Perfect, he had to be perfect. Not a single strand of hair could be out of place, according to his mother. Tonight was the celebration for his sixteenth birthday. His mother was apparently not taking any chances. She stood behind him brushing his short red hair as he remained seated in front of the vanity within his old bedroom.
Each brush was methodical and precise. It came at the expense of his patience. Millicas silently glared into the mirror, his gaze fixated on his mother. He wasn't brave enough to tell her to hurry up. Such foolish words would condemn him to a fate worse than death. The last thing he needed before his party was one of Grayfia's lectures.
"Millicas."
He immediately stopped glaring into the mirror, his lips morphing into a sheepish half-smile.
"Yes, Mother?" He could only hope for mercy at this point.
To his surprise, his mother didn't launch into a tirade about respect. Whether she was showing him mercy for the sake of it being his birthday or she truly didn't notice his glare, he wasn't sure. Rather than a lecture, he received something much more dread inducing.
"Have you been well? Has Kuoh Academy been treating you well this year?"
His half-smile fell into a slight frown. There it was. He had hoped he would be able to get through his mother's tidying of his appearance without her digging into his affairs.
He knew his mother simply wanted the best for him, to ensure he was spending his time fruitfully. Yet, he was torn on just how much of his life at Kuoh he was willing to detail to her. Knowing his mother as well as he did, he knew she would keep digging if he gave her the slightest hint of there being something wrong.
He had followed in Rias's footsteps when she had demanded to attend school in the world of humanity. His decision had been a mix of a simple whims and complete trust in the judgment of his aunt. His aunt who he readily considered to be an older sister more than anything else.
Millicas didn't have a terrible time at the academy or anything like that. He was just stubborn, incredibly so. When he made the decision to follow in Rias's footsteps, he had taken it upon himself to try to brush away his mother's coddling. He wanted more independence, more chances to just live life as he pleased. The adjustment away from home hadn't been easy, but he had grown used to living on his own.
This year marked the second year he had attended Kuoh Academy. Little had changed in his promotion to a second-year student. He continued to go through the motions, to blend in with the rest. He had his fair share of doubts about whether or not his decision to follow Rias was truly worth it. But he didn't necessarily regret his choice, even if living among humans had shown him just how many flaws he had as a person.
He rarely returned home these days, opting to live on his own in a small apartment in Kuoh. When he did return home, his mother was always overbearing. He knew she didn't actually require such a long amount of time to brush his hair. She missed him, he knew she did. He must be a horribly cruel person, for he felt the urge to brush off his mother's questions. To simply give her nothing to work with, nothing to imagine.
He loved his mother too much to do such a horrible thing to her. As strict as she could be, as overbearing as she could be, he loved her.
The frown on Millicas's face disappeared, replaced by a stiff smile, "I have been well. I have kept up my sparring with Rias and have maintained excellent results academically. Kuoh Academy has remained as colorful as it was last year."
There was certainly an… interesting… mix of individuals within his school. That was entirely without accounting for the people Sona and Rias brought into the mix with their Peerages. Kuoh Academy contained its fair share of the weird, the smart, and downright troublesome.
"I am glad to hear you are continuing to get along with Rias. Cherish your bond so the two of you may always lean against one another. You will only have regrets if you let such a thing go," his mother's tone of voice was heavier than he expected but he wasn't entirely surprised.
Grayfia must have been getting sentimental now that he was finally turning sixteen. His mother must have been thinking about the past again. At some point, she must have made the connection that he knew hurt her to make. His mother was viewing Rias and him as a parallel to her and her long deceased younger brother, Euclid.
Millicas rolled his eyes, "Mother, please. As if Rias would ever let me escape from her terrifying grasp. She'd leave ruin in her wake in pursuit of me if I turned my back on her."
Grayfia hummed, "I recall my stubborn son throwing a mighty temper tantrum when his aunt brought up the idea of attending a human academy on her own with just her Peerage. I believe the scenario you just spoke of to be more accurate the other way around."
"I can't deny such an event happening…" Millicas may have overreacted initially when Rias made her plans known.
To be fair, he and Rias were finally starting to see results with their training in the Power of Destruction when she decided it was perfectly reasonable to drop everything to go play human. Not that he really blamed her. She saw an out, a way to delay her engagement with Riser Phenex just a little longer. Yet, her plan had been so short sighted!
Obviously, Millicas had to follow her to Kuoh so they could keep pushing each other to improve their control over the Power of Destruction. How else would she beat Riser in the Rating Game?
His mother stopped brushing his hair, setting the brush down on the surface of the vanity.
She placed her hand on his shoulder, "There is nothing to be ashamed of. You feared you would be lonely without her or her Peerage around, did you not?"
He silently nodded. He wouldn't have truly been alone. There were plenty of members of the staff around the castle. Not to mention his father and grandfather's Peerage members when they were around.
His mother and grandmother were also frequently around the castle. No, he wouldn't have been completely alone. Things just wouldn't have been the same without having what he considered to be peers around.
"Have you… considered starting your Peerage yet?" Grayfia spoke hesitantly, as if she were afraid she would drive him away.
Millicas grimaced, "I have no interest in doing so at this time Mother."
He couldn't bring himself to. Trust… was such a fickle thing. The creation of a member of his Peerage had to be an intimate event, a sacred rite. He needed to trust the other person, needed to know they would have his back just as much as he would have theirs. He found such criteria to be a rather harsh filter for finding even a single person to include in his Peerage.
His mother and father had offered to help him find Peerage members, as did his grandparents. He denied them. If he was going to ask someone to pledge themselves into direct service to him and him alone, he needed to trust them without an ounce of doubt.
Grayfia quietly sighed, "Very well, Millicas. As long as you are happy, that is enough to satisfy me."
Millicas curtly spoke, "I am, thank you. Are we done here, Mother? I wish to head to the ballroom to wait for the guests."
The castle staff were likely already finished setting up the ballroom with enough tables and chairs to fit the people his grandfather deemed important enough to invite. Millicas only really cared about a small portion of the guests planning to attend.
Honestly, if he didn't care about crushing the hearts of his family members, he probably would have just stayed home at his apartment instead of having some overblown celebration. Alas, he was such a good child he would give his family ample opportunity to use his birthday to play politics.
Grayfia let go of his shoulder, taking a step away from him as he rose from his seat. Millicas glanced in the vanity mirror as he stood up. His mother looked momentarily sad, a deep frown on her face, before her features rapidly returned to her natural state of neutrality.
He knew she was worried about him. Millicas just didn't know how she could help him when he hardly even understood his own reluctance when it came to trusting others. There was no reason to burden her with his own confusing feelings. He'd figure things out eventually on his own.
Millicas turned out to be pleasantly incorrect in his assumption of his grandfather using his birthday for political gains. He wouldn't have necessarily minded as he understood the position his family was in with who his father was.
Instead of a bunch of random influential devils being invited to his party, his grandfather seemed to instead focus entirely on inviting direct allies within the Gremory sphere of influence. Sure, there were still some political allies he didn't know too well in attendance, but it beat having people he never met before there.
Millicas lifted his cup to drink some flavored water as he observed his guests from beside the buffet tables laid out by the Gremory castle staff.
The Sitri family was in attendance. Millicas had expected to be somewhat miserable having to entertain individuals he didn't care for. Fortunately, Sona seemed to have absorbed all of his bad luck as Satan Leviathan seemed to have enough free time to attend his birthday.
Sona looked absolutely miserable seated next to her parents and sister. Satan Leviathan looked to be animatedly talking about something to Sona as Sona stared off into space. Sona's Peerage seemed to wisely not involve themselves, sitting at a table a brief distance away.
