The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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As the cold began to wane, Sion left the Count’s House, only to return just as the truly chilly winter was about to set in.

Shione and I hadn’t heard a single word about Sion until this morning. Where on earth did he suddenly pop up from?

Behind him was his familiar personal attendant, and in front, he was facing his own escort, engaging in some conversation.

However, the appearance of the escort was less than admirable. There were brown stains of dried blood at the edges of their battle attire, and the faint scent of blood lingering in the air suggested that a skirmish had occurred.

The tiredness they were barely managing to conceal made it seem like they had just set foot in this place.

‘…Is Shione alright?’

It was hard to see Sione as a mere human after the pitiful times he had in the past. Remembering the old days with him, I couldn’t help but keep a close eye on my master.

Their relationship was definitely more akin to enemies than siblings. I could still vividly recall the sight of Sion, who despised his sister, and Shione, who would growl endlessly at him.

And, just as I suspected…

“It seems you’ve returned from the Academy. It’s been almost a year, and you don’t look any different.”

Shione muttered in a voice as cold as ice.

Her wall-eyed gaze, now fixated on her brother, began to settle into a somber calm, and the smile she had worn while talking to me faded completely.

I was well aware that the two siblings did not get along.

Nodding my head, I checked on Sion’s attendants moving away and cautiously tried to draw Shione’s attention.

Thud, thud.

The sound of leisurely footsteps approached, contrasting sharply with Shione’s increasingly stiff expression.

If he wasn’t prepared to meet Sion yet, I thought of telling him to turn back, but I sadly missed the opportunity.

Before I knew it, Sion stood right in front of me with his personal attendant, taking us both in with his gaze. A year ago, he would have picked apart every flaw in my master’s demeanor without fail.

But today, Sion showed a different reaction.

“Hmm?”

Gone was the casual expression that belittled Shione, replaced instead with an indescribably intricate emotion on his face.

It was a natural reaction.

‘While Sion was away, I’ve turned Shione into a proper person.’

The image he remembered of his sister was from the early spring, when she was still desperately working to slim down.

Now, if he were to see her current form, resembling a bear walking on two legs hitting the jackpot, it was only natural he would react this way.

“Shione, is that you?”

With Sion’s intricately confused tone, Shione silently nodded her head.

Only a painfully thick silence filled with awkwardness lingered between them, with no words passing back and forth after even the slightest of gestures from Shione.

Shione appeared so cold that it was hard to believe she had any feelings, and watching Sion and his attendant’s incredulous expressions made me see him open his mouth before he spoke first.

“…You’ve changed so much that it’s hard to recognize you.”

“It’s been a year. It would be weirder if nothing changed.”

“However, you have been the same throughout the years, haven’t you?”

Crack.

Shione clenched her fist tightly.

Normally, Sion would have savored her every trivial reaction with a nasty grin. But this time, he was different. He didn’t smirk at all. Instead, he faced Shione with a more solemn expression.

“News of what happened in the Royal Castle has spread throughout the kingdom. Even in this minor baron’s territory… Soon the tales will reach ears, and the bards in taverns will be singing about it every day.”

Sion’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

“Not the promising knight, Siabel, but the useless second of House Shianella. It’s said that Shione, the princess, protected the royal princess.”

“…….”

“How did you manage it?”

His expression twisted into a frown, his brows knit. The calm demeanor he usually maintained was for some reason becoming unnecessarily heated.

“Having long abandoned the sword and with no talent in magic… Did you perhaps barter your soul with a demon—”

Ultimately, Shione glared at him fiercely.

“Sion. Shut up.”

“…….”

Her sharp retort cut through the charged atmosphere like ice water.

The Shianella Count’s House was notably among those who detest and fear demons above all. For Sion to utter such words to my sister, a member of that family, was an unforgivable insult.

What kind of mental state had he come back in to say something like this? Thankfully, he seemed to recognize his mistake, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

“Sion, you must understand how heavy your words are.”

“…….”

“No matter how incompetent the country may be, a commoner dares to mock a demon before me is nothing short of asking for a death sentence. The same goes for the scions of other noble houses. Even if they can’t be executed, it would still spell trouble.”

“That’s—”

“No matter how much you have thrown insults my way, no matter how uncomfortable the atmosphere may be… do you know why I sit quietly and listen instead of getting angry?”

“…….”

“…….”

Sion subtly shook his head.

Realizing this, Shione sighed quietly, exhaling softly so that everyone present could hear her.

The tension in the air shifted instantly.

Only then did Sion have no choice but to give up pressing Shione any further, and she walked straight toward him.

“…I will be cautious from now on.”

“……I will be careful.”

After finishing the conversation with Sion, my master partially turned to look at me.

After locking eyes once, she flipped her head, signaling me to follow her.

As I quietly trailed behind her, I couldn’t help but take note of Sion’s expression.

He wore a stern face, deeply contemplating the words Shione had left behind.

*

“Hah…”

As soon as they returned to her room, Shione heaved a deep sigh.

It seemed she had expended too much energy from the conversation with her brother, as she slumped down onto her bed.

With a weary expression, she gazed blankly ahead, letting out sighs in succession.

Not wanting to simply watch her, I opened her door and said,

“…I will bring some sweet snacks.”

I held back from speaking informally for now. Given the circumstances, it would be a bit inappropriate to use casual speech right now.

Shione liked sweet pastries. If I brought something a bit sweeter than usual, perhaps it could alleviate her stress even just a little with that sugary taste melting over her tongue.

Just as I was thinking this and preparing to head out, suddenly,

“…Don’t go.”

Shione halted my movements.

Hearing her voice from behind, I turned around and saw her patting the space beside her with her hands.

It seemed she wanted me to sit next to her…

So this time, I complied and sat beside her.

Finding it much more comfortable than my own bed, which compared to hers, felt infinitely cozier.

Now I see why she didn’t want to leave the bed. I could finally understand a bit of Shione’s feelings as she munched on cookies on the bed, no matter how many times I told her.

Then—

Poof—

Shione gently leaned into me.

“What are you doing?”

“Stress relief.”

“Are the cookies okay?”

“This is better.”

Rather than having to go back and forth for snacks, it was far cozier simply to sit here and ruffle her hair like usual. Thus, I spent time stroking her hair in a disheveled manner.

As some time passed, Shione ended up beaming, indicating it was enough, and she stood up.

Following that, she grabbed an arrow that she had brought into the room for mana concentration practice, moving to sit at the table.

Whirring…

Mana condensed and dissipated at the arrowhead.

My master, absorbed in handling mana in silence, began to glance at me furtively. Soon, she opened her small mouth and quietly uttered.

“…What should I do?”

“Are you referring to…”

“My younger brother, Sion. In the future, whether I want to or not, we’ll be running into each other often in the mansion. I’m fine with Siabel, but… I just don’t know how to deal with Sion.”

Though they were family, they were as distant as acquaintances in reality.

Shione was seriously contemplating how to approach him moving forward.

Just as I was about to gather my thoughts in response to her words.

[Quest Established.]

“Like the Past”

“The bond between the siblings has gradually weakened from the moment they shut themselves in the room, and now it’s as if they are enemies. Your master, Shione Shianella, longs for the time when she was extremely close to her younger brother. Assist her in improving their relationship.”

“Reward: Shione Shianella’s power awakening, Sion Shianella’s growth limit breach, Demon Eradication power seed.”

Without hesitation, I cut off the tumult of thoughts that had arisen.