Sigrid Chapter 142

[ … words ]

Morris shrugged as he spoke, and Sigrid sneered.

“Then those people will have to go through me first.”

“After going through you and Lowengrin, there’d only be tattered remnants left to face Marie-Chez. Are you going in to see Alkerto?”

“Yes. Aren’t you coming with me?”

“I saw him earlier.”

At Morris’s words, Sigrid said “Alright” and went inside. Alkerto, who had turned around thinking it was Morris, beamed when he saw Sigrid.

“Sig!”

“Alkerto— Wow, you look dashing.”

“You’ve gotten better at compliments, haven’t you?”

“Well, hearing them every day…”

When you hear words like ‘goddess’ and ‘fairy’ every day, you naturally become better at complimenting others.

Alkerto burst out laughing at her words. After laughing, he asked cautiously:

“What about Marie? How is she?”

“She’s fine. She seemed to wish the ceremony would start soon.”

“I see.”

Alkerto let out a sigh of relief.

Sigrid went “Hmm—” as she chose her words.

“You’ve fought hard for this. And I think things earned through struggle are that much more valuable— well, because things easily gained are easily lost— so both of you will live well. Happily. Just as Marie-Chez wants, a happy ending.”

Alkerto’s turquoise eyes stared intently into Sigrid’s scarlet ones. He smiled faintly and said:

“Did you say that to Marie too?”

“Yes.”

“Did she cry?”

“I got scolded. For making the bride cry before the ceremony.”

Alkerto laughed at that and hugged Sigrid lightly.

“Thank you, Siri.”

“Don’t mention it. Live well, Alkerto.”

Morris opened the door and said:

“They say the ceremony’s about to start. Let’s go out.”

“Ah, okay. See you later then.”

Sigrid patted Alkerto’s shoulder and left the room. As she came out of the waiting room, Beramund was waiting. Standing slightly askew in a formal suit, holding a long cane sword, he had a way of capturing people’s attention.

She could feel the gazes of women at the venue sliding over him.

How could he exude such decadence while fully clothed in a well-fitted suit?

As Beramund opened and closed his pocket watch once, Sigrid entered his field of vision, and he smiled gently.

“Siri. And Morris.”

After a light greeting, Beramund extended his hand to Sigrid, and she lightly placed her hand on top of his.

“Did you greet them well?”

“Yes. They were completely nervous.”

“Ah, I understand that.”

“Was Ber like that too?”

“Of course. I wanted the ceremony to start quickly, afraid that Siri might say ‘I can’t go through with the marriage after all’ at the last minute.”

At Beramund’s words, Sigrid grumbled, “As if that would ever happen.” Lowengrin, standing at the entrance, waved her hand.

“Hurry up. What’s everyone doing?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Sigrid quickened her pace. Hatien said leisurely:

“There’s going to be a long speech at the beginning anyway. It doesn’t matter if we go in slowly, does it?”

“It’s the best friend’s duty to listen to that long speech seriously.”

Sigrid’s ears perked up at Lowengrin’s words.

“If that’s the case, I can’t miss it.”

After saying this emphatically, Sigrid led Beramund quickly inside. Morris, Lowengrin, and Hatien followed behind. Lowengrin said to Morris:

“You should find a partner soon too.”

“When I feel something.”

“Just for your information, there probably aren’t two women like Sigrid.”

At Lowengrin’s low words, Morris turned to her with a smile.

“That’s the problem.”

“Isn’t that better? If they were similar, you’d end up comparing them.”

Hatien added cheerfully, and Morris blinked before nodding deeply.

“That’s true.”

As all the seats were assigned, the group could easily sit together.

The wedding proceeded smoothly without a hitch. Alkerto also appeared calm compared to how restless he had been inside, and his family, though they looked stiff, made no mistakes.

And when Marie-Chez glided into the venue, everyone gasped. The tiara sparkling on Marie-Chez’s head captured everyone’s attention.

Only Alkerto couldn’t take his eyes off his bride’s face.

