The Ruined Princess (1/3)

The mood in the Occult Research Club's room was heavy, extremely so. Ever since Rias announced what she said to her older brother and what happened since then, nobody in her peerage knew how to react. They didn't expect her to undertake actions like these, they thought that the fact that they started training under her orders would not go further than this.

The tumultuous emotions in the group went from anger to pity, as the complicated expressions everyone but Koneko had never left during the entire time. Koneko was... apathetic, even more so than usual. Were it not for Akeno dragging her here, she would still be under her favourite tree, looking towards the sky with her blank expression. Ever since what happened in the cave, she did not speak to any of the members of the peerage, although Rias had noticed some occasions where Koneko seemed to want to approach Kiba, but ultimately decided not to do so.

She was at her wit's ends. Although she knew the path she was taking would not be easy, Rias didn't expect the situation with her peerage to be that bad. Although she loved them dearly and thought they had a deep bond together, the truth exploded in her face the first time they faced hardship together. She didn't know whether or not she was just that oblivious to the state of her peerage, or was she simply not acknowledging it due to fear or something similar, but she realized that she barely knew the people that were supposed to be the closest to her. All of them were barely friends together, the only one that she could truly call her friend was Akeno. She never bothered talking to them about their problems, she thought that just spoiling them like one would spoil pets would be enough to mend the wound in their heart but it was nowhere near enough. It might have worsened things instead.

Rias had always been lucky when it came to peerage members, at least compared to her rival Sona. All of her peerage were extremely talented individuals that she always saved on the brink of death. Although it was somehow suspicious that it happened 5 times, for all of her peerage members, she had always pushed these suspicions to the back of her mind. Nevertheless, she was well aware of the problems of the past that plagued each member and she realized that she never did anything to fix it.

She was scared. She felt as if she was alone all of sudden.

She did not know the only people left around her and that terrified her, especially since she needed all the help she could get and she needed loyal people right now for her plans.

But right now, both Koneko and Kiba simply kept finding excuses to not meet her face-to-face. How was she supposed to react to that? She didn't know.

One by one, her supposed friends excused themselves to think about what she just said, but she knew that they just wanted to escape the heavy atmosphere that fell on this room. She sighed, as her arms dangled to each side of her chair. As she looked through the open window, her gaze towards the horizon, she was lost as to how to get what she thought she had all along.

But she wasn't able to stray from the current situation any longer since suddenly a magic circle appeared in the middle of the room. The magic circle's imprint made Rias' expression turn for the worse. She scowled.

She knew that this was bound to happen, she already prepared for it, but it didn't mean she liked it. After all, this was the hurdle she had to confront to attain her objectives.

A tall person appeared in the room. He was dressed in a high-end suit, only a few buttons at the top of his shirt open, to display his somewhat muscular chest. Bright blond hair reaching his shoulders, blue eyes that displayed a deepness only matched by Rias' pupils. A perpetual arrogant expression plastered on his face. The moment Rias saw him, she slipped into a persona that she created to deal with people like this among the devil community without accidentally shooting her power of destruction at them. She gulped before showing an empty smile that seemed more aggressive than anything else, before she said in a flat tone, " Welcome Riser. "

Riser took the time to take in the environment as if Rias didn't exist, but quickly his expression turned into one of disgust. " Damned human world. So much filth in here, I don't know why we devils haven't enslaved this race already. " he said aggressively, before turning his eyes to Rias, taking the time to observe her figure as a lusty look appeared on his face. It didn't last long, however, and Rias was used to those, even if it didn't mean she liked them.

" What is the reason for your visit Riser? If I'm correct, our marriage is scheduled for after I finish University, not the first year I arrive in the human world. " Rias said coldly, not willing to entertain the man she despised.

Riser Phenex simply chuckled a bit before sitting on the couch as if it belonged to him. He didn't answer Rias' question immediately, however. " Where is your Queen Rias? I would love for her to give me some tea, as it might be the only thing humans have created that is decent. " he said, still arrogantly smiling.

Rias felt the urge to correct Riser, but decided not to do to not break her facade. Instead, she pushed on for her question. Riser laughed even harder this time, which made Rias harden her gaze towards him, truly wondered what was the game he was playing.

" Rias, it's Heir Phenex for you now. " he said coldly, interrupting his laugh. Rias blinked for a few time, " Excuse me? " she said incredulously.

