Sigrid

The tea canister was empty.

“Uh… Sigrid, would you mind waiting a moment?”

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re out of tea. I’ll go buy some real quick.”

“Then just give me hot water. That’s fine.”

“No, I’ll be right back.”

“It’s okay.”

Sigrid said firmly. Alkerto let out a groan. He didn’t realize he was out of tea since he rarely drank it.

‘Does she think I can’t afford to buy tea?’

He glanced at Sigrid, who returned a puzzled look. Alkerto chuckled. Sigrid wouldn’t think that way. Even if she did, she wouldn’t care. He poured the boiled water into cups and took out the fruit she had brought, placing it on the table.

“What’s the favor? I think I know, but…”

“It’s about Marie-Chez.”

Alkerto’s face hardened as he interlaced his fingers and leaned forward.

“What about Lady Inglet?”

“Could you listen to her story once?”

“Her story?”

“Yes.”

Alkerto’s teal eyes twisted slightly. If she had said ‘I hope you’ll accept her apology’ or ‘I hope you’ll forgive her,’ he would have flatly refused.

But asking to listen to her story once was a subtle request. Sigrid was teaching him swordsmanship and was a genuine friend hard to come by.

“Alright. If it’s your request, Sig, I can listen to her story once.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Alkerto nodded, and Sigrid sighed in relief. Alkerto added firmly:

“I’m just listening. I’m not forgiving or anything like that.”

“Yes, I can’t force you to do something like that.”

At Sigrid’s words, Alkerto sipped his plain hot water and said:

“What about you?”

“Hm?”

“You’ve heard all sorts of things from Lady Inglet too. Why do you keep being friends with her? She wouldn’t even look at someone who’s not a noble like you.”

The last words were close to sarcasm.

“If that were true, she wouldn’t have become friends with me in the first place.”

Alkerto fell silent at Sigrid’s words. Sigrid continued:

“And I think everyone can make mistakes. When I make a mistake, she might forgive me, and when she makes a mistake, I might forgive her.”

“So you’re saying I should forgive her?”

“No, that’s not it. Um— I know Marie-Chez is a good person. She tries to give me what she thinks is best. Like the basics of high society… how to dress and such…”

Sigrid mumbled, hunching her shoulders before straightening them again.

“Lowengrin said that because we’re different, if we respect those differences, we can have an amazing friendship.”

“…If we’re too different, we might clash instead.”

“Could that happen?”

Sigrid tilted her head. Alkerto sighed and said:

“Alright, I’ll listen to her story for now.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m the one who should be grateful for the lessons.”

Alkerto said with a grin, but then his face suddenly turned serious as he asked:

“Sigrid.”

“Hm?”

“I’d like you to answer honestly— No, I don’t think you’d answer dishonestly anyway.”

“What is it?”

Alkerto took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment before finally asking:

“Do you think I have talent with the sword?”

“Talent?”

“Yeah, like if I keep at it, could I reach a certain level—”

“Level?”

“Well, of course I don’t think I could become an aura user like you…”

“Why not?”

“Do you think I could?”

“I don’t know that either.”

“See?”

“Why does that follow?”

“Someone as talented as you wouldn’t understand.”

“Alkerto, you haven’t even tried like I have.”

“The ability to do that itself is talent.”

“Without even trying?”

“What if I try and fail?”

At those words, Sigrid’s mouth opened slightly.

“So you have other options, Alkerto.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t.”

“…”

“I have no other options. It has to be the sword. So I don’t discuss whether I have talent or not. Because whether I do or not, this is what I have to do. But you have other paths you can take if this doesn’t work out?”

Alkerto answered with a small “No.” Sigrid nodded.

“Then before discussing whether you have talent or not, shouldn’t you just do your best with what you can? At the very least, you’re not without talent.”

“Really? I’m not without talent?”

His ears perked up. Sigrid nodded.

“I think you’re at least average.”

In terms of physical strength, agility, dynamic vision, and joint flexibility, he wasn’t particularly lacking compared to others. If that’s the case, the rest is just building upon that foundation. Alkerto took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then opened them.

“Alright. I don’t know if I can do well, but…”

He added with an awkward smile.

Sigrid looked at Alkerto’s face for a moment. Come to think of it, he should have been dead already. So he’s living his second chance at life.

Just like herself who had returned.

He just doesn’t know it. No one knows how he’ll turn out in the future.

“You can do well.”

At Sigrid’s words, Alkerto asked, “You think so?” and she nodded deeply. Out of courtesy, even though it was just boiled water, Sigrid emptied her cup cleanly and stood up.

“I’ll be going then.”

“Already?”

“I’ve said what I came to say.”

Do you have anything else to say? When she looked at him, Alkerto shook his head.

“Alright, see you later.”

“See you.”

Sigrid left Alkerto’s house.

‘The next place to visit is…’

She headed towards Beramund’s house. Guided by a servant to the reception room, she was able to observe the interior of the house in more detail. She hadn’t been in the right state of mind the last time she visited.

‘Ah, is it similar to a duke’s mansion? But it’s even simpler.’

While a duke’s mansion might appear simple yet reveal subtle touches of decoration in unexpected places, Beramund’s house was simplicity itself.

Why was he living separately in this huge mansion, leaving his family home behind? Was he not on good terms with his siblings, like Morris?

As she was thinking this, Beramund came down to the reception room with wet hair.

“Did I choose a bad time?”

