Ch.150150. Organizing and Preparing (3)

The light adorning the earth disappeared, and high in the sky.

A large moon and a river of small stars. Late night, when only the Milky Way dyes the world in white light.

“Hmm.”

Siabel wore pajamas with a light pink hue over a white base.

She was staying up later than usual, spending time alone aimlessly.

Sitting on the bed with her arms crossed, she occasionally furrowed her brow as she gazed out the slightly open window.

Siabel’s eyes were bathed in moonlight.

“Three days later… no, just one more night and then it’ll be two days.”

The time remaining until Sione and Ray depart for the Great Forest.

Unless something disrupts the plan she heard from her mother, Ainel Sianella, the two of them will soon leave the County.

“Since that person changed, really… they’ve become so busy I can hardly see their face.”

Going to the Marquisate of Feiosha.

For various reasons, Sione went to the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony instead of herself, who should have gone originally.

And ultimately, now she’s heading to the Great Forest at the border between the kingdom and the empire.

“Tsk. Just creating more things to worry about.”

She couldn’t help but worry.

Unlike before when she was chubby and might have rolled all the way down if pushed on an uphill slope, her relationship with her now-slender younger sister wasn’t bad at all.

As an older sister, she couldn’t help but worry.

After remaining stiff for a moment, she soon slightly raised the corners of her lips.

“As if the path she’s walked has been ordinary.”

Before her sister returned from the Marquisate to the County, news of a broken engagement arrived.

Then after returning from the coming-of-age ceremony, she came back with a sword and the title of a loyal knight to the royal family.

At this rate, she’ll probably cause some major incident in the Great Forest, the sacred realm of the elves, before returning.

Moreover—

“They said Sione and Ray are the only ones who can twist the fate of the elves.”

Since there was such a sudden oracle from the World Tree.

No matter how much Sione says she’ll be careful and cautious this time, if the oracle is correct.

In the end, someone from our family will be the protagonist in the incident that will occur in the Great Forest.

“Haah…”

Siabel, who had been raising the corners of her lips for a moment, hardened her expression coldly again.

They say the Great Forest will be engulfed by demons and flames.

Why did her younger sister, who hasn’t fully matured yet, have to be given the task of twisting their fate?

And saying she will twist the fate of the elves in a place that will become a battlefield… Doesn’t that mean Sione will have to achieve merits worthy of being called a war hero to save them?

It’s extremely dangerous. Even if not physically, mentally it’s also concerning.

“I’d like to go with her and help if I could.”

But she is also the next head of the County.

It’s true that she can’t easily follow her.

“…Even if I can’t go with her, at least my heart should go with her.”

Siabel threw herself onto the bed.

Closing her eyes for a moment, sinking into the softness of the bed and gradually letting go of her deep thoughts.

She turned her head to take in the items in one corner of the room.

“I did secretly take them from the County’s storage…”

The woman in pink-tinged pajamas smiled innocently.

“As long as I don’t get caught before Sione leaves, it should be fine.”

She, whose cool impression didn’t match her preference for soft and warm-colored pajamas.

Pitifully, the feelings of the storage manager who would be upset about the missing items were the least of her concerns.

* * *

“Sione, wouldn’t it be better to move around a bit rather than lying in bed all day?”

“…No. I’ll be moving around enough when we take the carriage in two days, setting up camp and preparing lunch. I need to rest well now.”

Preparing meals, organizing luggage, checking things. It’s obvious that all the miscellaneous tasks will be handled by me and Friel’s underling.

And you’ll just wander around, eat when food is ready, and comfortably watch me from behind.

How vexing—I almost wanted to pinch her cheeks.

Thinking I might nag her more, Sione quickly hid half her face under the blanket.

With only her eyes peeking out, she looked up at me brightly and said:

“Ray should rest well now too.”

“Then may I rest in my room for a while?”

“That…”

Sione needlessly darted her eyes around the room where no one else was present, then started to look at me nervously.

“…My bed is spacious. There’s some empty space beside me.”

“Really…”

“This bed is so soft and comfortable, it relieves fatigue well too…!”

As Sione’s words continued endlessly.

Knock knock.

A visitor came to the room.

“Ugh…”

With reddened ears, Sione sank into the blanket as I checked who the visitor was.

Creeeeak…

The person beyond the door was Bronte, Siabel’s personal attendant.

Just like last time when Siabel arrived at the perfect timing to embarrass Sione.

Like master, like servant—Bronte’s timing was also exquisite.

After exchanging brief greetings with him, I was able to hear the reason for his visit.

“Lady Siabel wishes to have a conversation with Lady Sione and Sir Ray. Would now be a good time?”

On the day when the fireball rose in the sky, Siabel had said she wanted to talk.

It was her reaction to Friel’s mention of the carriage journey to the Great Forest in front of her, and neither Sione nor I had discussed this separately with Siabel as we were busy preparing for the trip.

I suppose she intends to talk about it today if possible.

I nodded at Bronte’s words.

“It would be best if you could come now…”

Bronte glanced behind me, then moved the corners of his mouth and eyes to make a puzzled expression.

Using his bushy eyebrows and the full beard around his mouth to express his doubt.

He was looking at Sione, who had gone under the blanket to cut off contact with the world.

Bronte tilted his head and continued speaking.

“If Lady Sione is taking a nap, I can ask Lady Siabel to postpone it a bit—”

She’s just hiding because she’s embarrassed.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say it was fine.

“Ahem.”

Whoosh!

Sione cleared her throat and threw off the blanket.

Simultaneously leaving the bed, she approached casually and said:

“It’s fine. I’ll go see my sister right away.”

“Ah, yes…”

Bronte and I quietly looked at Sione.

