The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Bronte (1)

"No. Let's rest a little longer. I'm exhausted from talking with Mother."

"Wouldn't it be better to resolve this now and then come back to rest properly, rather than interrupting your rest later?"

"I'd like to, but..."

Sione fluttered weakly under her blanket.

Her movements reminded me uncomfortably of the mermaids from that dungeon. Those creatures that would flop out of ponds at random intervals to spit water cannons had been incredibly troublesome.

I still tear up thinking about how many precious arrows I'd wasted on those things when I was already running low.

While I watched quietly, wondering what she was up to, Sione's fluttering finally stopped.

"How can I possibly go see Sister Siabel when I don't even have the strength to get up?"

So our Sione had it all figured out?

I'd thought she was just throwing a full-body tantrum because she didn't want to go, but she even had an excuse prepared.

I shook my head with a slight smile.

Such a flimsy excuse wouldn't stop me.

I spread my arms.

"Would you prefer to be carried, or will you walk on your own?"

"Eh...?"

"Since you said you don't have the strength to get up... I suppose I should carry you."

"Eh, ehh."

As Sione could only open and close her mouth without giving a proper answer,

I approached her with my arms still spread.

Step. Step.

With each step closer, Sione's pupils trembled like aspen leaves.

When I reached the bed and prepared to lift her,

Sione froze completely, staring at me with a dazed expression.

She must have thought I'd give up quickly if she didn't respond.

Sione had underestimated me.

Unlike months ago when she'd been a heavy burden, the current Sione was light enough for me to carry around.

If I wanted to, I could certainly carry her.

Sione hurriedly shook her head to gather her wits.

"...I'll walk."

"Are you sure you don't need me to carry you?"

"I-I'm not a child... I'll walk on my own two feet."

"Very well."

In the end, Sione surrendered first.

She should have done this from the start.

Why did she have to make things so troublesome?

She quickly got up from the bed and straightened her clothes.

As she was about to leave immediately, I stopped her.

"Wait a moment, please."

"What is it?"

"Your hair is disheveled."

Her hair had gotten messy from all her fluttering and rolling around on the pillow.

I slowly untangled her mussed hair.

Sione kept her head lowered until I finished fixing it.

Soon enough, I had her hair neatly arranged.

"All done. Now let's go see Lady Siabel."

"O-okay. Let's do that."

Pat pat pat.

So much for not having any strength.

She dashed out with vigorous steps.

***

Since Siabel usually practiced swordplay at the training grounds during these daytime hours,

Sione and I headed there.

But perhaps her daily routine had changed during the month we were at the Feiosha Marquisate.

We couldn't find Siabel Sianella anywhere in the training grounds.

Sione asked an instructor who was taking a break about Siabel's whereabouts.

Her expression had returned to its emotionless state, unlike when she talked with me.

"I'm looking for Sister Siabel. Do you know where she is?"

"Lady Siabel was recently injured, so she's probably resting in her room."

"Injured?"

Sione's eyebrows twitched at hearing Siabel was injured.

The instructor flinched at Sione's displeased expression.

My face also creased, but for a different reason.

Since the monster elimination in the Beltrin Mountains would be done with none other than Siabel,

It wouldn't be good if she was injured.

"Could you explain in detail?"

"Well... four days ago, Lady Siabel injured her ankle and right arm during sparring..."

As Sione silently continued staring, the instructor continued with nervous sweat.

"We called a priest, and it wasn't a serious injury, so she should be fine."

"If a priest was called, the injuries should be fully healed. Why would Sister Siabel still not come to the training grounds?"

"That's... that's all I know..."

"I see. Thank you for your help."

Sione turned away from the instructor and came back.

"It seems we need to go to Sister Siabel's room rather than the training grounds."

"I'll follow."

"Still, Sister Siabel skipping training due to injury... how unusual."

Sione's expression had grown quite dark as she said this.

She must be worried about Siabel's condition.

Though her relationship with Sion had completely soured, things seemed different with Siabel.

Well, even the quest had described it as an awkward relationship rather than mortal enemies.

