The soft rustling of sheets woke me before the morning bell. I blinked the haze from my eyes, only to find her already awake—her gaze locked on mine.
Venelana Gremory.
She looked at me with warmth, eyes gentler than they ever were in public. Her expression was the same one she wore when holding a glass of wine while overlooking the estate, but this time, that calm was focused on me.
"Good morning," she whispered, voice like silk draped over steel.
"Morning, Venelana-sama," I replied, keeping my tone quiet but respectful.
She leaned in and pressed her lips softly to mine—a chaste kiss, one that lingered with meaning rather than heat. We didn't speak. There wasn't a need.
Until—
Clack. Clack.
Footsteps.
Rapid. Male.
My eyes widened. She reacted instantly.
"Cupboard," she mouthed.
I slipped out of bed, grabbing only my shirt as I darted across the room. I barely got the door closed when the main doors to her quarters opened.
"Venelana," came the deep, slow voice of Zeoticus Gremory. "You weren't at the family breakfast."
She exhaled subtly and turned to face him. "I was resting. Rias's training drills have been loud. It wears on me."
"You could tell her to stop," he replied, carelessly walking to the window. "Or you could ask Grayfia to shift their schedule."
Venelana said nothing.
Zeoticus stood tall, handsome despite his aging. His regal robes hung loosely around him, and his scent reeked faintly of perfume that didn't belong to her. Again.
"You're not here often," she said pointedly. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but I already am the one managing their schedule. And everything else."
A pause.
"I've been busy," Zeoticus replied flatly.
Venelana's gaze didn't waver. "Yes. With your collection of foreign mistresses, I'm sure."
He chuckled. "It's devil tradition."
"It's not leadership."
Zeoticus turned, narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Eventually, he gave a slight shrug. "You're still beautiful when you're angry, you know. I might spend a night here soon."
"You'll need to ask for permission next time," she said coldly. "From my staff."
He gave a low laugh, unfazed. "Very well."
He left moments later, door closing with a soft thud.
I waited in the cramped space, pulse steady only because I'd practiced for this. Venelana opened the cupboard door, pulled me out, and without a word, kissed me again. This time slower. A silent thank you. And something else—something claiming.
I dressed quickly, adjusted my collar, and slipped out of her room through the side servant exit.
[System Notification]
Reconquest Successful: Venelana Gremory has Fallen to You
Reward Gained: Immortality (Ageless Body)
I stopped in the hall, stunned. Immortality?
Not a one-time use item. Not a token or technique.
This was a permanent trait.
I opened my system panel, and there it was under [Passive Traits].
[Immortality – Ageless Body]
— You will no longer age past your current peak condition.
— All natural diseases, poisons, and biological breakdown are ineffective.
— Magical regeneration speed has slightly increased.
My heart thumped once in silence.
This reward… it was beyond anything I expected. Not flashy. Not destructive. But permanent. Unstoppable. A foundation upon which power could be endlessly built.
I was thirteen now.
A full year had passed since the Bael party. Since everything changed.
Grayfia still held Sirzechs's leash, and no one else suspected a thing. Sirzechs moved through the political world like a gentle shadow, powerful but unchallenging—just as we wanted.
Venelana had made her choice. A year ago, she hesitated. Now? She invited me regularly under the guise of butler training, while her husband drifted further into debauchery.
During the days when Grayfia was in the capital, Venelana would seek me out.
During the days when Venelana played the head of the house, Grayfia claimed me with cold fire.
Two forces. Two queens. Both in love with a boy who no longer resembled the trembling thing he used to be.
Yet I hadn't slacked.
Rias and her peerage trained ruthlessly, and I trained with them.
My magical depth had grown. Faster casting, more efficient barriers, greater reserves. I could now channel multiple elemental affinities with overlapping layers—ice within fire, shadow within light. My mana shaping was near-artistic now.
Physically? Still the weakest in the peerage. Koneko could crush me with a lazy punch. But I could take one now. I had muscle, tone, and more importantly—reflex. My body could respond when my mind commanded.
But my Sacred Gear…?
Still locked.
On purpose.
No one questioned it. I told Rias and Akeno that I didn't want to rush its awakening—out of fear, or lack of readiness. They accepted that.
But in truth, I was planning something.
There are conditions under which Sacred Gears awaken more powerfully. Stress, desperation, desire… or manipulation.
I had something very specific in mind. Something that required patience, system-based timing, and a very specific set of witnesses.
So for now… the gear would remain dormant.
But not for much longer.
And now—at thirteen—another system prompt greeted me:
[Time Passed: 1 Year]
Skill/Ability/Trait Creation Unlocked (1 Use)
Create your next power.
I stood in my private quarters, candles casting flickering shadows along the walls. My fingers hovered in the air in front of me, tapping through invisible system panels.
Last year, I created God of Acting — a deceptively simple skill that had become one of my greatest assets. I could feign innocence, fragility, fear… even subtle pride. I could wear personalities like masks and discard them at will.
Now, I needed to go further.
I thought for a long time before beginning.
What am I missing?
I already have charm. Stealth. Magical growth. Manipulation.
But I need… an edge. Something foundational. Something others won't see until it's too late.
I began building the framework.
[New Trait: Master of Strings]
Type: Support / Tactical
Effect:
— Allows you to see, interpret, and influence emotional connections between individuals.
— Emotional threads appear as visible strands to your perception (only when activated).
— Can "tune" a connection to subtly alter emotional intensity over time.
— Cannot forcibly create or destroy love/hate bonds — only amplify or soften.
Flaw Requirement:As this is a high-level supernatural skill, a flaw must be submitted for evaluation.
I smiled.
I already knew what I'd offer.
Flaw: Cannot affect anyone who has no emotional tie to the user (either positive or negative). Neutral or apathetic targets are immune.
The system processed.
[Flaw Accepted]
[Trait Created: Master of Strings]
Added to Ability Panel
I collapsed into my reading chair, pulse elevated, not from fatigue — from anticipation.
The year had passed.
The board had shifted.
My queens were devoted.
Rias's power was rising.
And the strings?
Now they were mine to pluck.
End of Chapter 15