Ch.1414. The Path of Hardship (1)

[Quest completed.]

[Sione Sianella’s talent development speed increases.]

[Your bond with Sione Sianella increases.]

[Due to resonance with her, a small portion of your original power is unlocked.]

With Sione Sianella’s smile, the long-running quest of rehabilitation was cleared.

I couldn’t help but smile at the news that Sione’s talent development speed had increased. This world is ultimately destined for destruction. Since the fate of the world depends on Sione Sianella’s development, I can’t help but pay extra attention.

Moreover, the portion of my power that returned due to our increased bond was quite impressive.

‘My mana has increased significantly.’

Although I still can’t feel the power of spirits other than wind, my total mana has increased considerably. With this much, I won’t collapse from mana exhaustion like before even if I use spirit magic two or three times. Furthermore, it will be easier to enhance my physical abilities as well.

So, that’s the reward for the quest.

I asked my master about her series of actions.

“Why did you cut your hair?”

“To cut away the gloomy past along with my hair. I do miss my long hair… but hair grows back eventually. What do you think? Pretty good idea, right?”

“…It’s hard to find anything better than what satisfies you. It’s a good decision.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Thump, thump.

Sione approached a nearby table and put down the blade she had used to cut her hair.

She fiddled with her shortened hair.

Despite having cut it off, she seemed unaccustomed to the shorter length.

“There’s something I want to ask…”

“What is it?”

“Your name. I want to know your name.”

“…My name?”

Sione nodded slightly.

You didn’t know my name until now…?

I thought she was too embarrassed to call me by name, but it turns out she didn’t call me because she didn’t know my name in the first place.

It’s quite remarkable that she’s asking for my name now after living together for months.

“…I didn’t really need to call you by name since you were always by my side.”

“It’s Ray. I don’t have a family name, of course.”

My name in this world, Ray.

Originally, I wasn’t even called by a name but by a product number, but this was the name decided by the guards’ lottery right before I was sold to nobility.

“Ray…”

Sione murmured my name several times, savoring it.

“Not a bad name.”

“Thank you.”

“Well then, Ray. Wait here for a while. I have somewhere to go.”

…A place for Sione to visit?

Suddenly going somewhere when she usually doesn’t go anywhere besides the shooting range and garden?

“Where might you be going?”

“I’m going to talk with my mother. I’ll visit her office.”

“Understood.”

“Clean the room a bit while I’m gone.”

After Sione left the room with those words.

I quietly cleaned up the hair scattered on the floor.

She really cut off a lot.

* * *

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the office door.

“…It’s Sione Sianella, Mother. I’ve come to talk to you.”

“Sione? Come in.”

I carefully opened the door and entered the office.

Ainel Sianella was, as expected, sitting at her desk processing piles of documents.

…She mentioned recent issues with the slums and merchant guilds within the territory.

She seems to be processing documents related to those matters.

Only after finishing signing one document did Ainel look at her daughter, Sione.

Her deep blue eyes took in Sione’s appearance.

“You cut your hair.”

“…Yes.”

“Finally looking somewhat presentable. So, what did you want to talk about?”

I’ve always been intimidated in front of Mother, often unable to speak properly.

Even now I’m a bit nervous and trembling, but at least this time.

“…It’s about my personal servant. I would like him to be my dedicated attendant rather than just a servant.”

“I know he has served by your side more like a loyal attendant than a simple servant who only does what he’s told.”

“Then—”

“But the fact remains that his birth is lowly. No matter how detached your lifestyle has been, the fact that you are nobility of a Count’s family remains unchanged.”

Ainel Sianella’s cold gaze pierced through Sione.

Sione bit her lower lip slightly.

“No matter how much you like him, I don’t think it’s right to elevate someone who isn’t even a commoner but a slave to the position of dedicated attendant.”

“…I understand. But… with my reputation, who else could possibly be my attendant if not him?”

“Oh?”

