By the time I came back to the Phenex household later that day, I was absolutely exhausted.
Ravel had taken me out that day to get some new clothes "befitting the servant of a Phenex". In my gut, I just knew that the outfits she picked out for me would either be skimpy as hell or have some sort of fetishism in mind when they were designed… I was… kind of right.
They weren't skimpy, but they were kind of fetishistic since they were mainly servant-style uniforms and Ravel insisted I referred to her as "Ojou-sama"... but I couldn't help but feel that something was off about her. She seemed kind of spaced out.
I got along rather well with Ile, Nel, and Isabela. After learning I was now Ravel-sama's servant, Riser's other servants cut me some slack. There were some who became casual, others who came to act with near indifference, and those (Riser's most loyal dogs) who came to simply shoot me the stink eye. I didn't get any more shit and nobody else tried to kill me… So not a bad day, I believe.
After we returned to the Phenex household, I was kind of tired.
Note to self: When a High-Class Devil goes out shopping, bring a giant truck to haul it all.
Seriously! Even with Isabela and I, we ended up carrying so much clothing that they stacked high enough to rival that of mountains!
When I returned to Ravel-sama's room later that evening, I was ready to just ready to drop onto the bed and pass out. I didn't care that I was still wearing a butler's outfit. I was just so tired. Back when I first became a Devil, I was kind of sick of fighting needlessly, but now I think I'd take fighting over shopping any day. Even if I had to take on a monster like Lucifer-sama or Serafall, I think it would still be preferable.
I was about to close my eyes when-
*CLICK*
"... Ruto…"
I popped one eye open at the sound of Ravel-sama's voice. She had told me she had something to do and to go on ahead, so I was surprised to hear her voice so soon.
"Hm? Ravel-sama…?" I sat up, turning towards the door. "I—EEEEH!?" My face flushed red again. "R-Ravel-sama! W-What are you wearing?!"
"H-Ha…I-I h-heard that this was what women w-wore in the human world!" Ravel-sama was blushing just as deeply as I was, her arms behind her back.
She… She…
She was practically naked! She wore a black, almost see-through lingerie bra and a matching pair of panties!
Now I KNOW she was not wearing that before… Was my first thought.
"W-Well… I…"
"So… would you mind it if I slept in this tonight?" The way she walked towards the bed… it looked like her footsteps held a hidden meaning. But something felt off.
I turned away, feeling horribly awkward. "Um… I would rather you didn't."
For a moment, I thought I saw Ravel's eye twitch. But then her previous pleasant expression returned, so I may have been mistaken.
"Are you sure~?" Ravel asked again, moving onto the bed on all fours, the valley between her ample bosoms being revealed in a way that was most appealing to a man's eyes. I subconsciously backed away, feeling a further sense of unease. "I hate to see you so uncomfortable. Siris told me that you would feel more comfortable if I wore something like this." Her words were intentional, but she was clearly not comfortable saying them. It sounded almost mechanical, as if she had a different motive.
"Erm… Not really…" This was SERIOUSLY uncomfortable. It was sexy as hell, but also very uncomfortable. If it was Serafall, Ruruko, Tsubasa, Akeno-san, or even Momo, I would hop right in, but… with Ravel, with whom I did not share a single romantic attachment with… it just felt weird. Like I was doing something horribly, horribly wrong.
Now I could literally SEE the irritation on Ravel's face. "Oho, really?" She crawled closer to me, leaning over my legs and pinning them to the bed.
Shit! Retreat is no longer an option!
"R-Ravel… W-What are you doing?" By this point, I could not really stay in denial as to the fact that Ravel was trying to seduce me.
"You're my servant." Ravel-sama stated, her voice resolute and leaving no room for negotiation for her declaration. "As my servant, every part of you belongs to me. Your power, your body, and your heart."
Shit. Shit shit shit. I know where this is going.
I did my best to maintain my wits, but my heart slowly began to become swallowed by uncertainty.
I swallowed. "My power is yours to command, but my body belongs to me alone. My heart also belongs to another. If this is your way of asserting control over me, I will let you know that I have no intention of indulging in your selfish desires." Wow… I'm feeling an odd sense of deja vu.
"Perhaps you don't understand your situation." Ravel said, an air of arrogance replacing her previous kindness. "You're all mine now. You may as well surrender yourself to me now, for I will be the only woman you will be permitted to be with, Ruto. You ensnared me the moment you spoke those sweetened words you spoke when we first met. That is the only reason I allow you and you alone to see this part of me. Someone lowly like you should be beyond happy to even glimpse upon me like this let alone be able to be with me."
