The Occult Research Club room was exactly what he expected—gothic windows, crimson drapes, and a faint aura of magic in the air. Candles burned low, and the scent of incense curled lazily through the room.
Lucien sat in the guest chair, legs crossed, one arm slung casually over the backrest. He wasn't relaxed—he was enthroned.
Rias stood across from him, arms folded beneath her chest. Beside her were Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba—all quiet, all watching.
"I'll get to the point," Rias said smoothly. "Lucien Vael, I want you to join my peerage."
A pause.
Lucien didn't blink. Didn't smile. Didn't even breathe differently.
Then he chuckled—low, quiet, almost amused.
"You think you're offering me something," he said softly.
Rias frowned, caught off-guard. "It's not just an offer. It's an honor. I don't extend this invitation to just anyone."
Lucien rose from the chair, each movement graceful and coiled with restrained power.
"You sit on a name inherited from a noble bloodline. A name gifted to you by the Gremory Clan. I respect that. But let me make one thing very clear—"
He stepped toward her. Just enough to force her to feel it.
That weight.
That undeniable pressure.
"I am not someone you summon like a pawn to a chessboard."
His voice remained calm, but the room grew colder with each word.
"You think because you're a 'princess,' you can ask anyone to kneel at your feet? You see someone strong, unknown, and immediately assume they should belong to you?"
Behind Rias, Kiba subtly reached for his sword.
Lucien didn't even glance at him.
"I've carved my path through blood older than your House. The ground you stand on?" He gestured vaguely toward the floor. "My ancestors built it—long before your House climbed into power."
Akeno looked intrigued. Koneko's stare sharpened.
Rias straightened her shoulders, trying to recover. "Then what do you want, Lucien?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Nothing from you. Not power. Not protection. And certainly not your collar."
Then, his voice dropped into something quieter. Colder.
"This is your only warning."
He stepped past her, hand brushing the edge of the clubroom door.
"Ask me again... and I won't just refuse. I'll make sure your House remembers why mine was erased from history in the first place."
He paused, just for a heartbeat, then glanced over his shoulder with that same faint smirk.
"Enjoy your game of pieces, Rias. But remember—some pieces were never meant to be played."
The door shut behind him with a finality that left the room in stunned silence.
System Prompt
[Rival Affection Increased: Akeno Himejima — +3 Curious][Faction Reputation: Gremory Peerage — Mixed (Wary/Intrigued)]
[Mission Update: Maintain Independence — SUCCESS]
Reward Unlocked: Sin Devil Trigger — Partial Access