DXD : Ray Gremory

"Ufufu, Dear, my son left a bit ago, and you are here in a daze. Don't worry, he cares for you very much, now come for tea with me and Akeno."

Then the two Devils went in.

As the crimson light faded from my vision, I found myself in the Sitri domain, more specifically behind Sona's mansion.

The Sitri Territory is home to the best medical facilities in the Underworld. It is well-known for its rich natural resources, and is said to boast the most plentiful natural reserves present amongst the few territories belonging to High Class Devils.

"Prince Ray, it is good to see you again, and you have grown so handsome in the last year, Ufufu. "

I follow the motherly voice of Lady Sitri, and see her mid-length black hair, and pink eyes looking warmly in my direction. She is wearing a motherly dress in pale blue, kinda like my Mother wears.

I smile and say to her,

"Lady Sitri, it is nice to see you looking well, but I had thought Sona would greet me here?"

She covers her mouth with a giggle and playfully looks at me while joking.

"Ufufu, I see, so you wanted Sona here, I see, I see. Sigh, She is currently in her last Chess game right now, and asked me to meet you.

She should be done soon. This suitor is an older man.

I think your idea for using Chess was both a blessing and a curse for our Sitri house, young Ray. "

I was wanting to retort and say that Sona would have done this in the anime, but alas, it fell in my lap as the mastermind of the Infinite Chess Swindle. Lady Sitri took my arm to walk me in and did not let me make excuses.

Lord Sitri was sitting between Sona and a 30ish looking yellow skinned devil with orange eyes, who was looking at the game in frustration. I could see sweat on his forehead as he tried really hard to make a decision, while Sona was cool and relaxed.

As he placed his Queen on the desired spot, I shook my head internally being killed by Sona in that move countless times, and I see her next move will be a checkmate. And he foolishly released his hand.

Sona, as I predicted, moved her Rook, taking the Queen and said.

"Checkmate, Lord Barbatos. .

. That is the game."

"No! I demand one more chance. "

Lord Sitri wiped his own glasses and politely said.

"Sorry, Lord Drollery Barbatos, but you lost fairly, and everyone only gets one chance, sorry for your defeat. "

Barbatos, grumpy about his sad defeat, only left the following parting words.

"Well, no matter, you only have your Grand Chess skills, and that is not real power. So let the Sitri decline.

What does it matter, good-day."

A servant led the man out. .

. Then Lord Sitri, seeing me and his wife in the back, said dryly.

"Prince Gremory, ignore the scene, it happens with almost every player, ha-ha. Come in and play a game with my daughter, perhaps you will beat her this time."

Sona, seeing me, smiled and told her parents.

"Ray is not here for Chess today, we are just going for a walk together, so we will leave now. Let us go Ray, I need fresh air."

I politely say.

"Next time maybe, Lord Sitri, but I will go with Sona now. "

As I left with Sona, Lady Sitri sat in her husband's lap and said seriously.

"No one is brave enough to say things to us openly with Serafall around, but I am worried if this goes on, our reputation may be affected?"

The playful and kind Devil woman was nowhere to be seen when she was seriously talking about their family. Lord Sitri said with no real concern.

"Sona has sent over a hundred Devils packing in shame, and no one is willing to be humiliated for our Daughter's hand. But we cannot just openly let her marry.

Sona has come up with a way to find a suitor not relying on intellect. .

. This time, she will allow all of the losers a chance to prove their Power instead of intellect.

This method will turn our bad reputation into an honorable one, since we will test both intellect and strength. "

"What nonsense is our Daughter doing now?"

"It is a swindle. .

. Her plan for next year is."

Sona and I are sitting on a stone bench by a secluded waterfall she always comes to for thinking.

She took off her glasses, set them to the side. I found this action odd, to see her take them off like that.

She only does that when her mind is in a mess.

While I was still sitting, she stood, and kept her back to me to hide her face, she then said.

[Ray, I cannot be beaten, you know? So that means I am not going to belong to any-man right now at this very moment, so..]

Sona, with decisive eyes, turned, grabbed my face, and overlapped her lips on mine. Her eyes closed, and I was truly caught off guard, as her inexperienced kiss coated my lips.

As she did not feel me reject her, she slowly stopped and pulled back to look at my confused face. Sona said seriously.

"Ray, that was my first kiss. I will not kiss another now, so, unless you do something and try, the lips that belong only to you, will go to another man.

Don't let me down Ray. I just need you to have a reason to try."

As she put on her glasses, I licked my lips in confusion at her words and asked.

"What are you planning, Sona?"

Sona knows me better than I know myself, and in her heart, she knew I understood her. She put her hands behind her back and said.