" Did you not hear me Rias? You will call me Heir Phenex from now on. After our marriage, it will be Master. " he answered, not even looking at his fiancee in the eyes, instead, he laid down on the couch and closed his eyes.

Rias had to take a moment to understand what was happening here before a wave of anger washed over her. She managed to not blast Riser from where she was, " I think there is a misunderstanding, Riser. "

Rias made sure to accentuate his name, clearly refusing to address him by the way he asked. Riser opened his eyes and looked at Rias as if she was someone under her that disobeyed his orders.

" Rias. There is indeed a misunderstanding between us, ruined princess. " he started, as Rias narrowed her eyes at the name he had given him, not hiding his intentions. " You no longer belong to the Gremory family as you've renounced to your title of heir. Therefore you are but a low-class devil standing in front of the heir of one of the most prestigious families of Hell. Addressing me by my name without honorific is an insult to me and my family, and your backing now does not allow you to do so, as you have none. "

Rias now finally understanding the situation, bit her lips in fury but did not let that show on her face, she kept the blank stare and cold expression.

" Things have changed ruined princess. " he continued. " As you are no longer a high-class devil, but is still under the contract written between my family and your previous family, your rights are surrendered to me, thus I order the marriage to take place tomorrow. "

Rias wanted to laugh a bit since it seemed that Riser's knowledge on the current devil laws needed an update. Fortunately, she already prepared everything she needed.

" Heir Phenex, it seems that despite your exemplary family, you were not made aware of the laws currently in place. " She took out a well-prepared dossier from under her desk and gave it to Riser, who narrowed his eyes and read it. After several minutes, his face was contorted in rage, and he burned the dossier, only leaving ashes on the ground.

Rias allowed herself to smirk at his actions, seemingly content at her fiancee's expression. She decided to hit the nail in the coffin just to savour her victory. " According to the most recent laws, the marriage between a low-class devil and a high-class devil is to be decided by both parties, even in the case of a contract being written. Both parties have 10 years to complete the contract or it will be enforced. " She made sure to look straight in Riser's eyes when she said that, in defiance.

" You should know what that means Heir Phenex. " at her words, the temperature in the room started to rise exponentially as Riser's hold on his magic was starting to break due to his rage. She pressed on, however, wanting to relish in the taste of victory, " Obviously, compared to me, a measly low-class devil, you can break the contract at any moment, I can suggest other women with a much higher status than me among the devil community. But if you truly wish to marry such a lowly woman as me.... as the humans say, ' see you in 10 years. ' "

Riser snapped and dashed to grab her neck in fury. But as soon as he moved, the scent of evil overthrew the smell of smoke and his whole arm disappeared in a flash of dark red energy. The arm instantly regenerated, but Riser simply backed away and scowled. " You are lucky this time ruined princess, it will not last long, however, you will be mine eventually." said Riser in a cold tone as he disappeared from the human world in a torrent of fire.

When Rias confirmed the fact that he was gone, she allowed herself to laugh. Akeno entered the room at the same moment, looking at Rias incredulously. She returned earlier but did not dare to walk in a discussion between Riser and Rias. She heard most of what was said however and couldn't help but feel that her king had changed recently.

' No, Rias had started changing months ago. I just didn't realize it until now. ' thought the Fallen Angel hybrid.

" I must say, I'm impressed with the way you handle Riser, Rias. " she said, heading towards the place where she prepared the tea.

" That wasn't me Akeno. " answered Rias, slipping out of her persona and allowing herself to relax. Akeno, however, was confused by her friend's answer.

" Excuse me? " she said, her head sticking out of the room she was in to look at Rias. The red-headed devil smiled wryly at her queen and plopped down on the couch, seemingly mentally tired by her discussion with her fiancee.

" The person that spoke wasn't me, it was just a persona that allows me to handle people I do not like. I've come to realize I am too weak yet to handle the devil world. I've... I've always lived in the comfort of my family, spoiled rotten. I need to play a character even to handle even a smidgen of the real world. You can consider it to be someone I aspire to be... more than someone I am. " Rias looked down in shame, as she exposed her major flaw for the first time to her friend. She sighed heavily as a cup of tea was placed in front of her.

She was surprised and overjoyed when Akeno enveloped her from behind tightly to reassure her. " Don't worry Rias, we will get through this. I know you can do it no matter the odds, I believe in you. "

Rias then allowed herself to be comforted by her queen, only now realizing how much she needed it.