The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Teachings and Promises (3)

We fell when an excited Sione spun around and collided with me.

Thud!

"Ugh..."

Damn it.

Taking the full impact on my back, I barely managed to hold back the curse that almost escaped my lips.

No matter how close Sione and I had become, I was still just a slave from the gutters, not a fellow noble.

I couldn't use coarse language with a Count's daughter.

I slowly opened my eyes that had been squeezed shut from the breathtaking pain.

Looking ahead in the gradually rising sunlight.

'What kind of situation is this?'

I truly couldn't comprehend what was happening.

Sione was looking down at me as if she had pounced on me.

Though she seemed to have taken this position to avoid completely falling on me.

Since staying in such an embarrassing position wouldn't do any good, I spoke to Sione who was just silently staring at my face:

"...Lady Sione, would you mind getting off?"

But as if she couldn't hear my words.

My master made no attempt to move, just quietly looking down at me.

And I sensed something unsettling in her gaze.

...Wait, what's gotten into her suddenly?

Her calm, settled eyes were fixed only on my face.

Staring so intently it made me uncomfortable.

Just what was this about.

This was disconcerting.

The normal Sione would have blushed and scrambled off with a fuss by now.

Today's Sione was clearly different from her usual self.

Though her face was reddening, it didn't seem to be from embarrassment.

Rather than making a fuss, she was more still and deliberate than I'd ever seen her, which actually made me start worrying about her state of mind.

'Has she momentarily lost her senses from shock?'

Even so, I couldn't just keep waiting endlessly for Sione to come to her senses.

I squirmed to express my desire to escape this position.

But the response I got.

Instead of Sione moving away, the ominous feeling only grew deeper.

Curious about why she was suddenly acting this way, I stopped struggling and turned my head to look at her face.

I saw an utterly unexpected Sione.

"...Lady Sione?"

Like a maiden who had fallen in love, her cheeks were flushed.

Those endlessly blue eyes held deep emotions as they enveloped me.

That's when I remembered her words from the Feiosha estate:

-P-poppies might be... m-might be fine, just one...

Poppies.

According to the dictionary Sione had lent me, they meant fleeting love and weak love.

When I'd asked her to tell me what flower suited me, I'd wondered why she chose one with such ill-fitting meanings.

Seeing that heated gaze directed at me now, I finally understood why.

'This is driving me insane.'

Even back then, I'd felt something was odd and asked if she liked me.

Though she'd shrieked denials and gotten angry then.

Why was she acting like this now?

Thinking back to that time, this might just be her getting caught up in the moment rather than real feelings.

I asked to be certain:

"...Could it be that you like me, Lady Sione?"

Sione's body gave a small but definite tremor at my question.

After a moment of silence, she finally began speaking:

"...My heart pounds whenever I think of you, and my eyes are often drawn to you."

"When even this situation is making my heart so confused."

"What do you think these feelings are?"

I caught the emotions in Sione's words.

At the same time, my mind started racing.

This was troublesome.

Honestly, without any exaggeration, this was mortifyingly burdensome.

Reasons for Sione to fall for me?

Honestly, thinking about it now, there were more than enough reasons for her to fall for me.

I'd helped turn her from a shut-in into a proper person.

I'd gallantly saved her from multiple crises too.

If a beautiful older lady had done all that for me, I would have fallen for her instantly.

How would Sione be any different?

But the crucial point was.

'This is getting complicated.'

I had never thought of Sione romantically until now.

All my actions to support and protect her had stemmed from quests.

And any consideration I showed when there weren't quests came from the natural affection built between two people who had grown close.

I had never acted with the intention of earning her romantic interest.

Not only was there the issue that I didn't like her romantically.

'That's not all either.'

What if I somehow accepted her confession?

Whenever that day came, rumors would inevitably spread through the territory about our unusual relationship.

Though the chances were extremely low, I wasn't confident I could handle it if scandalous rumors started about a slave bewitching his master.

Moreover, Ainel, who had assigned me to Sione just to serve as an attendant.

I couldn't even imagine how she would react to hearing that instead of doing my job, I was having a romance with Sione.

Though it probably wouldn't happen.

But what if, by some tiny chance.

