The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Return Home

After spending several days at the Feiosha Marquisate, we began our journey back to the Sianella County, refreshed from our stay.

Though I was sick of carriage travel starting again, we couldn't exactly lay down roots and live there forever.

I resigned myself to fate and dragged my heavy body into the carriage.

The return journey passed without major incident.

We did have the bad luck to encounter bandits once, but...

'Mere bandits are nothing before a Sword Expert.'

Diolia's prowess made short work of them.

The blue afterimage of mana rippling along her sword was the unique might of an Expert knight.

When the bandits saw Diolia's sword, their spirits broke and they acted like goblins facing an orc.

Thanks to that, dealing with the panicked bandits became even easier.

'And Sione even came out of the carriage wanting to help.'

That wasn't all.

Perhaps experiencing some inner change, Sione even aimed her bow at the bandits without hesitation.

Though in the end she only aimed, never letting her arrows pierce the bandits.

It was surprising to see such boldness from Sione, who had trembled even after killing the cultists who'd threatened her life.

Moreover, on this return journey, both Sione and Diolia helped a bit with the troublesome tasks.

Thanks to that, carriage life was much more comfortable than when we'd traveled to the Feiosha Marquisate.

And finally.

"...At last."

The walls of the Sianella County came into view.

Now I could finally end this tiresome life away from home.

I was going mad missing my assigned room and soft bed.

Secretly delighted, I turned my gaze from the window.

My eyes fell on Sione.

Of course, Sione was lying on the carriage floor, staring at me intently.

Crunch. Crunch.

All while continuously eating an apple.

Munch. Munch munch.

Sione took a big bite of the apple and chewed it up.

Perhaps she'd gained weight from all the cookies I'd been giving her lately.

Sione's cheeks had become slightly plumper.

Well, it couldn't be helped when she barely moved in the carriage, just lying there snacking...

Nothing to be done about it.

I'd just have to make her exercise hard once we got back.

I spoke just as she swallowed her apple.

"The county walls are in sight, so we'll arrive at the territory soon."

"Really?"

Sione's expression brightened instantly as she shot up.

She darted to the window seat like a flying squirrel.

"Whew... I'm so tired of carriage life. I miss my room."

Such dramatics when she'd been living in this carriage just like her room.

I asked the clearly delighted Sione:

"How do you plan to spend your time after returning to the county?"

"There's nothing special to plan. I'll live just as before. First I'll stop by my room after returning, then I plan to see Mother."

"You mean the Count?"

"Yes... regarding the broken engagement and other things I need to discuss..."

Sione's shoulders hunched.

She must be imagining Count Ainel Sianella's reaction to the broken engagement.

I could only silently cheer her on in my heart, saying nothing.

It's not like I'd be the one getting scolded.

This was all Sione's karma.

She'd have to humbly accept the garden balsam's consequences.

***

We arrived in the territory, and then at Sione's room.

Seeing the familiar corridors and scenery finally made it feel like returning home.

To think this place I'd thought I'd never get used to now felt like home.

Time really is scary.

While I was slowly taking in my surroundings with this new sentiment, looking for any changes,

Sione pulled out a clean set of clothes from her wardrobe.

"I'll change clothes before seeing Mother, so wait outside for a moment."

"I'll wait by the door."

As she asked, I left the room to wait outside.

After a while, Sione called me from beyond the door.

"I'm done, you can come in."

I entered her room again and looked over her changed appearance.

Sione twirled once to show off her outfit.

"How is it? Proper enough to see Mother?"

"It looks sufficient."

I nodded slightly.

"Though your collar is a bit disheveled... let me fix it for you."

Everything else was well-put-together, but the messy collar was quite bothersome.

If she went to Ainel like that, she'd obviously get scolded about checking her clothes properly.

Better to minimize the scolding she'd receive, so I should fix it.

"Pardon me for a moment."

"Please do."

Though she used to try to move away at the slightest proximity out of embarrassment,

Now she seemed more mature, waiting quietly as I fixed her collar.

Thanks to that, I could easily adjust her collar and step back.

"All done."

"...Thank you."

Sione expressed her gratitude with a faint smile.

She continued:

"I'll go see Mother now. Take a proper rest while waiting."

"...May I have some tea while waiting?"

"Of course. Also bring some refreshments including my portion, so I can enjoy them when I return."

"I'll do that."

"Good."

With those words, Sione passed by me and opened the door.

She spoke with a bright smile:

"I'll be back soon."

***

I enjoyed tea in Sione's room while waiting for her.

Time passed quickly as I leisurely enjoyed the tea and refreshments.

Thanks to that, waiting for Sione wasn't entirely boring.

Still...

She'd said she'd lend me a flower language dictionary when we returned to the county.

I think it would have been better if I'd gotten that to read while waiting.

Reading a book would be better for killing time than just sitting here sipping tea.

Fairy herb, plum blossoms, and what was the other one?

I was curious about the flower language meanings of the flowers Sione had mentioned.

I should ask about borrowing the flower language dictionary when she returns.

Just then the door opened with a creak.

It seems Sione had finally finished talking with Ainel and returned to her room.

I set down my teacup to greet her.

"Welcome back, Lady Sione."

"Yeahhh..."

