Beneath the Fading Moons
The next morning, the three woke while the sky was still dark, the faintest hints of dawn just a whisper against the horizon. The air was crisp, carrying the coolness of night clinging to its last moments, and beyond the window, two pale moons clung faintly to the sky, ghostly memories refusing to die in the dawn.
Leon woke up first, sensing the heat of Rias wrapped against his left side and Aria’s lean body lying softly against his right. He didn’t move for a moment. He simply lay there, inhaling the silence, allowing the peace of their shared presence to settle in his chest.
Later, Rias opened her eyes, exhaling softly as she snuggled closer. "Morning, Daddy..."
"Good morning, sweetheart," he answered, stroking a tendril of her red hair from her cheek.
Aria’s eyes opened a heartbeat after. "We need to get ready," she murmured, already getting out of bed.
The three of them harmonized in silent habit—washing, dressing, and moving into their respective roles again. When they emerged outside the large mansion, the world was held back between evening and dawn. A gentle chill caressed their skin, and in the profound indigo blue of the sky, two silver moons still hovered — faint, ghostly, as if they did not wish to disappear. Gradually, a soft golden light started spreading over the east, staining the black canvas with promises of warmth and light. A cool breeze blew the banners and below, sentries stood formed in line. Guards at the gate straight away stiffened and bent low in obeisance as the three walked out, their shadows majestic against the dawn light.
In the cobbled courtyard below, a smart carriage was waiting, cleaned until it shone.
Sleek, disciplined horses pawed the ground with impatience, and a small unit of guards — selected by Aria herself — were on stand-by. Aria had picked out the best among them personally to guarantee Rias’ security along the journey. And to top it all, Tsubaki, herself an experienced master realm cultivator, would ride along with her. With both Rias and Tsubaki making the trip, any genuine danger was but a remote concern. Tsubaki waited by the carriage.
Once more, she wore her shining silver armor, the morning sun reflecting off the highly polished plates of her armour, giving her a semblance of beauty she might have acquired from the hand of a god. Her black hair fell loosely down her back, and obsidian eyes, keen and bright, turned to see the three coming towards her.
"Good morning, Lord Leon. Miss Rias," she had said respectfully, and then turned her head to add flatly, "Morning Aria."
Tsubaki was still in the dark. Still addressing Aria as Aria by name, not knowing she had now become his wife.
The three approach greeting back her warmly.
Leon inquired next. "Are all preparations in order, Miss Tsubaki?"
"Yes, Duke Lord. We stand ready to leave." she replied with sharp politeness, arms crossed behind her back.
"Good," Leon said. He moved forward, then bowed low—not deeply, but enough that she was caught off guard. "Please... take care of my sweetheart when she’s in the capital."
Tsubaki stood straight away, surprised when she noticed the Duke — a man so high-ranking in position — lower his head slightly towards her in a bow. Her eyes grew wide with alarm.
She took a step back as if stung. "P-please... don’t bow, Lord Leon," she hurried to say, alarm creeping into her voice. ""Please don’t bow in front of mere knight like me!""
Leon stopped in mid-bow, smiled quietly, and gazed into her wide, startled black eyes. Smiling warmly, he nodded and adjusted his posture. "Alright then, Miss Tsubaki. But still. take care of my daughter." His voice grew deeper. "And take care of yourself too."
Tsubaki could feel her heart beat heavily against her ribs. She bowed deeply, finding no fitting words under his kind yet mighty stare.
But Tsubaki nodded slowly, pulling herself back together. "I will. With all my might.
Rias sat there in silence, her heart tugged in two. Sweetness opened up within her seeing Leon bow, seeing how far her daddy would go for her. but with that sweetness came a sting. Because to her, her daddy is her heaven. And heaven never bows. She did not say anything. Just filed that feeling away.
But she said nothing aloud. Only her heart ached with both sweet and pain.
Aria, as ever, remained expressionless — yet something softened briefly in her eyes.
Tsubaki then turned to Rias. "Miss Rias. shall we?"
Rias nodded. Then turned quickly and walked into Leon’s arms without hesitation. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I’ll miss you, Daddy..."
Leon’s arms wrapped around her protectively, hand stroking her back with soft, rhythmic calm. "And I’ll miss you, too," he said, voice low and full. "But don’t worry. I’ll be in Moonspire soon. The ceremony won’t happen without me stealing the spotlight."
She giggled softly, even as her throat tightened. "Promise?"
He smiled against her hair. "Promise."
When she finally pulled away, Leon lean down little and kissed her forehead, a tender, pure kiss without any of his usual playful teasing — only the undiluted love of a father and husband.
Rias giggled softly, the touch warming her from inside.
Then turned and walked to Aria, arms opening again.
"Sister Aria..." she whispered. "I’ll miss you, too."
Aria hugged her silently, arms holding the younger girl gently around the waist. "I will miss you too, Rias."
When they parted, Rias hugged close and whispered into Aria’s ear—between them only.
"When I’m not with Daddy," she whispered with a grin, "you’ll have to fight alone at night. Or... find someone who can help share that burden with you otherwise you completely ruined by him."
Aria blushed, but put her face into a look of silent serenity. "You’ve been teasing me a lot these days," she said, playfully pinching Rias’s cheek. "And also you’ve become more shameless." Aria said with a little huff.
"Sorry, Sister Aria! I won’t do it again," Rias apologized with a laugh, making a show of rubbing her cheeks. "Please don’t make me cry — or else my beauty will be ruined!"
Leon and Tsubaki, standing a few steps behind, watched with confused amusement. They hadn’t overheard the whispered conversation, but the exchange between the women was clearly rife with subtleties they couldn’t decipher.
Then Rias winked at Aria once more and spoke teasingly, "But I’m serious. Find someone for Daddy... otherwise you own wise."
Aria’s eyes grew slightly wide. When did this little girl become so. shameless? she wondered, embarrassed, sneaking a glance at Leon, who was staring curiously at the two of them. She breathed in inwardly. Father and daughter. both always tease me.
Rias spun around and walked towards the carriage, calling back, "Let’s go, Tsubaki!"
Tsubaki nodded and headed towards the carriage, but Rias spun around once more.
Oh! Daddy!" she shouted. "When you arrive at the capital, I’ll have presents in store for you!"
Leon’s eyebrow shot up. "Presents?"
She smiled, already getting into the carriage. "In return, do something for me too."
And she vanished inside.
Leon stood there, blinking as the carriage doors shut. "What was that all about?" he muttered.
Tsubaki appear bewildered at rias comment but she put aside the thought and started to walk behind rias in carriage, but hesitated at gate. She turned around, bowed again. "Thank you once more for your hospitality, Lord Leon. I bid you farewell now."
Leon nodded; his face sincere. "Travel well, Miss Tsubaki. And... take care of my daughter. And yourself."
Tsubaki felt her heart beat faster again, but She bowed deeper. "I will." And she straightened and boarded the carriage.
The door closed, the horses snorted, and the carriage began to move, the guards riding alongside in neat formation.
Leon and Aria stood side by side at the gate, watching the carriage until it disappeared down the winding path, swallowed gradually by the brilliant rise of the sun.
The day had started. but a part of Leon’s heart had departed with that carriage.