Night had already fully fallen over the Underworld when the newest resident of the Häagenti Mansion arrived...
Alear, informed by the servants of his fiancée's arrival, stood in the mansion's reception hall, dressed in a formal black suit without a tie. His posture was relaxed, hands in his pockets, conveying an almost carefree calm.
The servants finished bringing in the luggage, and then a girl was formally led in by one of the maids, who gave a respectful bow before withdrawing. The young girl possessed a refined and delicate beauty, appearing to be around fifteen years old. Her long golden-blonde hair was carefully styled into two braids with large, well-defined curls, tied with blue ribbons. In the front, a fringe fell over her forehead, forming a V-shape that extended down to the level of her nose. Her eyes, a vibrant light blue, were large and expressive, carrying a mix of aristocratic pride and evident nervousness.
Her face was slender, with elegant features, and her cheeks took on a rosy hue upon noticing her fiancé waiting for her so kindly, while her delicate lips pressed into a subtle line. She wore a light lilac dress with dark purple details and a blue bow at the front. On her back, three feather-like extensions, resembling a bird's tail, extended as part of the outfit's design.
Her hands lightly held her skirt, revealing the tension she felt.
She took a few steps forward, stopping in front of Alear. Her cheeks were visibly flushed, and she avoided holding his gaze for more than a second. With an impeccable bow and a soft, though slightly trembling voice, she introduced herself:
"It… it is an honor to meet you in person, Archduke Häagenti. My name is Ravel Phenex, youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Phenex. From today onward, I will be under your care… please take good care of me."
Her voice came out extremely polite, almost overly formal, with a slight tremor that betrayed her nervousness. She tightened her grip on her skirt, clearly trying to maintain the composure of a noble, but the blush on her face and the way she lightly bit her lower lip revealed just how tense she was.
Alear observed the girl for a moment, noticing her striking resemblance to her mother, and then smiled in a gentle and welcoming manner.
"The pleasure is mine, Ravel. You may call me Alear. Welcome to the Häagenti Mansion. I hope you will feel at home here."
His voice was calm and soft, devoid of any pressure. That seemed to have an effect: Ravel raised her gaze slightly, and the blush on her face diminished a little as her shoulders relaxed.
He then invited her:
"We don't need to stand here, and there's no need to rush things either. We'll be living together from now on, so we can take things slowly. How about we go have some coffee? Although it's a bit late… if you're tired from the trip, we can leave it for tomorrow."
Ravel blinked, surprised by the direct and welcoming proposal. She hesitated briefly before nodding quickly, almost too eagerly.
"Y-yes… I'm not that tired, it would be an honor."
Alear made a small gesture for her to follow. The two began walking side by side through the mansion's gardens, moving away from the main entrance.
He led her to a secluded and luxurious location at the back of the estate: an open pavilion of white marble, adorned with golden details, built upon a small natural elevation. The ceiling was supported by slender columns, richly carved with phoenix motifs, while light white silk curtains swayed gently in the night breeze.
Around them, a private garden stretched in silence, filled with luminescent flowers in shades of blue and gold, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the surroundings with a magical and ethereal light. At the center of the pavilion stood a round table of fine wood, perfectly polished, accompanied by two comfortable armchairs upholstered in dark red velvet.
From there, the place offered a privileged view of much of the mansion's gardens. Crystal-clear water fountains reflected the ambient light, while ancient statues rose in the background, completing the serene and sophisticated atmosphere of the space.
They sat down. A few minutes later, a maid appeared carrying a tray with fresh coffee, tea, and some fine sweets. She served both discreetly and withdrew in silence.
Ravel held her cup with both hands, her fingers slightly trembling. The silence between them made her increasingly nervous. In her mind, doubts began to arise one after another: had he not liked her? Her heart raced as she thought of all the effort she had put into that occasion—carefully choosing the dress, the perfume, the hairstyle… and yet, he had barely spoken to her. Her insecurity grew with the possibility of having been considered unattractive or dull.
She took a deep breath, trying to control her nerves. In truth, she had known Alear for some time—or at least, she knew his story. It all began on the Devilnet, where she, like many young nobles, followed forums and news about the new generation of devils. When rumors emerged about the "young man who awakened from a years-long coma, was miraculously cured of what had until then been an incurable illness, and became the Lord of two ancient houses due to awakening multiple bloodline traits," her curiosity was immediately captured. Since then, she had closely followed everything about him, absorbing every detail of recent events.
The more she read, the more her admiration grew. Her heart raced with each new piece of information, and little by little, Alear ceased to be just a promising name and became a kind of idol in her mind—someone strong, talented, mysterious… and undeniably handsome. Thus, when her parents told her she would be betrothed to him, her reaction was an intense mix of euphoria and panic. That day, she spent hours preparing: carefully choosing her dress, testing different hairstyles, trying perfumes… all with the goal of making the best possible impression.
And now, sitting before him, all that effort seemed to fade into the silence stretching between them—a silence that was gradually beginning to suffocate her.
Alear, noticing her discomfort, brought the cup to his lips and took a sip of coffee before breaking the silence with a calm and gentle voice:
"You seem quite nervous. There's no need to worry so much. I'm not a monster who's going to devour you."
Ravel blushed even more, lowering her gaze slightly as she tightened her grip on the cup.
"Sorry… It's just… I never imagined this would really happen. I… followed your news on the Devilnet for some time. So, I'm a bit nervous about meeting you in person…"
Alear smiled faintly, a playful glint appearing in his magenta-pink eyes as he observed the girl's shy enthusiasm.
"I didn't expect to have such a dedicated fan. That's… unexpected."
