MTLNOVEL Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Seekvaira Wants Compensation
After confirming Yuma Amano's identity, Seekvaira no longer hesitated and restored her frozen time.
"Hmm? What just happened?"
"Yuma-chan, you were just staring at me, completely entranced," Lucius replied smoothly.
"Eh? Was I?"
Yuma felt something was off.
However, knowing she had been acting strangely around Lucius, she chose not to press the issue.
"Sorry, Yuma-chan, but I don't have time to accompany you today. I need to show our new transfer student around Kuoh Town."
"Tomorrow then...? Alright..."
Raynare scanned Seekvaira carefully.
She felt an undeniable sense of pressure from her—an overwhelming presence that distinguished higher beings from lesser ones.
This woman... she was at least a High-Class Devil.
After chatting for a bit longer, Yuma finally bid farewell to Lucius.
She didn't want to linger too long in Seekvaira's presence—staying too long might reveal her true identity.
Ideally, she wanted to reveal the truth after she and Lucius had solidified their relationship.
That way, she could become his official lover rather than merely a servant.
"Alright then! See you tomorrow, Lucius-kun! I'll come find you again!"
Yuma waved goodbye with a bright smile.
She had no idea that Seekvaira had already uncovered her Fallen Angel origins.
"Mmm, see you."
Lucius watched as Yuma disappeared around the corner.
With Yuma gone, Seekvaira continued walking alongside Lucius, intending to escort him home.
That way, she could also avoid the trouble of asking for his address later.
Having confirmed her feelings, Seekvaira decided to initiate her advance.
"Lucius-kun, I heard from Serafall-sama that Sona actively annulled her engagement?"
"That's right. Sona and I have officially ended our betrothal."
Lucius gazed into the sky.
From the very beginning, Sona was never meant to be his fiancée.
She was merely a placeholder—a strategic move to silence opposition from the Old Satan Faction.
This way, the current Satan Faction could justify their stance by saying, "It's not that we refuse to acknowledge the Old Satan bloodline, we simply changed the arranged partner."
In reality, it was nothing more than a temporary measure.
Lucius believed that neither the Satan Faction nor Serafall herself would have ever allowed him to remain engaged to Sona permanently.
Had he never awakened his abilities or won Sona's heart, he would have inevitably been discarded over time.
"If that's the case, Lucius-kun, would you consider forming an engagement with me?"
Seekvaira nervously licked her lips.
If Sona didn't want him—she would take him instead.
If Sona refused to marry—she would.
Lucius paused for a moment.
"Before I answer, there's something I need to say first."
"What is it?"
"Seekvaira-san, to be honest, I do find you attractive."
"Eh?"
Seekvaira's breathing hitched.
Was he saying yes?
Had she... won?
Her usually logical and composed mind had completely short-circuited.
"Seekvaira, although I do like you, I cannot accept your proposal for engagement."
Lucius' next words struck Seekvaira like a hammer.
"W-why...?"
"Because I've already made an agreement with Rias—I'm pretending to be engaged to her in order to help her annul her engagement."
"I see... But that's just a fake engagement, right? I don't mind." Seekvaira quickly reassured him.
"That's not the point. I'm helping Rias because I'm receiving compensation in return."
"I need that compensation to strengthen my contracted Familiar."
"And the reason I want my Familiar to grow stronger is because... I want to be independent."
"Even before awakening my powers, I wanted to stand on my own."
"Now that I have a Sacred Gear, I have even more reason not to become someone else's subordinate."
Seekvaira remained silent for a long moment.
Then, realization dawned on her.
"In other words... you do like me, but you refuse to be someone's live-in husband?"
"That's about right."
Lucius nodded.
"Although we've interacted a few times before, this is the first time we're actually getting to know each other."
"At best, I can say I have good feelings toward you—but love? That's too soon."
"Falling in love or deciding on marriage so quickly... isn't that far too hasty?"
Lucius chuckled softly, shaking his head.
After hearing his words, Seekvaira realized her own haste.
"You're right."
A few seconds later, Seekvaira made a decision and spoke again.
"Lucius-kun... do you dislike me?"
"No."
"Then... do you like me?"
"I'd say I do."
"Then what's the point of overthinking?"
"I agree with you, Lucius-kun."
"Immediately getting engaged would be too rash."
"So, instead... I have a proposal."
"Let's start dating first."
"That way, we can deepen our understanding of each other before deciding anything."
"And when the time comes, if Lucius-kun still doesn't want to marry into my family, we can settle it through a Rating Game."
"If I win, you become part of my household."
"If you win, I'll marry into yours. What do you think?"
Since she wasn't the sole heir of the Agares family, Seekvaira wasn't opposed to marrying into another house.
"Alright, deal."
Lucius smirked.
Seekvaira's proposal played right into his hands.
Although he had no intention of marrying her just yet, building their relationship over time would inevitably lead to her falling deeper under his charm.
With his High-Dimensional Incubus Bloodline, even Seekvaira wouldn't be able to escape.
"Then... from today onward, we're a couple."
Seekvaira took his hand with a radiant smile.
This wasn't bad at all.
Lucius insisting on dating first only proved he was serious about relationships.
He wasn't a womanizer—he was just careful.
Lucius: Actually, I really am a womanizer...
"As your girlfriend, can I make a request?"
Seekvaira, usually cold and logical, now showed a shy yet mischievous expression.
"Sure, what is it?"
"I wasn't happy seeing you being affectionate with your servant earlier."
"So... could you kiss me as compensation?"
"...?"
"Alright. But let's not call it compensation—just ask me directly next time."
Lifting her chin, Lucius gently pulled her closer.
Seekvaira gazed into his golden eyes, her heartbeat racing.
Why hadn't she noticed how attractive he was before?
"Thump... Thump..."
Her heart pounded as she removed her glasses and leaned in, closing her eyes.
The moment their lips met, a brilliant white light flashed beneath them—a teleportation circle activating.
They had been targeted.
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