At Sigrid’s question, he brushed his wet hair back and said:

“Not at all, I just finished washing, so the timing is perfect.”

He pointed his thumb behind him.

“Shall we go outside instead of staying here? The terrace is cooler.”

“That sounds good.”

Following Beramund to the terrace, Sigrid was surprised by how barren his garden was. Well, there was grass laid out. But that was it, and unlike her garden, there were no roses or shrubs.

‘My garden is much prettier.’

Feeling a bit superior, she sat down at the table.

“Tea? Juice?”

At Beramund’s question, Sigrid chose the latter. After all, fresh fruit was expensive and hard to come by. A moment later, a glass of lemonade with ice was placed in front of her. Sigrid stared at the ice with wide eyes.

“There’s ice.”

“Oh, don’t you like cold drinks?”

Beramund asked, picking up his own glass of iced tea.

“Want something else?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just my first time eating ice in this season.”

“Ah.”

“I knew there were ice shops, but…”

She openly counted the ice cubes in the cup.

‘How much would all this cost?’

100 kerb, 200 kerb—

“It’ll all melt if you just stare at it.”

At Beramund’s words, she quickly grabbed the cup. The lemonade was pleasantly tart and sweet, and refreshingly cold. Even though it was just the beginning of summer, the daytime temperatures had already started to rise quite a bit.

“Beramund.”

“Yes?”

Sigrid straightened her shoulders and looked at him directly.

“I want to join the Imperial Guard.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but not right away. Would it be alright if I set the time for autumn?”

“Well— Since the social gatherings don’t start until winter, it doesn’t matter, but wouldn’t it be better to come earlier if you’re going to join?”

“No, I have several things I want to wrap up here. I’d like to ask for your understanding.”

“That’s fine.”

“Thank you. And Lord Lunatil.”

“Why so formal all of a sudden?”

“You don’t need to protect me.”

“…”

Beramund raised an eyebrow slightly. Sigrid struggled to choose her words. Marie-Chez and Lowengrin were much better at this kind of wordplay than she was.

“Of course, I know it’s out of goodwill—”

“But? Just say it. People always seem to get to the point after ‘but.'”

“If Lord Lunatil protects me, people will think I’m close to His Highness the Crown Prince. But I don’t want to cause such misunderstandings.”

“Ah.”

Beramund put his hand to his forehead. No, it’s not him who’s protecting her. Well, not exactly.

He raised his head and chuckled.

“Who taught you in the meantime?”

“A little bit.”

She’s been attending Lowengrin’s special lectures.

“Don’t worry. No one will think that way. Would they think the entire 1st Imperial Guard is on Serios’s side because they’re my subordinates and I’m in charge?”

‘Oh?’

Now that she heard it, it did make sense.

Feeling like she had worried unnecessarily, Sigrid’s shoulders slumped. She had worked up the courage to bring this up, only for it to be pointless. Still, she felt relieved. After finishing the rest of her lemonade, Sigrid quickly popped an ice cube into her mouth.

‘It would be a waste.’

It felt like money was melting away. Beramund chuckled as he watched Sigrid chewing on the ice. He asked:

“So? You haven’t decided on a lord to serve yet?”

“No.”

The pronunciation leaked out between the ice. Sigrid wondered what to do with the ice for the sake of conversation, then quickly crunched it with her teeth. After the crunching sound of ice being eaten, she quickly asked:

“Why did you choose His Highness as your lord?”

“I didn’t.”

“Pardon?”

“Serios isn’t my lord~”

Sigrid narrowed her eyes, wondering if he was teasing her with his smiling reply. Beramund said:

“I oppose Serios when he does something I don’t agree with.”

“?!”

Sigrid’s eyes widened.

Oppose? But it’s the will of his lord?

“I’m on Serios’s side because I like his thoughts, his ideology. Siri, what you’re talking about is a one-sided relationship, isn’t it? That’s not what I have.”

Beramund had slyly used a nickname, but Sigrid was too lost in thought to notice. Sigrid herself had served Emperor His Majesty as her lord in the past because he was the highest authority in the imperial family.

She thought it was natural for knights to serve the imperial family, and serving His Majesty, the head of the imperial family, was the highest position a knight could aspire to.

So now that she couldn’t serve His Majesty, it might seem natural to serve His Highness, the next in line.

However, she didn’t want to do that.

Unable to serve His Majesty and deciding not to pledge loyalty to His Highness the Crown Prince, she didn’t know who or by what criteria she should choose a lord. But now Beramund had presented a new path.

‘Someone whose thoughts I like…’

Sigrid raised her head.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“My thoughts have become a bit clearer.”

“That’s good. And you know, honestly, it’s okay not to decide on a lord at all. Don’t live your life too rigidly.”

At his repeated words, Sigrid smiled faintly, nodded, and said:

“I’ll try.”

It was difficult to change something ingrained for a lifetime. Changing one’s thought process and gaining a new perspective was several times harder than changing one’s lifestyle.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that I’ve made friends while changing my life habits.’

Her way of thinking was changing through connections with others. Among these changes, there was still resistance to altering the fundamental concept of being a ‘knight.’

‘Let’s do our best.’

Reaffirming her resolve, Sigrid put another ice cube in her mouth. It had become much smaller than before. If Marie-Chez had seen this, she would have immediately shouted “Stop that!” but Beramund didn’t say anything. He leisurely sipped his iced tea, waiting until Sigrid had eaten all the ice. Suddenly, Sigrid asked a question that had occurred to her:

“By the way, Beramund.”