* Short Notice: This chapter will be pretty long too. Anyways, enjoy reading 😊
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Erin was teleported at the back venue of the party where Sirzechs was the first to greet her.
" Congratulations, Erin." He smiled. " I wasn't wrong to contract the services of your household."
"Of course. We make sure that we deliver superior services to our clients." Replied Erin as she changed back to her casual attire. Sirzechs stepped closer to her and whispered in her ear.
" Don't worry. Your identity is safe with me and I won't be divulging any info without your permission."
Erin nodded at this and the two shared a look.
" Thank you, Sirzechs. But don't forget the payment for saving Rias. I'm seriously drained from fighting that chicken."
Sirzechs laughed at this and patted her shoulders.
" Of course I won't. We owe Rias' freedom to you and the least we can do is to pay you sufficiently."
" And about the matter we talked about a few days ago." she added.
Sirzechs' expression turned serious and he gave a nod to the Goddess.
" Yes. I will help in locating your killer. But Erin, you should be aware that even if we managed to do that, you can't just act brashly and corner him." He continued and spoke in worry. " Your actions might provoke a majority of the Fallen Angel Faction and a chain reaction may occur causing a conflict to arise."
" I understand." Erin replied. "Your assistance is already enough. Not to mention, your willingness to help me reach my grandfather as well."
" Now that is settled, shall we head back inside and formally break the engagement?"
" After you." Erin made a little bow and motioned towards the entrance making the Maou chuckle.
Once inside, they were greeted with cheers and rounds of applause.
" Everyone." Sirzechs motioned and the crowd went quiet. " We have witnessed a spectacular match to which the descendant of the Vermillion lineage won. It is just fair that we ask the young Knight on what her wishes are for winning the match and displaying an incredible performance."
He turned to Erin
" What would you like as a reward, Young Knight?"
" I would like to break the engagement between Rias Gremory and Riser Phenex." Erin said in practiced words. This caused the audience to gasp and the two conspirators just smirked internally.
" Ah, that is a high wish but not quite impossible to achieve." Sirzechs remarked and looked at Erin knowingly.
" We would have to consult the other parties about that." He looked at Riser's father. " What do you think, Phenex-sama?"
" Hmm. She spared the life of my Son earlier. Frankly, the decision shall be up to her and her wish shall be executed without any problem."
" And you, father?"
The patriarch of the Gremory Household gave Erin a stare down until he arrived at his decision.
" It is what the results declared. The engagement shall be cancelled."
The ORC cheered at this and Erin was relieved hearing the decision. Well, not like they have any other choice since if they disagree with her wish, she can just give them a good beating.
" Then your wish shall be honored." Sirzechs said with a bright smile. " In addition to this, since you defeated Rias' former fiancé, this automatically sets you as her new partner and new fiancée. So congratulations Erin. You're engaged." The red head declared with mischief.
" WHAT? This isn't part of our plan! Sirzechs you little- "
The crowd erupted into cheers, drowning away the Goddess' protests. Before Erin could catch the Maou, the ORC surrounded her with words of gratitude and congratulations.
" Eriiiin!" Issei hugged her with intensity. " Sugoi! Congratulations! I'm so happy that you kicked that Chicken's Ass!"
" Congrats, senpai." Koneko greeted with a stoic expression but cheerful tone of voice.
"Good job, Erin-chan. Watching your fight earlier really had me some type of way. Ufufu."
" You were great Erin-san." Kiba said.
" Erin-san you did it!" Asia spoke in happiness and hugged the girl after Issei.
" Thanks guys." Erin replied sheepishly. " Though I must apologize. I'll be leaving ahead of you since my body feels like falling any moment now."
" Ara, no worries Erin-chan." Akeno assured. " In fact, Rias is waiting for you outside. She's more than willing to leave the party at this moment."
Erin bid goobye to the ORC members and made her way outside where she saw Sirzechs leaning against the entrance's wall. The Maou immediately had his hands up in defense when he saw Erin approaching him with a creepy smile.
"Please calm down, Erin. I promise there is an explanation for that."
" You better start saying a good one or else your face will be the one planted to the ground." Smiled Erin with a malicious intent.
