NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Circumstance
"Congratulations, Lady Rias. From my perspective, Vahn-sama should be more than capable of fulfilling his obligation as your and Princess Sona's spouse..." remarked Grayfia, offering a sincere smile as she looked down at Vahn and Rias, the latter lying listlessly on the former's chest, panting heavily after nearly ten straight hours of continuous lovemaking.
"Then return...and inform my brother...I will choose my path from here onward..." panted Rias, feeling substantial relief until she noticed Grayfia showed no signs of leaving.
"There are still two other matters," said Grayfia, explaining, "First, I have been asked to confirm whether Vahn-sama has the capacity to contract Devils of a Class higher than High. Second, there is still the matter related to Marquis Phenex House."
Blinking in surprise, Rias rose to a seated position, her head tilted as she asked, "You intend to form a contract with Vahn?"
"Presuming he is able," confirmed Grayfia, shifting her gaze as he rose to sit next to Rias with a similarly confused look, looking no worse for wear despite his vigorous ministrations throughout the night.
Seeing it as her responsibility, Rias turned to Vahn and explained, "Grayfia is an Ultimate-Class Devil. But she isn't just any Ultimate Class. She holds the title of The Strongest Queen and represents the pinnacle of the Class. If an ordinary person were to try and form a pact with her, their life would be snuffed out just requesting her name..."
"Thank you for the praise~" hummed Grayfia, maintaining a professional smile as she stood with her hands folded over her lap.
Frowning deeply, Rias was going to reject the apparent attempt to have Vahn commit suicide when the person in question abruptly caressed her head, smiling as he assured her, "I'll be fine..." before kissing her cheek.
"You had better be..." responded Rias, adopting a pouty expression as she contended, "Because I'm not sure even Grayfia would be able to resurrect you if you died..."
"It shouldn't come to that," stated Grayfia, assuring, "If I sense that Vahn-sama's life force is at risk of being extinguished, I will cancel the contract before it can complete. After all, I have already confirmed his capacity as both a male and an asset to House Gremory."
"Fine..." responded Rias, sporting a sullen look as she added, "But since you've put us through all of this at the behest of my family and brother, I think it's only fair that you suffer a bit of shame yourself..."
"My only request is that you do not forget our relationship..." responded Grayfia, closing her eyes and bowing her head, exhibiting the willingness of any proper maid.
Explaining things on Grayfia's behalf, Rias turned to Vahn and revealed, "She doesn't like to bring it up in the execution of her duties, but Grayfia is the Queen and Wife of my brother, Sirzechs. She is also the mother of my younger nephew, Millicas, so while you should definitely punish her, don't take things too far..."
"Okay...?" responded Vahn, feeling a little disjointed as he felt like Rias was all but telling him to make a perverted request of Grayfia. However, as the wife of his future brother-in-law, a man who happened to be the most powerful Devil in Hell, more than just his instincts were telling him not to...
Seeing through Vahn's indecision, Grayfia smiled and stated, "If you are able to form a pact with me, you will have more than earned the right to my services. Devil society is built upon the principles of equivalence and the fulfillment of desires. I will also grow more powerful as a result of our contract, so you need not hesitate."
"Then..." started Vahn, his mind and heart racing slightly as he carefully considered his words, stating, "My request is that you serve me no more and no less than you are willing..."
"Mmm...I understand what you were trying to do, but that may have been a mistake..." remarked Rias, adopting a wry smile as Grayfia responded, "I understand," before touching her abdomen with her left hand, causing her maid outfit to disappear, revealing that she hadn't been wearing a bra and providing Vahn an eye-opening glimpse of her phenomenal physique. She was wearing panties, but they were the scantest Vahn had ever glimpsed, black with lace embroidery and having more in common with a string than a proper pair of panties. Accompanying these were a matching garter belt and thigh-high stockings, forming a captivating contrast with her fair and notably plump thighs and long legs, ending in dark red heels.
"I think I need additional explaining..." remarked Vahn, allowing his gaze to wander Grayfia's body but with no intentions behind it, only confusion and undisguised appreciation for her beauty.
Lowering herself to her knees, Grayfia began to massage her breasts with a stoic expression as she dutifully explained, "You requested that I serve you no more and no less than I am willing, but as the Head Maid of House Gremory, there is nothing I am unwilling to do to ensure their continuance and prosperity..."
"But this isn't exactly what I had in mind..." remarked Vahn.
"But it's what I'm willing to do..." countered Grayfia, gently kneading her nipples while holding Vahn's gaze as she stated, "But I would appreciate it if you refused me before we crossed the line..."
"Oh...if that's the case, I refuse your services indefinitely..." said Vahn, prompting a faint smile to develop across Grayfia's face as she rose to her feet, rematerializing her maid outfit as she looked to Rias and hummed, "It would appear his character is just as exceptional as his abilities..."
"Yes. I am well aware..." responded Rias, breathing a faintly exasperated sigh from her nose.
"Wait...was all of that a test...?" asked Vahn, looking slightly incredulous until Grayfia answered, "Yes and no. I was asked to test your character via the request you made of me, but I was also prepared to serve you to the utmost of my ability. And if you rescind your refusal of my services at any point, I will render them without hesitation so long as our contract is in effect. That said...I wish you the best of luck..."
