The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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Whoosh!

Siabel, gazing at the chaos on the road, suddenly turned and came toward us.

“At this rate, it would be best to return to the stronghold.”

In response to her words, Shione, who had been hesitant with the changed atmosphere of my sister, finally spoke up.

“Aren’t we moving forward any longer today?”

“That’s right. There might be orcs around here. I don’t want to risk taking you all in danger unnecessarily.”

With those words, Siabel began to show her displeasure more frequently.

“Besides, the orcs that came down from the mountains this time are a bit different.”

“Different? Can you tell me more?”

“The orcs we encountered from the west weren’t tainted by magic, yet astonishingly, they were all in an agitated state. So, while the knights might not have had much trouble, we ordinary soldiers certainly did.”

“Agitated state, you say…”

“Well, if there are just one or two, I could handle it alone, but… if there are more, it would lead to quite a troublesome situation.”

At Siabel’s words, Shione quietly nodded, and I couldn’t help but stiffen my expression further.

Orcs are born fighters.

With their power, they can easily overpower foes.

Even if humans were to hit them with all their might all day, it wouldn’t be a huge threat.

These monsters charge forward, wielding their superior physical condition since birth.

And now they’re all in an agitated state.

‘Why on earth?’

Their mating season usually takes place in the summer when life stirs.

It wouldn’t make sense for it to happen now in the cold winter.

If Siabel’s words weren’t a lie.

Why are those orc bastards excitedly rampaging about together?

Regardless of the reason.

Confronting what I disliked was a certainty, and I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh.

“Haa…”

A small breath escaped from my lips, curling up in the chilly air.

Phew!

The merciless cold wind scattered my breath, making it seem even less significant.

It was just a breath dissipated, but my mood soured even more.

It wasn’t just a breath that had disappeared, but the thought that this winter’s hunting would likely not go smoothly.

“We’re retreating to the stronghold now.”

We began to turn back the way we came.

*

Siabel called for the knights and swift rangers waiting at the stronghold.

Soon after her words, troops available for immediate deployment gathered.

Siabel then ordered a thorough search around the area near the path we had seen a while ago.

Since that place wasn’t far from the stronghold.

We intended to move on horseback to the point where we had found traces of battle.

I would be hearing reports about the search by tonight at the earliest. At the latest, before the sun went down tomorrow.

I hoped that the capable rangers would succeed in locating the orcs, take them down, and return happily.

It would be best if we didn’t encounter them at all since they are still somewhat daunting without the aid of spirit magic…

After confirming that matters were proceeding, Shione and I entered the barracks assigned to her.

For a temporary stronghold, it was quite spacious, and it was easy to receive supplies, so there were many barracks.

Although there were still some creatures remaining, the extermination of the monsters invading the north was nearing its final stages.

With a substantial number of troops safely back behind the walls, there was plenty of room in the barracks.

Thanks to this, Shione was assigned a personal barrack instead of sharing one with Siabel.

“Here we are. Let’s go inside.”

“I’ll follow.”

I entered the barrack with Shione.

There was nothing particularly special about it.

On the cold floor, a makeshift bed covered with fur, made to be comfortable enough not to feel the chill.

And a small round table with a couple of cute chairs placed in the middle of the barrack.

“It’s warmer than I thought. The wind isn’t coming in at all.”

Shione seemed quite pleased with her barrack.

Certainly… from the outside, one might think even a barrack would be cold, but…

There was nothing lacking for a few days of comfortable stay in terms of warmth and space inside the barrack.

‘…I’m envious.’

I was about to spend time in the same barrack with strangers for the first time ever.

Whether I liked it or not, Shione sat lightly on her cozy bed and spoke.

“It looks suitable for staying a few days.”

“Yes, it’s not too cold. With the furs on the bed, it should be fine.”

“Uh-huh. Seems like my sister chose a pretty good place for us.”

As she said this, Shione gently stroked the fur on her bed before suddenly looking up at me, as if she had just thought of something.

