chapter 28
28. Returning
After staying at the Marquis Peiosha’s house for a few days, we started going back to the Countess Cianella’s house.
I’m fed up with the carriage life that started all over again, but I can’t live here on a mat for the rest of my life.
Adapting to fate, I climbed into the carriage with my heavy body.
Nothing much happened on the way back.
I was lucky enough to run into bandits once…….
‘It’s like an ordinary bandit in front of a sword expert.’
It was easily organized thanks to Dioria’s performance.
The afterimage of blue mana shimmering on the sword is an inaction unique to expert knights.
The bandits who saw Dioria’s sword lost their morale at that moment and behaved like goblins facing orcs.
Thanks to that, I was able to deal with the bandits who were confused more easily.
‘And Shione also came out of the carriage to help.’
Not only that.
Shione also aimed arrows at the thieves without hesitation, as if there had been a change in her own image.
Of course, in the end, I only aimed, but the arrows did not pierce the bandits.
Even when I killed the zealots who were aiming for my life, Shione, who was trembling, showed an uncharacteristically courageous appearance, which was surprising.
Besides, on the way back this time, Sione and Diolia also helped out with the troublesome things little by little.
Thanks to that, I was able to spend a more comfortable carriage life than when I went to the Marquis of Feiosha.
And finally.
“…Finally.”
The walls of Countess Cianella’s family, which had been waiting for a while, began to appear.
Now, starting today, I will be able to put an end to my dreadful night out.
I’m going crazy because I miss the room assigned to me and the soft bed.
I turned my gaze away from the window, rejoicing inside.
Shione entered my field of vision.
Shione, of course, was lying on the floor of her carriage, staring at me.
Wagjak. Wow.
Eating an apple by myself non-stop.
Wow. Omnyomnyomnyom.
Shione took a big bite out of the apple and gulped it down.
Have you gained weight lately because you gave me too many cookies?
Shione was in a situation where her cheeks were raised.
He doesn’t move much in the carriage, and he’s just lying on the bed and eating snacks….
Is there anything special?
When I get back, I just need to make them exercise a bit harder.
She opened her mouth just as she swallowed her apple.
“The walls of the count’s family are starting to appear, so you should be able to reach the manor soon.”
“Really?”
Shione’s complexion suddenly brightened and at the same time, she jumped up from her place.
She flung herself like a flying squirrel to her window seat.
“Whoa…I’m tired of living in a carriage. I miss my room.”
Even in this wagon, I felt like I was living in my own room.
I asked Shione, who was filled with joy.
“How do you plan to live after you die as a count?”
“I don’t have anything to do. I’ll just have to stay the same as before. I’m going to visit my mother after stopping by my room for a while as soon as I get back.”
“To the head of the household.”
“That… About the breakup, there’s something we need to talk about…”
Shione’s shoulders shrank.
Somehow, I think you are imagining Ainel Cianella’s reaction to the breakup.
I only cheered a little in my heart, but didn’t say anything.
It’s not like I’m being scolded.
This is all about Shione’s cause and effect.
Accept Balsam humbly.
* *
We arrived inside the territory and then to Sione’s room.
Looking at the familiar corridors and landscapes, it felt like I had finally returned to my own home.
To feel like home in this place that I thought I would never get used to even if I died.
Time is scary.
Behind me, who was slowly examining the surroundings to see if anything had changed along with the new feeling.
Shione took out a neat set of clothes from the closet in her room.
“I’m going to see her mother after changing her clothes, so please leave the room for a while.”
“I’ll wait in front of the door.”
I did as she said and left her room and waited for her at her door.
After a while, Sione, who had changed her clothes, called me through her door.
“It’s over, come in.”
I went into Shione’s room again and looked at her as she changed her clothes.
Then, Sione spun around her and showed off her clothes.
“How about this, can I go see her mother?”
“I think that’s good enough.”
I nodded slightly.
“It’s just that the collar is a bit messy… I’ll fix it.”
But everything else was well-dressed and only the collar was disheveled, which was quite annoying.
As much as it was obvious that if I went to Ainel in that state, I would hear someone say that I should check my clothes properly before walking around.
It’s good to hear as little bitterness as possible, so I’ll have to fix it.
“Excuse me for a second.”
“Please.”
Before, even if I got even a little closer, I would feel ashamed and try to leave.
She must have matured a bit now, and she waited patiently for me to mend her collar.
Thanks to that, I was able to easily fix her collar and fall off.
“It’s over.”
“…Thank you.”
Shione expressed her gratitude with a light smile.
She was at her word.
“I’ll go see her mother. In the meantime, let her rest and wait.”
“…Can I have a little tea and wait?”
“Of course. Instead, I’d like to have refreshments with you and bring my share. So that I can enjoy it as soon as I get home from work.”
“I will do that.”
“Good.”
With those words, Shione passed me and opened the door.
She said with a bright smile.
“I’ll be back soon.”
* *
I waited for her in her room at her cione, enjoying her tea.
Time passed quickly as we slowly enjoyed refreshments and tea.
Thanks to that, waiting for Shione wasn’t boring.
Still….
Shione said that when she returns to the Count’s family, she will lend her a flower language dictionary.
She thinks that it would have been better if she had received and waited.
Reading a book together would be easier to kill time than sitting still and sipping tea.
Herb of immortality, plum blossoms, and what?
Anyway, I’m curious about the flower language Shione said.
When I come back, I will look at the timing and ask for a flower language dictionary.
Then the door to the room opened with a squeaking sound.
