Ch.1515. The Path of Hardship (2)

“Did you have a fiancé?”

“It’s purely a political marriage, but yes, I do. The third son of the Marquisate of Feiosha is supposedly my fiancé.”

What on earth did this third son of the Marquisate of Feiosha do wrong to end up engaged to Sione?

Now she’s become somewhat human thanks to my care in every way.

But until recently, Sione was like a bear hibernating in her cave all year round.

“Judging by your expression, you find it hard to believe that I have a fiancé too.”

“Ah… I’ll correct my expression.”

“No, it’s fine. I find it absurd myself, so why would you be any different?”

“…Then what do you plan to do when you go to the Marquisate of Feiosha?”

“Haah…”

Sione wrinkled her expression as if she had a terrible headache.

She ruffled her hair and sat up.

Then with her disheveled hair, she looked straight at me.

“I’ve never met him or even spoken to him. Moreover, I don’t even know his name properly, so what I need to do is obvious, isn’t it?”

“A date. Don’t worry. Even if he’s a son of a marquis, he’s still a man. I’ll teach you how to melt men’s hearts with your words and actions.”

“…Haha, you’re really something.”

Clap, clap, clap.

Sione clapped with a dumbfounded expression.

Then she snorted and quickly continued.

“Marriage with someone I’ve lived my whole life seeing as just a man. I don’t know about other nobles, but I have absolutely no desire for this kind of political marriage.”

“…Surely you’re not thinking of going directly to the Marquisate of Feiosha to break off the engagement?”

“If possible. I’d like to lead this to a broken engagement somehow.”

“He’s not just a son of another count, but a son of a marquis you’re engaged to.”

“……”

Sione hesitated for a moment.

Then she looked at me with sparkling eyes as if she had made up her mind.

Looking at her like that, I couldn’t help but think she resembled a puppy looking up at its trusted owner.

“…You said you’d teach me how men like to be spoken to?”

“Yes. Since I’m a man myself, I should be able to teach you things that would generally appeal to men’s hearts.”

The gender reversal is a bit awkward, but…

Well, I figure people’s thoughts are all pretty similar.

I should be able to help her enough.

“Then… can you also teach me how to act in ways that would make that young lord dislike me?”

“…Pardon?”

No, has she finally lost her mind?

Asking me to teach her how to make a marquis’s son—someone she’s engaged to—dislike her?

Even if he’s the third son, he’s still a proper heir of the Marquisate of Feiosha.

No matter how I look at it, this kid might look human on the outside, but she’s still not quite human on the inside.

“Really, really, can’t you…?”

“You’re acting so unlike yourself, Lady Sione. You must be under too much stress. Please wait a moment.”

“Where are you suddenly going now?”

“I’ll bring some refreshments. It would be better to think about this calmly while having some snacks.”

“…Alright, I understand.”

* * *

I returned to Sione’s room with a plate full of various snacks.

Recently, she hadn’t eaten such treats, just crunching on apples, so she seemed quite excited about the sweets.

As soon as I entered, she got up from the bed and toddled over to me.

She picked up a cookie from the plate, ate it, and her expression softened as if she had everything in the world.

“It tastes so good after not having any for so long.”

“Please don’t stand like that. Let’s eat at the table.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

As soon as I placed the plate on the table, Sione sat down and began inhaling the cookies.

Om nom nom nom.

Are cookies really that good?

It was quite a sight to see her stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel, as if afraid someone might take them away.

It’s obvious she’ll choke if she eats like that.

“I’ll bring some tea.”

Nod, nod.

I poured the tea I had brought along with the snacks into her teacup on the table.

The moment I finished pouring, Sione snatched the cup and gulped it down.

“Whew. I thought I was going to choke to death.”

“…Please eat more slowly.”

“I’ll try.”

Anyone watching would think she was possessed.

If other nobles saw this, they’d scold her for not maintaining her dignity, and she’d have no defense.

“May I sit across from you?”

“Of course.”

Before sitting across from her, I prepared a cup of tea for myself.

Then, sitting across from Sione, I calmly observed her.

As I continued to look at her, even she, who had been mindlessly devouring snacks, began to notice my gaze.

“I suppose you and the young lord of the Feiosha family will spend time like this, sharing refreshments and conversation.”

