Alexander sat on the bench in the gymnasium, watching the students run laps. His eyes were focused, but his mind was miles deep in the "true lore" of this world—lore that even Rias didn't fully understand.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Once my engagement is officially dead tomorrow, Malty will finally take the place she was always meant for—the victim of the Phenex marriage. And I'm sure our 'reborn' protagonist Issei will try to play the hero and save her, just like the canon story. Good luck to that pervert and his trash princess. They can rot together for all I care.]
Rias & Akeno: (Exchanging looks) 'Let him have her. We don't want anything to do with that mess anymore.'
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: People think the Gremory house is a pillar of strength, but the truth? The Gremory family only made that marriage contract to save their own asses. In the real history—the one from the records, not the sanitized version—the trouble started after the Civil War. When the old Satans fell and Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and that baldy—I mean, Falbium—took over.]
In the Underworld:
Falbium Asmodeus suddenly sneezed in his sleep, feeling a strange insult toward his hairline. Serafall, however, was leaning in closer to the "voice," her expression unusually serious.
The Gremory Decline
Alexander's Inner Voice:
*[Internal Thought: The moment Sirzechs gave up the Gremory name to become Lucifer, the fall began. During the war, the Gremorys didn't really fight—they just used Sirzechs' presence to expand their territory and hoard wealth like crazy. They made way more enemies than friends.
By the time Rias and Malty were born, Sirzechs had already turned into a hopeless 'Sis-con.' By officially declaring he didn't want the heirship, he left the Gremory name vulnerable. If it wasn't for Rias being a prodigy and my Great-Grandfather Zeckram Bael protecting them to save face, the House of Gremory would have been eaten alive by other Pillars years ago.]*
Rias Gremory felt a cold shiver. She had always known her family was under pressure, but hearing it described as a "fall" by a Dragon Monarch made the reality much harsher.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
*[Internal Thought: And then there's the Phenex family. They're rich and neutral, sure, but they're weak. No Phenex has ever reached the strength of a True Satan. The moment they saw the Power of Destruction appearing in Gremory daughters, they started drooling. They wanted that bloodline to fix their own weakness.
My family, the Runcandels, were the only ones standing in their way. Now that I'm canceling the engagement? The Phenex family is going to jump on the Gremory house like a toddler who just got a piece of chocolate. It's going to be a feeding frenzy.]*
The Global Reaction:
Venelana Bael: (Sighing) "He's right. Without the Runcandel name backing us, Zeoticus is going to be desperate. He'll sign Malty away before the sun sets." Sona Sitri: (Adjusting her glasses) 'Alexander sees through the politics of the Underworld better than the Four Satans themselves. He isn't just a King of Avalon... he's a King of Strategy.'
The Comparison
Alexander's Inner Voice:
*[Internal Thought: Anyway, I'm just glad I'm out. Let Issei fight Riser for the right to 'own' Malty. I've got better things to do. Like finding out why Rias is staring at me like I'm a delicious steak.
Seriously, Rias, you're a Gremory Princess. Stop looking at me like you want to tackle me in the middle of Gym class. It's bad for my 'stoic' reputation. Although... those gym shorts really do suit her. 10/10 for the Gremory genetics.]*
Rias Gremory: (Blushing so hard her hair seemed to catch fire) 'He gave me a 10/10! And he called me a Princess!'
Sona Sitri: (Glaring at Rias) 'Don't get too ahead of yourself, Rias. He still has a date scheduled with me.'
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Alright, enough thinking. The coach is looking at me. Time to show these kids why you don't challenge a Runcandel to a physical fitness test. Ciel, adjust my output to 0.01%. I don't want to accidentally punch a hole in the moon.]
The Ladies: "0.01 PERCENT?!"