The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Adelheit Aisilia (1)

I was walking in the garden when I found her.

My one childhood friend whom I hadn't met or spoken with for years.

During Sione's hardest times, even knowing why she was suffering, our relationship had twisted when I offered clumsy words as comfort. It still remained a great regret for me.

That's why, wanting to fix my inadequate consideration and make up for my mistakes back then, I gathered my courage to call out to her.

"Sione...!"

Sione looked at me at my call.

I hurriedly approached her.

"...Hello, Sione?"

"...Yes. Hello, Noah."

The awkwardness was unavoidable.

Since Sione was hurt because of me, it was natural for her to hate me.

As we continued our awkward conversation.

Come to think of it, Sione used to hate flowers... why was she out in the garden looking at flowers...?

"By the way, a garden... don't you dislike places like this, Sione?"

"...Not at all. I quite like flowers and gardens."

Sione saying this seemed shy, as if conscious of someone.

That reaction reminded me of the old Sione who was very shy, making me smile as I spoke.

But then Sione used to really dislike flowers...

"No way. You used to hate flowers, saying they weren't womanly. You always ran away when I asked to look at flowers together."

Why would Sione tell such an obvious lie?

Come to think of it, it was strange that Sione, who preferred resting to walking around outside, would deliberately come look at the garden...

Even from the unpleasant rumors I'd unwillingly heard about Sione.

Since they said she disliked coming out of her room, let alone the mansion... there must be a reason.

Then that reason...

At that moment, one thought crossed my mind.

Could it be... she wanted to meet me?

I knew I was making quite a leap. But it was true that Sione had no other reason to come to the garden.

Moreover, the Sione I knew was unique enough to sometimes actually try things others only thought about.

If this time too she had been waiting here thinking I might come to the garden...

The possibility was becoming more and more plausible. My heart pounded as expectations sprouted and swelled.

To see if what I thought was right, I asked Sione:

"Could it be... because of me?"

Though I just blurted it out.

Sione startled at my words, exactly like when I used to discover her secrets.

...So Sione hadn't forgotten. She remembered I liked flowers and thought I would come to the garden.

"I thought Sione had forgotten everything about me... but you still remembered that I like flowers."

"Eh...?"

"Did you come all the way to the garden thinking I'd be here?"

Instead of answering, Sione chose silence.

Apparently that shy personality remained unchanged.

Rather than answering, Sione seemed to be hiding her embarrassment by turning her head.

I showed a bright smile at that sight.

"Thank you, Sione."

The atmosphere was good.

Definitely different from yesterday. Almost too good to be true.

I hoped this tingling atmosphere would last longer.

Though I'd heard quite a few bad rumors about Sione, that she was extremely fat, that her personality was awful.

Since the current Sione was neither fat nor had a bad personality.

I thought the real Sione must be quite different from her usual image spread through rumors, so I wanted to hear directly from Sione rather than those worthless rumors.

"By the way, how have you been lately, Sione...?"

"Lately... nothing much different except starting archery practice."

"Archery?"

Sione practicing archery... that's unexpected...

When the Sianella people had insisted so much that one must handle swords, or if not that then spears, to become a proper knight.

"Didn't you want to become a knight, Sione? But archery..."

When I gently questioned her words that were far from the knight she had dreamed of being.

Sione showed me an utterly serious expression.

I stared at Sione's appearance as if entranced.

"...My thoughts about what makes a knight have changed a lot. At first I thought knights were swordsmen who handle Aura Blade like our house's ancestors."

Sione announced how her values had changed.

"Now I think a knight is someone who has the power to save and protect others, regardless of weapon type."

And declared her newly established conviction.

At the same time, a faint memory from the past revived.

-I'll become a wonderful knight and protect you, Noah.

The words Sione used to tell me every day when I was indecisive and barely knew how to do anything.

For her to say such things now, at this timing.

Seeing her smile at me like that as she spoke...

Surely Sione must have preciously kept every single memory built with me without forgetting any.

"...How about it? Archery's not bad when you think of it that way, right?"

***

After what could be called a small commotion ended, the sun had already begun setting.

Around when the red sunset began replacing the blue sky, the nobles were each busy preparing for tonight's banquet in their own way.

For the banquet that would begin when stars started faintly appearing.

I too was busily urging Sione.

"Lady Sione, please hurry and change into the clothes we bought yesterday. There's not much time since you need makeup too, there's so much to do before attending the banquet."

"The banquet is annoying enough but makeup...? Do I really have to do that?"

"Of course. No matter how much you dislike it, since all the kingdom's nobles are gathering, wouldn't it be better to make yourself more beautiful?"

"But isn't makeup... something men do? Putting powder and color on my face. If I try so desperately to become beautiful but end up with a skin disease instead, it would all be for nothing..."

...Really, what kind of woman talks this much?

Women in this world are usually quiet and rational.

I have no idea why I ended up serving such a troublesome master.

"...These days they say ladies also do basic makeup..."

"Tsk, the world's going to the dogs. Women these days..."

Sione muttered nonsense complaints.

Unable to listen to any more of her mind-numbing grumbling.

I spoke words that could silence her in an instant.

"Moreover, I too... would like to see Lady Sione made more beautiful by makeup. Though your usual appearance is good, proper makeup could bring out your charm even more."

"...Really?"

"Yes, you'll surely be much more beautiful than now."

"Are you saying I'm beautiful now?"

...She really has an amazing talent for catching word tails.

It feels like dealing with an annoying junior or younger sibling.

I wanted to give her a smack and tell her to stop playing around.

But thanks to my status being shackles wrapped around my wrists, the thought of giving her a good hit remained just a thought, unfulfilled.

I rubbed my temples as if easing a headache while saying:

"You are beautiful."

