The setting sun cast a soft glow over Rias, bathing her in a warm, hazy light as she sat on the windowsill of the old schoolhouse.
Her usually confident and composed expression was replaced by a vulnerable, almost fragile look, revealing a rare moment of quiet melancholy.
Rias typically exuded the poise of a refined noble.
Every gesture carried the elegance and authority befitting her status as the heiress of the Gremory clan.
Among devils, her reputation was multifaceted—seen as immature yet graceful, her standing was bolstered significantly by her brother, Sirzechs Lucifer.
Though some viewed her as still growing into her role.
Yet, in this moment, the Rias before Roy was not a heiress but an ordinary young woman burdened by heavy thoughts.
"Rias, there you are," Roy said, approaching with a gentle greeting.
His voice, though soft, carried clearly in the quiet corridor, but Rias seemed oblivious, lost in her daze, her gaze fixed outside.
Only when Roy stood beside her did she remain unresponsive.
"Rias, what's got you so lost in thought?" he asked, lightly poking her shoulder.
"Ah!" Rias gasped, startled, her usual composure slipping in a cute, uncharacteristic squeak.
She flailed briefly, nearly slipping off the windowsill, but Roy steadied her with a quick hand.
"It's you, Roy," she said, catching her breath, her chest rising and falling as she released his hand.
"Why're you out here alone instead of in the clubroom?" Roy asked with a smile.
"The clubroom feels stifling," Rias said, managing a faint smile.
"Didn't you design it yourself?" Roy teased.
"True, but it's been feeling heavy lately," Rias admitted with a helpless shrug.
The clubroom's gothic aesthetic suited devil tastes, but recently, it had begun to weigh on her.
"What about you?" she asked, turning to Roy.
"The clubroom's empty, so I'm heading home," Roy replied, grinning.
"But you look like you've got a lot on your mind."
"Akeno mentioned things didn't go well in the Underworld?"
"That Akeno…" Rias sighed, nodding.
"It's not a big deal. I can handle it."
"Doesn't look that way," Roy said, shrugging.
"Your face says otherwise."
"There's a saying that fits you right now," he added.
"What's that?" Rias asked, curious.
"Stubborn as a dead log," Roy said bluntly.
Rias's expression turned comical before she sighed.
"I'm not that stubborn. It's my problem, and unless it's absolutely necessary, I don't want to drag you into it."
"Fair enough," Roy turned to leave.
"Wait, you're not going to ask more?" Rias called out, surprised by his abrupt retreat.
"What's to ask?" Roy countered, glancing back.
"Akeno's right—you're hopeless with this stuff," Rias said, a helpless smile tugging at her lips.
"I don't pry into personal matters," Roy said, leaning against the wall with a relaxed smile.
"But if you want to talk, I'm all ears."
Under Roy's gaze, she spoke slowly. "Roy, do you think being born into a noble clan is a good thing?"
"Given your expression, I'd say it's not always a blessing," Roy replied.
"That's a cop-out. I want your real answer," Rias said, her smile tinged with dissatisfaction.
"For most people, if they could choose, they'd pick a noble clan," Roy said, shrugging.
"More power, more privilege."
"And you?" Rias pressed.
"Same," Roy said with a grin.
"A comfy life with fewer worries? Sign me up."
"But noble clans come with responsibilities."
Rias nodded, not disputing him. "I don't think being a Gremory is bad. I'm grateful to be part of a loving clan with endless honors."
Rias shot him a playful glare.
"But sometimes, I wish people saw me as Rias, not just a Gremory."
"Ambitious," Roy raised an eyebrow.
To stand out as an individual while bearing the Gremory name required surpassing the previous heads of the clan and elevating it to new heights—only then would she be remembered as Rias, not merely her surname.
"I've been working toward that," Rias said with a wry smile.
"But the responsibilities of being a Gremory can be… overwhelming."
"So that's what's been troubling you? Clan duties?" Roy asked.
"Engagement?" Roy ventured.
"Did Akeno tell you?" Rias asked, startled.
She'd never mentioned it to him, making Akeno the likely source.
"No, she didn't," Roy said, shaking his head.
"But she's always nudging me to make a move on you."
"Combined with what I know about noble clans, an engagement seemed the obvious guess."
"Arranged marriages are their favorite, right?"
"What do you think about it?" Rias asked, her curiosity piqued.
Roy paused, caught off guard by the shift.
They'd been having a smooth conversation, and now she was digging into his feelings?
"What about Akeno's suggestion?" Rias pressed, her eyes gleaming with interest.
"If I can help, it's my duty."
"But taking advantage of your situation to pursue you?"
"That's not the kind of love I want."
His words were calculated, tailored to Rias's ideals.
In truth, Roy wasn't above less motives, but he knew what she needed to hear.
"Really?" Rias's mood visibly lifted, her smile softening.
She dreamed of a genuine, heartfelt connection, not a union driven by politics or convenience.
"What if I said I wouldn't mind?"
Roy blinked, caught off balance.
Was she testing him after opening up?
"I wouldn't back down," he said plainly.
Rias had been direct, and dodging now would seem insincere.
Her smile widened, the corners of her mouth refusing to dip.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Thanks, Roy. I feel much better," she said, hopping off the windowsill and stretching, her figure gracefully outlined in the fading light.
"I'm heading back," Roy said, waving as he left the old schoolhouse.
"Maybe Akeno's idea isn't so bad," Rias murmured, watching Roy's retreating figure through the window, a faint smile lingering on her lips.
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