Ch.5454. A Request

“Ray, I have somewhere to go, so let’s go together.”

“Somewhere to go. Are you thinking of going to the shooting range?”

“No, today I’m planning to visit sister Siabel.”

“Visit Siabel… Has she regained consciousness?”

Sione nodded.

She had been unconscious since returning after sustaining serious injuries during the cult search and destroy operation.

It seems that now, two days after her return, she has finally awakened.

But…

When exactly did Sione, who had been accompanying me every day, hear the news that her sister had awakened?

“How did you know that Siabel has regained consciousness?”

“During dinner last night, Mother told me she had spoken separately with my sister who had awakened.”

“Ah.”

“I thought it might be impolite to visit my sick sister late at night… so I was planning to go sometime this afternoon.”

“I see.”

Since Siabel didn’t appear at dinner yesterday, I had assumed she was still unconscious in bed.

It seems she had already awakened, spoken with Ainel, and had dinner separately in her room.

When I nodded slightly, Sione chuckled and took my hand to lead me.

“Well then, let’s get going.”

“As you wish.”

I let myself be led by Sione’s hand as we headed toward Siabel’s room.

Being pulled along with my hand held like this would make me look like a servant being taken to be scolded for some wrongdoing in front of the other staff.

So at an appropriate moment, I freed my hand from Sione’s and followed leisurely behind her.

She looked quite disappointed when I tried to disentangle our interlocked fingers, but well.

It seemed she had no intention of holding on forcefully against my wishes.

In the end, Sione was the one who let go first.

After making our way to Siabel’s door, Sione called out to her sister.

“Sister, are you in there?”

“…Sione?”

“I’ve come to visit and talk with you.”

“Come in.”

With permission granted, Sione gently opened the door.

I thought I should probably wait outside as before, so I started to say:

“Then I’ll wait here—”

“And Ray, you come in too.”

Siabel’s voice called out to me from inside the room.

At Siabel’s words, the corners of Sione’s mouth curved up slightly as if pleased.

“Since sister Siabel said so, let’s go in together.”

“Understood.”

Considering the blood stains that had covered her armor, and even her beautiful silver-white hair that had been dyed red all over.

And how she had collapsed unconscious right after reporting her return to Ainel.

I had been concerned about Siabel’s condition, so I quickly followed behind Sione into the room.

Upon entering, we could see Siabel reclining on the bed to greet us.

“Has everything been well?”

Siabel’s condition didn’t look very good as she asked about our well-being.

Her long hair was disheveled and tangled.

Her usually impeccably neat appearance was completely disheveled.

And despite her smile, I could clearly sense her fatigue and exhaustion.

I couldn’t even say she looked fine as a mere pleasantry.

Sione also wore a gloomy expression upon seeing her sister’s condition.

“I’m sorry I can’t get up to welcome you properly when you’ve come all this way.”

“…It’s fine. You’re not well, after all.”

Siabel shrugged her shoulders, having read the concern in Sione’s stiff manner of speaking.

“Why so formal? Speak comfortably like you used to, Sione.”

“Is that… alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? If you speak comfortably, I can relax and speak comfortably too, can’t I?”

Sione slowly nodded.

It seemed quite awkward for her to address her sister in a friendly manner rather than the formal tone she had been using until now.

After repeatedly opening and closing her mouth, trying to speak, Sione finally managed to properly address her sister.

“Sister, how are you feeling…?”

Siabel’s lips curled into a smile at Sione’s awkward words and she answered.

“Thanks to the high priest’s constant care, I’m a bit better. However, the Magia from the Demonkin seems to have seeped into my wounds, making them slow to heal, which is a bit troublesome.”

“Magia seeped in…?”

“The demonic energy flowing in the blood, but it’s been cleansed with Divine Power, so there’s no need to worry too much. I just need to avoid strenuous movement for a while, I’m told.”

After that, Sione and Siabel naturally engaged in conversation.

Though Sione’s speech reverted to formal language midway, the atmosphere had softened considerably from its earlier stiffness, so Siabel didn’t point it out.

As I stood there listening to their conversation for a while.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“I’ll check who it is.”

Since I couldn’t join their conversation and was just standing there.

Having nothing to do but wait leisurely, I quickly opened the door to see who was knocking.

When I opened it, a man in servant’s attire was standing there.

