The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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The nobles express their power through their clothing.

Indeed, attire is the easiest way to convince others of the authority they possess without any frustrating explanations.

Therefore, heads of various families and their potential successors wear increasingly extravagant outfits as their family’s power elevates. It’s quite common for those from royal institutions and subordinate organizations to wear a variety of uniforms that correspond to their importance.

“Among them, the royal family must be the pinnacle,” one might say.

In this kingdom’s utmost wealth, the garb of the royal family reaches the zenith of luxury. It is famous for embodying grandeur and nobility, not just in flamboyance but in dignity and reverence.

Even during the last adulthood ceremony, they wore such outfits in transit from the north and west. Naturally, I assumed that even while residing in the Count’s House, they would wear such clothing for the occasion. Shione and I also adorned ourselves fancy for the event, but…

Adelhaite’s outfit wasn’t as flashy as I expected. Though the fabric looked outrageously expensive, the dress itself was merely of the semi-formal variety. There were no breathtaking embroideries or dazzling ornate decorations to be found.

However, if one were to ask whether her simplicity in clothing obscured her power, the answer would surely be a negation.

“After all, she’s still a princess.”

Rather, her unremarkable robe keeps her from drawing the eye, allowing others to focus more on her expressions and movements.

It almost seemed intentional, as Adelhaite confidently ensnared attention and stamped her presence into everyone’s minds.

“The issue is how she’s bound to bombard us with various questions just like this one…”

Given that Shione and I often camp together and roll around on the ground, we have become adept at reading each other’s thoughts from a mere glance.

Thus, when she welcomed me and introduced me, and the princess took her seat, I turned my gaze toward Shione.

“…”

Shione was glaring with a frosty gaze.

“It’s so obvious, so very obvious.”

Our jealous Shione, when she’s in the throes of envy, has this distinctive expression. The slight push of her lower lip forward reveals her true feelings.

…Most likely she’s staring like, “I can’t take my eyes off the princess. She’s just that beautiful?”

Even in such a situation, it feels a bit awkward to read Shione’s jealous thoughts, but we couldn’t just vacate the space for a little secret plotting between us two, and there shouldn’t be an issue with the dialogue at this level.

After a light-hearted small talk to ease the tension, we finally moved to the main topic.

“I’ve heard about the Academy while staying in the North. Thanks to the Young Lady and Ray’s assistance, the damage was markedly reduced from what I had feared.”

“The Academy is precisely the place where the talents that support the kingdom grow, isn’t it? As a noble of the kingdom, it’s only natural to do so. Furthermore… with Your Highness’s foresight, the Royal Knights and Wizards were also present, so even without our help, the Academy would have survived.”

I never imagined Shione could articulate so well. But it seems she’s been practicing separately with Aheira lately.

And upon hearing that eloquent statement, Adelhaite, looking quite pleased, bit into the bait.

“Thank you for saying so. However, your statement is both half right and half wrong.”

But the problem is that her smile didn’t solely convey good intentions.

“Were it only that, there wouldn’t have been a need for me to personally come all the way to the West to commend your efforts.”

A princess is ultimately a magician. Moreover, a high-caliber magician inheriting the blood of a dragon known as the master of magic.

The deep violet eyes of Adelhaite shimmered with a magician’s hope and curiosity at recognizing a fine research subject.

“The Academy was destined for an even greater blow than it has faced. Though I’ve sent Knights and Wizards, while it may not collapse, it would have suffered an even larger blow than this. At least that’s how it appeared to me—”

“……”

“You’ve saved the Academy beautifully, and moreover, you’ve brought about a change in our kingdom’s wasteland, so wouldn’t it be reasonable for me to visit the Count’s House myself?”

The meaning behind her complex words boiled down to something simple.

According to Adelhaite’s vision, the Academy was fated to be upended by those cultists.

More importantly,

“Adelhaite can only see one fate… and it doesn’t seem accurate.”

Her vision fails to catch the intricate details.

She once told me, people can perceive only one fate. Borrowing her words, reflecting on my own destiny, resembles a rotten rope.

It means that when she’s not involved with me and Shione, she could only see the general flow of the continent and fragmented information.

