Harem Hero

Changing Tides

The day after, you made an offer on the mansion that you saw out in the sticks. It was accepted almost on the spot thanks to some clever financing that Venelana had performed after your evening date together. The estate agent was desperate to get rid of it – and even accepted a lower offer than the market price that was originally listed. Nobody wanted anything to do with it until you came along.

"I heard about your date with my mother, husband."

You groan and cover your face as Rias leers over you at the front step of your new home; "Why is that the first thing you have to mention?"

"Because it's relevant to me!" Rias responds smugly, "She was a very happy woman when she came back. The kind of look that one sports after a good night of-"

"I get it! I get it," you shout. The eagerness with which she discusses you sleeping with her damn mother throws you for a total loop, and it isn't even the first time she has done so in front of you. Most people would be extremely weirded out by the whole affair – but for Rias it's just a natural part of devil life.

The real reason you invited her was to take a look at your new purchase. After studying some different ideas for designs, you decided that a splash of the gothic would fit the building well. It'd make things feel a little cosier too. You've seen enough giant, empty mansions with big open plan living rooms and overly featured kitchens for one lifetime. You need a little colour in here.

Rias' head cranes upwards to the ceiling as you walk into the main lobby.

"It's very... large."

"Right? Whoever designed this place went totally overboard. I have no idea what to put in here."

Rias is already making plans in her head, "A good carpet would spruce up this tiled floor. Though it would have to be big to make much of an impact. Some silk curtains around the door should make things feel more personable, and we can put a sitting area over here, even if nobody plans on using it."

"We could also change the layout a little – since the place isn't finished just yet."

Rias smiles, "Please allow me to take the floorplan to the building back with me. I can consult with my mother more closely on what we should do."

You forget that Rias and her family have a construction company under their control sometimes. Hopefully they don't go quite as overboard as they did when they 'upgraded' Issei's house in the TV show. It's more than big enough already. Venelana and Mitsuru have probably already pulled some strings and purchased a construction company or something along those lines...

You follow her through into the main living room in the left wing of the house. Rias gives an approving hum as she wanders over to the windows and studies the frames. "Red curtains would suit this place rather well, but I don't want to impose any particular style onto you."

You laugh it off and approach her from behind, "You know more about this than me, that's why I invited you."

"But wouldn't it be nice to differentiate this manor from the clubhouse? I think a different colour scheme would be a good place to start."

You picture the heavy, expensive curtains and the metal railing in your mind; "What about blue?"

Indeed – a deep royal blue would allow Rias to use her usual stylistic choices, while also serving to give the manor its own identity. You step back into the middle of the room and imagine a large television hanging from the wall, surrounded on both sides by heavy oak bookcases. Wooden floors with a matching rug and ornate furniture. The spacing would be crucial to making a comfortable and well-designed living area out of such a huge, empty room.