The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Rehabilitation (3)

Thud, thud.

The figure who appeared with unhurried steps was a woman ready to draw her sword at any moment.

She carried just a single sword at her waist, without any other armaments.

Unless her skin was made of stone, the arrow I had aimed would pierce flesh.

Yet she showed such openings, as if inviting an arrow—it made me even more wary of what she might be hiding.

"Step back."

"...Pardon?"

"In situations like this, shouldn't a woman protect a man?"

Sione stepped in front of me of her own accord.

"Moreover, this person has sworn loyalty to House Sianella, not some brigand you're imagining, so rest easy."

"Is that so?"

"Haven't you heard of Lady Diolia of House Sianella?"

"I've heard of her, but having been with you every day, Lady Sione, I've never seen her face."

Diolia? That Diolia.

A knight of House Sianella who had reached the level of Sword Expert.

I knew she was quite favored by Head of House Ainel Sianella, having chosen to become a knight of House Sianella despite having the opportunity to join the Royal Guard.

Moreover, I'd occasionally heard praise of her excellent conduct.

"Lower your bow so you can memorize her face now."

"...Understood."

I lowered the bow I'd been aiming at her.

I released the tension from the drawn string and retrieved the arrow.

At least as a knight who had pledged her sword to the Sianella County, she wouldn't betray Sione, a direct descendant of the territory's lord.

Though my heart was still pounding from having aimed my bow at a Sword Expert knight...

Fortunately, she showed no intention of taking issue with that.

Rather, she seemed surprised to see Sione Sianella at the archery range.

"...Lady Diolia, what brings you to the archery range at such an early hour?"

The Expert knight bowed her head respectfully to Sione before speaking.

"There have been strange rumors circulating among those who train here recently, so I came to investigate today."

"Rumors?"

"That the positions of bows change daily, that arrow counts decrease, that one or two arrows are found on the ground. Everyone's whispering that it must be ghosts."

"Hmm... I thought we'd cleaned up properly each time. It seems we can't underestimate the keen eyes of those who come here daily."

"They are like hawks watching for distant enemies."

Though we'd been careful about cleaning up every day, I suppose someone noticed the signs of our presence after a month.

I hadn't expected it to spread as ghost rumors though.

"Do I look like a ghost to you?"

Diolia shook her head.

"How could Lady Sione Sianella be mistaken for a ghost?"

"Well, I have been living like an earth-bound spirit, shut away in my room."

"Haha..."

Diolia laughed awkwardly.

Sione's expression softened, seemingly amused by Diolia's reaction.

"Now that Lady Diolia has confirmed the reason with her own eyes, I hope you'll properly explain to them so these rumors don't spread further."

"Since the rumors have been circulating for a while... why not explain the truth yourself, Lady Sione? That you've been practicing every morning, rising earlier than anyone?"

Sione shook her head back and forth.

A slight, artificial smile revealed hints of self-deprecation.

"Would they even believe me if I told them myself? It's obvious that you telling them, even if you have to embellish it, would be much better."

"That's..."

Diolia couldn't respond to Sione's words.

She couldn't offer empty reassurances when Sione clearly knew her own reputation.

Though my master had lived as a shut-in, she wasn't so oblivious as to miss what others said about her.

With perfectly good ears, it would be strange if she hadn't heard the criticism and her current reputation.

Seeing Diolia struggle to respond, I stepped in.

"Then shouldn't we make them believe Lady Sione's words?"

Both Sione and Diolia's attention turned fully to me.

Sione focused on my words with familiar expectation.

Diolia seemed intrigued that the quiet servant of unknown origin had suddenly joined the conversation.

"All they need to know is simply that Lady Sione has been practicing archery for about a month. So if we approach them first and show them how Lady Sione has been practicing and continues to practice, won't they have to believe it whether they want to or not?"

"You're saying I should reveal what I've been doing to them?"

"Between hearing something and seeing it with your own eyes—which would you find more believable, Lady Sione? Moreover..."

The scarecrow bristled with arrows in various vital points.

Anyone could see that this level of accuracy wasn't achievable by someone who'd only practiced for a day or two.

"Isn't morning practice alone becoming insufficient? Besides, with this level of skill, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge the truth of your words."

"But..."

"You don't have to reveal yourself right now. Just don't hesitate to show yourself when you feel the time is right."

"...I understand."

Honestly, my reason for bringing this up wasn't just to defend Sione—I had my own selfish motives too.

Damn... how long do I have to keep getting up at the crack of dawn to come to the archery range...

If she could come to the range during the day, we could practice archery in daylight instead of these early hours.

I wouldn't have to wake up at dawn every day.

I want to wake up after the sun rises too.

Fortunately, Sione seemed to be seriously considering my words.

