When the City Knelt
Right away, Black faced her again, shoulders pulling tight. Because of that, he had come
Up went Rias's hand, loose and unhurried, her fingers twitching like something fleeting had just passed through. The moment slipped off her skin without permission to linger.
"And Commander," she added, glancing briefly at the soldiers still braced nearby, "take responsibility for your soldiers again. I'm done being alert for the day."
A silence came. Short, yet it held weight.
A faint grin tugged at Black's mouth, slipping past his usual control. His words followed, quiet but clear - obedience wrapped in stillness: "So it will be done, Your Majesty."
A hush moved among the women standing there. Someone let out a breath. A second one shifted her head slightly. Their mouths curled a little - no laughter, no scorn, yet full of quiet recognition.
This time, they saw things clearly. What stood before them carried weight - no confusion about its meaning.
