***

A few peaceful days passed, and Sion’s guard against me had completely dropped.

At this moment, he’s glancing at me from the side, pretending not to.

Whenever I look his way, he swiftly averts his gaze, pretending he isn’t looking, but I can clearly see it from the corner of my eye, and it’s becoming quite irritating.

It’s really getting on my nerves.

Thud-!

“Sion. What’s wrong?”

I closed the book with a sound and turned to ask him.

“Yes?”

“Do you have something to say? I can see you glancing at me since earlier.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“I can’t believe it.”

“What?”

At my question, Sion lowered his gaze to the floor. As he lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks.

“I thought I would live like this for the rest of my life.”

His answer made me fall into thought as well.

Living here as a slave must have been more terrible than I could imagine.

Even the life of Lora, an illegitimate but noble child, was hard amidst people’s rejection.

“Well, but there’s no guarantee it will be completely fixed yet. Don’t get your hopes up too much.”

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment when it fails.

I swallowed the latter part of my words for his sake.

“Yes. Not just about my legs, but… I’ll try not to worry about it anymore.”

He said with something like a smile on his lips. I could tell that Sion was talking about the life of a slave rather than his legs, but I didn’t pretend to know.

“Are you bored? Want to read a book?”

“Yes. What kind of book is it?”

His eyes lit up.

“You like reading, don’t you?”

“Well, I think I used to. Now, I’m not really sure.”

Why does everything he says today make me feel sorry for him? I should treat him well.

“I see. From now on, you can find what you like again. This is just a novel about love… Should I give you a different book?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Huh? You want to read it?”

“Yes. I want to read what you’re reading together.”

“Really? Here.”

As if it weren’t just empty words, Sion seriously read my romance novel. I watched him curiously as I picked up a new book.

And so, we spent peaceful time in the same space but doing our own things, just rolling around.

“Sion, let’s eat. Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Sion quietly closed the book, followed me to the table, and pulled out a small chair with his large hands. My chair, that is.

And then he just stared at me blankly.

His large puppy-like appearance made me smile involuntarily.

“Thank you. You sit down too.”

It was just last week that he was glaring mercilessly at the guide and me in the slave market, but he’s already changed so much.

Sion, with the ferocity gone from his eyes, had an incredibly gentle impression. It’s surprising to think he looked sharp until now.

“Shall I put it here?”

“Yes. Could you just put it all down at once?”

“Yes, young lady.”

As the maid took out the dinner from the tray one by one, a delicious smell filled the room.

Freshly baked soft pastries, pasta made with thick cream, salad with grapefruit, and a whole chicken roasted with plenty of butter. It was quite a lot of food for two people.

“Wow, it looks delicious. Sion, enjoy your meal too.”

“I’ll eat well.”

“Mm-hmm.”

We started our meal quietly as always.

Perhaps because of his large build, or as compensation for not having eaten well before, Sion ate really well and a lot. The day after I brought him, I was surprised when we ate together and instructed to increase the portions.

So now, the table was set with enough food to fill four adults and still have leftovers, and today too, it was quickly disappearing.

When I looked at him curiously as he ate quickly and neatly, he smiled shyly.

“Eat a lot. It’s nice to see you eating well.”

He nodded.

After finishing our satisfying meal, we started lounging around again. Sion, as if influenced by me, was now leaning on the sofa in a languid posture, continuing to read the novel.

I was writing letters on the opposite side of him.

Scratch scratch-

A cool autumn breeze came in through the open terrace window. A peaceful moment as I rested my sore arm, feeling the wind.

“Someone is coming.”

Sion suddenly looked towards the door.

“Huh?”

“Young lady, a message… Ah, young master!”

Shortly after, noisy voices were heard from outside the door. I quickly gathered the letters and pushed them under the sofa.

Bang-

“What a sight.”

The one who entered without hiding his displeased voice and expression was Calix. I too crossed my arms with an unpleasant face and spoke coldly.

“Brother, didn’t you promise last time that you wouldn’t barge in like this?”

Is there no privacy in my room at all? I’m planning to leave home, but now I want to leave even more desperately.

“I said I would if your conduct remained proper. How can I consider your behavior proper when rumors are rampant in the mansion about an unmarried noble lady bringing a high-class slave into her room?”

It’s quite a talent to say even one sentence so annoyingly.

“Sigh. He’s not a slave, he’s a guard.”

“Is that him? Ha, what kind of appearance is that, Lorazie.”

“Why did you come here anyway?”

Sion, who had been pointed out, got down from the sofa and straightened his posture.

“How dare a mere slave hold his head high in front of his master. Kneel down immediately.”

Calix ordered, glaring at Sion with stern eyes. I started to get a headache, wondering if he was going to have another outburst.

Sion had a tendency to rebel more when treated harshly. I was worried he might get beaten by Calix like at the slave market…

However, I saw Sion obediently bending his knees.

Sion without his ferocity was too docile. I sighed and helped him up as he was half-bowed.

“Oh, Sion. Stand up.”

“Master… I’m fine.”

Sion gave me a look as if asking why I was stopping him.

“No, Sion. You don’t need to do that. Would you like to go inside?”

Sion hesitated, then looked back at Calix, and seemingly realizing there was nothing he could do, he went into my bedroom.

“That slave, I don’t like the look in his eyes. And Lorazie. Wasn’t I giving orders to that fellow? What are you doing?”

“The one doing something is you, brother. You’re the one who rudely entered my room and insulted me. Thank you for clearly showing my slave my position as his owner.”

He faltered at my calm anger.

“The reason he’s in my room is because no one even bothers to feed my slave, so I called him here just for the daytime. It’s too obvious that no matter how many times I tell them to take care of him, they won’t listen. I’m too busy to waste energy on unnecessary things.”

“So it’s truly not a slave intrusion?”

I finally exploded at his question.

“It’s not! How many times do I have to say it!”

Please, just listen when others speak. Don’t just say what you want to say!

“If that’s the case, then fine. But be more careful with your conduct, as there are eyes of other family members watching.”

“Is that why you barged into my room?”

I shot back, filled with determination not to let it slide if that was the only reason.

“Barged in? Please, maintain your dignity as a member of the Count’s family. Every little detail of your speech creates the dignity of Epine. Moreover, I heard you asked Father to be expelled from the family this time.”

Fatigue welled up every time he nitpicked at each and every word.

“So what?”

“What’s the reason for going to such lengths?”

So this is what he came to ask about.