The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: The Message

While other nobles chatted amongst themselves, Aria Alenar stood alone, savoring her wine. She showed no other inclination to interact.

I’d assumed that, as the daughter of a Marquis house, she would at least exchange simple greetings with others, but my assumption proved wrong.

She simply glanced indifferently around the banquet hall,

“Sione?”

Occasionally checking on Sione.

She definitely seemed to be acquainted with Siabel…

Perhaps she was curious about her friend’s younger sister?

But even so, her frequent glances seemed excessive for simple curiosity.

‘I told her to talk with Leona… I hope she’s not attracting attention with some strange antics.’

I looked towards Sione.

“Hah…”

Sione, who should have been conversing with Leona, was standing alone sipping wine.

Her gaze was fixed on Leona, and her wavering eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

It seemed she was struggling with how to approach and speak to her.

‘Just go introduce yourself already… this is frustrating.’

As I watched Sione, she took another sip of wine and turned her head towards me.

Realizing I was observing her, her eyes lit up like a puppy greeting its owner.

It seemed she wanted my help, but unfortunately, I still hadn't even spoken with Aria.

I quietly shook my head.

Sione’s face fell, and she quickly finished her wine.

After watching her gaze return to Leona in the distance, I turned my attention away from my frustrating master.

‘Well, she’ll manage somehow.’

People tended to become bolder after a few drinks, so she’d probably figure it out.

I focused on how to deliver Siabel’s message to Aria.

I cautiously approached Aria Alenar.

Her cold demeanor, as if she carried the biting chill of the north, and her sharply honed gaze made her seem difficult to approach.

I put on my most casual expression and spoke,

“Lady Aria Alenar, if I may.”

Her gaze, which had been sweeping indifferently across the bustling banquet hall, settled on me.

Was she simply taciturn?

She didn’t speak, only acknowledging my greeting with a nod as she assessed my face and attire.

I finally heard her voice after she took a sip of wine to clear her throat.

“What is it?”

A flat, emotionless voice, yet it held an undeniable charm and charisma.

They say one’s personality is reflected in their voice.

What might happen if I relayed Siabel’s rather aggressive message to this cold woman?

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Lady Siabel Sianella asked me to deliver a message to Lady Aria Alenar, who will be attending the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony—”

“Aria.”

“Your…Ladyship?”

“Call me Aria.”

To suddenly interrupt me and ask me to address her without her title…

I couldn’t comprehend her intentions. As I stared at her, trying to decipher the meaning hidden behind that cold expression…

Aria shrugged, her ash-gray hair swaying slightly.

“I dislike long-winded formalities, and it's less troublesome for you as well. You may omit my title.”

Well, if that was what she wanted…

I bowed my head slightly.

“I appreciate your consideration.”

“Good. Now raise your head and continue. You mentioned Siabel, I believe.”

“Yes…Lady Siabel Sianella asked me to relay a message to Lady Aria Alenar.”

“Hmm.”

Aria frowned at the mention of Siabel's name.

‘…Siabel clearly said they were close. I wonder if that's really true.’

I hadn’t expected her normally calm expression to distort so readily at the sound of Siabel’s name.

I asked cautiously,

“…Do you perhaps have a personal acquaintance with Lady Siabel?”

“An acquaintance…well, we were in the same dormitory at the academy, so I suppose you could say we’re acquainted.”

Siabel had been a student at the academy before I was sold to House Sianella, though she was currently on leave and staying at the territory.

It seemed she and Aria had formed a connection at the academy.

I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘They even shared a dormitory…’

Siabel’s message was less a conventional greeting and more akin to teasing and mockery.

But since they’d attended the academy together and even shared living quarters…

If they were truly close, Aria would probably take Siabel’s rather provocative words in stride.

“So, to relay a message…you mean you will verbally convey her words rather than delivering a letter.”

“…That is correct.”

“For that venomous woman, so obsessed with her image, to entrust a verbal message rather than a letter…how peculiar. Very well, what did Siabel say?”

I quickly considered my words.

Relaying Siabel’s message verbatim didn't seem wise.

I omitted the unnecessary details and conveyed the general meaning.

“Lady Siabel said that she has reached the realm of Sword Expert and wishes to cross swords with you again, Lady Aria.”

“No, no. That woman would never speak to me so politely.”

“Your Ladyship…?”

“There will be no repercussions for you, so speak freely. Relay her words exactly as she said them.”

“Are you certain?”

“Of course.”

…Aria wasn’t entirely normal either.

Though not exactly a masochist, she was strangely insistent on hearing insults directed at herself.

Regardless, since she assured me there would be no repercussions, I recalled Siabel’s words and recited them verbatim.

