Ch.6363. Jealousy

“Sione?”

When I called out, Sione’s blue eyes, clouded like murky water fog, fixed directly on me.

Only then did a smile begin to spread across her previously cold lips.

Instead of her usual gentle and beautiful eye-smile, she even gave me a mischievous one.

Perhaps it was because of the alcohol.

With her black dress and white skin flushed red from drinking,

my master had abandoned her usual naive appearance and started exuding an impish aura.

Thud. Thud.

Sione began walking slowly toward me.

“Um… Lady Sione…?”

…She’s completely lost her mind.

Despite my call, Sione only smiled playfully without responding.

She just kept getting closer to me, one step at a time.

Sione, who had suddenly appeared right in front of me, exhaled a sweet breath.

I could smell the lingering scent of wine.

‘…Oh, shit.’

My instincts began to warn me.

That my chastity was in danger.

I wondered why that eye-smile seemed so ominous, but there was a reason.

Within that mischievous eye-smile dwelled the gaze of a predator memorizing its prey.

And that prey… seemed to be me…

I slowly took a step back.

“Ray, stay still.”

The problem was that Sione embraced me faster than I could retreat.

I was caught by her and couldn’t move an inch.

This is seriously annoying.

Maybe it’s because she drank so much.

She’s hugging me so tightly that blood can’t flow through my arms.

I tried to free myself by unwrapping her arms.

She looked up at me while clinging to my chest.

“…You’re my slave. Right, Ray?”

“…Yes, I am Lady Sione’s slave and personal attendant. But why are you…”

Why is this person suddenly bringing this up again?

My head is already starting to throb at the thought of dealing with Sione’s nonsensical talk.

As much as I’d like to knock her unconscious before things get more annoying,

it would obviously become even more troublesome if she woke up the next day with her memory intact.

With an expression full of annoyance, I listened to the nonsense Sione started spouting.

“Why do annoying things like princesses and Aria keep hovering around my slave who should only be with me…?”

Oh, shit. Dear God.

Sione has finally gone completely mad.

Even though I’m the only one hearing this, to call not only the daughter of Marquisate Allenar,

but even Princess Adelheid “annoying things”…

‘…At least we’re back in her room.’

If she had said such things in the banquet hall instead of her soundproof room,

she might have ended up behind bars for something like insulting the royal family.

As I shook my head inwardly while looking at my unreasonable master,

I could see that the water fog in Sione’s blue eyes had grown even thicker.

“…I don’t like any of them.”

After muttering something while burying her head against my chest, she suddenly threw me onto the bed.

I tried to resist the sudden force, but…

Sione must have used mana just to throw me.

Despite my resistance, my body was mercilessly thrown onto the bed.

There was no time to appreciate the comfort of the bed that had looked so luxurious and soft.

Because Sione was looking down at me from above, as if about to pounce.

“Haah…”

Sione began breathing hotly.

Sione, giving me a greedy look.

“If I mark you with proof that you’re my slave, those annoying things won’t cling to you anymore. Isn’t that right?”

In the end, Sione gave up being human.

This beast is about to do all sorts of things to taint my principles and chastity.

It’s now or never.

If this doesn’t work…

I’ll have to humbly accept my fate.

I embraced Sione tightly.

“…Ah!”

Sione let out a startled breath at my sudden action.

She must have been quite nervous once we were actually embracing on the bed.

I could almost hear her heart pounding.

I whispered in the ear of the fidgeting Sione.

“Surely you weren’t thinking of taking advantage of me while intoxicated?”

At my words, Sione’s eyes began to tremble.

This situation, with our cheeks touching, must have been unexpected for her, as she tried to pull her head back.

I held her head and said:

“I would prefer if you saved my first experience for a sober, romantic night…”

Then I lowered my arms to embrace her neck.

I pressed my forehead against hers and our gazes met.

“Could you please restrain yourself tonight, Lady Sione?”

“Ugh…”

Sione begins to waver.

I can’t afford to lose the advantage I’ve gained by selling the idea of my “first experience.”

I continued speaking more earnestly.

“You said you were troubled by annoying people clinging to me and wanted to mark me. Though it may not be enough as a substitute for that mark…”

Smooch.

I kissed her cheek.

Her breathing became rough.

“Isn’t this enough confirmation between you and me, Lady Sione?”

“Uh… uhh…?”

I whispered quietly in her ear once more.

