The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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Tsuzi!

Aria’s spear and Siabel’s sword begin to intertwine.

I may not be well-versed in polearm techniques, but I could immediately tell that Aria’s spear skills were anything but ordinary.

The sharp tip of her spear always pointed toward Siabel, expertly adjusting the distance between their weapons to maintain the pressure.

“…It seems my sister can’t approach easily.”

I quietly agreed with Shione’s words.

They hadn’t actively started manipulating mana yet, and since they were not enveloping their sharp weapons in aura, Siabel struggled to counter the spear’s control.

Swish! Whoosh!

Quickly rotating her spear, she corrected her angle and pushed the shaft, channeling her strength into a single point.

Clang!

Siabel’s counterattack was blocked through the shaft, and she swiftly followed up with a strike that knocked Aria back.

‘It’s really tough to catch a spear user with a sword, isn’t it?’

Aria, a seasoned user, displayed remarkable spear techniques.

Even if she managed to block all the attacks, the cold counterattacks she couldn’t easily initiate showed that Siabel’s pure sword skills were still inadequate to break through the subtleties of spear techniques.

Crack.

Shione’s hand quietly formed a fist.

Her gaze was fixed unwaveringly on her sister’s back.

I had never seen such focus, except when she was practicing archery at the shooting range. Clearly, she wanted Siabel to win dearly.

“It seems she’s yet to handle mana. If we watch a little longer, the tide will turn.”

“Right? My sister will win, right?”

“The difference in aura between a user and an expert is quite significant.”

Unless Aria reveals spear techniques that can easily deceive a higher-ranked knight, Siabel should be able to defeat her.

But judging by Aria’s current spear skills, while her martial arts were impressive, she couldn’t yet fully manipulate the distinct realm of mana with just her spear.

At my words, Shione relaxed her clenched fist, and we continued to watch their battle unfold.

As time passed, the clash became even more intense. Now, both Aria and Siabel were using mana to enhance their bodies, recklessly clashing their weapons against each other.

Bang! Whoosh!

The sound of iron clashing echoed, and the air was filled with the noise of tearing. The two had become so fast with their strikes that it was hard to follow with the eyes, and they exchanged heavy blows.

An unending exchange.

And then, as if to signal an end, Siabel lowered her stance and exhaled. Her sword emanated an unmistakably different energy compared to Aria’s.

“Finally…!”

Shione’s voice was filled with anticipation.

It wasn’t just Shione who showed such a reaction; those from the Count’s House cheering for Siabel also raised their spirits as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“…It truly seems she has become an expert.”

“So it isn’t a fabrication, then. Show the respect due to a knight who has achieved a higher level.”

“Hmph. Ridiculous.”

Aria started to unleash a flurry of attacks on Siabel. However, her strikes were countered by Siabel, whose aura nullified their weight.

Pushed back by Siabel’s occasional clever counters, Aria suddenly harnessed the mana swirling at the tip of her spear and thrust it forward at a speed vastly superior to before.

Clang!

With a sharp metallic sound, a strong force surged from the spear’s shaft.

Swoosh.

Aria didn’t bother with maintaining her stance at the shaft.

She immediately stepped back while turning her body in a clockwise direction, pulling out the spear she had previously planted in the ground before the duel began.

“Ugh!”

The spear that had easily pierced through an orc’s hide. Aria braced herself to shoot that spear, channeling all her strength.

In that moment, incredibly dense mana began to spread from the tip of the spear.

Whiz!

Siabel’s sword shot forward, stopping mere inches from Aria’s neck.

“I believe I took the first round. How about a second?”

Grinning as she reclaimed the chilling intent inches from her skin, Siabel spoke.

“Ha…”

Aria sighed and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her hand before replying.

“…Let’s go for another round.”

*

One draw and two victories for Siabel. That was the outcome of the duel.

‘It couldn’t be helped.’

With Siabel truly motivated to showcase her aura blade, there was no way to match her.

After the duel, Aria grumbled as she asked Siabel how she felt achieving expert status, while Siabel gleefully teased her back, subtly sharing her experiences.

As they chatted, Shione and I watched, discussing the duel they had just experienced.

Aria moved forward, and Siabel followed behind. They approached my master, or more specifically, me, with their gazes fixed in our direction.

Shione and the two ladies had a simple conversation about the recent duel.

Noticing they seemed to chat amicably, without a care for my presence, I took a step back to give them space. Soon enough, their conversation drew to a close, and Aria flashed a small smile at Shione before passing by me.

In that moment, she whispered softly to me.

“Later, about what happened at the royal castle.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ll talk to you separately soon. I’ll call you through Siabel.”

…Indeed, Siabel had mentioned that Aria had written my name in the letter she sent.

It seemed Aria was still holding onto the curiosity and questions she had about me.

*

The ruckus of yesterday faded as a new sun rose. But even with the new dawn, my routine remained unchanged.

After Siabel expressed a desire to become my swordsmanship teacher, she had yet to communicate her intentions to her sister. Aside from that, I hadn’t heard any news from her.

I had also agreed to speak with Aria at a later time through Siabel, though I had no idea when or what time would work.

I continue to uphold my firmly settled routine, imagining an uncertain future.

What I needed to do now was…

After neatly grooming my appearance, I would go wake up my master, who was still sound asleep.

After roughly tidying my disheveled appearance in the full-length mirror in my room, I made my way to Shione’s room.

Knock, knock.

“I’m coming in.”

Creeeak…

As I entered the room, it was as expected:

Shione could never have gotten up before me.

Her steady breathing and tranquil expression revealed she was sound asleep.

Yesterday, she had permitted me to speak casually to her.

Given that I hadn’t encountered a single person on my way here, I had no reason to hesitate as I shook Shione and called her name.

“Shione.”

For a while, I continued calling her name and shaking her awake.

Normally, she would have woken up already, but today, she wouldn’t budge.

At that moment…

She flinched—

I noticed the corners of her eyes and mouth twitching.

‘Hmm…?’

What was my master scheming to act like she was asleep?

I decided to test just how long she would keep pretending.

I poked her cheek with my index finger.

“……”

“Not waking up?”

Shione remained utterly still.

Next, I lightly pinched her soft cheek.

“If you don’t wake up, I’ll pull harder.”

Twitch.

The eyelids that were closed trembled slightly.

“Seriously…”

Still not waking up.

I figured she would eventually rise on her own when the time was right.

Deciding that, I absentmindedly patted her head.

Finally, Shione softly stirred.

“Um…The sleeping princess…is woken up by a kiss…”

Even as she spoke those words, her eyes remained sealed shut, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

The princess you’re thinking of is Adelheit, not you. Why would I look for someone in the castle here?

As I continued to stroke her head in silence, Shione ultimately surrendered, her cheeks flushing bright red.

She quietly rose, then—

“……”

“Shione?”

Whoosh!

Unable to bear her embarrassment, she dove back under the covers, disappearing from sight.

She didn’t emerge from the blankets until well after breakfast had passed.

*

As the sun reached its zenith, slowly beginning its descent, I was walking leisurely through the mansion alongside Shione, discussing various matters.

“……”

Shione, who had been chatting energetically, suddenly sealed her lips shut.

And not just that; the playful smile she had moments before vanished, replaced by an icy demeanor oozing from her.

I glanced ahead to see what had caught her attention, trying to discern what had made her so stiff.

That’s when I realized the reason behind her freezing expression.

‘That man—’

With neatly groomed silver-white hair and a sharply handsome face.

And my master’s younger brother.

Sion Shianella had returned to the Count’s House.