Ch.143143. Know Your Place (3)

As the sunset begins to approach, Sione prepares for the quiet night.

She claims that daytime snacks and nighttime snacks are entirely different things.

During the day, she moves around as much as she eats, shooting her bow and jogging. But night is a time when she confines herself to her room without moving an inch.

She says if she ate at night like she does during the day, she could instantly regress to how she was a year ago.

So Lady Sione cuts off all food and drink, entering a state of closed-door training inside her bed, under the covers.

Normally she would roll around on her bed and occasionally hover around her bookshelf, but today she was moving about busily, unlike her usual self.

‘Tonight, there’s a dinner scheduled with the elves.’

Of course, this was because of the guests from the Great Forest.

Whatever reason the elves had for visiting the County, and however suspicious their intentions might be.

Since it involved relations between high noble houses… and given the friendly relationship with the Great Forest, they couldn’t be treated poorly.

“This should work.”

Sione was checking her changed outfit in front of the full-length mirror in her room, shifting her posture this way and that.

Instead of her usual loose-fitting clothes that resembled pajamas, she was dressed in formal attire.

I nodded slightly as I observed her reflection from behind.

‘Now that she’s properly dressed, she finally looks like a noble lady.’

In the past when she was like a wild beast, her long hair was rough and unkempt like that of a wild animal. But now that’s all in the past.

Her glossy hair was gradually growing beyond medium length, slowly recovering its former length.

The hair that now completely covered her collarbone would soon cascade down her back.

Not only did she have healthy hair, but also fair skin that had never been tanned by the sun, and not a single visible scar despite her age.

Unlike commoners who toiled daily under the scorching sun, she clearly flaunted her privileged upbringing at first glance.

However, despite appearing to have lived a much more comfortable life than commoners, she seemed troubled.

“Haah…”

Sione’s expression was slightly crumpled as she looked at herself in formal attire.

“It’s most comfortable to eat with Mother and Sister like usual…”

“But won’t tonight’s dinner be even more delicious than usual? The chefs seem to be working harder than when Sion returned.”

Whether when I stopped by the kitchen to make sandwiches, or when I went to drop off plates or get more snacks.

Today the chefs were working tirelessly, determined to create a successful meal.

Especially when cutting onions, they were a mess with tears and runny noses.

I can still vividly see the busy struggles of the chef’s apprentices dying under their master’s overflowing enthusiasm.

“What good is delicious food? I’ll just end up being overly conscious of the people I’m eating with.”

Even food infused with the passion of multiple chefs couldn’t brighten Sione’s expression.

“Sion will be sitting next to me… and across from me will be the elven guests. It’s so burdensome that I won’t be able to properly taste the food.”

“Ah…”

An enemy-like sharp-tongued younger brother on one side.

And across from her, Friel with whom she has a strange tension, along with her pointy-eared companions.

It would certainly be difficult to focus entirely on the meal.

When I showed signs of quietly agreeing with her words, Sione let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

“Well, I’ll be going now. Ray, wait here.”

“Is it alright if I don’t wait outside the dining hall?”

“There’s no need when we don’t even know when it will end. Besides—”

Sione’s blue eyes flashed with a momentary sharp light.

I flinched.

Then she stopped mid-sentence and firmly closed her mouth.

“Besides?”

“Hmm… it’s nothing.”

Instantly brightening her expression, Sione rushed over and gave me a quick hug.

Then without hesitation, she opened her door and left.

Before the door closed, she peeked her face through the small gap, smiled brightly and said:

“I’ll be back soon!”

Bang!

Ray looked dejectedly at the firmly closed door where his master had been.

Meanwhile, Sione walked quietly, her expression turning cold once more.

“Hmm.”

Sione recalled past words as she let out a small sound.

Her sister’s warning that if she showed indecisiveness with half-hearted resolve, Ray might be put in danger or taken away.

“Sione, focus.”

Right now, her greatest enemy was Friel Arielt. True to her noble race, she was not only exceptionally beautiful but also highly capable.

She couldn’t show any indecisiveness in front of an enemy.

Though Friel possessed beauty, family background, and ability—embracing numerous treasures—Sione had one treasure that was just as valuable which Friel didn’t have.

As the sunset faded and a pure white light settled in the corridor, Sione walked down the hallway with uncharacteristic noble elegance.

Click. Click.

“Sione… you’re the best…”

With these somewhat embarrassing words to boost her confidence, her expression carried the gravity of a woman going to face her rival in love.

* * *

I killed time in Sione’s room.

With nothing to do, I ended up hovering around Sione’s bookshelf, checking the titles of the novels she had been reading.

“Hmm.”

