CHAPTER 148: THE BIRTHDAY INVITATION!

Rin stretched his arms above his head as he stepped inside the brothel again. The noise hit him immediately... distant laughter, the clink of glasses, the perfume that clung to the air like smoke. His chest was still buzzing from earlier, from meeting his grandfather, the demon king. He tried to fade everything away by remembering Lucien’s voice, the way those arms felt steady and grounding around him.

He barely had time to enjoy the memory before a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Where the hell have you been!?"

Rin almost yelped. He turned and found his aunt, Lirien, glaring at him like she was about to skin him alive. Her pipe wasn’t even lit, which told Rin how worried she had been.

"Aunt—"

"You disappear and then waltz in like nothing happened?!" she snapped. Her voice carried through the hall, loud enough that half the patrons and staff peeked over. A few even whispered.

"Rin is back?"

"I heard Sasha kidnapped him,"

"It’s a good thing Rin is back,"

Rin’s first instinct was to protest... he wasn’t a child, for god’s sake... but when he looked at her face, lined with exhaustion and genuine worry, he sighed. He lowered his head.

"I’m sorry," he said simply. "I was wrong."

Lirien blinked. The crowd blinked. The infamous Rin Elric... apologising?

They never expected him to do it. He would have said it casually and just waved his hand like he didn’t care but it was different this time. Even Rin was shocked that she couldn’t speak. She didn’t even know what to say.

He added, softer,

"I almost... killed you. That wasn’t right. I shouldn’t have lost control. I sincerely... apologise, Aunt,"

The tension in the hall broke when Lirien exhaled and pressed her hand to her forehead. She waved the curious onlookers away with one sharp glare before grabbing Rin’s sleeve.

"Come with me to the office. Now."

Rin followed without a word.

’Well, I guess I passed the first stage. Ha!’

.

.

The moment they stepped into Lirien’s office, Rin froze.

Two figures sat on Lirien’s chair like little kings. Kiro and Lia.

"What are you two doing..."

"You told us to handle the brothel, so we are.. "

They jumped up the second they saw Rin behind Lirien, forgetting they were speaking to Lirien.

"Rin!" Kiro bolted over and hugged him. Lia wasn’t far behind, wrapping both arms around his waist.

"You’re back!" Lia said, voice muffled against his shirt. "Is it true you punched Sasha?"

Rin smiled despite himself. He ruffled their hair until they complained.

"Of course I’m back. Punched? I bit him hard. You know how strong I am. Did you doubt me?"

They laughed and shook their heads, clinging to him a little longer before Lirien cleared her throat. The sound was sharp enough to cut steel.

"Kiro, Lia. You may leave now. I need to talk to him alone."

The two groaned but obeyed, shooting Rin reluctant looks before slipping out. The door shut.

Lirien lit her pipe at last. The smell of rich smoke curled through the air. She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing at her nephew.

"Judging by the look on your face," she said slowly, "Lucien is alive."

Rin nodded. "He’s safe and well,"

"Good." She exhaled smoke, her shoulders easing. But then her expression sharpened again. "Now listen to me. Whatever you did out there, don’t do it again. Becoming a full demon... or using that form... it drags you closer to the underworld. You wouldn’t want to become a full demon, would you? So, it’s better you listen to me and..."

Rin cut her off, his voice flat.

"I met him."

Lirien’s pipe slipped from her fingers.

"...Met who?" she asked, voice tight. She was hoping it wasn’t what she was thinking but he said it...

"The Demon King," Rin replied casually, as if it was nothing to him.

The pipe clattered to the floor. Smoke curled against the rug. Lirien shot up and rushed to Rin, grabbing his arms.

"You... what?!" Her eyes scanned his face frantically. "Are you hurt? Did he mark you or something? Rin, do you have any idea how dangerous he is?"

Rin thought back to the tea set, the cookies, and the giant demon blushing when Rin called him "grandpa." He almost laughed.

’Dangerous? That man looked more like a lonely grandparent than the most devilish devil.’

"I’m fine," Rin said. "He didn’t hurt me or do anything dangerous to me,"

"You’re not fine!" Lirien snapped. She started pacing the office, dragging her hands through her hair. "He’s not someone you can joke with, Rin. He’ll use you. He’ll eat you alive if you let him."

