Sigrid Chapter 92

[ … words ]

Morris likes me? Me?

It felt somewhat unreal. Sigrid stood there stupidly before suddenly realizing he was waiting for an answer. Startled back to her senses, she said:

“Morris, I, well, I’m sorry. I’ve never thought of you that way, and I’m not sure even now.”

After saying it, Sigrid felt like biting her tongue, thinking she had cut him off too abruptly. She knew better than anyone how painful rejection could be.

Hadn’t she just been crying pathetically herself not too long ago?

Morris was a good friend, and she didn’t want to hurt him.

“I thought as much.”

However, Morris neither grimaced nor got angry. He just smiled and continued:

“Since you’re diligent, Sigrid, you wouldn’t look at me while you’re in a relationship with Beramund. But remember this. That I like you. And if it were me, I wouldn’t make you suffer. I’d treat you as the most precious thing in the world.”

“Morris…….”

Sigrid didn’t know what to say.

“Let’s go.”

At Morris’s words, Sigrid asked in surprise:

“Where?”

“To the Inglett Count’s house. You said you needed to take off the wig, right?”

“Oh? Um, I can go alone.”

“No way. It’s late at night, and you’re drunk. I can’t let you go alone. Let’s go.”

As Sigrid hesitated, Morris asked:

“Or are we not even friends anymore?”

“Huh? No, that’s not it!”

Sigrid exclaimed in surprise, and Morris smiled, taking her hand.

“Then let’s go.”

Sigrid nodded and followed him. She had been worried about what to say or how to converse, but surprisingly, it was fine.

Morris’s words and actions were no different from usual, so Sigrid soon felt at ease. She was so comfortable that she almost forgot Morris had confessed to her.

“I wish His Highness would follow me a bit more.”

“I think it’s good to have someone like Morris who keeps some distance.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid nodded. She tilted her head for a moment, then asked:

“By the way, how’s the Imperial Guard?”

“What do you mean? Captain, what are you saying?”

Morris teased her with formal speech, and Sigrid shook her head.

“No, I mean, I’m in the Imperial Guard too, but is there anything else I don’t know about—”

“Well, not really? The situation is still unstable. The nobles are still strongly demanding the dissolution of the Imperial Guard. Especially the two Marquis families who were neutral before are pushing hard.”

“I see.”

“Didn’t Lowengrin say anything?”

“No.”

“Really?”

Morris tilted his head, then nodded.

“I see. Anyway, the Imperial Guard is a bit unstable right now— but I don’t think it’ll be disbanded since His Majesty is being firm about it.”

“Hmm…….”

So internal matters haven’t been settled yet, meaning they can’t properly engage in external activities. But surely that magic research or whatever it was must be progressing steadily.

Suddenly, Sigrid felt the letter in her bosom grow heavy.

‘It was the Empress’s seal.’

The silhouette of an elegant swan.

A swan with a crown was the Empress’s seal. She was curious why Her Majesty was looking for her, but she couldn’t guess why she was being summoned.

Morris peered at her face and said:

“Is there something you can’t tell me?”

“Huh?”

Startled, she looked at him, and Morris raised his head and said:

“I’m perceptive too, you know. Is it something difficult to talk to me about?”

“Um— a little.”

“Still, if there’s anything I can help with, tell me.”

“Okay.”

Sigrid nodded. Walking with Morris was comfortable. It was so comfortable that Sigrid unknowingly thought for a moment how nice it would be if things with Beramund were this easy.

‘No. That would be disrespectful to both of them.’

Comparing them somehow pricked her conscience. Sigrid glanced at Morris. His gentle expression. His tall stature.

Different from Beramund, but Morris seemed like he would be popular with women too.

‘And yet he says he likes me.’

Sigrid quickly looked straight ahead when their eyes met. The distance to Marie-Chez’s house seemed far.

“Thanks for walking me.”

Sigrid said as she pulled her hand away. Morris said “It’s nothing” briefly and glanced at Marie-Chez’s mansion before saying:

“Would it be burdensome if I waited?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll walk you home after you come out.”

“No, I’ll borrow a carriage from Marie-Chez.”

As Sigrid waved her hand in refusal, Morris nodded. He reached out and tucked her short red hair behind her ear, saying:

“Have a good night then.”

“You too, Morris.”

“Can I give you a goodnight kiss?”

Sigrid looked at him with a troubled face. In the past, she might have accepted, but now?

That troubled face rather pleased Morris. If she had nonchalantly said, “Sure, go ahead,” it would have been more of a blow.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, take care.”

Instead, he bowed slightly and lightly kissed the back of her hand before turning abruptly and starting to walk. Sigrid sighed, smoothing her chest, and knocked on the mansion door.

Marie-Chez burst into laughter when Sigrid said she had come because she couldn’t take off the wig, and called a maid to help remove it.

“Stay the night since you’re here”

Marie-Chez urged, but Sigrid politely declined. She felt she needed to think about various things at home tonight. Instead, she gladly borrowed a carriage and returned home.

It was cutting it close to curfew.