“…Aria, unlike you, stuck at the same level, I have reached the realm of Sword Expert.”

Aria Alenar laughed derisively at my words.

“That spear-wielding northerner, wasting time beating up bears in her territory…should pack her toothpick and come down to the Sianella County to cross swords with me.”

Aria’s expression hardened as Siabel’s message continued.

I’d heard that before I arrived, Sione was infamous for verbally abusing her servants…

Now I understood why.

With an older sister who so readily provoked others…

It was only natural for the younger sister to follow in her footsteps.

I recited the last of Siabel’s message.

“…I shall graciously ensure your flimsy toothpick doesn't break, she said.”

Aria’s face crumpled at the final words.

Displeasure and annoyance were clearly etched on her features.

She ran a hand through her ash-gray hair and said,

“…That damned woman. Speaking such nonsense without knowing how ferocious northern bears can be. And what? My spear is a toothpick?”

Aria, initially so taciturn, now began muttering to herself, lost in her own world.

Unsurprisingly, the subject of her muttering was insults directed at Siabel.

She had clearly taken Siabel’s bait.

“Ugh…”

“Lady Aria, are you alright?”

“This isn’t the first time this has happened. I'm fine…more than fine…Ah, right…!”

She gritted her teeth and the corners of her mouth curved upward.

“What’s your name?”

“Ray.”

“Ray. Can you deliver my message to Siabel as well?”

Just what message did Aria intend to relay that made her smile so mischievously?

I desperately wanted to refuse, to avoid being dragged into this tiresome exchange, but…

The atmosphere, and Aria’s insistent gaze, made it impossible to refuse.

In the end, I could only nod.

Seeing my agreement, Aria, who seemed to have been waiting for just that, continued.

“Tell her that this winter, the Northern Lancer will personally come down to crush that sword-swinging knight. Tell her to prepare to be beaten like a northern bear, just as she said.”

“May…may I presume to relay such a message to Lady Siabel…?”

“Why are you so worried? Didn’t you just deliver Siabel’s message to me? Don’t worry and speak freely. We're close, after all.”

Just as Aria finished speaking, the banquet hall doors opened once more.

“Lady Ainel Sianella, head of House Sianella and nearing the realm of Sword Master, enters!”

As Ainel entered the banquet hall…

Aria glanced at her and said,

“Then Ray, I’ll see you again when the harsh winter descends upon the Sianella territory.”

With those words, Aria finished the wine in her glass and left without a second glance.

I watched her retreating figure for a moment before heading towards Ainel.

As soon as she saw me, Ainel looked around and asked,

“Ray, where’s Sione?”

“Lady Sione should be conversing with Lady Leona Refilia…”

Even Sione would have managed to speak with Leona by now.

I looked around the area where Leona had been standing.

But…

“Huh?”

Leona was surrounded by other noblewomen, not Sione.

Confused, I looked back towards where I'd last seen Sione.

“Hic!”

I spotted Sione in a corner of the banquet hall, hiccuping.

It seemed she hadn't managed to speak with Leona and had resorted to endlessly drinking wine.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes occasionally lost focus.

Anyone could see she was drunk.

“Hic…ooh…”

She hiccuped again and reached for another glass of wine, seemingly oblivious to how much she’d already consumed.

Even while doing so, she kept glancing nervously towards Leona.

What good would come from trying to talk to Leona in that state?

As soon as I grasped Sione’s condition, I bowed deeply to Ainel.

“I apologize.”

Ainel simply sighed deeply at her daughter’s antics.

***

It seemed pointless to remain at the banquet hall any longer.

Productive social interaction was impossible in Sione’s current state.

There was no telling what she might say while drunk.

Ainel ordered me to take Sione back to her room.

To get drunk at a banquet meant to repair her reputation…

Thankfully, she'd been drinking quietly in a corner, so it hadn't been too noticeable.

What was I going to do with this hopeless master?

Fortunately, there were still several days of banquets and social gatherings ahead.

There was still a chance to salvage the situation.

With that thought, I managed to drag Sione back to her room.

“Ooh…”

“Hah…”

Perhaps having exceeded her alcohol tolerance…

Sione was groaning, clutching her head in pain.

Since we would be leaving soon after I retrieved a change of clothes for her, I left the door open as I entered and helped Sione sit on the bed.

“Please remain seated. You can’t sleep in that dress. I’ll fetch a change of clothes for you.”

“…Thank you.”

I nodded at Sione’s words and began retrieving clothes from her wardrobe.

Just then…

Creak… Bang.

The sound of the door closing echoed through the room.

Click.

Then came the sound of the lock engaging.

Confused, I turned around.

“Lady Sione?”

My master, who should have been sitting on the bed complaining of a headache…

was standing by the locked door, silently watching me.

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