ALL NOVEL Chapter 23
The next morning, we managed to leave the village without any incidents.
The remaining remnants in the village had been informed by Diolia, who sent a letter to the Count’s House.
Considering it wasn’t just an ordinary matter but one related to demons, Shianella would definitely take care of it, especially when it involved something that made her eyes blaze with intensity.
I watched as the village gradually faded away in the distance from the carriage.
The status window indicating that the quest should be completed should appear any moment now.
As I sat there restless, staring off into space, I asked Shione, who seemed to be lost in thought.
“How about some refreshments?”
“Huh? Oh, you mean snacks? Just a little, please.”
Knowing that she would likely glare at me with an expression saying “This is too little!” if I took her request literally, I pulled out a generous amount of snacks from my bag and handed them to Shione.
“Isn’t this a bit more than usual?”
“Since we have a long way to go, if it’s too much, take your time sharing it.”
“…Well, since there’s quite a bit, I think it would be better to share it together.”
“Is that okay with you?”
“Of course! I’m not the kind of person to be stingy about sharing just a cookie.”
…It was so amusing that she had initially devoured everything as soon as she got it, showing disdain for just sharing a cookie.
It filled me with a sense of pride to see my lady transforming like this.
Even though it felt odd saying it, considering how stingy she used to be.
I nodded silently without voicing any objections.
“I will eat gratefully.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Only then did Shione pick up a chocolate cookie and take a bite.
Om nom nom.
How could she eat like that without ever getting tired of it?
Eating snacks, she wore a face radiating sheer happiness.
Well then, I’ll have just one.
As I took a bite of the cookie, a rich sweetness enveloped my mouth.
I could probably eat two or three more, but any more than that would feel overwhelming.
I must have gained weight from mindlessly munching on these almost as if I were drinking water.
With my recent dieting phase, I couldn’t afford to be complacent.
I should try to reduce the amount of cookies I share moving forward.
Just as I was getting tired of these trivial thoughts, I finally saw what I had been waiting for.
[Quest completed.]
[Your bond with Shione Shianella increases.]
[Through resonance with her, a small part of your original power is unlocked.]
The anticipated status window was only this much.
For some reason, today it didn’t stop there.
[Shione Shianella’s trust level has exceeded a certain point.]
[Shione Shianella’s evaluation of you is ‘the most trustworthy knight.’]
[While protecting her within a certain distance from enemies, a limited portion of your power will be unlocked.]
Staring blankly at the unexpected additional rewards, I felt a mix of joy about Shione’s assessment of me and curiosity about what that “unlocked power” was.
However, apart from that, I needed to check out the small amount of power that had already unlocked.
I closed my eyes and began contemplating my status.
The status was… much better than I thought.
Despite using Spirit Magic four times, notably using the wind, which had a low mana consumption rate, my mana was now doubled.
With this amount, I should be able to use a wind spell stronger than the wind whirl.
But it wasn’t just that that changed.
Not only my mana increased, but I had regained access to other attributes as well.
I was now able to use fire spirit magic, which had been incredibly useful after the wind inside the dungeon.
Fire consumes more mana than wind, but considering its power, with this amount of mana, I should be able to cast magic at least twice.
When would I be able to summon my own spirit again, rather than just mimicking the spirit’s magic?
As I continued to muse blankly, I decided to test the fire by using a small amount of mana to create a flame.
Flick!
A tiny flame appeared on my index finger.
A flame that ignited by burning mana.
With this size, it wouldn’t be much of a burden; I could easily use it.
Especially thinking that I wouldn’t have to bother starting a fire when cooking soup for Shione made me grin.
I extinguished the little flame flickering atop my index finger.
While smiling faintly at the gratifying result, I noticed Shione staring at me intensely from across the carriage.
“I thought you could only handle the wind, but do you also know how to use fire?”
“I didn’t mean to hide it.”
“Hmm….”
Shione began to twirl her silver hair around her finger, repeating the motion as if something bothered her, her expression far from pleased.
“Make sure not to show that flame in front of others. The same goes for the wind you use.”
“Is that also true for Diolia?”
Since Diolia didn’t know that I could manipulate the elemental powers, I asked, and after pondering, Shione nodded.
