Diodora made his way to his father's office with a serious expression on his face. Upon reaching the door, he knocked and waited for permission to enter.
"Come in."
Diodora opened the door and stepped into the office, finding his father seated behind an imposing wooden desk. He closed the door behind him and approached, waiting for instructions.
"Sit," Dimitri ordered, indicating a chair in front of his desk.
Diodora sat obediently.
"I saw a video on DevilNet of you being humiliated by Riser Phenex," Dimitri began, his voice laden with disappointment. "What do you have to say about that?"
Diodora swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his father's words upon him. He tried to maintain his composure, but the shame he felt threatened to consume him.
"He caught me off guard, and before I could do anything, someone teleported me away from the party."
"No excuses," Dimitri replied.
Diodora lowered his head, acknowledging his father's reprimand.
"Other families are mocking us, Diodora," declared Dimitri. "They're taking advantage of the situation with Riser Phenex to discredit us and undermine our reputation."
Diodora frowned, feeling a wave of anger rising within him.
"How can they do that? We're the family of Ajuka Belzebub; they should fear us," Diodora replied, his voice filled with indignation.
"Your brother always made it clear he was a Belzebub before an Astaroth," Dimitri reminded him.
"What can we do to reverse this situation?" Diodora asked, seeking guidance from his father.
Dimitri looked at Diodora seriously, pondering the best strategy to adopt.
"Announce the engagement between you and Rias Gremory as soon as possible."
Diodora hesitated for a moment, reluctant to follow this suggestion, but he knew he had no choice.
"Very well, I will do it."
"Don't worry about Rias," Dimitri said, trying to reassure Diodora. "I've spoken with Zeoticus, and he assured me that his daughter won't cause any trouble."
Diodora felt a bit more at ease upon hearing his father's words.
"The union between the Astaroth and the Gremory will be more formidable than the union between the Phenex and the Sitri," declared Dimitri with conviction, looking squarely at his son Diodora.
"It's a smart move," Diodora agreed.
"Of course it is," affirmed Dimitri. "It will only be a small part of the retribution we will exact from the Phenex."
Diodora frowned, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"Imagine the same Rias who rejected Riser in the past easily accepting the contract with you. It would be a small humiliation for Riser and the Phenex," explained Dimitri, his tone laden with malice.
Diodora nodded slowly, beginning to understand his father's plan.
"That's all I have to say to this pathetic boy," thought Dimitri, his internal voice echoing with disdain.
"You may leave, my business with you is over," said Dimitri, his firm voice echoing through the office.
Diodora, unaware of his father's thoughts, simply nodded, feeling relieved to be able to leave that tense environment.
Diodora rose from the chair and slowly made his way to the door, keeping his head down, avoiding his father's gaze.
When he reached the door, Diodora opened it carefully, feeling a weight being lifted from his shoulders as he left the office.
With a sigh of relief, Diodora exited the office and closed the door softly behind him, trying not to disturb the silence that reigned in the hallway.
Meanwhile, Dimitri leaned back in his chair, watching his son leave with a disappointed expression.
"It's unlucky to have a son who can't do anything on his own and another who doesn't care about the family," thought Dimitri, his thoughts laden with frustration.
As Diodora walked through the corridor of his mansion, he reflected on his father's words and what he needed to do to restore the honor of the Astaroth family.
"This marriage has to serve some purpose," thought Diodora, determined to use the names of Sirzechs and Ajuka to secure his position and make Riser pay for the humiliation he caused.
A malicious smile spread across Diodora's face as he plotted his plans.
Riser's Underworld Mansion
Akeno woke up slowly, her mind still clouded by the dreams of the previous night, she struggled to recall the moments shared with Riser.
As consciousness solidified, Akeno buried her head in the pillow, allowing herself to relive the memories of passion and surrender they had shared. Every touch, every whispered word still echoed in her mind, warming her body and eliciting a gentle smile on her lips.
"I finally did everything I wanted to do," murmured Akeno to herself, feeling a mixture of contentment and uncertainty enveloping her heart. She turned on the bed, gazing at the ceiling of the room as she reflected on the next steps to take.
"But I can't enter his Peerage, I can't abandon Rias," thought Akeno, her expression turning serious as she considered the consequences of her actions. She knew her loyalty to Rias was unwavering, and she couldn't simply leave her behind, even if it meant giving up an opportunity with Riser.
Akeno took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumult of thoughts assaulting her. She knew she needed to make a decision, but she was torn between following her heart or keeping her word to Rias.
"But if Riser helps break Rias' engagement contract, then things would be different," pondered Akeno, her gaze lost in space as she considered this possibility. A spark of hope ignited in her chest at the thought of freeing Rias from an unwanted fate.
"If Riser is willing to help, Rias would be free, and I could enter his Peerage," murmured Akeno, her voice laden with determination. She knew this wouldn't be an easy decision, but she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure her friend's happiness and follow her own heart.
With that firm resolution in mind, Akeno got out of bed and began to prepare herself.
Akeno left her room and went to the living room of the mansion. She found Riser and Nana conversing.
"Hi Akeno, did you sleep well?" asked Riser with a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Akeno felt her cheeks blush slightly under Riser's suggestive gaze. "Yes, I slept well, thank you," she replied, trying to disguise her shyness.
"Can we talk in private?" Akeno directed the question to Riser, her tone of voice revealing a mixture of nervousness and determination.
"Of course, let's go to my office," agreed Riser, getting up from the couch and indicating the way for Akeno.
Akeno followed Riser to the office, her heart beating faster as they approached their destination. She knew she needed to be honest with Riser about her feelings and about her loyalty to Rias.
Once they entered the office and closed the door behind them, Akeno took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she had within her. She turned to face Riser, her gaze determined as she began to speak.
"Riser, I need to tell you something," started Akeno, her voice firm but filled with emotion. "I... I have feelings for you, it's true, but..."
Riser raised an eyebrow, his mischievous smile still present on his face as he watched Akeno with interest.
"But...?" encouraged Riser, his curiosity clearly piqued by Akeno's hesitation.
"But I also have an unwavering loyalty to Rias," continued Akeno, her voice softening as she spoke about her friend. "And I can't simply abandon her, even if it means giving up an opportunity with us."
Riser studied Akeno for a moment, his expression serious as he processed her words.
"But I can change my mind if you help Rias break her engagement contract," Akeno suddenly said, her voice firm and determined.
Riser arched an eyebrow, surprised by Akeno's unexpected proposal.
"For me, it's fine," said Riser. "I'll help break Rias' engagement contract, and you'll enter my Peerage forever, agreed."
"Agreed," replied Akeno, her voice soft but firm.
A smile spread across Riser's face, his heart overflowing with satisfaction at seeing that Akeno was willing to accept his proposal.
"Great, let's start the ritual," said Riser, taking the Evil Piece from the bishop and approaching Akeno.
Akeno watched Riser with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, her heart beating faster as he approached her with the Evil Piece in hand.
"Do you want to do this now?" asked Akeno, her voice trembling with anticipation.
"Of course, I have no reason to wait," replied Riser, his smile confident. "Unless you've changed your mind?"
Akeno took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she had within her before responding.
"No, I haven't changed my mind," she affirmed, her voice firm despite the lingering uncertainty.
Riser nodded in approval, his expression confident as he placed the Evil Piece on Akeno's chest, adding her to his Peerage.
The sensation of power flooded Akeno as the Evil Piece merged with her body, a new connection being established between her and Riser.
As the ritual came to an end, Akeno looked into Riser's eyes with a newfound determination in her heart.
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