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Once the series of events came to an end, Shione and I returned to the carriage.

Friel Arielte mentioned she would come to the carriage shortly, having just finished a battle and looking rather disheveled.

In the meantime, we could relax our gear and wait for her to arrive.

‘Allen Kalia.’

Even before heading into battle, I had caught snippets of Friel muttering about him.

What was it she said?

Surely—

‘…an insatiable male throwing out compliments without restraint?’

That was her blunt assessment of Allen Kalia. Along with the crude word choice, her muttering dripped with disdain as if she were genuinely disgusted.

One couldn’t help but wonder what kind of impression that second son of the marquis had left on an elf.

And Eunice Kalia mentioned as well, how her younger brother considered himself a knight who indulged in pleasures with female knights.

Leaving aside the elf’s indecipherable inner thoughts, one couldn’t deny that their beauty was absolutely outstanding on the continent.

Would our pleasure-seeking Allen Kalia just stand by when faced with an elf?

‘So…’

Given how much Friel seemed repulsed, it didn’t look like Allen put in a half-hearted effort in his advances.

However, if she learned that her hard work was ultimately fruitless and that Friel Arielte was judging him so harshly behind his back, wouldn’t that make him shed a few tears?

As such thoughts filled my mind, I began to relax my quiver and sword and sat down, when suddenly—

Flap flap!

A Cotton Puff flew over and settled onto my shoulder.

It seemed that using spirit magic, which I rarely employed, had taken a toll on it.

—Cough…

The Cotton Puff stretched its body out lazily.

I absentmindedly stroked the little spirit with my index finger and turned to Shione.

“What are your thoughts on handling spirit magic?”

“As for thoughts… Hmm, it’s fascinating, and it’s harder than I thought? The very idea of altering an arrow’s trajectory against my will feels completely alien.”

“Well, it’s your first time. With practice, you’ll pick up the nuances eventually.”

“Hmm.”

Shione gazed down at her bow and arrows, resting in a corner of the carriage, before scooting closer to me. She was sitting much nearer than I had expected, our sleeves brushing against each other from time to time.

It seemed she was caught up in some new feelings, much like when she first drew her bow and hit the target.

She was staring at her small and delicate hands, where calluses had formed between her fingers from drawing the bowstring.

I casually ruffled her hair from behind as if acknowledging her work and asked, “So, have you finished your thoughts?”

With her eyes closed, Shione purred like a contented cat while enjoying my gentle motions.

She tilted her head slightly, a puzzled expression crossing her face. “Thought? What thought?”

“The thought regarding how many cookies you’ll be giving this little one as a reward for spirit magic.”

“Ah….”

—Meow!

She sighed at my words, and the Cotton Puff’s eyes began to sparkle.

“…Do I really have to share cookies with it?”

Ziiii—

The Cotton Puff shot a fierce glare at Shione.

Shione flinched at the small spirit’s chastising look and ultimately fell silent, continuing her sentence afterward.

“Must I really give it cookies?”

—Cough!

The spirit started flapping its wings slowly.

With its body floating, it seemed ready to dive straight at Shione’s face at any moment.

Shione waved her hands in front of the spirit, saying, “No, it’s not that I won’t give them…”

—Meow?

“Without needing to share mine… Ray, you could just give it another one.”

—…!

Both Shione and the spirit turned to focus on me.

Honestly, it would be just fine if we each gave one. But watching these two bicker back and forth in the dreary carriage was its own kind of entertainment.

If I were to respond bluntly, I was certain that I would end up receiving the concentrated ire of both.

I took a moment of silence to collect my thoughts.

After a brief period, just as I was about to speak under pressure…

“Lady, are you inside?”

Friel Arielte had arrived at the carriage.

Upon seeing Friel, I rolled my eyes to convey her arrival, causing Shione to let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll save my answer for next time.”

—Meow.

With a gaze that seemed a bit reluctant to let go of the expectation, Shione stood and welcomed Friel.

“Yes, please come in.”

“Then I’ll excuse myself.”

As Friel stepped into the carriage, it seemed she had either changed clothes or had called upon some magical power. She wore a gown of the same design, but markedly more presentable and spacious than before.

Her previously messy blonde hair was neatly arranged in a half-up style, secured with a ribbon.

Not only was she exuding an aura of bloodlust, but her appearance seemed polished, suggesting she had taken her time reaching our carriage.

“Please take a seat over here.”

With Shione’s guidance, Friel sat across from us.

“I got a bit delayed, tidying my outfit and hair. Thank you for waiting, Lady and Ray.”

“We were just relaxing, so your timing was perfect.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s a relief.”

As Friel conversed, she then glanced over at the Cotton Puff that had returned to my shoulder after fluttering around.

Elves were always gentle towards spirits, even if they weren’t so with other races.

