Sigrid Chapter 126

[ … words ]

Even Karsus could quickly understand what was going on. The gifts were not sent by the Emperor, but clearly from the Lunatil ducal family.

‘Should I go visit Beramund?’

Thinking he might tease him with a “Thank you, Young Master” since he’d get to eat something delicious thanks to this, Karsus headed towards Beramund’s tent but stopped. A few guard knights were standing in front of the tent.

‘As if that would stop me.’

It’s not like they were completely surrounding the entire tent, just two of them guarding the entrance. He swiftly melted into the shadows and approached the back of the tent.

“When are you going to return?”

An unfamiliar voice was heard.

“I’ll go back when the job is done.”

This was Beramund’s voice.

“But it’s too dangerous here. What if something happens?”

“What more could happen than dying?”

“Beramund Lunatil! Don’t say such things!”

“Serios—”

Beramund’s voice flowed out like a sigh. Karsus’s eyes widened with an “Oh.” On first-name terms with the prince who was certain to become the Crown Prince.

“I have no one but you.”

At Serios’s words, Karsus felt goosebumps all over his body. That statement, like throwing chains at the other person.

“What do you mean, no one but me.”

“No, really. Father is trying to kill me, enemies are everywhere. A life of constantly being compared to my brother, I’m just an inadequate substitute—”

Serios spoke with a trembling voice.

“But how can I surpass someone who’s dead?”

A weak voice.

Karsus felt increasingly irritated. Right now, Beramund could shake off the Lunatil family. He could live independently of it.

But these words, tone, and trembling seemed like an attempt to shackle him again. Words seeking sympathy.

“I understand.”

Beramund answered with a sigh in his voice. Karsus felt like he could hear the clink of chains being fastened and wanted to burst into the tent right then and there.

“I won’t die until you become Emperor. Satisfied?”

“You’ll stay my friend, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

Beramund answered playfully, and Karsus couldn’t bear to listen anymore, so he slipped away.

“From that day on, Serios became one of the people I dislike the most.”

At Karsus’s words, Sigrid responded slowly.

“I see such a thing happened……. I thought their trust in each other was impressive, but……”

“For Serios, he can’t live without believing in Beramund. Can you call that trust?”

At this blatantly sarcastic remark, Sigrid raised her hand to stop him.

“It might be better not to speak so carelessly about such things.”

“Is it too harsh for words about your lord?”

At those words, Sigrid said with a troubled face, “That’s part of it, but—”

“I don’t want to see Beramund’s friend hanging from the gallows for lèse-majesté.”

It could be taken as a threat if one wanted to see it that way. But Sigrid was genuinely concerned, and Karsus could tell. Karsus smiled again.

“I understand. I’ll watch my tongue.”

“But I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“What did you mean by Beramund giving something up?”

Karsus tilted his head to the side and grinned, saying,

“I’m not telling you.”

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“That person really……”

Somehow it’s irritating. It grates on the nerves.

“Who? That fool?”

Arkana asked with a gentle smile. He filled Sigrid’s teacup in front of her to the brim. The sweet aroma spreading with the trickling sound soothed her mood.

“Fool?”

“The wanderer or vagrant or whatever.”

“Ah, Karsus. Yes.”

Sigrid nodded. Arkana poured tea into his own cup and sat on the sofa. This was Arkana’s private office.

Magicians coming from the Ice Tower always made sure to stop by Arkana.

—Somehow I feel like I’ve become a bridgehead.

Arkana had said with a sigh in his voice. The magicians who visited and left kept in constant contact with Arkana, and it seemed real-time information from all over the continent was flowing in.

Sigrid had been wondering how to budget for guests, but Beramund had decided on ‘Don’t spare any expense, go all out, luxuriously.’

“Connections and talents in magic aren’t common. It’s good to earn their goodwill when we can. It’s not like our territory is poor. Besides, real-time information sharing through magic.”

Beramund paused for a moment, made a strange face, then grinned.

“Anyway, let’s set the budget to be more than enough.”