Why was there so little energy in her response?

I raised my bowed head to look at Sione.

Perhaps she'd been severely scolded by Ainel about the broken engagement—Sione looked visibly exhausted.

Dark circles seemed visible under her eyes, and her hair was disheveled as if she'd been pulling at it on her way back.

A worried expression completed the picture.

"Hahhh..."

Thump.

Sione let out a deep sigh and threw herself onto her bed.

It was a bit pitiful seeing her face buried in her pillow.

I spoke to her:

"Are you alright, Lady Sione?"

"No. Not at all."

"...Is it because of breaking off the engagement with Young Master Evan Feiosha?"

Sione, who had been lying face-down with her face buried in the pillow, turned over onto her back.

She turned her gaze to me and shook her head.

If not because of the engagement...

Just what had she heard to make her like this?

Fortunately, before my curiosity could grow too much, Sione provided the answer.

"The scolding about breaking off the engagement was fine. I was mentally prepared for that. But to order me to eliminate monsters right after returning..."

"Pardon...?"

Monster elimination?

What nonsense was she suddenly talking about?

That coward Sione has to go beat up monsters?

My mind seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Did you say monster elimination?"

"Yes, Mother ordered me to follow Sister Siabel to eliminate monsters in the Beltrin Mountains west of the territory. Though I know it's something I must do someday as a Sianella, following my sister... I never thought that time would be now..."

With her words, something I hadn't seen for a long time appeared in the corner of my vision.

[Quest has been formed.]

「Monster Elimination」

「In the Beltrin Mountains west of Sianella, high-ranking demons once made their base. Though the first head of House Sianella succeeded in clearing them out, the monsters spread by those demons still haven't disappeared and continue to cause significant harm to humans. Unless periodically eliminated, these monsters multiply and descend the mountains to cause considerable damage to the Sianella County, so those who inherit the Sianella name periodically eliminate these monsters. Protect Sione Sianella safely until she completes the monster elimination in the Beltrin Mountains with Siabel Sianella.」

「Reward: Increase in Sione Sianella's favor toward you, Siabel Sianella's interest in you」

「Failure: Acceleration of world destruction」

I hadn't expected a quest to appear.

The content was simple enough to understand easily.

Protect Sione who must now leave the territory to eliminate monsters.

Simple but difficult.

Protecting Sione in the Beltrin Mountains.

It was an incredibly dangerous task.

Though Siabel, the eldest daughter of Sianella, would be there, given the awkward relationship between Sione and Siabel, it would be difficult for Sione to stay close to safe Siabel for long.

If monsters attacked when Sione became separated from the others in the mountains, I would have to protect her.

The one fortunate thing was that our opponents would be monsters I used to hunt daily, not troublesome humans.

I doubted I could handle it well with this weak body.

With mana exhaustion striking so easily, and a body incomparably weaker than before.

We'd barely returned from our carriage journey and already faced such a troublesome task.

No wonder Sione had been sighing deeply with her face buried in her pillow.

"I suppose I'll need to talk with Sister Siabel about this..."

Sione stared intently at me.

When I calmly met her gaze, her pupils began trembling as if hit by an earthquake.

"How should I even approach Sister Siabel...?"

[Quest has been formed.]

「Reconciliation with Siabel」

「Sione Sianella, who was always compared to Siabel Sianella, has intentionally avoided Siabel since putting down her sword. Moreover, Siabel Sianella couldn't approach her freely, knowing that Sione was being compared to her swordsmanship. After continuing this way for years, their relationship has become more awkward than any other. Help resolve their awkward relationship and restore them to their former close sisterly bond.」

「Reward: Acceleration of Siabel Sianella's talent awakening」

「Failure: Increased probability of world destruction」

Two quests appeared now after none had shown up for so long.

Focused on reading the quests, I gave a vague answer to Sione's question.

"How about approaching her by mentioning some suitable flowers and their meanings?"

"Is there... nothing else?"

Ah, I hadn't heard properly while focusing on the quests.

"Could you repeat that?"

"Isn't there a flower that would suit Sister Siabel?"

My vague answer had backfired.

Sione was already lost in thought about which flowers she could use to catch her sister's interest.

Would Siabel, who only ever swung her sword, even care about flowers?

I quietly let out a deep breath.

"...Come to think of it, using flowers to start a conversation wouldn't be very natural."

"Then what would be a natural way to approach her?"

"How about asking after her well-being and starting a conversation by telling her about what happened at the Feiosha Marquisate?"

"Ah..."

Sione shook her head back and forth and sighed deeply.

She talked to Diolia just fine, but why was she acting like this with Siabel who didn't seem that different?

"Are you that nervous about approaching Lady Siabel?"

Sione nodded slightly.

"...Help me."

In the end, I had no choice but to agree to her words.

Because I needed to complete the quest.

Though I couldn't understand why the probability of world destruction would increase if Sione and Siabel didn't become close,

They needed to become friends, if only to avoid the quest failure penalty.

I approached Sione, who wore a somewhat relieved expression while lying sprawled on her bed.

Step. Step.

When I silently walked to the bedside and looked at her, she stared back questioningly.

"Please get up."

Sione's face fell as she realized what I meant.

I simply lifted the corners of my mouth at her.

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