Sigrid Chapter 111

[ … words ]

They sat talking like that until dinner was served.

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Awen’s eyes widened as he listened to Sigrid’s story.

“Really?! I get to live with Sigrid??”

“Yes, after I go and stabilize the territory a bit.”

“Sigrid!”

Awen hugged her tightly.

“Sigrid, thank you so much.”

Unable to say more, Awen buried his face in her embrace and breathed heavily. Finally, he could leave this place. This suffocating place.

“W-when? When will it be?”

“It will take at least two to three months. Count on about three months.”

“Three months……”

That long…….

But still, it’s better than now. At least there’s hope of leaving, rather than continuing to live here.

“Congratulations, Your Highness,” Alkerto said with a smile. Awen glanced at him from Sigrid’s embrace, then looked back at Sigrid and asked:

“Can’t Alkerto come too?”

Sigrid shook her head.

“That’s not possible.”

“But……”

“Alkerto is part of the Imperial Knight, and all his family is in the capital. He’s not like a personal knight you can command.”

At Sigrid’s sharp words, Awen’s shoulders slumped. Alkerto approached and scooped him up.

“It’s alright. You’d prefer not having an escort anyway, wouldn’t you, Your Highness?”

Grinning, he bounced Awen a few times. Awen whispered softly to Alkerto, “Alkerto’s not just an escort……” Alkerto smiled faintly.

“You’re not simply an escort target to me either. But we still have three months to spend together, don’t we?”

“Yes.”

Awen nodded. As Alkerto patted his back, he asked Sigrid:

“I heard Duke Lunatil is going down with you? There’s an uproar because the captain and vice-captain of the Imperial Guard requested leave at the same time.”

Sigrid nodded with a sigh at those words. Alkerto chuckled and said:

“Why don’t you just get married already?”

“……?!”

Sigrid jumped in surprise and stared at Alkerto, who went “Huh?”

“Really? You’re getting married?”

“No, we’re not! I mean, it’s not that we’re not, it’s just, well―”

Sigrid’s words became increasingly incoherent, and Alkerto went “Huh? Huh?” before asking:

“Did you get proposed to?”

“Yeah. I mean, well, yeah. Something like that.”

“If it’s a proposal, it’s a proposal. What do you mean ‘something like that’?”

“Anyway! It’s a secret, Sir Alkerto!”

When Sigrid shouted, Alkerto nodded.

“I swear on the honor of the Deforest family. But hey, didn’t I come up with a great family name?”

“Yes. It suits you well.”

Sigrid said with a deep sigh. Perhaps because Alkerto continued to be in charge of Awen’s escort, he was also given the title of baron in the rewards, and Alkerto had recently registered his family name. Although it was a title that couldn’t be inherited, Alkerto was satisfied.

“Sigrid……. is getting married……?”

A trembling voice came from Awen. Sigrid raised her hands and said:

“Nothing has been decided yet.”

“If it’s Duke Lunatil……. Beramund Lunatil……? From the Lunatil ducal family?”

“Yes.”

“That person and Sigrid―”

“They’re lovers,” Alkerto said playfully, and when Sigrid shouted “Alkerto!” he went “Hmm―” and asked, “Isn’t it true?”

“Well, it’s not untrue, but.”

Sigrid said with a sigh, dropping her shoulders.

“It’s not something you need to worry about, Your Highness.”

“Okay……. Hey, Sigrid.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll come say goodbye before you leave, right?”

At Awen’s words, Sigrid nodded. This kind of childish demand, she could indulge as much as he wanted.

“Yes, I’ll stop by before I go.”

“Okay.”

Awen nodded.

Sigrid smiled and said, “Well then, I have another appointment, so I must be going.” Bidding farewell to Awen, Sigrid left the prince’s palace.

The next appointment was at Moon Palace. In other words, a meeting with the Crown Princess.

