Sigrid Chapter 151

[ … words ]

Sigrid nodded at Beramund’s words.

“Alright. Come back soon.”

At her words, Beramund said, “I will,” with a smile and lightly kissed her cheek.

Arkana smiled slightly and bowed to Sigrid, and in an instant, the two vanished.

A shimmering light lingered like dust, slowly swirling before disappearing. Sigrid stared at it for a while before slowly turning and returning to the bedroom.

Seeing Sigrid’s gloomy face, Morris awkwardly said,

“Did I come at a bad time?”

“Hm? No, it’s fine. Come in, Morris.”

Sigrid shook her head and guided Morris inside.

“Where’s Beramund?”

“He returned to the estate. They said a flying-type magical beast appeared.”

“Ah.”

Morris finally understood why Sigrid was in low spirits. He smiled faintly and said,

“If it’s the Black Knight Beramund, he’ll take care of it and be back in no time.”

“I think so too, but…”

That didn’t mean her worry lessened. Sigrid shook her head as if to shake off her concerns and asked,

“What about Tilda? Didn’t she come with you?”

At the question about his wife’s whereabouts, Morris sighed and said,

“She’s staying at the estate. Says she doesn’t like the capital.”

“I see.”

Sigrid tilted her head.

“Then aren’t you apart for long periods?”

As the captain of the knight order, Morris couldn’t leave the capital, so naturally, he’d be separated from his wife if she stayed at the estate.

“That’s right.”

“That must be lonely.”

“I’m used to it now, so it’s fine.”

Morris said it was fine, so Sigrid nodded. In truth, even if it wasn’t fine, there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

One of the important things Sigrid had learned over time was that while you can listen to each other’s complaints, it’s best not to interfere in married couples’ affairs.

“How’s the estate?”

At her question, Morris burst out laughing.

“It’s running well. My brother seems to be in a really strange mood, though.”

“I’m sure he would be. After fighting so much over the title, to have his younger brother suddenly receive the same title.”

Of course, Morris, as an aura master and captain of the knight order, was naturally granted a title. Morris, who received the title of baron, chose the surname Alter without much deliberation.

Smiling, he said it meant ‘second.’

So Morris, who became Baron Morris Alter, indeed received an estate not too far from Viscount Ankertna’s. In fact, if you ask if it’s close, you’d have to say there’s some distance, but it’s not so far as to have no influence at all.

“How are the children?”

At Morris’s question, Sigrid shrugged and said,

“They all left, saying they had appointments.”

“Hmm, I brought chocolate as a gift.”

“You don’t need to be so thoughtful. Thank you.”

Morris handed the box to a servant with disappointment. He sat down and asked,

“So what brings you to the capital?”

“I wonder why everyone I meet asks that.”

“Well, that’s because the Ankertnas never come to the capital unless there’s business.”

At those words, Sigrid chuckled and sat down.

“I’ve heard plenty of rumors about our family.”

“From Marie?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid nodded. Morris nodded back, saying, “If it’s Marie-Chez, she’s well-versed in rumors.” Sigrid explained why she came to the capital, and Morris’s face turned serious.

“Marriage? Aren’t they too young?”

“They say they’re not that young.”

“Well, if we’re being strict about it, I suppose, but these days it’s not customary to get engaged so early.”

Saying this, Morris fell into thought.

“The Ice Tower wants to be free from the Empire, and the Empire wants to possess the Ice Tower.”

“And Arkana is the bridgehead.”

“The Ankertnas are seen as possessing Arkana.”

“We don’t really possess him.”

As Sigrid frowned and said this, Morris laughed and said, “But that’s how it appears.”

Magic had changed many things in the meantime.

It never became widespread, but scarcity often breeds more greed. Moreover, because of its rarity, rumors spread easily, and all sorts of stories about magic circulated.

Reviving the dead, raising the sick, turning the world to ashes in an instant, stealing children’s souls, drinking virgins’ blood, and so on—

The fear of unknown power is considerable.

And so is the admiration.

Still, it was being accepted relatively moderately now. Just over a decade ago, when magicians first left the Ice Tower and started wandering around, it was common for them to be stoned.

Kingdoms wanted to use magic as a stepping stone for another leap forward, and the Empire’s restraint was also considerable. Magicians, wanting to avoid uncomfortable situations, made sure not to belong to any one country. They firmly established that all magicians belonged to the Ice Tower. In this situation, magic was slowly becoming one of the natural things, like aura.

Still, as greed is inevitable, the area around the Ankertna family was always full of wolves drooling.

‘But no one wants to challenge a dragon, right?’

Morris thought this as he watched Sigrid drinking tea. Sigrid shrugged and said,

“Or maybe, unlike our concerns, it’s an extremely simple matter.”

“Simple?”

“Like the Imperial Princess falling in love with Arthur at first sight?”

At Sigrid’s words, Morris’s eyes widened, and then he laughed.

“Right, that could be it.”

“Don’t you think?”

Sigrid said emphatically, thinking she really hoped it was such a simple matter. And at that very moment, Beramund was saying the same thing to Arkana.

“Lucy is clever, after all.”

Beramund added, looking up at the sky. Arkana nodded.

“It means she can tie her desires to the interests of the Imperial family.”

“That’s right. Then it’s easier to get what she wants……”

Trailing off, Beramund grabbed his shield.

The saying that aura users don’t use shields had become outdated. All sorts of crossbow-like weapons developed to catch masters, and since it was difficult to block them with aura alone, surrounding shields with aura became commonplace.

And now, when catching flying-type magical beasts like this, it was better to use a shield if you didn’t want to be hit directly by flames or poison. You could block with aura, but if you could save aura, it was right to save as much as possible.