Though I glanced around this area while cleaning, I’m not very close to books. This is the first time I’ve properly checked them.

I looked at the title of the most worn novel.

[The Chronicles of Princess Prelanche]

For books that supposedly taught Sione strange seduction methods, this title seemed normal.

I read the title of the novel right next to it.

[The Tower’s Ugly Woman Reincarnated as a Duke’s Daughter]

Finally, the concept of reincarnation appeared.

[The Knight Falsely Accused of Treason and Executed Becomes the Empire’s Third Princess]

Along with the emergence of a suspiciously long title.

[How to Live Like a Human Being Vol. 1 – Motivating Yourself]

A self-help book appeared.

“…How to live like a human? If there’s a volume 1…”

I scanned along the side of the books.

[How to Live Like a Human Being Vol. 2 – Happiness Begins with Family]

[How to Live Like a Human Being Vol. 3 – For a Slightly Better Me]

“Ah…”

Judging by the wear marks more prominent than on other books, she must have studied these diligently in the past.

I can somewhat see her solitary efforts from before.

Ignoring the “How to Live Like a Human Being” series, I took in the titles of other books.

[On How I Gave Bread and Three Gold Coins to a Commoner Who Looked Hungry During My Domain Inspection, and Seven Years Later He Became the Continent’s Most Handsome Knight and Pledged His Loyalty to Me]

[I’ve Taken Over the Body of a Villainess Princess, but Unlike Her, I’m Trying to Live a Good Life]

[The Success Secret of the Genius-Faced Lady! – Struggling for the Top Position at the Imperial Academy]

“…”

The abyss of the continent was all gathered here.

Those awkward seduction methods probably originated from these books.

As I was overwhelmed by the lengthy titles written in the convoluted continental common language, time had already passed considerably.

Finally, I began to sense someone approaching the room.

Creeeeak…

At last, Sione, the owner of these numerous novels, returned to her room.

Her eyes, mouth corners, and eventually her shoulders were all drooping. She was completely exhausted.

“Huah…”

Her sigh immersed in fatigue was truly a masterpiece.

I moved away from the bookshelf that had been drawing my attention and approached Sione.

Though she had only been sitting and eating food with her senses other than taste focused on reading the room, she looked too exhausted.

“You look very tired… did something happen?”

Nod, nod.

Sione nodded at my words.

“Today she spent all her energy on maintaining formality throughout the meal.”

Ainel, who had suddenly appeared behind her, answered for her as she met my eyes.

Ainel looked the same as usual. There was nothing different about her wearing formal attire.

But why today? A sword was prepared at the waist of this woman who usually carried a pen as a scholar rather than a warrior within the Count’s residence.

Moreover, that sword…

‘That sword…’

It emitted a familiar energy that was no ordinary item.

Ainel, who had brought such an unusual sword, gently curled up the corners of her mouth as she looked at Sione’s back.

“It was her most noble appearance since birth. That’s probably why she’s so drained.”

“Lady Ainel?”

I would have thought it better to continue talking with Friel after the meal ended.

Why would she come all the way to Sione’s room at this hour?

“May I ask why you’ve come here?”

At my question, Ainel erased her smile and fully entered the room.

Creeeeak. Bang.

As the door closed, separating the corridor from the room, Ainel answered with perfect timing.

“I need to speak with Sione and Ray about the conversation with the daughter of House Arielt, so I’d appreciate some of your time.”

Her face, which usually showed stable emotions like clear water, was now distorted with small irritations and negative sentiments.

“It’s quite… a serious matter.”

* * *

Life is like archery.

An arrow propelled by the elasticity of the bowstring cuts through the air as it flies toward its destination.

It may bend and fall due to turbulence, headwinds, or occasional obstacles along the way. But somehow overcoming these trials and hitting the target is what it’s all about.

My arrow possessed the strength to pierce through gales, and I too had thought that no matter what trials befell my life, I would overcome them without wavering, just like my archery skills.

But this trial that has come now…

[A quest has been formed.]

“Salvation of the Great Forest”

“The High Elf of the Great Forest has seen a future where the World Tree burns and the elves are annihilated. According to the future she saw, madmen fallen to demons will try to burn the World Tree of the Great Forest with black flames of corruption. It is up to you whether to stand by as the already damaged World Tree and weakened elves face destruction, or to bend the flow of history and twist fate even more dramatically. Everything depends on your choice.”

“Reward: Historical transformation, varies according to contribution”

“Failure: Extinction of elves, weakening of spirit magic, extinction of the World Tree…”

‘No, what the fuck, why is the World Tree suddenly burning to a crisp?’

This trial was at such a level that it spontaneously brought out profanities I hadn’t uttered in a long time because life had been somewhat enjoyable recently.