Among us, Bronte was the first to speak after seeing Sione’s current appearance.

“Um… Lady Sione…?”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Perhaps you should change your clothes before visiting Lady Siabel…”

“Clothes?”

I also looked Sione up and down at the right moment and joined their conversation.

“Sione, you’re still in your pajamas.”

“…?”

“Since you said you weren’t planning to go anywhere until dinner tonight, you’re still in your pajamas.”

“Ah…”

Sione faced us with trembling pupils.

“C-could you wait outside for a moment…?”

“Gladly.”

“…I’ll wait outside.”

Creeeeak!

Slam!

As soon as Bronte and I went outside, Sione’s door closed.

Bronte looked blankly at the door and then at me alternately.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

Don’t worry. She’s always like this.

* * *

The door opened and Sione came out.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Well then, let’s go.”

After saying that, Sione smiled slightly.

Then she started walking slowly ahead of us.

I checked her attire.

Her previously disheveled hair was now neatly arranged, and she was dressed in formal attire.

She had transformed into an unobtrusive appearance that wouldn’t draw criticism anywhere, but—

‘A sword…?’

For some reason, she was wearing a sword to meet her sister.

‘That sword is definitely.’

The famous sword that Sione received from the royal family as a reward for protecting Adelheid.

She was walking calmly with the sword that had been gathering dust hanging in a corner of her room.

“Hmm…”

Deeper footsteps than usual, shoulders straightened and posture upright. And her gaze, coldly focused straight ahead without any of her usual brightness.

Based on what I can see now.

“Why…?”

I wonder what my master is trying to do this time.

She had the air of a second daughter about to commit treason for the position of the next family head.

* * *

After a small incident, we went to see Siabel.

The conversation with Siabel was nothing more than a repetition of stories about the elves and heading to the Great Forest.

As if trapped in a cycle, Sione and I had mainly been discussing this topic recently.

We skillfully answered Siabel’s questions or opinions, and the conversation was about to conclude without major hitches.

Just when it seemed like Sione’s treason would not occur.

“Sione.”

“Sister.”

Their voices overlapped at once.

Sione smiled awkwardly and said:

“Ah, please speak first, sister.”

“Are you sure? It’s fine if you go first, Sione.”

Sione just nodded silently.

And Siabel simply followed her words.

“Then… Ray and Sione, could you come over here?”

“Over there?”

“Yes. I have gifts for you.”

“Gifts…”

When we went to where Siabel had stopped, there was a short sword on the wall.

And on a small table were several rings.

I could see that the rings had geometric engravings like the artifact Siabel had given me before.

Siabel took down the short sword from the wall and handed it to Sione.

“This is…”

“A long sword would be cumbersome and uncomfortable when handling a bow. Your secondary weapons seemed rather inadequate, so I prepared this separately. Take a look.”

Sione examined the sword.

Iron forged by a master craftsman.

Even a brief glance showed that the blade was flawless, a masterpiece without any deficiencies.

“Can I really accept this?”

“Of course, your sister prepared it for you. There’s no one else to receive it but you.”

“…Thank you, sister.”

“And besides that, these rings too. I got them for you and Ray to use.”

“These rings… they’re all artifacts. Isn’t this too many precious items?”

“What, this is nothing. My sister and disciple are going to change the fate of the Great Forest. I’m sorry I can’t do more than this.”

“Your heart alone is more than enough.”

Siabel smiled lightly.

Sione fidgeted, immersed in her kindness, then grabbed the handle of her sword.

Treason usually occurs at the most tragic moment.

I held my breath, watching to see if her hand would leave the sword or not.

“Then, sister—”

Fortunately, instead of drawing the sword, Sione unfastened it from her waist along with the scabbard and held it out to Siabel.

“I would like you to accept my sword.”

“Your sword?”

Siabel’s gaze focused on the sword.

“Isn’t that the sword you received from the royal family? You’re giving this to me?”

“Yes, it will only gather dust if I keep it. I would like you to wield it, sister.”

“Are you sure? Even if you don’t draw this sword, it’s like your symbol.”

Siabel looked deep into Sione’s eyes.

“The meaning of a famous sword bestowed by the royal family. A sword given to the most loyal and trustworthy knight recognized by the royal family… it’s a sword that only the royal knights would receive.”

“I know.”

“Even though you wanted to become a knight. It’s no different from proof that the royal family recognizes you as a loyal knight for your achievement in protecting the princess. It would be better if you kept it—”

“Sister.”

“…?”

“I want you to accept it. A sword has value only when someone wields it. And the person around me who suits this sword best is only you, Sister Siabel.”

Sione shrugged her shoulders in an uncharacteristically smooth manner.

“And I already have my own bow.”

Siabel stared at her sister for a while and then chuckled.

“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”

After saying that, Siabel took the sword with her left hand and started to ruffle Sione’s hair vigorously with her right hand.

Sione, who had experienced a storm on her head. Her carefully arranged hair was perfectly ruined.

The two looked at each other and smiled, then Siabel laughed heartily and said:

“How should I repay this favor? Should your sister give you a kiss?”

The moment those words fell, Sione erased her expression and became serious.

“No, that’s fine.”

“But still—”

“The rings and sword are already more than enough.”

“Tsk, that’s a shame.”

Well, a kiss between sisters.

If you think about it differently, it would be like a kiss between brothers on Earth.

I understand why Sione is so serious about it.

After everything ended with small laughter, until the final moment when we prepared to say goodbye, I just watched.

“Ah, and Ray.”

Siabel addresses me at the last moment.

“There’s still one thing I haven’t given you. Could you follow me to my private practice room for a moment?”

A sword and rings weren’t enough.

Just how many gifts are there? It seems there’s still more even after giving all that.