Sigrid Chapter 90

[ … words ]

“Beramund.”

At those words, Beramund paused in surprise, then asked as he turned:

“You recognized me?”

“Of course.”

“Ah, that makes me happy.”

Beramund smiled again. He leaned in and whispered in her ear:

“I recognized you at a glance too.”

The low voice resonating in her ear made Sigrid flinch. Come to think of it, this man has a nice voice too. Seeing her startle, Beramund straightened up and smiled bitterly.

Before the song had even finished, he said:

“Shall we go upstairs?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid answered readily, in good spirits. Having had three or four drinks, she was in a pleasantly cheerful mood. Sigrid decided to put her worries aside for a moment.

The two went upstairs and entered a random room. Sigrid leaned against the balcony railing.

“The balcony is nice.”

“You don’t have one at your house?”

“No.”

Sigrid chuckled. She tried to take off her mask, but it wasn’t coming off easily. Watching her, Beramund reached out.

“Let me do it for you.”

“Ah, okay.”

For a moment, she felt his fingers through her hair and let out a small moan. Beramund hesitated, then quickly removed the mask. Her crimson eyes sparkled.

“It feels much better with it off. The limited vision was surprisingly unsettling.”

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“I am.”

Sigrid answered cheerfully and smiled again. Beramund chuckled.

“You’re drunk.”

“Just a little.”

Sigrid said, holding up her thumb and index finger slightly apart. Beramund widened the gap.

“It seems more like this much?”

“Is that so?”

Sigrid looked at her widened hand without protest, then lowered it. Beramund reached out to touch her bright red short hair.

“Red hair.”

“Marie-Chez lent it to me.”

“Ah~”

“Does it suit me?”

“I prefer your original hair color. But red isn’t bad either.”

He withdrew his hand.

Sigrid was pleased to have unexpectedly met him in such an unusual place.

Was it because she was drunk?

She wanted to be closer to him. Whether the alcohol gave her courage or blew away her shyness, Sigrid carefully reached out and took Beramund’s hand. Beramund looked at her in surprise.

“You always wear gloves.”

“Because my core is on the back of my right hand.”

“Can you show me?”

Beramund obediently bit off his glove and showed her the back of his hand. The jet-black rectangular aura core glimmered. Without thinking, Sigrid reached out and touched his aura. Beramund let out a low moan. The aura core is much more sensitive than other parts. Sigrid frowned as she looked at the core. She spoke in a suppressed voice:

“You have an aura core on your hand, don’t block attacks with your hand!”

“That was my left hand.”

Beramund soothed, reaching out with his bare fingers to stroke her cheek and chin. He chuckled softly and said:

“Siri.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t need to feel indebted to me.”

At those words, Sigrid looked up.

“You don’t need to try to repay me. I did it because I wanted to. Okay?”

“I’m not worried because I feel indebted.”

Sigrid said, furrowing her brow.

“I’m worried because you’re important to me.”

At those words, Beramund’s eyes widened, then he smiled.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“How much?”

At his teasing question, Sigrid fell into thought for a moment. How much, how should she answer that?

“No, don’t answer that.”

Beramund shook his head. He felt that no answer would be satisfactory.

‘I should be content with her saying I’m important to her.’

She had said she liked him, and she had risked her life to help find Rudinal. He wanted more, but he shouldn’t demand more than that.

“By the way, coming to a masquerade ball when you have a lover—”

He playfully accused, and her face instantly turned red.

“That’s not it, Marie-Chez asked me to come along, it’s been a while since we went to a ball together, and she said I didn’t even have to wear a dress, so, well, I didn’t have any intentions.”

“What intentions?”

“To meet someone else or anything like that……”

Her voice gradually trailed off. Then suddenly, Sigrid raised her head and asked:

“Then why are you here, Beramund?”

“I came to enjoy myself.”

He answered lightly, and Sigrid crossed her arms.

“Even though I’m here?”

At her words, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Even knowing it was a facade, he felt very happy, and she was so cute—

Beramund had thought for a long time.

He liked Sigrid, found her lovable, and loved her.

So he didn’t want to trouble or hurt her. He was grateful for the mask he was wearing.

There’s nothing better for hiding expressions.

Now he intended to say that the romance between him and Sigrid was all just a game. Then she wouldn’t feel so guilty, and she wouldn’t take a difficult path out of consideration for him.

‘But the words aren’t coming out easily.’

It wasn’t a game at all.

It was serious.

I love you sincerely.

Beramund opened his mouth.

“This romance is just a game anyway.”

He said casually, as if letting it slip.

‘Ah, it’s the first time I’ve hurt myself by speaking.’

For his own words to become a dagger to himself. It was a novel experience, but not one he wanted to repeat.

“A… game…?”

Sigrid asked, her eyes wide. Afraid to see relief or gladness in her expression, Beramund turned his gaze completely outward.

Keeping the corners of his mouth fixed in a smile.

“Yes. That’s what a contract relationship is like. Don’t take it too seriously.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. We just enjoy it moderately and end it. After all—”

After all, you knew too, right?

Unable to say those words, Beramund closed his mouth, then opened it again.

