Sigrid Chapter 147

[ … words ]

“Nonsense.”

The words tumbled out of Serena’s mouth before she could think.

“Why nonsense?”

“If not you, then who will inherit?”

“You.”

“That’s ridiculous. More importantly, why?”

At those words, Arthur squirmed and said,

“Actually, I prefer men.”

“Objection.”

“What?”

“I saw erotic books in your bed.”

At Serena’s words, Arthur reached out with both hands. Serena said to her brother, who was frantically squeezing her cheeks,

“By the way, there were women in it, not men—”

“Where is my privacy? When did you find that? And why are you so brazen about it?”

Serena escaped his hands and said,

“I just found it by chance. The ladies were pretty. Are they based on real models?”

“Ah, Serena Ankertna……”

Arthur covered his face with both hands, as if to say ‘Have some shame,’ and Serena boldly said,

“Why be shy about something that concerns me too? Anyway, that reason is rejected. Any other reasons?”

“I just don’t want to.”

Arthur said with a smile, and Serena’s face turned serious.

“Do you really dislike it?”

“I’m a bit… tired of it, you could say.”

“Because of high society?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, you take after Father, so you’re unexpectedly sensitive.”

“And you, saying such things openly, take after Mother?”

At those words, Serena smiled bitterly and turned her head.

“It seems the only thing I inherited is her eye color.”

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

Arthur tilted his head and looked at his sister. Serena said “It’s annoying,” kicked Arthur’s shin lightly with her toe, and said,

“Why were you born with all the talent? Couldn’t you have left some for me?”

“What am I supposed to do about being born a genius— Ouch—! Did you really kick me that hard?”

“That’s what you get for saying things that deserve a beating.”

“You’re a genius for your age too, you know? Mother said her aura didn’t manifest until she was twenty, and even then she was called an extraordinary genius.”

“Mother is a true genius. No one can imitate her ability to shoot aura even now.”

“This is why I don’t want to inherit this family.”

Arthur sighed deeply and said, and Serena flinched and asked,

“Did I just come across as a bundle of inferiority complex? I mean, I do feel inferior sometimes— Ah, I wish I had silver hair like Arthur. Black hair makes women look too stern.”

“What are you talking about? I like black hair.”

“It doesn’t matter if you like it, Arthur.”

Serena sheathed her sword. Arthur quietly asked her,

“Serena. Do you really like swordsmanship?”

His question carried a hint of worry, wondering if she might be learning swordsmanship unwillingly because she was born into a martial family.

“Yes.”

But Serena’s answer was clear, and Arthur smiled with relief.

“That’s good then.”

“Oh, come to think of it, there was someone else who said they liked black hair.”

“Who?”

Arthur’s ears perked up. Serena said as she trudged towards the well,

“Brin.”

“Brin Daenum?”

“Yeah, he said it was pretty.”

“When? Where? What else did he say besides that?”

“What are you doing, Arthur Ankertna?”

Serena said, pushing away Arthur who was sticking close. Arthur retorted, “I’m just curious,” and Serena chuckled and said,

“You’re curious about the strangest things.”

Serena’s feet froze in place as she reached a spot where the well was visible.

“What’s wrong?”

Arthur looked up and he too froze. Serena cleared her throat softly.

“Uh, um— Ellie?”

At her small voice, Ellie, who was sitting on the edge of the large well, looked up. A large book was in her hands.

“Hello, Serena. Arthur.”

“Never mind hello, get down from there right now!”

Arthur shouted. At those words, Ellie turned her upper body to look into the well and said,

“Are you worried I might fa— Eek?”

The strange sound was because Arthur had closed the distance in an instant and grabbed her by the nape of the neck to pull her away.

“Arthur! You’re ruining my clothes!”

“Better than dying by falling into the well. Why on earth were you sitting there?”

“I like the cool breeze coming up from the well. And if you sit carefully, you won’t fall in.”

“Quiet! If you need a breeze, tell a maid to fan you! Where’s Rio?”

Arthur pressed, finding it suspicious that Ellie was alone when the twins usually stuck together. Ellie huffed and said,

“I’m not being noisy! You’re the only one yelling, Arthur!”

“Ah, now you’re both yelling.”

“Serena!”

“Serena!”

Both of them shouted at Serena simultaneously. Serena tilted her head and shrugged, and Arthur sighed.

Watching his sister perfectly express ‘Why, am I wrong?’ with her body, Arthur wondered if little sisters were born just to torment their older brothers.

“Ellie, you shouldn’t sit dangerously by the well. What if you fall in?”

At Serena’s gentle words, Ellie hesitated, looked at her older sister, and then bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Where’s Rio?”

“He’s drawing in the garden. I came here because the sunlight made me hot— Ah, here he comes.”

Serena and Arthur turned around simultaneously. Rio was approaching with a leisurely gait, holding a brush that seemed half-finished in one hand.

“What’s going on?”

The youngest asked in a low, quiet voice as he finally reached them. His striking red hair contrasted with eyes that were the same blue as Arthur’s.

“I got scolded for sitting on the well.”

At Ellie’s words, Rio went “Hmm” and looked at the well, then asked,

“Why did you go up there?”

“Because it was hot. Cool air comes out of the well.”

“Is it cool?”

“Yeah, it’s cool.”

“That’s not the important part.”

At Serena’s words, Rio blinked as if he just realized and said to Ellie,

“Don’t climb up there, it’s dangerous. I’ll take you to the ice cellar next time.”

“Great!”

