Ch.1111. Rehabilitation (3)

Thump, thump.

The woman who appeared walking leisurely was prepared to draw her sword at any moment.

She wore just a single sword at her waist, with no other armaments.

Unless her skin was made of stone, the arrow I was aiming could pierce through flesh.

Yet she showed herself completely defenseless, as if inviting me to shoot her.

The more relaxed she seemed, the more concerned I became about what she might be hiding.

“Step back.”

“…Pardon?”

“Isn’t it proper for a woman to protect a man in situations like this?”

Sione stepped forward in front of me.

“Moreover, that person has sworn loyalty to Sianella, so rest assured she’s not the ruffian you might think.”

“Is that so?”

“Have you never heard of Lady Diolia of the Sianella family?”

“I’ve heard of her. But since I’ve been with Lady Sione every day, I’ve never seen her face.”

Diolia? If it’s Diolia.

A knight of the Sianella family who has reached the level of Sword Expert.

I know she had the opportunity to join the Royal Guard but chose to become a knight of the Sianella family, earning considerable favor from the head of the family, Ainel Sianella.

Moreover, her conduct is exemplary, and I’ve occasionally heard praise about her.

“So you can memorize her face now. First, lower your bow.”

“…Understood.”

I lowered the bow I had been aiming at her.

I released the tension on the bowstring and retrieved my arrow.

At least as a knight who has pledged her sword to Sianella, she wouldn’t betray Sione, the direct bloodline of the lord of this place.

Of course, my heart was racing from fear after pointing an arrow at a Sword Expert knight…

Fortunately, she didn’t seem inclined to pick a fight with me over it.

Rather, she looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected to see Sione Sianella at the archery range.

“…Lady Diolia, what brings you to the archery range so early?”

The expert knight bowed her head respectfully to Sione before speaking.

“There have been strange rumors circulating among those who train here recently, so I came to check today.”

“Rumors?”

“That the position of the bows changes every day, or that the number of arrows decreases, or that one or two arrows are found on the ground. Everyone is whispering that it might be ghosts appearing at night.”

“I thought I had cleaned up properly… Indeed, the keen eyes of those who come here daily cannot be underestimated.”

“They are like hawks targeting distant enemies.”

Despite my careful cleanup every day, it seems someone noticed the comings and goings after about a month.

I didn’t expect it to spread as ghost rumors.

“Do I look like a ghost to you?”

Diolia shook her head.

“How could Lady Sione Sianella ever be mistaken for a ghost?”

“I have been cooped up in my room like an earth-bound spirit lately.”

“Haha…”

Diolia laughed awkwardly.

Sione’s expression softened, seemingly amused by Diolia’s reaction.

“Since Lady Diolia has confirmed the reason with her own eyes today. I hope you will explain to them properly so that these rumors don’t spread further.”

“Since the rumors have been circulating for quite some time… wouldn’t it be better if you explained the truth yourself, Lady Sione? That you’ve been practicing every morning, rising earlier than anyone else?”

Sione shook her head from side to side.

A hint of self-deprecation was visible in her small, artificial smile.

“Would they even believe me if I told them myself? It’s obvious that it would be much better if you made up something and told them instead.”

“That’s…”

Diolia couldn’t respond to Sione’s words.

It would be pointless to contradict Sione’s statement with empty platitudes, as Sione was well aware of her own reputation.

Though my master had lived as a shut-in until now, she wasn’t someone who would ignore others’ voices to the point of not hearing criticism about herself.

With perfectly good ears, it would be strange to claim she had never heard the criticism and current reputation about herself.

Seeing that Diolia was struggling to respond, I stepped in.

“Then why not make them believe Lady Sione’s words?”

Both Sione and Diolia’s gazes turned fully toward me.

Sione focused on my words with familiarity.

Diolia seemed intrigued that the quiet servant of unknown identity had suddenly joined the conversation.

“All they need to know is simply that Lady Sione has been practicing archery for about a month. So if you approach them first and show them what Lady Sione has been practicing and continues to practice, they’ll have no choice but to believe it, whether they want to or not.”

“Are you suggesting I reveal what I’ve been doing to them?”

“Between hearing rumors and seeing the reality with one’s own eyes, which would you find more believable, Lady Sione? Moreover…”

The scarecrow with arrows stuck in it like a porcupine.

Most of the arrows were lodged in vital points—anyone could see this wasn’t the work of someone who had only been practicing archery for a day or two.

“Just the morning hours are no longer enough for you, are they? Besides, with that level of skill, they’ll have no choice but to acknowledge that what you say is true.”

“But…”

“You don’t have to reveal yourself right now. Just don’t hesitate to show yourself when you feel the time is right.”

“…I understand.”

Honestly, my reason for bringing this up was partly to defend Sione, but also mixed with personal desire.

Damn… how long do I have to keep coming to the archery range at the crack of dawn…

If she could come to the archery range during the day, I could shoot arrows during daylight hours instead of these early hours.

Then I wouldn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn every day.

I want to wake up after sunrise too.