“It’s definitely magic, not just ordinary physical enhancement. Generally, magic is not permitted for men. You understand what I’m saying?”
“…If I expose it carelessly, I could be dragged into bothersome affairs.”
“Exactly. Unless things are especially dangerous, keep it hidden as much as possible.”
“Then I shall keep it as a secret between us, Shione.”
“A secret just between you and me?”
“Yes. I believe someone like you can keep a secret of this level.”
Shione nodded with a smile, clearly amused by my words.
“Of course.”
As she said this, Shione popped a cookie into her mouth—
“…We shouldn’t let anyone know, or it might be taken away.”
She muttered something, but her voice was too low for me to catch.
“What did you say?”
Shione just tilted her head slightly and smiled brightly at my inquiry.
“Oh, it’s nothing important, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
Well, since she said it was nothing significant,
Om nom nom~
Watching her happily eating cookies with a carefree smile, I thought it didn’t seem important after all.
I merely nodded once and returned my gaze to the scenery outside.
That day, for some reason, Shione stayed wide awake, not sleeping.
And for some reason, that day, she looked at me with unusually quiet, sunken eyes.
Of course, with a mouth full of cookies.
*
The unbearably tedious carriage ride seemed finally to be nearing its end.
I gazed at the road bustling with numerous carriages and people.
We hadn’t even entered the territory yet, but unlike anywhere else, the roads near the territory were well-maintained.
I heard that the Feiosha Marquis Family was famous for their excellent commerce, attracting numerous carriages and goods.
It seemed that this influence resulted in the well-kept roads near the marquis’s estate.
“Finally, we are at the Feiosha Marquis territory. The meeting with Prince Evan Feiosha is imminent… Are you mentally prepared?”
The name of Shione’s betrothed, Evan Feiosha.
As the name left my lips, furrows appeared on Shione’s forehead.
Why was she making such a face, considering we had come all this way to meet her fiancé?
She still seemed to have some hope of canceling the engagement.
As if breaking off an engagement were something simple.
Having come this far, she should start accepting reality.
“Mental preparation? Prince Evan Feiosha probably won’t like me very much.”
“What? The prince doesn’t like you?”
“My reputation and rumors must have reached Prince Evan Feiosha’s ears as well…”
Shione continued in a despondent tone.
“For years, I’ve ignored all the letters the prince sent me. I have done more than enough to earn his dislike.”
“…You ignored all those letters?”
“Yes.”
“All of them…?”
“I was too busy stuffing my face with cookies and loitering in my room. Do you think I’d have taken the trouble to write back?”
“…….”
…What an astonishing person.
I’d thought she was merely being shy about the notion of ending the engagement.
What on earth could Evan Feiosha have done to deserve being entangled with Shione?
At this point, I couldn’t think of anything to say.
I could only assume it was an affair she would deal with on her own.
“Given this situation, even if I came here, I doubt the prince will bring up the topic of the engagement first.”
“…Are you not being too decisive from the start?”
Shione shook her head at my words.
“No, it will happen. In his last letter, he mentioned something related to it.”
“Really?”
“In the last letter he sent me, he indirectly brought up the topic of the engagement. I must discuss it with him in person, but it seems he is considering canceling the engagement as well.”
“I see.”
With those words, Shione let out a heavy sigh, as if the ground had fallen out beneath her.
With that aside, Shianella’s carriage rolled into the territory, arriving just in front of the marquis’s mansion.
We straightened our attire and got out of the carriage.
Upon seeing the extravagant mansion that seemed to flaunt its wealth, Shione’s face turned pale.
Though the lord would have already been informed of Shianella’s arrival, aside from that, Shione would have to meet with the lord separately and explain her visit.
It was only natural for her to feel anxious about that.
“Ray.”
“Yes?”
“Should we return to the Count’s House at this point?”
I shook my head.
“No, we can’t do that.”
I had brought her all the way here.
It would be troublesome if she started whining to go back now.
“You still haven’t even met your fiancé, Prince Evan Feiosha.”
I made sure to meet Shione’s gaze firmly and declared.
“At least until you finish your discussion with him, please don’t think about returning to the Count’s House.”
Karma, retribution.
This is all a result of the past things Shione has done.