[EXTRA CHAPTERS 400PS = 1 Extra Chapter | 600PS = 2 | 8000PS = 4!]
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With the uproar that happened after Diodora Astaroth challenged me to a Rating Game, the whole purpose of the formal ball was lost.
Raiser Phenex took a hit when he arrived with his clan members at the end of the party and found out about the situation.
I could see him gritting his teeth as he stomped out.
Not surprisingly, the Phenex Clan was the most likely choice for my grandparents for the wedding. So it was only natural that Rias and Riser should be chosen, since Ravel Phenex was too young and I had little importance within the clan apart from being the son of Sirzechs. However, my grandfather Zeoticus said that this discussion would have to be postponed until after my Rating Game against Diodora.
My grandfather was smarter than most people thought. He knew that there was a slim chance that I could beat Diodora, who was already an experienced Rating Game player. He also knew that if I beat Diodora, a political marriage was no longer so urgent. After all, a future heir of one clan would beat the future heir of another clan, and that would bring a lot of notoriety to the Gremory Clan.
However, if I lost to Diodora Astaroth, Rias would certainly need to marry Raiser Phenex to balance the political scales.
So, basically, I had put that decision in check.
"Are you sure you understand what you've just done?" Grayfia asked me.
We were in a private meeting room, with some old red sofas, a fireplace, and a coffee table with a tea set in front of us.
"Yes, ma'am. I've done what was necessary."
Grayfia nodded and put her cup of tea on the table. "If you understand, there's no reason to extend this matter. The details of the rating game will be discussed between the leaders of the two clans this week. Even your request for fertile and healthy land will need to be analyzed by Duke Astaroth, but I don't want you to think about that. All I recommend is that you find strong pieces by then."
"I have a few in mind."
"Now... I'm not completely convinced of Makima's. She said she met you on the streets of Castle Town, and since when did you run away there?"
"A few times. Remember that blacksmith in the center?"
"Old Errementari? Yes, of course I remember him."
"I enjoyed watching him work, and I used to run away to watch him." I said, but that was only a half-truth because I actually ran away to play with the devil boys in the street. "On one such occasion, I saw a woman in an alley so hungry that her belly hurt. That woman was Makima, and I gave her the bread I was carrying."
"Charitable of you."
"Makima recognized me and was deeply grateful. I felt she had a latent potential for magical power, so I accepted her promise that she would be the first to serve me when I finally got Evil Pieces."
I knew my mother, and I knew when she was suspicious, angry, or just being strict. In this case, she was certainly being strict, as any mother would be when her son turns up with a mysterious woman as his Queen.
Grayfia wasn't that inquisitive about Asia because Rias had already informed her and attested to everything I told her before Grayfia even saw my Bishop for the first time.
"I think he's telling the truth, Grayfia-san," said Rias, sitting down in one armchair near the fireplace.
"Ara~" Akeno put a hand to her chin. "I always knew that those escapes of yours had a reason."
Grayfia took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well, Milicas. I believe in you and allow you to continue commanding Makima-chan. However, when you have sex with your servants, please use protection."
"W-What…!!?" I exclaimed, startled that she had suddenly brought up such a topic.
When I looked at Rias and Akeno, my aunt was looking away with her cheeks pink with embarrassment, and Akeno was laughing softly.
"I'm just telling you to take care of yourself. After all, it's not because devils have trouble getting pregnant that you should slack off." Grayfia said.
"I don't intend to..."
"Khum!" Grayfia suddenly stood up. "Whether or not you intend to, only time will tell... Besides, spend the night in your bedroom here at the mansion, if possible, Milicas."
The abrupt change of subject caught off guard. "Why?"
"You've got servants and will probably continue to do so. That apartment won't have enough space in a while, so I've asked Rias to help me remodel the structure of your apartment so that it can hold more people," Grayfia said as she walked to the door. "If you have any suggestions, please speak directly to your aunt."
This time, it was me who took a deep breath, and I just asked Rias not to change the structure too much or overdo it. It would be complicated if she decided to do what she did with Issei's house and turn it into a palace. After all, Makima, Asia, and I were still just three people, and it wouldn't work for us to live in a huge house.
In the end, the last thing I should have been worrying about was how my apartment would look after the renovation, because this was the first night I would share a bed, and I confess I was excited about it.