“I’m sorry for calling you when you must be busy.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Erial handed Lucy, whom she had been cradling and cooing at, to the nanny beside her. The baby was quite big now and could even sit up on her own. Though young, she already showed signs of becoming a beauty.

“I wanted to give you this.”

At Erial’s gesture, an attendant handed Sigrid an envelope. Sigrid took it curiously and asked:

“May I open it?”

“Of course.”

Sigrid carefully opened the envelope sealed with the Crown Princess’s seal. Inside was a thick certificate.

It was a deed for a mansion in the capital’s 1st District.

The owner’s name written along with the address was Sigrid Ankertna. Her own name. Sigrid blinked several times, looking at that name.

“Since you’ll be taking care of Awen, that house won’t be enough. Consider this my gift for saving my life and Lucy’s life as well.”

“Your Highness― This is……”

“Your current place doesn’t even have double-digit rooms, it’s beyond modest― well, anyway, you can’t keep Awen there, can you?”

That was true.

“And you saved my life, Lucy’s life, and Serios’s life. Our lives aren’t so cheap. The key is inside, and the ownership transfer is already complete. Actually, I wanted to give you a vacation home too, but I held back on that. Would you refuse and accept the vacation home too, or just take this house?”

“Your Highness…….”

Sigrid looked at the deed with a troubled expression, then at Erial. But she saw no way to win against the Crown Princess.

“Anyway, it’s out of my hands now. I’ve given it to you, so you can leave it empty if you don’t use it.”

Sigrid groaned. Should she prostrate herself and protest that she absolutely couldn’t accept it? But it seemed Erial wouldn’t bat an eye even then.

Rip up the deed right in front of her―

No, that was absolutely impossible. Given Sigrid’s personality, it was difficult to refuse her superior’s wishes. Sigrid searched for another excuse and carefully said:

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but I don’t have the ability to manage such a large mansion. This mansion will surely be difficult to maintain―”

“The income from Conwills territory is more than enough to maintain it and then some. And it already comes with staff. They’re trustworthy people, so don’t worry. They don’t have much connection to the imperial family.”

Erial added the last words with a smile, as if driving in the final nail.

At those words, Sigrid looked at the deed.

‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch.’

Recalling Lowengrin’s words, Sigrid pondered for a moment before looking up and saying:

“I appreciate the mansion, Your Highness, but you might lose only the bait.”

It was a clearly challenging statement.

Just because you show me favor doesn’t mean I intend to return it. If you’re trying to trap me, you might lose only that bait.

“It’s not a trap.”

Erial said with a slight smile.

“His Highness Awen is precious to me as well.”

If you think you can reach the Third Prince through me, that won’t work either, was the implication.

“He’s a dear young master to me too.”

At Erial’s words, Sigrid bowed her head.

“I gratefully accept the reward, Your Highness.”

This means I’m accepting this as a reward for what I’ve done, so we’re not indebted to each other.

Erial chuckled.

“I can see why your friends like you.”

At those words, Sigrid tilted her head and asked, “Is that so?” Erial nodded.

“It’s enjoyable to see you grow.”

It even makes me want to teach you more. For noble speech, it’s a bit rough, but you’ve learned to speak quite indirectly, haven’t you?

“The business is done, so you may go. I’d like to spend more time with Lucy.”

Otherwise, I might want to keep you here and give you a lecture.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sigrid bowed formally and left the room. The deed in her hand felt heavy.

‘But―’

She had done her best as far as she could. Perhaps Lowengrin or Beramund would have handled it more smoothly. Still, this wasn’t bad, was it?

Thinking this, Sigrid left the palace.

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Alkerto stared at the teacup.

A lovely wave-shaped cup with pink polka dots. The owner of that cup was now sipping tea in front of him.

“What?”

Marie-Chez asked, and Alkerto smiled and said:

“Nothing, just thinking the cup resembles its owner.”

At those words, Marie-Chez looked at the cup and said:

“It’s cute.”

“Yes.”