“Is it right for men who smile to my face while badmouthing me behind my back to be my attendants? Or should I appoint those who offer nothing but flattery without a single word of honest counsel?”

Sione took a deep breath before continuing.

“Rather than appointing such deceitful people as my dedicated attendant, I want to appoint Ray, who understands me and doesn’t hesitate to give honest advice, despite his lowly status.”

“An attendant must assist their noble and guide them on the right path. That’s why many use intelligent young men from lower nobility as attendants. Can someone uneducated like him truly handle what I’ve described?”

“…Please recognize that thanks to him, I who once lived like livestock have lost weight and now practice archery at the shooting range.”

Sione added that he never hesitated to give honest advice to guide her on the right path.

Seeing Sione like this, the corners of Ainel’s mouth turned up with interest.

“To think you, who could barely speak a word in front of me, would go this far. You must really like him.”

“…Yes, I do.”

“Appointing him as your dedicated attendant is entirely your independent decision. You must take full responsibility for placing a lowly slave in such an important position.”

“Does that mean…!”

“It means I grant your wish.”

“Thank you!”

Sione’s expression brightened dramatically.

But Sione’s request didn’t end there.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to request.”

“One more?”

“Ray’s slave certificate. I want to have it.”

“Why, do you want to burn the certificate and make him a commoner?”

Sione shook her head calmly, as if she had never considered burning the certificate.

“On the certificate, Ray’s owner is you, Mother.”

“Which means.”

“He’s the first person who’s truly mine. I know you wouldn’t do this, but…”

Sione looked directly into Ainel’s eyes.

“I don’t want to leave any possibility that someone could take him away from me.”

Ainel began to laugh at Sione’s words, finding them amusing.

After calming her laughter, Ainel spoke in a lighter tone.

“Is that all you want?”

“Yes.”

“So, after years of avoiding me, this is all you came to my office to discuss?”

“…Yes.”

Ainel chuckled while resting her chin on her hand, and Sione’s cheeks turned slightly red.

She found it amusing how her daughter had changed so much over a mere servant.

And she was curious about the male slave who had transformed Sione Sianella like this.

He was clearly a man whose only talent was having awakened mana.

“Your requests will be granted. I’ll have the slave certificate modified and sent to you separately.”

“…Thank you.”

“But of course, there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes. I was going to call you anyway about something that can no longer be postponed. Your timing is good.”

Ainel opened her desk drawer and took out an envelope.

The elaborate design on the envelope indicated it was no ordinary letter.

Ainel handed the letter to Sione.

“This letter is for you.”

“What is this…?”

“To be precise, it’s a letter from your fiancé.”

Ainel observed Sione’s bewildered expression.

Judging by that reaction, she must have forgotten about her fiancé’s existence until now.

There was no other explanation for such a response.

“He suggests that even though it’s an arranged marriage, you should discuss how you both feel about this engagement before the ceremony.”

“Surely not…”

“Sione Sianella, you are to visit the Marquisate of Feiosha.”

“…Really?”

“Well, would the Feiosha family seal stamped here be fake?”

Ainel resumed processing the pile of documents as she spoke.

“I’ll assign Diolia as your escort, so prepare to depart in three days.”

* * *

How much time had passed after I finished cleaning Sione’s room?

After waiting, the door opened and Sione returned.

I immediately stood up from the chair and greeted her.

“Welcome back.”

“…Yes.”

Sione didn’t look well.

Judging by her weak voice, she must have had a rough time in the office.

She trudged to the bed, lay down, and stared at the ceiling like someone in a daze.

As I looked at her with confusion, Sione let out a small laugh and said:

“Starting three days from now, we’ll be leaving the territory and living in a carriage, just so you know.”

“Suddenly?”

“…I have to go see my fiancé at the Marquisate of Feiosha.”

“…?”

Wait, this girl has a fiancé?

My mind goes blank trying to comprehend this incomprehensible statement.