The Devil's Express phased through dimensional space with a low, resonant hum that vibrated through the floor of the private compartment. Outside the windows, reality itself fractured into kaleidoscopic patterns—colors that shouldn't exist bleeding into geometries that hurt to comprehend.
Isaiah sat by the window, watching the impossible scenery blur past. The familiar weight of the journey settled over him—he'd made this trip multiple times before, but familiarity didn't make dimensional travel feel natural. His human-born instincts still rebelled against the fundamental wrongness of what his eyes was seeing in moment.
Across from him, Rias sat with her usual composed elegance, crimson hair catching the compartment's warm lighting. She was reading through some paperwork, though her attention seemed distant. Preparation for what awaited them at the estate, probably.
Akeno lounged comfortably beside Rias, violet eyes half-closed as she sipped tea from a delicate cup. She looked perfectly at ease, as if traveling between dimensions was no more remarkable than a pleasant afternoon stroll.
Asia pressed her face against the window, green eyes wide with wonder. "It's so beautiful... even if I don't understand what I'm looking at."
"It's weird, not beautiful. Asia senpai" Koneko said matter-of-factly from her corner seat, working methodically through her third chocolate bar.
Isaiah's fingers drummed against the armrest—a nervous habit he couldn't quite suppress. Tomorrow morning, he would receive his Evil Pieces. Tomorrow, he would officially transition from servant to King.
'No more being just Rias Gremory's knight,' he thought, watching his reflection ghost across the window. 'Time to build my own strength. My own legacy.'
The ambition burned steady and clear in his chest, but beneath it lurked something else. Anxiety. The weight of responsibility he was choosing to accept.
"Isaiah-kun" Akeno's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Her knowing smile suggested she'd been watching him. "You're thinking too hard again."
"Can you blame me?"
"Not at all. It's one of your more endearing qualities." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Though I imagine tomorrow will be quite the memorable experience, for all of us"
The train's whistle sounded—deep and resonant, carrying notes that seemed to echo from multiple directions simultaneously. Through the window, the chaotic dimensional patterns began to resolve into something more coherent.
The Underworld
The familiar embrace of sky above stretched overhead, the moon hanging up there just as in the human world. The landscape below shifted from wild magical vegetation to carefully cultivated beauty as they entered Gremory territory.
"Almost there," Rias said, finally setting aside her paperwork. Her expression held warmth and something else—pride, perhaps. Or anticipation for what was coming.
The Gremory territory came into view, that was about the same area as Honshu in Japan. A very rich territory with developed industry. Located within the territory was the Gremory Palace, the home and main building of the Gremory Clan Head.
Even having seen it before, Isaiah felt his breath catch slightly at the sheer magnificence of it.
The train began its final approach, slowing as it pulled into the private station on the estate grounds. Through the window, Isaiah could see figures already waiting on the platform—servants in immaculate uniforms, standing at attention.
The whistle sounded one final time, triumphant and oddly musical.
The Devil's Express came to a smooth stop.
"Ready?" Rias asked, standing with fluid grace.
Isaiah took a breath, steadying himself and nodding firmly.
They disembarked one by one—Rias first with natural authority, followed by her peerage. The moment Isaiah's feet touched the platform, he felt it.
. . .
Gremory Mansion.
The layout of the mansion's outside was a quadrangle with a courtyard in the middle. Outside at the entrance is a fountain with a circular flower bed surrounding it, with many other gardens in the surrounding areas.
But it was the greeting that struck him most.
Two lines of maids stood on either side of the platform, perhaps twenty in total. Their uniforms were immaculate, their postures perfect. The moment Rias stepped fully onto the platform, they bowed in perfect unison.
"Welcome home, Lady Rias."
The synchronized voices echoed across the platform, formal and respectful.
Isaiah's chest tightened with an emotion he couldn't quite name. The display was for Rias, obviously—she was the heiress, the one who commanded this level of respect. But walking beside her, being part of her peerage, he couldn't help the thought that flickered through his mind.
