The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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“Can I hear that again?”

Shione’s expression had suddenly hardened.

It was cold.

Not just her expression; her tone directed at her respected sister, the knight, was equally frosty.

“Really…”

In a way, Shione’s reaction was understandable.

She had suddenly leaned too close to her personal servant, muttering whispers in her ear.

And now she wanted to borrow her again, no less, at the early hours when everyone was asleep.

Anyone would misunderstand that, no matter who it was.

The hand of Siabel, resting on my shoulder, slipped away.

She leisurely approached Shione while I turned my eyes to glance at Siabel’s profile.

“…?”

Despite her younger sister’s indifferent reaction, Siabel was smiling warmly.

Gently, she brushed her bangs aside and began to stroke Shione’s hair.

A wary gaze and a mischievous brightness crossed each other.

In this quiet moment, it was Siabel who broke the silence first.

“As you can see, there are many with keen ears here.”

Siabel slowly surveyed the assembled crowd.

There were quite a few who had gathered to watch the extended duel between me and her.

The soldiers training under the instructor’s orders were keeping a close eye on us, and even those knights clashing swords were watching me and the strangely atmosphered Young Ladies with curiosity.

“It would be better to move somewhere else to discuss this.”

As Siabel suggested, there wouldn’t be any benefit in talking here about wanting to borrow me at dawn.

Shione nodded reluctantly.

As did I.

“Ray, you should come along too.”

“…”

“It’s your story; you should hear it directly, shouldn’t you?”

I followed closely behind the sisters as they walked ahead.

*

Siabel found a room none other than Shione and me had entered.

She took a seat at the table where Shione and I usually shared tea and snacks.

Naturally, Shione took a seat opposite her, while I stood a little further back, merely observing them.

“…I’ll bring in the tea.”

In such a tense atmosphere, I figured it would be better to serve tea than just watch quietly.

I gathered fresh tea cups and tea along with some snacks and returned to the room.

When I came back, I expected they’d have shared some conversation, but it seemed neither had spoken a word while I was out; a heavy silence lingered in the air.

“I’ve brought the snacks and tea. Please enjoy.”

Clink. Clink.

I placed the plate filled with Shione’s favorite cookies on the table.

Finally, Shione, who had been resting her hands neatly on her lap, reached out and picked up a piece of cookie.

“…”

Munch munch.

…Well, she really wanted those cookies, so I couldn’t complain.

I poured tea into Shione’s cup first, signaling her to drink alongside the cookies, and then filled Siabel’s cup.

“Thank you.”

Unlike my busy mistress munching on cookies, Siabel smiled at me in appreciation.

I bowed my head and stepped back, taking in their expressions once more.

Under normal circumstances, Shione would put on a cheerful grin with every cookie, but today, she seemed displeased, staring blankly at Siabel, not a hint of her usual cheerful demeanor.

“Oh, this tea has a different flavor than what Bronte brings every day?”

Hearing my friend Bronte’s name after a while was refreshing.

“Bronte’s tea is always bitter. This is much better.”

It seemed he needed to step up his game.

As Siabel enjoyed her tea for a moment, Shione opened her mouth first.

“…Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“About wanting to borrow Ray at dawn… may I inquire your intentions?”

“Just as I said. It’s not like I can talk about matters of importance unless it’s at dawn or late at night.”

“…That’s rather cheeky of you.”

Siabel smirked at Shione’s cold tone, placing down her teacup.

Then Siabel read the hidden emotions behind her sister’s frosty eyes, her calm gaze cutting through the tension.

“Cheeky, you say?”

While Shione’s composure crumbled even further.

Shifting her bangs aside, Siabel continued speaking.

“Since you mentioned sharing swords, what can I do?”

Shione’s face subtly twisted at Siabel’s words.

“If it’s swords, we’ve sparred enough today… And did you not say it was at dawn?”

“No, not that kind of sword.”

Siabel crossed her arms lightly.

“I wish to see the sword you displayed during the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

As Siabel turned her gaze toward me, naturally, Shione’s attention followed.

The intensity of Siabel’s eager gaze and Shione’s curiosity was entirely focused on me.

