The dining hall of the Sitri estate was warm, the long table glittering with crystal glasses and polished silver. Lord Sitri sat at the head, calm and composed, Lady Sitri beside him, her smile gentle as always. Serafall sat on the other end, humming happily as she stole glances at her little sister.
And at the center of it all, Sona sat stiff-backed in her seat, clearly trying to maintain her composure while the storm called Riser Phenex sat next to her, relaxed, as if he owned the place.
"Well then, Riser Phenex," Lord Sitri began, his voice measured, "your recent… visit to the Gremory household has stirred quite the commotion. I imagine you're aware of the rumors spreading like wildfire?"
Riser picked up his glass, sipping casually before replying. "Of course. But rumors are just that—noise. What matters is that my decision is made. Rias and I are finished. Sona is the only one I've chosen."
Lady Sitri tilted her head slightly. "It was a bold move… but perhaps dangerously bold. Confronting Lord and Lady Gremory directly, even insulting their daughter—it has made waves across the entire Underworld."
Serafall leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Fufufu~ waves? More like a tsunami! Riser-chan, you practically spat in the faces of the Gremorys and their Maou son. Do you have any idea how fuming Sirzechs must be right now? Hehehe, I almost wish I could've seen his face!"
Riser smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Sirzechs, Gremory, nobles—it's all the same to me. If they're angry, so be it. I did what needed to be done."
Then he held up a hand. "And please, spare me the lectures. I've already received one from your daughter."
Sona stiffened, turning sharply toward him. "Riser—!"
But he wasn't done. His grin widened as he glanced at her. "You should've seen how cute she was. All flustered, denying she was worried about me… and then—"
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper loud enough for the table to hear. "—when she kissed me."
The table froze.
Lady Sitri blinked, her hand delicately covering her lips. Lord Sitri arched a brow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in amusement. Serafall practically squealed.
"Ehhhh?! So-tan kissed him?!" Serafall gasped, slamming her hands on the table with a sparkle in her eyes. "Kyaaaa~ my little sister is growing up so fast! Ufufufu, and here I thought you'd freeze him out forever~"
Sona's face turned crimson, her composure cracking like shattered glass. "Riser! Must you speak of such things at the dinner table?!"
Riser laughed heartily, his golden eyes glinting with mischief and sincerity alike. "Of course I must. After all, it was the highlight of my week. A kiss from my beautiful fiancée—how could I not share that with her family?"
"R-Riser!" Sona hissed, her hand smacking his arm beneath the table.
But he only chuckled again, leaning slightly toward her ear and whispering so only she could hear, though the redness in her cheeks betrayed everything:
"You really are too cute when you're embarrassed, Sona. If you keep acting like this, I'll fall even harder."
Her heart stuttered, her face buried quickly in her hands.
Meanwhile, her parents exchanged a glance, both smiling faintly. And Serafall, of course, was already plotting how to tease her little sister about this for weeks to come.