Following Grayfia's words, a complex crimson Magic Circle appeared in the air, similarly crimson threads of energy emanating from Vahn's pores as his life force drained so rapidly he felt as though he were attached to a dialysis machine powered by a fission reactor. Fortunately, no matter how drained he felt, he had a functionally infinite amount to pull from, causing Gayfia's eyes to widen in a rare expression of shock as the contract came into effect without him so much as appearing woozy.
"Vahn-sama is beyond exceptional..." remarked Grayfia, her words filled with awe and sincerity. It had been centuries since she could last form a pact with a human, and the quality of Vahn's life force was unlike anything she had experienced, and that included her husband and a Dragon King...
"Thank you for the compliment," responded Vahn, his expression just as sincere before he appended, "But I think it's about time Rias and I ready ourselves for school. Thank you for your time."
'I see they're teaching him how to converse with servants as well...' noted Grayfia, outwardly offering Vahn and Rias a courteous and respectful bow as she expressed, "Then I shall return later this afternoon. Good luck with your studies..."
As Vahn had already excused her, Grayfia followed her words by raising her head, smiling, and activating a teleporation Magic Circle without the need to prepare it. Less than a second later, she was gone, leaving Rias to exhale a tired sigh before leaning against Vahn's chest, muttering, "I think I will take the day off..."
"Then I will as well..." appended Vahn, kissing the top of Rias's head and wrapping his arms reassuringly around her. At first, she was going to say he shouldn't skip school on her behalf, but considering what she had put him through on her family's behalf, she felt they could both use a break...
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"So this is the boy my most cherished sister has chosen as her husband..." remarked an incredibly handsome man with shoulder-length, somewhat spiky crimson hair that framed his face with long fringe bangs. The shape of his blue eyes was sharp, but there was a distinctive gentleness to them that was absent in the eyes of most Devils, a characteristic made all the more unusual considering he was the present leader of Hell and the most powerful Devil, Sirzechs Lucifer.
"His character, capabilities, and capacity for growth are all exceptional..." said Grayfia, standing to the right of Sirzech's throne as she replayed the scenes of her exploration of the Corridor and her interactions with Vahn via magical hologram. To the average person, the projection resembled a sphere of rapidly flashing lights, but to the two high-ranking Devils, even playing things back at 10,000x speed would appear slow if they focused. Fortunately for Rias and Vahn, certain scenes were censored...
"He has quite the stamina..." remarked Sirzechs, a slightly annoyed look adorning his face. It was well known throughout the Underworld that he had a moderate sister complex, so while he appreciated Vahn's efforts to help perpetuate their line, a small part of him envied and slightly resented the mysterious boy...
"Your loyalty, while appreciated, concerns me sometimes..." hummed Sirzechs, a faintly exasperated sigh escaping his nose as the playback reached the scene of his wife effectively propositioning Vahn. Among Devils, it was generally accepted that services rendered as a result of a contract weren't considered cheating, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't relieved to see Vahn refuse his wife's...
With the playback ending, Sirzechs leaned onto the knuckles of his right hand, his almost perpetually smiling face unreadable as he softly tapped the left armrest of his throne with his left index finger. Based on what he had just witnessed, Vahn's capabilities were even greater than what Rias had reported. The Corridor alone was a literal treasure trove, and if they could discover a method to keep it open and grant Young Devils access to it, it could serve as a safe and incredibly fruitful training ground. The issue was Heaven and Grigori...the former obviously knew of Vahn's existence and had doubtlessly been keeping tabs on him. As for the latter...Sirzechs would wager his crimson locks that the leader of the Fallen Angels had at least a few eyes within Kuoh Town and the Academy itself...
'If this boy isn't eliminated outright...he will either tip the scales in one side's favor or become the lynchpin ensuring peace between the Three Factions...' thought Sirzechs, the tapping of his left index finger gradually picking up speed. He was presently trying to broker a deal with Michael and Azazel, the leaders of the two opposing factions, to usher in an era of peace or, at the very least, tolerance. An existence like Vahn jeopardized everything, but if they used him, all three factions stood to benefit greatly from his anomalous, potentially even God-like powers...
Ceasing his tapping, Sirzechs' expression firmed as he said, "Please bring me my father, Lord Phenex, and the third son of House Phenex. I intend to approve their request for a Rating Game, but given the circumstances, we will be making a slight addendum to the rules..."
Seeing through her husband's intentions, a mischievous smile developed across Grayfia's face as she offered a courteous bow and responded, "As Your Majesty wills..."
"Oh, and Grayfia..." said Sirzechs, causing his wife to stop and turn back to face him before she could depart.
Exhaling faintly from his nose, Sirzechs regained his smile as he added, "If the opportunity presents itself, make sure you teach that boy just how incredible you are. The thought of him touching you sickens me, but I am more offended by his prompt refusal of your services as no man should be able to resist your charms: human, Devil, or otherwise..."
"I understand completely," responded Grayfia, offering another courteous bow before raising her head and resuming her departure. She knew what Sirzechs was actually saying was that they couldn't afford to lose Vahn to another faction, so if an opportunity presented itself, she would teach him how she was able to keep the leader of Hell wrapped around her finger in the bedroom. So much so that, despite the circumstances of their race, he had never even considered taking a second wife, mistress, or concubine...
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