Highschool DxD : The Time Devil

Chapter 13- A Future Queen's Daily Life

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Lavinia's POV

The past year can be described as both the saddest and happiest period of my life. It started off challenging, with the death of my parents and everyone abandoning me and fearing me, but everything turned out well in the end. It's been nearly a year since I came to live with the Agares clan in the Underworld alongside Maximus, and I can honestly say this time has brought me so much happiness. Here, they treat me with kindness and understanding, never fearing me because of my Sacred Gear, Absolute Demise. I used to worry that others would see me as ominous or avoid me, but here, it's different—they accept me as I am, Lady Maria's kindness, Seekvaira's friendship, and Maximus' companionship, all make me cherish my new life in the underworld very much.

It was only recently that I learned the true nature of Whitey, the large doll-like figure I'd always thought of as a ghost friend. Turns out, Whitey is one of the greatest creations of the Biblical God and among the thirteen Longinus Sacred Gears capable of killing even gods. I was shocked, of course, but strangely enough, that shock quickly turned to relief and joy. This meant I wasn't just some helpless girl. With this power, I could finally be someone who could support and protect Maximus, as he's done for me. Knowing he wants me as his queen, I feel a responsibility to be strong for him.

Living in the Underworld, I've learned about the Peerage System and the special role of the Queen piece, which signifies a deputy and the most trusted member in a Devil's Peerage. The weight of that responsibility isn't lost on me. I know that if I'm to stand beside him in such an important role, I need to be as capable as possible. Over the past year, I've trained with Maximus almost daily, working hard to make sure I'll be ready when the time comes. Lady Agatha, who understands my human origins, has also been incredibly patient, teaching me magic. Since I'm still human, I can't wield magic in the same way devils do, so Lady Agatha—who was once human herself—has taught me the basics, at least on a theoretical level. I know I'll eventually become a devil once Maximus gathers his Peerage, and using magic would be much easier then, but for now, I'm absorbing as much knowledge as possible.

My thoughts drifted to a conversation we had not long ago. It was just the two of us, and he opened up about his true strength, something he keeps hidden from everyone else. Maximus is already at a Satan-level of power—only two others in the Underworld surpass him, Sirzechs Lucifer and Azuka Beelzebub, And yet, not even his family knows. 'I trust you with this because you'll be my queen, my partner', he had said, his voice steady and his gaze fixed on mine. 'I won't keep secrets from you'.

His words had stunned me, leaving a feeling I couldn't quite shake. A mixture of pride and… something warmer, something that made me feel both honored and a little flustered. Maximus wasn't just strong; he was amongst the very top among devils. And he trusted me enough to tell me.

But why me? I had asked, unable to hide my disbelief.

'Because you're the one I want beside me', he'd replied, his voice gentle but unyielding. 'As my queen and as my deputy. We'll need that trust, Lavinia'.

(~~Yes he was scheming here, no not for cringe, he was ensuring Lavinia's loyalty~~)

Looking back, that moment felt like a turning point. I wasn't just some girl he'd taken in out of kindness. He saw me as an equal, as someone worthy of sharing in his secrets, even if I didn't always feel like I was worthy of it. And so, I promised him I'd never share this knowledge, not with anyone—not even his family, until he wanted. His secret was safe with me.

Today started off like any other day. I hummed to myself as I walked through the hallways toward Maximus's room. For all his focus and determination in training, he's rather lazy when it comes to getting out of bed. Without someone waking him up, he'd happily sleep through the morning and into the afternoon! And, well… maybe I find a bit too much fun in waking him up myself. Reaching his door, I pushed it open to see him sprawled across his massive bed, arms and legs stretched out in all directions. Honestly, everything about this castle is intimidatingly grand—he even has a bed large enough to fit a small group comfortably, yet he manages to take up the entire space on his own.

Grinning, I slipped quietly into the room and approached the bed. With a mischievous glint in my eye, I leaned over and started tickling his sides. "Hehe! Wake up, Max! It's morning!" I teased, my fingers working at his ribs, oh yeah, did I mention that he is rather ticklish?.

"Urgh… Lavi…! Stop it!" he grumbled, trying to bat my hands away as he squirmed under the covers, but I didn't let up. His face twisted between a sleepy frown and a reluctant smile as he tried to fend me off. "Alright, alright, I'm up!" he finally conceded, sitting up with a groggy look.

I laughed and backed away, hands raised in a mock surrender. "You know, one day you'll actually wake up on your own, and I'll be out of a job," I teased.

Maximus stretched, still half-asleep but now managing a small smile. "Don't worry, Lavinia. I'll always find some reason for you to keep coming around."

That brought a warmth to my chest, but I quickly brushed it off, feigning a casual look. "Anyway, you should get ready. We have training soon, and Lady Agatha promised to teach me something new today."

Maximus groaned, though he was already moving to get out of bed. "Sometimes I wonder if you enjoy waking me up just to make me suffer," he joked.

"Well, if you didn't sleep like a rock every morning, maybe I wouldn't have to," I shot back playfully.

After a few minutes, he was finally out of bed and getting ready for the day, while I headed to the dining hall. Lady Maria had a knack for arranging meals that were as delicious as they were nourishing, and with our training regimen, we needed all the energy we could get. We had a routine, one that had grown familiar and comforting. We'd eat, train, share stories, and, over time, I found myself cherishing these moments with him.

And maybe, somewhere deep down, that feeling was growing into something more. Something that felt like… a crush?? maybe....