“I’ve given you my first kiss… my body and heart already belong to you. I hope you won’t be troubled by such trivial matters in the future.”

Well, it is my first kiss if you call it that.

At least it’s the first time with this body, so it’s not a lie.

Sione’s cheeks turned crimson at my actions, which maintained a certain truthfulness.

“Really…?”

“Would I lie about this?”

Seeing how she can’t even meet my eyes properly now, it seems this will end in my victory again.

In the midst of this, Sione said:

“Can I believe that? That your body and heart…”

“That’s too much.”

“Huh?”

“I even said I wanted you to take my first experience, yet you don’t believe me?”

When I smiled slightly while speaking, Sione’s pupils began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.

Yes, that’s the real Sione.

The impish Sione from earlier isn’t Sione at all.

Sione, who had been hanging her head and avoiding my gaze with all her might.

Having made some new resolution, she looked at me directly and opened her mouth.

“…May I kiss you?”

No matter how good the mood is, that’s going too far.

This person is trying to get away with it somehow.

I immediately shook my head.

“We already made a promise about that, didn’t we?”

“B-but…”

“Doesn’t the saying go that a woman’s word is worth its weight in gold? I want Lady Sione to be an admirable woman who keeps her promises.”

“Haah…”

At my words, Sione pressed her lips tightly together.

The fire that had been burning quickly died down with those final words.

Perhaps Sione had also sobered up from the alcohol after all this, as she quietly released me.

Thanks to that, I was able to escape from her bed.

After preparing her change of clothes, as I was about to return to my quarters,

Sione got up and followed me to the door.

Sione hung her head low and fidgeted with her mouth.

The recent events must have been quite embarrassing for her.

I stroked her silver-white hair, suggesting she should get more rest, and said:

“Sweet dreams. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lady Sione.”

“Y-you…!”

I hurriedly left her room before Sione could say anything more.

While walking from the nobles’ quarters to my own lodging,

I whispered in Korean:

“Why is life so difficult?”

Yesterday, today.

How is it that not a single day passes normally?

I only wish that tomorrow would pass ordinarily without any incidents.

* * *

After the difficult day had passed, a new morning dawned—the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.

I got up and changed my clothes.

I put on a black formal suit with the spelling of Sianella embroidered on the breast pocket, and fastened a sword that had been lying in the corner of my room to my waist.

“I’m doing this because I was ordered to.”

It wasn’t that I wanted to wear it.

Since more humans and other races would gather for the coming-of-age ceremony than at yesterday’s banquet,

those who serve as escorts are permitted to carry swords in case something happens.

I’m carrying a sword only to protect Sione in case of emergency, as per Ainel’s orders.

However, the problem is…

“…Carrying a sword will attract a lot of attention.”

The fact that I’m a man.

The nobles of this world use female knights as escorts, not weak men who can’t even handle mana.

It’s obvious that I’ll attract attention from many people.

Additionally, everyone will want to see the face of whoever entrusted a sword to a man.

Even though I came to the capital with other female knights,

I don’t understand why Ainel chose me, who would attract so much attention, as an escort.

I grumbled as I finished preparing and went to get Sione.

Knock knock.

When I knocked on her door, Sione opened it.

In her pajamas with disheveled hair, Sione faced me with a haggard look.

“Um… good morning.”

“…Thank you.”

Hearing her weak response that seemed drained of energy, I examined her complexion.

I could see her reddened, bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath them.

“You don’t look well. Did you perhaps stay up all night?”

“…It just happened.”

“There’s still quite some time before the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. How about getting some rest? I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

Sione quietly nodded at my suggestion.

“Excuse me.”

I entered Sione’s room.

The black dress she had carelessly taken off was lying on the floor.

Would it hurt to properly hang it in the closet after changing?

As I picked up her dress and was organizing it in the closet,

Sione quietly approached from behind and tugged at my sleeve.

“…Ray.”

“What is it?”

“You definitely said so. That your body and heart belong to me.”

“…I certainly did say that.”

At my answer, Sione slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

Just like that devilish smile she had when drunk yesterday.

“Then Ray, during today’s coming-of-age ceremony, never leave my side.”

Sione’s eyes began to sharpen.

“I don’t like even a single fingerprint of others on what’s mine. Understand?”

I nodded with a hollow laugh.

“…I will follow Lady Sione’s wishes.”

…There’s definitely no wine or any alcohol in the room,

so why is this person acting like this again first thing in the morning?