An objective assessment.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Of course not a subjective opinion.

"Hmm, if you say that much. Alright. I'll try this makeup thing."

"An excellent choice."

And finally.

At the cost of my mental energy, I managed to get her agreement to do makeup.

After that, preparations proceeded smoothly.

Sione changed into the black dress we bought yesterday, and I changed into the formal suit I'd roughly picked out and bought together.

Then we called servants and got makeup done separately.

Though I wondered why men had to put powder on their faces as Sione had said, this was a gender-reversed world.

Seeing how the occasional noble men really floated around with pure white faces and heavy color makeup, at least men wearing makeup wasn't strange in this world.

I expressed wanting just hairstyling and very basic makeup, worried I might end up like that too.

Fortunately things wrapped up decently, just enhancing my decent base features without being too much.

When I met Sione again after finishing clothes and makeup, as expected.

Sione couldn't take her eyes off my face.

"Is something strange?"

"H-huh? Where?"

"My face. You're staring so intently..."

"Ah..."

Sione sharply turned her head away.

"...No. It suits you well."

I gave the same compliment to Sione who answered primly.

Since Sione with makeup was much more beautiful than before.

After roughly exchanging such words, we walked silently toward the banquet hall.

And the closer we got to the banquet hall, the more Sione's expression hardened.

"Hah..."

Well well, now even sighing.

Apparently it was starting to feel really bothersome now that we were actually entering the banquet hall.

"Do you dislike going to the banquet that much?"

"Isn't it tiring? I'd like to show my face just for the coming of age ceremony if possible."

Sione was already sick of the thought of putting on an act using her mental energy.

With all the conversations with nobles and proper behavior ahead.

Her expression was souring more and more even now.

We couldn't have her give up partway through the banquet because it was bothersome.

No matter what, if Ainel saw my master unable to properly manage her expression and behavior at such a formal occasion because she was tired,

I might be held responsible since she trusted and assigned me, asking why Sione was in such a state.

I proposed a bet that might help Sione stay motivated.

"If you dislike the banquet that much... how about making a bet with me?"

"A bet?"

"Yes, the condition is having decent conversations with young nobles from other houses until Lady Ainel Sianella appears after finishing her separate business. The reward... I'll grant one simple request that I think I can fulfill."

Sione's eyes lit up brightly at the word reward.

I wondered if beams might shoot out.

Seeing Sione suddenly overflow with vitality to the point of explosion made me a bit queasy.

This kid's head is probably full of thoughts about kissing me.

But kissing? Not a chance.

The rewards I'll grant are only things I judge acceptable.

If she demands such a shameless reward, I'll just refuse.

"Really?"

Not knowing my thoughts.

I smiled at Sione who had completely taken my bait.

"Would a man speak two different things with one mouth?"

"They say a man's heart is like a reed..."

"Am I just any man?"

I'm a man who does what he says.

Of course I have no intention of swaying like a reed and breaking my word.

Since I spoke without wavering, Sione seemed to accept it too.

Thanks to that, I managed to lure Sione into the banquet hall with quite a good atmosphere.

"Excuse me for a moment. May I know which house and who you are?"

A man guarding the front of the banquet hall asked our identities.

After a simple verification, he opened the banquet hall doors and announced:

"Lady Sione Sianella of House Sianella enters!"

Since coming to this world, every man I'd met spoke in tiny voices as a matter of course.

Hearing such a booming male announcement after so long felt like something blocked had been cleared.

As we entered the banquet hall with his announcement.

"...This is too overwhelming."

"Please don't waver and keep your expression composed."

Everyone's gazes fixed on me and Sione.

Where was the first daughter of Sianella, and why had Sione, the second daughter who only had rumors, come?

Even those exchanging small talk over wine and snacks would obviously start discussing House Sianella while observing us.

I looked around recalling the personal information of people Ainel said Sione must talk with.

As I was earnestly looking around, Noah approached Sione.

"Sione!"

While Sione and Noah exchanged brief greetings.

I stuck right behind Sione checking the nobles' reactions and confirming each of their faces.

Feeling an inexplicably intense gaze, I turned my head that direction.

And found one of the nobles Ainel had mentioned.

With jet black hair like it contained an abyss reaching down to her waist.

Usually having an elegant image, but someone who could radiantly embody various colors depending on her expression.

It was Feira Feiosha, eldest daughter of House Feiosha.

And this Feira Feiosha.

"...What's with them?"

Just what had we done?

From beside Julia Feiosha who was talking with other nobles, she was glaring fiercely at me, Sione, and even Noah.

...Just as I started feeling something was going badly.

The banquet hall doors opened wide.

"First Princess of the Aisilia Kingdom, Lady Adelheit Aisilia enters!"

Feira who had been glaring daggers at us turned toward the entrance.

Me and Sione also turned our heads no differently from Feira.

When the kingdom's princess had come, we had to at least see her face.

"Adelheit Aisilia..."

I examined her appearance while murmuring the princess's name very quietly.

Adelheit's hair held a pale rather than bright purple light.

Her neatly arranged light violet-dyed hair reached her chest, adding mystery and nobility.

The princess's divinely sculpted beautiful features surveyed the banquet hall with an expression as if everything was tedious.

Though she merely turned her head slowly, dignity permeated her actions.

Her purple eyes seemed to shine mysteriously each time they took in a person's form.

And soon when Adelheit Aisilia's mysterious purple eyes passed Noah and took in Sione.

Her bored expression cracked and showed faint interest.

When Adelheit looked past Sione to me.

"...You?"

She fixed her gaze on me with delicate brows furrowed.

First Feira Feiosha, and now this Princess Adelheit too.

Did my face look like a criminal's or something?

Just why were they acting like this toward me?

Something had gone very, very wrong here.

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