Humble Beginnings

The calm and meticulous approach he had adopted on the first day was only for teaching them, otherwise, it may as well been a lie. Because the rest of the time he would manhandle and ruthlessly push them above their limits time and time again with no care for their feelings. He had already warned them, it was do or die.

Evening come, he would carve into their mind everything he knew about stealth. The strategy they would use in the match. How they had to work together as a team and make them cultivate their strongest move.

He would also use his EC (Everlasting Cycle magic) to fasten their assimilation of his lesson and their growth in strentgh.

A week thus came to pass like that. A week where he would bond despite his harshness with every member of the peerage, as he would be with them not only during the time for training, but leisure and eating time too. It was easy to see that with each day of him training them, admiration and respect began to replace the reluctance still present in their stance toward him and the situation.

Julian didn't want to be put on any piedestal. But at this point, it coudn't really be helped.

Unfortunately, he had to absent himself on the eight day of the training camp. As it was the day of his introduction to devil society. And also the day where he would receive his peerage.

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"So, this is a kind of party? Also, is this really neccessary?" Julian asked out loud, currently being dressed up by a troupe of very excited maids.

Grayfia, who was there supervising the whole process. Nodded, while she declined or accepted every little changes to his appearance. "More like a banquet to be precise. While devil society is progressing rather quickly these days. It can't be helped that one standing is still based around blood purity and more than anything, strength. As such, only lesser and the more proeminent devil clans, as well as their entourage will be present. Your official appointment as owner of a will be more public. But this is more a statement for high society."

Grayfia cracked a little smile and rose her head to meet Julian's eyes after looking him over another time. "As for your other question. It is not, but it would be such a waste to not make use of your face and physique on such an occasion."

Julian thought for a bit before he nodded in approval. "You're right, this is such a waste of my good looks. I never really bothered with clothes and such. But maybe I should have."

Grayfia smiled widened a bit and shook her head ruefully. "Careful to not let it get to your head too much, Julian. Even more after today, way too much young nobles end as worthless philanderers."

"Worried about me? Mother? Shouldn't be, I am not one yet. And I wouldn't be worthless. At the very least, it isn't very hard to be better than someone like Riser." Julian joked while he admired himself in a mirror. Recently he had taken the resolution to call all of his mothers as such if they were alone. Now, if there was more than one present. This was another thing entirely.

Despite an happy smile - that made Julian feels like a piece of crap for hesitating - developping across her face at him calling her mother. Grayfia rolled her eyes at his words. "If there is someone I worry about, it is not you. But every other men. Now come, Sirzechs will soon begin. And it would be awkward for the person he is introducing to not even be there for it. We already spoke about the rest."

Julian threw a last glance at the reflection of his styled hair and elegant clothes in the mirror and followed Grayfia. Winking as a goodbuy to the maids. Making them squeals in answer.

Refraining himself from laughing, Julian told himself that there truly was power in beauty. And that he had to be careful to not fall too quickly to the inevitable dark side.

For now, it was still easy to restrain himself. Something that was technically against his personal code. But the more time passed since he received his minor lust concept. The more the wall around his own 'lust' broke.

As if she could somehow read what was on his mind, Grayfia randomly threw a dubious glance his way the instant they arrived to their destination. An entrance leading to the back of an enormous hall. Already Julian could hear the rather tranquil chatter of the guests and the soothing music resonating beyond.

"This is it, you can rejoin your father. I'll be just behind." Grayfia made a gesture with her hands and waited for him to enter.

And so he did, immediatly being assaulted by the scent of food and expensive alcool as a result.

There were maybe a hundred of people dispersed arround the hall. A part of them looking rather young, with an escorte of people following behind them. Probably heirs to this or that clan.

Julian took it all in with stride, feeling no stress or anxiety despite this being his first time to this sort of social gathering. Well, his first time with devils.

Not minding all the different kind of gazes he was getting. Julian quickly spotted Sirzechs speaking with similarly crimson-haired persons and nonchalently strode toward them.

Just as he was spotted by them. Julian heard one of the older man speak up.

"Is this the boy, Sirzechs? My long lost grandson? While there certainly is a resemblance to you. Why are his hair blond and not the silver of the Lucifuge? Also, why in the name of the original Satan is his magical signature almost the same as an human?" The middle aged-man questioned, more concerned about the last fact.

"This is as much of a mystery for you than it is for me and Grayfia, father. For now, we both are of the mind that for him to be hidden from us for so long and given in such a manner to an human family, there had to be some sort of outside interference. And don't be fooled, he seems to have an innate ability to mask his magical signature. It's the reason we never found him in all these years, and would have never been if he didn't reachs for us from his own accord." Sirzechs got a relieved expression on his face as he explained the last point.

"That's an useful ability, but I'm afraid this will lead to some trouble later this night." The man, Zeoticus Gremory. Sipped from his glass of wine and smiled wrily.

Right as their short conversation ended. Julian was close enough for Sirzechs to acknowledge his existence and greet him.

"I'll keep it short for now, Julian. But these people here, are your grandfather and grandmother, as well as my parents. Zeoticus Gremory and Venelana Gremory."

