The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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It was when Arachne was hiding in the trees, ready to pounce on us.

“Just protect your head!”

“What do you—Gyaaaaaak!!”

Ray, who was tightly hugging me, threw me without hesitation.

There was no hint of consideration in that action.

Despite being a fragile man, I couldn’t fathom where he found that strength.

I was unceremoniously thrown into the ground.

Thud. Roll roll roll.

“Ugh…”

I groaned as I raised my upper body.

My arms and legs hurt from hitting the overgrown weeds and hidden tree roots.

In the filthy earth, my already crumpled attire became even more so.

“What on earth are you doing in this situation!”

Arachne could jump out at any moment!

I couldn’t understand the behavior of that attendant who, out of nowhere, threw himself away.

“I need to help!”

Because of his reckless act, my servant must be facing Arachne alone by now.

I had to hurry and provide backup behind him.

After all.

– The vibe is off. This crucial altar standing alone without a guard, coupled with this stench of rotten blood from the dead tree.

I could sense the tremor in Ray’s voice as he confessed his anxiety to me.

– It’s ominous. What Siabel said was merely a simple search, not a resolution, right?

I realized the fear in his next words.

– Just once. Just this once, will you adhere to what I say?

From those last words, I could sense his desperation.

I didn’t want to leave him to harbor his fear of Arachne alone, even for a moment.

“And besides… I promised I would protect you this time.”

Moreover, when he saved me once more from the orc’s attack.

I swore that I would protect him next time, as I had promised.

Thus, my action was swift.

Even as I rolled on the ground, I didn’t let go of my bow.

It seemed slightly damaged from the multiple impacts, but it looked sufficient for shooting arrows.

The arrows…

As I rolled on the ground, I scattered them here and there, but I managed to easily retrieve those that fell around me.

Bang!

From a distance, I heard something large collide.

It must have been the sound of Arachne landing.

“It can’t be too late.”

In haste, I nocked an arrow onto the string.

Drawing back smoothly, I aimed for the location where my servant would be.

“And…?”

Ultimately, I witnessed it.

“…No way.”

I saw Arachne’s gigantic fangs just crush my servant’s left arm.

I never thought Ray would throw me for no reason.

But for me, he was sacrificing his own arm.

“Why… why on earth…!”

What in the world makes me worth this much to him…?

My vision began to waver.

The focus I had maintained on Arachne started to crumble.

The strength left my arm that was drawing the string back.

As my arm, which was held parallel to the ground, bent, the arrow which had drawn power from the string drooped toward the ground.

At the end of my broken concentration, only Ray was in my sight.

“Damn it!!”

He shouted something incomprehensible with a face twisted in agony.

Indeed, with his flesh tearing and bones piercing, it must have been hard for him to speak properly in such a situation.

From his scream, I could feel the excruciating pain he was experiencing.

I had to help him.

But my body trembled so much I couldn’t shoot even a single arrow properly.

I took a single step forward.

I needed to get closer to him.

The speed with which I moved forward increased.

Yet, before I reached him.

I offered no help whatsoever before he finally managed to kill Arachne.

But even so, it was not the time to cheer for his hard-won victory.

“Hah… hah…”

Ray was panting heavily.

To my ears, that sound.

Felt ominous, like the breath of someone about to die.

And then it happened.

Thud.

Ray collapsed backward, drained of all strength like a knight who had given his all.

“Non… Non!”

My heart began to race fiercely.

The moment I remembered that Arachne’s weapon contained not only a sticky thread but also deadly poison.

A chill crept down my spine as the fear that Ray might die hit me.

“No, no.”

For some reason, my vision started to blur.

As something flowed down my face, I realized it was tears.

Ray turned his head to look at me.

“…Huh?”

But that was all.

It seemed he tried to move his mouth to say something, but ultimately he couldn’t say a word and lost consciousness.

I ran.

Once I reached him, I felt like an infinitesimal sinner, getting on my knees.

“…Enough with the jokes. Get up now. That’s an order.”

“I told you to get up.”

“Get up!!”

No matter how loud I shouted, he didn’t budge.

“Ugh…”

A sound of weeping escaped from me unknowingly.

I embraced him.

I could feel his warmth.

Ray was still breathing, albeit heavily.

It was then that I recalled again that thick blood was seeping from his left arm.

“…Potion.”

…There was certainly a medical tent and supplies designated for them at the camp.

If I can just get him there in time, it might resolve his arm and Arachne’s poison.

Only if I can make it in time.

“…Just hold on a bit longer.”

I began to lift Ray and run.

