Chapter 58: A Conversation Between Queens

The Shadowed Cliff Castle had grown eerily quiet under the moonlight. After weeks of training, exhaustion weighed heavily on Rias Gremory and her peerage, their bodies and minds pushed far beyond their limits. Tonight, however, Rias was restless. There was too much to think about—too much to process.

Her thoughts drifted, as they often did these days, to Raizer Phoenix. The man defied every expectation she had ever had of him. He wasn't the lazy, arrogant womanizer the rumors had painted him to be. Instead, he was something far more enigmatic—and far more intimidating.

Unable to sit with her thoughts any longer, she found herself wandering through the castle halls. Eventually, her steps led her to a cozy lounge on the upper levels. To her surprise, she wasn't alone.

Seated by the fireplace, a glass of wine in hand, was Yuballuna, Raizer's second-in-command. The high ultimate-class devil, as Rias had come to learn, carried herself with an elegance that belied her devastating power. Her sharp lilac eyes gleamed in the firelight as she noticed Rias's arrival.

"Well, Lady Gremory," Yuballuna said, her voice smooth and teasing, "to what do I owe the honor of your company at this late hour?"

Rias hesitated but then stepped inside, taking a seat across from her. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be here," she admitted. "But since you are, I suppose we could talk."

Yuballuna tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Talk about what?"

"Raizer," Rias replied simply.

Starting the Conversation

Yuballuna chuckled softly, swirling the wine in her glass. "Ah, Raizer. A topic that never fails to intrigue. What about him, exactly?"

Rias frowned, struggling to put her thoughts into words. "I just… don't understand him. He's nothing like I thought he'd be."

"That seems to be a common sentiment," Yuballuna said, leaning back in her chair. "Raizer has a way of defying expectations."

Rias sighed, brushing a strand of crimson hair behind her ear. "The rumors made him sound lazy, arrogant, and irresponsible. But since I've been here, it's clear he's none of those things. He's… disciplined, focused, and… infuriatingly competent."

Yuballuna laughed, a genuine sound that softened her sharp demeanor. "That he is. But let me guess—you're wondering who the real Raizer Phoenix is?"

Rias nodded. "Yes. He's so… different. I can't figure him out."

Yuballuna's Insights

Yuballuna studied Rias for a moment before speaking. "Raizer is many things, but predictable isn't one of them. He doesn't fit into the molds most devils do. He doesn't care about status for its own sake, nor does he waste time on indulgences or politics."

"What does he care about, then?" Rias asked, genuinely curious.

"Strength," Yuballuna said without hesitation. "Discipline. Building a legacy. Raizer isn't interested in fleeting victories or empty titles. Everything he does is about creating something that will last long after he's gone."

Rias frowned. "That's… a heavy burden to carry."

"It is," Yuballuna agreed, her voice softening. "But Raizer has always been willing to carry it. He's been working toward this since he was a child. While most devils his age were playing games or socializing, he was building alliances and training harder than anyone I've ever seen."

Rias looked down at her hands, guilt flickering in her chest. At the age Raizer had started his empire, she had been playing house with her peerage, content to rely on her family's name for protection.

The Strongest Team in History

"And his peerage…" Rias began hesitantly. "I've heard whispers that it's the strongest team in the history of the devil world. Is that true?"

Yuballuna's lilac eyes glinted with pride. "It's not just the strongest peerage in devil history. It's the strongest team in the entire supernatural world. No one else has ever brought together a group of individuals like this."

Rias leaned forward, her curiosity burning. "But how did he do it? How did he convince people like Garp, Mihawk, and Whitebeard to join him?"

Yuballuna smiled faintly. "Raizer doesn't rely on luck or charm. He earns loyalty through his actions. Every member of his peerage believes in him because he's proven himself time and time again. He doesn't just talk about greatness—he lives it."

She gestured toward herself. "Even I, a high ultimate-class devil, have found a purpose here that I never thought I'd have. Raizer gave me the chance to be part of something greater than myself."

Rias sat back, her mind racing. She thought of the incredible power Raizer's peerage wielded, their ranks far surpassing anything she or her team could even dream of. It wasn't just strength—it was unity, built on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Yuballuna's Frustration

After a moment of silence, Rias asked cautiously, "You've been with him for years, haven't you? What's it like, being so close to him?"

Yuballuna chuckled, though the sound carried a note of bitterness. "It's… complicated."

"What do you mean?"

Yuballuna sighed, setting her wine glass down. "Raizer is brilliant, disciplined, and focused. But he's also incredibly frustrating. Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to work with someone who is completely and utterly uninterested in… anything outside of his goals?"

Rias blinked, surprised. "You mean he doesn't—"

"Notice me? No," Yuballuna interrupted, her voice sharp. "Not in the way I want him to. For years, I've stood by his side, hoping he'd see me as more than just a member of his peerage. But no matter what I do, he's completely oblivious. Or worse—he notices and ignores it."

"That must be… difficult," Rias said, unsure of how to respond.

"It is," Yuballuna admitted, her tone softening. "Raizer has no room in his life for distractions. And to him, romance or relationships are just that—distractions."

Rias's Growing Fascination

As Yuballuna spoke, Rias found herself thinking back to her own interactions with Raizer. His sarcasm, his unwavering confidence, his relentless work ethic—it was maddening, but also… fascinating.

"He's so different," Rias murmured, almost to herself.

Yuballuna gave her a knowing look. "And that intrigues you, doesn't it?"

"I'm not intrigued!" Rias protested, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "He's still insufferable and arrogant and—"

"And yet, here you are," Yuballuna said, smirking. "Talking about him."

Rias opened her mouth to argue but found herself at a loss for words.

Yuballuna's Warning

After a moment, Yuballuna's expression grew serious. "If I may offer you some advice, Lady Gremory…"

"What is it?"

"Don't try to understand Raizer," Yuballuna said, her voice quiet but firm. "He's not like the men you're used to. He doesn't crave validation or approval. His world is built on discipline and purpose, and if you're not part of that purpose, he won't spare you a second thought."

Rias frowned, her heart sinking slightly. "Are you saying it's impossible to get close to him?"

"Not impossible," Yuballuna said. "But difficult. And frustrating. And you have to be willing to accept that you may never come first in his life."

Reflections and Understanding

As their conversation wound down, Rias couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. For years, she had judged Raizer based on rumors and assumptions, but now she was beginning to see him for what he truly was—a man driven by discipline and ambition, a man who had built something unparalleled in the devil world.

And despite herself, she couldn't shake the growing curiosity—and fascination—that tugged at the edges of her thoughts.

Cliffhanger: Seeds of Change

As Rias left the lounge that night, Yuballuna watched her go with a small, knowing smile.

"She's intrigued," Yuballuna murmured to herself, finishing her wine. "Let's see where that takes her."

In her chambers, Rias sat by the window, gazing out at the moonlit cliffs. Raizer Phoenix was nothing like she had expected. And that realization was both unsettling and oddly thrilling.

This expanded chapter delves into the growing complexity of Rias's understanding of Raizer while exploring Yuballuna's frustrations and insights about him. It also highlights the immense power and unity of Raizer's peerage, setting the stage for further development. Let me know if you'd like more additions!