Ravel blushed even deeper, her cheeks turning a vivid shade of pink. She gripped the cup, staring at the dark liquid as if it were the most interesting thing in the world before replying in a soft, timid voice:
"You… you are the idol of many young devils, you know? Someone so young becoming the Lord of two Noble Houses, engaged to a Satan, possessing a Longinus and multiple nearly extinct bloodline traits… Your political genius is also widely discussed in the Devilnet forums. It's incredible…!"
She said it all in one breath, almost without pausing, and only realized how carried away she had gotten when she finished. Immediately, she lowered her head, embarrassed.
"Sorry… I got a little carried away…"
Alear let out a low and genuine laugh, the soft sound echoing through the pavilion illuminated by luminescent flowers. He shook his head slightly, looking at her with a gentle glint in his eyes.
"You don't need to apologize. I laughed because I found you cute."
Ravel froze for a second. Her ears turned red, and she clutched the skirt of her dress tightly, her heart pounding uncontrollably in her chest. The word "cute" echoed repeatedly in her mind, sending a warm wave of happiness mixed with shyness through her entire body. She could barely look at him directly, but inside, she was completely radiant.
Alear continued, his tone calmer and more sincere:
"But honestly, most of what I've achieved was just luck. Awakening a Longinus as a human—a rare occurrence… awakening traits from nearly extinct families… even my engagement with Serafall came from the Leviathan bloodline in my veins. I'm just fortunate in all of this…"
Ravel quickly raised her gaze, her blue eyes shining with a mixture of surprise and gentle reproach.
"Don't say that… don't belittle yourself like that, Alear-sama…" she said, her voice gaining a bit more firmness, though still shy. "You're strong enough to kill the assassins of the Smiling Coffin in Agreas on your own. You're skilled enough in politics to become an ally of the second most powerful family in the Underworld. Even my father has nothing but praise for you… he said the Häagenti Family will grow greatly under your leadership…"
Alear merely smiled faintly, finding the girl in front of him quite adorable with that mix of sincere admiration and almost tangible shyness. However, something she said caught his attention more sharply.
"Assassins of the Smiling Coffin…?" he repeated, his tone casual, but with a glint of interest in his magenta-pink eyes. "I'm flattered by Lord Phenex's praise… and that you hold me in such high regard as well. But tell me, where exactly did you hear that name?"
Ravel blinked, surprised that he did not know about the group. She straightened her posture slightly in the armchair, trying not to appear too nervous as she replied:
"Ah… I saw it on a Devilnet forum, in my free time. Some witnesses of the battle in Agreas were commenting about it. They said the group that attacked you was a faction of the Smiling Coffin Assassins… a kind of assassin guild that has some influence in the Underworld. They're discreet, but quite dangerous."
She quickly added, in an almost apologetic tone:
"Not that I'm snooping into your life! I just… follow the news about you since I learned about your awakening. It was a coincidence that I saw that…"
Alear did not mind the explanation. He simply nodded, thanking her with a slight gesture.
"Thank you for the information. That's useful."
He paused briefly, tapping his fingers on the table before asking in a calm tone:
"Do you know if they have any known headquarters? Any fixed place where they operate?"
Ravel shook her head, her blonde curls swaying slightly.
"No… no one knows for sure. They're very good at hiding. At least, in the forums I read, no one mentioned a specific location."
Alear lamented internally, but maintained a faint smile.
"That's a shame. If I knew where they were, I could simply destroy the place in one go."
He said it naturally, almost casually, as if commenting on the weather.
Ravel, however, felt her heart skip a beat. Her blue eyes widened for a moment, shining with deep and almost reverent admiration. His posture and words conveyed a natural confidence and strength that deeply impressed her, causing the blush to return intensely to her cheeks.
Ravel stared at him for a few seconds, her blue eyes shining with almost dazzled admiration. Her hands tightened around the cup as she gathered the courage to speak:
"…You're amazing, Alear-sama. Talking about destroying an entire guild of assassins as if it were something trivial…"
She finished the sentence almost in a whisper, her face completely red.
Alear smiled faintly, finding her reaction quite endearing. However, he slowly shook his head and shifted his tone to something more serious, though still gentle:
"I'm flattered, but we're drifting a bit from the main subject."
He placed his cup on the table and looked directly at her, his magenta-pink eyes calm and piercing.
"Ravel, I want to make sure of something. Are you truly okay with this marriage? Once we marry, there will be no turning back. You will become my wife in truth, and you will live under the same roof as me and my other fiancées. I want you to answer sincerely."
Ravel felt her heart race violently. For a moment, it seemed like she might faint from sheer happiness. Her cheeks burned, her eyes shone, and she had to take a few deep breaths before she could respond.
She leaned forward, her voice trembling but full of determination:
"I… I have no problem at all! In fact… it's a huge honor for me! I accept it with all my heart. Please… take good care of me from now on, Alear-sama. I will do my best to be a wife worthy of you."
Alear raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the intensity of her response, but soon a soft smile appeared on his lips.
He extended his hand across the table and gently held hers. Ravel let out a small sigh upon feeling the warmth of his touch. Alear brought her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of it, lingering a second longer than necessary.
"It will be my pleasure, Ravel."
The girl froze completely, the spot where he kissed seeming to burn. Her heart beat so loudly she was sure he could hear it. An overwhelming happiness took over her entire body, making her legs tremble slightly beneath the table.
She lowered her gaze, biting her lower lip to avoid smiling like an idiot, but it was impossible to hide how happy she was.
Alear kept his gentle smile for a few more seconds, feeling her hand tremble slightly between his fingers. Gently, he released her hand, but not before brushing his thumb once more over the back of it in an almost imperceptible gesture.
"I'm glad for your sincere answer," he said calmly. "So, shall we get to know each other better? I believe you're not sleepy yet…"
Ravel felt warmth rise through her chest. She nodded quickly, her face still flushed.
"I… I would also like to get to know you better, Alear-sama."
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