Sigrid

Lowengrin nodded. After a moment of silence, Sigrid asked:

“Lowengrin.”

“Hmm?”

“This is a bit of a different topic, but there’s something I’m curious about. And I think you’re the only one who can answer.”

“What is it?”

Lowengrin set down her teacup as she asked.

“If I had an ‘enemy,’ who would it be?”

“Enemy.”

Lowengrin repeated the word, staring intently at Sigrid.

“Why? As far as I know, you don’t have any major enemies right now. A knight of the 2nd Knight Order can’t really wield much influence. With little influence, enemies are also insignificant.”

Sigrid wondered how much she should reveal, then decided to be honest with Lowengrin. She told her about ‘accidentally saving the Crown Prince’s party during meditation.’ Lowengrin frowned at this.

“I see. So that’s why Lord Lunatil has been showing interest in you.”

Lowengrin crossed her legs and pressed her fingertips together, deep in thought.

“Are you planning to side with the Crown Prince, Siri?”

“I’m an imperial knight, and serving the imperial family is my duty. The Crown Prince is also someone I must serve.”

Lowengrin laughed at this.

“What a dream-like notion. Sigrid, there are currently four factions in the court.”

“Four? Not just His Majesty the Emperor?”

“No.”

There was even a hint of amusement in Lowengrin’s voice as she spoke. She counted on her fingers as she explained:

“His Majesty the Emperor, His Highness the Crown Prince, the Western Nobles Alliance, and the moderates. Lord Lunatil—that is, the Captain of the 1st Imperial Guard—is undoubtedly a close confidant of the Crown Prince.”

Western Nobles Alliance.

Sigrid frowned. The battle she had followed Beramund to was against this very alliance. Rebels who had joined hands with barbarians and risen against the empire.

“I don’t know why Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess were in such an odd hunting ground, but if something had happened to them, there would be exactly two suspects. Either the Western Nobles Alliance or His Majesty the Emperor. But the possibility that the Western Nobles Alliance did it… isn’t zero, is it?”

Lowengrin sighed.

“His Majesty the Emperor has no reason to harm the Crown Prince, does he?”

Sigrid asked in surprise, but Lowengrin shook her head.

“He’s already harmed the Crown Prince’s older brother and Her Majesty the Empress.”

“What?”

Sigrid’s eyes widened. Lowengrin spoke with a strange, cold smile:

“Power is a terrifying thing, Siri. Enough to devour even one’s own son and wife.”

“That’s…”

Sigrid was dumbfounded. The Emperor she had served before…

It was as if the gold plating had fallen off a statue. She thought it was a solid gold statue, but it turned out to be just gold-plated…

Lowengrin continued:

“I’ll tell you more details later. Siri, you’ll definitely rise up. Your swordsmanship is excellent, and if such an incident occurred—you must have caught the eye of both the Crown Prince and the other side. The choice will be yours, though.”

“Then what about the moderates?”

Sigrid asked. Lowengrin pointed to herself and said:

“The Alsekidna Viscount family is moderate. But being moderate means, in other words, being prepared to switch sides at any time.”

“If I were moderate too…”

“Doesn’t Sigrid serve the imperial family?”

“Of course… Doesn’t Lowengrin?”

“I don’t.”

At these words, Sigrid was so surprised she nearly jumped off the sofa. Lowengrin looked at Sigrid’s wide eyes and open mouth with an intrigued expression and spoke again:

“No. No. I don’t. Of course, I say so outwardly. Naturally, I swear loyalty when His Majesty the Emperor ascends the red chair. All fiefs belong to His Majesty, and we merely borrow them. Yes, yes. But do I really mean it? No.”

“Why…?”

“Sigrid, what’s important to people is themselves.”

Lowengrin held up her hand to stop Sigrid from objecting and continued:

“Their own beliefs, their own religion, their own faith, their own ideals, their own power, their own wealth. Yes, some people say they can die for their dreams. Sigrid, you say you can die for the imperial family too. For your own dream and your own loyalty.”

Sigrid closed her mouth at these words. Lowengrin sighed, smiled lightly, and said:

“So, Siri, my dear friend. It’s fine if you make enemies, and it’s fine if you serve your lord. But don’t forget that what’s important is yourself. And to be true to yourself—you need to think a lot.”

“Lowengrin…”

“Hmm?”

“Lowengrin, you seem to be speaking both difficultly and simply.”