“Oh my, little spirit, hello!”

—Meow.

After she smiled warmly, the Cotton Puff lifted its small leg in greeting.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries…

It seemed we were finally beginning to get into some important discussions.

With fresh smiles yet an air of serious elf demeanor, the unique poise of elves was creating a strangely heavy atmosphere.

Once the moment felt right to discuss the marquis family, Friel Arielte opened her mouth first.

“Before we dive into the conversation, I have a question.”

As she began to stroke her red lips with her thumb and index finger.

“How much do you know about the Kalia Marquis family, Lady?”

“As for the Kalia Marquis family… what precisely do you mean?”

“The declining head of the family and the shift of power as it begins to pass down to his children. Aside from that, what do you know about the legitimate heirs of the Kalia family born in this generation? What are your insights on that?”

“Hmm…”

Shione paused, unable to answer Friel Arielte right away.

This was entirely understandable.

She had kept herself isolated, shutting off all connections with the outside world for years.

Instead of mingling in gatherings with numerous nobles, she had lived in a world akin to a story. Her only friends were characters from those stories.

Shione hadn’t communicated much even with her own family.

Having only begun to see the light from outside for a year now, she had invested her time more into drawing her bow than into understanding the politics and dynamics of the kingdom.

Moreover, given her lack of interest in the marquis family, which was completely opposite to the Count’s house, she wouldn’t possess deep knowledge on the matter.

“The eldest daughter of the Kalia Marquis family, Eunice Kalia, is valiantly fighting against the present empire’s ambitions and has been regarded as the most promising contender for the next head of the family due to her exceptional feats.”

Eunice Kalia, who had participated in the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, was rumored to master both sword and shield.

Shione barely knew more than the fundamentals of Eunice’s achievements amongst the Kalia siblings.

“That’s about all I know about the children of the Kalia Marquis family.”

“Then you’ve likely heard nothing at all about the second son of the family?”

“Yes, I’ve never heard of the second son.”

“Hmm… then Ray, have you ever heard of him?”

“Are you referring to that person?”

The sudden question caught me off guard.

Now both Shione and the Cotton Puff were intensely gazing at me.

I did know a bit about him, but not enough to elaborate.

I thought it best to remain silent and listen along with Shione rather than pretending to know. So I subtly shook my head.

“I, too… don’t really know much about the second son of the Kalia family.”

“Hmm… is that so.”

Friel seemed to nod in understanding at my response.

However, I noticed Shione casting furtive glances at me even after I finished speaking, her gaze lingering for a moment longer.

“Then it might be best to introduce him from the very beginning.”

Friel’s eyes glinted coldly.

“The second son of the Kalia family, Allen Kalia. He was assigned alongside his elder sister, Eunice Kalia, to defend the borders from the Empire.”

“While the eldest daughter, Eunice Kalia, received command of the Second Unit of the Marquis’s Knights, the second son was given control of the Third Unit, despite lacking the training and experience compared to her.”

“The First Unit remains under the head of the family’s command, with both fearlessly bolstering their authority for the upcoming head of the family competition.”

Shione, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

“Then the second son would be at a disadvantage, wouldn’t he?”

“Yes, indeed. In truth, the eldest daughter has consistently outperformed the second son.”

Friel placed her hands gently on her knees.

“Until the second son can lure the commander of the First Unit or charm the female knights of the Second Unit into his web, he stands very little chance.”

“Is that so…?”

“Heralded as a pleasure-seeking knight within the Kalia family, the second son has quite the reputation.”

Regardless of any surprise I might showcase, Friel simply continued explaining.

“Allen Kalia has a serpent-like demeanor, laced with a deep desire for pleasure. He possesses a peculiar fondness for beautiful women, especially mixing with the likes of rough mercenaries. If he finds a woman to his taste, he won’t hesitate to throw flattery her way.”

“Are you saying…?”

“You’re plenty beautiful, my lady. He may very well take an interest in you and attempt to approach you.”

“Surely, the second son of the Kalia family wouldn’t dare?”

Friel only smiled faintly at that.

“His lecherous nature has made him adept at charming the loyalty of the knights in the Second Unit, nurturing their affections and securing his footing.”

“And what if he manages to secure affections from the second daughter of the Shianella Count’s house, improving the strained relationship between the Count’s house and the Marquis’s?”

“Furthermore, he has approached me, Elisa, and even other children.”

“My lady—”

Friel’s gaze grew serious.

Shione stared deep into her eyes as if entranced.

“The second son, Allen Kalia, harbors an unsettling quality. Thus, it would be prudent to approach him with suspicion rather than goodwill.”

Friel Arielte’s keen insight.

“I will bear that in mind.”

Shione Shianella carefully etched Friel’s advice into her heart.

 

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