and fears as clan head, I made many mistakes—mistakes that put you in danger, forced you into isolation. Your mother… she was the better one out of us. Perhaps I don’t deserve to call myself your father.
But… I wish we could be a family. All of us.”
Rhea interjected softly, “Raza, it was your father who made that deal with the elders. He made sure they couldn’t hurt you.”
Raza regarded his father for a moment. Their relationship had always been complicated—Regulus was strict, always enforcing rules that kept
Raza at arm’s length. Now, though, he stood before him, admitting his mistakes and asking for a second chance, finally shielding Raza from the elders as he should have long ago. Raza realized he held no grudges. His father was not his enemy.
“Mom told me you used to take the family for picnics by the lake. She said you used to fish. Will you teach me too?” Raza asked.
Regulus’s eyes widened, his expression softening with sorrow. “I… Yes. Of course. Someday.”
“Okay.”
Suddenly, a noise interrupted them. Riser stumbled out of the portal, collapsing to the ground, still unable to get up. Ravel appeared beside him, tears in her eyes.
“Idiot. Both of you. Idiots. I was so worried,” she scolded.
Rhea knelt beside her daughter, hugging her close. Ravel clung to her mother, sobbing quietly. Raza and Regulus watched them for a moment.
Regulus finally spoke, “I should take Riser back to the medical . He’ll need time to recover. I’ll take your mother and sister as well—they need rest.”
Raza nodded. Regulus helped his wife and daughter to their feet, then lifted Riser and led the Phenex family out of the ballroom. Raza watched them go, breathing a heavy sigh as he drifted into thought.
A voice broke the silence behind him. “That was a magnificent display of power, Raza-kun. The Black Phenex has truly proven himself to the underworld today—a crucial ally indeed.”
It was Sirzechs, approaching with Grayfia at his side.
“Lord Sirzechs,” Raza greeted, bowing slightly.
Sirzechs grinned, waving off the formality. “No need for that, Raza. We’re practically family. You can call me ‘Big Brother’ if you’d like.”
Grayfia sighed.
Raza blinked, uncertain. “I… Excuse me?”
Sirzechs laughed. “Oh, of course! I forgot to mention—part of the deal your father made with the elders was to ensure the arrangement between the Gremory and Phenex families wouldn’t break. If you proved yourself—which you did—and Riser failed, then the right to take
Rias’s hand was transferred to you. Congratulations, Raza. You are officially engaged to Rias Gremory. I can’t wait for the wedding.”
Raza stared at him in disbelief. “WHAT? NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS! SO I JUST FREED HER ONLY FOR HER TO BE FORCED TO BE MY FIANCÉE? YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS.”
Sirzechs burst out laughing, while Grayfia simply sighed. Rias herself approached, head lowered so her face was hidden. Raza froze.
“Gremory, wait. This isn’t what it looks like. I swear, I’ll fix this. I won’t even come near you. You won’t have to see me a—”
Rias reached him and hugged him.
“Rias,” she whispered.
“Huh?”
“Call me Rias.”
Raza stood still, noticing her trembling. Then he saw her tears.
“A-are you alright?”
“Yes. More than alright.” She pulled away, revealing a tear-streaked, smiling face. “You came back. You kept your promise. Thanks to you,
I’m free. Thank you, Raza, for saving me.”
Raza glanced away, embarrassed. “You don’t have to thank me. I just… didn’t like the thought of Riser taking advantage of you. And, honestly, this was personal. When you asked me back then, I accepted because what happened to you wasn’t fair. And I know firsthand how cruel Riser can be. So… don’t mention it.”
Rias looked surprised, then smiled—a warm smile full of joy. Raza scratched the back of his neck, unsure how to respond.
Sirzechs chimed in, “Already flirting with each other?”
Rias blushed, and Raza protested, “You’re killing me here, Lord Sirzechs.”
Sirzechs only laughed harder. Raza turned to Rias. “Seriously, I wasn’t planning on taking Riser’s place. I want to keep my promise, so I’ll cancel the engagement as soon as I can.”
Rias hesitated, looking a bit shy. “Wait. M-maybe it’s fine as it is. Some other clan might try to arrange something new. So, if we stay engaged, that will keep them away… for a while.”
Raza stammered, “W-well, I mean, I guess that makes sense… I suppose.”
Rias brightened, faking a cough to compose herself. “Then it’s a deal.” She offered her hand. Raza shook it, albeit awkwardly.
Sirzechs sighed dramatically. “Ah, youth. So innocent.”
Grayfia pulled Sirzechs’s cheek gently. “I think we’ve heard enough from you today, Lord Sirzechs.”
He fought back tears of laughter as Grayfia dragged him away.
Grayfia addressed Rias, “Lady Rias, I believe it’s best if you return to the Gremory estate for now. Your parents will want to see you, and your peerage will accompany you. Lord Raza, after all these events, I advise you to rest.”
Raza nodded. Rias remembered her friends—they must still be somewhere in the ballroom. She realized: she was finally free, returning home by her own will—all thanks to Raza.
Raza started towards the exit. Rias called out, and he turned to look at her. She smiled. “See you around, Raza.”
He chuckled softly. “See you around.”
Grayfia was already dragging Sirzechs away. Rias went to find her peerage. The party was over.
Late at night, Regulus sat in the medical room where Riser was being treated. Raza was probably resting. His wife and daughter had gone to sleep together—he was sure there was much for them to talk about. Regulus looked at Riser, lying on the medical bed, and reflected on his own mistakes. If he’d paid more attention to him when he was younger, if he hadn’t let the elders influence his decisions, maybe things could have been different.
Ruval, his eldest son, was a genius—independent and capable from a young age. Regulus had placed the same expectations on Riser and, as a result, had neglected his growth. That was how it came to this.
He heard Riser groan.
“Riser, you’re finally awake,” Regulus said, moving to sit beside him.
Riser opened his eyes, glancing at his father before staring at the ceiling. “I… lost. After everything.”
Regulus remained silent, listening.
“And in the end, I wasn’t even worth killing,” Riser chuckled bitterly.
“I don’t think Raza ever wanted to kill you. Even if he hated you,” Regulus said softly.
“Why? I made his life miserable. Mocked him whenever I could. I got angry at him. I even tried to kill him. So… why?”
Regulus paused. “I believe… it’s because you are his older brother.”
“That… doesn’t make any sense.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“I give up,” Riser muttered.
“Riser?”
“I think I’m done. With everything. Nothing makes sense anymore.”
“I see.”
“Aren’t you going to try to convince me about my duties and responsibilities as a High Class devil?”
Regulus looked at his son. “I did. All this time. And look where that got us. I’m afraid I can’t give you the answers you’re seeking, Riser.”
Riser laughed quietly. “You really are a shitty father, you know.”
Regulus sat there in silence beside his son as the night stretched on.
A new day would come.