As she crept into the dark house, Arkana suddenly popped out.

“You’re back early?”

At his question, Sigrid rolled her eyes and asked back, “It’s curfew, isn’t it?” Arkana chuckled and said:

“When you left earlier, you looked like you were going to party all night. What happened?”

“Just, various things happened.”

“Various things?”

As Arkana tilted his head, Sigrid let out a deep sigh.

“It’s a long story if I start talking.”

“Go ahead. The night is long.”

At those words, Sigrid smiled faintly.

“Should I?”

There was a different kind of comfort with Arkana compared to Marie-Chez or Lowengrin. There was a trust that made it easy to open up about these things.

The two went into the room and lit just one candle. The orange candle cast a cozy light in the room. Arkana reached out and caressed her cheek, frowning.

“You drank, but why are you so cold?”

“I guess it’s because I was out in the wind.”

“You don’t seem to be in good condition lately……. Did you catch a cold from dressing lightly because it’s spring? Spring colds are more dangerous, you know.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll bring some tea. Wait.”

“Okay.”

Arkana left and quickly returned with warm honey tea. Sigrid took the cup and smiled.

“What would I do without you, Arkana?”

“I’ll fly to you if you call.”

“When you say it, it sounds real.”

“It is real.”

Arkana pulled a stool next to the armchair where Sigrid was sitting.

“So, what happened?”

“Well, I……”

Sigrid fiddled with the cup. Her fingertips were warming up.

“I’m in a contract relationship with Beramund.”

“I know that.”

“You know?”

“Yes. So? Do you want to end it?”

“No.”

She shook her head. Sigrid fiddled with the cup for a while before saying:

“I like Beramund.”

At that, Arkana blinked in surprise.

“You like Beramund?”

When he unconsciously asked again, Sigrid nodded. Thankfully, there was only one candle for lighting. Otherwise, her blushing face would have been noticed.

“But— Beramund doesn’t.”

“Oh—”

He was taken aback for the second time. Arkana thought for a moment before asking:

“Who said that?”

“He did.”

Sigrid said, raising her head and smiling slightly. Whispering, “Pathetic, right?”

“He said he doesn’t like you himself?”

“Just that, it’s not sincere…….”

“Ah, oh, hmm—”

Arkana nodded, uttering various exclamations. He asked:

“And then?”

“Huh?”

“But you don’t look like someone who’s just missed the carriage in front of them? Isn’t there a ‘and then’ after that?”

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

“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“That’s my strong point.”

Even under the candlelight, his green eyes shone deep and beautiful. Sigrid took a deep breath while looking into his eyes. It was like the color of fresh greenery, as if standing in a forest.

“So, I was going to give up— but Marie-Chez told me not to. She said I should win him over, so um, since we’re in a contract relationship anyway……. I was thinking of trying to appeal to him in various ways.”

In fact, Marie-Chez had told her to confess, but she didn’t have the courage to do so. How had she become such a coward?

“Mmm~ He’ll definitely fall for you.”

Arkana assured her. Sigrid leaned towards him.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course~”

Arkana smiled brightly. Sigrid muttered “I see” in a cheerful voice. With Arkana’s guarantee, it felt like it would definitely come true.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. So, is that all?”

“Huh?”

“Is there nothing else?”

At Arkana’s words, Sigrid opened up about something she hadn’t even told Marie-Chez.

“Actually, just now…… I met Morris.”

“Oh? Ah, I see.”

“And well, he—”

“He confessed to you?”

“Yes!”

Sigrid looked at him with eyes that said, “How did you know?” He chuckled and crossed his legs.

“I told you. I know everything.”

“But…….”

She looked at him with curious eyes. Arkana smiled faintly and said:

“But you like Beramund.”

“Yes…….”

Sigrid nodded. She found herself speaking apologetically:

“I was going to reject him right away, but Morris said it was okay, and asked me to remember that he’s there…….”

“So he’s willing to be second in line?”

Arkana nodded. Sigrid was certainly worth it.

“Should I have rejected him more firmly?”

“You’ve already rejected him. You can’t order someone ‘Stop liking me’ just because you’ve rejected them.”

“That’s true…….”

“Just forget about it. The fact that he told you that much means he’s prepared.”

“Prepared……?”

“To get hurt.”

At Arkana’s words, Sigrid flinched and then sighed. Arkana stood up, taking the cup from her hand, and said:

“Wash up roughly and go to sleep. You must be tired today.”

“Okay…….”

Sigrid obediently nodded. She really was tired. But still, she couldn’t help asking:

“What about you? Is that matter going well?”

When she indirectly asked about the magicians’ affair, he nodded.

“Yes, there’s some progress.”

“Really?”

Sigrid’s eyes lit up. Arkana gently stroked her hair and said softly:

“But not tonight. Let’s go to bed, young lady.”

Sigrid agreed with those words. As the tension released, she had been feeling sleepy for a while. As she got up from her seat, rubbing her eyes, Arkana whispered:

“Good night.”

“Good night to you too, Arkana.”