Fey’s Stand [Part-2]

Chloe hesitated for a second... then straightened, nodding a bit more firmly than expected. "We’re with you."

They all nodded.

That was enough.

Fey turned back.

She looked back at Leon.

This time, she didn’t hesitate.

"We don’t want positions."

Silence.

It didn’t fall—it dropped.

Heavy.

Immediate.

Even the air seemed to stop moving.

Even Rias blinked.

"...What?" Leon said, genuinely surprised.

Not angry. Not offended.

Just... caught off guard.

On the side, Aria tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "That’s... unexpected," she murmured, almost to herself.

Cynthia’s gaze sharpened, analytical. "They thought this through," she said quietly.

Sona folded her arms, watching Fey closely. "This isn’t impulsive..."

Mia shifted slightly, her fingers tightening together. "They’re serious..."

Even Syra, usually playful, didn’t smile this time. "Now this got interesting..."

But there was no teasing in her tone—only a sharp curiosity, like she’d just witnessed something rare.

A sudden stillness took hold of Aria’s hands on the chair’s edge, her purple gaze tightening just a fraction. Dangerous... or merely curious? The words slipped out, meant only for her own ears.

Lying back, one leg folded over the second, her red gaze caught the light. Not a sharp reply - just quiet. "Not that," she murmured, lips near curving. Truth instead. The sort others shrink from seeing

Cynthia stayed silent right away. Just looked - still, calm - but her eyes held on Fey past the rest. Judging maybe. Getting it.

Fey held her gaze steady.

Far from Leon. Far from how he responded. Heavy air settled instead, dragging at her spine. The walls didn’t speak - just leaned closer.

Now the air pressed down, as if the walls could hear every word.

Stillness held her words now. Not a tremor, just calm weight behind each sound.

"We don’t want titles."

One woman moved her foot just a bit. Another tilted her head, eyes narrowing like she’d caught something mid-air. A third stayed still but breathed out slow through her nose.

Forward she moved, one step at a time.

A single one stood out - yet it made a difference.

Footsteps tapped softly, louder than expected. Perhaps only in her mind.

Up she stood, not puffed up with pride, yet firm in intent. No boast filled her frame - just stillness that spoke louder than show. Down by her sides stayed her hands, fingertips gently bent, like roots pressing into earth.

Frozen she stayed, though his stare pressed close.

Rui moved ahead a small step, face calm yet soft. For just an instant she looked at Fey - not long, only to gather strength - then began to speak.

"We don’t want authority."

Lena came after, speaking quiet now though just as steady. "Above other people is not where we aim to be."

Mona exhaled softly, the hint of a calm smile appearing - no tricks in it, just quiet. Ruling wasn’t on her mind

A breath paused her, fingers pressing into palms before words came - softer than everyone else’s.

"We just want to stay..."

Lilyn moved ahead, quiet in her steps, a softness around her, as if the moment had waited for her arrival. The air settled when she came near, like pages turning at the right part of a story. Something about her carried what words could not say, filling spaces left open too long.

"...close."

The word lingered.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Yet there it was, filling the space as if it had always belonged.

The hall stilled.

Completely.

Stillness crept into every corner. A held breath replaced motion.

A flicker crossed Nova’s eyes, a shadow too quick to name. Down went Mia’s stare, fingers pressing together like they could hold back a flood. Cassidy stayed quiet, teeth on her lip, sorting through the weight of it all.

Kyra let out a soft breath. That’s what you’re going with... she said under her voice, not cold - more like turning it over in her mind.

Lights danced through Lira’s silver strands as she angled her head. Not fewer demands - that wasn’t it at all. She spoke low: they were picking another path instead

Over by her side, Sona tilted her head just slightly, gaze steady. Not many would get it, she seemed to say without words

A quiet moment passed. Tsubaki stayed still, though her fingers eased a little on the hilt - unusual for her. Stillness settled around her like dust after wind.

Over by the rear, Chloe watched each face shift, her gaze slow and searching, like she was tracing a hidden thread through their words.

Leon didn’t speak.

For a moment -

His eyes landed on them. Quietly, they stood there under his gaze. The moment stretched without a word. Looking was enough.

Just not wearing a crown.

More like a witness than a critic.

Yet a person struggled to grasp the thing before his eyes.

One by one, his eyes stayed on them - Fey first, then Rui slipping into view. After that came Lena, quiet but clear. Mona followed, sharp at the edges. Then Mira, soft in contrast. Lastly Lilyn, holding the silence between blinks.

Searching.

Weighing.

Faces do not always show what they mean. His stayed quiet, without a trace of teasing.

Only... thought.

"Explain."

It didn’t cut like glass. Still, it carried.

It was... careful.

Measured.

As if holding a cracked bird’s egg between his palms.

Fey raised her gaze. She straightened slowly, eyes meeting the horizon. A breath passed before she spoke again.

Slowly.

Across the room, her gaze landed on him.

This moment held a quiet weight, unlike before. A stillness had taken root, unshaken.

"We were maids before you chose us."

Still quiet, her words carried further. Not louder, yet somehow truer - each one left bare, without clutter.

A quiet pause filled her lungs. She let it out slow.

She did not reach out to keep balance.

Yet that’s not quite how it should sound.

"You gave us more than we ever imagined."

Fey held the gaze while speaking. Faint tension showed in her hands, not because of fright - rather, a deeper weight taking shape. She let feelings stay visible now, nothing pulled back. A breath lifted her ribs before settling into calm, as if the struggle within had ended long ago, leaving only resolve behind.

A shadow moved near her - Rui edging closer, eyes flicking to Fey for a breath before advancing slightly. The words she spoke were quiet, yet they reached - heated with calm sureness.

"You gave us love."

Lena let out a small breath, her lips curving into a quiet smile. "And not the kind we had to beg for," she added gently. "You gave it freely... like we were worth it from the start."

Mona tilted her head, a faint teasing light in her eyes that didn’t quite hide the sincerity beneath. "You gave us a place," she said. "A real one. Not just a room, not just a role... a place where we belonged."

Miraculously quiet, Mira spoke - fingers pressed tight - "It became home because of you." A breath. Then softer, "We are your wives now, all thanks to how you held us close."