In the grand foyer of the mansion, the air was thick with the scent of old leather, expensive tobacco, and the crushing pressure of Darius Runcandel. On the roof, Kuroka had been shivering, but she eventually slunk down in her cat form, hiding behind Alexander's leg as he walked into the hall.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Okay, Reinhardt, focus. You've faced Gods, but now you're facing a Grandfather who can smell a lie from three dimensions away. And I still have Grayfia's bite marks under this shirt. If he catches me, I'm dead. Time for the ultimate weapon.]
"Grandpa! You're back!" Alex said, putting on his best 'innocent grandson' face. "How was the trip? Did you bring me anything cool? Or did you just spend the whole time arguing with Azazel?"
Darius let out a booming laugh that shook the chandeliers. "Nice try, brat! If you want to divert me from the fact that you're harboring a Stray Devil and smell like Grayfia's perfume, shut up!"
Alex immediately switched tactics. He turned to Valeria, his eyes softening into a "puppy-dog" look that would have made a stone statue weep.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Grandma, save me! The old man is being a bully again!]
Valeria Bael Runcandel melted instantly. She reached up and snatched Darius's ear, twisting it with the practiced ease of a woman who had done it for fifty years. "Darius! Don't you dare scold my grandson the moment you step through the door! Look at him, he's exhausted!"
"Ow! Ow! Honey, let go! My ear is going to fall off!" Darius yelped, his terrifying "Beast" aura vanishing instantly as he was humbled by his wife.
The Audience:
Grayfia & Sylpha: (Covering their mouths to hide their giggles) Kuroka: (Wide-eyed) 'The man who Michael and Azazel fear is being defeated by an ear-pull? This family is terrifyingly awesome.'
The Naberius Conspiracy
Once things settled down, Darius sat in his massive armchair, his eyes landing on the cat at Alex's feet. "Alright, kid. Why is the Stray here? She's a criminal."
"She's a victim, Grandpa," Alex said, his tone turning sharp and serious. "You know the Naberius clan. You know they were involved in the 'Super Devil' project. Anyone with a brain can see it—why would a Devil clan 'save' the last of the Nekoshou unless they wanted to use them as lab rats?"
Darius went quiet, his gaze piercing. "I'm surprised you figured that out, Alex."
"I'm the grandson of the 'Beast of Runcandel,'" Alex replied with a confident smirk. "I'd be an idiot if I didn't see the rot in the Pillar families. I'm going to find the evidence and give it to Great-Grandfather Zekram. We're clearing her name."
Darius grinned, a look of genuine pride on his face. "Not bad, grandson. You've got the Runcandel instinct. Fine. The cat stays."
Kuroka: (Transforming back into her human form for a split second to bow) "Thank you, Young Master... and Lord Darius."
The End of the Gremory Tie
Alex took a deep breath. This was the big one. "Grandpa, Grandma... I want to tell you something important. I'm canceling my engagement to Malty Gremory."
The room went dead silent. Darius and Valeria looked at him with unreadable expressions.
"I know she's cheating on me with Issei Hyoudou," Alex continued, his "Inner Voice" cold as steel. "I'm a Runcandel. I won't be a backup plan for a girl who prefers a pervert over a Monarch. The Runcandel name is worth more than a cheating Gremory."
Darius & Valeria: (Nodding in unison) "We already knew, Alex."
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Wait, they knew?! Why didn't they tell me?!]
"We were waiting for you to be man enough to say it," Darius said, standing up and clapping Alex on the shoulder. "The contract is as good as ash. Tomorrow, I'll personally call Zeoticus. If he complains, I'll remind him that my grandson is an Apex Dragon and his daughter is... well, trash."
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: YES! Freedom! Now I just need to survive Saturday's date with Sona without Grayfia, Sylpha, and Rias trying to assassinate each other in the background. Ciel, start calculating the survival rate of my social life.]
Ciel:[Calculating... Survival rate: 0.05%. Good luck, Master.]