Omniscient POV
Elle loves gaming, but lately, she's been overwhelmed with preparations for an upcoming tournament that's just days away.
The intense focus on getting ready has left her with little time for anything else, including spending quality moments with her family, which has been frustrating for her.
Adding to her frustration is a recent tie she had in an online game with a player named 'Queen.'
Elle, known online as 'Princess,' is fiercely competitive, and the thought of being unable to secure a win still irritates her.
The memory of that tie still stung. Elle had been so close to victory, yet Queen had matched her move for move, leading to an infuriating draw. She clenched her teeth just thinking about it.
A rematch was what she wanted—a chance to prove her superiority once and for all. Online was different—faceless, detached.
But in person, she'd show Queen, and everyone else, that she was the true victor.
This time, the tournament would be in person. Though nervous, Elle felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of finally meeting 'Queen' face-to-face. The anticipation of a real-life showdown added an extra layer of thrill to the competition.
As Elle leaned back in her chair, her eyes glued to the screen, a nagging thought crossed her mind: she hadn't visited her parents in weeks.
Preparing for the upcoming tournament had taken over her life, leaving no time for anything else. [A/N: Get a life!😅]
The guilt gnawed at Elle, so she made an effort to visit her parents. But when she finally went home, she found her mother just as busy as she was, wrapped up in something she didn't quite know about.
Her father, on the other hand, seemed oddly tense, though Elle couldn't figure out why. What she didn't know was that he was the one most anxious about the upcoming face-off between Queen and Princess.
As her father, he would be stuck in the middle, no matter who won, and that thought was frustrating for him! After only a day at home, Elle returned to her routine, more frustrated than before.
To shake off the frustration, Elle threw herself into training, immersing herself in the game. She had been practicing hard, determined to win the tournament and finally prove herself against Queen.
Her fingers moved swiftly over the controls, her focus so intense that the world around her faded into the background. [A/N: She should really get a life!🙄]
As Riser, Ravel, and Yubelluna made their way toward her, Elle remained completely oblivious to their presence.
Her attention was locked onto the screen, her glowing yellow eyes reflecting the intensity of her concentration. All that mattered now was the game, and nothing could break her focus. [A/N: 😶]
On the other hand, Riser strode confidently towards Elle, his prideful demeanor impossible to miss.
Ravel hurried after him, her expression filled with concern, while his Queen, Yubelluna, walked with an air of superiority, dutifully by his side.
Riser's gaze, however, was fixated on the girl sitting in the corner of the arcade, completely absorbed in the game she was playing.
Her yellow eyes never left the screen, her fingers moving swiftly, utterly focused on the game.
Her intense focus didn't waver, not even when Riser's eyes traveled over her, studying her with a mixture of curiosity and fascination.
He approached as though entranced, barely able to comprehend why he felt so drawn to her.
The arcade was filled with noise and movement, but for Riser, it all seemed to fade as he reached the girl, his pride swelling at the thought of having her attention.
He cleared his throat, standing tall and puffing his chest out as he spoke with his characteristic arrogance.
"You there, what is your name?" Riser's voice cut through the noise, sharp and demanding attention.
Elle didn't even flinch, her focus never breaking, which only irritated him. Even after a while, he didn't receive any answer. His patience already thinning, he raised his voice.
"Riser is asking you a question. Who are you?"
Riser was genuinely curious. For some reason, she attracted him, and her extraordinary beauty was not the only factor.
He sensed that there was something different about her, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
She wasn't a devil; there were no signs of demonic power in her. Yet she also wasn't human—he could tell that much.
She was something else entirely, deepening his intrigue and compelling him to want to learn more about her.
But she continued to ignore him completely, not even sparing him a glance, which only fueled Riser's irritation.
Riser's frustration mounted, and he began spouting total nonsense, like the little piece of shit he was known for. His condescension reached new heights as the clown vented his irritation.
"Riser is offering you the privilege of joining his peerage," he declared with a smirk, standing taller as if his words were an honor she should be grateful for.
"You should feel lucky. Riser will even make you one of his concubines!" 🤡
Still, she didn't react. Not a flinch, not a glance. It was as though he was invisible. [A/N: 😂🤣]
The blatant disregard for his presence made Riser's blood boil. His pride, his very identity, felt humiliated by her indifference.
"Hey!" Riser snapped, his voice rising. "I am speaking to you!" 🤡 [A/N: The clown even forgot his own speech pattern, in anger. 😜]
Still no response.