“The demons’ attack is no small matter. No one understands this better than I do after having faced them head-on.”

Siabel gave a bitter smile.

It seemed she was reflecting on the battle with those demons she had encountered alongside Diolia.

Just like me when I faced Arachne, Siabel had returned with one arm battered after that encounter.

“Yet, I’ve heard you managed to strike down two of those demons alone… surely you must know how to maneuver mana in combat? At least…”

“…”

“To a skilled degree, of course.”

…How much longer did she intend to annoy me?

She was looking at me with glimmering eyes, as if merely today’s duel was not enough fuel for her thirst.

The longer we held eye contact, the deeper the smile gracing her lips became.

In the end, Siabel, with her cold demeanor transformed into a radiant smile, spoke to her sister.

“So, I’d like to have another duel per the knights’ way, but it wouldn’t do if too many people noticed the unusual hour.”

“…Even so, it seems difficult to heed your request, sister.”

“Oh?”

Shione hastily downed the tea that was in front of her, appalled by that statement.

“Dawn is when the sun hasn’t risen yet. You want to exchange swords during such a time?”

“That is—”

“And especially given the dire circumstances, to be talking about mana… Ray is not a knight training with a sword every day.”

Shione exhaled, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

“And… I’m worried, so I can’t allow it.”

“What do you mean?”

“If Ray appears in front of me, injured—”

Shione, who had been eloquently speaking until that point, suddenly fell silent.

As her stutter created a pause, my and Siabel’s urging gazes prompted her to continue.

Eventually, almost shyly, Shione murmured with a voice trailing away.

“…I think I’d be very sad.”

Seeing Shione say that, Siabel chuckled, nodding approvingly.

“You’ve cared for your servant more than I expected.”

Shione cast a quick glance my way.

Perhaps still flustered, a blush remained on her cheeks.

“Because he is… mine…”

With that, Shione’s face turned bright red.

“Um…”

Seemingly unable to stay still, my mistress shifted her hand back to the cookies again.

Nom.

As she quickly stuffed a cookie into her mouth and began to chew vigorously, she suddenly seemed to choke, peering down at her empty teacup, flustered.

What on earth was she doing?

With a quiet sigh, I poured tea into both Shione’s and Siabel’s cups anew.

As Shione began to drink her tea, Siabel smirked at me.

“Honestly, it seems like our Shione has become quite smitten with you.”

“Ugh…!”

Shione, caught mid-drink, reacted to Siabel’s comment.

She desperately tried not to spit the tea out, fully packed in her mouth.

Swallowing hard, she managed to avoid spraying her sister, who had been right across her.

Shione released a sigh of relief, having avoided that small catastrophe.

That ended Shione’s little antics, wrapping up our conversation quite neatly.

“I suppose I may have made an unreasonable request in anticipation.”

Siabel deftly downplayed her desire for a dawn duel.

Even I thought it was a bit much.

To spar at dawn, exhausting mana and blades, seemed too excessive.

Fortunately, it seemed Siabel realized her misstep too, albeit late.

After that, we chatted about various events until the snacks and tea dwindled.

Siabel shared stories from her territory, while Shione recounted things from the royal castle.

Of course, Shione’s stories, filled with dense life lessons, took the spotlight.

After a good while of chatting.

Drumroll.

Siabel rose from her seat.

“Are you leaving now?”

“We’ve chatted plenty. I wanted to discuss things with Diolia since I’ve been busy lately.”

With that, Shione and I walked with Siabel to see her off.

After exchanging casual farewells, Shione entered the room first.

Just as I was about to follow her in, suddenly—

“Oh, Ray.”

Siabel called my name.

“I almost forgot to tell you something.”

“What’s that?”

“Just, two days ago, a letter arrived from Aria that I read. Your name was mentioned.”

“Eh…?”

Why on earth was my name in Aria’s letter?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Siabel began to recite what Aria had written on the stationery.

“I’m soon visiting Shianella’s territory, so if possible, I’d like to talk to you again when I come….”

“…”

“When Aria arrives, I’ll make sure to let you know.”

And thus, the connections forged in the royal castle brought about yet another annoying situation.