Seeing Sigrid’s contented face, Lowengrin leaned over and whispered to her:

“Was that your gift?”

“Yes, isn’t it pretty?”

“I can just imagine how happy Marie must have been.”

Lowengrin chuckled. Hatien asked Lowengrin:

“Does Lowi want one too? Should I have one made?”

“No, one is enough for me. I’d rather have the study expanded, darling.”

“I’ll look into hiring someone for the construction.”

Hatien quickly concluded, and Lowengrin smiled gently before leaning against him. Seeing this, Beramund whispered to Sigrid:

“What about Siri?”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you want more swords?”

At those words, Sigrid looked at Beramund and then lowered her gaze. She discreetly interlaced her fingers with his and said:

“The one Beramund bought me before is enough.”

Beramund chuckled and lifted their interlocked hands, lightly kissing the back of her hand before placing them on his lap.

After the ceremony, the reception followed. Sigrid drank more than usual, and Beramund quietly intercepted her drinks midway.

After seeing off Marie-Chez and Alkerto’s carriage as they departed for their honeymoon, the party finally came to an end. Only after everything was wrapped up under Lowengrin’s direction did Sigrid leave the venue.

She couldn’t leave on her own two feet, half-carried by Beramund.

Lowengrin laughed as if she couldn’t help it and said:

“She was like this at my wedding too.”

“That’s why I accompany Siri to every wedding she attends.”

Beramund said with a smile as he greeted her and got into the carriage. Sigrid, half-asleep in his arms, opened her eyes with an “Mmm—”

“Is it over…?”

“It’s over. Don’t you remember?”

“No, I… Beramund—”

She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck, raising her upper body. Sigrid smiled widely and said:

“I’m so happy Alkerto and Marie are happy.”

“If Sigrid is happy, then I’m happy too.”

Finding her adorable with her cheeks flushed from alcohol and her eyes unfocused, Beramund was willing to go along with her drunken ramblings. Sigrid kissed him. The clumsy way her tongue entangled with his was even more stimulating, and Beramund opened his lips to fully enjoy the sensation.

His hands ran up her legs. As she was wearing a dress, his fingertips caught on her garter belt. Beramund unfastened the belt and slipped his hands inside her silk stockings, sliding them down to enjoy the feel of her bare legs. The stockings came off along with her shoes, rolling on the carriage floor. Sigrid’s right hand fumbled to undo his belt. Though it took a while due to her drunkenness, using only one hand, and Beramund constantly interfering, Sigrid succeeded.

“What’s next?”

Beramund asked in a voice that sounded amused but didn’t hide his desire, and Sigrid giggled again before collapsing against him.

Then, steady breathing.

Beramund flinched.

“Wait, Siri? Sigrid? My love? Are you sleeping? Are you asleep?”

There was no answer. Beramund stared blankly at the carriage ceiling before sadly refastening his belt himself. As he did so, he resolved once again to take a summer vacation, just the two of them.

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Sigrid leaned on the railing and sighed. The small lake visible from the veranda sparkled sapphire blue.

The summer villa was quiet and beautiful. The small mansion built entirely of white marble was quaint, like a toy. The surroundings were beautiful, and there was no sign of people.

Sigrid had come with the intention of enjoying this rare vacation to the fullest.

‘But even so, is this okay?’

It seemed like she hadn’t worn proper clothes since arriving here. Sigrid looked at the railing she was gripping and swallowed a groan.

‘We did it here too. And in that lake—’

She never thought it would be possible outdoors…

Thinking about it made her face flush instantly, and Sigrid went back into the room. She hadn’t even touched her sword since coming on vacation.

She climbed back onto the bed. She propped her chin up and watched Beramund sleeping. A thin silk sheet was wrapped around his lower body. Sigrid slowly lowered the sheet. Past his hips, even lower.

Beramund examines me every day, but I haven’t really had the presence of mind to look at him. As she was thinking this, Beramund reached out and grabbed Sigrid’s wrist. He grinned and said:

“Why are you just undressing me without doing anything?”

