Ch.136136. Spring Outing (4)

“My possession. Exclusively my slave.”

The accumulated time and mental connection had already far surpassed the ordinary relationship between master and slave.

The circumstances were quite coincidental, I suppose. He had worked as my only servant since we first met.

Unlike the servants who fled, tired of my verbal abuse, he stayed by my side throughout.

He was the only one who remained beside me.

That wasn’t all.

Since he forcibly got me up and made me hold a bow, I never thought of him as merely a lowly slave.

His character and temperament couldn’t be seen as those of a slave who had spent his entire life looking at a fragmented world from behind bars and listening to stories.

But right now, I firmly declared Ray as my… no, my complete possession without hesitation.

“Coveting what belongs to others is not particularly admirable.”

It couldn’t be helped.

“Hmm─”

Just now, I instinctively sensed that this enigmatic elf still hadn’t forgotten her greed for Ray.

And I realized that her interest and attention were more likely to be poison rather than benefit for Ray and me.

Friel watched me as she began to stroke her lips.

As her slender fingers caressed her mouth, the corners of Friel Arielt’s lips curled up slightly.

“……”

Friel didn’t say anything.

All she did was display a pretty smile that transcended species. Her brilliant golden hair swayed in the gentle breeze.

On a clear day without a single cloud. Sunlight from the sky illuminated her face, overlaying it with warm colors.

But was it my imagination? Those teal pupils of hers that held the sunlight…

Along with interest in me, they also contained a slight chill. Her smile was too complex to simply be described as beautiful.

“…I’ve heard Your Ladyship’s words well. I have no desire to be at odds with you.”

But contrary to that cold gaze.

Friel Arielt closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head first.

“I’ll take this opportunity to apologize. Your Ladyship, won’t you accept my apology?”

Moreover, it seemed she would continue to bow her head if I didn’t accept her apology.

“Please raise your head.”

“Does that mean─”

“…I accept.”

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.”

I ended up accepting Friel’s apology.

However, I didn’t go so far as to erase my suspicious feelings about her.

I felt no weight in Friel’s apology. Perhaps her voice and that bowed head were all just for show.

An empty apology without substance couldn’t reverse the negative impression I already had of her.

“Well then, Your Ladyship─”

She eventually raised her head and naturally extended her right hand to me.

I slowly took her hand in response to the gesture for a handshake.

“I’ll see you soon at the Count’s residence.”

The delicate hand of the elf with her smiling eyes was truly cool, and

I too responded to her words, borrowing my sister’s phrase.

“…The Count’s family will welcome the Arielt family’s visit.”

Of course, at least Sione as an individual would not welcome her.

* * *

The conversation with Sion at the church didn’t take long.

Given that Sion has been living at the church rather than the Count’s residence lately, I just stopped by to say hello.

His arms and legs were all intact and in good condition. He seemed to be eating properly too. There wasn’t much to worry about. I was just asking how he’d been doing lately.

Besides, since Sione had gone out to meet Friel, the conversation was mainly between Siabel and Sion. I just quietly listened from behind them.

‘I wonder what happened to Sione.’

Sione, like me, doesn’t particularly like that elf, Friel Arielt.

Not only does she know well that Friel tried to persuade me to place myself under her, but also because of Friel’s schemes, Sione once begged me, “Please look only at me.”

I’m a bit worried since I couldn’t go with her due to bad timing.

The subtle relationship between the two. I hope that Sione’s excuse about seeing Friel off was just that—an excuse, and that she actually wanted to spend some time alone outside because she felt awkward meeting Sion.

Standing still and listening to Sion and Siabel’s conversation, I could gather various pieces of information.

‘So Friel spoke with the Holy Knights and high-ranking priests of the church.’

That piqued my interest.

There must be a good reason why elves, who believe in the World Tree of the Great Forest as their god and faith, would contact and converse with high-ranking figures of the church.

I couldn’t easily guess what they discussed, but it certainly stimulated my imagination.

After that, I heard various miscellaneous information.

That Sion would soon return to the academy, and that he had formed quite a close relationship with Evan Feiosha, Sione’s former fiancé.

And that if possible, he wanted to strive harder with the aim of becoming a battle priest.

‘Why a battle priest of all things?’

A priest who rushes into dangerous battlefields with a mace raised to heal allies.

Not only is the training intensity higher than that of ordinary priests, but since they have to traverse grounds where blood splatters and screams echo, they need to be proficient in physical combat and mace techniques. To some extent, they need innate talent.

Still, since Sion is also a child of a famous martial family in the kingdom, he should be able to accomplish it without much difficulty.

“Sion, why do you suddenly want to become a battle priest?”

“That… I’ll tell you next time.”

Sion didn’t reveal the exact reason why he wanted to go through such hardship.

I was curious enough to want to hear about it, and was inwardly clicking my tongue at the unsatisfying conclusion of the conversation when—

Finally, Sione Sianella returned to the church.

