Breach

[Richter's POV]

It wasn't long, but there was an awkward silence between me and Grayfia. Her gaze was piercing me as if expecting something, I don't know what she wants.

*WHOOOSH!!*

Like a bullet, I arrived in the castle through the hole that the stubborn satan created when I blasted him.

My arrival produced immediate gasps from everyone present.

I saw the servants of Lucifuge rejoice visually when they saw me, while those that I didn't know (likely the guests) found their expressions morph into horror. Out of them all, only a boy with a red head, a young lady with crimson hair and a man that resembled Sirzechs' entered my eyes. They're likely Sirzechs' family.

My gaze only remained on them for a minute before I switched glances to the woman that was approaching us.

Mother-in-law walked forward, she had been holding a girl's shoulders -the little devil Tanya... now that I think about it, she's not that 'little' if those melons are anything to go by, but she's a teenager.

"Son-in-Law..." Fia smiled towards us, her gaze seemed to exchange information with Grayfia in a way only women know about before she set her eyes on me again.

"I'm going to lead Richter-sama to some room to get changed, mother, he tore his suit apart," Grayfia said, taking my hand but it was then that Fia interjected again.

"D-Do you need my help?" She extended her hands towards my forearm, these two are plotting something.

"If you can then do it, mother, I'll attend the gue-"

"You shall help me get changed, Grayfia," I said with a low growl that made everyone shiver, even Grayfia; Fia's hand that was about to take me stopped in its tracks as she gasped towards me. Normally I wouldn't interject, but... I want Grayfia to do it this time around.

"Y-Yes, master" she said; the Golden Apostle took me by the wrist and I could feel her shaking as she did so. We left the hall heading downstairs and she took me to one of the bedrooms.

Once we entered she closed the door tightly behind us and set up a barrier.

With her hands on top of the door and her back to me, she began speaking.

"Master".

Even before she finished her words my tail was already wrapping her waist, not tightly, not loosely.

"…" I didn't answer her; an audible gulp resonated as she turned around to finally meet my eyes with her silver ones.

"C-Could it be... Do you want to see me in a bikini now? we can't right now mas-" She asked sort of coquettishly, trying to lighten the mood that was taking her breath away.

"Sirzechs was going to hug you,".

"..." Her expression changed that instant.

"And you didn't seem to be that much against it".

I saw her surprise immediately after my words left as if she wasn't expecting it, she tried to approach me but my tail kept her in place.

"You also tried to convince me from going against my desires for your sake and Layla's sake".

"Master, let me expla-"

"I don't need a half-hearted apostle".

My words left and she seemed to be in the process of digesting them when her eyes gasped in disbelief for whatever reason.

"I-It decreased..." she whispered so low that if not for my abnormal hearing, I might have missed it.

"...?" I wondered what she meant by that.

Grayfia clenched her hands and bit her lips so harshly that they cracked, like broken ice.

Her wings protruded in all their spam and frozen golden claws formed on her arms, vicious killing intent resurfacing.

"If you release me, master... I'll... I'll go and slaughter Sirzechs right now, I could even kill all four of them if you want" She said to me with all the seriousness in the world; making me chuckle in amusement.

"Ho~"

"I'm not your maid half-heartedly, leaving my love for you aside... if I have to lay down my life for your sake... I won't hesitate, master".

"..." There seemed to be honesty in those words, she's willing to go against anything to protect me, but... is that all I need?

I think Grayfia is going to surprise herself in a few moments.

**

**

[Grayfia's POV]

I never wanted it to come to this stage, I don't love Sirzechs, I tried to push him away several times but he insisted, why did he have to be so stubborn... time and time again master tolerated it, but clearly... he had reached his limit.

It hurt me to have reached this stage, but what hurt me so much more was the notification still popping in front of me with red writing.

[Dragon God's Affection -5]

Not only that but... I never really understood master's true feelings. I said to him that he would be able to see the three of us in bikinis because I thought that deep inside he doesn't care about Sirzechs' life; he was merely showing his dominance as a dragon, showing the Devil King his place. But I was wrong.

Master went against his own desires for me and Layla; while it is natural for Layla to do so since she's Sirzechs' wife, it is not natural for me -his mate.

I see it now, too late. When he asked for my opinion; it was a test... he hoped that I'd answer what he wanted to hear, but instead... I tried to convince him otherwise, taking the underworld... the satan's side instead of his.

From the beginning, he wasn't going to kill Sirzechs.

The bikinis didn't matter from the beginning, what matters is that he's not content with my answer. That's why the only thing I can possibly do to fix my mistake is to go back there and kill Sirzechs Lucifer myself, I was so engrossed in showing my loyalty to get rid of his doubts and when the opportunity finally presented itself, I let it go.

I bit my lips, hoping he'd keep me here.

But Richter-sama released the grip of his tail, releasing me and immediately filling me with apprehension.

I said words... stated my intentions, I can't go back on them now.

I have to go there and kill Sirzechs, otherwise...

For a whole minute I remained there, shivering, recalling my past with Sirzechs... fighting together against the leaders of the old-satan faction, how I fell for him, how we both watched my father's life wither away.

He remained here to fight for the sake of all devils while I left, although my efforts brought Lady Calliope to the underworld, it was, in the end, him who carried the weight after I left.

I can't kill him... because... he doesn't deserve it. I have moved on and fallen in love with master, but he hasn't... I can't blame him for that, I can't!

"What are you waiting for?" Master asked me, his voice didn't even sound enraged.

"..."

"Are you awaiting my orders?" He sounded like he expected this from the beginning.

"..."

"It seems the Heart Lineage didn't completely take over your emotions... think about this and refrain, don't utter words you're unable to follow next time, it is dishonourable" There was no anger or spit in his voice, just... disappointment.

And that was worse.

"Y-Yes, m-master... a-allow me to" I desperately wanted to say something to at least fix my face before him, but he was already passing by me, dressed in a golden suit, ready for the banquet.

He closed the door behind him, leaving me alone in the room.

[Dragon God's Affection -10]

With a cold heart and a mind in disarray, I was left in solitude. My knees gave away and silent tears rolled down my eyes.

How am I going to fix this mistake?