Chapter 205 - 197: Rias Gremory

Rias's eyes slowly fluttered open as a soft melody drifted through the room. The gentle sound of classical music filled the air, flowing from an old gramophone placed near the window. Its shellac record spun steadily, the needle gliding across the grooves while a faint crackling accompanied the elegant tune.

For a moment, Rias simply lay there, disoriented.

Then her vision cleared.

The first thing she saw made her sit upright immediately.

In the center of the room, Arthur and Grayfia were dancing.

Not simply moving to the rhythm, but dancing with practiced grace, their steps perfectly aligned with the music. Arthur guided her effortlessly across the polished floor, one hand resting lightly at her waist while the other held hers. Grayfia followed every motion smoothly, her silver hair swaying gently with each turn.

But what truly shocked Rias was Grayfia's face.

She was smiling.

Not the polite, controlled smile of a servant. Not the calm expression she always showed as Sirzechs' queen. No—this was something different. A genuine, warm smile that softened her usually stoic features.

Rias had known Grayfia since childhood.

She had never seen her look like this.

For a strange moment, it felt like she was watching a pair of lovers dancing. Their movements were too natural, their distance too intimate.

Rias's eyebrow twitched.

"What the heck are you two doing?" she demanded, her voice breaking the peaceful atmosphere.

The music continued playing, but Arthur slowed his step slightly.

Inside Rias's mind, thoughts raced wildly.

Is he a womanizer?

He said he was interested in me… but now he's dancing with Grayfia?

Her gaze sharpened.

Then another realization struck her like lightning.

Wait… Grayfia is…

Grayfia was the spouse of the Ancient One.

Which meant—

What Arthur was doing right now could easily be interpreted as seducing the wife of Nazarick's ruler.

Rias's eyes widened.

If Nazarick found out about this… his head would fly.

Before the tension could escalate further, Grayfia gently stepped back, bowing her head slightly toward Rias.

"I am sorry, Rias-sama," she said calmly, her voice returning to its usual composed tone.

Arthur released her hand as the dance ended, the music still softly echoing from the gramophone.

Grayfia continued,

"Sir Arthur simply wished to demonstrate a human tradition known as a ballroom dance. I agreed to assist him."

Arthur casually brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve before glancing toward Rias with a relaxed smile.

"You're awake earlier than expected," he said lightly. "I thought you'd sleep through the entire song."

Rias crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced.

"That still doesn't explain why you're dancing with Grayfia."

Arthur shrugged.

"Well, she's an excellent dancer. And you were unconscious."

Grayfia coughed softly, as if trying to suppress amusement, though her composure quickly returned.

Meanwhile, Rias continued staring between the two of them suspiciously, her mind still processing what she had just witnessed.

For reasons she couldn't explain, the image of Grayfia smiling like that felt far stranger than the dance itself.

And Arthur…

Arthur looked far too relaxed for someone who might have just committed a political suicide if Nazarick misunderstood the situation. Didn't he just betray Nazarick doing this?

"Grayfia, can you leave for a bit? I have something to talk about with Arthur," Rias asked. To which Grayfia nodded.

"Right away, Rias-sama."

After Grayfia left, Arthur and Rias started a staring contest. Eventually, Arthur let out a sigh. "Alright, you won."

"Arthur, what are you doing? You are from Nazarick. If your leader hears about this, he will kill you." Rias said seriously.

She didn't want the first man, who made her heart flutter, die. Ancent One will kill him if he hears it.

Arthur just smiled hearing Rias's worry; he pulled a chair out and sat inside and looked at Rias.

Damn, I never noticed she was this beautiful. Arthur thought to himself. Maybe because his head has been refreshed after a long time, he senses that the world suddenly becomes more beautiful.

And in such a beautiful world, Rias's looks stand out even more. Look at those plum lips, Red hair and those boobs.

Arthur suddenly feels that his ambition, which led him to annihilate this world to the brink of extinction, once more reignites.

He was caring too much about unnecessary stuff like politics and the opinions of others and stuff; now he felt like a new person entirely.

"You look beautiful, Rias," Arthur said as he took Rias's hand and held it tightly.

Rias was confused at that. This is the first time Arthur was this forward, not just with her but even with Grayfia a moment earlier. Not that, he disliked it.

"Thank you." Rias replied to the compliment, but then she turned serious. "Arthur, about you making a move on Grayfia. Stop it. I don't want to see you hurt. It's fortunate only I saw that. What would have happened if it were one of the Pleiades?"

"Sorry. It won't happen again," Arthur said. Since he planned to continue with this role. He gives an appropriate reply.

"Rias nodded, hearing that." Speaking of Pleiades, where are they? I wanted to thank Solution for the training she gave me. And did you see my fight? It was awesome, right? " Rias said excitedly.

"Yes, it was awesome." Though Arthur didn't see the live fight, he did see the recordings, and it was safe to say what Rias did was indeed an amazing feat.

Like it was unheard of for the king in her first rating game to also fight a one-on-one and emerge victorious. It was an incredible feat indeed.

"You broke, Riser's face like a pumpkin."

"Right. If I told my old self this, she would probably laugh it off like a joke. " Then Rias gave Arthur a look, which Arthur didn't know if it was a romantic, grateful, proud, or lustful look. Then with a soft voice, Rias said. "Some people just cross your life and change your whole direction."

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