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“I’m glad that the head of the Kalia Marquis Family was so welcoming during our meeting. I was quite nervous.”

“Didn’t Princess Shione answer almost all of the head’s questions? I was merely standing beside her, so there was really no effort on my part.”

“Being next to her was important. If you were alone facing the head, wouldn’t it have been quite suffocating?”

A slightly playful tone from Shione.

Diolia rolled her eyes and subtly gauged Shione’s mood.

She didn’t seem too offended, and it felt like a minor jest that could be easily brushed off.

Relieved, Diolia also relaxed a bit and replied.

“That’s true. But wouldn’t it have been more comfortable for you to have Ray accompany you instead of me?”

Diolia asked in a teasing voice.

“Ah…”

Shione responded in a dazed tone, unconsciously agreeing with Diolia’s statement.

She then turned to glance at Diolia, who had a hint of a smirk on her face.

Shione let out a slightly awkward laugh.

“Haha… It’s not just Ray; he’s a loyal and trustworthy knight, after all. I rely on him just as much.”

“That’s quite a compliment. Until we return to the Count’s House, I will serve you with utmost loyalty.”

“Mm.”

Shione nodded quietly and walked slightly ahead of Diolia.

Consequently, Diolia, who had missed catching a glimpse of Shione’s profile, could only watch her back and her slightly lively steps with her deep gaze.

“By the way… the head mentioned Ray quite a bit… he seemed to want an opportunity to talk to him. It seems word of the Count’s House has already reached here.”

“That’s true. After a millennium of silence from the Demonic Realm, demons have emerged. It has been some time, after all. Especially since we’ve only managed to secure victory with the royal family’s support. It can’t have gone unnoticed.”

Diolia nodded in agreement with Shione’s words.

Especially since news of the war would widely regard the Count’s House as unique in its notoriety.

Rumors about Shianella’s male knight would also have spread, making quite the gossip.

Unless the stories were merely hearsay, those who witnessed him atop the castle walls would find themselves wasting time debating the truth or falsehood of such tales in taverns.

With the acknowledgment from Ainel Shianella, the head of the Count’s House, declaring his existence and pledging support, it had become nearly impossible to dismiss the presence of a knight skillfully wielding Mana amongst strong women as mere urban legend.

It seemed that even the head of the Marquis Family was quite curious about the reality behind this gossipy figure.

“The next time we meet the head, it would be nice if I could talk to him as well, not just you.”

“Hmm…”

“He may be of humble birth, but his talent and abilities are on par with those of noble bloodlines. I imagine the previous head, who was once a natural warrior, would enjoy a conversation with Ray.”

“…Do you know what the head was like in her youth?”

“Of course. I can still vividly remember her from the Academy over a decade ago. She effortlessly flowed through swordsmanship as if it were second nature.”

“A decade ago?”

Shione’s gaze sharpened at Diolia.

Diolia, recalling the past, sparkled with fondness for a time long gone.

However, she felt a little uncomfortable under Shione’s prolonged stare.

“Why do you ask?”

“Could you tell me how old you are now?”

“I’m just a little over thirty. But… why are you suddenly asking about my age?”

“Ah, I see. You don’t look your age at all, and I briefly mistook you for younger.”

“Haha, even as a compliment, thank you. As a knight, I’ve accepted Mana, so the aging process feels slower. Really, it’s a problem that I haven’t caught a husband, like a rabbit, despite being this age.”

Diolia seemed to brighten at being called youthful.

As if breaking through her usual demeanor when speaking with her subordinates, the atmosphere relaxed.

“My Lady, you should take care as well. If someone you’d like as a partner appears, be the first to actively reach out and capture their heart. Otherwise, you might end up like me.”

In a world where most married by twenty-five, a knight who has remained single past thirty—Diolia’s self-deprecating humor captivated Shione’s attention.

“…I must actively pursue and capture their heart.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Diolia merely nodded along, feeling the sincerity behind Shione’s statement.

As they strolled slowly down the corridor back to their assigned quarters.

They began to notice two figures walking towards them from the opposite direction.

A chill ran through Shione.

“Wait…?”

Shione’s instincts sensed something odd about them.

Before passing the strangers, Shione and Diolia’s gaze focused on the two ahead.

‘Those people…’

Shione’s striking blue eyes assessed the pair in front.

One was a man; the other, a woman.

The male figure appeared to be of high status, dressed in fine fabrics.

Meanwhile, the woman wore a priestess robe that resembled the one her brother had gifted her—a design quite similar.

‘Hmm.’

Shione shifted her gaze from the priest to the nobleman.

The warm brown hair and deep black eyes hinted at his roots.

