Ch.167167. Brothers (1)

“I didn’t expect to meet Your Ladyship here again! Were you sightseeing nearby?”

Allen Kallia’s voice, dripping with coquettish charm, made him seem like a brothel madam’s brother.

I felt an instinctive, justified revulsion.

And somehow I suppressed my instinct to take a step back.

For now, this Allen Kallia is also a high-ranking person, being the young master of the Marquisate.

Though he and our Sione share the position of being second children overshadowed by the eldest, the difference in their origins is that of a Count versus a Marquis.

His position is slightly higher.

I need to be careful with my expressions and conduct.

We had only briefly encountered each other yesterday.

Yet Allen Kallia was speaking to me with unnecessary familiarity.

Sione responded to his question carefully, maintaining a neutral expression.

“…Yes, the weather was too nice to stay indoors, so I was looking around for a bit.”

“Hmm~ Good choice! Have you been to the back of the mansion? It’s about time for flowers to bloom in the garden, so it might be worth a look.”

…The way he flashed that bright eye-smile.

This is really too much.

I heard he works with Eunice Kallia in the Marquis’s army, overseeing the territory’s defense…

This Allen Kallia, who embodied this world’s definition of masculinity, showed not a trace of a soldier’s charisma.

Instead, where that charisma should have been, he possessed an extraordinary talent for acting naturally charming—perfect for captivating women.

“I didn’t know there was a garden in the back.”

“Yes! Since I have some free time… would it be alright if I guided Your Ladyship there?”

He said this while looking as if he might burst into tears if rejected.

Allen Kallia’s eyes sparkled with moisture.

He subtly shifted his hips back, lowering his height to look up at Sione.

‘Tsk… this is maddening.’

I could feel my mental fortitude being chipped away just by looking at him.

As Sione’s personal attendant, I’ve set foot in noble society.

My master doesn’t have much connection with men. Instead, she meets many of the women who lead their society.

The noble men I’ve met so far are limited to Evan, Noah, and Sion.

‘…Let me clear my head for a moment.’

I rolled my eyes away from Allen Kallia.

If I kept looking at him and witnessed more of his affected cuteness…

I’d probably have an even stronger adverse reaction.

I have no choice but to avoid him on my own.

So I turned my gaze to the woman who appeared to be a knight accompanying him.

‘……?’

The woman I belatedly noticed.

She was looking not at Sione, but directly at me, holding me in her gaze.

When I slightly bowed my head in greeting, she returned the gesture.

Afterward, she briefly lowered her eyelids, hiding her dark red pupils.

When she opened her eyes again, it was as if nothing had happened.

She fixed her focus on Sione.

‘She’s carrying a sword too.’

Her naturally disciplined posture and silent demeanor revealed a sharpness different from ordinary servants.

She seemed to be either a highly skilled knight or one with extensive combat experience.

As I was watching her instead of Allen Kallia, he naturally moved closer to the knight’s side.

Re-entering my field of vision, he began introducing the knight.

“I haven’t introduced her yet, have I? This is Chloe Anette, the Kallia Marquisate’s finest knight.”

Chloe Anette bowed respectfully to Sione following Allen’s introduction.

‘So she’s the commander of the First Army…’

I wondered who this commander was who had fallen for Allen Kallia.

So it was this person.

Indeed, just standing there, she exuded an extraordinary aura.

So she too is in league with Allen Kallia, who’s notorious as a scoundrel that Friel avoids…

It wouldn’t hurt to be a bit cautious.

Following Allen’s introduction, Chloe stepped forward and shook hands with her.

“Pleased to meet you, Your Ladyship. I am Chloe Anette, commander of the First Army of the Marquis’s knights.”

“Commander of the First Army… it’s an honor to meet you, Lady Chloe Anette.”

“Regarding Lady Sione… our soldiers have been quite inspired by your recent fame as the Moonlight Archer on the walls. The honor is mine to meet you.”

“What…? The Moonlight Archer?”

“Yes. The Moonlight Archer.”

Sione’s cool composure crumbled, apparently embarrassed by the nickname attached to her.

Not only had rumors from the County reached here…

‘The Moonlight Archer on the walls…’

To think Sione was being discussed in other territories with such a cringeworthy nickname.

Well, the nickname probably came from Sione’s hair color.

The hair of the Count’s family is quite beautiful. It’s also quite interesting. It seems like a nickname that captures her characteristics well.

Well. It would be quite embarrassing to have such a nickname. Even now, Sione is fidgeting with her hands hidden behind her back.