That’s why he had given Arkana a separate spacious office.

‘I don’t know much about politics.’

Sigrid thought she was truly fortunate to have Beramund. Both she and Arkana were practically ignorant when it came to the etiquette and diplomacy of noble society.

Only Beramund could handle that skillfully.

‘Even the vassals below tend to rely more on Beramund.’

When there were issues with the political situation, they preferred to run to Beramund rather than her. Then Beramund would skillfully bring her into the conversation. His explanations were easy to understand and concise.

‘He’s really amazing.’

“Why? What did he say?”

At Arkana’s question, Sigrid snapped out of her thoughts.

“Just, he said something that bothered me—”

Sigrid stopped mid-sentence. It was a question she felt awkward asking Arkana. Arkana looked at her tightly closed lips and asked,

“Is it something you feel uncomfortable talking to me about?”

“Yes.”

If it’s something she feels uncomfortable talking to me about, Arkana counted in his mind and then nodded.

“I see. Then talk about it when your friends come.”

“Ah, I might do that.”

Thinking she could borrow some wisdom from Lowengrin, Sigrid felt lighter. She then opened her mouth again.

“By the way, Arkana.”

“Yes?”

“Karsus was asking to meet with you.”

“Why?”

“He seemed reluctant to tell me the details. But I think something might have happened in the west.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with me.”

It was a cold response, if anything. Sigrid agreed. What did troubles in the west have to do with Arkana?

“But it might be related?”

It didn’t seem like Karsus would seek out a magician otherwise. He didn’t appear to be the type who likes to ask for favors everywhere or is overly responsible.

“Well, I suppose so.”

Arkana nodded, thinking he might as well meet with him. Beramund had also said Karsus wouldn’t have come for no reason.

“Alright. I’ll talk to him.”

“Yes, I think that would be good.”

Sigrid nodded. It would be troublesome if ignoring it now led to bigger problems later. Having a conversation like ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’, ‘I tried to, but you ignored me.’, ‘I didn’t know it was such a big deal. Did you say it was a big deal?’, ‘I didn’t know it would become such a big deal then.’ at that point would be meaningless, wouldn’t it?

Sigrid finished her tea and stood up.

“That’s all I needed to discuss.”

“You can rest a bit longer, you know.”

“But you’re busy, Arkana.”

“It’s just my personal research.”

“What are you researching?”

“Spatial movement interference.”

“Interference?”

“Yes, magic that prevents both exiting and entering through spatial movement in the area where it’s installed. It completely distorts the coordinate points when setting coordinates with magical power.”

“I see.”

“If it’s successful, I plan to install it in the castle.”

“Ah— Is this part of that defense system from before?”

“That’s right.”

Arkana nodded. Then he smiled and said,

“Anyway, thank you for being so good to the various magicians who rely on us. There are still many places that view magicians as ominous beings.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. They’re your colleagues. And the only magician I know, right in front of me, is a good person.”

At those words, Arkana chuckled.

After chatting a bit more, Sigrid stood up to leave.

Though it was winter, Beramund consistently went on patrols with soldiers and knights. So he wasn’t around during the day, and she could only meet him in the evening.

Sigrid was brushing her hair in front of the fireplace when she said,

“Beramund.”

“Yes?”

“So—”

She tilted her head, wondering if it was okay to talk about it, then carefully opened her mouth.

“I talked with Karsus briefly during the day. He said His Majesty visited the battlefield.”

“Ah, yes. Serios came. Thanks to that, we got alcohol as rations for once— But why are you suddenly talking about this? I doubt anything good about Serios came out of his mouth.”

“Huh? You know?”

“He hates all superiors.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, why? What did he say?”

“Well, on the day His Majesty visited, Karsus went to find Beramund—”

Would it be disrespectful to relay that His Majesty had cried?

Still, believing that there shouldn’t be any distortion in relaying someone else’s story, Sigrid recounted the tale without omission. After hearing the whole story, Beramund chuckled and approached Sigrid, taking the brush from her hand. He signaled with his finger for her to sit on the stool, and Sigrid obediently sat down.