Riser's brow furrowed. No one ignored him like this. He wasn't used to being disregarded, especially by someone he had just deemed worthy of his attention.
"Tch." His voice sharpened. "You'd make a fine concubine."
Riser's loud shout drew the attention of everyone nearby. With their hooded clothes disguising them, they appeared suspicious, catching the eyes of the place's guards.
As soon as Riser started boasting about peerages, the guards exchanged glances, realizing that he must be some spoiled noble brat who believed the world revolved around him.
The guards felt conflicted—if things escalated, they would have no choice but to intervene, especially since nobles were involved.
Elle, however, was well-known here, frequently visiting from the Sabnock Castle. Many of the people knew about her temper, and concern began to spread among the onlookers.
They were fully aware that if Elle became angry, she might hurt or even humiliate this arrogant little clown, which would only make things worse. The last thing anyone wanted was a conflict between territories.
They were already aware of how the other territories viewed them. Most were eyeing their profitable businesses and the better life they had here. They didn't need more reasons for other territories to scheme against them. Life was always better without conflict.
The crowd started to watch Riser oddly, his behavior resembling that of a clown performing in a circus.
Yet, beneath the amusement, there was clear worry. No one wanted to see their territory get into trouble with another, especially over something so trivial.
Riser, though, was far too focused on Elle to notice the tension rising around him.
His patience was wearing thin, the disrespect he felt mounting with every passing second.
Yubelluna, ever supportive of her master and always his loyal Queen, gave a quiet nod.
Still seeing no response from the girl, Yubelluna stepped forward, glaring at her with eyes flashing with arrogance.
"How dare you ignore Riser-sama?" she hissed. "Do you not understand what kind of opportunity you're being given? Not everyone is so fortunate."
She also needed to show the 'new' girl her place as Riser's 'Queen' before this girl could even think about making a move on her king.
She had to establish who was superior and more favored.
In Yubelluna's mind, she was already planning for the future. There was no doubt the girl would accept; after all, who wouldn't jump at the chance of a better life with a noble? 🤡
Yubelluna believed the girl might be too ignorant to grasp the significance of the offer.
If she understood, she would be the one begging Riser by now, Yubelluna thought.
Her plan was to make sure the girl realized exactly what was being offered.
That's why she spoke with such an arrogant tone as she supported her king in getting what he wanted.
But the girl, Elle, continued playing the arcade game, completely disregarding Yubelluna's threat. Her calm, almost mocking indifference only stoked the fire of Riser's ego.
The atmosphere around them was growing tenser by the second.
Ravel, far more capable than her clownish brother, wasn't oblivious to the situation. She appeared genuinely concerned, sensing trouble brewing.
She could feel the concerned stares directed their way and, unlike her brother, she was beginning to feel puzzled by the atmosphere.
Something wasn't right, and she didn't know what to expect next!
Ravel quickly rushed to his side, tugging at his arm. "Nii-sama, please, don't be so rude. Maybe she's—"
"Enough!" He cut Ravel off with an irritated wave, his temper flaring.
"Riser will not be disrespected like this!" he spat, yanking his arm from her grasp.
But Elle, still unbothered, kept playing. Her complete disregard for them was making the situation worse by the second.
Finally, Riser had enough. He never felt so humiliated in his whole life! This girl was ignoring his whole existence! He stormed over to the machine and, in one swift motion, yanked the plug from the wall.
The arcade fell into a sudden, shocked silence as the screen flickered off, the lights on the machine died, and the hours of progress she had made vanished in an instant. 😶
That's when the air changed.
Elle slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing as she stared up at Riser. The shift in her demeanor was immediate, and even the guards stationed nearby could feel the sudden pressure in the room.
Her calm but icy anger was palpable, and everyone in the arcade who knew her began to back away. 🫣
Elle rose to her feet, her gaze locking with Riser's as the tension in the room became unbearable.
The atmosphere was suffocating, but Riser, in his arrogance, didn't notice. Instead, he smirked down at her, unaware of the danger he was in. 🤡
"Who are you?" Riser demanded again, his ego refusing to accept her silence. "You're no devil, and you're no human either. What are you?"
Elle's lips curled into a scowl. Her voice was cold, yet filled with authority that sent chills down Ravel's spine. [A/N: Elle's a proud princess, you know...]
"Who am I? You should be asking yourself who you are to speak to me like that."