Thus, rather than focusing on the Academy, her reason for heading North may lie in the fragmented world she perceived.

She couldn’t discern the connection between the Academy and the Demon of Gluttony, nor could she catch the fact that the Academy, which remains intact, is nothing compared to the absolute wreck that the North would experience due to the gluttonous demon. Essentially, she decided to concentrate on Northern affairs instead.

“Besides, it seems that the butterfly effect of Shione and me has somehow reached the North.”

Since we intended to head towards the Academy, Sion stayed behind, and naturally, he got entangled in matters that made him more aware of the cultists. Various incidents continued, after all.

“So, after personally commending your efforts, I prepared certain items of significance. Once this gathering ends, my attendant will bring them over. How about it? Wouldn’t that be entertaining?”

She didn’t seem inclined to reveal what she would give just yet. But, this was also the chance I first came to hold an Elven bow thanks to her.

Her words sparked a glimmer of excitement within me.

However, that moment barely lasted, as Adelhaite slowly sipped her tea to quench her thirst and, finally, the sharp words we feared began to jab at us.

“Your connection with me is quite intriguing. From my adulthood ceremony to defeating the monsters pouring out from the demonic realm. Including the Great Forest and the Kalia Marquis Family. Wherever you go, a future tolerant of demons awaits.”

The glint in Adelhaite’s eyes illuminated.

She aimed to decipher me and Shione.

“Furthermore, it’s not just the knights makes that unreadable; it’s also about the Young Lady’s fate becoming difficult to read. Come to think of it, miracles seem to happen wherever you go.”

While Adelhaite examined us with a blank expression for a moment, she crossed her legs and continued speaking.

“Especially in this continent, there is no fate I can’t read. Even the royalty of that Empire is no different. So I thought, ‘Why can’t my visions penetrate you as well? You even seem to be able to twist fate itself.’”

It was quite awe-inspiring to hear about her encounters with the Empire’s royalty, let alone making it to discuss it here.

“It has made me want to hear directly from your lips how you manage to twist fate.”

Adelhaite’s attention was undoubtedly burdensome for both me and Shione.

With her unyielding gaze, Shione seemed utterly entranced.

“I feel like I’ve gleaned some insight from our conversations regarding the Academy and the Young Lady.”

Why is the princess staring at us like a professor eyeing potential graduate students? That frantic intensity coming from her gaze is undeniably pressuring.

Moreover, Adelhaite not only revealed her observations on past discussions but also noted that Shione whispered to me last night about suspecting Adelhaite might sense our secret. It seems the princess slipped in her inquiries, detailing our meeting yesterday with the slyness of a serpent, and has gained confidence in her assumptions.

“With that in mind, I have a proposal for you…”

“Please, speak freely. I shall listen intently,” I replied.

The corners of Adelhaite’s mouth turned upward.

Her low voice carried a proposal that felt shockingly intense.

“I wish for you to accompany me on a journey to restore our demon-ridden kingdom and in the future, to declare it an Empire—”

To correct a demon-ridden kingdom, I could reasonably grasp. After all, everything I’ve done in twisting fate connects to demons.

As her thoughts branched out, it could mean that my powers might align with Shione as we battle demons.

But as for declaring an Empire…?

“What sort of place is an Empire?”

A nation that has subdued the continent.

A homeland of numerous wizards. The very country that sets the rules of this era across the continent.

There cannot be two suns under the same sky. With the Kalia Marquis Family right at hand, declaring a kingdom an Empire?

“That’s utter madness especially since we’re struggling against demons right now.”

Dealing with the Demon of Gluttony in the North or the Dream Demon is stressing me out, making me lose my hair. Encountering soldiers of the Empire along with their mages would only leave me wondering, do I just summon death at this point?

“What if I flee with Shione?”

Is there a chance to escape with Shione to the Great Forest?

No matter how much one might view it as a den of elves, we’d likely receive decent treatment for what we contributed.

Isn’t it said that those entrapped in fantastic dreams of conviction can never be dissuaded?

“What do you think?”

In that aspect, our Royal Highness expressed her ambitions triumphantly and gracefully.

And that was enough to send Shione and me spiraling into chaos.