She didn’t dislike Beramund brushing her hair.

No, rather, she liked it.

Beramund slowly brushed through Sigrid’s long silver hair, shimmering in the firelight, as he spoke.

“That wasn’t really an important incident, and it wasn’t like he said. So you were listening. I thought you seemed a bit down afterwards.”

“Did I?”

As Sigrid unconsciously tried to turn her head, Beramund stopped her, and she looked forward again, saying,

“Are you… okay, Beramund…?”

“Hmm?”

“About His Majesty using you……”

What is this straight-laced knight saying? Beramund’s eyes widened before he laughed cheerfully.

“Isn’t it my duty to be used if I’m being used?”

“Well, yes, but. That’s as a knight……. If Beramund doesn’t like it, then……”

“It’s not like that.”

Beramund replied decisively. Sigrid’s shoulders relaxed. He continued,

“No, he did work me to the bone. He did rely on me too much. That’s why he’s going crazy trying to make it up to me now. Like at the wedding, giving you the mansion in the capital, sending an excessive amount of money in Awen’s name.”

“Ah—”

“He used Erial as a front, but he couldn’t have made such decisions without discussion.”

“I see.”

Sigrid nodded, belatedly realizing. Beramund, now enjoying brushing her hair smoothly from top to bottom in one stroke, said,

“He’s as sensitive as a purebred horse. But he’s capable, so as long as you take care of that insecure part, it’ll be fine. It was worse when he was Crown Prince, but now he has a family, he’s become Emperor, and the previous Emperor has died. He’ll be a good Emperor.”

Though judging an Emperor’s qualities is a sensitive matter, Beramund spoke without hesitation, as if talking about a friend next door.

“Don’t worry too much about what Karsus said. That guy, he sees the world only through his own perspective.”

“His own perspective?”

“Karsus thinks all rules oppress him. But rules aren’t always like that. They’re originally there to protect people— especially he can’t stand formalities. He’s also quite averse to things like trust and faith in human relationships.”

Sigrid raised a question at those words.

“But he’s friends with you, isn’t he?”

“Frie~nds?”

His voice trailed off. Beramund was now stroking her hair with his fingers instead of the brush. The thick, smooth hair felt pleasant.

“Isn’t he?”

At Sigrid’s question, Beramund bent down. He lifted her hair, kissed it, and inhaled its fragrance deeply as he spoke.

“He’s a bad friend, a bad friend.”

“A bad friend.”

As Sigrid pondered whether such a thing could still be called a friend, Beramund suddenly scooped her up in his arms. He placed her on the soft bed and quickly slipped under the covers. Before she lost the chance to talk further, Sigrid quickly opened her mouth.

“But Karsus seemed to be relying on you.”

At those words, Beramund paused and looked down at Sigrid.

“You heard that directly?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if I should be telling you this, but that’s what happened.”

Beramund smiled faintly.

“That’s unusual. He’s quite talkative for being himself.”

For Karsus to mention relying on someone in front of another person was extremely rare. Beramund smiled at the crimson eyes looking up at him intently.

“Well, it is you after all, Siri.”

Beramund lazily played with his fingers over Sigrid’s nightgown. When he caressed the aura core between her breasts, Sigrid swallowed her breath. Though the nightgown was thin and shouldn’t make much difference whether worn or not, that single layer definitely existed, and somehow being touched over clothes felt different.

Sigrid grabbed his wrist. When Beramund looked puzzled, she asked,

“I heard Awen went out with you today.”

“Yes, he rode well.”

“Is that okay? Doesn’t it interfere? Patrol is a dangerous duty and……”

“It’s fine. We have a master with us, after all.”

If that’s the case, then it’s a relief, Sigrid thought with ease, when Beramund leaned in for a gentle kiss.

The kiss I love from the person I love.

Everything else was quickly forgotten as Sigrid embraced him in return.

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Awen rested his arms on the windowsill and placed his chin on them—a posture that would have made his tutor faint—as he looked down below.