“Th-then what should I do? And if you were awake, you should have said something.”

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Sigrid raised her voice. In an instant, Beramund pinned both of Sigrid’s wrists to the bed, firmly pressing them down as he climbed on top of her. It was the agility of a black panther.

“So, what were you thinking? Countess?”

“I-I wasn’t thinking anything…”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid nodded. Beramund lightly tugged at the tie of her robe. There wasn’t much else to undress since she was naked under the robe.

“Then I should make you think of something every time you look at me. My efforts were lacking.”

Sigrid’s eyes widened at those words.

“More?”

“Don’t you want to—?”

“I-it’s not that I don’t want to…”

When Sigrid answered honestly in a small voice, Beramund laughed. He grabbed one of her knees, bending it open as he spoke:

“Then do you like it?”

“I like anything with Beramund.”

Beramund laughed at her words and lightly bit her neck, baring his teeth. Feeling her flinch, he whispered into her ear in a low voice laced with laughter:

“Then shall we try anything?”

He slowly kissed along the marks he had left yesterday.

This one from yesterday, that one from the day before, is this from the first day?

“Beramund.”

Sigrid called out to him softly, panting.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

At those words, Beramund stopped his movements and raised himself to look down at her. She reached out her hand, slowly caressing his cheek as she whispered:

“Beramund is my everything.”

“Same for me.”

He replied and slowly lowered his body onto hers. A sense of fulfillment sweeter than pleasure filled her inside.

“I love you, Siri.”

At his low voice, Sigrid hugged him tightly.

We’ll continue to be happy.

And we’ll love each other forever.

Beramund whispered like a definitive prophecy. Sigrid believed those words without a doubt.

Life hadn’t been smooth, and it wouldn’t always be smooth in the future, but she would be with him, and that meant she would be happy wherever they were, whatever happened.

And it truly was so.

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Extra 2: The Path Home for Those with Nowhere to Return

Beramund Lunatil blinked his blurring vision and tried to raise his body, but his feet only weakly scraped the dirt.

‘Is it finally over?’

He felt a vague sense of liberation.

This was the sixth time Emperor Yuri had pushed him into a place like this. Crossing the line between life and death and returning alive sounds impressive, but in reality, it’s not impressive at all.

He’s tired of seeing the faces of the dead in his bed every night. Tired of cauterizing wounds with fire, tired of killing.

Beramund let the strength leave his body.

The only worry was what would happen to Serios if he died.

After Erial’s death, after learning there had been a child in her dead womb, he had gone half-mad.

No, he had always been unstable, but he became even more unstable.

‘Well, I suppose even I might go a bit strange if I saw my brother’s head being cut off right in front of me.’

If his lauded brother had been beheaded for treason, and that head was displayed so that he saw it every time he looked out the window of the castle, he couldn’t guarantee he’d be alright either.

And then his mother died in childbirth, his birth father was always looking for a chance to kill him, and that father was the highest authority.

Just when things seemed to stabilize after marrying Erial, she died right before his eyes.

‘But what will happen if I die too?’

Beramund thought this as he looked up at the sky.

Pitter-patter.

Then he heard small footsteps approaching. Since Beramund didn’t have the strength to move a finger, he hoped the person coming now would be a merciful enemy who would kill him quickly.

“So this is where you were.”

Beramund startled at the small voice he heard.

Sigrid Ankertna.

The Emperor’s dog.

A trash of a woman who took on all the dirty work.

“…Make it quick.”

Beramund spat out. She had been irritating since she participated in this operation as a section chief. It was annoying how she diligently followed orders while pretending to zealously carry out the mission. Thinking she had finally come to finish him off, Beramund closed his eyes.

“Understood.”

Her response was smooth. Then Beramund heard a small rustling sound. Thinking she might be taking out a bag to put his head in as proof of his death, he glanced at her and saw Sigrid taking out a white cloth.

“Are you going to strangle me?”

When he asked without thinking, Sigrid looked at him strangely and said: