Arthur held her gaze for a moment longer after her words, the faint smile on his lips deepening as if he had been waiting for something like that. He leaned back slightly in his chair, tapping his fingers once against the armrest before speaking, his tone light yet carrying an undercurrent of intent.
"Change your direction, huh?" he murmured. "If that's the case… then I suppose I deserve some kind of reward."
Rias blinked, clearly not expecting that response. "A reward?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly as a curious expression formed. "For what exactly?"
Arthur let out a small chuckle, standing up from his chair and slowly closing the distance between them. "For training you," he said simply. "For pushing you, guiding your peerage, and helping you win that match. That wasn't something that just happened on its own."
Rias crossed her arms again, though this time there was less suspicion and more intrigue in her posture. "And what kind of reward does Arthur want?" she asked, her tone carrying a faint challenge. "Money? Favors? Or something else?"
Arthur stopped right in front of her.
"Something simple," he said quietly.
Before Rias could question further, he reached out and gently lifted her chin, guiding her face upward. There was a brief pause—just a fraction of a second—where her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden closeness.
Then he kissed her.
At first, it was soft.
A brief, almost testing touch, like he was gauging her reaction rather than forcing anything. Rias froze for that instant, her mind going blank as the reality of the situation struggled to catch up with her thoughts. This wasn't like Arthur's usual teasing or casual remarks—this was direct, undeniable.
But before she could fully process it, the kiss deepened.
Arthur's hand moved from her chin to the back of her head, pulling her slightly closer as the distance between them disappeared entirely. The initial softness gave way to something more intense, more demanding, as if he had decided to stop holding back. The warmth of his presence surrounded her, his confidence bleeding into the moment and making it hard to push him away immediately.
Rias's hands, which had been held stiffly at her sides, instinctively moved—one pressing lightly against his chest as if to create distance, yet not quite following through. Her thoughts were in disarray, a mix of shock, confusion, and something she didn't want to acknowledge rising within her.
Arthur eventually pulled back just enough to look at her, their faces still close, breaths slightly uneven.
Then once again attacked her lips.
They are soft. Arthur thought to himself. Let's gear up a bit and see her reaction.
Arthur's lips pressed against Rias's, vacuum shut, as he assaulted her inner mouth and traced each tooth and the upper palate. Saliva mixed together, forming a viscous liquid, and started to drip out from the crack of their mouths as each fell to the ground, forming threads.
While his one hand was pressed against the back of Rias's head, his other hand reached Rias's ass and squeezed it hard, pulling one buttock to the side.
Rias felt that her underwear fell to the ass crack and tightened around her cunt. And just as she felt that a heat started to build up around her stomach, Arthur pulled his head back.
"That," he said calmly, "is enough for now."
Rias stared at him, completely stunned, her usual composure shattered.
"…You…" she started, but the words refused to come out properly.
Her face flushed a deep red, and for once, the proud heiress of the Gremory family had no immediate response.
Arthur simply smiled, as if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Just as the tension in the room lingered, the door slid open with a soft creak, and Akeno stepped inside with her usual graceful composure. Her violet eyes immediately landed on Arthur, a hint of surprise flickering across her face before it melted into her familiar teasing smile. "Ara ara… Arthur-san," she said warmly, folding her hands behind her back as she tilted her head slightly. "When did you come?"
Arthur turned his attention toward her without missing a beat, his expression returning to its usual calm. "Just some time ago," he replied casually, as if nothing unusual had occurred moments earlier. His tone was smooth and controlled, giving away nothing of the charged atmosphere that had filled the room before Akeno's arrival.
Akeno hummed thoughtfully as she stepped further inside, her gaze briefly shifting between Arthur and Rias, lingering just a second longer than necessary as if she were trying to piece something together. "I see," she murmured, before continuing, "I didn't see Narberal-san anywhere. Where is she?"
Arthur answered without hesitation. "The Ancient One called them back," he said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact.
Both Rias and Akeno reacted almost in unison. "Oh."
The response came naturally, though Rias's tone carried a faint trace of disappointment. She quickly composed herself, straightening her posture as she looked at Arthur again. "Then… can you tell them our thanks?" she said, her voice softening slightly. "They really helped me and our peerage a lot. Without their training, things wouldn't have gone the way they did."
Arthur looked at her for a brief moment, then gave a small nod. "I will," he said simply. "I'll make sure they hear it."
Akeno smiled gently at that, clearly pleased, while Rias allowed herself a quiet breath of relief, the earlier chaos of emotions settling just enough for her to regain her usual composure—though the faint flush on her face hadn't completely disappeared.
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