The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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“How is it? Has the confirmation finished now?”

At those liberating words from my master, Sion’s expression froze beautifully.

Where did that sly smile from my memories go? I feel like I’ve only seen this tense side of him all day yesterday and today.

Well, if the sister he mocked and ignored for a year demonstrates such a level of mastery in front of him…

I can understand why he is stiff as a board, tightly clenching his fists.

“…Sister, surely that wasn’t…”

“From the look on your face, it seems you’ve seen it correctly. This should be enough confirmation.”

“I heard it was a year.”

“Hm?”

“The days you wielded a bow, I mean.”

Shione’s eyes gazed beyond Sion, peering into the past.

I could glimpse the fleeting memories rising like ghosts over her slightly clouded blue eyes.

In reflecting on that short yet long year, Shione was reminded once again.

Rustle. Rustle.

With her right arm draped over my shoulder, she leaned against me, narrowing the distance between us.

The arm wrapped around my neck tightened a little more, and her hand gripping my shoulder added a bit of strength.

Without a word, my master tightened her hold, smiling faintly.

“Yes, only a year has passed.”

“Yet in such a short time, how could…?”

“Did I not say? I found my talent.”

“That is…”

“It seems no further explanation is necessary.”

Shione waved her hand dismissively.

“This time is special. Though the Count’s House slays demons with the sword and devotes itself to the kingdom’s loyalty, we were far from the holy power of the divine. Your awakening of divine power as the first from our family is the beginning.”

“……”

“Now it’s just my turn. Just as you received divine power that you never dreamed of, I believe this too is a divine decree for me to wield a bow instead of a sword.”

“A divine decree…”

Sion pondered over the words “divine decree.”

I too couldn’t shake off Shione’s mention of it.

“A fate bestowed by the gods…”

It didn’t sit well with me.

If only I hadn’t fallen into this place.

Having witnessed how hopeless Shione was a year ago, I knew.

If this world flowed as the original tale dictated, the day would not come when Shione would rise again and smile.

Whether it was because I had grown fond of her or because I had ultimately been enchanted by her as she clung to me every day.

In a world already looted by demons, leaving only monsters behind.

Even when the demons declared doom upon the world.

Thinking of the original fate where Shione was holed up in her room, steeped in self-hatred, I felt a strange discomfort bubbling up.

How on earth did I raise her to this point? At the very least, I won’t allow Shione to meet such a pitiful end in this life.

“If it’s fate—”

The princess, Adelhaite, once said.

Shione and Ainel, too. Those connected with me strangely create dozens, hundreds of new threads of fate.

If I possess the ability to break that pathetic fate.

Then not only the predetermined fate of this world.

But if nothing else, I will brightly guide Shione’s fate like a beacon.

Perhaps because I was so impressed by the arrow my disciple just shot, a myriad of thoughts filled my mind.

I tidied those irrelevant thoughts as I heard Shione’s voice beside me.

“Sion. If the confirmation is done, let’s return now.”

Shione swept her gaze over Sion, looking around.

No one around was able to shoot an arrow properly.

Those whom Shione’s gaze fell upon turned their heads in embarrassment and a few coughed nervously.

None of them had drawn arrows for the exhibition.

It was obvious.

A more amusing situation was unfolding right in front of them than repeatedly shooting arrows.

Those women, who had only done some archery, couldn’t help but stare at the arrows shot by Shione.

How could they quietly focus solely on their training?

Examining the crowd, Shione remarked.

“Since you’re here, others might feel overwhelmed, making it hard to shoot. You’ve done your part, so how about you go back now?”

Her words were a suggestion, but the underlying meaning was clearly dismissive.

Sion, not one to miss a hint, glanced around like Shione, then eagerly nodded in response.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

“Alright. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“…Yes.”

Sion trudged away from the shooting range, his footsteps reluctant.

As his figure distances, disappearing entirely from the training ground.

“Huuh…”

Shione sighed deeply, as if completely exhausted.

“Are you alright?”

“…No. I feel a bit dizzy since my mana has been drained in chunks. But—”

Shione lifted her head.

Through her flowing hair, her cheerful face beamed brightly.

“It feels splendid, just like when I cut off those dry, frizzy locks.”

It was at that moment.

One of the shooting range instructors slowly walked up to Shione.

Upon facing us, she took a moment to take in Shione, then straightened with military precision.