'This is what it feels like. A king returning from conquered wars. This display of loyalty, this organized respect.'
The image was intoxicating and terrifying in equal measure.
He walked forward with Rias at the center, Akeno on her other side, the rest of the peerage following slightly behind. The maids remained bowed until they passed, then straightened with military precision.
'Is this what I want?' The question nagged at him. 'Power and displays of loyalty? Or something else entirely?'
Before he could pursue the thought further, a new presence commanded his attention.
A woman descended the station steps with grace that made movement look like art.
Lady Venelana Gremory was striking in ways that transcended simple beauty. Wine-colored hair fell in elegant waves past her shoulders, styled with casual perfection that suggested hours of effort made to look effortless. Her burgundy gown complemented her coloring perfectly—expensive fabric that moved like liquid, cut to emphasize her mature elegance.
But it was her presence that truly captured attention. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who'd spent centuries navigating devil politics, who'd raised a daughter destined for greatness, who commanded respect not through force but through sheer presence.
If Rias was a flame burning bright and fierce, Venelana was the hearth itself—warm and welcoming on the surface, but with the enduring strength of stone beneath.
"Rias, darling!" Venelana's smile was radiant as she approached. "Welcome home."
"Mother." Rias's usual composed authority softened immediately, becoming something younger and more genuine. She embraced Venelana with clear affection. "It's good to be back."
Isaiah watched the exchange with interest. Rias rarely showed this side of herself—the daughter rather than the heiress, genuine warmth without political calculation. It was... humanizing, in the best way.
Venelana pulled back, holding Rias at arm's length to examine her. "You look well. Kuoh Town clearly agrees with you." Her gaze shifted past Rias, landing on Asia, who immediately looked down with innocent nervousness. "And who is this lovely young lady?"
"Mother, this is Asia Argento. My Bishop." Rias gestured for Asia to step forward. "Asia, this is my mother, Lady Venelana Gremory."
"I-it's an honor to meet you, Lady Gremory!" Asia curtsied with the practiced grace of her church upbringing, though her nervousness was evident in the slight tremor of her hands. "Thank you for welcoming us to your home."
Venelana's expression softened immediately. "The honor is mine, dear Asia. Any friend of Rias's is welcome here." Her smile turned genuinely warm. "And a Bishop, no less. Rias has mentioned your unique abilities. I'm sure they've proven invaluable."
Asia's face flushed with pleasure at the praise. "I-I just try to help however I can!"
Venelana's gaze swept across the assembled group, her shrewd eyes taking in each person with practiced assessment. "Akeno, still as lovely as ever. And Koneko—have you grown taller?"
"No," Koneko said simply, already working on a new chocolate bar.
"Pity. Though I suppose good things do come in small packages." Venelana's attention finally settled on Isaiah, and something shifted in her expression—recognition, interest, and a hint of knowing amusement. "And Yuuto. Or should I say, Isaiah now?"
Isaiah stepped forward, inclining his head respectfully. "Lady Gremory. I hope you've been well since my last visit."
"Quite well, thank you." Her smile turned slightly mischievous in ways that reminded him uncomfortably of Rias when she was planning something. "Though I must say, the last time I saw you, you were such a quiet, respectful young man. Silent and composed."
She moved closer, examining him with the practiced eye of someone who'd spent centuries reading people.
"But now... my, how you've bloomed." Her tone carried approval and something else—teasing warmth that made Isaiah's instincts prickle with warning. "Strong, confident, more endearing in every way. You've grown into quite the impressive young man."
Isaiah felt heat creeping up his neck. "I... thank you, Lady Gremory. Your kind words honor me."
"Oh, I'm only speaking the truth." Venelana's gaze swept meaningfully across Akeno, then Koneko, then Asia, before returning to Isaiah with a knowing look that made his stomach drop. "Though I must say, with such qualities, you really should consider marriage soon. After all, I'm desperately waiting for grandchildren to spoil."