Riser's ego wouldn't let this go. "Riser is from the great Phenex clan. You should consider yourself lucky that Riser would even offer you a place in his peerage. You will be—" 🤡
"You think I'd lower myself to be part of your peerage? A slave?" Elle's voice was sharp, slicing through the arcade like a blade. "You are nothing but a brat drunk on the influence of your clan."
Yubelluna, still standing by Riser's side, stepped forward again, her arrogance fueling her words. "You should be grateful! Not everyone is given such an opportunity to improve their life."
Elle's eyes darkened, and with a surge of power, the pressure she emitted increased tenfold. Riser and Yubelluna crumpled to the ground under the weight of it, gasping for breath as they struggled to get up.
Ravel, standing nearby, could only watch in horror, feeling the immense power radiating from Elle.
"Enough!" Ravel cried, her voice shaking. "Please, stop this!"
Elle glanced at Ravel, the only one who hadn't fully incurred her wrath, but her gaze quickly shifted back to Riser and Yubelluna, both still trembling on the ground.
After a moment of thought, Elle decided to put an end to the nonsense, noticing the frightened faces of the people inside the arcade.
If she pushed any further, it might cause real damage, and she didn't want to create trouble for Kouske. Most of the people here were familiar to her, and causing a scene wasn't worth it.
She released the pressure she had been exerting, her gaze shifting to the duo now lying disgraced on the ground.
With a sigh, she said, "Leave now if you don't want to humiliate yourselves any further. And don't bother me with your nonsense again."
A trembling Riser and Yubelluna slowly stood back up. Riser, still staring at his shaking hands, seemed unable to believe that he had been overpowered so easily.
If it had been a prominent figure from the underworld or even the outside world, he might have accepted it. Riser had always respected strength, even when it wasn't his own. He wasn't stupid.
But to be humiliated by a no-name girl, in front of the commoners he looked down upon, made his blood boil. His anger clouded any rational thought.
It had to be a fluke, or the girl must have used some kind of trick—at least, that was the conclusion his fragile pride allowed him to believe. He couldn't accept this weakness. He couldn't accept this insult.
While Riser was lost in his delusional thoughts, Yubelluna was far more shaken. The girl she had arrogantly dismissed as weak and ignorant had turned out to be someone far stronger than she ever imagined.
The pressure Elle had exerted earlier had nearly made her lose control of her own body and piss herself. Her legs still felt weak beneath her.
If this girl had truly wanted to kill them, they wouldn't have stood a chance. Just the thought of it sent a shiver of terror through Yubelluna, her heart still racing as she struggled to regain composure.
Ravel quickly rushed over to help them up, determined to get them out of the arcade immediately. She didn't want things to escalate any further.
Her father had entrusted her with the responsibility of watching over Riser, but she felt she had failed at this simple task.
They hadn't even met the Lord of this territory yet, and already they were stirring up trouble. This was far from the good impression she had hoped to make.
Perhaps she shouldn't have insisted on touring the city; maybe it would have been better to take care of their business quickly and leave, just as Riser had wanted from the start.
Now, as she began to blame herself, Ravel glanced at Elle, unsure of what to say. This mysterious girl had insulted them without hesitation, leaving Ravel at a loss for words.
"Nii-sama—" Ravel began, but Riser didn't seem to hear her. His mind was still clouded by anger and humiliation.
By this time, the guards had arrived, sensing the tension and fearing the situation might spiral out of control. They approached cautiously, intent on defusing the situation before it worsened.
With a polite but firm tone, they offered to escort Riser, Yubelluna, and Ravel to their Lord's mansion, hoping to prevent any further conflict.
"Lord Phenex, Lady Phenex—" one of the guards began, drawing Ravel's attention.
They had already confirmed their identities through other guards who had sensed the sudden surge of mana in the area. Riser had also introduced himself as a Phenex, making it easy to connect the dots.
As the guards positioned themselves in front of Riser to speak to him, it only fueled his rage.
Their presence blocked his view of Elle—the one who had humiliated him. His bloodshot eyes had been fixed on her in a seething, vicious stare, and being interrupted pushed him past his breaking point.
In a blind fury, Riser lashed out, throwing a punch at the guard standing in his way.
The guard Riser struck happened to be a newbie female devil guard, relatively inexperienced in handling entitled noble brats like him.