"You see. Even if we successfully broke off the engagement of Rias, there are still various proposals which may arrive in the future."
" Go on."
" And by declaring yourself as the fianceé of Rias, even if it was just a pretense, will at least lessen the chances of rowdy proposals appearing. They would have second thoughts on making one especially when they witnessed your fight earlier."
" Why can't you just simply reject those proposals? I mean, you have a high position and your clan is quite prominent as well."
Sirzechs heaved a sigh before explaining.
" That would have been easy if it weren't for my duties. I have to play the role of being a Maou and if I just act carelessly and defend Rias all the time, it would create an image of being biased which we try to avoid."
The Goddess pondered on his words and eventually hummed in approval.
" But wouldn't it cause more chaos since you publicly engaged Rias to the same gender?"
" That wouldn't be a problem since the Underworld is slowly accepting of the concept. And who wouldn't want to get engaged to you? You're gorgeous."
" Now you're not talking sense Sirzechs." Said Erin as she maid gagging noises causing the Maou to laugh.
" But seriously, please take care of Rias. I'm entrusting her to you."
" Even without your request, I'll still do it anyway. Rias is our master so we have the duty to look out for her." Erin then added in a weird tone. " And please don't say it as if me and Rias are getting married."
" Haha. Who knows? Maybe you don't have to fake the engagement after all." Sirzechs said and winked. Erin rolled her eyes and turned away from the Maou.
" I'm leaving."
" Wait. Take this." He handed the Goddess a piece of paper with a certain symbol on the middle. " Use that as your mode of transportation when you leave with Rias."
"Why am I leaving with Rias? I'm leaving alone and I want to rest."
" Because.. You officially became her fiancée remember? And you are to look out for her. Now go!"
Sirzechs pushed Erin before she can retaliate and the Maou disappeared in a portal.
Erin started walking away and from her peripheral, she can see Rias standing near a garden. The Goddess fastened her steps in hopes of leaving without her. She wasn't so lucky because the red head immediately spotted her and came running towards her direction.
" Erin!"
" Stop right there Rias. I know you are probably grateful that I saved you from the engagement but I'm tired and I want to- Umph!"
Rias hugged her in full force which effectively cut off her words.
" Yokatta. You stayed true to your words and for that, I'm grateful."
"Well of course. I did promise to help you in any way I can." Erin replied
"But um Rias. Can you please release me? I can't breathe properly."
The red head immediately released her from the hug while muttering an apology.
" How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?" Rias asked in worry as she touched Erin's face affectionately."
" I'm fine. Just extremely tired." Replied the Goddess. Rias nodded in understanding and she asked for the paper given by Sirzechs.
" Onii-sama told me that he will give you a paper to summon for our transportation."
Rias activated the magic and a Large Griffin emerged from the portal.
" Wow. I kind of expect and not expect this at the same time." Thought Erin as she looked at the large creature.
Rias climbed first followed by Erin who took a hold of the handle guiding the Griffin. The creature flapped its wings and they ascended to the sky.
" How did you found out about the engagement party?" Rias asked and started a conversation.
" Sirzechs actually contracted the services of our household." Erin replied without looking at the red head. " He requested me to duel Riser and save you from the engagement."
" So you met my onii-sama before the rating game started?"
"You can say that I met him while attending to the mission I needed do to." The Goddess replied vaguely, not wanting to get specific on her encounter with Sirzechs during their trip to the Underworld."
" I see.. But thank you again, Erin." Rias said and looked at the Goddess tenderly. " Words can't express my gratitude to you for saving me from Riser."
" I already told you before that I will always help you and support you." Spoke Erin in a caring tone. "That's why, even if there are countless engagements like this in the future, I would just continuously fend them off if it would result to your freedom and the chance to pursue what you really like."
This was the final blow for Rias' heart as she calmed herself and touched Erin's face.
" Erin, can you close your eyes?"
" Why?" The Goddess was confused on the random request.
" I want to give you a reward."
" Why do I have to close my eyes?" Erin absolutely had no clue.
" Just do it."
" Of course I won't." Erin replied and looked at Rias as if the red head lost her mind.