“But Arthur and the Imperial Princess have never met, have they?”

“That’s right. That’s what puzzles me.”

Beramund replied to Arkana’s words. Then he continued,

“And honestly, there’s no use worrying about it.”

“Because we decided to refuse.”

“Yes.”

Seeing the magical beasts flying in from afar, Beramund grinned and lowered his goggles. He checked the straps and hooks at his waist and glanced at Arkana, saying,

“Want me to bring you its head as a gift? To decorate your wall?”

At his playful words, Arkana raised one hand, slowly drawing a magic circle in the air as he replied,

“If possible, I’d like to have it whole.”

“Alright.”

Beramund replied as if it were nothing.

“Here we go.”

As Arkana reversed his hand, Beramund instantly teleported onto the beast’s back. Normally, one would lose balance and roll off, but they had been working together for over a decade. He wouldn’t fall from something like this.

“The whole thing, huh.”

He had boldly agreed, but…

Groaning, he hooked his grapple into the beast. The hook dug deep between the beast’s back scales. Realizing something had landed on its back, the beast started to go wild. Clinging tightly to the beast as it performed aerial acrobatics, Beramund hesitated for a moment before hooking onto another approaching beast. Just before his body was lifted away, Beramund slashed the neck of the beast he was riding and muttered,

“Well, I guess keeping one intact is enough.”

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Serena lowered her sword.

‘I can’t concentrate.’

Her mind felt completely blank with all this talk of marriage. Coming up to the capital to meet friends and talking to her heart’s content was nice. But—

‘The Imperial Prince.’

Come to think of it, Serena had never seen the Imperial Prince.

‘He’s two years younger than me, probably?’

There was about a nine-year age gap with Princess Lucy. That’s why everyone once thought Lucy would become queen.

‘That was before I was born, though.’

She knew she was a noble, and she knew nobles had political marriages. But she never thought it would happen to her.

‘I was naive. Serena Ankertna.’

Reflecting on herself, Serena sighed.

“They say your luck flies away when you sigh.”

At the voice, she turned around with a faint smile. Her younger sister, Ellie, was standing there with a book tucked under her arm.

“What’s up?”

“Marchioness Illisaine is here.”

“Aunt Lowengrin?”

“Yes. So I’m going to get her autograph.”

Ellie showed the book tucked under her arm.

“The Will to Freedom”

Seeing the title embossed in gold on the cover, Serena nodded. Though she wasn’t much of a reader herself and hadn’t read it, she knew it was a book currently taking the bookstores by storm.

“Did Jin and Cassie come too?”

“Yes, and Brin.”

“Then Aunt Marie-Chez as well?”

“Yes.”

“Looks like all of Mother’s friends have gathered.”

“Anyway, I was told to let you know, so that’s why I came.”

“Alright. Tell them I’ll wash up and come down.”

“Okay.”

With a bright smile, Ellie quickly hugged the book to her chest and trotted away.

‘Isn’t that too difficult for a ten-year-old to read?’

Serena thought this as she started walking.

After a quick wash, she debated between wearing pants or a dress, eventually choosing a dress. The maids swiftly dressed her.

There wasn’t time to put her hair up, so she just braided it down. When she opened the door, Arthur was waiting.

“Thought you might need an escort.”

“What’s this about?”

Serena said this but smiled as she placed her hand on Arthur’s arm. She asked,

“Why have they all gathered?”

“Seems like they have something important to discuss.”

“Father hasn’t returned yet, right? Or Arkana?”

“No.”

Serena’s face darkened.

“No other news?”

“No, but it’ll be fine.”

Arthur uttered the words he had repeated to himself many times, as if to comfort her, and Serena smiled, saying,

“It has to be.”

She continued, deliberately more cheerfully,

“I can’t imagine Father losing, honestly.”

At those words, Arthur furrowed his brow in thought before shaking his head.

“Neither can I.”

“Right?”

Serena nodded, smiling. When they went down to the hall alone, all the people who usually gathered for birthday parties were there.

‘No, the uncles aren’t here.’

Wondering inwardly, Serena lightly curtsied and greeted,

“It’s been a while. Baroness Daenum, Marchioness Illisaine.”

Marie-Chez and Lowengrin smiled and said,

“You don’t need to be so formal.”

“That’s right. Especially when Ellie is occupying my lap.”

Lowengrin said, stroking Ellie’s head as she sat on her lap.

“Hello Brin, Jin, Cassie.”

Cassie, with hair much brighter golden-brown than her brother’s, flashed a smile.

“We meet again.”

“Tired of seeing me every day?”

At Serena’s words, Cassie quickly grabbed her hand and said,

“Of course not.”

“Well, if that’s the case.”

Serena cleared her throat and lifted her chin, as if to say ‘I’ll let it slide.’ With Cassie here and Rika, whom she rarely saw, being her only friends of the same age, Cassie was her precious female friend.

Sigrid gestured for everyone to sit down and served refreshments and iced tea with plenty of ice to all.

Inside the magically cooled mansion, it was cooler than outside, so everyone looked relaxed.

“So why did you want us all to gather?”

Brin, the oldest among the children, spoke up. Marie-Chez looked at her son and said, “Oh my?”

“Can’t we all just gather and have fun?”

“That’s not it, but……”

“But it seemed like you had a reason.”

Jin came to Brin’s aid in his quiet voice. Lowengrin glanced at her son with a slight smile before looking at Sigrid.

“Siri, do you want to talk?”

“Ah, yes. You’ve all heard that the Imperial family has proposed to Arthur and Serena—well, Ellie and Rio are candidates too—right?”

At those words, the children looked at each other and then nodded.