Despite her lack of experience, she was known for her diligence and cheerful personality. Over time, she had grown friendly with Elle, who frequently visited the arcade where the guard was usually stationed.
Though she was only a high-class devil in terms of power, the blow from Riser caught her completely off guard. Without enough time to block or dodge, she was sent flying across the room, slamming hard into the opposite wall.
The room went silent. Everyone stood in stunned disbelief. Ravel felt her stomach drop, thinking the situation couldn't possibly get worse, yet here they were. Riser was only making things harder for everyone.
Elle had initially decided to forgive the clown if they had just left quietly, not wanting to cause any issues for Kouske with the Phenex clan. She didn't care about the nobility in the Underworld, but after living in Kouske's house for so many years, she had at least some general knowledge about the clans.
She had also heard about the so-called 'false devil Phoenixes,' the Phenex clan, but never thought much of them, aside from finding them somewhat amusing.
After all, would they even amount to anything in front of a real Phoenix? To Elle, her family, and her race, the Phenex clan was a joke at best.
According to Kouske, these devils weren't even truly immortal. So how could they possibly ever compare to real Phoenixes? At the end of the day, they are just a washed up version of real Phoenixes, aren't they?
So, when Riser introduced himself, Elle recognized the surname and knew the Phenex clan held considerable influence in the Underworld.
She had heard how they stayed neutral, avoiding both the Old Satan Faction and the New Satan Faction, selling their coveted Phenex Tears to both sides and reaping the rewards.
She also knew about the arranged engagement between this clown and the Gremory heiress, a move intended to secure the Phenex clan's allegiance to the New Satan Faction.
Elle recalled hearing gossip about this around Kouske's mansion. For a time, Kouske would rant about how ridiculous the engagement was.
According to him, there were plenty of other ways to secure an alliance, but instead, they chose to tie the clown to the lazy, spoiled Gremory heiress—someone who, in his eyes, only knew how to cry and was ungrateful for her luxurious life and position.
Kouske often spoke of how the spoiled Gremory heiress caused constant trouble for her clan, showing blatant ungratefulness for both her family and their efforts.
She would complain endlessly without lifting a finger to contribute, demonstrating an utter lack of gratitude for everything her clan provided. To Kouske, she was just a pitiful, lazy brat, and he had no good impression of her.
Still, he would admit she wasn't entirely a bad person—just a bit lazy, spoiled, ungrateful, and disappointing...
Kouske couldn't help but feel that beneath her shortcomings, there might be potential, waiting to be unlocked if only she chose to change her attitude and take her responsibilities seriously.
Now back to the problem at hand. Elle had initially decided to forgive this clown, willing to overlook his shortcomings.
However, the moment Riser attacked the female guard who had been friendly with her in this arcade, Elle's patience snapped. Now, she was super pissed off.
"You, you, you! Do you think you can just insult Riser like that?! Riser is from the Phenex clan! Riser won't take this lying down!" he barked, glaring at Elle, his face twisted with indignation.
Ravel felt her stomach drop at her brother's stupidity. She knew they shouldn't antagonize someone who could easily overwhelm them. Fighting here, in someone else's territory, would only sour their relationship further.
They were nobles, yes, but that didn't mean they could do as they pleased without repercussions in someone else's territory. Not unless the guards had been extremely rude, which was clearly not the case.
"Nii-sama, please stop!" Ravel pleaded, stepping forward, her voice urgent. "This isn't the time or place for this!"
But her words fell on deaf ears as Riser continued to lash out, unaware of the danger he was inviting.
"You have some nerve," Elle said, her voice filled with disdain as she turned her full attention back to Riser.
"You speak of being a Phenex, but you're not even a real phoenix. Your power is incomplete—corrupted even. You are... nothing but a fake!"
Riser's eyes burned with fury. Even Ravel bristled at the comment, her face pale but her expression a mix of concern and indignation.
"And who even speaks like that? Referring to yourself as 'Riser'...?" Elle said, as a laugh escaped her.
"You! Riser is no fake!" he shouted, his features twisting in anger. "You dare insult Riser?!"
Elle raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Is that all you've got? A name and a title? You may think you're impressive, but you're nothing compared to those who actually earn their power."
The tension crackled in the air as Riser took a step closer, his hands balled into fists. "You think you can just walk in here and disrespect me? Riser won't stand for this!" 🤡 [A/N: In reality, did he not walk in here instead? 😂]
Ravel, desperate to defuse the situation, interjected, "Nii-sama, please! This isn't helping!" But her voice was drowned out by Riser's escalating fury. But then...