“…I suppose so.”

“Then let me teach you what men would like in this situation.”

“I’ll listen for now.”

Sione rested her chin on her hand with a displeased, pouting expression.

No matter how much she wants to break off the engagement, the other party is from a marquis family.

It wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression at first.

It’s troublesome that she’s being like this from the start.

What if she falls for this fiancé at first sight?

I began speaking regardless of Sione’s attitude.

“While sharing refreshments, maintain a gentle smile. Also, unlike now, you should only eat one piece during pauses in conversation.”

I displayed a gentle smile.

Since I’m not one to smile often, Sione, who had rarely seen me smile until now, couldn’t take her eyes off my lips.

She’s probably thinking something like, “I didn’t know he could make such an expression.”

Calmly accepting her gaze, I carefully picked up a cookie during this pause in conversation and put it in my mouth.

Perhaps because it’s a snack eaten by nobles, it was definitely sweet and delicious.

After quietly finishing the cookie, I asked with a smile.

“How is it? Simple, right?”

“…Huh? Oh, yes, it’s simple.”

“Ah, please wait a moment.”

Ignoring Sione who was staring at me blankly,

I took out a handkerchief from the pocket of my servant’s uniform.

I lifted myself slightly from the chair and leaned forward toward Sione.

She froze as our faces got closer.

Unlike her rigid body, her pupils shook wildly as if in an earthquake, unable to meet my gaze properly.

“Excuse me… there are crumbs on your lips.”

I wiped her lips with the handkerchief.

Her face turned bright red in response.

She must have been embarrassed by this series of actions.

Regardless, I simply smiled more broadly and spoke calmly.

“All clean now, my lady.”

I gradually moved away from Sione and returned to my seat.

Then I lifted my teacup, enjoyed the aroma, and quietly sipped the tea.

It was a tea that made you want more, with an initial sweetness followed by a bitter aftertaste.

Clink.

Gently putting down the teacup, I asked:

“Do you think you could manage something this simple, Lady Sione?”

“Th-th-that’s impossible!”

“Hmm… how about practicing with me until you get used to it? We still have plenty of snacks and tea left, so we can practice several times.”

At my words, Sione looked up at me with a reddened face several times.

She spoke in a voice so small I could barely hear it.

“…Could it be that your distant ancestor was an incubus?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

Ahem, ahem.

Sione awkwardly cleared her throat.

Only after taking a moment did she speak with her composed voice.

“So, smile appropriately and act with sensibility, is that it?”

“That’s right.”

“That… I think I can manage somehow.”

“You don’t need to practice?”

“O-of course not!”

“Hmm… I understand.”

Sione sighed as if she had finally been saved.

Regardless, I couldn’t forget the addictive taste of the tea and poured myself another cup.

Endlessly sweet at first, with a bitter aftertaste that balances the sweetness…

The subtle charm made me want to drink it multiple times without getting tired of the sweetness thanks to that final bitterness.

I quite like this tea.

I should drink some when Sione isn’t looking.

“Thinking about my fiancé has made me tired. I’m going to rest in bed for a while, so you should take a break too.”

“Understood.”

Sione stood up first.

As a servant, I couldn’t remain seated when my master had risen.

I also stood up to follow her.

“Ah…!”

Out of nowhere, Sione tripped over her own feet and began falling toward me, losing her balance.

What kind of clumsy comedy is this, tripping over your own feet while walking fine?

I caught her from behind with a smirk.

“Are you alright?”

I asked while checking her complexion.

But she didn’t look alright at all.

Her gaze trembled wildly.

And her face was red up to her ears, probably from embarrassment.

Could it be that she’s dizzy from the stress about her fiancé and that’s why she fell?

I placed my hand on her forehead.

“Lady Sione, you seem to have a slight fever… are you alright?”

At my question, Sione hung her head low.

“…Leave the room.”

“Pardon?”

“L-leave… the room, I said.”

She quickly escaped from my arms and dashed toward the bed.

She hadn’t done this in a while.

Sione hid under the blankets just like the first day I met her.

As I quietly observed her reaction.

Peek.

She pops out just her head, just like before.

With a bright red face, she shouted:

“…Get out!!”