“After all, it’s the same for you, right? You didn’t seriously think it was real or take it seriously, did you?”

“I……”

The rest of her words didn’t come.

Had he been expecting her to say she had taken it seriously?

Beramund smiled bitterly.

‘Ah, this won’t do.’

He felt he couldn’t keep smiling any longer.

“I’ll go get some drinks. What would you like?”

“The same as you.”

Sigrid answered in a somewhat dazed voice, but Beramund didn’t notice. As he left the room, Sigrid leaned unsteadily against the railing.

She felt embarrassed.

So embarrassed she could die.

And it hurt.

‘That’s right, of course. After all, Beramund has a lot of experience.’

He was always surrounded by women. He was good at flirting and smiled a lot. Every time he came to a party, he escorted a different woman.

So why did I think he would be serious with me?

“Hng—”

Sigrid let out a moan. Why did it feel like her chest was being stabbed even though it was just an emotion?

Sigrid pressed her core hard with her hand. Her heart throbbed painfully.

“It hurts……”

As she muttered, it seemed to hurt even more.

‘No, I think I’m going to cry.’

It was pathetic. She felt so stupid. What would Marie-Chez and Lowengrin think?

‘I’m glad I didn’t confess sincerely.’

Though things had gotten complicated somehow, it was fortunate she hadn’t confessed. If she had, Beramund would have felt burdened.

Should she be glad she found out like this?

Sigrid quickly put her mask back on. The mask wouldn’t go on properly, and she felt like crying at how pathetic she was, unable to even put on a mask correctly.

As she was still struggling with the mask, Beramund came in carrying glasses.

“Oh? Putting it back on?”

“It’s a masquerade ball after all. And someone else might come into the room, right?”

“I suppose so.”

As he spoke, he handed her a glass. Sigrid took it and immediately drank it all in one gulp.

“Siri?”

Beramund called her name in surprise, but she emptied the glass in one go and then exhaled with a “Ha—”.

“Are you okay?”

When Beramund asked, she nodded. The alcohol didn’t taste strong at all. Or was that just her perception?

“I’ll go get another glass.”

“I’ll get it.”

Frowning, he took the glass from her and handed her his own instead. Beramund hadn’t touched his glass yet. As he returned with the empty glass, Beramund tilted his head.

‘This is strong stuff—’

Moreover, he knew well that Sigrid wasn’t good with alcohol. How much had she drunk so far? Is it okay for her to drink at this pace?

Worried, he chose something with a lower alcohol content this time. Though “lower” here meant about 30% alcohol, as all the drinks here were strong.

When he returned, Sigrid had completely emptied Beramund’s glass as well. As he handed her the new glass, Beramund asked:

“Aren’t you drinking too much?”

“No, I’m not.”

Sigrid downed this glass in one shot too. Beramund was flustered.

“Drink a bit slower.”

“I’m fine.”

She answered and reached out towards his face.

“It’s frustrating not seeing your expression.”

“Ow, wait, Siri. If you pull like that— wait, I’ll take it off. Okay?”

Beramund quickly removed his own mask. Before taking it off, he took a short breath. Okay. Stay calm.

“Here.”

As Beramund removed his mask, Sigrid brushed his bangs aside. Clear blue-green beautiful eyes. He was smiling, seemingly troubled but not quite.

“What’s wrong?”

“Beramund’s eyes are so pretty.”

At her words, he was taken aback and opened his eyes wide. Seeing this, Sigrid laughed cheerfully. Her head was spinning.

“Your eyes are pretty too, Siri.”

“Are they?”

“Yes.”

As Sigrid stood on her tiptoes, their faces suddenly came very close, and Beramund flinched. He tried to pull back, but Sigrid was holding his face with both hands, making it impossible.

“Siri—”

He called her name again.

‘Wow, my voice trembled.’

“Yes.”

She answered as if to say, “Go on.” Their noses were almost touching, they were so close. Her crimson eyes were mesmerizingly beautiful.

I feel like I’m being drawn in.

It was a cliché thought, but no other thoughts came to mind.

Should he forcibly pull his head away? Or should he lower it?

If he tilted his head just a little, just slightly, he could touch her lips.

“Beramund?”

As Sigrid called his name, he finally succumbed to temptation. Beramund lowered his head and lightly pressed his lips against hers.

He felt Sigrid stiffen. Beramund expected Sigrid’s fist to fly at any moment, but she showed no reaction. Beramund parted his lips.

He saw Sigrid’s wide-open eyes. But she didn’t move. He thought she might be too shocked, but she slowly lowered her eyes.

She lowered her eyes slightly, then glanced up at him, and this time closed her eyes. It was an obvious invitation.

Beramund felt like his heart was about to jump out.

Thump thump thump.

He could hear his heart pounding in his ears.

Why? How? Because she’s drunk? Has she lost her senses?

Taking advantage of a drunk woman is something only a dog would do, but Beramund bent down and kissed her for the second time.

He’d be willing to become a dog for this kiss.

If the first was just a light brush of lips, this one was a deeper kiss. He gently caught her lips with his own and softly pressed them together several times.

Without realizing it, Beramund embraced her and kissed her more deeply. He couldn’t remember where he was or what he had been doing.