Elle's expression turned cold as she raised her hand. "Let me show you what a real phoenix is."
With a burst of light, Elle's body shifted and morphed, transforming into a massive, magnificent phoenix.
One side of her wings blazed with a brilliant blue fire that radiated intense heat, while the other side shimmered with a deep red flame that emanated a freezing chill.
She wasn't even in her full form, but the sheer size of her phoenix shape filled the arcade, leaving everyone stunned and awestruck.
The beauty of her form mesmerized the entire room. Riser could only gape, wide-eyed and speechless as the realization of what she was dawned on him.
But Riser refused to accept it. Real Phoenixes had long since gone extinct; no one had seen one in over a couple of millennia.
He would not accept being called a fake. He prided himself on his clan. His bloodline power granted him the abilities of immortality, fire, and wind.
To prove who the real Phoenix was, he clasped his hands and summoned the intense immortal flames that the Phenex clan was known for.
As he directed them toward Elle to attack her, Ravel snapped out of her reverie. She was too stunned by the beautiful sight in front of her to stop her foolish brother.
She never thought she would someday actually see a real Phoenix that her whole clan boasted about. She now understood why she felt a strange connection with Elle during their first meeting.
There was no denying it: the being in front of her was a real Phoenix, an immortal Phoenix.
She wanted to prevent her brother from antagonizing her any further, but Riser had already attacked, much to her dismay. The intense flames surged toward Elle, but to everyone's utter surprise, the flames snuffed out of existence at the slightest gesture of Elle's finger.
Furthermore, Riser found himself unable to control his flames. No matter what he tried, he was powerless against her.
His prized flames and even winds disobeyed him, as if he stood before a primal being from which his power most likely originated.
Feeling helpless, he could only gnash his teeth in anger, refusing to accept the truth.
Then Elle's eyes glowed as she focused on Riser. "This is your punishment."
With a wave of her wing, Elle reached into Riser's very being, drawing forth the spark known as the Phoenix Spark—the source of his Phenex powers.
Both Riser and Ravel stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief as they beheld the glowing ember hovering in Elle's hand.
The Phoenix Spark, one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Phenex family, was something they had only heard about in whispers.
Never had they imagined witnessing it like this, pulled directly from Riser's body.
Riser felt a rush of panic and vulnerability wash over him, his voice trembling. "Wha-what are you doing?! You can't just take that!"
Elle smirked, her confidence unwavering. "What's the matter? You wanted to throw around your name and influence, but now you see how insignificant it really is. This spark doesn't belong to a coward."
Ravel, her heart racing, finally found her voice. "No, please! You don't have to do this! We can talk this out!"
But her plea fell on deaf ears as Elle's grip tightened around the spark, ready to prove a point.
The flame that had once defined Riser flickered and died in her grasp. Riser gasped, his face pale with shock, his body trembling as he felt the loss of his power.
Ravel, desperate, stepped forward, her voice pleading. "Please, forgive him! He didn't know!"
Elle glanced at Ravel, then turned her gaze back to Riser, her expression unyielding. Increasing her pressure, she declared, "Leave now, if you value your lives."
The intensity of her presence enveloped the arcade, a palpable threat that sent a shiver through Riser. Still in shock, he found himself unable to respond, his mind racing with confusion and disbelief.
Ravel, sensing the gravity of the situation, swiftly took charge. She grabbed Riser and Yubelluna, her urgency palpable as she pulled them toward the exit. "We need to go, now!" she urged, her voice a mix of panic and determination.
The arcade remained silent, everyone watching in awe as the Phenex siblings and Riser's Queen fled.
As they hurried out, the arcade felt heavy with tension, the air thick with the remnants of Elle's power. Behind them, Elle watched, her expression a blend of annoyance and satisfaction, knowing she had made her point clear.
Once they were gone, Elle returned to her human form, her gaze softening slightly as she turned toward the guard Riser had attacked earlier. She helped the girl heal instantly, her voice calm but still laced with authority. "Are you alright?"
The guard nodded nervously, clearly shaken but grateful. Elle turned toward the rest of the arcade, her eyes scanning the room. "They won't be back."
The tension in the room slowly dissipated, but everyone remained in awe of the real phoenix among them.
By now, Sakuya had also arrived, taking in the aftermath of the encounter with a heavy heart. She felt as though she had failed Kouske by allowing the situation to escalate without intervention.
