The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: An Unfamiliar Elf (4)

“…And those were her exact words?”

“Of course.”

It was the truth.

Perhaps a bit exaggerated, but I’d perfectly captured the essence of Priel’s intentions.

Thanks to my unique ability, I'd formed connections with the gruff but trustworthy dwarves, giving up on any hope of establishing a relationship with the fickle elves.

I’d gone through hell and back trying to acquire a decent elven bow, only to be treated like a fool and taken advantage of.

And to make matters worse, I'd lost several loved ones, including my partner, due to the elves' insufferable arrogance.

Having suffered so much at their hands…

I was confident that few humans understood the elven mindset as deeply as I did.

However…

My rather blunt assessment seemed to have fallen short of convincing Ainel. She still looked skeptical.

“Do you know the Arielt family’s role in the Great Forest?”

I shook my head.

How could a mere attendant from a remote Count house on the western edge of the kingdom possibly know about the inner workings of the Great Forest on the eastern border? Information about elves, who rarely ventured outside their forest, was scarce.

I knew next to nothing about elven families or their political landscape.

“The Arielt family is one of the three families authorized by the High Elves.”

“Authorized…?”

“They have the authority to protect and manage the World Tree, and to bestow the blessings of the spirits. Beneath the High Elves, who reign as kings, they hold the highest position.”

Not only did they manage the World Tree…

But they were also a family blessed with an innate affinity for spirits and the authority to bestow further blessings.

It all made sense now.

How had Priel Arielt so easily detected my spirit energy, despite my attempts to conceal it?

It was because her already sensitive nose had been further enhanced by the blessings of the spirits. It would have been more surprising if she hadn't noticed.

Priel Arielt was from a far more influential family than I’d initially realized.

“The Arielt family assists the High Elves in managing the World Tree. They are a family handpicked by the High Elves for their pure hearts and unwavering dedication to the World Tree. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“Then let me ask you again. Was what that Arielt girl said truly the truth?”

Priel’s powerful backing seemed to have only deepened Ainel’s skepticism. She would learn her lesson about trusting elves eventually. I hoped it wouldn’t be too painful.

I nodded, undeterred.

“I cannot speak for the rest of the Arielt family, but Lady Priel Arielt, whom I spoke with this morning—”

“—openly displayed a possessive greed that contradicted the ‘purity’ you just described.”

“And, far from demonstrating any sense of honor, she declared her willingness to steal me away from House Sianella, by any means necessary.”

I paused, meeting Ainel’s gaze.

This wasn't a superficial exchange of pleasantries; it was a battle of wills.

Ainel’s eyes were cold, assessing me as both a knight and the head of her house.

And I welcomed that coldness.

It meant she was taking my words seriously, not dismissing them as nonsense.

“I implore you, Lady Ainel, to regard Lady Priel Arielt with suspicion, rather than blind trust.”

A heavy silence fell between us.

Ainel reached up and rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

She began drumming her fingers on the table, a habit she displayed when deep in contemplation.

I waited patiently, holding my breath.

Finally, she looked up at me, her hand still supporting her chin.

“Can you take responsibility for your words?”

The question I'd been waiting for.

Ainel had finally decided to believe me, rather than the elf she’d never met.

After all, I’d not only transformed her hopeless daughter into a functional human being…

But I'd also saved Sione from multiple life-threatening situations, proving both my competence and my loyalty.

Frankly, if she hadn't taken my side, I would have been offended.

‘Responsibility…?’

That wouldn’t be a problem.

Elves were a notoriously untrustworthy bunch, and…

Everything I'd said about Priel was true.

I just needed to phrase my answer in a sufficiently convincing manner.

“I can.”

I held out my hands towards Ainel.

A silent request to hold her hands, a gesture of sincerity.

“Hmm—”

Ainel’s voice was noncommittal, but…

She placed her small, white hand on top of mine.

I bowed my head slightly, thanking her for the gesture. Then, with a gentle smile,

I placed her hand on my chest, directly over my heart.

“Since I possess nothing but this body…if you wish for me to demonstrate my sincerity physically, I will gladly offer myself—”

I gently removed her hand from my chest and wrapped it around my neck.

Ainel’s cold fingers brushed against my skin.

I held her hand in place, preventing her from pulling away.

“…And if you deem my body worthless, I will gladly offer my life to demonstrate the weight of my words.”

At this moment, Ainel could easily snap my neck if she wished.

A knight nearing the realm of Sword Master possessed monstrous strength, even without channeling mana. Ainel was no exception.

I smiled, hoping my dramatic gesture would add a touch of persuasiveness to my words.

Ainel raised an eyebrow.

