They had barely passed through the towering gates of the capital when the view already seemed spectacular. Children ran here and there. The houses, beautifully adorned with stone, lined both sides of the cobbled main road. Here and there, luxury boutiques flaunted the latest fashion—styles that Father, Yelo, and Idris were currently wearing.
What made Rias laugh was the parade of finely dressed gentlemen walking the streets, drawing stares like flamboyant showpieces. So ridiculous that some sarcastic words slipped out of his mouth:
— "What the hell could that idiot possibly be thinking with that tiny brain?"
— "What was that, Riri... Riana? ", Eli asked suspiciously.
— "NOTHING! Nothing! ...And if you call me Riana again, I'll tell Mom!"
Eli said no more—she still needed to win her mother's affection.
As they brushed past the grandest parts of the city, they finally arrived in front of their own boutique. No one got out of the carriage just yet. One of the knightesses stepped into the shop. It was a massive house with two floors above, and its architecture spoke of the grandeur of its owner—whose identity was still a mystery for now.
The townspeople eyed the Marquise's carriages with curiosity. A whole mix of people went in and out of the shop—nobles, travelers, and more. But none had ever been followed by eight knightesses. Their interest peaked when the mistress of the house stepped out—a smiling woman accompanied by the famous white knightess,
Rubi De Rush.
And then, Diamond finally steps out of her carriage, and the whispers begin:
— "Isn't that the Black Knightess, Diamond De Rush?"
— "I heard those beautiful ceramics come from the East. So it is from Rush."
Diamond takes the hands of two women and walks straight into the shop. Yelo and Idris follow just after. Then comes Elisabeth, proudly soaking in the stares—she feels like a superstar, basking in the admiration of the crowd.
Anna is about to step out too, but hesitates when she sees Rias frozen, too hesitant to move.
The eyes of a crowd always awaken something painful in him. Just like every time he was bullied at school while everyone stood by and watched. They never intervened. They just stared.
You know, it's not the abusers who are the worst. It's the spectators.
So now his hands tremble, and his gaze is void of meaning, looking for refuge in the ground. Every time this happens, he feels like he's about to faint.
It's emotional trauma.
Anna has known him for a long time, but this reaction makes her question everything again.
And yet, maybe now isn't the time to ask. Maybe it's better to never ask.
She takes Rias's trembling, ice-cold hands and gives him a warm smile—like a silent promise. And he believed it, even though no words were spoken.
They step into the shop without looking away. It's only five steps, but it's enough to drain all of Rias's energy. He's breathless, unable to think straight.
Worried, Anna finally asks:
— "Are you okay, Riri?"
But he says nothing. Instead, he buries his face in his big sister's chest, clinging tightly to her shirt.
He cries.
Idris sees them and immediately asks what's wrong:
— "What did you do to Rias, Anna?"
— "…I…I'm asking myself the same thing, Father Idris."
Then Idris remembers—Rias acted the same way two years ago. He says nothing more. He just wraps him in his arms. Again. Even though Rias is now seven years old. But he holds him tight and carries him to their room, whispering softly:
"Don't cry, my baby. Daddy's here."
Rias shares a room with Anna and Elisabeth. It's a spacious room for just three children. And on the bed…
Rias buried his shame beneath the pillow.
Once again, his heart had crumbled under the weight of every stare.
He knew he was in a matriarchal world—but he had never tried to feminize himself, nor had he ever wanted to. He didn't know what he wanted, but he hated appearing weak. And yet, that's always the impression he gave:
He's weak.
He's ridiculous.
He's worse than before.
He's a coward.
…
Rubi had seen the whole scene too. She worried that the shop had scared little Rias, but Idris told her
— "No, don't worry. It's just him. He's been like this since he was a child… I don't know, but something really frightens him. I just hope he's not seeing ghosts."
— "Come on, Idris. Ghosts don't exist."
— "And yet, I can't find any other explanation for his strange behavior."
You know, he always categorically refuses to touch me or Yelo. If he ever does, it's very rare… and it's always out of fear, a reflex.
Only Anna can really get close to him… And Eli too, but well, she kind of forces it a bit, I'd say. (He laughs.)
— "I see. Then it's time for me to get to know him too. I'll ask my little soldiers to bring him to me."
says Rubi with amusement, probably off to pitch her plan to Anna and Elisabeth.
— "Hey Rubi, don't do anything crazy with my kids."
— "Don't worry! Did you forget I'm the White Knightess, darling Yelo?"
She adds while walking away.
— "It's Idris…"
Idris replies, clearly frustrated this time.
— "Damn! I still mix up my handsome brothers-in-law!"
…
And just like that, without even realizing how, Rias finds himself in the middle of a magical carnival with Anna, Elisabeth, and their energetic aunt Rubi.
There are all sorts of magic-based games:
A target shooting range using distance spells…
The shifting-earth dragon, summoned by a magical circle.
One silver coin is enough to ride it.
Bubble spells dance through the plaza.
...
All kinds of magnificent things, all powered by magic.
While Anna and Eli challenge each other at the moving target game, launching spells with precision, Rias and Rubi finally find themselves alone. They never really had the chance to talk—mostly because Rias always avoided Rubi. Maybe he's afraid her overflowing energy would burn him alive.
Anyway, Rubi turns to him and asks:
— "Why do you always run away from me, little prince? I love you, you know."
But he says nothing.
He just feels even more suffocated than before.
But Rubi is far too persistent to drop it:
— "You want to ride the dragon, don't you? You're always fixing it. Come, I'll take you."
Rias doesn't even have time to refuse. He's already in Rubi's arms. And she carries him—like a force of nature—onto the dragon ride.
The ride feels like a rollercoaster. The dragon carves its path across the entire fairground, swooping and soaring. From its back, one can admire the whole city. And this city has everything a fantasy world should.
The wind lashes his face, but for once—it doesn't hurt.
He laughs.
He laughs for real.
How long had it been since he last laughed like that?
Once the ride ends, the two wander through the booths. Rubi offers to carry Rias on her shoulders, but he flatly refuses. So, he walks.
Rias isn't a difficult child.
He's content just observing, admiring.
What impresses him most aren't the games—but the spells themselves. He's always loved this world, despite everything.
The magic.
The systems.
The softness of those around him…
Maybe even the cultures of men here.
Being vulnerable isn't so bad. Sometimes, we're not the ones who need to change. It's the world that should. And here's Rias—someone who literally changed worlds.
In this very moment, he's starting to seriously wonder:
What if this world was made just for him?
Everything seems just a little too perfectly aligned in his favor. Here! There! Now—while he's still lost in his existential thoughts in some quiet corner—someone remembers he exists. And this person still worries about him.
That someone is always full of love when she looks at him:
Anna.
— "What are you thinking about, Rias?"
Rias pauses for a moment, then says:
— "...Something really crazy."
— "Crazy? … like what? What kind of thoughts could you possibly be having?"
Another pause.
This one makes little Anna a bit worried.
— "Anna, can you promise me something?"
Anna finally sits beside him and whispers:
— "You know very well I can't say no to you."
— "...Then promise me you'll make me your priority in life.
Even when you're married… even if you have a child—can you still love me more than them?"
It was a hard question for a twelve-year-old to answer.
But not if that child is named Anna Fort De Rush.
She smiles like she amused. She says:
— "I already made that promise to myself before you even asked."
Now come on, let's go play…
And Rubi just wondering why those Diamond's children are so … different. Or maybe, she just wonders if the time to have children has come for her too.