"He gave me tea and cookies," Rin paused and raised a hand lazily, showing her the skull ring glinting on his finger. "He also gave me this."

Lirien froze. She stared at the ring, her face paling. "...Impossible. Is that real?"

"It’s real," Rin said.

She pressed her lips together, finally sinking back into her chair. For once, she didn’t have words. The pipe stayed forgotten on the floor.

"...Then it’s true," she whispered. "As long as you’re safe, that’s all. You can head back to your room and remember to lock the doors and windows. Who knows who else would try to kidnap you again,"

The silence stretched until Rin scratched the back of his head and decided to leave but he remembered.

"There’s something else I need to tell you." He walked back to the desk and sat in the chair opposite his aunt.

Her eyes snapped to him again.

"What now?"

"I’m going to marry Lucien."

This time, Lirien nearly dropped her chair. She gripped her pipe so tight Rin thought it would snap.

"...You what?"

"I love him," Rin said plainly. "So I’m going to marry him."

"You can’t."

"Why not?"

"Because," she ground out, "he’ll be a Duke one day. You’ll also become the Second Duke. And if you marry him, you know what that means."

Rin leaned back in his seat, unimpressed.

"I never agreed to becoming the second Duke. I’ll just use the title to do whatever I want. I don’t care about politics. But I’m marrying him."

"Rin..."

"I must marry him, Aunt. I’m only telling you, I’m not asking for permission,"

His voice was calm but absolute, leaving no room for argument. Lirien stared at him, remembering too well how he had burned a man alive in his rage. She had no wish to become ashes herself.

Finally, she slumped back and muttered,

"We’ll... talk about it later."

Rin smiled brightly. "Thanks, Aunt."

"...Do whatever you want. I’m too tired for this," she sighed.

"Great! We plan on getting married after the war with Asmodeus." Rin stood happily. "Also, we’ll be bonding soon. Bye."

Lirien rubbed her temples. She already had a headache.

When Rin left, she grabbed her hair, muttering to herself.

"Why did the Demon King meet with him? What does he want with that boy? Is it about Elyria?"

She had no answers.

.

.

Rin got to his room and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The encounter with the Demon King still weighed on him, though he tried to shake it off.

The next morning, sharp knocks dragged him out of his half-sleep.

"Rin!"

He groaned and sat up.

"What is it?"

"There’s a messenger from the palace."

Rin cursed under his breath and dragged himself out.

The messenger stood stiffly in the hall, holding two envelopes. His cheeks flushed red when Rin appeared... his hair loose, shirt hanging half-open, his eyes half-lidded from sleep.

Rin snatched the envelopes and slammed the door in the man’s face.

"Pervert," he muttered, tossing the letters onto his bed.

The first envelope held an invitation card: The Prince’s 27th birthday.

Rin crossed his arms.

"So... he’s two years older than me. Huh."

The second envelope...

He scanned the letter. By the end, he was groaning.

The Prince wanted Rin to be his partner for the birthday ball. The colour of the day was listed. The King was asking for him too. According to Caspian, the king has been asking about his favourite concubine. The one with a veil.

Rin flopped back on the bed.

"Great. Just great. A birthday party to distract the people from the war. And I have to be the prince’s date? Kill me now."

He looked outside and saw it was bright. He didn’t have much to do but he could take a walk.

.

Later that day, Rin tied his hair into a neat ponytail, pulled on plain clothes, and left after telling Lirien. She sent Kiro with him, since Sasha was still being punished.

The boy bounced beside him, excitedly.

"There’s a new boutique that just opened! You’ll love it."

"I’d rather not," Rin muttered.

Still, he followed.

The boutique’s outside decoration made Rin pause. Something about it felt familiar.

Inside, racks of luxurious clothes lined the walls. Kiro darted off to browse.

"Look at this, Rin. This would be so perfect for you,"

"Let me take a look,"

Rin trailed behind, running his fingers over fabrics, when a voice floated from the counter.

"Welcome, honoured guests!"

Rin froze. His body stiffened. Slowly, he turned. The woman behind smiled brightly.

It was Madame Boutique.

Rin’s stomach dropped as tears gathered at the corner of his eyes.