Ellie clapped her hands and smiled brightly. Although the twins were fraternal and looked nothing alike, there was something that connected them, perhaps because they were twins.

Among the four, only Ellie had heterochromatic eyes like their father. Her red and ruby eyes formed a unique contrast. Her hair was silver like her mother’s. And Rio was the only one among the siblings with reddish hair.

“I think our grandmother had red hair?”

Beramund nodded at this, and Sigrid shrugged, saying, “Well, my parents might have actually been redheads.”

Of course, the gossip-loving social circles whispered that Rio might be Arkana’s child, but the family didn’t even consider such talk worthy of being called nonsense.

For children raised surrounded by Masters and magicians, neither Rio nor Ellie showed interest in swords or magic. Ellie preferred books, and Rio enjoyed art activities.

Since Sigrid and Beramund weren’t the type to force sword training, the twins grew up freely.

Serena threw a bucket into the well.

“Anyway, both of you stay away from the well. It’s dangerous.”

“Wow, acting all grown-up just because you’re two years older.”

Ellie said, putting her hands on her hips. Serena glared at her, saying “You little—” and gave her a sharp flick on the forehead. Ellie shouted “No to violence!” while rubbing her head.

Serena drew water with the bucket and roughly washed her hands. She had initially planned to quickly wash her face and resume practice, but it seemed unlikely that practice would continue now.

Serena started walking but then frowned and turned to Arthur.

“Why are you following me?”

“You haven’t answered yet.”

“What answer?”

“When, where, and what else did that guy say besides that?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

Serena exhaled with a “Phew—” and started walking, ignoring Arthur. Rio and Ellie watched the two striding far ahead of them. Ellie took Rio’s hand and said,

“Let’s go to the ice cellar.”

“Okay. But let’s put away the brush first.”

Rio said in his characteristically slow tone, and Ellie nodded. They slowly made their way back to the garden. Ellie chattered cheerfully.

“By the way, Rio, aren’t you interested in magic?”

“Magic…?”

“Yeah. Magic seems fun these days too. Fire going whoosh! Light flashing! Above all, being able to go places without walking everywhere seems so cool.”

“Hmm—”

“Plus, think about it, I’m the third child of a marquis family, after all?”

“Me too……”

“Exactly! The title will be inherited by our brother—Arthur anyway, and then the rest of us three are just nothing. Our sister—Serena has talent with the sword, so she’ll probably get a title or something if she becomes a Master. But you and I have nothing, right?”

“Mmm.”

“So I think it might not be bad to decide on a specialty in advance.”

“Can’t Ellie just get married?”

“Ah, you mean catch a man with a good title? That’s fine too, but you know. With my eyes like this, will any good marriage prospects come?”

Ellie pointed at her heterochromatic eyes. If it were Arthur, he would have smiled and said, “Those eyes are pretty, so don’t worry.” But Rio’s answer was more realistic.

“Still, you’re an Ankertna.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure about that, actually.”

At Ellie’s words, Rio said “Is that so?” and fell into thought for a moment. Although the Ankertna family was said to be great in both social and political circles, neither of them could really feel it.

Neither Ellie nor Rio were old enough to set foot in the court, and the adults’ talk sounded like stories from a distant world.

“Do you think we’ll end up in political marriages?”

When Ellie said this, tilting her head, Rio squeezed her hand and said,

“I don’t like that.”

“Right. I want to marry someone I like too. Like our parents!”

Rio nodded deeply.

Serena, ignoring Arthur who was following her, suddenly stopped as a thought occurred to her.

“Arthur Ankertna.”

“What? Have you decided to tell me? You know it’s more suspicious if you hide it, right?”

“It’s not that, it’s about earlier.”

“What?”

“About not inheriting the title.”

“Ah.”

“Why don’t you talk to our parents about it?”

At those words, Arthur groaned and asked, “To our parents?” Serena laughed brightly and added,

“And think about it. It’ll be a while before Arthur has to inherit the title. The two of them aren’t even aging……”

“Because they’re Masters.”

“Come to think of it, Uncle Arkana looks young too.”

“Because he’s a magician.”

“So it’ll be a long time before Arthur has to inherit the title, right? Your mind might change in the meantime. It seems strange for a mere fourteen-year-old to be talking about the future like this already.”

“Serena.”

“What?”

“You’re only twelve.”

“Say I’m a mature twelve.”

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

“Right?”

“It’s not like the old days when wars would drop the average age of Masters.”

“That’s a scary thought.”

“Still, when I look at the mountain of marriage proposals piled up……”

“Huh?”

A strange sound escaped her mouth without her realizing. Arthur laughed weakly and then brushed up his silver hair.

“I mean, I’m fourteen now. About a quarter of those are probably for you.”

“I’m only twelve.”

“A mature twelve, you said. Anyway, it’s for political marriages, so they’re trying to set up pairs early.”

At those words, Serena turned and started running. Arthur, flustered, chased after her.

“Seri? Serena, Serena Ankertna, where are you going?”

But it was only for a moment; realizing where she was headed, Arthur grabbed Serena’s arm.

“Let go!”

“Wait, are you trying to burst into the study right now?”

“Yes—!”

Shaking off his arm, Serena ran again. Arthur stared blankly at her retreating figure for a moment before—

“Ah, hey, wait—!”

Before he could finish saying “There are guests today!” Serena had already kicked open the study door with gusto.

All eyes in the study turned to Serena. Sigrid, sitting in the most prominent seat, stood up.

“Seri? Is something wrong?”

Intimidated by the gazes for a moment, Serena then steeled herself and said,