Chapter 11: The Peacock, The Queen, and the Gremory Gambit
The atmosphere in the Occult Research Club didn't just drop—it solidified into ice.
Rias was in the middle of a lecture regarding Lucian's week-long disappearance when a pillar of fire erupted in the center of the room. From the flames stepped Riser Phoenix, looking every bit the arrogant immortal. His blonde hair was slicked back, and his eyes scanned the room with the hunger of a man who already owned everything he saw.
"Rias, my darling," Riser's voice was like velvet dipped in oil. "How much longer are you going to play house with these low-class servants? You know our marriage is a political absolute. The contracts are signed. The House of Gremory has already given you away."
"I will never marry you, Riser!" Rias shouted, her hands trembling with a mix of fury and genuine dread. "The contract can be broken!"
"By who? Your brother?" Riser scoffed, his gaze drifting over the peerage. "You spent eight Pawns on that?" He pointed a mocking finger at Issei, who looked ready to summon Ddraig and start a war. "And a human nun? You're collecting strays, not warriors."
Finally, Riser's eyes landed on the sofa. Lucian was still sitting there, his legs crossed, leaning back as if he were watching a particularly dull play. Tamamo, his fox familiar, was perched on his shoulder, her tails flicking in sync with her master's bored expression.
"And who is this imbecile?" Riser sneered. "A Bishop who doesn't know how to stand when a High-Class Lord enters the room?"
"Watch your words, Riser Phoenix."
The shadow in the corner lengthened as Sirzechs Lucifer stepped into the light. The Great Satan didn't look angry—he looked disappointed, which was far more terrifying. "You may be a Lord, but you will not insult a member of the Gremory bloodline in my presence."
The Stake of the Game
Sirzechs stepped between the two parties, his Cape of the Four Satans billowing slightly. "Let us settle this civilly. A Rating Game. If Riser wins, the engagement proceeds immediately. If Rias wins, the contract is dissolved and the House of Phoenix withdraws all claims."
Riser's eyes gleamed. He looked at Asia, his gaze lingering in a way that made Issei's blood boil. "Interesting... a healer. She'll make a fine concubine once I take over this household."
Issei roared, his Boosted Gear flickering to life, but Lucian moved faster than anyone expected. He didn't stand up; he simply reached out and grabbed Issei's wrist, pinning it to the table with a strength that shouldn't have belonged to a Bishop.
"Shut up, Issei," Lucian said, his voice a low, cold vibration. "Let the adults handle the gambling."
Lucian finally stood up. He walked toward Riser, his crimson eyes locking onto the Phoenix's orange ones. He glanced at Riser's Queen—Yubelluna, the "Bomb Queen." She stood like a statue of obsidian and fire, her loyalty to Riser absolute. Lucian saw her not just as an enemy, but as a masterpiece wasted on a mediocre artist.
"Lord Phoenix," Lucian said, his tone deceptively polite. "You seem so confident in your 'immortal' victory. But a game with only one stake is a boring one. Why not make it interesting for the audience?"
Riser laughed, a sharp, barking sound. "A Gremory branch-member wants to talk contracts? What could you possibly offer me that I won't already own in a week?"
"Myself," Lucian replied.
The room went silent. Rias gasped, "Lucian, no!"
"If we win, the engagement is broken," Lucian continued, ignoring his King. "But if you win, I will leave the Gremory peerage willingly. I will join the House of Phoenix as your personal Bishop. Imagine the prestige, Riser. A direct descendant of the Power of Destruction, serving as your strategist. The political flex alone would make you the most envied man in the Underworld."
Riser's eyes widened. This was a massive gamble. To have a Gremory—especially one who resembled the Lucifer himself—bowing to him? It was a trophy beyond price.
"But," Lucian's smile sharpened, "the House of Phoenix isn't so poor that it can't offer a counter-stake. If I'm putting my life on the line, what is the Bomb Queen worth to you?"
Riser looked at Yubelluna. He didn't see a person; he saw a calculated risk. "You want to play for my Queen? Fine. I accept. I'll even oversee the transfer contract myself. If I lose, Yubelluna becomes your personal assistant—your property. But when I win... I look forward to seeing you on your knees, Lucian Gremory."
Yubelluna's mask of composure didn't break, but her eyes flickered with a brief, haunting spark of shock. She had been wagered like a common coin.
The Gremory Scolding
The moment Riser and his entourage vanished in a swirl of fire, the explosion came.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Rias screamed, grabbing Lucian by the collar. "You bet your freedom! You bet your life on a match we might lose! Do you think so little of me that you'd just throw yourself away?"
"I think the cost of victory is high, Rias," Lucian said, gently prying her hands off. "Riser is overconfident. By taking Yubelluna as his counter-stake, I've rattled his ego. He thinks he's gaining a Lucifer-lookalike; I'm making sure he loses his most powerful piece."
"You're an idiot," Rias whispered, her eyes brimming with frustrated tears. "You're my Bishop. You're my family. You didn't even ask..."
"I have my own will, Rias," Lucian said, turning to walk away. "I'm not just a piece on your board. I'm the one who makes sure you don't lose the game."
The Silver-Haired Protector
Lucian didn't get far before a gloved hand grabbed his ear.
"Ow! Ow! Not again!"
Grayfia Lucifuge, the Silver-Haired Queen of the Underworld and Sirzechs's wife, dragged Lucian into a private side-room. Sirzechs followed, looking like a man who was contemplating whether to execute his cousin or hug him.
"You are reckless! Shameless! Idiotic!" Sirzechs shouted, pacing the room. "How am I supposed to bail you out of a signed magical contract? If you lose, you are legally bound to that peacock!"
Grayfia, meanwhile, ignored her husband's ranting. She sat Lucian down and began silently peeling an apple, slicing it into perfect pieces and feeding one to him. She then pressed a cool glass of water into his hand.
"Eat," Grayfia said, her voice soft but absolute. "You've been overworked by Rias. Your mana channels are strained from your week in the archives."
"Hey! I'm scolding him here, Grayfia!" Sirzechs yelled.
"He's hungry," Grayfia replied simply, not looking up. "He's a growing boy who just challenged a Lord. He needs sustenance, not your shouting."
She reached out and adjusted Lucian's collar, her eyes softening into the silent, doting sister role she had played for him since he was a child. "And wear a coat before you go to the battlefield. It is cold in the dimensional gap, and you have been far too reckless lately. I heard about the church, Lucian. You nearly died."
Lucian looked at her, a genuine, sheepish smile on his face. "I'm sorry... big sister."
A faint, almost imperceptible blush touched Grayfia's cheeks. She turned away quickly, smoothing her apron. "For this one time, I will let your rudeness off the hook. But do not expect me to be so lenient if you lose this match."
Sirzechs stood in the corner, looking utterly confused. "Does my wife... have a soft spot for him? I didn't even know she had a soft spot."
Sirzechs walked over, his expression finally settling into one of grim determination. "Don't you dare lose, Lucian. I am not ready to lose a family member to that arrogant bird. If you win... I might even forgive you for calling me 'Big Brother' in public."
As the Great Satan and his Queen left, Lucian sat in the quiet room, finishing the apple. He looked at his hands—they were steady. The plot had shifted. The stakes were no longer just Rias's marriage; they were his very existence.
"Tamamo," he whispered.
The fox appeared on his lap, licking her paws. "Yes, Master? Ready to become a servant to a Phoenix?"
"No," Lucian said, his eyes glowing a deep, dangerous red. "Ready to pluck a bird."