"Perhaps you could ask Lady Siabel how her injuries are?"

"...Yes."

After that exchange, Sione and I found our way to Siabel's room in silence.

Upon reaching Siabel's door, Sione took a deep breath.

"Hah, I feel suffocated."

"She's your family, isn't she? Have a comfortable conversation."

"Family is relative. Even I wouldn't want someone like my past self as family."

"But you're different now, aren't you?"

"If I can even manage to speak..."

Sione's tension seemed to ease slightly as she showed a faint smile.

Then for some reason, she suddenly patted my head.

After confirming she'd messed up my hair, Sione finally knocked on the door.

"Sister Siabel... might I have a moment to talk?"

"Sione?"

"Yes, it's me."

"It's been a while. Come in."

When Siabel gave permission, Sione looked at me as she opened the door.

"I'll wait here."

Sione nodded and entered Siabel's room.

As I waited outside the door, wondering how long it would be before Sione emerged again,

Creeak—*

The door that had seemed unlikely to open again for a while reopened.

Turning my head curiously to see who it was, a familiar face met my eyes.

"Ah."

This guy was definitely...

Siabel's personal attendant who had tried to gossip about Sione with me.

Fortunately, thanks to the quest that had filled me with loyalty to Sione down to my bones, I had rejected him then, which had soured our relationship.

I'd thought things might have improved since it had been a while, and we were meeting again after a month, but...

"..."

"..."

Seeing how his face stiffened immediately upon seeing me, he seemed to still be holding onto that incident.

Talk about holding a grudge.

I hadn't expected it to last this long.

With him showing such obvious dislike, I'd thought we could just ignore each other and do our jobs, but.

His constant sidelong glances at me made it impossible to endure this awkwardness any longer.

At least when I was stuck between Diolia and Evan Feiosha's servant, neither had paid me much attention.

Why was this guy so interested in me?

I internally sighed before casually speaking up.

"It's been a while. Have you been well?"

When I offered the greeting first, he finally stopped his sidelong glances.

Now he turned fully to look at me directly.

Strong build and angular features. And that sophisticated mustache.

And to top it all off,

"Hmm... it has been a while. That uniform—it seems you've gone from Lady Sione's servant to her attendant?"

That affected nasal voice that didn't match his appearance at all.

I barely resisted the urge to pinch his nostrils shut to make him speak normally.

"Haha... somehow I've become Lady Sione's personal attendant."

"Hmmmm..."

For whatever reason he was dissatisfied, he looked me up and down with disapproving eyes.

The thought of this burly man carefully examining my body sent chills down my spine.

Ian, whom I'd seen for a whole month, had never acted like this.

I really couldn't understand why this guy was acting this way.

"Congratulations. Though since you've become Lady Sione's personal attendant... things must be quite difficult."

As expected, his dismissive attitude toward Sione hadn't changed.

I couldn't understand why he would so openly criticize a member of the Sianella family—what would he do if Siabel or Sione heard?

Though her mental state still wasn't perfect, it irritated me to hear someone else insult Sione who was clearly making progress.

Only I get to criticize Sione.

"Difficult? Thanks to Lady Sione's recent determination to change, I've been able to serve quite comfortably."

A strange tension began building between myself and the attendant.

Behind me was Sione.

Behind him was Siabel.

We were sizing each other up to see who would gain the upper hand in this conversation about our respective masters.

But it seemed Sione's prestige still fell short compared to Siabel's.

Soon the attendant nodded with an almost sneering smile.

"Yes, well— good luck."

"Ahaha, thank you."

He extended his hand for a handshake as if doing me a favor.

Though his condescending attitude was incredibly irritating, I eventually took his hand.

While shaking hands, I asked one thing.

"Might I know your name?"

He smiled with satisfaction upon seeing my twisted smile.

"Please call me Bronte."

I gave him an artificial but rather bright smile.

"Looking forward to working with you, Bronte."

I hadn't expected someone who couldn't even awaken to mana to look down on me too.

Bronte, I'll remember you.

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