Alkerto nodded, and Marie-Chez narrowed her eyes and said:

“This isn’t a date or anything―”

“I know, I know.”

Alkerto nodded again. Marie-Chez spoke again in a firmer tone:

“It’s just to improve our relationship―”

“I understand. Do you think I’d be good enough for you?”

“……As long as you know.”

At Marie-Chez’s response, Alkerto returned a relaxed smile. In the past, he might have been upset by her words, but now, what did it matter? He was now a nobleman with his own family name, with a comfortable stipend.

Marie-Chez cleared her throat lightly and asked:

“How’s guarding the Third Prince? It must be really quiet there?”

“Quiet as a tomb.”

“I see. You should get out of there quickly too, Alkerto. There’s nothing good about getting involved.”

“It’s almost over anyway. Sigrid will be taking him away.”

“Ah, that Siri. She has a talent for taking on troublesome tasks.”

“Don’t talk about her like that.”

Alkerto frowned slightly. Marie-Chez shrugged and said, “It’s true.” Alkerto put down his cup and said:

“You weren’t there, so you don’t know. Can you imagine a situation where you have to watch your mother die by your father’s sword without being able to scream?”

“……I’m sorry.”

Marie-Chez apologized, and Alkerto sighed and said:

“Of course, your view is probably the common one. The Regent Crown Prince hasn’t ascended to the throne yet, Prince Rudinal has entered the temple after being stripped of his succession rights, and only Prince Awen is left. But he’s just a child. I’m glad Sigrid was appointed as his guardian.”

Marie-Chez added sugar to her cup and said:

“You might call me selfish, but honestly, I don’t worry much about others unless it’s me or someone related to me. Of course, the Third Prince’s situation is pitiful. It’s pitiful, but if it makes you and Siri struggle, I don’t like it.”

At Marie-Chez’s words, Alkerto smiled and replied:

“It’s not a struggle.”

“Alright, then feel free to pity the Third Prince to your heart’s content.”

Marie-Chez responded as if to say, that much is fine. Alkerto picked up his cup and playfully asked:

“So, how’s the husband search going these days?”

“Ah, they’re all duds. Actually, I was hoping to benefit from Siri, but because of that Beramund Lunatil……”

Marie-Chez gritted her teeth.

“Ah, the Dance Fan Smashing Incident?”

“Is that the funny name it’s gotten? Anyway, because of that, the number of men courting me has dropped sharply. Ugh, men should have some spirit, some spirit.”

“Few men have the spirit to face that black knight.”

“Would Alkerto back down too?”

At those words, Alkerto blinked and then quickly summarized in his mind, ‘Well, if I backed down, you’d kill me, so if I’m going to die anyway, I’d rather die at the hands of the black knight, so―’ and said:

“I wouldn’t back down.”

“Hmm―”

Marie-Chez made a dubious sound, but the corners of her mouth were perfectly turned up. She drank her tea and erased her smile before saying:

“Alright then.”

Marie-Chez nodded.

Alkerto cleared his throat and said:

“I wonder if Sigrid has arrived at her territory by now?”

“Who knows? It takes about a week, so she probably hasn’t arrived yet.”

“With her personality, she might rush to get there as quickly as possible.”

At Alkerto’s words, Marie-Chez also went “Ah” and nodded. Looking at the hazy sky, she continued:

“It would be good to go down before the rainy season starts.”

“It’ll be a mud field by the time she comes back.”

At Alkerto’s words, Marie-Chez sighed and said:

“I wish I could get a long vacation during the rainy season.”

“You hardly come out anyway, right?”

“Yeah, but there are still days when I have to go out, you know?”

Marie-Chez sighed. Hearing this, Alkerto chuckled. He used to feel the same way. Wanting to play, finding rainy day training tedious, wanting to skip, working reluctantly for the salary, often thinking about what it would be like without family.

But that’s all in the past now.

‘Come to think of it, shouldn’t I treat Sigrid to a meal?’

After all, his life had changed thanks to her.