The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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“Is it… more intense than before?”

Friel sent me a greedy look, just like the last time I saw her, and perhaps even a bit more intense than that…

I simply greeted her and asked back.

“What do you mean by ‘more intense’?”

“The scent of spirits emanating from you. It’s more intense now.”

“Oh.”

Damn it.

There was a reason why Friel was scrutinizing me with an even more obsessive gaze than when we last met.

When I encountered her a few days ago, I had tried to conceal the energy of the spirits as much as possible. But now, I had let it all flow out without even the intention of hiding it.

That elf’s nose must be picking up a denser scent of elf magic from me than before.

“Such a rich scent couldn’t have emerged in just a few days, even for an elf—”

Friel gazed at me as if in ecstasy, stepping closer to me as if drawn by the fragrance of flowers, wanting to inhale more of my scent.

“You were hiding the energy of the spirits from me, weren’t you?”

Having said that, Friel had now approached me closely.

Ignoring the gazes around us, that damned elf wasn’t satisfied with just being this close.

Now, she perked up her ears and started sniffing my scent.

“Ah… for a human to possess this level of scent…”

I took a step back, feeling like I was succumbing to my own scent while that elf muttered something perverted, but she quickly grabbed my collar.

Then, with a thicker desire reflected in her turquoise eyes, she let out a deep breath and offered me a beautiful smile.

Instead, taking a step closer, she whispered softly into my ear.

“So, what do you think, Ray? Have you made up your mind yet?”

“…’Made up my mind’?”

“By the next time we meet, didn’t I tell you to have your heart set on it?”

Right, she had definitely asked if I had any intention of becoming hers.

With my determination already set, there was no way I was thinking of becoming an elf’s possession.

“I—”

Just as I was about to say I didn’t want to linger here unnecessarily, someone walked out from inside the building and paused.

Unlike my aloof feline-like family members, it was a beautiful face resembling a cute puppy.

Her white hair, which had started to fall well past her shoulders after half a year, and her clear, radiant eyes.

“Ray…?”

No matter how I looked at it, I could only see the young lady who was supposed to serve me.

Shione stared at the scene between Friel and me, her expression blank as she called out my name.

I couldn’t help but wonder why she was looking at me with such a lost expression.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

“Hmm, just the perfect atmosphere, and here comes the Young Lady Shianella, huh?”

Seeing that pesky elf maintain a distance that made it almost strange not to hug each other, I could understand Shione’s reaction.

No matter how much I didn’t wish to, this was a distance narrowed down unilaterally by Friel.

To anyone looking from the outside, we must appear as a couple on the verge of hugging.

I could imagine that Shione was gazing at me with the forlorn feelings of a girl whose beloved had been stolen by a sneaky thief.

That little devil Shione, judging by that expression, seemed like she was going to cry and complain about what had happened when we returned to the room…

“Ugh… how do I sort this out?”

Feeling a bit of nausea from this tangled situation, I looked at Friel.

I should probably widen this too-close distance first.

With a stern expression, I said to the root of all my troubles, that elf.

“Friel, could you back off a bit?”

At that moment, that damned elf, unfazed by the odd situation, smiled and responded.

“If you call me ‘Riel,’ I’ll back off.”

“…Riel, could you back off a bit?”

Finally, Friel moved a bit away from me.

Then Shione quickly approached and positioned herself as if to block me, making sure I wouldn’t get any closer to Friel.

With a wary gaze, Shione scrutinized her.

Upon confirming her exquisite appearance and long ears, Shione spoke.

“Is there something you wish to discuss with my servant?”

Shione’s cold words naturally drowned out the mischievous atmosphere and smile of the elf.

Friel locked her gaze with me over Shione’s shoulder.

“I still haven’t heard your answer.”

She was clearly talking to me.

The burdensome interest of both Shione and Friel was solely focused on me.

In this awkward situation, I finally opened my mouth and responded to the elf’s comment.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of becoming Friel’s.”

At my answer, the smiles of the two women crossed paths.

One was a smile filled with deeper possessiveness, while the other was a sigh of relief.

I simply watched the contrasting sentiments of the two, wishing this damned situation would pass quickly.

*

After concluding my conversation with Friel Arielte, I was led into Shione’s room, still holding her hand.

I mean, it was more like she was forcibly holding my hand and wouldn’t let go.

Having just seen her lost expression a moment ago, I quietly followed what my lady wanted.

