The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Jealousy

“Lady Sione?”

At my call, Sione’s blue eyes, previously clouded as if with a thick mist, focused on me.

A smile began to spread across her lips, which had been set in a cold line.

But instead of her usual warm, beautiful smile, it was a playful, almost mischievous expression.

Perhaps because of the alcohol…

The combination of the black dress and her flushed skin, still tinged red from the wine, gave her an almost impish air.

The usual awkward Sione was nowhere to be seen.

Thump. Thump.

Sione began walking slowly towards me.

“…Lady…Sione…?”

…She'd completely lost it.

Sione offered no response to my call, only a playful smile.

She continued walking closer and closer.

Finally, standing right before me, Sione exhaled a sweet, wine-scented breath.

The faint aroma of wine filled the air.

‘…Oh, shit.’

My instincts began to scream.

That my virtue was in danger.

I’d wondered why her smile felt so ominous. Now I understood.

Behind that playful expression lurked the gaze of a predator, its prey firmly fixed in its sights.

And that prey…seemed to be me.

I subtly began to back away.

“Ray, stay still.”

But the problem was… Sione was faster.

Before I could retreat, her arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly in place.

This was truly annoying.

Had she had so much to drink that she couldn’t control her strength?

Her embrace was so tight it was cutting off my circulation.

As I tried to free myself from her grasp,

Sione looked up at me.

“…You’re my slave, aren’t you, Ray?”

“…Yes, I am your slave and personal attendant, Lady Sione. But why…?”

Why was she suddenly bringing this up?

The thought of dealing with Sione’s drunken rambling made my head pound.

While I wanted to knock her unconscious before things got more complicated…

If she woke up with her memories intact, it would only become more troublesome.

Resigning myself to my fate, I waited patiently, with a weary expression, for Sione to start her rambling.

“Why do all those annoying people keep clinging to my slave, when he should only be mine…?”

Oh, shit. Good heavens.

Sione had truly gone mad.

To lump the daughter of House Alenar, a Marquis house, and Princess Adelheit, no less, together as “annoying people”…

‘…At least this is happening in her room…’

If she'd said that in the banquet hall instead of her soundproof room…

I’d probably be imprisoned for insulting the royal family.

I inwardly shook my head and looked at my unreasonable master.

The mist in Sione’s blue eyes seemed to have thickened.

“…I don't like any of them.”

She muttered something before burying her face against my chest, and then suddenly threw me onto the bed.

I tried to brace myself, but…

Sione must have used mana, because my resistance was futile.

I landed unceremoniously on the bed.

There was no time to appreciate the luxurious softness of the bed.

Sione loomed over me.

“Hah…”

Sione’s breath hitched, her gaze filled with possessiveness.

“If I mark you as mine, those annoying people won’t cling to you anymore, will they?”

Sione had finally given up on being human.

This animal was about to violate my chastity and virtue.

This was it. Do or die.

If this didn't work…

I would have to humbly accept my fate.

I pulled Sione into an embrace.

“…Ah!”

Sione let out a startled gasp at my sudden action.

Perhaps from the unexpected closeness on the bed, her heart pounded so loudly I could practically hear it.

I whispered into her ear,

“You weren’t seriously thinking of taking advantage of me while drunk, were you?”

Sione’s eyes began to tremble at my words.

She tried to pull her head away from the close contact, but I held her firmly in place.

“I would prefer my first time to be on a romantic night, with both of us sober…”

I lowered my arms to embrace her neck, our foreheads touching as our gazes met.

“…Wouldn’t you be willing to restrain yourself just for tonight?”

“B-but…”

Sione began to waver.

I couldn’t lose this hard-won advantage, even at the cost of my first time.

I continued my earnest persuasion.

“You said you were bothered by those annoying people clinging to me and wanted to mark me as yours. Though this isn’t quite a mark…”

Peck.

I kissed Sione’s cheek.

Her breathing grew ragged.

“…Wouldn’t this be sufficient confirmation of our bond?”

“Wh…what…?”

I whispered into her ear again,

“That was my first kiss…and my body and heart already belong to you, Lady Sione. So please don’t be upset over such trivial matters anymore.”