Meanwhile, Diolia had been listening to our conversation with interest, tapping her sword hilt with her index finger.

Her eyes met mine.

Diolia was a striking knight with long black hair like the night sky and a cold, deep gaze.

She raised the corner of her mouth slightly and asked:

"I heard the Head of House gave Sione a new personal servant... that must be you. Tell me, how long has Lady Sione been coming here to practice archery?"

"Almost a month now."

"Every day?"

"Thanks to Lady Sione's interest, we've been coming out to practice at this hour every day."

"Since she barely has contact with anyone besides servants... the one who taught her archery must be... though it's hard to believe, it must be you."

Diolia glanced at one of the scarecrows.

The first scarecrow I'd shot at today. The arrows embedded only in lethal points testified to my archery skill.

"And Lady Sione must have started handling the bow not long after you arrived?"

I quietly nodded in confirmation.

Then an unexpected voice spoke:

"Thank you."

"...Pardon?"

"Life is returning to Lady Sione's crumbling eyes. As if she's finally returned to her starting point. All of this must be thanks to you, isn't it?"

"That's—"

As I became flustered, she continued speaking smoothly, as if wanting to finish quickly.

"I, who taught Lady Sione the sword, couldn't stop her from giving it up. I hope you'll continue guiding her well, even if she reaches plateaus."

Diolia even bowed her head to me.

I quickly waved my hands in protest.

"...Please raise your head. I can't accept this."

I truly felt my internal organs dropping.

A Sword Expert, and a knight at that, would be at least a minor noble—someone like that shouldn't be bowing their head to someone as lowly as me.

It felt like I might be dragged off somewhere and beaten to death the next day.

Damn... now I'm overreacting to someone just bowing their head. I'm too aware of my position. It's exhausting to live like this.

"Haha, you pointed your bow at me just earlier, why be so afraid now? I won't eat you, so relax."

Diolia placed her hand on my shoulder.

Pat pat.

While patting my shoulder lightly in support, Diolia whispered:

"Of course, the Head of House must have appointed you as Lady Sione's servant with good reason and trust, given your archery skills. But if you ever turn against the people of House Sianella... I won't hesitate to take your head, so be careful."

"...Understood."

So this is the pressure a vastly superior gives.

I never had such intentions to begin with.

My heart beat wildly at the pressure suddenly directed at me.

Diolia smiled as if finally reassured seeing my reaction.

It took quite a while for my heart's pumping to stabilize.

***

The sun reached its zenith.

As always, Sione was taking a brief rest after finishing morning exercise.

Usually, this would be when she'd start whining about being tired and wanting to quit, burying herself in bed.

But this time, she sat up, hesitated for a moment, then started staring at me intently.

She stared so persistently it felt like she might bore holes through me.

Though I held the position of personal servant, I was still a slave by status.

I had nothing but this body—what would I do if she put holes in it?

Reluctantly, I responded to her gaze:

"Do you have something to say?"

At my question, she seemed to finally make up her mind, gathering her scattered momentum.

"Let's go out."

"You want to go outside... without resting now?"

"Yes, I'm getting tired of just staying in my room."

"Really?"

"Would I lie?"

What's going on? Suggesting going out in broad daylight?

Except for when we went to see flowers in the garden, I'd never seen her voluntarily go out at this hour.

Could it be because of what was said this morning?

I followed behind Sione as she left the room, as if wanting to act quickly before changing her mind.

"Are we going to the garden?"

Shake shake.

Sione shook her head.

"Haven't we reduced archery time because of morning exercise?"

"You mean—"

"I'm going to the shooting range."

"...Lady Sione."

She stopped walking at my words and turned to face me.

"You don't have to force yourself."

Flinch.

She startled briefly at my words, then showed a faint smile.

Her smile, harmonizing with her silver hair catching the sunlight, was the most beautiful I'd seen from her yet.

"Didn't you say it? Not to hesitate showing myself when the time comes. So I thought about it slowly and something occurred to me."

"That perhaps the time comes not when my archery skills and appearance won't be mocked, but when I decide to act."

"Thinking about it again—"

"In my view, today seems like the right time for them to start seeing who I really am. What do you think?"

Did her yellow personality drain away with her belly fat? Now she even knows how to say admirable things.

Who would have thought the Sione I knew would come to say such things?

My head nods automatically with pride and appreciation.

That shut-in Sione has disappeared, replaced by my properly clear-headed master.

"Good. I think the timing is perfect too."

Now that she's starting to change properly inside too, soon I might be able to brag about Sione.

About how my master worked so hard and changed so much.

Of course, I did manage to help create this Sione after all.

Sione and I smiled together.

Now the only ones who need to worry are the archers who'll suddenly find themselves being inspected by Sione, their instructor's superior, and have to shoot with her.

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