"Well I'm not just 'someone'." I stated clearly, not hesitating to show venom in my words. When I first met her, I thought Ravel had been a rather pleasant person who seemed different from other Pure-Bloods… but she had that same sense of self-entitlement and arrogance… It actually pained me to see her true character in this way. I shook my head. "You may be my master, but I have no reason to love you nor will I. My purity belongs to the woman who took it, my beloved Serafall. You may command it, but my heart will never belong to you."
There was a long silence that followed that.
I actually thought that would be the end of it.
Then I felt a heavy blow to my chest, one harder than what I would've expected from Ravel. I was pushed forcefully back onto the bed. I tried to get back up, but I was pushed harder against the bed by the sudden impact of Ravel jumping on my chest. She grabbed me by the collar. For a moment I thought she would hit me again, but then I realized her hands were going lower.
*SNAP SNAP SNAP*
That was the sounds the buttons on my shirt made as Ravel quickly made short work of them, revealing my bare chest underneath.
And THIS was where I drew the line.
I placed my hands and pushed Ravel upright, glaring at her. "This is where I tell you to piss off! I may be your servant, but I will never consent to this!"
In response to my refusal, Ravel's expression became even darker. "Oh, so I bet the only person you can get hard for is that old master of yours, huh? It'd sure be a shame if she got news that her former servant was declared a Stray Devil."
What?!
"You are nothing more than a toy for me." Ravel clarified. "If I say so much as one word, I could easily have you declared as a Stray and hunted down like a dog. Even if you tried to kill me and run, you would never be welcomed amongst the Devils again."
I bit my lower lip. My heart was telling me to take this bitch out right now!... but my mind reminded me what my goal was. I could never return to Serafall's side if I were declared as a Stray and/or killed. No matter what… I had to return to her side.
After a few moments, I relented and I released Ravel and laid back down on the bed. "I'm yours to do with as you please. Use me however you want, master."
Ravel didn't smile. She continued unbuttoning my shirt and I felt my heart stop in terror every time she touched me. I braced myself for the inevitable as I felt one hand trace down my chest and touched my leg.
"... Serafall…" I squeaked out, my heart breaking at this unwelcomed touch. I felt… so unclean… Someone other than the woman I love was going to have me… I… I was going to be raped.
Even thinking that horrifying truth was enough to terrify me…
I didn't want to show weakness. I wanted to show Ravel nothing. I wanted to show nothingness to the arrogance of Pure-Bloods…
But I was terrified.
"... Serafall… I'm sorry…" Tears started pouring out of the corners of my eyes. To keep from being killed, I had to endure this… but it wasn't just the thought of what Ravel would do to me that made me sick. It would be how filthy I would be afterwards. How unworthy I would be to even lay eyes on any of the ones I loved. So that's why I cried out her name… the strongest person who I thought would save me… Please… don't let this happen…
I wanted, with every fiber of my being, to cover my chest and hide my shame, but I knew that if I did anything else… I would be killed…
My tears began pouring more profusely.
"... Dammit…"
That… That wasn't me. I didn't say that.
"I can't do it… It's not fair…" I felt teardrops rain down on my face, wetting my cheeks with salty bitterness that did not originate from me. I looked up in confusion to see the tears coming from a surprising source. "... It's not fair…" Ravel still looked angry, but now she also seemed sad. Tears dripped from the sides of her face. "... I'm just as good as her… so why…?" Before she looked like she had been ready to rape me, but now she looked liked she was in desperate need of a hug.
"Eh…?" … Why does it feel like something wrong I did earlier is coming back to bite me on the ass?
Ravel had the collar of my shirt clenched in her trembling hands. "... Why can't you feel the same way about me?!" She screamed at me, causing me to flinch. Tears began pouring from her eyes like waterfalls. "I'm your master now, so why can't you talk to me as affectionately as you always speak of Leviathan-sama!? I'm younger, but I'm still just as good…" Yep… Ravel was definitely looking like she needed a hug.
Yes, I know I'm an idiot considering what she just tried to do to me… but I just can't do nothing when a cute girl is breaking down in tears in front of me.
I sat up and wrapped my arms around Ravel, holding her close as she buried her face into my chest, sobbing loudly.
"You're a big jerk… You say words sweetened with honey to lure me in and then you stab me in the heart…" Ravel sobbed. "So why… why can't I do bad things to you…?"
I gently rubbed the young girl's head, trying to calm her. "Ravel… why would you do something like this?"
Ravel choked on her sobs, trying to form coherent sentences. "B-Because! I-I just felt s-so angry!" She tried to take deep breaths to stop her tears, but the moment she managed to stop her sobs, a fresh torrent of tears burst from her eyes.
Angry?
