Omniscient POV

  Underworld

  In a dark grand room, a petite 8-year-old girl, with her short bck hair in a bob cut, and violet eyes, peacefully rests on the bed.

  She's Sona Sitri, the only heir of the Sitri Cn. She woke up with a cute moan while spreading her hands.

  "Nnnn.."

  Upon waking, she adheres to a rigorous routine—studying, refining noble etiquette, delving into politics, and immersing herself in the vast Sitri Cn library. Despite the apparent weight for a young girl, as the Sitri heir, she strives to excel in every aspect. Her exceptional genius, a rarity seen once in several centuries, propels her to work even harder.

  After a tough day of work, she only has a bit of time for herself, and she spends it pying with friends.

  Currently, she's in the Gremory Cn's territory, pying chess with her best friend Rias Gremory, who's the heir of the cn.

  Rias Gremory, 8 years old, has crimson-red hair and blue eyes.

  "...and checkmate. That's a win for me, Rias," decres Sona, wearing a smug expression.

  Rias pouts, conceding defeat. "I'll definitely defeat you someday," she decres with determination.

  Sona smirks, enjoying Rias' annoyance.

  "So, how are things going on your end?" inquires Sona, showing concern for her friend.

  "What do you mean?" asks Rias, tilting her head in confusion.

  "Riser... I'm asking about him. Was he really that bad of a person?" Sona queries with curiosity.

  "Of course! He's just the worst. I feel suffocating just sharing the same room as him," excims Rias, scowling as if recalling something unpleasant.

  "I just can't understand why Otou-sama would arrange a marriage contract with him for me," she says, a mix of sadness and frustration evident in her tone as she reflects on her own father's decision.

  Her kind father recently arranged a marriage contract for her with Riser Phenex, the third son of the Phenex Cn. The revetion took her by surprise, and she wasn't the least bit happy about it. Despite being only 16, Riser was widely known throughout the Underworld as a notorious womanizer, a trait that Rias despises. On top of that, he's extremely arrogant.

  "You know, Rias, it's for the betterment of the Underworld," says Sona while also expressing concern.

  As pure-blood devils, they have a duty to ensure the purity within the devil lineage and prevent its decline. Marrying another pure-blood devil is to secure the legacy of the st remaining Pilr Cns, preventing them from going extinct like many others.

  "But why does it have to be him of all people? He's a disgusting pervert and an arrogant asshole. Do you know how he was leering at me at the restaurant that day?" Rias says it with a hint of venom.

  "Really?! Is that why you did that?" Sona asks curiously, pondering the incident.

  The incident has become infamous throughout the Underworld, particurly among the Pilr Cns.

  One month ago, Rias and Riser, both pure devils, were supposed to meet at a luxurious hotel in the Underworld to get to know each other better. What was meant to be a fancy date turned into a disaster.

  After just five minutes of their meeting, Rias Gremory threw a gss full of water at Riser Phenex and walked away, leaving him shocked and humiliated. The incident turned into a major scandal, circuting on DeviNet and even among other supernaturals. The reputation of the Phenex Cn took a hit, and Riser became a ughing stock worldwide, while Rias was beled a snobby brat.

  Zeoticus Gremory, the current head of the Gremory Cn, formally apologized to the Phenex Cn for the btant disrespect, but Rias firmly declined to offer any sort of apology. Despite this, the retionship between the two cns remains intact. The incident became sensational news, with the media discussing it widely.

  But thanks to the Phenex Cn's second son, who heads the biggest media company in the Underworld, the scandal quickly died down on DeviNet, and another topic took its pce. However, it's undeniable that Riser Phenex will find it harder to regain his pride in the Underworld for at least a few years. Nobles don't easily forget such incidents, and he'll have to prove himself to stand tall again.

  "Yes. He's disgusting. He even tried to take me to a room," says Rias angrily.