As my bed in my apartment was a single, it would be impossible for me to share it with Asia and Makima, that is why I was sleeping on the sofa. But being at Gremory Manor, my bed was enormous and very spacious, so Makima and Asia could sleep with me. Or so I thought...
Actually, Makima and Asia got individual bedrooms, because Gremory Manor had dozens of vacant bedrooms.
Thus, I was left alone in my bed.
Lying on the soft mattress, my eyes fixed on the canopy of the bed, I couldn't help thinking about many things.
'When I was smaller, this bed seemed so comfortable, but now... it seems too spacious. Maybe it's because I've got used to sleeping on the sofa in my apartment… Should I…?'
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. There was no way I could demand that Makima and Asia sleep next to me. Makima would probably have done it if I'd asked, but Asia would have been shy and quickly stated that two people can only sleep together when they love each other. I had very few relationship points with them yet.
'I'd better get some sleep.'
I closed my eyes and concentrated on relaxing. As the day had been stressful, it didn't take long for me to fall asleep. But just a few minutes later, I felt something move under the covers.
My childhood nightmares in that room came flooding back, those dreams where shadows crept under my bed. So I quickly pulled back the covers to see what was there.
My eyes met a pair of green eyes, illuminated by the dim light coming through the window. Asia Argento.
"Ah... You've got me."
Her face was red with embarrassment. Asia came out from under the covers and sat down next to me. She was wearing a light sweater that showed off her shoulders, and I had to look away for a moment. She was beautiful. Beautiful in a pure, untouchable way, like a sculpture made of ivory and gold.
"Milicas, I... couldn't sleep in such a spacious bed, and being in such a big room was scary," she said, looking away. "So I thought I'd join you. If... if it's a problem, I can go back to my room."
"It's not a problem. You can lie down here."
Asia gave a relieved smile, and then snuggled up next to me again, this time hiding under the covers.
I turned my back to her, otherwise, I'd probably stare at her pretty face until I fell asleep. But before I could concentrate on getting back to sleep, I felt a movement behind me. An instant later, I felt Asia's body pressed against my back.
"Asia? What's wrong? Are you still scared?"
"No, I... Makima-san told me that hugs like this please men. She said I should thank you like this."
"Thank me?" I asked, confused.
"Yes..." She tightened the hug a little more, pressing her face against my back. "You agreed to go against another devil to protect me... and I wanted to thank you for that."
A sigh escaped my lips. "Asia..."
I turned to face her, and the girl's emerald eyes widened as she realized how close we were. A few golden locks covered part of her face, so without thinking too much, I raised my right hand and tucked them behind her ear.
"You don't have to thank me for that. You're my companion. It's only natural that I protect you... and I always will."
As if that wasn't possible, Asia went even further and did something so fast that I didn't even notice when it happened. Her head snapped forward, and her lips touched mine for an instant. A kiss. Simple. Short. But it still caught me completely off guard.
We stared at each other for a moment, me in surprise, and her in embarrassment. Then it was she who turned her back to me this time.
"Ah! I-! I didn't! I just felt like I should-! I should have asked before-! I didn't want to-! A-ah, I'm sorry!" She had her hands in front of her face, trying to explain herself awkwardly.
But I didn't let her go on. Without thinking too much about the excitement, I turned her towards me, removed her hands from her face and pressed my lips against hers.
This time, it was a real kiss. Her eyes widened, but then slowly closed. Her body relaxed against mine, and, for a moment, everything was forgotten. The ball. Diodora. The Rating Game.
The only thing that mattered was Asia in my arms, and her hands holding me closer.
Her lips were warm, soft, and sweet. She didn't know exactly what to do, but she didn't back down either. She just accepted, letting herself be carried away by the moment, and I taught her how to kiss. When our lips parted after a few seconds, Asia stared at me with her eyes wide and her mouth ajar.
"I..." She touched her lips, seeming to process what had just happened.
I smiled. "Does that answer your questions?"
Her face turned even redder, and then, unable to meet my eyes any longer, she hid her face against my chest.
[1 Heart Event Completed!]
[You can now kiss the character Asia Argento whenever you want.]
[Keep evolving your relationship with Asia Argento and earning Relationship Points to unlock more relationship events.]
[You can try to create romantic events too, but there's a risk of losing relationship points if she's not ready.]
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