Unfortunately, Sona was not the only miserable guest in attendance. Not far from his grandfather's table Rias and her Peerage were seated at their own table. She was angrily glaring across the ballroom at one of the guests his grandfather invited.
Riser Phenex was seated with his Peerage and was currently putting on quite the show of public affection. His lips locked with his Queen as other members of his Peerage looked on with jealousy. The only one at his table showing any sign of disinterest at the display of affection was Riser's younger sister. She seemed to be distracted with a book laid out on the table before her.
Millicas could understand Rias's discomfort to an extent. While harems were entirely normal in the Underworld, Rias had dived deeply into the culture of humanity. Ever since they were children, she had been enthralled by humanity.
Rias collected a huge amount of human literature over the years, eventually developing an interest in the manga format. Last time Millicas visited Rias's room, her bookshelves were absolutely covered in trashy looking romance manga. His aunt's views on romance were almost certainly tainted by the influence of humanity.
He watched Akeno poke her cheek, likely in an attempt to draw her attention before Rias did something stupid. Alas, it was Rias. He knew his aunt's faults quite well by now. The look on her face was all he needed to see to know she was going to cause trouble.
Millicas sighed, placing his cup of water down. He needed to go run damage control before things got out of hand. He couldn't rely on his grandparents or parents to keep Rias under control. His mother was likely assisting the staff in the kitchen while his father was distracted with his Peerage and Satan Beelzebub. To make matters worse, Lord and Lady Phenex were in the middle of a discussion with his grandparents at the table his grandparents had claimed for themselves.
As he headed over towards Rias, Rias pushed her chair out to stand up. Millicas increased his pace when he witnessed Rias brush Akeno's hand away when she attempted to grab Rias's arm. Surprisingly, his aunt didn't seem like she was going to storm towards Riser's table. To his growing horror, Rias turned in the direction of his grandparents.
He managed to intercept her the length of two tables away from his grandparent's table. Millicas tried to keep his emotions in check. The last thing he wanted to do was come off as accusatory or antagonistic. His aunt's temper already seemed bad enough.
Millicas stood right before her, blocking her from moving forward towards his grandparents.
"Rias," he stared at her quietly, silently urging her to not be hot-headed for once in her life.
The simmering rage in her glare somewhat lessened as she met his worried gaze, "Millicas, I can't. He's an absolute bastard! I refuse! I'm sorry in advance; I might ruin your party. I'll make it up to you."
Rias sounded resolute as she moved to walk by him.
Millicas knew this was a lost battle already. He worried for Rias. If she was desperate enough to cause a scene at his birthday party, she was absolutely done with Riser.
Rias was never thrilled about her engagement to begin with. She knew the only way to get out of it was with a Rating Game. It's why they practiced their Power of Destruction so much. Millicas honestly wasn't sure what she hoped to achieve by heading over to the table containing his grandparents and the parents of Riser.
As much as he loathed the prospect of the coming storm, he fell into step behind Rias. The least he could do was quietly support her folly. He already knew his father did. Sirzechs had been the one to point out a way out of the contract Lord Gremory and Lord Phenex designed for Rias and Riser's engagement. Sirzechs had been the one to put Rias onto the path of training for a Rating Game against Riser to get out of her engagement.
She had time before the Rating Game, plenty of time. They had been training for the last two years for it. The Rating Game was still a couple months away. Rias must have had doubts, must not have believed she and her Peerage were capable enough to win. She was almost certainly making a desperate gambit.
Rias stood before Lord Gremory and Lord Phenex. Millicas stood beside her as his grandmother stopped speaking with Lady Phenex to stare at him. Before his grandfather or grandmother could question their presence, Rias launched into a tirade.
"I refuse to marry Riser! I don't love him; I don't even like him! He obviously doesn't care about me. Look at him with his Peerage. He doesn't need me. I want nothing to do with him. I don't want my fate decided by some stupid Rating Game!" She pounded the table with a single closed fist, drawing the attention of nearby seated political allies his grandfather invited.
