The classroom was quiet, but the mental airwaves were screaming. Alexander sat at his desk, his eyes distant as he watched a bird on the windowsill.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Six months. That's how long I have before the "canon" starts and we move to the third grade. I thought I could manage a perverted teenager with my eyes closed... but a reborn Issei? That changes things. All those plans I had on my 'List'... I might have to put them on hold to focus on training.]
Rias & Sona: 'No! Don't put the list on hold! We were looking forward to the dates!' they both screamed internally.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: I don't have a Peerage system yet. Grayfia and Sylpha are the only ones I can truly rely on right now—they're the strongest in the house. But I don't need to go looking for 'Pieces' like a Devil would. I just need to unlock my own Dimension. My original peerage... my lovers... are all in there.]
The Shockwave:
Grayfia froze in the hallway. Venelana stopped her fan. Serafall's jaw dropped. 'He has... other lovers? From his life as Reinhardt?'
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: But I'm terrified, Ciel. I'm a coward. During that final war against the Outer Gods, I was so scared. I saw the way those Gods tortured their prisoners... I couldn't bear the thought of my wives suffering like that. So I was selfish. I used my power as the Dragon Monarch to seal them all away in a pocket dimension and put them into a forced sleep. I locked them in a cage to keep them safe.]
The Melancholy:
A wave of profound sadness washed over every woman listening. They could feel Alexander's heartbeat—heavy and filled with regret. They saw flashes of his memory: a golden kingdom under a purple sky, and beautiful women crying as they were sealed into crystal coffins while he turned back to face an army of monsters alone.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: How will they look at me when I wake them up? Will they hate me for taking away their choice to fight beside me? I'm a waste of a person. A 'Dragon Monarch' who couldn't even trust his own wives to be strong enough. I'm pathetic, right Ciel?]
Ciel's Voice (Resonating only in Alex's mind, but heard by the others):
"You are not pathetic, Master. You were a man who loved too much. They do not hate you. They are simply waiting for you to call them home."
The "Who is Ciel?" Mystery:
Sona gripped her pen. Rias bit her lip. 'Ciel? Who is this Ciel woman who is so close to him? And just how many wives does he have in that dimension?'
The Resolve of the New World
Despite the jealousy, the female leads felt a new, protective instinct toward Alexander. They realized he wasn't just a "cheat character"—he was a lonely king who had lost everything once and was terrified of failing again.
Venelana Bael: (Wiping a tear from her eye) "Oh, Alexander... you don't need to be afraid. If those women from your past don't treat you right, this Auntie will make sure you're taken care of."
Grayfia Lucifuge: (Leaning against the wall outside his class) 'I was saved by the Runcandels in this life... but it seems I need to save Alexander's heart this time. I won't let him call himself a waste.'
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Anyway, enough moping. I need to test my mana levels in Gym class. If I can't even handle a reborn Issei, I don't deserve to call myself a Runcandel. Ciel, keep an eye on the Dimension seal. If it cracks even a little, tell me. I'm not ready to face 'them' yet... especially not the Dragon Queen.]
Tiamat & Ophis: 'Dragon Queen? Is there another Dragon in his life?!'