The color and protocol strongly suggested…

The head of the Kalia Marquis Family, Ileyana Kalia.

It was strikingly similar to her own.

As she observed the approach, Diolia spoke.

“…That would be the second son, Allen Kalia. Should we greet him?”

From Ileyana’s wrinkled face, one could project her youthful beauty.

And the exquisite beauty of Eunice Kalia spotted back at the royal castle surfaced in her memory.

However, Allen Kalia was somewhat different.

Though he possessed the inherent strengths of his lineage and stood out with remarkable beauty, his eyes—elongated and cold—evoked a feeling that bordered on cruel and calculating.

Having heard a bit about the second son from Friel Arielte, along with his chilling demeanor, Shione found it hard to have positive feelings towards him.

“Let’s save the greetings for later. For now, I’d just like to head back to my room and rest.”

“As you wish.”

As they drew nearer to Allen Kalia, his presence and appearance began to leave a more defined impression, aligning with Shione’s instincts.

Finally, as his gaze caught hers, they momentarily locked eyes.

His silver-white hair framed some of his view as he smiled faintly, meeting her gaze.

‘…A sense of discomfort?’

An unsettling aura radiated from him.

There was no Mana detected, but the familiar instinct to repel it within her blood awakened gradually.

This was an unprecedented experience.

—Second son Allen Kalia harbors a sense of foreboding; it would be wise to approach him with caution instead of goodwill.

Shione created a flame of doubt and vigilance within her heart, following Friel Arielte’s advice.

The embers began to blaze, pulsating with her heartbeat, spreading through her entire being.

“I heard many esteemed guests visited today… and here we meet. You must be Princess Shione Shianella, correct?”

His low, soothing voice was disarming.

“Welcome to our Marquis Family, Princess.”

He adorned his face with a skillful, bright smile.

“…Thank you for the welcome.”

He had quite the handsome appearance. Had she not heard about him in advance, she might have taken that smile purely as goodwill, but now, it felt only discomforting beside the eerie aura he emitted.

Following that, Allen Kalia exchanged greetings with Diolia, and they engaged in standard polite conversation for a while.

After some time, Allen Kalia stepped one foot closer to the priestess.

“Um… if possible, I’d like to converse with you more, but regretfully, I have pressing matters to attend to, Lady?”

“Yes?”

“If it wouldn’t be too presumptuous, I’d like to share some refreshments and chat next time… would that be acceptable?”

“…With me?”

“Yes! News of the Count’s House and tales of your heroism have reached here… Hehe, I have secretly been yearning to know you.”

It was a frivolous smile.

Thus, the terms “tales of heroism” and “longing” didn’t stir any feelings within her.

Consequently, Shione faced him with a detached, icy expression.

“…If the opportunity arises, sharing a conversation wouldn’t be bad. However, I will shortly be heading to the Great Forest… so it might be a bit difficult.”

At her answer, for a brief moment, his once-bright gaze cooled before flickering back to life.

“Hmm… I had hoped we could share our stories… how disappointing this becomes.”

With a voice skillfully blending sincerity and flirtation, he puffed his cheeks slightly.

“Well, there’s nothing for it. Please enjoy your stay at the Marquis Family.”

Every conversation inevitably leads to a farewell.

As their paths crossed briefly, there wasn’t enough time for lengthy exchanges.

With a somewhat rushed demeanor, Allen Kalia began to step away alongside the priestess.

‘That priestess…’

Shione, who had been subtly observing the priestess following Allen Kalia, also began to step away.

After some distance had formed and the surroundings were sufficiently quiet, Diolia frowned slightly and murmured.

“Princess Shione, did you see that?”

“I did.”

“I meant the priestess standing beside Allen Kalia.”

“I noticed…”

Shione nodded slowly.

“…Somehow, her pupils seemed unfocused and unfocused.”

Allen Kalia and the priestess appeared quite suspicious.

“I think it might be better to avoid digging too deeply into those suspicions. What do you think?”

“I’m merely following your lead, Princess.”

*

“Really, is that so?”

“Yeah, quite suspicious… it might be best to avoid them as much as possible moving forward.”

“Hmm… indeed, there are certainly some questionable aspects.”

I mulled over Shione’s assessment of Allen Kalia, considering her description and all the rumors surrounding him and his companion.

The second son of a noble family, one I truly didn’t want to interact with, both publicly and privately.

“Well, I’ve already made it clear that I have no intention of talking with him. So he likely won’t bother me that much moving forward.”

“Hmm… then that’s a relief.”

But for my mind to be at ease, there had to be at least one or two smooth sailing days.

I could only nod in response to Shione’s words, still feeling uneasy about the situation.

 

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