  "What!? That's..." Now Sona was shocked, having never known Riser Phenex personally. She knows he's famous for being arrogant and a pyboy, but would he leer at someone as young as Rias? She can't say for sure.

  "Did he do something like that?" asks Sona, concerned for her friend.

  "Yes! He 'suggested' we should change the pce to be able to talk 'freely' 'away' from the 'crowd'," answers Rias immediately, a frown crossing her face as she recalls the incident.

  "Oh," replies Sona, her thoughts now contempting whether Riser explicitly meant to take Rias to a room or not. However, she realizes convincing her stubborn friend might be challenging, especially given Riser's reputation.

  Hoping that the retionship between the two improves over time as they meet and understand each other better, Sona also acknowledges that Rias might have been a bit too quick to react in front of the other Pilr Descendants. She believes handling it differently could have been a better approach.

  Sona just contemptes whether she might also be plunged into an unwanted marriage contract like Rias, expressing hope that it won't happen to her.

  "Rias-sama, it's time for your lessons. And I believe Sona-sama also has her own lessons to attend to now," suddenly says Grayfia Lucifuge, the Strongest Queen of the Underworld and the Head Maid of the Gremory Cn.

  "Mou~...Can't we py for a bit more? Please, Grayfia~" pleads Rias cutely.

  "No. We're already an hour te. And someone from the Sitri House has also come to get Sona-sama," refuses Grayfia.

  Hearing her words, Rias slumps in defeat and gets ready to endure those boring lectures.

  "Then, I will leave now. See you ter, Rias. Also, it was nice meeting you again, Grayfia-san. Bye," Sona bids her farewell to both of them.

  After that, she is teleported to the Sitri House and sits through her studies while contempting what her stance would be if she were in the same situation as Rias. However, as a pure-blood devil and the heiress, she acknowledges her duty to contribute to the devil race.

  ***

  Later that afternoon, Sona heads to the Human World to meet her friend and potential peerage member, Momo. Concerns about Momo's well-being have lingered for the past few months, prompting Sona to seek advice even from her quirky 'Onee-sama.' The advice hinted at a new male friend for Momo, but why should that be a cause for worry? Is this new acquaintance somehow mistreating or bullying her? [A/N: He is in one sense.?]

  Determined to uncover the truth, Sona arrives unannounced. Unlike her usual practice of informing Momo in advance, today she opts for a covert approach. Aware that Momo tends to stay somewhere during this time after school each week, Sona intends to investigate and determine if it's reted to her new friend.

  So, Sona heads toward Momo's school as it's nearing the end of the school day. Among the many children emerging from the gate, she patiently waits until she spots Momo walking out, accompanied by three people. Observing from a distance, Sona begins to piece together the puzzle, her curiosity growing with each passing moment.

  Noting the trio with Momo—a boy, and two girls—Sona observes as the group separates. The two girls head in a different direction, leaving Momo to walk with the boy. Sona takes notice as they proceed toward a location entirely opposite to Momo's usual route home. This deviation piques Sona's interest, prompting her to discreetly follow and unravel the mystery surrounding Momo's recent activities.

  Unable to hear their conversation, Sona only observes as Momo's face is flushed red. Is it due to some sickness or embarrassment? Sona remains uncertain. Keeping a discreet distance, she wears a bck mask and dark gsses, concealing her identity while maintaining her surveilnce of Momo and the boy.

  Despite the odd looks from the passersby, Sona finds herself a bit embarrassed yet secretly excited. Who wouldn't enjoy pying detective at least once in their life? She acknowledges her ck of a cap and a magnifying gss, menting the oversight in her preparation for this impromptu investigation. Nonetheless, her focus remains on unraveling the mystery surrounding Momo and the boy, undeterred by the curious gnces from those around her.

  Snapping out of her inner thoughts, Sona's attention is captured by the surprising sight of the blonde boy holding Momo's.....HANDS?

  Even if she knows it's not something explicitly lewd, Sona, who has never held a boy's hand her age, witnessing Momo holding hands with him causes her heart to skip a beat, and various thoughts race through her mind in that fleeting moment.