"I-I heard what you said t-to Isabela!" Ravel cried. Oh shit. "Y-You said you don't c-care about m-me! And that y-you would just l-leave me the moment you could for L-L-Leviathan-sama!"
My heart stopped. Ravel had been eavesdropping? S-She heard everything…
I thought back to everything I had said to Isabela.
"I won't say that being here at the moment is bad, but the only reason I'm going along with this honestly is so I can someday return to the side of my TRUE master and lover, Serafall. Ravel's a cute girl, but I don't care for her THAT much and have no intention of remaining with her."
I. Am. An idiot. For more reasons than one.
In the ears of a hopelessly in-love and easily jealous girl… I admit I would want to kick my own ass if I saw it from her point of view.
Even after hearing such words, distorted in her mind by her emotions, Ravel still couldn't bring herself to actually harm me.
Ravel then got off me and curled up into a ball at the edge of her bed, burying her face into her hands and crying.
"I j-just… I've never felt this way before!" She sobbed. "And now you hate me even moooore!"
"No I don't." I sighed out.
"Yes you dooooo!" Ravel argued.
I crawled over to the crying girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched, but didn't pull away. "NO, I don't." I pulled the girl closer and hugged her against my chest, crying to herself. "I think you're kind of batshit crazy, but everyone is deep down when it comes to the world of the supernatural. I've never hated you, Ravel."
The crying girl's tears began to slowly dry up as she looked up from her hands at me. "B-But the things you said—!"
I sighed once more. "Look, Ravel… I… I never should have said those things the way I said them. I was a little upset and sad." I admitted. "Look… this isn't easy for me. Before I was surrounded by all of my best friends and several girls whom I was in love with, building my own harem. I had my most affectionate master, Serafall. Just to pick up and come to a completely new place and leave all of that behind… It hurts a little, ya know?" I felt my insides tighten, admitting all of my feelings here. "I had to keep the thought of returning home in my mind… Even if it was just a pipe dream, I knew it would get me through the change. I never meant for you to be hurt by my words, Ravel. I would never desire to hurt a cute girl like you in that way."
"..." Ravel just stared, tears in her eyes. She still looked sad and tired, just not quite so angry anymore.
"And it's not that I would never return your feelings," I said, being all about honesty for some reason now, "But we have had no romantic chemistry. The girls I love back home, we've all had some sort of romantic development or deeply care about each other. You and I barely know anything about one another and have only met once before I became your servant, so we CAN'T be together let alone lovers. I'm a pervert, I admit, but I am a pervert of principles."
"I understand…" Ravel choked out, doing her damned well best not to cry again. "I… I should just be happy that you don't hate me. I know you'll never feel the same way…"
"Never said that."
"Huh?" Ravel perked up, staring at me questioningly.
"Like I said, my girls and I have romantic developments, but that didn't mean I loved them immediately." I explained. "Ravel… you're cute. At your core, you're not a bad person. You are an adorable tsundere. If you want us to love each other, then you must give it time. You can't force someone into love. So… if you still want to love an ecchi guy like me… I guess we could have a trial run."
Ravel blinked, her face flushing. "I-I never s-said 'love'! "
Oh. How cute she is, trying to maintain a shred of dignity despite being almost completely naked! What a cute tsundere! Seriously though, it's a little late for denial like that, sweetheart.
I smirked, waving off Ravel's words. "Fine then. I take it back." I teased.
"No no no! I—!" Ravel blushed deeply, trying to undo my retraction of the offer. She was still blushing deeply. "I-I… I would like to do a trial run for… for being your woman…"
This girl…
She had gone from arrogant to adorable to batshit insane back to arrogant and aaaaall the way back to adorable again.
I hugged her again. "Well then, from this point forward, you, Ravel Phenex, are my Probationary Harem Girl~!" Ravel stared at me, blushing madly. I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah… even I admit that that name sucked. I'm not good with coming up with names on the sp—"
Ravel buried her face into my chest, sighing contently. "Even in this situation… I'm oddly happy." I could appreciate that response. What girl wouldn't be mixed at the thought of being in the harem of a guy they liked? "Ruto… can I sleep with you tonight…?"
She sounded so small and adorable that I could not deny her.
"Sure." I answered with a soft smile.
And so we came to a mutual understanding as we laid back down on the bed, the small Phenex girl wrapped up in my arms…
No. Even with what she tried to do…I couldn't hate her. She was never truly malicious in her intent. She was just confused and in pain. She just wanted a way to stop her pain by somehow obtaining what she desired…
"... I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" It came in the softest whispers when I could have sworn Ravel had already gone to sleep.
I held her tightly and gently rubbed her back. "I know, Ravel… I know."
While embracing my new master, I slowly drifted off to sleep while imagining a completely different person within my embrace.