Seeing Sigrid fold her arms with a groan, Lowengrin laughed and said:

“Thanks for not saying I’m talking nonsense. Anyway, if you serve the imperial family, there will come a time when you have to choose between His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince. And depending on which side you choose, your relationship with the Western Nobles Alliance will also change. Of course, overall relationships and personal relationships are different.”

“With the Western Nobles Alliance? Why?”

“His Majesty the Emperor is traditionally—on the side of suppressing the Western Nobles Alliance, while His Highness the Crown Prince advocates for a more lenient policy.”

“I see.”

She hadn’t known at all.

Sigrid felt as if a part of her mind had suddenly cleared.

How could she have been so completely, utterly uninterested in such matters?

She had believed and followed whatever His Majesty said, without any interest in the outside world. It’s not that people around her hadn’t tried to advise her. She simply hadn’t listened at all. So eventually, no one bothered to tell her anything.

“I need to think about this.”

Lowengrin nodded at Sigrid’s words.

“I don’t like people who only think, but Siri, you’re quick to act. That’s good.”

She then laughed again, saying, ‘It’s like self-loathing.’ After ending the conversation, Sigrid left the Alsekidna Viscount’s mansion and hesitated.

‘Should I go home, or should I go see Marie-Chez?’

After pondering for a moment, Sigrid turned her horse towards Marie-Chez’s house.

The Inglet Count’s family.

Looking at the lily crest, Sigrid thought it really resembled Marie-Chez. Guided to the reception room, Sigrid was soon led to the inner chamber. Marie-Chez was waiting there. Her voluminous golden hair was slightly damp, as if she had just washed it.

“Speak quickly.”

At Marie-Chez’s sudden words, Sigrid asked, puzzled:

“About what?”

“You came here because you have something to say, right? Speak quickly.”

“Oh, was today’s training okay? Marie-Chez didn’t say much, but…”

“…Is that all?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you have anything else to say? Like, something related to other people.”

“Other people?”

“Like—Alkerto or something…”

Marie-Chez said the last part very quietly, but Sigrid heard it. Sigrid thought for a moment and then said:

“Won’t you apologize?”

“I guess I have no choice.”

“Huh?”

“If Sigrid says so, I guess I have no choice.”

“What?”

“I’ll apologize to Alkerto.”

“I don’t want to force you if you don’t want to, Marie-Chez.”

At Sigrid’s words, Marie-Chez stared at her blankly.

“Marie-Chez?”

“I… I didn’t know Sigrid would take my side…”

Tears welled up in Marie-Chez’s navy blue eyes.

“Si-Siri—”

If Sigrid took her side, that meant an absolute ally. Thinking this, Marie-Chez immediately showed a vulnerable side.

“Uh? Uhh?”

As a flustered Sigrid fidgeted, Marie-Chez said:

“Oh, what if Alkerto keeps not talking to me?”

“It’ll be fine if you apologize.”

Sigrid hastily said, but Marie-Chez shook her head.

“No, he won’t forgive me. We didn’t even make eye contact today.”

“Well, that’s because he’s angry—but it’ll pass with time. And even if it doesn’t, I think you should still apologize.”

“Okay…”

Marie-Chez’s easy agreement made Sigrid feel rather strange. Marie-Chez wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said:

“Sit down.”

The sofa she offered was a cute pink design shaped like a shell, fitting Marie-Chez’s taste. As Sigrid sat down, Marie-Chez took a seat across from her.

“Siri.”

“Yes.”

“I, I’ve never talked about this before, and I’m not good at it. But—I feel like I should tell you.”

Above all, she felt that Sigrid wouldn’t laugh at her after hearing it.

“Alright.”

Sigrid leaned forward with a serious expression. Marie-Chez hesitated for a moment before speaking:

“Other people’s opinions are extremely important to me.”

She glanced at Sigrid’s face, but her expression remained serious.

“I care a lot about what people think of me. And I want the me that people see to be impressive. Becoming a knight was partly because of that too. I wanted to stand out a bit, to be different from others. Of course, finding a good man played a part too. But imagine if rumors spread that I lost my sword to you in one move! I’d become a laughingstock. And I can’t bear that.”

Sigrid thought for a moment and then asked:

“The opinions of all people?”

“Yes. The opinions of most, the majority of people are important.”