Standing at attention, she raised her right fist over her heart and shouted.

“Salute!”

Her booming voice began to fill the shooting range, echoing into the training ground.

“Congratulations on reaching a new level!”

“Congratulations!”

The instructor’s thunderous voice along with dozens of archers erupted in cheers.

All their respect converged upon just one person, Shione.

As expected, the booming voices resonated throughout the training ground, drawing in even those wielding swords.

Latecomers could see.

The entire assembly bowed their heads neatly toward Shione, showering her with praise.

In this, they realized.

The one who had reached a new level was none other than the second daughter of the Count’s House, renowned for her incompetence just a year ago.

I casually turned my head to check Shione’s profile.

“Ah…”

A gasp slipped out involuntarily.

Shione appeared to be in a daze, as if this situation was a dream, staring absentmindedly.

She seemed awkward with it all.

It felt strange that so many people bowed their heads and showed their respect to her.

And that so many acknowledged the effort she had put in.

I wondered how long she would stay like that, but soon enough, the corners of Shione’s mouth began to rise.

The recognition she had long been deprived of.

The girl who once held an unfounded dream of being proudly acknowledged by all had finally achieved it.

Shione squeaked, her lips moving as she spoke softly.

“…Thank you, everyone…”

Emotion surging, Shione’s voice trembled with excitement.

Even though it was so quiet it became hard to hear if I focused.

There wasn’t a single person not fixated on her in this place.

The applause began.

Even Flora in the corner and Siabel and Diolia just entered the shooting range, all clapped for Shione.

My master awkwardly flinched and smiled, but she didn’t look too displeased.

After receiving applause for a while.

“…Let’s return to the room.”

“It seems Siabel and Diolia have something to say.”

“I feel too tired for that right now. I’d prefer to set a separate time to talk later; I just want to go back for now.”

Shione’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

If it were a story, she could have sat comfortably and shared as much as she wanted.

It seemed she wanted to hide that tears were about to overflow.

“In that case, I shall support you to your room.”

I quietly guided Shione as we made our way.

I communicated a simple gesture and glance to Siabel and Diolia to step back for a moment.

Fortunately, they wordlessly made way, and Shione and I exited the practice ground gracefully.

As we entered the hallway, where the servants were notably few, Shione’s steps weighed heavier.

I checked on Shione, who seemed to be quietly walking, perhaps struggling a bit.

“…”

Shione held back her breath, shedding tears one by one.

I could never have imagined that the girl who used to glare at me with those beastly visuals could be someone so sentimental.

She really tears up quite a lot.

As I wiped her eyes with the hem of my sleeve—

“Eek…!”

“Ah, oof….”

Shione pinched my side, face flushed red, and then bolted away.

I clutched my side, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

The painful sting was more intense than I anticipated, making me scowl.

I sighed, watching Shione get further away.

“Hah…”

…Shione. I’ll let it slide just for today.

*

Feeling embarrassed, she ultimately fled first, yet ended up sobbing in my arms in the room—Shione.

After sweating profusely from archery, she quickly took a bath and returned to her room, now all fresh and fluffy.

“Hmm.”

Finally looking human again.

Her hair, once damp and messy from sweat, and her sad, runny nose transformed into the usual delightful appearance of a noble young lady, except for slightly puffy eyes.

I maintained my composure as Shione confidently entered the room, saying,

“Are you done now?”

She flinched.

“I don’t have many clothes to change into, and if any snot gets on them—”

Thud!

Shione rushed to the bed, grabbing a pillow.

Then, without hesitation, began to pound me with it.

Bam! Bam!

“Hey, wait a moment.”

“What do you mean ‘wait’? I told you to stop that!”

Shione relentlessly bombarded me with the pillow for a while.

I shrunk back or dodged her surprisingly forceful attacks.

Moreover—

“Hehe…”

Seeing her delightfully laughing like that, it felt like this nonsense would never end.

After running around for about ten minutes, Shione’s rampage finally halted.

Leaving behind the grace of having pampered her for so long, she repaid with mischief.

Only then could I catch my breath and tightly pinch her cheeks.

“Hey—what are you doing?!”

“Just revenge.”

“Let go!”

“I don’t want to!”

We playfully squabbled for a while until we eventually burst into laughter.

And now it was time to ask her how she had crossed that wall.