The silence that crashed through the group was deafening.
"M-Mother!" Rias's face flushed crimson, her usual composure shattering completely. "H-how can you—we're not—that's not—!"
Akeno's reaction was more controlled but no less telling. Her violet eyes widened fractionally, a faint blush coloring her cheeks before her usual teasing smile reasserted itself. "Ara ara~ Lady Venelana, you're quite bold."
Koneko's expression remained neutral, but he caught the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth and the way her ears seemed to flatten slightly. She looked down, suddenly very interested in her chocolate bar.
Asia's face went completely red, her hands flying to her cheeks. "M-marriage?! B-but we're not—I mean, Isaiah-san is very kind, but—!" She seemed unable to complete a coherent sentence, stammering adorably.
He stood frozen, torn between mortification and amusement. 'She's doing this on purpose. Definitely on purpose.'
But beneath the embarrassment, another thought struck him with sudden clarity.
'Millicas isn't born yet.'
The realization hit like cold water. In his memories of previous visits to the Gremory estate, he'd always felt something was missing—a presence he couldn't quite pin down, a gap in his recollections that nagged at him. Now it made sense.
Sirzechs and Grayfia's son, Millicas Gremory, didn't exist yet in this timeline. The boy who should have been running through these halls, charming everyone with innocent enthusiasm, hadn't been born.
'That's why I couldn't place what felt wrong before. That gap in my memories—it was the absence of someone who should have been there.'
The relief was immediate—one less inconsistency in his fragmented past to worry about. But it was quickly replaced by something else.
Unease.
'Millicas isn't here. Which means the timeline is different than I remember. And if the final boss hasn't made his appearance yet...'
The thought trailed off, leaving cold anxiety in its wake. Sirzechs Lucifer—the Satan, the most powerful devil in the Underworld, the doting older brother whose sister and wife he'd been half and fully intimate with (even if it was at Sirzechs's own suggestion, through the 'method' to help Rias).
How exactly was he supposed to face that man?
"Isaiah-kun?"
He jolted slightly, realizing Akeno was watching him with concern. How long had he been lost in thought?
Before he could respond, a new presence made itself known.
"Lady Venelana. Lady Rias. Welcome home."
Grayfia Lucifuge appeared as if materialized from shadows, though he knew she'd simply approached with the silent efficiency that made her legendary. The Silver-haired Queen of Annihilation wore her characteristic maid uniform, every detail perfect, her posture radiating controlled power.
Her silver eyes swept across the assembled group with firm assessment before settling on Venelana.
"Lord Gremory is waiting in the dining hall. He's eager to welcome everyone properly."
"Wonderful!" Venelana's expression brightened. "We have so much to discuss. Why don't we continue our conversation there?" She linked arms with Rias, already starting toward the estate proper. "Come along, everyone. You must be hungry after the journey."
---
The dining hall was exactly as he remembered—vaulted ceilings supported by columns carved with scenes of Gremory history, a table long enough to seat thirty people comfortably, chandeliers that burned with magical flames casting warm light across everything.
But it was the man seated at the head of the table who commanded attention.
Zeoticus Gremory possessed the same striking presence as his wife and daughter—crimson hair touched with silver at the temples, strong features that suggested both nobility and warmth. He wore formal attire casually, as if expensive clothing were simply his natural state.
When they entered, he rose immediately, his smile genuine and welcoming.
"Rias, my dear daughter!" His voice carried warmth that filled the space. "Welcome home."
"Father." Rias's smile was softer than he had ever seen it—genuine affection without political calculation. She moved forward to embrace him.
"And her exceptional peerage." Zeoticus's gaze swept across them with evident approval. "Welcome back to our home. Please, sit. Make yourselves comfortable."
The meal that followed was elaborate—course after course of Underworld cuisine that combined familiar elements with ingredients that simply didn't exist in the human world. Roasted meats that released savory steam with complex spice notes. Vegetables arranged artistically that tasted like concentrated essence of their flavors. Breads still warm from ovens. Desserts that defied description.