It seems that Shione has finally finished talking with Ainel and her and entered the room.
I put down her teacup and greeted her.
“Shione, are you here?”
“Okay…”
Why is the answer so weak?
I looked at Sione as she lifted her head, which had been bowing down in greeting.
It was clear that Shione had been very upset with Ai Nell about her breakup.
I could see thick dark circles under her eyes, and on her way back, my hair was plucked and it was scattered.
His expression full of worry was a bonus.
“Haaa…”
Fluff.
Shione threw herself on her bed with a deep sigh.
The sight of her with her face buried in my pillow was a bit salty.
I talked to Shione.
“Shione-sama, are you okay?”
“No. Not at all.”
“…Maybe it’s because of the breakup with Prince Evan Peiosha?”
Shione, who was lying on her stomach and buried her face in her pillow, turned her body and lay down on her back.
She then shook her head, turning her gaze to me.
If it’s not because of the engagement….
What on earth did you hear?
Fortunately, Shione gave her the answer before her curiosity grew too big.
“It was okay until they reprimanded me about breaking up the engagement. I went there with my heart prepared. But, to subdue the monsters right after I just returned…”
“Yes…?”
Subjugating monsters?
What nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden?
Shione, a coward like that, has to beat a monster?
For a moment, I seemed to have a hard time thinking.
“Did you say monster subjugation?”
“Yes, her mother told her to follow Siabelle’s sister and subdue the monsters in the Beltrin Mountains located to the west of the territory. As Cianella, she knows that someday she will have to follow her sister. That’s for now. It’ll be…”
With her words, something I hadn’t seen for a long time appeared in a corner of my field of vision.
[The quest has been formed.]
「Monster Subjugation」
「At one time, high-ranking demons settled in the Beltrin Mountains west of Cianella. The first head of the Cianella family succeeded in eradicating them, but the monsters planted by the demons still do not disappear and cause considerable damage to humans. As long as the number of monsters increases unless they are cleared periodically, they come down the mountain range and cause significant damage to Count Cianella’s family, so those who succeed Cianella are wiping out the monsters periodically. Together with Sia Bell Cianella, keep her safe until the end of Sione Cianella’s quest to subdue her monsters in the Beltrin Mountains.」
「Reward: Sione Cianella’s liking for you increases, Siabelle Cianella’s interest in you」
「Failure: Accelerating the End of the World」
I never thought a quest would appear.
The contents were not difficult and could be easily understood.
Protect Shione, who must step out of the territory to subdue monsters in the future.
It was simple but difficult.
Protect Shione in the Beltrin Mountains.
It was extremely dangerous.
Somehow Cianella’s eldest daughter, Siabelle, is said to be with her, but between Sione and Siabelle, it would be difficult for Shione to stick by Siabelle’s side for a long time.
If her monsters attack her when her Sione is away from those who climbed her mountain range with her, then I will have to protect her.
Although it was fortunate that the opponents were monsters that he had caught every day before, not troublesome humans.
I doubt if I can do well with such a weak body.
All you do is mana exhaustion, and your body is so weak that it can’t be compared to before.
How long has it been since she returned by carriage, how long ago did she take on such a troublesome task.
There was a reason why Shione buried her face in her pillow and let out a deep sigh.
“I think I’ll have to talk to Siabelle about this…”
Shione stared at me intently.
As I stared into her pupils, her pupils began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
“How should I talk to Siabelle unnie…?”
[The quest has been formed.]
「Reconciliation with Siabelle」
「Always compared to Siabelle Cia Nella, Sione Cianella has intentionally avoided Sia Bell ever since she laid down her sword. Also, Siabel Cianella also knew that her sword, and her sword, were being compared to Cionesia Nella, so she could not approach her recklessly. Now that several years have passed, the relationship between the two has become more awkward than anyone else. Let go of the awkward relationship between the two of you and get them back to the old close sisters.”
「Reward: Accelerate the flowering of Siabelle Cianella’s talent」
「Failure: Increased probability of world destruction」
There are now two quests that have not even been seen.
I roughly answered Shione’s question while reading the quest.
“Why don’t you talk to me by telling me about good flowers or flower language?”
“That… isn’t it?”
Oh, I couldn’t hear it properly because I was concentrating on the quest.
“Can you tell me again?”
“Are there any flowers suitable for Siabelle unnie?”
The rough answer was the root of the problem.
Shione was lost in thought about which flower to draw attention to in order to start a conversation with her older sister.
I wonder if Siabelle, who always wields a sword, is interested in flowers.
I quietly exhaled deeply.
“…Coming to think of it, it doesn’t seem very natural to use flowers to talk to them for the first time.”
“Then how could it be so natural to talk to you?”
“Why don’t you ask how are you doing and talk about what happened in the Marquis of Feiosha?”
“Ah…”
Shione shook her head and let out a deep sigh.
After talking to Dioria well, why the hell is she doing this to Siabel, who seemed to be nothing different.
“Are you nervous talking to Siabelle alone like that?”
Shione nodded her head slightly.
“…I want to help.”
In the end, I had no choice but to agree with her words.
Because I have to complete the quest.
I don’t know why in the world if Shione and Siabelle don’t become close, the probability of the world ending increases.
Even in order to avoid the penalty for failing the quest, the two needed to become friends.
I approached Shione, who was lying down on the bed and had a happy expression on her face.
Again. Again.
I silently went to her bed and looked at Sione. She looked at me in a puzzled way.
“Please wake up.”
Sione, who realized what I meant, became teary-eyed.
I just raised the corner of her mouth at her.