Chapter 753 753: I Am Not That Person
I Am Not That Person
His voice didn't rise. It didn't need to. Every word carried weight.
"You will command when I cannot."
A faint shift ran through the room. People straightened without realizing it.
"You will judge when I choose not to."
Ronan's gaze flickered, measuring. Johny's jaw tightened.
"You will stand… as the authority beneath the throne."
The words didn't just land.
They settled.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Rias felt it hit her chest like something physical. Like armor she hadn't agreed to wear suddenly being forced onto her shoulders.
Her fingers twitched at her side.
And then—
Rias shook her head.
Not violently. Not dramatically.
Just… once.
Like she was trying to shake the weight off before it could root itself inside her.
She took a step back.
"…No."
The word cracked through the hall.
Not loud.
But sharp enough to cut.
Everyone froze.
Black's eyes widened, his usual composure slipping for just a second.
Johny straightened instantly, instincts snapping into place.
Ronan's expression hardened, not in anger—but in focus.
Even the maids in the back stilled, breaths caught in their throats.
Leon's gaze sharpened slightly.
Not surprised.
But attentive.
"…Explain."
Rias dragged a hand through her crimson hair, fingers catching slightly as if even that simple motion carried frustration.
Her chest rose. Fell.
Once.
Twice.
"That's too much."
Her voice wasn't weak.
It just… wasn't steady either.
She lifted her head and looked at him directly—really looked this time. No teasing. No softness. Just honesty.
"I'm not Aria."
Across the hall, Aria's posture shifted. She didn't interrupt, but her eyes narrowed slightly, watching closely.
"I'm not Cynthia."
Cynthia remained still, composed as ever—but her fingers subtly tightened against her sleeve.
"I'm not Sona."
Sona blinked once, surprised, her usually calm expression flickering with something softer—understanding, maybe.
Rias's voice grew sharper.
Not angry.
Defensive.
"I don't run systems."
She shook her head again, quicker this time.
"I don't build kingdoms."
A small breath left her, almost like a scoff at herself.
"I fight."
That word carried weight. History. Identity.
"I stand beside you."
Her gaze didn't leave Leon's.
There was something stubborn there. Something unyielding.
Her chest rose slightly.
"I don't stand above everyone else."
That—
That was the truth she couldn't bend.
The hall shifted.
A quiet ripple.
The women exchanged glances.
Syra leaned slightly toward Kyra, whispering under her breath, "She's not wrong…"
Kyra's eyes remained on Rias, sharp and thoughtful. "No. But she's not seeing the full picture either."
Nova crossed her arms, brow furrowed. "She's thinking like a fighter… not like someone who leads fighters."
Mia stayed still, hands folded tight, speaking so soft it almost vanished. "There's fear in her eyes," she said
Cassidy nodded faintly beside her. "Not of him. Of the role."
Fey shifted closer to the rear, her gaze settling on Rias. A quiet look crossed her face - hard to name, harder to read.
Forward she moved a touch - visible now, yet still out of the way.
"You keep pausing," Fey whispered, voice low.".
A glance slid sideways - hers. The room held its breath.
Fey stayed quiet. Her face showed nothing at all.
Quiet came her words. Sharp they sounded.
"But not because you can't do it."
A pause.
Fey's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's because you think accepting it will change who you are."
Something about how it was said changed everything.
Lighter than Leon's, though. Still holds its shape well enough.
But precise.
Frowning just a bit, Rias pulled her eyebrows closer. Her expression tightened without warning.
"I know what I am," she said.
Fey turned her head sideways, a hint of wonder in her eyes.
"Do you?"
Then came a hush, brief but thick. It settled like dust after footsteps stop.
Not tense.
But thoughtful.
Lena heard Rui shuffle close, his voice low. Things had gotten heavy quicker than expected
Lena nodded, eyes wide. "It's like watching a storm build."
Mona folded her arms quietly, murmuring, "She's being pushed into something she never asked for."
Low, her voice carried a quiet tension - not indifference, yet far from relaxed. It held something heavy, as if the path ahead stood clear to her, unwelcome but certain.
Mira stood close, a small shift of her head breaking the stillness. Her gaze stayed fixed on Rias, unblinking. A quiet murmur followed - not quite meant for ears nearby - carried more by reflection than intent.
Mona glanced at her. "Needs?" she muttered, skeptical. "Or something everyone else decided she needs?"
Mira didn't answer that. She just watched.
At the center of it all—
Rias stood there, caught between who she believed she was… and what was being placed in front of her.
The air around her felt heavier than before. Not suffocating—but pressing. Waiting.
And for the first time since she spoke—
She didn't immediately have an answer.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, nails pressing into her palms. A small thing. Easy to miss. But it said enough.
This—
Was not what they expected.
Syra frowned slightly.
"…Rias."
There was a softness in her voice that didn't match her usual sharpness. Concern, barely hidden.
But Rias didn't look at her.
Her eyes stayed locked on Leon.
Like if she looked away—even for a second—she might lose her footing.
"I don't want a position I can't carry properly."
Her voice didn't shake.
But it wasn't steady either.
There it was.
Not arrogance.
Not defiance.
Fear.
Not of failure—
But of not being enough.
A silence followed, deeper this time. Not awkward. Just… real.
Aria stepped forward slightly.
Her heels made the faintest sound against the floor—controlled, deliberate. She didn't rush. She never did.
Her voice came calm. Measured. Almost too composed.
"You think this position is about systems?"
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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Supreme Spouse System* into existence. If you're loving the chapters, I'd love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don't hesitate to share!
With love,
Scorpio_saturn777
Creator of Supreme Spouse System
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