“Ha.”

She seemed both amused and slightly perplexed by my actions.

“…Sione wasn’t bewitched by you. You deliberately seduced her, didn’t you?”

“…Excuse me?”

What was she talking about?

I stared at her, dumbfounded, and she laughed, a dry, almost hollow sound.

“You seem utterly oblivious to your own actions.”

She removed her hand from my neck.

“I don’t know whether to call this audacity or sheer idiocy…”

She rested her chin on her hand once more, her gaze sweeping over my face.

“I’ll handle the spirit magic issue. You should return to Sione.”

Ainel uncrossed her legs and stood.

“As for that Arielt girl…I’ll keep your words in mind.”

Thankfully,

I was finally free to leave.

***

With my conversation with Ainel concluded, there was no reason to remain in her room any longer.

I quickly left.

The air in the hallway felt cold and heavy, a stark contrast to the warmth of Ainel’s room.

“Whew…”

I was already mentally drained from dealing with that insufferable elf and the unexpected private audience with Ainel.

And now I had to face my clingy master, who would likely try to latch onto me at any given opportunity.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and stopped before the door next to Ainel's.

There was no need to knock.

Sione never locked her door.

I could just barge in and wake her, starting another day of whatever chaotic events my master had planned.

I flung open the door and stepped inside.

“Nooo…!”

What the—?

Nooo…? What kind of nonsensical sound was that?

Something collided with me, and as I tried to figure out what was happening—

“Lady Sione?”

Sione, looking disheveled as if she’d just woken up, was clinging to me, her face buried in my chest.

As I looked down at her, she seemed to realize how embarrassing the situation was and, unable to meet my gaze, scurried back to her bed.

…What was her deal this morning?

I closed the door and walked over to her bedside.

“May I ask if you were planning to go somewhere?”

Sione peeked her face out from under the covers.

Lately, she’d been trying to project a confident, almost domineering air, but this shy, almost childish reaction was a welcome change.

It made me feel almost nostalgic.

After all, the Sione who’d spent her days hiding under her blankets hadn’t caused nearly as much trouble.

As I watched her, Sione hesitantly spoke.

“…Ray, I was going to look for you.”

“For me?”

“You were later than usual this morning…I was worried something might have happened…”

Sione pulled the covers up to her nose, hiding half her face as she nervously gauged my reaction.

The little thing was worried about me.

Though I appreciated her concern, I couldn't bring myself to smile.

After all, things had already gone sideways.

I offered a weak smile and thanked her.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Sione’s eyes lit up, then

“If you’re grateful…”

She hesitated, then mumbled,

“Could you…do something…for me…?”

Her face flushed crimson, and her voice was barely a whisper.

I took a step closer.

“Could you repeat that?”

“I…asked you…to…”

“…Yes?”

“Ray…you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Your voice is too quiet. I’ll come closer.”

I bent down, closing the distance between us. Sione was huddled under her blankets, looking like a small, frightened animal.

“Now, tell me.”

Sione finally whispered her request into my ear.

“…Pet me.”

…What? Pet her?

Had I dreamt the whole thing? Why was she asking for something like this, first thing in the morning?

“…Excuse me?”

I asked again, just to be sure.

“Eeeeek!!”

Unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, Sione dove under the covers, hiding completely.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

This was rather endearing.

A mischievous grin spread across my face, and I decided to tease her a bit.

“If you call me ‘big brother,’ I’ll do as you ask. What do you say?”

“…What?”

“I said, if you call me ‘big brother,’(‘oppa‘) I’ll pet you.”

“Are you…serious…?”

Sione looked bewildered, then fell into deep thought.

What was there to think about?

But she seemed to be treating this as a matter of utmost importance, her brow furrowed in concentration. It was too late to back out now.

I waited patiently, and finally, Sione’s eyes lit up, a spark of determination in their depths.

“…Big brother.”

“Could you say that again?”

“…Ray, big brother.”

“Yes?”

“Ray…you’re really asking for it, aren’t you?”

Having teased Sione enough,

I ruffled her hair gently.

Thankfully, Sione’s growl turned into a purr as I petted her.

I moved behind her, continuing to stroke her hair as I smoothed out the tangles.

Then Sione spoke again.

“By the way, Ray, why were you later than usual this morning?”

“I was speaking with Lady Ainel.”

“With Mother?”

“Yes. Something came up.”

Sione tilted her head, her expression questioning.

I answered her unspoken question.

“An elf who sensed my spirit energy asked me to become hers.”

Sione’s playful smile vanished. Her face became expressionless, almost doll-like, as she tilted her head back and looked at me, her eyes half-lidded.

“What did you just say?”

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