The ballroom fell into a rhythmic silence as Reinhardt stepped onto the floor. The air shifted instantly—his Advanced Conqueror's Haki was simmering just beneath the surface, giving him an aura of undeniable authority.
"Kyaaa! Rein-sama! Look over here!" the daughters of the noble houses squealed, their faces flushed.
Among the crowd, the future leaders of the Underworld—Sirzechs Gremory, Ajuka Astaroth, Falbium Glasya-Labolas, and Serafall Sitri—all turned at once. Serafall immediately turned a shade of pink. "Hey... that guy is actually super handsome!" she whispered, her eyes sparkling.
Grayfia, standing in a corner in an elegant gown, finally spotted him. Her heart gave a traitorous thump, but seeing the way the other girls were ogling him made her pout with a sudden, sharp pang of jealousy.
Reinhardt moved forward, scanning the room. He mentally checked off the names on his "list"—the enemies he would eventually crush. But his eyes lingered only on a few: the icy Grayfia, the energetic Serafall, and the dangerous Katerea Leviathan.
"Hello there, gentlemen," Reinhardt said, stopping before the Gremory group. He turned his gaze to Serafall with a charming tilt of his head. "And beautiful lady."
Serafall's brain momentarily short-circuited. "So... Rein-chan? Can I call you that?"
Reinhardt chuckled, a deep, smooth sound. "For a beautiful woman like you, there may be some rewards. I suppose I can allow it."
"Thank you!" Serafall beamed. Sirzechs stepped forward, offering a polite hand. "I am Sirzechs Gremory. This is Ajuka, Falbium, and Serafall."
"Call me Sera-tan, okay, Rein-chan?" Serafall chirped.
"How about I call you Princess Sera?" Reinhardt countered.
Fwoosh! Steam practically erupted from Serafall's head as she turned bright red, fanning herself frantically while the others laughed. They chatted for a while, and the future Satans were deeply impressed by Reinhardt's wit and hidden depth. Before they parted, Serafall boldly snatched Reinhardt's number, skipping away with a triumphant grin.
The Clash with the "Prince"
As Grayfia finally worked up the courage to approach him, the atmosphere turned sour. A descendant of the Original Asmodeus, flanked by guards, strutted up to Reinhardt with a sneer.
"You. Phenex-Bael brat," the descendant barked. "Support our cause. Align yourself with the true bloodlines, and you can have anything you want. Wealth, women, power."
"Nope," Reinhardt replied, bored.
The descendant froze, his face twisting. "Do you know who you are talking to? I am the next ruler of the Devil race! You're just a pathetic orphan. A piece of trash. There is no dog like Astarion Bael to save you this time—"
The word "dog" hadn't even fully left his mouth when the world seemed to tilt.
CRACK.
A massive, invisible pressure slammed down. The descendant was forced to his knees so hard the marble floor cracked. Everyone in the room—Sirzechs, Ajuka, and even Grayfia—stumbled back from the sheer weight of the Conqueror's Haki.
Reinhardt moved like a blur. He placed his foot on the descendant's shoulder and pressed down.
SNAP.
"ARGGGHHH!" the Asmodeus heir screamed as his shoulder joint shattered.
"Listen up, mongrel," Reinhardt said, his voice a low, terrifying growl that echoed in the silent hall. "I don't care who you are. I don't care what you say to me. But if you utter a single insult toward my father's name..."
He shifted his weight and snapped the other shoulder.
"AAAAAUGH!"
"I will make sure you remain buried in a six-foot hole. Am I clear?" Reinhardt asked, his eyes glowing with a predatory blue light.
The descendant, sobbing and trembling in a pool of his own cold sweat, nodded frantically. Reinhardt retracted his Haki, and the crushing weight vanished, but the fear remained.
The room stared in awe. They realized then that the rumors were true. Astarion Bael was a lion, and he hadn't sired a house cat. He had sired a King who was finally showing his fangs.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Reputation Skyrocketed: The King of the Gala]
[Affection Gained: Serafall Sitri (Crush), Grayfia Lucifuge (Protective Jealousy)]
Reinhardt didn't even look down at the whimpering mess on the floor. He simply snapped his fingers, the sharp sound echoing like a gunshot in the silent ballroom.
"Take this arrogant trash out of my sight," he commanded.
The guards, trembling so hard their armor rattled, scrambled to drag the Asmodeus heir away. Every man in the room watched with newfound respect—Sirzechs, Ajuka, and Falbium exchanged looks of deep contemplation. They saw a man who didn't just have power, but a soul-deep loyalty to his family. Meanwhile, the women in the room looked at Reinhardt with eyes full of heat; a man who was a monster to his enemies but a devoted son was the ultimate prize.
Seeking a moment of peace, Reinhardt slipped away from the whispering crowd and headed to the moonlit terrace. He leaned against the stone railing, the cool night air ruffling his blonde hair.
"Fate is quite kind, beautiful lady," Reinhardt said without turning around. "To think I'd meet you again so soon. I must say, our stars are aligned."
Grayfia stepped out from the shadows, her silver gown shimmering like starlight. "You are a dangerously smooth talker, Reinhardt Phenex," she replied, though her voice lacked its usual icy edge.
"For a beautiful woman, I have certain preferences," he teased.
Grayfia tilted her head, a playful challenge in her eyes. "And if I were ugly? What would you call me then?"
"Then I'd still call you a beautiful woman," Reinhardt replied smoothly, turning to face her. "Though I'd probably add 'Princess' to the sentence just to see you smile."
Grayfia felt that familiar heat rising to her cheeks. "What do you even like about me? Is it just my body?"
Reinhardt stepped closer, his presence enveloping her. "Since you asked... there are three things. First, your eyes—they're so beautiful I could get lost in them for a century. Second, your blush and your laugh—the parts of you that you hide from the world. And third..." he leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper near her ear, "your lips. They look as juicy as a strawberry. I find myself wanting to kiss them every single day."
Grayfia's brain felt like it was melting. Steam practically puffed from her head as her face turned a brilliant crimson. "Y-you..."
"But wait," Reinhardt continued, his voice soft and sincere, "there are three more. I want to sleep while hugging you close. I want to hold your hand while we walk through the gardens. And finally, I want to have you sit in my lap while I feed you and we chat like normal people."
He reached out, gently tucking a silver strand of hair behind her ear. "When I look at you, I don't see a 'Lucifuge' or a 'Cold Queen.' I see a woman hiding her true self behind a mask. I'm going to take my time breaking that mask, Grayfia. Seeing you smile every day... that would be more than enough for me."
Grayfia's heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird. No one—not her father, not her brother, and certainly not the Satans—had ever spoken to her like this. She felt seen, not as a weapon, but as a person.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Relationship Milestone Reached: The Ice Queen's Thaw]
[Affection: Grayfia Lucifuge (Deep Attraction/Confused Love)]
Grayfia is speechless, her heart completely won over by your honesty.