Sigrid Chapter 146

[ … words ]

Beramund said as they passed each other on the way to the Imperial Guard’s quarters. Sigrid hesitated but lifted her head defiantly.

“What do you mean?”

“That he wouldn’t be pleased.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“……”

Beramund said nothing and just looked at her. Clean-shaven and in uniform, Beramund had returned to his original appearance.

The image of a person with no connection to her whatsoever.

Beramund brushed past her, hitting her shoulder.

Sigrid glanced back at him before continuing on her way.

Her steps felt too heavy. And she was so tired. Why? Even though she had rested enough, she felt exhausted.

While Sigrid was returning to the Imperial Guard’s quarters, the Emperor was venting his anger.

Crash—!

Expensive porcelain shattered loudly. The Emperor, having swept expensive ceramics and glass vases off his desk, was breathing heavily.

Even this old body was angry.

“How about considering that fools are easier to handle?”

Hearing the voice from behind, Emperor Yuri turned and glared at Arkana.

“There’s a limit to stupidity! That lowborn wench with an empty head—!”

Despite his words spraying saliva, Arkana’s expression remained unchanged. The Emperor sat down heavily on the sofa, still fuming.

“So, how are things progressing?”

“We need more lives.”

“Ah, yes. Is it time to sweep away the slums?”

“But it won’t be easy.”

At Arkana’s words, Emperor Yuri smiled coldly. He caressed the armrest’s ornament and said,

“Just use that woman. Countess Sigrid Ankertna, the only knight I trust.”

“Even though you don’t trust anyone.”

At Arkana’s words, Emperor Yuri burst out laughing.

“But she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t even ask why I do such things. If I tell her it’s a difficult task that I want to entrust only to her, she’ll accept it eagerly.”

“I see.”

Arkana nodded. Emperor Yuri stroked his beard and asked,

“By the way.”

“Yes.”

“Is it not possible for me to transfer into Awen’s body?”

“You mean the Prince’s body?”

“Yes, that’s why I had the child born on purpose. I’ve thought about various options. It would be good to keep this body young, but if I could transfer to a child’s body, wouldn’t that be fine too? Rudinal and Serios seem too grown up. Hmm— what do you think of my theory?”

“It’s a new theory. But it would take too long to prepare and research anew.”

“Ah, I see. Well, we can always have more children. In any case, human bodies have their limits.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll arrange for those lives as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After saying this, Arkana left the room. As soon as he emerged from the secret passage, Bibi clung to him.

“How did it go?”

“He agreed to arrange it.”

“Aha—”

She grinned. Arkana smiled coldly and said,

“Humans truly come up with astonishing ideas.”

“What do you mean?”

“He said he wants to transfer his soul into his son’s body.”

At those words, Bibi’s eyes widened, and then she chuckled.

“Greed is truly remarkable~”

“Yes, it is. What about Adolf?”

“He went to the slums for a final check on the magic circuits.”

“Once this is over, the Empire will be ours.”

“That’s right. And then—”

They planned to sweep away the Ice Tower. They intended to kill every single magician there, leaving none alive. Until blood overflowed from every part of the tower.

“But they’re fellow magicians……”

Bibi hesitated, but when Arkana raised an eyebrow, she quickly lowered her head and said,

“No, do as you wish, Arkana.”

“Good girl—”

As Arkana stroked her head, Bibi trembled. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid of the man before her.

Arkana slowly stroked her head, lost in thought.

There was another reason for targeting the Ice Tower.

‘To turn back time, or to revive the dead.’

Surely there must be research materials somewhere. At least some clues.

He had to reclaim what was lost.

Even after making those who killed his parents and Seria beg for death, somehow things hadn’t returned to normal.

Food still had no taste, no fragrance, everything in sight was ashen, and every breath felt like inhaling sand. Sleep, sex drive, appetite. None of the three functioned properly.

Isn’t it surprising that there’s no joy at all in living like this, doing everything he wants?

Even after killing so many, why does he still feel submerged?

If so, he had to take back what was his.

Everything.

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Lowengrin was leisurely writing in her journal. Even in the 2nd Knight Order, which was little more than an afterthought, someone needed to keep records, and Lowengrin enjoyed the task. Just then, the door burst open and Marie-Chez rushed in.

“Marie? You should slow down.”

“There’s a fire in the slums—!”

“What?”

Lowengrin stood up. Marie-Chez said with a pale face,

“The Imperial Guard has started their operation.”

“Operation? You mean rooting out traitors in that slum?”

Everyone had thought it was nonsense. How could there be Western Alliance spies in the slums?

They had assumed it was just a performance to quell dissatisfaction with the fight against the West.

“They’ve set fire, to the buildings?”

“No.”

Marie-Chez said grimly.

“They’ve blocked people from escaping with barricades and then set fire.”

Lowengrin’s eyes widened.

“……What?”

“Sigrid Ankertna, that woman is in charge. I thought she was crazy, but I never imagined she was this insane.”

Lowengrin rushed out of the room. Even from the palace, she could see smoke rising in the distance.

“Insane, insane. This is insane—”

How many people were living there—

Her mind raced. Why would they do such a thing? If Sigrid Ankertna was doing this, it meant it was the Emperor’s will.

