Ch.586586. Driving Out (3)

Sione Sianella is sensitive to the gazes of others. The reason might be intertwined with the pain that others’ gazes caused her in the past. But now, it has long since become one of the weapons she can wield.

Therefore, she could easily sense unusual gazes that felt different from others. In the midst of countless crowds, she could effortlessly realize when an intense yet calm and refined gaze was directed at her.

Following the gaze that pierced her skin to confirm who was sending such a look, Sione immediately recognized the identity.

‘Though they’re hiding their entire body with a robe.’

Someone she had fought alongside on the battlefield before. And quite an important figure at that.

‘No matter how I look at it, it’s that person.’

The captain of the Beastkin Special Forces, Sharenne. A warrior who had returned to the county’s church after the Demon Beast extermination. For some reason, she was staring intently at her and Tasha, showing no intention of moving.

Even after her speech ended, Sharenne remained in place, lost in thought.

Sione’s mind began to race.

‘I may not know about the Order, but the Special Forces led by Sharenne could certainly be drawn to our side.’

The relationship between her sister Siabel and the Special Forces was quite good.

Moreover, they weren’t completely subordinate religious figures to the Order, but merely a cooperative unit of the Beastkin Alliance.

‘Even if they’re following the Order’s instructions now… what moves them isn’t the Order’s celestial deity, but the leaders of the Alliance.’

Unlike the stubborn bishops of the Order in the current strained relationship, the Beastkin Special Forces were the type one could reason with.

‘Moreover, thanks to their symbolic representation of the Beastkin Alliance within the Order.’

If she remained neutral or slightly favored the Barony, that alone would be a significant help to the family.

‘Let’s have a little chat.’

During a brief moment of leisure, Sione instructed the knights around her to focus more on guarding during her absence.

Then she approached Sharenne, who was gradually moving away.

“Lady Sione…?”

“This is the first time we’ve met since the Demon Beast extermination. I saw Lady Sharenne while I was with the Saint, so I took a moment to greet you.”

“Ah—I thought I had concealed my presence as much as possible. It seems it didn’t work on Lady Sione.”

Sharenne gave a small smile at those words.

After exchanging awkward greetings for a while.

Just as Sione was about to open her mouth to find out why Sharenne was here and what she had been pondering so deeply.

“Lady Sione, I’m grateful that you came to greet me like this, but…”

A calm, settled atmosphere.

They say the alpha wolf must make accurate judgments in every situation to oversee and coordinate the entire pack.

The wolf Beastkin before her, too, in order to make the most beneficial choice for her pack.

“If possible, I’d like to borrow a bit more of your time. Would you join me?”

She spoke first with an extremely cautious voice.

Seeing an opportunity in this, Sione inwardly—

“Of course. Let’s move to another location.”

—could only smile.

* * *

“The Lady I know, and who fought alongside me on the battlefield, is nothing short of a warrior who knows honor.”

“You flatter me.”

“Your reputation is already well-known. One who broke her own mold and spread her wings. Even the proud Beastkin of our Special Forces respect the path you’ve walked.”

How far could she seriously continue with such embarrassing words?

As the conversation began with a shower of compliments right after changing locations, Sione could only show an awkward smile.

“And such an outstanding warrior naturally possesses exceptional insight and deep thoughts. I wanted to ask you directly.”

“If there’s something you want to ask.”

“If a situation arises where you must choose between immediate benefit and the justice you know, where choosing one means abandoning the other, which would you choose?”

It was a difficult question.

Compromise with reality. And one’s ideals and beliefs.

Sione remained silent for a moment at the question that touched on this complex aspect that differed for each individual.

‘I can roughly understand just from the question.’

The situation was completely clear before her eyes.

The Order was trying to touch the County. In the midst of this, they would try to use all means available to them. The Special Forces, which were nominally under the Holy Nation. They must have made similar demands to its captain.

Given this, what she, as the lady of the Barony and a direct descendant of the County, should say was already determined.

And despite knowing this fact, the reason for seeking such advice specifically from her was that Sharenne’s heart was already leaning. She just wanted to hear and confirm the answer she desired from Sione.

‘…I’ll try speaking like Ray.’

To draw her heart more effectively.

Ray, who spoke more eloquently than anyone else she knew.

