The antique clock on my wall read 6:34 AM. Pale light crept through gaps in the curtains, painting thin stripes across rumpled sheets. Maria's head rested on my chest, her breathing soft and regular. Dark hair spilled across pale skin like ink on parchment.
『Your father's already awake,』 the Advisor noted. 『Morning training with Damian.』
I absently traced patterns on Maria's bare shoulder. The wards I'd placed still held, keeping our sanctuary private for a few hours more.
"I know what this means," Maria said quietly, breaking the comfortable silence. "What I am. What you are."
I kept my touch gentle, waiting.
"You'll have a peerage. Multiple wives, probably. Some pure-blood match to strengthen house alliances." Her fingers drew idle circles on my ribs. "That's just... how it works."
"Is that what's bothering you?"
She propped herself up on an elbow, looking at me directly. Moonlight caught the blue in her eyes. "I want to stay part of your life. Not just... this. Not just stolen moments and secret meetings."
『She's afraid of being discarded,』 the Advisor whispered. 『Like her mother.』
I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "What do you want, Maria? Exactly?"
"This warmth." She pressed her palm flat against my chest, over my heart. "I want to keep feeling this. To be useful. To matter."
"You think I'd throw you aside?"
"I think you're ambitious. Practical." A sad smile touched her lips. "I think you'll do whatever benefits House Beleth most."
I sat up, forcing her to shift position. "You know what I see when I look at House Beleth? Decay. Rot hidden behind fancy titles and empty traditions."
She blinked at the vehemence in my voice.
"My brothers? They're products of that decay. Damian's so paralyzed by tradition he can barely function. Cyrus drowns his inadequacy in alcohol and rage." I caught her hand, pressing it harder against my chest. "I won't let that happen to us."
"Us?"
"The human realm is just the beginning. I'm going to rebuild House Beleth from the ground up. New foundations. New power structures." I met her gaze steadily. "I need people I can trust absolutely."
"And you trust me?"
"More than my own brothers."
She searched my face, looking for any sign of deception. "Because I'm loyal?"
"Because you see me. Not the title. Not the bloodline. Me."
Her other hand came up to cradle my face. "I see someone who terrifies me sometimes."
I raised an eyebrow.
"The way you think. The plans within plans." She shook her head slightly. "You're going to change everything, aren't you?"
"That's the idea."
"And you want me there for it?"
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against hers. "I want you exactly where you are. By my side. In my bed. In my life."
She shivered. "Even when you have to marry some pure-blood princess?"
"Especially then." I pulled back enough to meet her eyes again. "Political marriages are about alliance and appearance. This? This is about trust."
"Trust," she repeated softly.
"You know what my family's power is? What we really do?" I traced her lower lip with my thumb. "We get inside people's heads. Change how they think. How they feel."
She nodded slowly.
"But you? Your mind is yours. Always has been. Even with Beleth blood, you resist the family gift." I smiled. "Do you know how rare that is?"
"I never thought of it as special."
"It's more than special. It's valuable." I shifted, pulling her fully into my lap. "The human realm is going to be dangerous. I'll need someone who can't be mentally compromised."
"Is that all I am? An asset?"
I caught the teasing note in her voice. "Would you rather be decoration?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'd rather be whatever keeps me close to this." Her hands slid down my chest. "To you."
"Then be my shadow." I gripped her hips as she moved against me. "My confidante. My protection against my own family's power."
"Your lover?" She rocked slowly.
"That too." I groaned softly. "Definitely that too."
She laughed, then gasped as I shifted beneath her. "The wards are still up?"
"For now." I pulled her down for a kiss. "Though we should probably consider breakfast soon."
"Probably," she agreed, making no move to stop. "Your father will want to discuss the proposal."
"Let him wait." I rolled us over, pinning her beneath me again. "I have more immediate proposals to consider."
Her legs wrapped around my waist. "Such as?"
"Such as how to properly thank my most trusted ally." I nipped at her throat, drawing a soft moan. "For her unwavering loyalty."
"Careful," she breathed. "Keep talking like that and we'll never make it to breakfast."
"Would that be so terrible?"
Her answer was lost in another kiss, deeper and hungrier than before. Morning light painted patterns across bare skin as we lost ourselves in each other again.
『The household staff will be up soon,』 the Advisor noted some time later.
I ignored the warning, focused on the way Maria arched beneath me, the soft sounds she made as I...
『Seriously, you need to start thinking about appearances.』
"Shut up," I muttered against Maria's neck.
"What?" She pulled back slightly, breathless.
"Not you." I captured her mouth again before she could ask more questions.
The clock read 7:15 when we finally separated, both breathing heavily. Maria's hair was a glorious mess, her skin marked in ways that would take careful dressing to hide.
"I should go," she said reluctantly. "The servants..."
"Will gossip regardless." I stretched languidly. "But yes, appearances matter. For now."