Creeeak…

Shione slowly closed the door behind us.

Click.

Then Shione locked the door.

“You’re mine now.”

She hugged me tightly.

Not just a light hold, but tightly enough to show she wouldn’t let go.

After briefly burying her face in my embrace, Shione looked up at me and muttered.

“Ray… I think I need an explanation.”

“…I’ll explain slowly, but could you first let go of this arm?”

After a moment of her silently holding me, Shione finally released her grip.

We then sat across from each other at a table, and I began explaining, amid the heavy atmosphere, the matters that had happened with that damned elf.

Fortunately, Shione listened quietly, digesting my words, and in the end, I managed to make sure she understood without any trouble.

Just when it seemed like everything would conclude without any issues.

Suddenly, Shione started speaking again.

“When I first saw you, I was taken aback.”

“Uh…?”

“I never expected you would be that close with a woman I had never seen before.”

“…It was unavoidable.”

“Yeah, I figured that. But no matter how it was, my heart feels so suffocated. What should I do?”

Shione’s eyes began to glisten.

There was no mistaking that she was clearly consumed by her feelings.

“Surely… you said your type is someone cute and charming.”

“…I did say that.”

“So, I’ll match you…”

Shione stood up from her seat and approached me.

“I’ll become your… Shione.”

Then she hugged me again and said.

“Please, only look at me….”

This is maddening….

It seems it’s going to take more time to sort this out.

*

Time flew by quickly.

In the meantime, Eunice Kalia had sent me a new sword as a gift, and Adelhaite had given me a elven bow as compensation.

The bow that Adelhaite had gifted me was needless to say, and the sword Eunice gave me was the single-edged sword I had used on the day of the attack.

Since it looked remarkably similar to the one I was used to, I somehow managed to switch both my main and side weapons to these gifts.

The news that Shione handled a bow had not spread outside the Shianella family, and since she had used a short sword during the attack, the royal family had presented her with a distinguished sword fitting of a knight’s daughter.

For a while, she pouted over the fact that I had received a bow while she had received a sword.

Even now, it was the same.

“Ugh…”

That resentful lady was letting out sounds as she stared at the sword propped against the corner of her room.

I smiled gently at Shione, who was acting like that and said.

“Not that sword… please, just look at Ray…”

With the expression as pitiful as possible and the voice as desolate as I could muster.

Imitating Shione from a few days ago, her cheeks instantly turned crimson like a ripe tomato.

“Ugh…! Didn’t I tell you to stop teasing me…?!”

“What does it matter? Come here, I’ll pat your head.”

“…Do you think that’ll get you forgiveness?”

“Would it be fine if I didn’t pat your head?”

“Of course not.”

I nonchalantly nodded at her words.

“Then we have no other choice.”

At that, Shione puffed her cheeks, whining but looking at my hand with longing eyes.

Little devil, why did you only accept when I offered to pat your head?

I chuckled softly and gave her head a gentle pat.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“…You’re noisy.”

When I stopped the hand that was patting her head, Shione looked at me with a pout.

“…”

“…”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and pat my head again.”

At her words, I chuckled lightly.

My lady seemed to take issue with the fact I had stopped, and began shouting in protest.

While spending time like this with Shione, before long, Ainel visited.

Unlike the sky-blue pajamas I had seen before, Ainel was dressed in proper attire.

In a serious tone, she said.

“I’m planning to return to the Count’s House in two days.”

Shione questioned Ainel’s statement.

“In two days?”

“Yeah. Siabel will be waiting for us in the territory.”

Ainel glanced at the scenery outside the window.

“Winter is just around the corner, so soon your younger brother—”

As soon as Ainel spoke the word ‘younger brother,’ a subtle wrinkle formed on Shione’s forehead.

Sion Shianella.

The youngest and third son of the Count’s family, born with exceptional priestly talents instead of the talent for swords.

The relationship between Sion and Shione was, as far as I knew, closer to the worst.

It was no wonder Shione’s expression hardened at Ainel referring to Sion as her ‘younger brother.’

Not minding Shione’s reaction, Ainel continued.

“Sion must be due to return from the Academy to the territory soon.”

Ainel shrugged her shoulders and slightly tilted her head.

“Before the cold winter winds hit, let’s return to the territory and welcome Sion home.”

With the arrival of the bitter season, winter, Sion Shianella will be returning to Count’s House.