“So, where will you be staying, Ray?”

Why is she asking something so obvious?

“Since Siabel didn’t mention anything about my own barrack… I suppose I will be in another barrack with others.”

“With others?”

“Yes, just like in the Beltlin Mountains, it seems I will be staying in a different barrack from you, Shione.”

Upon hearing my words, Shione didn’t hide her discomfort at all.

I could feel the overwhelming flow of negative emotions from Shione that made it hard to breathe.

“…I don’t like it.”

What on earth does my princess have against it?

I silently focused on her words.

“By ‘others,’ you mean our soldiers from the Count’s household.”

I nodded in agreement with Shione’s words.

“Last time I shared a barrack with your maid, but this time I will be sleeping among other women. Won’t that be inconvenient for you?”

“Um…”

“If that’s the case… I think it would be better to sleep in this barrack with me─” “…?”

Siabel narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke.

Shione’s gaze was fixed on me.

And her focus seemed to be intent on gauging my true feelings, staring directly into my eyes and expression.

“There’s only one bed in the barrack, isn’t there?”

“We could just bring in another bed. After all, it’s spacious enough; it wouldn’t be a problem to add one more.”

“…Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?”

“Not at all. In fact, rather than listening to the chilling winds before sleeping… I’d be looking forward to having someone to talk to.”

I proposed an alternative.

What would happen if rumors started about tarnishing Shianella’s name?

If it felt inconvenient to sleep with others, I would tell Siabel to let me sleep alone.

But sadly, such words did not reach Shione.

Shione wouldn’t back down.

She had already closed her ears and heart to my words, sinking into the future she had envisioned.

My princess insisted that I must sleep together with her in her barrack, and I eventually had to raise the white flag to her unending persuasion.

Afterward, she dashed outside to speak to Siabel about this matter.

At the end of a conversation that took longer than expected, Siabel scanned Shione and me with a peculiar gaze before letting out a sigh.

Thus, in the end, another bed was brought into Shione’s barrack.

“Ray, Ray. Even I think my archery skills are improving at an unusual rate. What if your name becomes known as a ‘divine archer’?”

“…It’s ‘divine archer,’ not ‘god archer.'”

“Oh.”

As we chatted about this and that, the sun dipped lower and night fell.

When only the distant sound of the torches illuminating the temporary stronghold crackled softly in the air.

After finishing preparations for bed while lying on separate beds, Shione softly bid me goodnight.

“Ray, sleep well.”

“…See you tomorrow.”

With those words, I closed my eyes.

*

“Ray… sleeping…?”

Snore. Snore.

Even when called out, only the steady sound of Ray’s breath came from his side.

…Still, it’s too early to feel reassured.

Earlier during the day, Ray had been able to hear even the small kobold sounds, so his hearing must be sharp.

I wasn’t sure about whether he was a light sleeper, but… it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

“…Ray? Are you really… asleep…?”

Even calling out several times, Ray simply lay still, his body straight, deeply asleep without any sign of movement.

Yeah, this should be fine.

I silently lifted my body.

Creeeak…

“Ah…!”

Perhaps due to the flimsy make-shift bed’s lack of sturdiness.

Every slight movement created a surprisingly loud noise reverberating through the barrack.

Carefully… really carefully…

Finally!

After getting off the bed, I tiptoed quietly, stealthily approaching Ray’s side.

“…..”

Relying on the dim yellow light of the torches seeping through the entrance, I peered at Ray’s face.

Though he usually appeared somewhat cold and indifferent.

Now that he was asleep, somehow, somehow…

Holding my breath, I began to act on my plan.

Just a quick peck on his forehead…!

“Ugh….”

Embarrassment flushed my cheeks.

I couldn’t bring myself to face Ray directly, so I shut my eyes tightly and pressed my forehead against his.

Feeling the soft warmth of his breath, I slowly opened my eyes.

“…Huh?”

Ray’s dark eyes sparkled in the darkness.

“…What are you doing awake?”