Shout out to Revan's Wraith for beta reading this chapter!

[10 years before chapter 1]

Rays of sunlight engulfed the quarters of Issei Asmodeus. His eyes slowly fluttered open as he slowly awakened from his deep slumber. He attempted to raise his torso from the bed but as he was almost up, a pair of hands took hold of his upper body and brought him back down.

"It's too early darling. You always work so hard you never spend enough time with me." The woman beside him spoke.

Issei freed himself from her grasp and removed the covers from their bodies. With the covers gone, their bare bodies were exposed with some of Issei's essence found on her lower regions. "What we did last night seems to point otherwise Grayfia." Came Issei's reply. When he noticed her pout Issei made sure to grab her around the waist and carry on his shoulder so they could get out of the bed.

"Issei put me down!" She playfully yelled as she hit his back with her fist.

Issei ignored her plea and made a beeline to their bath. When he arrived he made sure to check that the exceptionally large tub was filled with water and when he confirmed that it was, he threw Grayfia into it.

After Grayfia was thrown in, she quickly flailed her arms around until she was able to get a hold of herself and keep a balanced stance in the water. "You're so rude Issei!" She exclaimed.

Issei chuckled before walking into the tub and sitting beside her. "It was all in good fun Grayfia," He claimed as he began rubbing her back. "We have to get cleaned up anyways. The ceremony to officially recognize the Gremorys as the seventy-second pillar will begin in a few hours."

Grayfia grew a somber expression at the mention of the ceremony. She had hoped that they would be able to spend the whole day with one another without a care in the world. They're barely able to do so at all. As Lord Asmodeus' successor, Issei always had to be with his father when it came to the politics and battle strategy of their faction. Meanwhile, as per Issei's agreement with his father, Grayfia became the head-maid and worked tirelessly to repay the clan for saving her from Rizevim. Issei noticed Grayfias somber and decided to engage in one of his favorite activities.

While Grayfia was lost in thought, Issei decided to have some fun and began to nibble on her neck while he fondled her breast. "We still have an hour to spare before we really need to get ready. We could have a bit more fun in the meantime," He whispered into her ear seductively.

A smile returned to Grayfia's face. She wouldn't have him for long but she was going to make the most of it.

The two would once again drown themselves in euphoria for a few more hours than they originally anticipated. Lord and Lady Asmodeus would only hope that they got prepared in time for the ceremony. But knowing these two.

It probably wouldn't happen.

[Hours later]

The duo would arrive at the dining hall in the main manor belonging to House of Gremory. They had missed the main ceremony of the Gremory clan becoming the seventy-second pillar but luckily for them, no one had noticed them or seemed to care. No one except the two elder Asmodeus'. Oddly enough Lord Asmodeus wasn't that bothered by Issei being late; it was his mother who was more annoyed of the two.

"Seriously you two learn some restraint," Ukina started with a stern look on her face that said they were in some trouble. "You're lucky that none of the other Satans noticed your absence."

"Darling you mustn't be so hard on the two I'm sure they have their reasons to be late," Lord Asmodeus said in a chillaxed manner as he gave the couple a friendly look. However, he immediately got shot down by his wife when she gave him a harsh glare.

"Issei you should take Grayfia and speak with Zeoticus and Venelana while I converse with your father," Ukina suggested with a 'friendly' smile.

Issei and Grayfia took Ukina's advice and walked away from any punishment she would give her husband. May Satan have mercy on his soul.

The duo made their way to find the Gremorys in the dining hall. Their journey took a long time as the sea of all the Devil in attendance made it difficult for them to find the Zeoticus and his wife. Many of the Devils in their way did conjure up some small talk while the duo and spoke in a respectful manner to them both. All in attendance respected the Asmodeus and his lover and never dared to speak rudely to them. All but one.

"What an unruly sight you two are." Came a feminine voice from behind them.

Issei and Grayfia looked behind them to find the base of the voice and when they did they were moderately surprised. Behind them was a woman with dark brown hair that stretched in front of her shoulders. Her eyes were a deep hazel which alone could turn any happily married man unfaithful. Her tanned skin perfectly matched her seductive curves which were hugged by a revealing purple dress. A body fit for a Devil. Daughter of a Devil King to be precise.

"Tali Leviathan. It's a pleasure to see you again." Grayfia said sarcastically on her face was a smile, but it was clear as day that the smile had no friendliness or love in it.

"Spare me the formalities Grayfia," Talia growled causing Grayfia to drop her smile and give each other a harsh glare. Kill intent radiated off them both as they both attempted to assure dominance over the other. "To think that Issei chose a woman so lowly as you." She turned her attention to Issei before continuing. "We could've had a future together. Children of the Devil Kings ruling together as husband and wife. We could've had a child together you left me for a woman you took pity on!"

The Devils around them stood silent and watched as the daughter of Lord Leviathan bickered with her ex and his current lover. No one dared to talk. A Leviathan showing off their envy isn't something anyone they felt capable of dealing with. But Issei isn't just anyone.

"Talia. Everything you and I had is long lost. I will treasure the moments we shared but know this," Issei summoned some of his Black Demonic Lightning in his palms and adjusted his voice to sound more threatening. "If you ever lay a finger on Grayfia; I will end you."