Conversation flowed easily. Zeoticus asked about Kuoh Town, expressing interest in their daily lives, laughing at Koneko's blunt remarks about Isaiah's food being "far more interesting and delicious than this one''.
Throughout it all, he felt himself relaxing despite his earlier anxiety. The Gremory family dynamic was warm, genuine in ways that transcended their nobility. This wasn't a facade—this was simply how they were.
'This is what Rias fights to protect,' he thought, watching her laugh at something her father said. 'Not just power or status. Family. Connection. A place to be called Home.'
The thought settled something in his chest, even as another part of his mind remained alert. Tomorrow's ceremony loomed ahead, but beyond that...
Beyond that was the inevitable meeting with Sirzechs Lucifer.
The Satan who'd suggested the 'method.' Whose wife had slept with him for the sake of saving Rias from her engagement to Riser. Who somehow remained married to Grayfia despite that—or perhaps because of some understanding he couldn't fathom.
'How do I face him? What do I even say?'
As dinner wound down, servants appeared to clear plates with practiced efficiency. Venelana was discussing tomorrow's ceremony schedule with Rias, while Zeoticus engaged Akeno in conversation about her Fallen Angel heritage with genuine curiosity rather than judgment.
Then Grayfia appeared beside the table, her presence somehow commanding attention without demanding it.
"Isaiah-sama." Her voice was perfectly neutral, professional. "Lord Sirzechs wishes to speak with you. He's waiting in his study room"
His stomach dropped. Cold spread through his chest, racing down his spine. Every instinct screamed warnings—danger, consequence, the inevitable reckoning for what had happened between him and Grayfia.
'Time has come.'
'Either I get tormented for accepting the method... or something worse that I can't even imagine.'
He became aware that everyone was looking at him.
Isaiah forced his expression into something resembling calm. He nodded to Grayfia, his smile feeling wooden on his face. "Of course. I'd be honored"
He rose from his seat. His mind raced through possibilities, cycling through every potential conversation, every possible opening, every way this could go catastrophically wrong.
'How do I face him? What do I say? "Thank you for letting your wife sleep with me to save your sister"? "Sorry about the awkwardness of our situation"? "Please don't annihilate me"?'
He followed Grayfia from the dining hall, aware of curious gazes tracking his departure. The corridors beyond were quieter, lit by magical lamps that cast warm light across polished stone.
His footsteps echoed softly, matching the rapid beat of his heart.
'Think. There has to be something I can say. Some way to approach this that doesn't end in disaster.'
But every scenario he imagined felt inadequate. This was Sirzechs Lucifer. A Satan. A man who loved his sister fiercely and his wife. A man who'd suggested an impossible solution to an impossible problem.
'Even though it was his idea, how do I face him? How do I acknowledge what happened without making it worse?'
The silence stretched between them as they walked, broken only by the soft sound of their footsteps. His mind continued its frantic cycling through possibilities, each more inadequate than the last.
Then Grayfia spoke, her voice quiet but clear.
"Sirzechs-sama will not condemn you for it."
His breath caught. He turned to look at her, but her expression remained perfectly neutral, eyes forward as they continued walking.
"It should be us apologizing for our selfish request, Isaiah-sama."
The words struck him silent.
He didn't know how to respond to that. What could he possibly say? That it was fine? That he didn't mind having sex with a Satan's wife to help save his King from a political marriage was just part of being a good servant?
So he said nothing.
They continued walking in silence, his mind still racing but finding no solid ground to stand on. Grayfia's words echoed in his thoughts, mixing with his anxiety and creating a confusing mess of emotion he couldn't untangle.
They finally approached the heart of the estate. The personal domain of a Satan.
And he had absolutely no idea what he was going to say when he got there.
His hands clenched at his sides.
And he'd never felt less prepared for anything in his life.
. . .
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