It was my first kiss.

At least, in this body. So it wasn’t a lie.

Sione’s cheeks flushed crimson at my seemingly sincere words and actions.

“Really…?”

“Would I lie about something like this?”

She couldn’t even meet my gaze. It seemed I’d won this round.

Then Sione asked,

“Can I trust you? About your body and heart…?”

“That’s a bit much.”

“What?”

“To doubt my sincerity after I even said I’d be willing to give you my first time…?”

I chuckled, and Sione’s eyes trembled.

That was more like the Sione I knew.

The almost demonic Sione from earlier wasn't the real her.

Sione hung her head low, avoiding my gaze. Then, as if having come to some decision, she looked straight at me and spoke,

“…May I kiss you?”

No matter how good the atmosphere, this was going too far.

Was she trying to take advantage of the situation?

I shook my head immediately.

“We already made a promise about that, didn’t we?”

“E-even so…”

“A promise is a promise. I hope you will honor your words, Lady Sione. I believe you are a woman of your word.”

“Hah…”

Sione pressed her lips together at my words.

The fire in her eyes quickly died down.

It seemed the string of events had finally sobered her up. She quietly released me from her embrace, and I was finally able to escape the bed.

After picking out a change of clothes for her, I prepared to return to my own room.

Sione got up and followed me to the door.

She stood there, head bowed, fidgeting nervously. She seemed quite embarrassed about what had just transpired.

I patted her silvery-white hair, hoping she would be less restless, and said,

“Sweet dreams. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lady Sione.”

“Y-you…!”

I quickly slipped out of her room before she could finish speaking.

As I walked back to my room, I whispered in Korean,

“Why is my life so difficult?”

Yesterday and today…

Not a single day passed peacefully.

I could only hope that tomorrow would be uneventful.

***

The difficult day finally passed, and a new morning dawned, the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.

I got up and changed into the black suit with the Sianella crest embroidered on the breast pocket. I strapped the sword I’d been carrying around to my waist.

“Well, I’ll do it since I was ordered to…”

It wasn't something I particularly wanted to do.

Since even more humans and beastfolk would gather for the coming-of-age ceremony than yesterday’s banquet…

There was no telling what might happen, so those assigned to security were permitted to carry swords.

I was only carrying the sword because Ainel had ordered me to protect Sione in case of emergency.

But the problem was…

“…Carrying a sword will attract a lot of attention.”

The fact that I was a man.

The nobles of this kingdom used female knights as guards, not frail men who couldn’t even handle mana.

It was obvious I would stand out.

On top of that, everyone would be curious to know who had assigned a sword to a man.

We'd clearly traveled to the capital with other female knights.

Why had Ainel chosen me, someone who would attract so much attention, as a guard?

I couldn’t comprehend her intentions.

Grumbling to myself, I finished my preparations and went to fetch Sione.

Knock knock.

I knocked on her door, and Sione opened it.

She was still in her nightclothes, her hair disheveled, her face haggard.

“…Good morning.”

“…Thank you.”

Her exhausted, lifeless reply prompted me to examine her more closely.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles hung beneath them.

“You look unwell. Did you stay up all night?”

“…It just happened.”

“There’s still quite some time before the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll wake you when it's time.”

Sione quietly nodded at my suggestion.

“Excuse me.”

I entered Sione’s room.

The black dress she'd worn yesterday lay discarded on the floor.

Couldn’t she at least hang it up in the wardrobe?

As I picked up the dress and hung it up,

Sione quietly approached me and tugged on my sleeve.

“…Ray.”

“What is it?”

“You said your body and heart were mine, didn't you?”

“…I did say that.”

Sione smiled faintly at my reply.

It was the same mischievous smile she’d worn last night while drunk.

“Then Ray, do not leave my side during today’s ceremony.”

A sharp glint entered Sione’s eyes.

“I dislike even the thought of others leaving their mark on what’s mine. Understand?”

I chuckled and nodded.

“…As you wish, Lady Sione.”

…There wasn't a single drop of alcohol in this room, let alone a bottle of wine.

Why was she acting like this again?

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