  With a flushed face, Sona emerges from her reverie. After a few more minutes, she observes Momo and the boy entering a house together. Deciding to give them some space for now, Sona chooses to leave. She pns to return ter and await Momo at her house, ready to question her about her mysterious retionship with the boy.

  ***

  Momo's POV

  After my usual magical lessons and some training in the slime dungeon, I come home more exhausted than before. I don't know how Kouske-kun got hold of a pce like that, but I do know it's not normal. Nevertheless, it's an amazing pce.

  The potions he provides are also incredible. Initially, I thought it was the famed Phenex Tears, but Kouske-kun said it was not. He mentioned it's something wholly new he created and asked me to keep quiet about them, a request I pn to oblige.

  Spending time with him, I always end up discovering so many amazing things and pces. The training is always challenging, but the most difficult part is Kouske-kun himself. I just can't keep calm when I'm around him.

  Walking into my room with a slight warmth caressing my face, I find Sona sitting there, elegantly sipping tea. Her unexpected presence puzzles me a bit since she wasn't supposed to come today, and she didn't inform me beforehand.

  When Sona saw me, she gave me a smile that somehow looked... scary? Her gsses were kind of shining. Was that a devil thing?

  Sona: "Hello, Momo. How was your day today?"

  Momo(nervously): "Umm,g-good? Were we supposed to meet today? I don't think I remember about it."

  Sona (looking a bit hurt): "Do I always need to inform you just to come to see my friend?"

  Momo: "N-no. It's not like that. I was just a bit surprised to see you suddenly here today."

  Sona: "Let's py chess as we talk."

  Pying chess with Sona is fun and all, but sometimes it's bothersome as she tends to go way beyond, always being so serious about chess. Especially today, when I'm so exhausted.

  Momo (sighing): "How about we py tomorrow? I'm kinda tired right now."

  Hearing that, Sona looked surprised and shocked? Her face was burning red. What is going on in her head?

  Sona: "W-what were you doing to get so t-tired?"

  Momo (tilting her head in confusion): "Nothing much. I just did some light exercises."

  Sona (mumbling): "B-but you were with him... in his house."

  Momo (confused): "What?"

  What was she even saying?

  Sona (loud): "I saw you going inside a boy's house! What were you doing?" says Sona with a rge blush on her face.

  I was surprised to hear her words, but then confused. Then, when I understood and realized that nerdy girls like Sona might be the lewdest in their imaginations.

  Momo (embarrassed): "Kouske-kun and I are only friends! What are you even thinking?!"

  Sona: "So his name is Kouske. Is he the reason why you have been behaving so oddly for a while?"

  Momo (flustered): "What do you mean oddly? We are just FRIENDS!"

  Sona (smirking): "I never said you were anything else though?"

  Momo (looking a bit defeated): "Nn..."

  Sona: "So what's with him and you? Is he bckmailing you?"

  Momo: "NO! Why would he?"

  Sona: "So he's your VERY CLOSE FRIEND that you always spend time with?"

  ......

  After that, Sona started asking various questions, and in my hazy self, I ended up saying some things about him. About how he's a magician, and he's been teaching me magic. But nothing more!

  Sona: "So, he's the reason your magic is increasing so rapidly. And he's already knowledgeable and talented enough to teach you himself. I would like to meet him."

  Well, it's not that bad to let Sona meet him. Sona's not like other devils.

  Momo: "OK. I will introduce you to him."

  Sona (satisfied): "Nn. Now, let's py chess."

  Momo (annoyed): "No! Tomorrow!"

  [Author's Note: What did you think of the chapter? Feel free to share your thoughts (COMMENTS), and leave a REVIEW. Add it to your favourites if you enjoyed it. I'm open to constructive critiques that help me improve and grow as a writer, so don't hesitate to provide feedback. Thank you for reading!

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