Marie-Chez continued:

“I want to be the center of attention, I want everyone to know me. I want people to envy me. Of course, I don’t want to show that I want this. Imagine if that became apparent. How foolish would that look?”

Sigrid tilted her head and said:

“No, I’m the same, aren’t I?”

Marie-Chez’s eyes widened at Sigrid’s casual remark.

“You?”

“Well, I only need recognition from one person, but isn’t it similar?”

Sigrid thought that she only needed her lord to recognize her. So she didn’t care about anyone else.

Marie-Chez was demanding the same from the people around her.

Marie-Chez squinted at Sigrid’s words, fiddling with her hands as she spoke:

“I don’t know. Maybe it is like that. Anyway! That’s the kind of person I am. Siri, you don’t care about other people’s opinions at all, you’re not interested in what they say or do. You wear clothes like a farmhand and live in a poor house, and even if people gossip about it, you don’t care at all. In your eyes, I might look ridiculous for caring about people’s opinions—”

“I don’t think that at all. Marie-Chez is my friend, and I don’t think my friends are ridiculous.”

Tears welled up in Marie-Chez’s eyes again at those words. She pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and exclaimed:

“Th-this is because I’ve been on edge lately. It’s almost that time of the month.”

‘I see,’ Sigrid nodded.

Marie-Chez was the third daughter of the Inglet Count family. She had two older sisters above her and a younger brother below her.

She had to carve out her own place for herself.

“This is a secret from others?”

Sigrid nodded at Marie-Chez’s words.

“Yes, I understand.”

Having finished telling her most embarrassing story, Marie-Chez’s face brightened. Her heart felt lighter too. Marie-Chez rang a bell to have a maid bring cold drinks and continued speaking.

“Anyway, the truth is that many people think it’s tomboyish for a noble lady to become a knight. They say things like, ‘Oh my, how impressive. I’ve never lifted anything heavier than a teacup, but a sword? Oh, how frightening.'”

“…Isn’t that a compliment?”

“It’s not!”

Marie-Chez frowned and then sighed.

“Words always have hidden meanings, Siri. Oh, of course, you don’t have any of that, which is good. I tend to blurt things out without thinking too.”

Marie-Chez knew herself surprisingly well.

“Some people speak with multiple layers of meaning. Lowie is that type too.”

“Lowengrin? I thought she was someone who explained things concisely.”

“That’s because you’re the one she’s talking to, Siri.”

“Is that so?” Sigrid’s cheeks flushed slightly. It’s a happy thing to be treated specially as a friend.

Marie-Chez said:

“Oh, Siri. And I have something to teach you.”

“Something to teach me?”

“The basics of high society. Since you’re teaching me swordsmanship, I feel like I should teach you something too.”

“If it’s about etiquette in high society, I already know the basics—”

“No, what I’m going to teach you is different.”

Marie-Chez grinned. She got up and went inside, soon returning with a box. She opened the small box and laid out three small jeweled accessories in a row, then said:

“What I’m going to teach you is how to look at things.”

“Huh?”

How is this the basics of high society?

As if sensing her question, Marie-Chez explained:

“Knowing what accessories to wear is important. Look, see the luster of this pearl? Isn’t it pretty? Compared to this necklace here, the pearl on this hair ornament looks more transparent, doesn’t it?”

“Ah, yes.”

“This pearl is a specialty that only comes from the Nam region. There are only a handful of pearl-producing regions as famous as Nam pearls. And only one trading company, Riwet Trading, distributes these Nam pearls. Riwet Trading is famous for dealing only with VIPs. Someone who owns this pearl accessory must have at least the wealth of a count.”

Marie-Chez lightly put the pearl hairpin in her hair and said:

“If I wear this in my hair, see? It means I’m a person of that much value. People can gauge my wealth.”

Marie-Chez took out the accessory and put it back down.

“I’m going to teach you how to see. From fabrics to decorations to craftsmanship. I’ll teach you from the basics.”

Sigrid hunched her shoulders.

But it was a rare act of kindness from Marie-Chez, and since it was supposedly the basics of high society (?), she had no reason to refuse.

“Alright.”

Sigrid said with determination, making Marie-Chez smile brightly.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

Sitting in her room, Sigrid carefully wrote down on paper the events she had seen in the past.

1. Alkerto’s death

2. The death of Her Highness the Crown Princess

3. Appearance of a giant magical beast in Dudain region. Alert issued.