The Phenex family had just arrived. Rias watched them intently. Lord Phenex stood at the front, exuding pride and the refined air of an elegant noble. Behind him was Riser, wearing the same smug smirk he carried everywhere.
Ravel Phenex stood beside him, mirroring her brother’s arrogance with the playful confidence of a little oujo-sama. Next to them was Lady Phenex—beautiful and graceful, the very image of a noblewoman from a classic painting.
But Rias was searching for someone in particular, and she found him standing beside Lady Phenex. She had to compose herself when she saw him.
There he was: Raza. His natural, vibrant, spiky black hair set him apart instantly from the rest of his family. His sharp, angular features and intense, focused black eyes gave him a brooding, mature aura—a distinct “bad boy” edge.
He was tall and lean, with an athletic build and broad shoulders. Not as powerfully built as Sairaorg, but his muscles were well-defined and settled, more refined than bulky. If you had to describe him, it would be as if “delinquent” charm was mixed with the noble features of elegance. For a brief moment, the noble ladies in the room seemed to forget that he was the infamous “Black Phenex” they so often criticized.
Rias collected herself and began walking toward the family, Akeno close behind. The Phenex family was already mingling, greeting other nobles and engaging in conversation.
Riser spotted Rias approaching and, with a dramatic flourish, opened his arms. “Ah, if it isn’t Rias, my promised wife-to-be. Have you come to see your fu—”
Before Riser could finish, Rias and Akeno walked right past him, ignoring him completely. Riser was left standing there, muttering a bewildered, “Huh?” under his breath. He glanced back and saw them heading straight for his younger brother, Raza.
Ravel, watching the scene unfold, huffed, “Just what does she think she’s doing, ignoring Oni-sama like that?” Riser clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Rhea and Raza stood together. Raza sighed. “These events are so dull. I don’t even know why I’m here.”
“You’re here because I called you to my side, my boy,” Lady Phenex replied.
Raza shrugged. “Can’t argue with that. Otherwise, I’d be doing something more productive.”
Rhea giggled at his remark. Both mother and son noticed Rias and Akeno approaching. Rias stepped forward.
“Good evening, Lady Phenex. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to see you as well, young lady. How can I help you?” Rhea responded with a warm smile.
Rias’s eyes shifted to Raza. “Actually, I wanted to speak with your son, if that’s alright.”
Rhea and Raza exchanged a glance. Raza gave his mother a small nod, and Rhea excused herself, leaving them alone.
Raza looked at Rias. “So, what did you want to talk about?”
Rias hesitated for a moment, then spoke. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but… When I first learned about my engagement with Riser, I was furious. Honestly, I still am. Meeting Riser only made it worse.”
Raza stayed silent, listening.
Rias continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought of the Phenex family as my enemy. At times, I even thought my own family was against me. For years, I’ve been searching for a way out of this engagement.”
Akeno was shocked to hear Rias open up like this, especially to someone she’d never met before.
Rias’s voice trembled. “I… I feel like I’m trapped in a cage, my freedom handed over like a prize.”
Raza watched her quietly. “Why are you telling me this?”
Rias looked up, her eyes searching his. “Because I heard you’d understand. That’s why I came to you. Everyone keeps telling me it’s my duty as the Gremory heir. My friends say there must be a way, that we can do something, but it always feels like we’re running in circles. I’m tired of hearing the same thing. I’m tired of this hopelessness—”
Akeno’s mouth hung open in shock.
Rias’s voice broke. “So please, I don’t want to hear the same things again. I… I… I don’t want to repeat this pointless cycle and end up right back at the beginning. I… I need something from you, but I don’t know if I can even ask for it… I don’t know.”
Tears streamed down Rias’s face. Akeno covered her mouth, sadness etched into her expression. Rias wondered what she was doing, why she was spilling her heart out to someone she barely knew. She didn’t know why she felt this way now, why these long-buried emotions had surfaced as she stood before Raza.
Raza’s expression remained unreadable. Then he spoke. “I don’t know if my word means anything in my family. I’m afraid I’m in no position to influence them on this matter.”
Rias’s eyes dimmed, but Raza continued. “But I can promise you this: If that shitty brother of mine bothers you or tries to hurt you, I’ll stop him. I don’t know how, and honestly, I don’t care. But if you don’t want to marry him, I’ll protect you from him.”
Rias stared at him, stunned. That feeling rose up again, and she finally understood what it was: hope. For the first time in years, she heard the words she’d been longing for—not empty reassurances, not vague promises, but a simple, unwavering, “I’ll protect you.” Those were the words she’d been missing all this time.
In a quiet voice, Rias asked, “But why? Why would you help me? Why do you care?”
Raza met her gaze. “Because it seems someone has to.”
A heavy silence fell between them.
“Thank you,” Rias whispered. “I… I don’t know what else to say.”
Akeno wiped away her own tears.
At that moment, Riser reappeared. “Rias, my love, I see you’ve met my brother. But let’s forget about him and focus on us. I think Father’s calling for us, so if you’d be so kind, my dear, come with me.”
“No,” Rias replied firmly.
Riser blinked. “No?”
Rias’s voice was steady. “No, Riser. I will not go with you.”
Riser clicked his tongue. “Now, now, you’re being unreasonable, dear. We have a duty to our families, remember?” He reached for Rias’s arm.
“Hey, asshole.” Raza caught Riser’s wrist, pulling him away. “She said no.”