I slipped quietly towards the entrance of the church and greeted Sione.

“You’re back.”

As I greeted her, I could see Sione’s oddly twisted lips and furrowed eyes.

Whatever had happened outside, she kept making a displeased expression whenever she looked at Friel Arielt inside the church.

“…Yes.”

And finally, this grumpy voice that she tried to hide but couldn’t help showing.

It seems Sione had some kind of conversation with Friel outside.

* * *

After our day trip ended, we returned to the Count’s residence.

Siabel, who had followed us to the front of Sione’s room, was exchanging brief farewells with us.

Siabel naturally stroked Sione’s hair and said,

“I’ll tell Mother about the Arielt family from the Great Forest visiting our territory. Sione, get some rest.”

“Alright.”

“By the way, how was today? Was it fun?”

Sione smiled gently at that question.

“The restaurant was nice… and the plum blossoms were really beautiful.”

“I’m glad. Shall we go see the plum blossoms together next year too?”

“…Really?”

“Of course. Then next year, let’s subtly mention it to Mother too. Let’s take a day off and have fun together.”

“No matter what, wouldn’t that be difficult for Mother…?”

“Well, what does it matter? If there’s a problem because the head of the family takes just one day off, then it’s not a county—”

Whisk.

Instead of her right arm, which was busy stroking Sione’s hair, Siabel struck the air with her left elbow.

“It’s a sand castle on a beach that collapses with a single tap.”

“Pfft.”

At Siabel’s playful expression, Sione, who had been trying to hide her sullen emotions, couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh.

A refreshing laugh finally escaped from her face.

Sione, who laughed cutely, looked up at Siabel with a bright expression.

“So, sister.”

“Yes?”

“How… long do you plan to keep stroking my hair?”

“Forever? Your hair is so soft that my hand just keeps going to it. Would you like to stroke my hair too, Sione?”

After a moment’s consideration, Sione gently nodded.

Siabel suddenly gathered her hair like a brush and playfully rubbed it against Sione’s face, among other pranks, completely taking Sione by surprise.

By now, Sione’s expression had completely cleared of its gloominess due to the childish pranks with Siabel.

After confirming that her sister’s mood had improved, Siabel nodded with satisfaction.

“Well then, I’ll be going now, Sione.”

At Siabel’s words, the two exchanged farewells, and Sione entered her room first.

As I was about to follow her, bowing my head to Siabel and entering the room—

Tap.

“Ray.”

Siabel, who had suddenly cooled her expression, grabbed my wrist.

“Could you tell me about Sione and that elf next time?”

Siabel, as sharp as a cat, hadn’t missed Sione’s wary behavior towards Friel.

“By elf, you mean… Lady Friel Arielt.”

“Yes. Sione’s expression hardened from the moment she met that elf. It seems like there’s something going on. I’m planning to talk to Mother about it… but it seems like you know something too.”

An opportunity to expose the elf’s wickedness to a member of the Sianella family? It would be strange to pass this up.

I immediately nodded.

“Of course, I’ll tell you.”

“Come to the private training ground earlier than usual tomorrow. We need to have a talk.”

When it comes to elven philosophy and behavioral psychology, I pride myself on being the continent’s foremost expert.

* * *

The sun begins to set. As the beautiful crimson sky envelops the world.

I was sitting quietly, relieving the fatigue in my legs while enjoying tea.

While spending time in that relaxed, blank state, I felt a familiar gaze.

It must be Sione looking at me again. Wondering what it was about this time, I looked at her.

Flinch.

“……?”

When our eyes met, she trembled for a moment. However, rather than avoiding my gaze, she endured and exchanged looks with me.

This was the beginning. Today, Sione kept staring at me intently, then falling into her own thoughts, over and over again.

…Of course, she does this a little normally too, but today it was particularly intense.

Then Sione, with a determined look in her eyes, suddenly stood up.

‘Oh my?’

Whatever she had resolved to do, she walked over with a solemn air and sat across from me.

Rustle.

She undid the top two buttons of her comfortable indoor attire with stiff movements.

Through that gap, her white skin was faintly visible.

“Umm……”

What on earth does Sione want to do?

As I was watching her, holding a cookie I had picked up but not yet put in my mouth, Sione reached out.

She firmly grasped my right hand that was holding the cookie and took it from me.

She naturally put my cookie into her mouth.

‘……?’

Wait, did she make such a fuss just to steal a cookie?

As I stared at her blankly, Sione once again firmly grasped my right hand with both of hers and placed it on her cheek.

…I could feel the cookie she had stored in her cheek through touch, but I deliberately ignored it.

“Hmm……”

After feeling the warmth of my hand for a moment, Sione—

Lick.

Goodness, how serious is she about this cookie?

As if one cookie wasn’t enough, she even started to lick my index finger and thumb where cookie crumbs had stuck.

“What are you doing…?”

“Making that elf not even cross my mind….”

Sione glanced up at me.

“…Seduction.”

Good heavens.