Fortunately, Sione seemed to be seriously considering my words.

Meanwhile, Diolia, who had been listening to our conversation with interest while tapping the handle of her sword with her index finger, caught my eye.

Diolia was a knight with striking long black hair like the night sky on a clear day, and a cold, deep gaze.

She raised the corner of her mouth slightly and asked me:

“I heard the head of the family gave Lady Sione a new personal servant… that must be you. So, how long has Lady Sione been coming here to practice archery?”

“It’s been about a month.”

“Every day?”

“Thanks to Lady Sione’s interest, we come out at this time every day to practice.”

“Since she barely has any contact with people other than servants… the one who taught her archery must be… hard to believe, but it seems to be you.”

Diolia glanced at one of the scarecrows.

The first scarecrow I had shot at today. The arrows lodged only in places that would be fatal if hit were proof of my archery skills.

“Lady Sione must have started holding a bow not long after you arrived, right?”

I nodded quietly in agreement.

Then I heard an unexpected voice.

“Thank you.”

“…Pardon?”

“The light has started to return to Lady Sione’s eyes, which had been fading away. As if she’s finally returned to her starting point. All of this must be thanks to you, isn’t it?”

“That’s—”

As I became embarrassed, she continued speaking without hesitation, as if wanting to finish the conversation quickly.

“I, who taught Lady Sione swordsmanship, couldn’t stop her from putting down her sword. I hope that even if Lady Sione reaches a plateau, you will guide her well.”

Diolia even bowed her head to me.

I quickly waved my hands in protest.

“…Please raise your head. I cannot handle this.”

I genuinely felt like my internal organs were about to drop.

A Sword Expert, and a knight at that, would be at least a minor noble, so it makes no sense for someone like that to bow to someone as lowly as me.

If anyone saw this, I might be dragged away somewhere unknown the next day and beaten to death.

Damn… now I’m overreacting to someone just bowing their head. I’m too aware of my own status. It’s exhausting to live like this.

“Haha, you were aiming your bow at me just a moment ago, so why are you so afraid now? I won’t eat you, so relax.”

Diolia placed her hand on my shoulder.

Pat, pat.

Gently patting my shoulder in support, Diolia whispered:

“Of course, the head of the family appointed you as Lady Sione’s servant because of your archery skills, with purpose and trust. But if you ever turn against the people of Sianella… I won’t hesitate to cut your throat, so be careful.”

“…I understand.”

So this is the pressure from a vastly superior.

I never had such intentions to begin with.

My heart was beating wildly from the pressure directed at me for no reason.

Seeing me like this, Diolia smiled as if finally reassured.

It took quite a while for my heart to stabilize.

* * *

The sun was high in the sky.

As usual, Sione was taking a short rest after finishing her morning exercise.

Normally, this would be when she would start complaining about being tired and not wanting to do anything, burying herself in bed.

But this time, she hesitated for a moment after getting up, then started staring at me intently.

She was staring so persistently that it felt like she might bore holes through me.

Though I had the position of personal servant, my status was that of a slave.

With nothing but my body to my name, what would I do if holes were bored through it?

I reluctantly responded to her gaze.

“Do you have something to say?”

At my question, she finally seemed to have made up her mind and composed herself.

“Let’s go out.”

“You want to go outside… without resting now?”

“Yes, I’m tired of just staying in the room.”

“Really?”

“Would I lie about that?”

What’s going on? Suggesting we go out in broad daylight?

Except for when we went to the garden to see flowers, I’ve never seen her voluntarily go out at this time.

Could it be because of what I said this morning?

I followed behind Sione, who was leaving the room as if wanting to act quickly before changing her mind.

“Are you thinking of going to the garden?”

Shake, shake.

Sione shook her head.

“The time for shooting arrows as morning exercise has been quite reduced, hasn’t it?”

“You mean…”

“I’m going to the archery range.”

“…Lady Sione.”

She stopped walking at my words and turned toward me.

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

Flinch.

She momentarily startled at my words, then showed a faint smile.

Her smile, illuminated by her silver hair bathed in sunlight, was the most beautiful I had ever seen from her.

“Didn’t you say it yourself? Not to hesitate to reveal myself when the time comes. So I thought about it slowly and something occurred to me.”

“That the time doesn’t come when my archery skills and appearance are beyond ridicule, but when I decide that it has come.”

“When I thought about it again—”

“It seems to me that today is the day they should start seeing who I really am with their own eyes. What do you think?”

Did her rude attitude disappear along with her belly fat? Now she even knows how to say admirable things.

Who would have thought the Sione I knew would come to say such things?

I can’t help but nod in approval and pride.

That shut-in Sione is gone, replaced by my master with a proper mindset.

“Very well. I think it’s the perfect time too.”

Since she’s starting to change internally as well, soon I’ll be able to boast about Sione.

About how my master worked hard and changed like this.

Of course, I played a part in creating this Sione.

Sione and I smiled together.

Now the only ones who will grimace are the archers who will suddenly be inspected by Sione, their instructor’s superior, and have to shoot alongside her.