Millicas closed his eyes as he felt his spirit leave his body. May his grandparents have mercy on Rias. When his aunt wants to cause a scene, she certainly knows how. He opened his eyes back up to see his grandmother's lip twitching awkwardly. Rias was doomed.
Lord Gremory rubbed his temples, "Rias, is now truly an appropriate time for this discussion? Please consider your answer carefully."
Millicas hoped Rias would take the invitation to back down, but he knew she wouldn't. When her mind was set, there was no going back for her.
"When else will we get a chance to talk about this?! Lord Phenex is here, you're here, and I'm here. Please cancel this stupid betrothal! I don't want to marry someone I don't love! Why is that such a problem?" His aunt's tone was filled with fiery passion.
Lord Gremory frowned, his tone of voice slipping into one of authority, "Rias, you're embarrassing yourself. Not only are you offending Lord and Lady Phenex but you're also going to ruin Millicas's birthday by causing a scene."
Lord Phenex, bearing a striking resemblance to Riser with his blonde hair and blue eyes, shook his head, "It's fine Zeoticus. Your girl is just worried about her future. I understand her fears well. I admit, I once harbored my own concerns about my arranged marriage once upon a time. I was afraid of the unknown and made a fool of myself, but I at least tried."
Lady Phenex quietly laughed into her white gloved hand before lowering it to speak, "Ah, I remember those days. You were adorable, if aggravating at times. I had to take matters into my own hands to turn this fool into the proper husband I expected. Rias, dear. If you are concerned about Riser, you simply need to mold him into the husband you wish to have."
"I don't want to have him as a husband at all! Sirzechs married for love, why can't I?"
Lady Gremory answered Rias with a disappointed frown, "Satan Lucifer had the power to back up such a decision. Here you are throwing a tantrum instead of preparing yourself for your Rating Game. You are already aware of how you may exit your engagement. Rias, I love you with all my heart, but you are greatly disappointing me tonight. You even dragged poor Millicas over here."
Millicas felt bad for Rias, enough to speak up, "I chose to follow Rias here. I'd rather these matters be settled here instead of letting her head over to Riser to make her displeasure known."
It wasn't an outright admission of support, but he was sure his message got across. His grandparents wouldn't be able to use him as an excuse to just brush Rias away. Unfortunately, he didn't see many avenues she could take in this argument.
Rias was outnumbered and had little authority to make her arguments matter. His grandmother, Venelana, had effectively told Rias that if she wished to be free she could only do so through her strength of arms.
Rias seemed to finally figure out her argument was doomed. The fiery rage she showed before slowly burnt out into dying embers. She hung her head low, as if she fully accepted defeat. The words of her mother may have hurt her more than Millicas expected.
Tears. He could see tears running down Rias's cheeks.
His aunt quietly spoke, "So that's it… Just win…"
One last cinder of rage sparked in her eyes as she rose her head, "I-if I lose, I'll die before I marry Riser!"
With those worrying words, Rias stormed off away from the table. Millicas watched her exit the ball room. Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko rose from their table to follow her in a hurry.
Millicas wasn't sure how serious Rias's parting words were. Would his aunt be that desperate to escape her arranged marriage? It worried him that he couldn't say no with absolute confidence.
His grandparents and the two Phenex seemed stunned by her final outburst. His grandfather had been the first to finally recover.
Lord Gremory cupped his face with his hands as he sighed, "Sorry, Rhys. My daughter is at that age. Please excuse her outburst. We'll talk to her later; Get her to give your son a chance."
Lord Phenex nodded, "I fear the day Ravel decides it's finally time to disobey us, Children are difficult. I believe I was just as bad to my father back in my younger days. May his soul eternally rest, for I certainly never granted him a single chance to."
