I was sipping tea in my office when the phone suddenly rang.
I glanced at the caller ID: "Hello? Cassien, how are you holding up!"
It was Lavinia Reni.
I'd saved her when she was still a kid and basically adopted her back then.
This was way before she became one of the top wizards.
So if she was calling, it probably meant she'd just wrapped up some mission.
"I'm good, Lavinia. You need something?"
There was a pause on the line. "…Why do you always ask if I need something the second I call?"
"Well, I haven't heard from you since last year. Can you blame me for being surprised you suddenly rang? Either you want something from me, or you're calling to mess with my head. Maybe you entered puberty? Are you in your rebellious phase or what? Maybe this is that day of the month."
A loud yell exploded from the speaker: "YOU OLD-SOUL JERK! I'M NOT REBELLIOUS!!"
I chuckled: "You're not denying the puberty part, though."
"…Forget it. I just wanted to let you know I joined Grigori. They gave me a chance to get stronger without bothering you. I'm basically working as a mercenary now."
I rested my chin on my hand and switched to speaker: "So you ditched devils and went fallen angel. Should I be happy about that?"
Lavinia went quiet for a bit: "…Could you at least once say you love me without me having to prompt you?"
"I love you."
"IT DOESN'T COUNT WHEN I HAVE TO ASK FIRST!"
"Geez, calm down, Lavinia. Just tell me what's going on," I said.
Another long silence.
For a second, I wondered if the girl had finally lost it.
I'd rescued her when she was really young—she was only two years younger than me.
Still, when I offered to help her back then, she accepted.
Part of me even thought of her as a backup plan if I ever hit a wall in my own power growth.
You know… a little manipulation never hurt.
But a year ago, Lavinia had left and left an apology note.
…
Lavinia finally spoke again, voice softer: "I just wanted to hear your voice… And later… I want to join your peerage. Is that possible?"
"I'll think about it. I've got marriage stuff on my plate right now."
Her tone dropped, suddenly sad. "Marriage? Are you actually thinking about getting married? Who is it?"
I heard a small noise at the door—Valerie was definitely listening.
"If possible, I'd prefer a MILF. That's why I went for Grayfia Lucifuge first, but she doesn't seem interested. Maybe Misla Bael could work."
Lavinia: "…I didn't know you had that kind of preference."
"What, is it weird?"
I could practically feel her wanting to reach through the phone and strangle me: "No… It's just very… unique. And it suits your personality."
Was that a compliment? Whatever.
"Talk later," I said, and hung up.
Right after, Valerie stepped inside.
She placed an energy drink on my desk and sat across from me: "Cassien… can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
She was clearly embarrassed, even without looking directly at me: "If it's okay… I'd like to go on a date with you. We've never really walked around Lilith together."
"I get it. On my next day off, I'll take you out."
But then my phone buzzed with a message.
I opened it.
[Venelana: Cassien, you should drop by sometime. It'd be nice for Rias to see you before she starts school.]
[Cassien: I'll swing by soon, trust me, Venelana.]
[Venelana: (v) ]
Man, I really was a busy guy.
My relationship with Venelana wasn't bad at all, but it still wasn't at the "together" level.
The night my house got destroyed, and everything after—she'd helped me a lot.
I'd known the Gremory family since I was a kid.
Our clans always got along pretty well.