Alexander leaned back as the teacher droned on about history, his mind wandering through the "original plot" he remembered from his previous life's memories of the anime.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: There are so many changes here. In the "original" story, there was no Malty Gremory. Which meant the person forced into an engagement with that fried chicken, Riser Phenex, was actually Rias.]
Rias Gremory froze in her seat. Her heart skipped a beat. 'Me? Engaged to Riser?' The mere thought made her want to vomit. She looked at Alex, her eyes filled with a new kind of intensity. 'He doesn't realize it, but his family literally saved my life before I even knew I was in danger.'
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: And the Runcandel family didn't exist in that world either. Grayfia didn't even have a sister. It was just her, alone, serving the Lucifers.]
Outside the classroom, Sylpha's silver ears drooped. She looked at Grayfia with teary eyes. "Nee-chan... so in that other world, I wasn't even born? I didn't exist to serve the Master?"
Grayfia's stoic expression softened. She reached out and gently pinched Sylpha's cheeks, a small smile playing on her lips. "Master might 'bully' you in his thoughts, Sylpha, but we are here now. I am lucky to have you as my sister. We are Runcandel maids, not lonely Lucifuges."
Sylpha sniffled and hugged her sister tightly. "Me too, Nee-chan. I'll make sure to work twice as hard so Master never misses that 'other' world!"
The Great Aunt and the Power of the Bael
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: After Venelana divorced Zeoticus—good for her, by the way—Zeoticus probably tried to sell Rias off to the Phenex house to regain some standing. But my Grandmother Valeria stepped in. She treats Venelana like a sister—wait, were they cousins or something? Either way, because a Runcandel/Bael matriarch said 'No,' the Phenex family didn't dare push it. Rias got her freedom because of my Grandma's scary face.]
Venelana Bael (at home) giggled behind her fan. "Valeria-sama always did have a soft spot for me. And now her grandson is the one protecting my daughter's future. It really is a small world."
Rias felt a wave of gratitude so strong she almost wanted to tackle Alex right then and there. He was her "Great Aunt's" grandson, her childhood friend, and her unintentional savior.
The Runcandel Sovereign Power
Alexander's Inner Voice:
*[Internal Thought: I still don't get why my family made a contract with the Gremorys. If they wanted a political tie, they could have just asked for Rias. Why Malty? We don't even need the political power.
We have the Bael lineage through Grandma. My mother's side is the Agares family—the 2nd Pillar! That's more than enough influence in the Underworld.
Then there's the Fallen Angels. Azazel is basically my Grandfather's drinking buddy. They probably spend half their time arguing over research and whiskey. And Heaven? Michael treats my Grandfather like a trusted confidant. We aren't just a family; we're the glue holding the Three Factions together. Why the hell did we bother with a brat like Malty?]*
The Global Shockwave:
Sona Sitri: (Writing frantically) 'Agares + Bael + Azazel + Michael... The Runcandel family isn't a House. They are the Fourth Faction.' Serafall: "Wait, Lucien-tan's father drinks with Azazel?! No wonder that old crow is always so smug!" Gabriel (in Heaven): (Blushing) "Darius-sama is indeed a very kind man. He always brings the best tea when he visits Lord Michael."
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Anyway, it doesn't matter. The contract is being shredded tomorrow. I'm a Runcandel, and I'm the Dragon Monarch. I don't follow scripts; I write them. Now... let's see if I can survive Gym class without accidentally blowing up the stadium. 15% power is harder to control than I thought.]
Rias & Akeno (Looking at each other): "Gym class is going to be... interesting."