The Red Hope (Highschool DxD AU)

"Please..."

"My goodness--whatever have you been doing here?"

Uh, wow, Mom, why that tone--

--not good. My legs are trembling... Hope I won't do anything un-royal here... I-if I could help it, that is...

Make no mistake! She wasn't called the Ultimate Queen for nothing... My Kaa-sama...

"...Will you reply, Millicas?"

Uwa! She was in maid-mode, and no '-sama'... not to mention, she said that to my face with a cold, hard stare.

I seriously would have liked to pray, but... as Devils, that will bring us some damage...

Gulp. No step back.

"I-it was Pierre..."

"Sorry?"

Please Mom, don't live up to your nickname! I'll behave!!

"It was Pierre, the cat, that did this... as a human. He's a shape-shifter!" I blurted.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh... I mean, yes!!"

She raised her hand...

...

...

...?

...and put it on my head. Pat, pat.

"Be more careful next time, okay? Also, this is your bed, so go tidy it."

Huh? E-eh?!

"Now."

"Yesss, Okaa-samaa~!!"

I said it! Half in joy, the other obedience! Phew!

For one extremely rare moment, the Silver Queen was being lenient!!!

Mom stayed on and watched while I was tidying my bed, making sure I did it correctly. As I said, she's second to Grandmom in fussiness... no, I rather not use the word now...

Or might it be that she has something more to say?

"Millicas."

"Yes!"

"...so it's true."

"What is true?"

"The boy you referred to as 'Pierre'... he is indeed a shape-shifter."

...I think I have said it, but no matter. Coming from Mom, it must have more sense of importance. And I better not talk back this time.

"Has he told you anything at all?"

"He said something about a vampire clan."

"Vladista?"

"Yes, I think that was the name..."

"I see. So they are that close already..."

Mom was still muttering to herself as she left me.

...

...

*falls on my knees, open-mouthed, tears beginning to flow.

...I'm delivered!!