DxD: The Pale Puppeteer

Serafall sighed, twirling a strand of her hair as she lounged on her bed, phone pressed to her ear.

"So~ guess what, Sona-chan! I found a super interesting guy today!" she chirped, kicking her feet up.

On the other end, Sona's voice was sharp and unamused. "You what?"

Serafall giggled.

"Relax, relax! He's totally a catch—his demonic power is already on the high-end of the Middle-Class devils! Imagine someone like that without a peerage~! Sooo, I figured I'd help my cute little sister out and offered him a spot in yours~ Tee-hee!"

Silence.

Then—

"You decided that without consulting me?"

Sona's voice dropped, laced with restrained frustration.

"Ehhh, don't be mad, Sona-chan~! I mean, you are looking to complete your peerage, right?"

"That's not the point."

"Oh, come on~! You wouldn't want him falling into someone else's hands, would you?" Serafall pouted, even though Sona couldn't see it.

"He's strong, and I'm sure you can put him to good use! Besides, with your school going co-ed soon, don't you want to start getting a bit more manpower?"

Sona was quiet for a moment.

Then, with a sigh, she relented.

"...I'll be coming home during spring break, in a little over a week. I'll evaluate him myself then."

Serafall grinned. "Yay~! Knew you'd come around! Love ya, Sona-chan~!"

Before Sona could say anything else, Serafall hung up, satisfied.

——————✗—————

Sona put her phone down, letting out a deep breath.

Beside her, Tsubaki Shinra, her ever-composed Queen, glanced her way. "What do you think, Kaichou?"

Sona adjusted her glasses, eyes sharp with thought. "Although I don't appreciate my sister making decisions for me, I can't exactly call it a bad one."

Tsubaki nodded in understanding. "You'll judge him yourself when you return."

"Of course," Sona affirmed, her gaze turning to the window.

Tsubaki hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"That aside… the upcoming school year will be quite the adjustment. Kuoh Academy going co-ed is bound to bring new challenges."

Sona sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Yes. More students, more complications. We'll need to monitor everything closely to maintain order."

Tsubaki gave a small smile. "I'm sure you'll handle it just fine."

Sona exhaled. "I hope so."

With spring break approaching, there was much to prepare—not just for the school, but now for evaluating this mysterious new addition to her peerage as well.

——————✗—————

i sat comfortably in the grand library, enjoying the warmth of a finely brewed cup of tea.

The luxury of his new surroundings was something he was slowly getting used to.

It wasn't something he dwelled on—after all, he was about to become a peerage member of a prestigious family's heir.

Perks like these came with the territory.

His attention was currently on a small book he had pulled from the farthest section of the library: "The Magical Girl's Guide to World Domination."

He turned a page, brow twitching at the over-the-top illustrations and battle strategies.

One could only imagine who this belonged to.

A few minutes later, he heard the soft but deliberate steps of multiple people approaching.

He placed the book down just as the library doors opened, revealing two figures.

Sona Sitri and her Queen, Tsubaki Shinra.

Sona glanced at him, tilting her head slightly before speaking.

"So, you're the one my sister was talking about?"

I met her gaze and gave a simple nod.

"That's me."

Sona adjusted her glasses, studying him for a moment before continuing.

"Your name?"

He blinked.

His name?

For a second, he hesitated.

That was something he hadn't thought about—because until now, he never really had one.

Back at the lab, the researchers never called him by anything other than—

"Test Subject No. 12."

"No. 12."

A beat passed before he spoke.

"...Noel."

Sona arched a brow. "Noel?" she echoed, rolling the name over in her mind, as if testing its weight.

Then, without missing a beat, she straightened.

"Alright, Noel. I'm here to test you."

Unlike her sister, she was direct, no unnecessary theatrics.

Sona leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on interlaced fingers as she observed Noel.

"I only have one question: You must choose between two options: betray someone who trusts you or let innocent people suffer. What do you do?"

The question lingered between them, stretching the silence taut.

Noel's gaze lowered, his fingers tracing the rim of his teacup absentmindedly.

He let the weight of the question settle within him, pressing against the corners of his thoughts, testing the boundaries of his own morality.

Innocent people.

A vague, faceless collective.

A concept more than individuals.

And then there was the one who trusted him—a person with a name, a voice, a place in his world.

His answer should have been easy.

He should have chosen the greater good, the moral high ground.

But deep down, he already knew his choice.

"I would let innocent people suffer."

Sona's expression didn't change, but the flicker in her eyes told him she had taken note.

"Explain," she prompted.

Noel took a slow breath, gathering his thoughts.

"Trust is not something that comes easily."

"It's built, brick by brick, over time."

"When someone places their faith in you, it means they have judged you worthy of it.

"It's a connection that is rare, something given freely despite all risks."

His voice remained steady, yet there was an undeniable weight to his words.

"Innocence… is often a matter of perspective."

"To me, an innocent person is simply someone I have not yet formed a bond with."

"Their suffering is tragic, but it is distant."

"The person who trusts me, however, is part of my world."

"They chose me, and I, in turn, choose them."

"To betray that is to sever something irreparable."

"It is to lose something that can never be regained."

He set the teacup down gently, the quiet clink echoing through the vast library.

"Morally, it's wrong. Logically, it's selfish. But in the end, we do not make choices based on logic alone."

"We choose based on what we can live with."

Sona tapped a single finger against the table, her sharp eyes scrutinizing him.

"You believe trust holds more value than morality?"

Noel met her gaze.

"Morality is a system."

"Trust is personal."

"In a world where everyone can justify their actions with 'the greater good,' trust is the only thing that makes someone more than just a piece on the board."

A long pause.

Then, Sona leaned back, exhaling through her nose, a ghost of something unreadable in her expression.

"Interesting answer."

She didn't say whether it was right or wrong.

Because it wasn't about that.

It was about who he was.

And now, she had a glimpse of him.

Sona studied Noel for a moment longer, her fingers still lightly tapping against the polished surface of the table.

The silence between them stretched, measured, and deliberate.

Then, with a quiet exhale, she leaned back and made her decision.

"Alright. I'll accept you."

The words were calm, almost casual, but the weight behind them was undeniable.

Noel blinked.

That was it?

No more tests?

No drawn-out discussion?

Sona glanced at Tsubaki, who had been watching quietly the entire time.

At her King's signal, Tsubaki stepped forward and inclined her head slightly toward Noel.

"Welcome," she said simply.

There was no exaggerated warmth in her tone, no unnecessary pleasantries—just an acknowledgment, an acceptance.

And yet, something about it carried a quiet sincerity that made it feel real.

Noel exhaled slowly, letting the tension in his shoulders ease just a fraction.

"That's it?" he asked.

Sona tilted her head slightly, adjusting her glasses. "Did you expect more?"

"Honestly? Yes."

"You've already answered what I needed to know," she said.

"Power can be trained. Skills can be honed. But a person's core beliefs? Those are far harder to change. And you've made yours clear."

She stood up, pushing her chair back effortlessly.

"I don't expect absolute obedience, Noel. But I do expect loyalty. Can you give me that?"

Noel met her gaze.

He didn't need time to think.

"Yes."

Sona nodded, satisfied.

Tsubaki, still standing beside her, allowed a small smile to form at the corners of her lips.

"Then let's hope you live up to it."

With that, Noel's place in their world was set.