Since I’ve found something to tease her about, it wouldn’t be bad to bring this up later when I’m bored.

Just as I thought that—

“Then, Lady Sione—”

Allen Kallia turned his head toward me.

My sharp impression reflected in his black pupils.

“Could you introduce the gentleman with you?”

As Allen said this and flashed another fresh smile at me,

I didn’t feel particularly comfortable.

But I didn’t lose my composure.

I simply listened impassively as Sione approached and introduced me.

“This is Ray, my personal attendant.”

“Ray… is it? Nice to meet you.”

He spoke just fine with Sione, but…

Why did he narrow his eyes and scan my face while murmuring my name?

In the end, receiving Allen’s lingering gaze like that of a brothel madam’s brother didn’t feel particularly good.

After I perfunctorily greeted him, saying it was nice to meet him—

I felt a penetrating gaze fixed on me.

“……”

“……”

The one looking at me so intently was the First Army commander, Chloe Anette, standing behind Allen.

The tall woman, about 170cm, slightly raised her eyes to stare directly at me while keeping her head still.

Her narrowed wine-colored pupils gleamed like a predator spotting its prey.

“If you’re Ray who accompanies Her Ladyship… then you must be that archer who annihilated a Demon with a single arrow. Ray, I’ve often heard of your achievements with these two ears. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

She extended her hand to me, requesting a handshake.

Given my position, I couldn’t rudely refuse a hand already offered.

So I took her hand.

Quite strong pressure.

As expected of someone who handles a sword daily.

Her hand was exceedingly rough.

Even while shaking hands, her gaze never left my face, becoming even more persistent.

‘Tsk….’

Indeed, once news of Sione reached here,

There was no way information about me wouldn’t have arrived as well.

I’m currently famous as the continent’s only man who can use magic.

This fact seemed to have piqued her interest.

Indeed, after hearing Chloe’s words, Allen also—

“……”

While Sione was watching Chloe, who was holding my hand in a handshake for too long,

He had dropped his artificial smile and was looking at me with a curious expression, as if evaluating me.

As if trying to imprint my appearance and existence in his mind.

When Chloe, who had shown such intense interest, finally let go of my hand,

Sione stepped between us.

When Allen came back into Sione’s view, he naturally brought his previous smile back to the surface.

After this strange greeting time ended,

Allen spoke up as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“So you’re that famous archer? If there’s a chance in the future, I’d really like to see you use magic! Would that be possible…?”

Ah. Please, really.

Don’t look up at me like that.

“…If the opportunity arises, I’ll certainly try to demonstrate properly.”

“Really?”

“…How could I possibly lie before the young master Allen Kallia?”

“Hehe, great! Thank you, Ray.”

With those words, Allen Kallia suddenly grabbed my hand.

Since it was such an abrupt movement, I was caught by force and barely managed to prevent my expression from souring.

“Oh, and you can call me Lord Allen instead of young master. Young master isn’t… very cute, is it?”

No, please.

I call you young master because that’s what you are.

Why does the term need to be cute?

Moreover, Allen’s hand now holding mine.

According to Eunice, he claims to be a male knight.

But it seems he doesn’t train with a sword at all, as there wasn’t a single callus.

But then his hand began to grip mine more tightly, like a snake trying to strangle its prey.

Not wanting to continue like this with a man, I nodded immediately, intending to pull my hand away.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Lord Allen.”

“Good, Mr. Ray.”

Allen smiled brightly again and slightly distanced himself from me.

It might have been just a momentary illusion on my part.

“I look forward to our future interactions?”

But for that instant, I felt a chilling aura envelop me.

…Indeed, Friel really hated this guy.

There’s definitely something hidden there.

However, contrary to my thoughts, I just went along with his words for the sake of appearances.

He turned back to Sione.

“Well then, shall we go together, Your Ladyship? I’ll show you to our garden!”

“No, wait—”

Just as he said this and naturally moved to link arms with Sione on her left side,

“Wait, brother.”

A low voice from behind me resonated softly, filling the corridor.

“…I apologize for interrupting just as you were about to spend time with Her Ladyship—”

“……”

“But it seems you need to have a conversation with me for a moment.”

Seeing him, both Allen Kallia and Chloe Anette became incredibly quiet.

“Abel, what’s the matter?”

Abel Kallia.

The third son of the Marquisate straightforwardly bore all this attention as he delivered his message.

“Mother has given an order. Would you spare some time, brother?”