Chapter 44: The Sovereign's Mandate and the Auntie's Blessing
The "Freelancer Week" was drawing to a close, and the atmosphere in the Gremory Main Estate had shifted from lazy, pampered recovery to the sharp, electric tension of impending history. While the Underworld's commoners went about their lives beneath the artificial purple sun, the gears of the three Great Factions—Heaven, Hell, and the Grigori—were finally beginning to grind together in a way that would either forge a lasting peace or ignite the final spark of the Great War.
Act 1: The Throne Room Tea
The meeting didn't take place in a cold, sterile briefing room. Instead, it was held in Sirzechs Lucifer's private solar, a room that combined the majesty of a king's study with the comfort of a family parlor.
Sirzechs sat behind a desk carved from a single block of obsidian, looking every bit the Satan of Power. However, that image was slightly undercut by the plate of chocolate biscuits he was currently hovering over.
Opposite him sat Lucian and Rias.
Lucian was draped across an overstuffed velvet armchair, looking entirely too comfortable for someone in the presence of the Underworld's ruler. This comfort was bolstered by the fact that Grayfia Lucifuge was standing directly behind him. She wasn't just standing; she was currently using a small, silver-handled brush to meticulously straighten the lapels of Lucian's suit, her fingers occasionally lingering against his neck to check his "temperature."
Rias sat in the chair next to him, her back as straight as a spear. She was wearing a professional, high-collared Gremory uniform that did little to hide the way her chest heaved with every frustrated breath. Her eyes were fixed on Grayfia's hands.
"I see the training has been... fruitful," Sirzechs began, his blue eyes twinkling with a mischievous light. "Grayfia tells me you've picked up the basics of the Silver Eye Style with surprising speed, Lucian. I haven't seen her this excited about a student since... well, ever."
"He is a natural," Grayfia murmured, her voice like cool silk. She leaned down, ostensibly to adjust Lucian's tie, but she ended up pressing her cheek briefly against his. "His mana channels have stabilized beautifully. He simply needed the right... maternal touch."
Rias's hand tightened on the armrest of her chair until the wood creaked. She didn't say a word, but the crimson aura flickering around her ankles told the whole story.
Sirzechs let out a hearty laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Careful, Lucian. If you stay here much longer, Grayfia might never let you leave the Underworld. You're becoming quite the 'Auntie's Boy,' aren't you? Perhaps you should move into the Annex permanently and train under your beloved aunt for the next century."
Lucian caught the tease and didn't miss a beat. He leaned back, tilting his head up to look at Grayfia, who was now smoothing his hair with a doting expression.
"It's tempting, Uncle," Lucian replied with a cheeky grin, emphasizing the word. "The food is better, the bed is softer, and the training doesn't involve being screamed at by a Red-Haired King. I think I could get used to the royal treatment."
Sirzechs' smile widened. He loved the informality. To most, he was the Lucifer, a god-like entity of destruction. To Lucian, he was just "Uncle," and that connection was worth more than a thousand bowing nobles.
"Uncle, is it?" Sirzechs chuckled. "Bold. I like it. But I'm afraid the holiday is over."
Act 2: The Politics of Peace
The atmosphere in the room solidified. The playfulness didn't vanish, but it was layered over with the weight of leadership. Sirzechs folded his hands over the obsidian desk.
"The Three-Way Summit is officially confirmed," Sirzechs stated. "The location will be Kuoh Academy. It is neutral ground, protected by the Gremory and Sitri territories, and far enough from the prying eyes of the Old Satan Faction's main strongholds."
Lucian's mind immediately went into "Otaku Overdrive." He knew this was the turning point. This was where Michael of Heaven, Azazel of the Fallen Angels, and the Satans would meet to sign a peace treaty. He also knew it was the moment the Khaos Brigade would make their move.
"Michael-dono and Azazel have agreed to the terms," Sirzechs continued. "However, the radical factions within all three sides are foaming at the mouth. They see this as a betrayal of our ancestors. My intelligence network—and Grayfia's personal eyes—have confirmed that a disruption is being planned."
He looked directly at Rias, then at Lucian.
"Rias, your peerage will be the primary escort and security detail for the event. This is a massive responsibility. You are the face of the Gremory household. And that means..." Sirzechs leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No lovey-dovey behavior in public. You are to be professional, disciplined, and stoic. The Archangels are lawful to a fault, and Azazel... well, Azazel is a degenerate, but he respects strength. If you look like a group of teenagers playing house, the treaty will lose its weight before the ink is dry."
Rias nodded solemnly. "I understand, Brother. We will be the perfect guards."
"And Lucian," Sirzechs added. "You are the Wildcard. You aren't officially a part of the standard power structure. I want you to be the shadow. If things go south—and they will—you are the one I'm counting on to stabilize the internal perimeter while I deal with the heavy hitters."
Grayfia's hand squeezed Lucian's shoulder. It was a gesture of both pride and a silent warning to stay safe.
"You can return to the academy in one day," Sirzechs concluded. "Prepare your team. The world is watching."
Act 3: The Departure Chaos
The following morning, the courtyard of the Gremory Manor was a scene of organized—and disorganized—chaos.
Issei Hyoudou was currently standing in a corner, or rather, he was currently being pinned into a corner. Asia Argento and Irina Shidou were hovering over him like two vengeful angels.
"Issei-san!" Asia cried, her face flushed with a mixture of worry and righteous anger. "I saw you trying to peek into the maid's changing room this morning! My heart is breaking! You need to be purified!"