Sione began to imitate him whom she knew better than anyone.

“The County has strained its relationship with the Order due to its current declaration and decision. Far from gaining benefits, the support and backing of the priests are gradually diminishing, and we’re moving away from the great church. Since Lady Sharenne is a warrior of the Beastkin Alliance, let me speak more directly.”

Sione’s flat, even voice with her soft tone captivated Sharenne.

“The current Order, contrary to the celestial deity’s will to bestow love and tolerance, is wary of losing its influence and authority. Lady Sharenne, since you also reside in the Order, you know this better than anyone.”

“That’s—”

“But despite this, our County chose to reveal our justice rather than the benefits from our relationship with the Order.”

“……”

“As stated in the declaration, it’s because it’s the right thing for our County. It’s the spirit of pioneering the future, the very spirit with which the founder of our County reclaimed this land from demons.”

Sharenne’s ears perked up.

The gesture showing her utmost concentration was very easy to recognize.

Encouraged by this, Sione was busy shooting her intentions with this momentum.

“At least our County and I believe that the benefits gained from doing the right thing, no matter when it might be, as long as we endure and strive, are far greater than those gained through compromise and immediate benefit.”

Then.

“…I did show some signs, but I didn’t expect you to speak to this extent. Let alone see through my heart so clearly.”

Finally, Sharenne raised the white flag.

“In fact, wasn’t your heart already leaning this way since you were quietly observing the Saint and my speech?”

“There’s no point in hiding it. That’s exactly right. Perhaps I just needed someone to push my back.”

“It seems I’ve been rude without meaning to.”

“Not at all, I rather like this straightforward approach, like our Beastkin way.”

Sharenne shook her head politely.

After organizing her thoughts for a moment, she looked directly into Sione’s eyes.

“May I ask what you meant when you said that the benefits that come from upholding justice will be far greater?”

And Sione didn’t back down either.

“Exactly what I said.”

With the following words.

“For the Beastkin Alliance as well, siding with us might turn out to be an unexpected good move.”

She could feel that Sharenne’s heart had completely come over to their side.

* * *

Today, I had put my heads together with Ainel, Siabel, and numerous vassals to establish the broad framework for the Allied Forces and the Demon Beast matter.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, I was able to return before Sione, who had gone out with Tasha today, and take a rest.

As I sat quietly, organizing things I needed to pay attention to in a notebook, time passed quickly, and Sione returned.

“Ray, I’m back—”

Sione returned to our room, unbuttoning her uncomfortable formal dress without hesitation.

She stretched and approached me, naturally placing a kiss on my cheek.

‘She’s incredibly nonchalant.’

I wonder when the cute Sione became like this.

As I was watching her with a sense of nostalgia, she puffed her cheeks slightly and complained.

“What? We’re married and have done everything, so what’s wrong with me kissing my husband’s cheek?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I don’t care, Ray should do the same.”

At least this side of her still remained.

As we continued our trivial conversation, acknowledging each other’s hard work.

With an interesting topic.

“Ray, something amazing happened outside today?”

“Something amazing?”

“It’s important enough that we should inform Mother. Are you curious?”

Sione brought a comb and held it out to me.

“If you want to hear it before Mother… here!”

“A comb?”

“Comb my hair gently!”

In the end, unable to resist Sione who clung to me with a clear smile, I took the comb.

She immediately jumped onto the bed, settled in, and patted the space behind her with her palm, urging me to come quickly.

As I moved behind her and began combing her beautiful silver hair.

“Ah…!”

“……”

“…How could you comb tangled parts like that?”

Beyond Sione who was briefly startled.

“So what’s this amazing thing?”

“Oh, that—”

Finally, I could hear what our wife had been doing outside the lord’s castle.

“I had an open conversation with Captain Sharenne. I suggested that she distance herself from the Order and be friendly with us and the Beastkin Alliance.”

“What…?”

“Ah…!”

What had happened when she went out with Tasha?

As I failed to control my strength due to the unexpectedly large scale of the conversation and scratched her head with the comb.

In the end, Sione turned her body towards me and leaned against my chest.

Then she raised her head and looked directly at my face.

“…Why do you keep doing that? Ray, I thought my scalp was going to tear.”

For a while, I could only focus on dispelling the spirit in Sione’s blue eyes.