It wasn't a threat nor was it a promise, it was a statement the young Asmodeus wasn't joking, nor was he playing any games, he would end her if necessary.

Talia stood speechless after being threatened by her former lover. She would have retaliated in some way but it would be in vain. Issei had been training for hundreds of years and she had yet to train a day in her life. He had been fighting in the Great War while she sat comfortably in the estate of Leviathan. She had no other choice but to withdraw. Issei paid close attention to her retreating figured then sighed. A crisis had been avoided.

Grayfia watched as her once romantic rival ran back to her fathers' side. She remembered the days when the two had gotten along. Friends even. But those days were long lost. Due to a specific ring that Issei had placed on Grayfia's finger all those years ago. Grayfia looked down at her ring finger and marveled at the beauty of the ring. It fit her finger perfectly with small hints of Issei's Black Demonic Lightning surging through it. At its center was an above average sized black diamond with the symbol of the Asmodeus clan engraved into it.

At first glance, it would appear to be an engagement ring. But it wasn't. Issei had given the ring to Grayfia as a promise to her. It was a promise that when the war finally came to an end they would finally seal their relationship. He swore that they would join together as husband and wife. For the rest of their days.

[Scene break]

Aside from the outburst given by Talia Leviathan the rest of the dinner went smoothly. The Gremorys had been given gifts by the rest of the pillar families as congratulations for joining their ranks. The only one to stand out from them all was the gift Lord Asmodeus had given to Zeoticus and Venelana. It was a vial that Lord Asmodeus claimed to increase the chances of conceiving their next child. A rather valuable gift as the chances of naturally conceiving a child was close to one percent. When asked of how he got his hand on such a thing Lord Asmodeus was very vague. Saying that it "Ran in the family".

As the party drew to a close each attending clan respectfully said their goodbyes. After the last of the clans had left Issei and his family said their final farewells before returning to their estate. His parents and Grayfia had gone to bed as soon as they returned but Issei decided to take a walk throughout their territory. It has been far too long since he had fully enjoyed the landscape so he took his time walking through their main garden.

He found himself staring at one of the many statues of his father. He saw himself lucky to be an Asmodeus and not a child of the other three Devil Kings. They had little no love for their children and often times mocked them for how weak they were. Lucifer was especially guilty of this. Hopefully, Rizevim never takes any form of power in the future, May Satan help them all if he were to do so.

While in the middle of admiring the statue, a large golden magic circle appeared before Issei, shining so bright he was unable to have a good look at it. When the bright light dissipated all Issei was left to see was an envelope on the ground before him. He stayed cautious about the envelope for a moment but after some time his curiosity got the better of him and he opened it up. At first glance of the letter inside he immediately got worried by the sender of the letter.

Gabriel

[Present day]

Issei and Sirzechs sat alone in the main office of the Lucifer. After the call, Sirzechs gave Issei earlier in the day he came to see him after the school day was over. The main focus of their conversation? Lady Gabriel of the Angel faction. More specifically his relationship with her.

"I'm not here for any judgment Sirzechs," Issei stated bluntly a cold and blank expression written on his face. "Just tell me, what do you know?"

"I just know what Grayfia told me last night after I asked her to explain why you two are in this mess," Came Sirzechs cool reply. "Just for the record it was treasonous enough for you to be speaking with her in secret, but having a romantic relationship with her? What were you thinking?"

Issei stayed silent. He had no idea on how to answer that. Hell, he himself didn't know what he was thinking, "It went from talks about having as few casualties as we could. After some time we went into some more personal conversations and it went from there. Time passed and it became more intimate."

"Intimate how?" Sirzechs asked. All Issei had to do was give Sirzechs a certain expression and he understood it. "But that's impossible. Gabriel is still a pure Angel there's no way she couldn't have fallen."

"There actually is a way," Issei informed causing Sirzechs to give him a look telling him to continue. "Angels like Azazel and Shemhaizai fell because of their lust while they committed the act. Meanwhile, Gabriel did it out of love and not any need and want."

Sirzechs look became a puzzled one, the idea that Issei and Gabriel were successfully able to have sex without her falling. Just the thought of it made him confused. "What you're saying is, you two basically got lucky?"

Issei shrugged as a response. The light-hearted nature of their conversation only covered the true depth of it all. "I've yet to speak with her since it happened. My father sealed me away before I got the chance."

"I think you and Grayfia need to have a chat before you speak with Gabriel," Sirzechs suggested. "I have a feeling she really wants to talk to you."

"How can you be so sure?" Issei asked. He was baffled at why Sirzechs would claim such a thing. After everything that he's done he would be lucky for her to even wanna see him.

As a response Sirzechs simply snapped his finger and created a magic circle behind it. And who came out of it? None other than Grayfia Lucifuge. But what else he saw truly made him think that he had a chance. He hadn't noticed it during the engagement party but Grayfia wore what he thought she would've gotten rid of years ago.

The ring.

Just to plug this I've been in a discord of another dxd fanfic and it's been fun as hell. If any of you have a discord you're welcomed to join. The server link is discord .gg/ pCYkPRB (remove the spaces) If that doesn't work then pm me and I'll help you out