Why?

Burn down the slums? Eliminate them all? Aren’t they afraid of the nobles’ backlash?

What about the fear and terror of the citizens? Don’t they think there will be a rebellion?

‘What are they preparing for?’

Lowengrin looked at the smoke with dark eyes.

Sigrid was also watching the smoke. The sky was dyed red from the flames. Somehow, the fire was spreading through the slums much faster and more intensely than expected.

The screams from inside could hardly be heard anymore. Instead, the smell of burning flesh permeated everywhere. Soldiers could be seen vomiting here and there, but Sigrid ignored them.

She had clearly warned them.

That this place would be eliminated, so anyone who wasn’t a spy should leave.

Just then, a commotion broke out among the soldiers, and Sigrid turned her gaze. It was Beramund Lunatil. His odd eyes were filled with rage.

“What—”

Before she could finish asking “What are you doing here?”, Beramund’s sword sliced through the air.

“Die.”

Along with his cold words.

Sigrid barely matched his timing.

Clang—!

Sparks flew as the swords clashed.

“What are you doing?!”

But Beramund only continued to swing his sword without responding. His pitch-black Aura swelled, threatening to devour her crimson Aura. Sigrid gritted her teeth and began to respond.

She could tell he was truly trying to kill her.

Their heavy blades crossed. This fight was completely different from any before, and Sigrid felt the hair on her entire body stand on end.

If she was cut, she would truly die.

It was Sigrid’s sword that couldn’t withstand it. Unable to endure the Aura, her sword finally shattered into pieces. Watching the blade fragments scatter, Sigrid swallowed hard.

In that very brief moment, she could imagine her head rolling on the ground the next instant.

‘I’m going to die.’

Beramund’s sword touched her neck. The Aura buzzed loudly in her ears. The black Aura licked her neck.

But Beramund’s sword didn’t move from there.

The two stood motionless in that situation, facing each other. His face contorted.

“You—”

Beramund closed his eyes tightly, then slowly lowered his sword. He grabbed her collar.

“Why— why do those people have to die? Like that?”

Sigrid tried to open her mouth to say it was an order, but she couldn’t. Something caught in her throat, preventing her from answering. Beramund coldly released her collar, almost pushing her, and said,

“You too will not meet a good end.”

Speaking as if it were a prophecy, a curse, Beramund turned and walked away. Sigrid touched her neck. Blood was flowing. If it had gone a little deeper, she would have died.

But he didn’t kill her.

‘I’m fine.’

Because only His Majesty understands me.

She closed her eyes.

Not long after, Sigrid was accused of assassinating Crown Prince Serios.

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Extra 3: The Political Marriage Commotion

Serena focused on the tip of her sword.

‘Gather, gather, gather, please—’

After a while, she shouted “Damn it!” and kicked the ground.

“It’s not working because you have distracting thoughts, distracting thoughts.”

Hearing the voice from behind, Serena whirled around.

“Arthur.”

Her only brother was leaning on the fence, grinning and waving. His silver hair, which women were said to be jealous of, sparkled in the sunlight like moonlight. His clear blue eyes were also one of his charming points.

“I don’t have any distracting thoughts.”

Serena replied sullenly. She had raven-black hair. Her ruby-red eyes, opposite to her brother’s, shone brightly under her straight eyebrows.

“Really? It seemed pretty obvious to me.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

“‘Damn it, why won’t it work? Gather, will you! Why won’t this stupid Aura appear? Come out already, come out!’ Something like that?”

“I have nothing to say.”

At Serena’s words, Arthur laughed lightly. He hopped over the fence and grabbed her arm. Serena let him move her body without resistance.

“Just feel it.”

Arthur’s Aura moved along Serena’s skin. The warm, ticklish sensation made Serena shrink back.

“Shh, just close your eyes—”

At Arthur’s words, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on the Aura. And she felt something moving. Something warm tickled her chest—

“Oh?!”

When Serena opened her eyes abruptly, that sensation disappeared. Arthur sighed and said,

“That’s why it’s not working.”

“But that was Aura just now, right? It was Aura?”

“Well, even a trace of Aura is still Aura.”

“Yay!”

Watching his little sister cheer, Arthur said, “No, it just moved a little, it didn’t even gather,” throwing cold water on her excitement, but it didn’t work on Serena. She stuck out her tongue and said,

“I’m only twelve years old! This is amazing for my age!”

“Well, I suppose that’s true.”

“Hey, it’s annoying when you answer like that, Arthur.”

“What?”

“You, who’s overflowing with talent in both sword and magic.”

At those words, Arthur laughed lightly. Serena and Arthur had a two-year age difference. At just fourteen, Arthur was already considered flawless as the next heir to the Ankertna family.

“Serena.”

“Yeah?”

“Want me to tell you a secret?”

“Go ahead.”

“Shouldn’t you be more excited about a secret?”

“I’m not a child, you know?”

“Twelve is still a child.”

“Fine. Then, wow~ I’m so excited about a secret story. What is it? Huh?”

As Serena clasped her hands together and spoke exaggeratedly, Arthur seemed satisfied and leaned in to whisper in his little sister’s ear.

“I’m not going to inherit the title.”