Millicas's gaze narrowed. Were they not taking Rias's words seriously? A threat was still a threat. The fact his aunt felt cornered enough to view the loss of her life as a secondary option to her arranged marriage was unacceptable. Why did his grandfather push for the marriage so hard?
Millicas couldn't hold back, his tone a mix of irritation and pointed accusation, "Must Rias be forced into this marriage?"
No one at the table seemed to expect him to continue Rias's battle. His grandmother especially.
Venelana sighed, "Millicas, do not fight Rias's battle for her. We will settle this matter. I bid you to go enjoy your birthday party. Your mother has been working hard on your cake. It should be brought out any minute now."
He was tired of this. Tired of Rias's struggle to break her marriage. Tired of worrying about her reaching a breaking point. If his grandfather was that desperate to unite the Gremory and Phenex households, there had to be a better way.
Rias had far more to lose. She had her hopes. She had her silly little dreams of a perfect marriage formed through pure love. What did he have? Nothing. He had nothing to lose. He had no plans for his future Peerage. His father and mother hadn't arranged a marriage for him. He was granted the freedom Rias desperately wished for and didn't even take advantage of it.
Millicas shook his head, "You don't understand. Why must it be Rias? She has hated Riser since she was told she was destined to marry him. You know how Rias is. This affair is not going to end in a happy ending."
"It will work out. Rias will grow into her marriage. She is just confused at the moment," his grandfather hesitated, as if he was trying to convince himself with his own words.
Lady Phenex's eyes narrowed as she stared at Millicas. She seemed to pick up on what he was hinting with his words far better than his grandfather did.
Lady Phenex slowly spoke, "You are seeking an alternative…"
Millicas's grandmother's eyes widened as she too seemed to understand, "Millicas? Are you…"
He had nothing to lose.
Millicas smiled as he sacrificed himself for the sake of his family, "Cancel Rias's engagement. As far as I understand, Ravel Phenex is currently not engaged. I am similarly lacking an engagement. I will actively court her. I will leave the date of our wedding to you alongside the details of the full contract. Bind me to this marriage as much as you wish, I will not fight it."
Zeoticus Gremory and Rhys Phenex looked at one another. A few moments passed before Rhys nodded.
"You will keep your word," Zeoticus, his grandfather, spoke with severity.
"Absolutely. In fact, I will take Ravel out on a date tomorrow to prove my intent."
Lady Phenex giggled, the ornate decorations in her drilled blonde hair jingling, "Oh my. I love your grandson already, Venelana! So aggressive! So adorable!~"
His grandmother looked tired, "All those years of arguing with my son to arrange a betrothal for Millicas, only for my grandson to go and do it himself…"
Lord Rhys Phenex laughed, "The boy has spirit! I have no problems with this alteration of the arrangement. I'll inform Riser and Ravel of the changes tonight when we return home. No need to cause another scene here. I know how my boy can be."
Lady Phenex turned her attention to her husband, "Ravel shouldn't put up too much of a fuss. I will speak with her when we get home, sweety. You may put your full focus on Riser."
Lord Phenex nodded before turning his attention to Millicas, "Millicas, allow me to give you my number. We'll work out the details for your outing with Ravel in the morning if you don't mind."
Millicas pulled out his phone, registering a new contact as Rhys Phenex listed off his number to him.
Lord Gremory looked as exhausted as Lady Gremory did, "I will inform Rias of the change in her marriage arrangement as well. She is going to be insufferable…"
A shiver went down Millicas's back. Rias was going to be over the moon when she found out about the cancellation of her engagement. Her entire Peerage probably would be.
Rias had mentioned she planned to stay the night at the Gremory castle with the rest of her Peerage instead of returning to the apartment complex they all stayed at in Kuoh. Millicas originally planned to do the same. Now he was having second thoughts.
A happy Rias was a clingy one. He didn't want to deal with Rias being extra clingy.
Millicas vowed to flee to his apartment in Kuoh as soon as he finished blowing out his birthday cake.