She slid from the bed, gathering scattered clothing. I watched appreciatively as she dressed, enjoying the small signs of self-consciousness that crept into her movements.
"Your father's study," she said, fastening her dress. "After breakfast?"
I nodded. "He'll want to discuss details. Probably try to add conditions."
"Will you accept them?"
"Depends on the conditions." I stood, not bothering with false modesty as I crossed to my wardrobe. "But probably. The core proposal is sound enough that he won't risk alienating me by being too restrictive."
She paused in front of my mirror, trying to tame her hair. "And us?"
"Will continue exactly as we are." I pulled on a robe, moving to help her with a particularly stubborn tangle. "Though perhaps with fewer sneaking around at dawn moments once we're in the human realm."
"I meant..." She met my eyes in the mirror. "What do we tell people?"
"Nothing, for now." I smoothed her hair back, letting my fingers trail down her neck. "Let them draw their own conclusions. It's safer that way."
"For who?"
"For you." I pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "The less officially acknowledged you are, the more freedom you have to move in the shadows."
She turned to face me. "You really have thought of everything."
"Not everything." I traced the marks I'd left on her collar. "Didn't exactly plan on this happening last night."
"No?" Her smile turned teasing. "The great strategist, caught off guard?"
"By you?" I pulled her close for one last kiss. "More often than you know."
She melted against me for a moment before pulling away. "I really do need to go."
"I know." I stepped back, letting her move toward the door. "Breakfast in an hour?"
She nodded, then paused with her hand on the doorknob. "Amon?"
"Mm?"
"Thank you. For seeing me."
Before I could respond, she slipped out, closing the door silently behind her. I stared at the empty space for a long moment.
『Well,』 the Advisor said dryly. 『That was certainly one way to seal her loyalty.』
"It wasn't about loyalty."
『No?』
I moved to the window, watching the sun rise over the Beleth estate. "It was about trust."
『Same thing, in the end.』
"No." I pressed my palm against the cool glass. "It's really not."
The Advisor fell silent, either processing that or choosing not to argue. Beyond the window, servants began their morning routines, unaware of the changes brewing in their orderly world.
Everything would be different soon. The human realm. The peerage. The slow, careful dismantling of centuries of stagnation. But for now...
For now, I could still feel Maria's warmth on my skin, still taste her on my lips. A reminder that some changes weren't about strategy at all.
『You're getting sentimental,』 the Advisor noted.
"I'm getting dressed," I corrected, moving away from the window. "We have a long day ahead."
But as I prepared for the meeting with Father, I couldn't quite shake the memory of blue eyes and absolute trust. Some weapons, it seemed, cut both ways.
I'd have to be careful with that particular blade.
I sat across from Father in his study, the remains of breakfast still lingering in my mouth. The old grandfather clock in the corner ticked away, marking each silent moment as Father reviewed the documents spread across his desk.
『He's impressed,』 the Advisor noted. 『Though he's trying not to show it.』
Father's golden eyes flicked up from the papers. "I went over your proposal in full. Your market analysis is... thorough."
"The human realm's entertainment industry is expanding rapidly," I said. "Particularly in Japan. The right investments now could yield significant returns."
He leaned back, steepling his fingers. "And you believe idol management is the right investment?"
"It's a foothold." I gestured to one of the charts. "The real value lies in the network of connections we'll build. Production companies, venue owners, media outlets..."
"All human businesses."
"All businesses that generate significant revenue streams." I kept my tone measured. "More importantly, they provide legitimate cover for other operations."
Father's eyebrow raised slightly. "Such as?"
"Information gathering. Territory expansion. Resource acquisition." I met his gaze. "The kind of operations that benefit House Beleth without drawing attention from the other pillars."
"Hmm." He picked up another document. "And the ten billion yen..."
"The initial investment." I nodded. "Converted from underworld currency through established channels. Fully repaid within five years, with interest."
"Bold numbers."
"Conservative, actually." I slid another paper forward. "Based on current market trends and projected growth in the sector."
Father studied the projections. The clock continued its steady count.
"Your brothers never showed this level of... initiative," he said finally.
"Damian excels at maintaining traditions," I said carefully. "Cyrus..."
"Yes." Father's mouth tightened. "Cyrus excels at other things."
Silence stretched between us again. I waited, letting him process.
"The amount isn't insignificant," he said. "Even with our resources..."
"I understand the risk." I leaned forward slightly. "That's why I'm willing to tie it to my rights."
His eyes sharpened. "Explain."
"If I fail to repay the loan within five years, I forfeit my right to be apart of House Beleth as a main branch member." I kept my voice steady. "Complete with a binding magical contract."
『Bold move,』 the Advisor whispered. 『He wasn't expecting that.』
"You'd risk your status as a high-class devil," Father said slowly. "Over a human realm business venture?"
"I'm risking it over the future of House Beleth." I held his gaze. "We can't survive on tradition alone. Not anymore."