Her earlier distraction, overwhelmed by Kuroka and Valerie's relentless questions about what had happened that night with Kouske, had delayed her arrival to pick up the Phenex siblings.
She was flustered and struggling to keep her composure in the face of their curiosity, which only added to her frustration.
As she rushed over to the arcade, Sakuya realized this chaos provided an escape from the relentless interrogation.
What had happened had already unfolded, and from her perspective, Riser had brought this humiliation upon himself.
At least, as far as she could tell, Elle hadn't actually destroyed his Phoenix Spark, contrary to what the Phenex siblings had witnessed.
That alone gave her a sliver of hope that the situation could be salvaged.
Kouske was preoccupied with business in the Nakiri clan territory, but she resolved to call him to inform him about the incident.
Worst-case scenario, he would return himself, or he could just use one of his clones to assess the fallout.
For now, Sakuya focused on containing what had transpired within Sabnock territory. She wasn't concerned about the Phenex family's reputation but knew that if rumors spread from here, it could make the situation even worse.
Additionally, she didn't want the other devils—especially the old noble ones—to discover that Elle was a real Phoenix.
Kouske had no interest in dealing with those meddling old nobles, and revealing such a truth would surely invite unwanted attention from their side. Keeping things under control now was her top priority.
As her mind whirled with such thoughts, Ravel returned with a visibly shaken Riser and Yubelluna in tow.
Riser's demeanor was particularly dismal. In his own mind, he had officially been reduced to 'trash,' stripped of his bloodline powers and reeling from the humiliation.
Now, he was left with only his demonic powers—nothing else! The once-proud scion (THIRD) of the Phenex clan had been reduced to a mere shadow of himself.
Ravel's surprise was evident, but she knew she had to inform her family about what had transpired.
The invitation letter she had forgotten to deliver, seemed trivial in comparison to the disaster unfolding around them.
Riser, in a fit of despair, locked himself in his room—AGAIN.
Ravel couldn't help but feel pity for him, but also a sense of frustration. Hadn't it only been a few months since his previous negative reputation began to fade after he started participating in his rating games?
Now, with this latest incident, it seemed as if he were cursed to repeat his mistakes, dragging down not just himself but those around him as well.
Lord Phenex wasn't pleased to hear about his son's behavior, but the aftermath of the situation shocked him even more.
The fact that Riser had encountered a REAL Phoenix and lost his Phoenix Spark was an unprecedented development. As the details sank in, Lord Phenex could already feel a headache forming.
The revelation did clear up one major mystery for Lord Phenex—the origin of Akatsuki's high-quality healing potions. If a REAL Phoenix was involved, it explained how they were able to produce such potent healing potions.
The fact that Elle, a true Phoenix, was seen in Sabnock territory and potentially connected to Akatsuki was an alarming realization. If Akatsuki had access to a REAL Phoenix, it meant they could easily rival or surpass the Phenex Clan's monopoly on healing potions.
This raised a serious concern. The Phenex Clan had long relied on their exclusive ability to produce Phenex Tears, which were highly sought after across the Underworld. If Akatsuki could produce something better, it would undermine the Phenex Clan's economic and political standing, putting them in a vulnerable position.
Lord Phenex knew he had to speak with Akatsuki soon, both to address the matter of Riser's lost Phoenix Spark and to discuss the ramifications of a REAL Phoenix aligning with them.
The situation was more urgent and precarious than he initially thought, and any misstep could have dire consequences for his clan. For that, he would first have to get in contact with the Sabnock heir.
But Riser's tendency to lock himself in his room after setbacks had returned, and the disappointment was evident on Lord Phenex's face.
He had hoped Riser would have matured by now, but clearly, that wasn't the case. Now, it seemed he, himself, would have to visit the Sabnock territory to handle this delicate situation.
Too many people had witnessed the events, and the risk of rumors spreading was high. He could only hope that he could contain the situation before it spiraled further out of control.
Riser had already been the subject of ridicule for years following the incident with Rias, and now, if word spread that he had lost his Phenex bloodline powers, it would be far more damaging.
Lord Phenex could already imagine the whispers among the other noble families, the mocking that would follow Riser wherever he went.
Worse yet, if the news reached the Gremory clan, his engagement to Rias might be canceled altogether. But Riser seemed quite infatuated with her. So it wouldn't be in their best interest to actually cancel it.