After exiting the bathroom, Rias was wrapped in nothing but a pure white towel, drying her crimson hair with another towel.
"Come here."
Standing at Rias's vanity, Vitan held a hairdryer in his hand.
The motor hummed steadily.
A slight expression of satisfaction appeared on Rias's face, and she praised Vitan through the mirror with a rare compliment:
"You're finally qualified now."
Vitan's fingers ran down her blood-red hair as he wore a slightly surprised look.
"So I only became qualified now? I thought you'd already considered me qualified after how satisfied you were last night."
"Eh…"
Knowing Vitan was teasing her, the now more experienced Rias didn't take the bait and change the topic.
"I agree with living together as you said. But now that I've given what I should have, don't you think it's time for you to fulfill your promise from last night and help me solve my problem?"
Now that her hair was fully dried, Rias stood up from her vanity and faced Vitan as she spoke.
She didn't think Vitan would go back on his word—she was just a bit eager to finally be free of the situation that had been bothering her for so long.
Vitan walked over to Rias, placed his hands on her shoulders, and leaned in slightly.
Rias obediently wrapped her arms around his neck, offering her crimson lips.
After their lips parted, Rias playfully stuck out her pink tongue and licked the corner of her mouth, looking seductively at Vitan as she said,
"Let's be clear—this is it. I still have to go to school after all."
"I wasn't planning to continue either. But there's no need for school today. I already asked Akeno to request leave on your behalf."
Rias froze in the middle of pulling up her stockings. Before she could even respond, Vitan continued, "We'll be heading to your home later—the Gremory estate."
Crimson magic swirled up from beneath their feet as a teleportation circle opened a portal to the Underworld.
The destination of the magic circle was naturally the Gremory family's castle.
A towering palace, weathered stone bricks, and men with hair like blazing fire who had clearly been waiting.
Their luxurious attire and noble bearing unmistakably declared their identity.
Standing opposite the two red-haired men was a woman with long silver hair and an expression as cold as frost—so unreadable it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. She was the Underworld's strongest female Maou—Grayfia.
Seeing his daughter appear with Vitan, Rias's father, Zeoticus Gremory, let out a long sigh.
"Rias, you've really put me in a tough spot this time."
Who could understand what this Gremory patriarch was feeling inside?
Just this morning, he had been happily watering the garden, getting ready to meet an old friend.
But before he could step outside, the "Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation" blocked him at his own doorstep.
He was quite confused. His son had stayed home the previous night—if Grayfia wanted to discuss something, shouldn't she talk to him? Why block the father?
But when they all sat in the living room, and Grayfia relayed Vitan's words, both Zeoticus and Sirzechs's expressions had become a kaleidoscope of emotions.
"You kept ignoring my objections and insisted on marrying me off to that useless Phoenix heir. You wanted to preserve the bloodline, right? Well, now I've found someone more suitable to carry on the precious Gremory bloodline. You should be happy!"
Rias's voice was dripping with sarcasm and mockery as she directly confronted her father and brother.
Did she really have no resentment toward her family?
Of course she did.
Not just a little—but a deep, long-harbored one.
Her brother was one of the Four Great Maou of the Underworld, and her father was the head of the pure-blooded Gremory clan—yet neither had stood up to resist the pressure of the Elder Council.
Instead, they helped them try to force her into marrying someone she didn't love.
All just to use her as a tool for reproduction.
"Rias…"
Sirzechs also gave a bitter smile.
Had Rias not lashed out today, he wouldn't have realized just how much she despised that engagement.
"Alright, go back to your room for now. Let me handle the rest."
Perhaps these feelings had been bottled up in Rias for too long. Now that they burst out, her emotions had gotten a bit out of control.
After Rias left, the vast hall fell into a moment of silence.
"So, what happens next, Vitan-kun?"
Sirzechs's expression was gentle, but a silent pressure brewed in the air.
Considering the legendary feats of this kind-faced Maou during the Devil Civil War, the aura he exuded felt entirely natural.
This was the strongest devil of the Underworld—Sirzechs.
In Vitan's body, his magic power also began to rise, resisting the pressure from the strongest devil of the Underworld.
"Just as Rias wished, the child between Rias and me will bear the Gremory family name. What Rias lacks… is only a proper status. As for everything else, I will ensure that Rias is treated no worse than anyone else."
Sirzechs raised an eyebrow, and a terrifying wave of magic once again surged toward Vitan.
"But…"
"That's enough."
Another equally terrifying magical force swept in from the side, dispersing Sirzechs' unleashed aura.
"Sirzechs, Vitan has already given up the right to name the child. You must remember this — this entire situation was initiated and requested by your sister."
Grayfia confronted Sirzechs head-on without backing down.
It took a few moments before Sirzechs finally withdrew his pressure, then shrugged.
"Fine! I can agree to this, but the matter with the Phenex family — you'll be the ones to deal with it."
Was his sister getting the better deal?
In Sirzechs' eyes, not really. All they wanted was to ensure the continuation of the Gremory bloodline.
Who Rias' partner was… wasn't that important.
So, in that case, wouldn't choosing someone Rias truly liked be even better?
As for releasing all that pressure earlier — he simply wanted to fight for better treatment on behalf of his sister.
"No problem, I'll notify the Phenex family myself."