"My, my, aren't you quite the handsome boy? I would love to say that you are much like your father on this point. But unfortunately, that would be quite the understatement. And please, no need for formalities between us. Here, we all are family, little Julian." Venelana smiled softly and directly went for a hug. And while Julian was taken by surprise, it wasn't hard to push pass his slight awkwardness for the familiarity and hug back the beautiful woman.

"I'm glad that you made it back kid. Knowing that Millicas older brother was somewhere out there, and that he would probably never have the chance to meet him was something keeping me up at night for some time now." Zeoticus went for an handshake and a nod, to which Julian reciprocated along with an easygoing smile.

It was the first time he was meeting one of his grandparent in this life, as his adoptive parents relation with their family was complicated. As such, he never had the chance to any of them before now.

"It's high time I introduce you to this impatient crowd. More and more eyes are drawing toward us, and more specifically, you. People are beginning to link the dots between you and the purpose of this gathering. And waiting any longer would do more bad than good at this point. " Sirzechs told Julian as he spotted the progressing amount of head turning their ways.

It was as such that, clearing his throat. Sirzechs adopted a soft smile and proceeded to weakly strike the rim of his glass. Somehow achieving to make the the crystaline sound resonate through the entire hall and drowning the voice of the guests.

In answer to the call, the sound of talking slowly died down and everybody turned themselves to face Sirzechs. And therefore, Julian.

It was then that Julian had the pleasure to meet eyes with a certain Riser Phenex. Who looked absolutely way too out of his depth in that situation. His eyes blank and his brain trying to come up with some explanations, and utterly failling.

Julian helped him came back to his senses as he smiled widely, a smug but savage glint in his eyes.

But Riser wasn't the only familiar face present, as Sona and her entourage was present too. Barely restrained surprise present on her face. To which Julian only replied to with a shrug and a smirk.

"First things first. I want to thank you all for clearing up your schedule and coming here today." Sirzechs began easily yet solemnly.

Proof that not everyone could or were willing to come, the 3 other demon kings were absent. And some of the 72 pillars had not even one members of their clan presents in the hall. Still, more than half of the high nobility had deign to come at the call of Sirzechs.

"I'm sure you all are curious about the purpose of this night. And this is why, without delay. I introduce you and my wife Firstborn son: Julian Marquis. Who for reasons outside of our power, was kept away from us and the supernatural world since his very birth 17 years ago."

(A/N: I decided to change Julian compound family name - Is that the word? - to just 2 distinct family names as it was just plain impractical and a ugly. Now he can be either called Julian Håberjorgen or Julian Marquis. Spoiler more family name in coming lol)

"This was a traumatizing experience for my family. But now, me and my wife - as well as devil society as a whole - can rejoice! As today, a promising member of the younger generation found his way back home! The underworld!" Applause and some cheers bursted out of the crowd as Sirzechs lifted his glass and stated enthusiastically. Some older devils genuinely glad for a young scion to pop out of nowhere.

Sirzechs however wasn't done quite yet, as he went to announce Julian promotion to high class and his subsequent granting of a peerage right after this event. Generating some unrest as nobody could get a read on Julian. They couldn't even know if he was a high-class devil, or hell, a pure-blooded devil.

Despite all these questions in the guests' mind. Nobody really dared to single themselve out and come forward with them. As such, what happened next was the true happening of the event. As everyone approached Sirzechs to congratulate him and chat a bit with him and Julian. Trying to place what exactly was Julian position in the grand scheme of thing.

As for Julian himself, he simply went with the flow. Repaying politeness with politeness. There was no need to antogonise anyone here, he was not only acting on his own in this place. He was with Sirzechs and Grayfia, and his actions. No matter his intentions behind them and even if they literally no say on his upbringing, would reflect on them in some way. It was bothersome, but it would be very low, even for him, to repay all the kindness they showed him by being unrestrained in this place of restraint and facades.

And with this in mind, all went well for while. This or that noble having their turn with the host and his long lost son. At least until some non-subtle proposition from a particularly brazen noble of marriage between Julian and his daughter.

That instantly made the surrounding go dead silent for some time.

Everyone seemed quite taken aback by it. Thus, after some time. Sirzechs threw a glance at Julian and cleared his throat. "I don't think th-"

"Look, I'm not that interested. So I'd normally just say no. And my position in the clan is nebulous. But since I know this sort of thing will become redundant in the future and you were so straightforward about it. I'll entertain you a bit." Julian cut Sirzechs off with a faint smile and an amused glitter in his eyes. Throwing all decorum out of the window. It was his call to make anyway, it would also be beneficial for Sirzechs as he would satisfy high society with his stance.

"I will accept this proposal, and any future ones. Only and only if these three criterias are to be met of my potential fiances." Too bad if they were to never be met.

Lifting a finger, he began on a serious note. "First, the girl has to be my age."

Raising another, Julian codly continued. "Second, she has to be willing."

And finally, a wild grin developped upon Julian's face as he took a page from of a certain glass wearing heir. "And thirdly, she has to defeat me in a fight."

"That's my conditions."