The warmth of her kiss still lingered on his cheek when Riser leaned back, his grin gentling into something more thoughtful. He studied her face—the faint blush, the proud tilt of her chin despite it—and then asked, almost casually:
"So tell me, Sona… how goes the progress of your dream?"
Sona blinked, caught off guard. "…My dream?"
"Yes." His golden eyes softened, holding hers. "Your school. A true institution for devils, where merit and knowledge matter more than name or bloodline. You've spoken of it before, though you rarely let yourself show how much it means to you."
Her lips parted slightly. Few people ever acknowledged that side of her. Even her closest allies often dismissed it as just an ambitious whim. "…You remembered?"
Riser chuckled, tilting his head. "How could I forget? It's one of the reasons I chose you, Sona Sitri. You carry yourself as more than just a noble's daughter. You have vision. Resolve. And that is beautiful to me."
Her composure wavered, her hands tightening in her lap. "…And what do you intend to do with that knowledge?"
He leaned forward, his tone both playful and serious. "Support it, of course. Financial backing, influence, infrastructure—those things I can provide without lifting a finger. But the system, the policies, the very foundation of that school? That's yours, my lady. You're the brilliant one between us. I can fight battles and silence critics, but only you can shape the future."
The silence stretched. For once, Sona was at a loss for words. Her heart beat faster, not from his teasing, but from the sheer weight of what he was offering.
"You…" she whispered. "…You'd truly do that? You'd stand behind me, even if it brings you nothing in return?"
Riser smiled, softer than she'd ever seen him. "You misunderstand, Sona. Supporting you is the return. Do you not see? If I give you my strength, my name, my resources—then together, we both rise. What completes me is not another title or another power, but you. Your dreams. Your future. Our future."
Her glasses trembled slightly in her grip as her mask cracked again. "…You're reckless," she murmured, her voice shaking. "…but… I…"
She turned her head, hiding her face from him, but the blush creeping down her neck betrayed her. "…I am grateful."
Riser's laughter was quiet this time, not mocking but tender. He shifted closer, reaching out to gently brush her hand with his.
"Then it's decided," he said. "One day, when your academy opens, it will stand as proof of what we built together. A Sitri dream supported by a Phenex flame."
Her throat tightened. She couldn't speak, so instead she nodded, just once.
And for the first time, they sat in silence not out of distance, but of comfort—two devils, side by side, daring to dream of the same future.