" Mou! Why is it so hard for you to follow an easy task?" Rias pouted in impatience.
" And why would I close my eyes? Who knows if you might do something crazy like kicking us off from this Griffin!"
" W-What do you think of me? A stupid woman or something?" Rias glared at her.
" No offense but you do appear like one to me." Replied Erin in nonchalance.
Rias' glare caused the Goddess to acquiesce to her request while holding one hand up in surrender.
" Okay okay! I'm closing my eyes now. And to think that I'm driving the Griffin. I'm so going to haunt you if I fall to my death."
Rias rolled her eyes at this but proceeded to hold the Goddess' face with both hands. When Erin closed her eyes, Rias could feel her heartbeat speeding up and she was instantly drawn to lean closer and closer until-
" Mmph!!"
Erin shot her eyes in surprise and her stomach did a flip when she realized that Rias was kissing her.
"T-T-The nerve of this woman- WHAT IS SHE DOING?!"
Rias released her lips after a couple of minutes. She still held the Goddess' face and the latter can only stare at her in shock.
" W-W-Wha, What did you just do?!"
" I'm giving you your reward." Rias replied in a whisper. " First kisses are special to a person and I'm giving away my first kiss to you."
Erin's expression was a mixture of shock, surprise, and disbelief. When she found her voice, she gave the red head an accusing look.
" What do you mean special? You just stole our first kisses and you ruined both of our experiences! How is that even a -
Erin was again silenced when Rias claimed her lips for the 2nd time. The Goddess' insanity left her at this point and she was frozen in shock.
" There." The red head said in satisfaction. " You said kisses so I gave you another one."
When they arrived at the Vermillion Household, Erin instantly backed away from Rias.
" S-Stay away from me, Kiss stealer! Don't you dare take a step inside this house!"
" Mou. That's a harsh thing to say to your fiancée. And how is that called stealing? I have a right to your kisses seeing that I am engaged to you."
" Shut up! Y-You're not talking any sense!"
The Goddess dashed inside the house and Rias chuckled at her actions.
The red head explained the circumstances to Erin's family and the two members just nodded in understanding. They were aware of Sirzechs' request to the Goddess so they pretty much have an idea about the events.
Rias was guided to Erin's room and the red head immediately stripped off her clothes. She laid down on the bed as she waited for Erin to exit the bathroom.
Needless to say, Erin was shock to see the red head in her bed and laying naked in all glory.
"Get out of my room and wear some effing clothes! What the fudge is wrong with you?!"
--- The Next Day---
" Um. Haha.. So, please pardon our intrusion, Archaea"
" Please pardon our sudden intrusion, Archaea-sama."
Erin watched the exchange with growing annoyance and she turned to the culprit who was clinging happily to her arm.
" Rias.... Care to explain what is going on?"
" Hm? As your proposed fiancée, I made the decision to officially live here starting this day and I also invited Issei and Asia." Replied the girl with a smile.
" Why do you have to drag Issei and Asia into this?" Out of all the craziness Rias can offer, that is one thought Erin couldn't understand.
" Well I just thought that it'll be more lively if we have them around. Besides, you three are close so why not?"
Erin massaged her temples and gave off a sigh.
" Have you even regarded their opinion on whether they would like to live here or not?"
"Of course. And they don't have any problems with that." Rias replied in confidence. But truth was, she forced the two to live on the house because she believed that her chances of being accepted to stay in the household will increase if the two were also present.
How Rias came up with that conclusion is a mystery which only she can solve.
" Well, It's not like Mom would easily agree to this. Especially Sebastian who-
" My onii-sama already contacted them and they had the agreement to upgrade the house and increase the floors." replied Rias. " And part of the agreement is to improve the kitchen and deliver a new tea set, as per the request of Sebastian."
" I can't believe how they easily got sold over that agreement. And seriously? Over a new tea set?" Erin thought in disbelief as she looked at Sebastian.
" Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together from now on, Erin~ " The red head happily said and hugged her arm closer.
Erin can only sigh but a part of her was glad that the red head finally has a home and not just on the ORC Clubroom in Kuoh.
- End of Chapter -