226 Taking a deep breath

how less"...where is this?" 

Rias opened her eyes soon, and what welcomed her was an unfamiliar place. 

"Have you woken up, Rias?" 

"Akeno?" Rias was startled but also sighed in relief when she saw her Queen was okay. "This place is...?" 

"Did you forget already? This is his office." Akeno showed a helpless expression as she was quite nervous inwardly. 

"Where is he?!" 

Hearing that, Rias quickly asked, and her body quickly became tense, especially when she remembered what Masa had done to her. At that moment, she quickly realized how rash and immature her actions were, especially when she knew the difference between their strengths.

"He had left." 

"Is that so..." 

While Rias felt relief, she also felt bitter, wondering why she was so weak, and also quite angry, especially at herself, who was so weak that she could do nothing. 

However, Akeno sighed in relief since it seemed Rias didn't realize anything. Fortunately, she had also wiped Rias's face clean before, so nothing was found out, right? 

"Oh, right, what about Koneko?!" 

Rias, who was resting and trying to calm herself, quickly asked about Koneko when she remembered that there should be three of them, but when she observed the room, only she and Akeno were there, so where was Koneko? 

Akeno didn't say anything and just showed a bitter smile. 

"I see..." 

Even if Akeno didn't say anything, as expected, Rias understood everything, but then again, was there anything that Akeno could do? 

"...it should be okay. He won't hurt Koneko-chan." 

Instead, Akeno felt that Masa would make Koneko happy, she thought. 

"...you are right." 

Yet, Rias cried since she hated herself for being so weak. 

"...you are crying?" 

"Shut up!" 

Rias covered her eyes with her hands while Akeno let out a helpless sigh and said, "Let's go back." 

"...um." 

There was nothing that Rias could do in this place, and she was afraid that sooner or later, she might lose everything. 

As for Koneko? 

While Rias hated herself for not being able to do anything, she knew that she could only let Koneko stay, but as Akeno had said before, Koneko might be more than happy to stay at his side. 

"If you are still Riser Phenex's fiancee, then he might give you a face." 

"Are you seriously saying that to me?!" 

Watching Rias, who was angry, Akeno smiled and said, "It's better for you to show such an expression than being depressed all the time." 

"..." 

Rias grumbled, but she knew well that instead of wasting her time wallowing in this problem, she should think of growing stronger. 

"By the way, he gave you this." 

"Hmm?" 

When Rias thought of how to save Koneko, Akeno gave her an envelope, which confused her. 

"...what is this?" 

"An invitation?" 

"For what?" 

"His engagement party with his fiancee." 

When Akeno explained, Rias didn't notice the bitterness in her queen; instead, she was dumbfounded by this invitation. 

"This guy... how arrogant is he?!" 

Did Masa think that she didn't dare to cause trouble at his engagement party?! 

"It's not arrogant." 

"Huh?" 

"He's just mature." 

"....." Rias. 

"Even if he hates you, he still knows etiquette, and of course, he wants to invite you." 

"...I think that he is just afraid of my older brother." 

Rias was bitter, but she knew well that if there was a reason why Masa invited her, it was all due to her older brother, Sirzech Lucifer; but then again, as Akeno had said before, even if Masa hated her, he still knew the consequences of angering her, which made him smile, thinking that despite appearing fierce and even bullying her like this, he was a chicken that would cower in front of her older brother. 

"Hmph! Even if you do this, I won't let you go so easily!" 

When she thought about how he humiliated her previously, she wanted to repay him twice, no hundred folds, then gave him the taste of the humiliation! 

As she thought of his figure begging him again and again, hoping to forgive him, Rias felt an intense excitement that made her body shake violently and flush in a color that wasn't lost to her crimson-colored hair. 

Still, Rias wondered whether she didn't think of the possibility of Masa to humiliate her, especially when the House of Phenex had decided to break off the engagement between her and Riser, tarnishing her name and reputation as a bitch. 

Yes, even though Issei didn't win, Rias' engagement with Riser was cut off, especially when everyone had seen her reaction, who didn't seem to hate the idea of being engaged with Masa after his victory Issei despite being engaged with Riser. 

At the same time, the House of Phenex decided to stay away from Sirzech and the House of Gremory, and this was also the reason why whether it was Sirzech, Zeoticus Gremory, Venelana Gremory, or anyone in the House of Gremory decided to send Rias as having to cut their relationship with the House of Phenex hurt them a lot, considering how they lacked the supply of the Phenex Tears, which was the miracle elixir that could heal anything instantly. 

By sending Rias to Masa, hopefully, the relationship between the two could be amended, and as Masa was the fiance of the youngest daughter of Lord Phenex, if they could become closer, it would benefit the House of Gremory. 

More importantly, Masa's strength was immense, and it was without a doubt that he would become one of the pillars to support the position of the devils in the Underworld, which was why being his friend would bring more benefits than disadvantages. 

Unfortunately, the moment Rias decided to bring Issei, everything was messed up, chaotic, and tangled, and it was impossible to remedy. 

Only Akeno appeared awkward after she saw her mistress' excitement. 

"I will definitely make you regret humiliating me!" 

"....." Akeno. 

"Um...Rias... he also told me something else before he left." 

"What is it? Hurry up and tell me!" 

Rias thought that Masa asked for forgiveness, but if he was sincere, then it wasn't like she couldn't forgive him, especially when she thought of his virile and irresistible figure that stood in front of everyone at that time. 

"Um...." 

Watching Rias' eager expression, Akeno was helpless, but she took a deep breath and said, "He told me... that... he wanted to make a small event... during his party..." 

"A small event? What kind?" 

"Er... a match." 

"Match? With who? Who is he going to fight?" 

"He..." 

"Hurry up!" 

Gritting her teeth, Akeno said, "He wants to fight your older brother for a small event at his engagement party!" 

"..." Rias. 

Meanwhile, Masa, who had returned to his home with Kuroka and Koneko, thinking to tell about his plan to have a duel with Sirzech, saw that everyone's mood was quite strange, especially when his parents were also present. 

"Huh? Mom? Dad? What are you doing here? Are you going to take my job, so I can relax?"

Masa thought that was the case, especially when he knew well how lazy his parents were. 

"..." Masa's father and mother. 

"No." 

"...then, why are you here?" 

Masa's parents didn't say anything and just glanced at Serafall, who sat between Ravel and Misla, who looked at her with a complicated mood. 

"Masa..." 

Still, Serafall was filled with a happiness and a unique loving charm that only appeared on a certain special role, that of a woman. 

"Hmm?" 

Masa had a feeling, but—

"I am pregnant," Serafall said softly as she rubbed her smooth belly lovingly. 

"..." 

Taking a deep breath, Masa decided to let Masa of One Piece take the role of the story first.