If false rumors spread that Sione's broken engagement with Young Lord Evan was because I had bewitched her...

'I'd be dead, literally.'

A chill ran down my spine.

I might get my head cut off, branded as a historic scoundrel who tried to bewitch and exploit a noble.

My expression hardened involuntarily.

Though I was certainly grateful for Sione's affection, it wasn't something I could easily accept.

"...Perhaps you're just caught up in the moment?"

That's why this absolutely had to be just due to the atmosphere, not Sione's deep feelings.

"...I'm just a servant. What reason would you have to like me?"

"...Yesterday, here, didn't you say it yourself? That you were my male knight."

Oh, shit.

Why did I have to joke around yesterday thinking it would be fun.

Was this karma?

Feeling anxious that I might end up inescapably bound to Sione at this rate.

"...No matter what, I'm still just a lowly slave. I cannot accept such deep feelings from Lady Sione."

Right, no matter what.

A Count's daughter falling for a worthless slave made no sense.

Though I clearly thought that.

"...I can tear up the slave documents anytime if needed."

She came at me more earnestly and persistently than I'd expected.

And then for the finishing blow.

"Moreover-"

"If you're a slave... shouldn't you follow your master's will?"

She even used her position to pressure me.

Where had that shy, proper Sione gone?

Seeing her come on so boldly, showing she was indeed a woman, was maddening.

And that heated gaze pouring endlessly at my face.

Though I tried to maintain eye contact while talking.

I subtly averted my gaze, unnerved by the intense possessiveness deep in her eyes.

I squeezed out an excuse.

"...On paper, my master is Lady Ainel Sianella."

"Didn't I tell you?"

This was ominous.

The slight upward curve of Sione's lips.

"Tell me what-"

"I received your slave certificate from Mother in my name long ago."

"Ah."

I saw no more escape routes.

"...Are you sure you won't regret this?"

Sione nodded.

Then as she started breathing sweetly.

This crazy girl.

When I spoke with a slightly positive nuance.

Sione immediately brought her face close, aiming for my lips.

At this rate I'd truly end up captured by Sione with no way out.

I quickly raised my right hand to her cheek to stop her from getting closer.

"If you wish for a kiss... I'll give you my lips."

Sione's pupils began trembling greatly at my words.

Maybe I could handle this...?

"However... not now-"

I saw a flash of question appear and disappear in Sione's expression at my words.

Not missing that opening, I gently pushed her face away.

As the thought crossed my mind that if I couldn't avoid it, I should at least try to delay it.

I hurriedly spoke something plausible.

"When you can imbue arrowheads with mana like an Expert knight. Then I will personally... offer it to you..."

It was working.

Given how her pupils started trembling wildly at my words about personally offering my lips.

Hope began appearing that I could somehow escape from this situation, here and now.

Since handling mana at the level of an Expert knight was no easy feat.

This condition should buy me enough time.

"...How about getting up for now?"

Sione finally nodded at my subtle suggestion.

"Then would you... mind getting off?"

"...Very well."

At last Sione stood up, brushing off her knees.

I was able to get up as well.

When the brief but intense situation ended, awkwardness began filling the air between us.

She seemed embarrassed thinking back on her bold confession.

After shooting a few more arrows half-heartedly, we put away the bows and arrows.

Sione quickly tidied her bow and practically fled outside the shooting range.

I also finished cleaning up at a moderate pace.

Just as I was stepping out the door of the shooting range.

Looking around wondering where Sione was waiting for me this time.

"Ray, wait a moment."

Sione's voice came from my right.

She had been hiding pressed flat against the outer wall right beside the door, and quickly grabbed my clothes.

"...!"

Whoosh!

In an instant, Sione pulled me into her arms.

Chu.

And pressed her lips to my right cheek.

"Huh?"

A dumbfounded sound escaped my mouth.

I couldn't easily process what had just happened.

As I touched my right cheek and looked at Sione.

She showed a relaxed yet mischievous smile.

Using the brilliant rising sun as her backdrop, Sione smiled brightly.

"Fufu, why such a blank expression?"

She showed a relaxed yet mischievous smile.

"What we postponed was lips. Not cheeks, right?”

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