"It was an accident!" Issei wailed, his hands raised in defense. "The door was ajar! The laws of physics pulled my eyes toward it!"
"The laws of perversion, you mean!" Irina barked, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "As a brave warrior of the Lord—and a temporary guest of the Gremorys—I cannot allow such sin to go unpunished! Repent, Issei! Repent or feel the sting of a holy discipline!"
She began "purifying" him with a series of rapid-fire chops to the top of his head, while Asia held his arms so he couldn't escape.
Kiba stood nearby, sighing as he checked the luggage. "They've been at it for twenty minutes. I think Issei is actually starting to enjoy the attention."
Lucian walked toward the teleportation circle, flanked by Tamamo and Yubelluna. Both women were dressed in high-end traveling clothes that left very little to the imagination. Tamamo's dress was slit up to the hip, showing off her long, fox-spirit legs, while Yubelluna's blouse was struggling to contain her generous curves.
Grayfia stepped forward to meet them. She ignored the screaming Issei and the bustling servants. She walked straight to Lucian.
She reached out, cupping his face in her hands. To the surprise of everyone—especially Rias—Grayfia leaned in and gave Lucian's cheeks a firm, affectionate pinch, before leaning down to kiss each one.
"Come back here if the girls bully you, Lucy," Grayfia whispered loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear. "The Silver Annex is always open for you. If Rias becomes too... taxing... I will personally send a carriage to retrieve you."
Lucian chuckled, leaning into her touch. "I'll keep that in mind, Auntie. Try not to freeze the mansion while I'm gone."
He reached out and gave her a quick, tight hug, a gesture that Grayfia reciprocated with a softness that made the surrounding maids gasp. She was the "Silent Queen," the "Ice Cold Maid," but for Lucian, she was just family.
Rias was standing five feet away, her face a terrifying shade of crimson. Her "petty" meter was off the charts. She watched the cheek-pinching with the intensity of a hawk watching a mouse.
She's doing it on purpose, Rias thought, her teeth grinding. She's marking him as hers right before I take him back. She's challenging me!
Act 4: The Return to Kuoh
The teleportation circle flared with a blinding crimson light, and a moment later, the Gremory Peerage was standing in the center of the occult research clubroom back at Kuoh Academy.
The familiar scent of old wood and Akeno's tea greeted them.
"Ah, home sweet home," Issei groaned, collapsing onto the sofa. "My head hurts. Irina hits like a truck."
"It's because your skull is full of sin, Issei-kun," Akeno teased, appearing from the kitchen with a tray of refreshments. She looked at Lucian, her eyes dancing with hidden meaning. "Welcome back, Lucian. You look... refreshed. Grayfia-sama must have taken excellent care of you."
Lucian smirked, catching her gaze. "She did. I learned a few things about 'cold discipline' that I think you'd appreciate, Akeno."
Rias didn't join the banter. She walked straight to Lucian, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him toward her private office. "Everyone else, start the inventory of the defensive seals. Lucian and I need to... discuss the tactical layout."
She slammed the office door shut and locked it with a flick of her wrist.
Rias spun around, her eyes glowing. She looked at Lucian's cheeks—the ones Grayfia had just pinched and kissed. "She marked you," Rias hissed, her voice a mix of pouty frustration and rising heat.
"It was just a goodbye, Rias," Lucian teased, leaning against her desk.
"It was a territorial claim!" Rias countered, stepping into his space. She grabbed his lapels, pulling him down toward her. "If my sister-in-law thinks she can claim the 'Aunt' card to monopolize you, she's mistaken. We're back in Kuoh now. This is my territory. And you are my Bishop."
She leaned in, her lips inches from his. "I'm going to mark you properly tonight. By the time I'm done, you won't even remember what Grayfia's tea tastes like."
Lucian let out a low, dark laugh, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him. "Is that a promise, President? Because we have a Summit to prepare for, and I'd hate for you to be too tired to lead."
Rias's breath hitched. "I can handle a Summit. I've been practicing my endurance."
Act 5: The Shadow of the Dragon
While the romantic tension boiled over in the clubroom, the rest of the team was already in high-gear preparation.
Yubelluna was coordinating with Tamamo to set up a secondary "Invisible Perimeter" around the school. Using Tamamo's fox-magic and Yubelluna's knowledge of Phoenix-style fire barriers, they were creating a trap that would trigger the moment any unauthorized teleportation occurred.
"The Master expects us to be the shield," Yubelluna said, her eyes fixed on the school maps. "If the Fallen Angels or the Old Satans think they can just walk into this academy, they are going to find themselves in a very painful oven."
"Indeed," Tamamo agreed, her tails swaying rhythmically. "And if that 'White Dragon' shows up... I want to see if he can fly through a nine-tailed blizzard."
Down in the courtyard, Lucian eventually emerged from Rias's office, his collar slightly ruffled and his expression one of calm satisfaction. He looked up at the moon hanging over Kuoh.
He knew the peace wouldn't last. The Summit was a beautiful dream, but the reality was a world of monsters, gods, and ancient grudges.
Azazel is coming. Michael is coming. And Vali is coming, Lucian thought. He flexed his hand, and for a brief second, the air around his palm shimmered with a pale, silver frost—the signature of Grayfia's magic, now a permanent part of his arsenal.
He wasn't just a fan of the show anymore. He wasn't just a reader. He was the Gremory Wildcard, and he was about to flip the script on the entire Three-Way Summit.
"Let them come," Lucian whispered to the night. "I've got a family to protect, and an Auntie to make proud."