He felt too fragile for someone who had just managed to capture Arachne alone.

What kind of thoughts had he harbored to protect me?

The deeper my sense of guilt felt, the faster I ran.

As soon as I arrived at the camp, I entered the tent where the medics should be.

“Medic!”

“Princess Shione…? What brings you here—”

The medic’s gaze shifted to Ray.

The moment they saw his condition, their demeanor turned exceedingly serious.

“Can you explain how this happened?”

“We encountered Arachne. Can you treat him?”

“My goodness, Arachne…? Please lay him down here so I can examine his wound.”

As the medic indicated, I laid Ray down, and without hesitation, they began to examine his left arm.

“Arachne’s poison rapidly necrotizes flesh and skin, but… fortunately, I don’t see any necrosis progressing yet.”

“What does that mean?”

“It seems he hasn’t been affected by the extreme poison, so we should be able to provide emergency treatment.”

The emergency treatment began.

His left arm was doused with multiple potions, wrapped in a bandage, and given another mixture in case of hidden poison.

Many potions flooded his wounds and mouth.

Thanks to the medic’s frantic efforts, Ray’s pained expression, which had been contorted with agony, began to ease up.

Once the emergency treatment concluded, he was moved to a makeshift bed at one end of the tent.

“Everything we did was merely emergency treatment. Upon returning to your estate, please ensure he is treated by a priest.”

“I will do that. Thank you for your efforts.”

“I will handle the nursing, so Princess Shione, you—”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll stay and nurse him.”

I brought a small wooden chair from inside the tent and sat beside Ray.

As I quietly observed Ray’s complexion, the medic bowed their head.

“In that case, I will be in the adjoining tent. If the patient’s condition worsens, please call for me immediately.”

“Okay, thank you.”

After the medic left, I stared at Ray for a long time.

Sniff. Sniff.

Just when I began to feel some relief, thinking he was peacefully sleeping without any major problems.

I brushed my hair back.

The hair I cut off in an attempt to sever the gloomy past that had nestled into the room.

“Hah…”

Just thinking about it made a frustrated sigh escape me.

I had aimed to cut away my murky past and dream of a just and bright future.

Yet now, it seems I had always depended too much on Ray, convinced he would forever protect me.

In reality, he had always defended me from threats and became the pillar of my fragile mind.

But that was the problem.

How was I any different now than when I hid away in this room?

Both in my room and this foolishly loyal servant of mine.

Thinking back, they were merely a refuge.

“I was foolish.”

It wasn’t he, a mere male servant, who was supposed to protect me.

I should have been the one to protect him, as his master.

If I lacked even the strength to safeguard a single servant, I might lose my only ally.

I realized that only after Ray reached this state.

My hands instinctively tightened.

Clenching my fists.

I noticed the sharp pain of my nails digging into my palm.

“So far I was living as if I were something.”

It wasn’t even about stepping out of my room. Losing weight. Picking up a bow.

None of it was something I began for my own sake.

What I had achieved until now was not my own doing but rather the product Ray had created.

I had deceived myself into believing it was all the result of my willingness and effort.

What a ridiculous situation it was.

I had only tried to hide or evade dangerous or displeasing situations, just like before.

How high could the will that seeped into the hair I cut off in vain be?

I was angry.

I wanted to vent that anger and truly change.

While I was caught up in this confusion of emotions, Ray’s voice suddenly echoed through my mind.

“Shione!”

Before I realized it, Siabel rushed into the tent upon returning to camp.

Her gaze fixed on Ray after passing over me.

Her expression stiffened at the sight of blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his left arm.

My sister addressed me.

“Big sis.”

“…Can you explain what happened?”

“Can I ask one favor?”

Within our jumbled conversation.

Siabel caught my gaze, which was clouded with discontent, and momentarily fell silent.

“What do you mean by favor?”

“Right now, just once, can you spar with me?”

“No way. In this situation with only sharp swords around, you could get seriously wounded.”

“Please.”

“Absolutely not.”

Siabel shook her head.

“Even if a deep wound were to cover my body, it wouldn’t matter. The cure is merely potions lying around here, right?”

“…Which sister would want to leave scars on her younger sister? Besides, you know well that potions cannot provide complete healing, Shione.”

“I will bear it all. Just one time, I just need this once. Is that too much to ask?”

“…Can you tell me why you’re suddenly asking for a spar?”

“Simply put….”

With Siabel’s question, Shione closed her eyes for a moment.

“My mere outlet for frustration.”

When she opened her eyes again, they were cold and sharp, glinting with resolve.