Serafall's feeding hand paused mid-air. She leaned in closer, her sparkling eyes narrowing as she whispered, "The Anti-Maou Faction wants to send Sirzechs to 'recruit' you formally, Rein-chan. But I told them I'd handle it! You're not going to let him in, right? Don't let him take you away from me!"
Reinhardt didn't even hesitate. "I will not. I have no interest in joining any faction. If I wanted to offer support, I'd just support my magical girl, Sera."
Serafall's face erupted in a bright pink blush, actual steam Beginning to hiss from her ears. "Mou! Rein-chan! You are quite deadly and bold today!"
"You're one to talk," Reinhardt chuckled, glancing down. "You were bold enough to claim my lap as your personal throne."
"Your lap is warm, Rein-chan! I've decided I'm going to sit here every time I visit. It's the most comfortable spot in the Underworld!"
Reinhardt laughed, his hand moving in a steady, soothing rhythm against her hair. "Fine. I'll make sure to spoil you whenever you come over, okay?"
Serafall beamed, her eyes turning into happy crescents. But then, Reinhardt's voice dropped, becoming soft and piercingly honest. "Just be yourself, Sera. You don't need to hide behind a mask here."
The room went completely still. In the kitchen, Venelana and Misla stopped their chopping, using concealment magic to eavesdrop with wide eyes. Even the arguments between Morgan and Artoria died down.
Serafall's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. "I-I'm not masking, Rein-chan! I am myself, okay?"
Reinhardt didn't say a word. He just looked into her eyes with a calm, "I-see-everything" gaze that made Serafall feel completely exposed. Slowly, the bubbly, hyperactive persona began to crack.
"How... how did you find out?" she whispered, her voice losing its high-pitched cheer.
"Just now, when you sat on my lap, Sera," Reinhardt replied. "I know you want to change the Underworld. You might be one of the strongest women alive, but all I see is a girl who wants to be spoiled and treated like a regular person. You're masking yourself as this 'strongest contender' to lead a revolution, but I see the girl who stopped enjoying life just to fight for the Underworld's survival."
Serafall gripped her plate of snacks, her lower lip trembling.
"And if you think I'm the only one who saw through you, you're mistaken," Reinhardt continued. "Your parents saw it too. That's why they left the Neutral Faction. They want to support your dream so that one day, their daughter can just be normal again. They just don't know how to tell you."
The silence in the room was heavy. Serafall sat on his lap, no longer a "Magical Girl," but just a girl whose heart had been laid bare by the only person who dared to look past the sparkles.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Relationship Shift: Serafall Sitri]
Status: Mask Shattered. Affection: (Maxed for current stage - Soul Bond). New Title:The One Who Sees the Girl Behind the Magic.
Serafall is quiet, her head resting against your chest as she processes your words.
Serafall remained quiet, the rhythmic brushing of Reinhardt's hand through her hair acting as an anchor. Her mind flashed back to her parents' conversation the night before. She had known they supported her, but she hadn't understood the cost or the reason—that they were sacrificing their neutrality just to give their daughter a chance at a normal life.
Hearing it from Reinhardt made it real. She felt his arms around her, a solid, warm presence that made the heavy burden of the "Sitri Heiress" feel lighter. For several minutes, she just stayed there, soaking in the silence and the safety of his mansion.
Finally, she looked up, her eyes clear of the forced sparkles. "So... I can really just be normal around you? No magical girl masks?"
"Sure," Reinhardt replied with a soft smile. "In this house, you're just Sera."
Serafall beamed with a different kind of excitement—a genuine, heart-deep warmth. She leaned in and planted a quick, firm kiss on his cheek. "Consider that a reward for being so smart, Rein-chan!" she chirped, a slight blush dusting her face.
Reinhardt chuckled and then gestured toward the three women standing nearby. "Sera, whenever you're free and come to visit, I want you to train with Morgan."
Serafall stood up from his lap and properly looked at Artoria (Lancer), Morgan, and Scáthach. Now that she wasn't distracted by snacks, she felt it—their power levels were monstrous, sitting comfortably above her own.
She bowed deeply to them, her voice sincere. "I apologize for my late greeting earlier. Lady Morgan, please take care of me."
Morgan looked at the girl and felt a rare sense of approval. "Call me Morgan, Serafall. We don't need titles here."
"Then you can call me Sera-chan!" Serafall replied, her energy returning, though more grounded this time.
Morgan chuckled, glancing at Reinhardt. "The women you surround yourself with, Rein... they truly are one of a kind."
"Aren't there you three too?" Reinhardt countered with a playful smirk.
The effect was instantaneous. Artoria, Morgan, and Scáthach all turned various shades of red, their stoic or aggressive fronts crumbling for a moment. They nodded in unison, unable to meet his eyes.
Morgan cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "I will teach you high-level magic next time you come, Sera. Just you and me. No distractions."
"Show off," Artoria muttered under her breath.
Morgan's head snapped toward her sister, her eyes glowing with magical circuits. "What was that, you gluttonous knight?"
"You heard me, bookworm!" Artoria gripped her spear.
And just like that, the two sisters were back to their usual arguing, their competitive streaks flaring up. Scáthach leaned against a pillar, watching them with a weary but amused expression, while Serafall laughed—not as a character, but as herself.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Quest Update: Building the Inner Circle]
Morgan & Serafall: A Master-Apprentice bond is forming. Household Status: Harmony (Mostly) restored.
Lunch is served by Venelana and Misla. As everyone sits down, the System chimes with a warning.