“May I ask what brings you here?”

“The head of the family has called for Lady Sione… Since she wasn’t in her room or the training grounds, I came here. Is Lady Sione here by any chance?”

The servant who said this sighed in relief when he saw Sione behind me.

As Sione approached upon hearing her name, the servant explained the situation to her.

Learning that Ainel had summoned her, Sione relayed messages to Siabel and me.

To Siabel, she expressed concern, telling her to rest well.

And to me, she said to have a proper conversation with Siabel and then return to her room.

Siabel and I agreed to Sione’s words, and she left with the servant to meet Ainel.

Thus, only Siabel and I remained in the room.

With the conversation interrupted, silence and awkwardness filled the space between us.

In the continuing stillness, it was Siabel who spoke first, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

“I told you to focus on healing your arm so we could cross swords as soon as I returned from the Beltrin Mountains.”

“…Yes, you did.”

“I’m sorry about that. After saying that—”

Siabel began to unfasten her clothes.

No, had she lost her mind after being unconscious for days?

I couldn’t understand why she was suddenly undressing in front of an unrelated man.

My expression hardened completely as I watched her behavior right after Sione left.

Siabel pulled her right arm out from her clothing to show me.

“Ah.”

Siabel’s right arm was thickly wrapped in bandages.

Now that I think about it, when she first returned to the estate, her right arm was hanging limply.

“With my right arm like this, crossing swords will be difficult for a while.”

“…Is your arm alright?”

Siabel shrugged her shoulders.

“To some extent. However, the Magia has penetrated deeper than expected, slowing the healing process… I’ve been told to avoid strenuous activity as it could reopen the wounds.”

“In that case, you should rest well until your wounds are completely healed, and then we can cross swords. I’ll wait.”

At those words, Siabel gave me a playful look.

“Wait? As if you have time to wait.”

“…Pardon?”

Siabel continued as if it were nothing.

“I heard from Mother yesterday that you and Sione are going up to the capital for the First Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“You mean…”

“In that regard, there’s something I’d like to ask of you. Would you be willing to listen?”

“…If it’s something I can do.”

“Good, come a bit closer.”

When I approached Siabel somewhat, she grabbed my clothes.

She brought her lips close to my ear and whispered her request.

After hearing Siabel’s whisper, I couldn’t help but grimace.

“…If I were to deliver your message as instructed, I fear my head would roll… moreover, I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to speak with that person.”

“No.”

Siabel firmly shook her head.

“The opportunity to speak will definitely come. Given the abundant friendship between her and me… just delivering my message won’t cost you your head. After all.”

Through her disheveled hair covering her face, I could see Siabel’s bright smile spreading.

“She’s a person similar to me.”

* * *

As I was organizing my thoughts about Siabel’s unexpected bombshell of a request, waiting for Sione in her room.

The door opened and Sione returned.

Looking completely deflated, Sione trudged in and collapsed onto her bed.

Staring at the ceiling of her room with a vacant expression, as if her soul had left her body, Sione spoke.

“Ray, what should I do about this situation?”

“If you’re in a difficult situation… is it about going up to the capital to attend the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes, the Princess’s… huh?”

Sione turned her head to look at me.

“I haven’t told you about that yet. How do you know?”

“I heard it from the head of the family earlier.”

“…You heard something so important and didn’t tell me?”

“The head of the family instructed me not to inform you until she told you herself.”

When I mentioned Ainel, Sione, who was about to argue, immediately closed her mouth.

Then, seemingly worried about the upcoming trip to the capital, Sione began sighing endlessly.

If she’s already this full of complaints, I’m starting to worry about what kind of trouble she’ll cause in the capital.

After a while, tired of seeing her unable to accept reality, I walked over to Sione’s side.

Her unfocused gaze, which had been fixed on the ceiling, returned to me.

I should make things clear now to prevent her from doing something strange out of defiance like during the broken engagement incident.

“Don’t worry so much. I’ll handle all the troublesome matters.”

So stop sighing like this, it’s draining to watch.

“You just need to stay by my side, Lady Sione.”

Don’t think about doing anything strange in the capital, just stick close to me.

“…I will do so.”

Finally, her mood seemed to lift at the promise that I would take care of all the troublesome tasks.

“Hehe.”

My master finally started grinning with satisfaction.